Recently we’ve told you a little bit about the Chicago Cinema Forum, a new group that’s trying to bring rare and underseen movies to Chicago. To honor Ingmar Bergman after his passing, they quickly put together a mini-retrospective that touched all the bases; and last weekend they presented Roberto Rossellini’s all-but-unseen masterpiece India, Motherland. What was to have been the final screening of the latter, in fact, was sold out (!) so a third show... more ›

With all our posts about Ingmar Bergman, Charles Burnett and underground cinema you might think that our cinematic tastes are strictly highbrow. Phooey. We like all sorts of movies. And we aren't immune to the charms of some juicy movie celeb gossip either (Vince V. anyone?) more ›

Who was Ingmar Bergman? You probably heard the news that he died last week, at age 89, and somewhere you mostly likely read Woody Allen’s pronouncement that he was, “probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion-picture camera.” But you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you don’t really know who he is. For example, he was not the father of Ingrid Bergman (although they did make one film together, Autumn... more ›

Sometimes things align at just the proper moment: the Siskel is wrapping up a restropective of the master filmmaker, who passed away peacefully Monday evening. As it so happens the last screening in the series is Thursday, when The Passenger with Jack Nicholson will be shown. The film ends with one of the most amazing, haunting sequences in film history. It's well worth catching on the big screen. His death, coming so close on... more ›

In addition to their Annual Christmas Show, the Music Box continues its Cary Grant Centennial Celebration and wraps up its Bergman Directs! series this weekend (What’s with that exclamation point? Does this mean we can expect Bogart Acts! or Janusz Kaminski Cinematographizes! sometime soon?). Both events feature perfect films for those who enjoy romance pictures that are just a little off-kilter. more ›

Chicagoist makes this solemn promise to you: this is the last post we will be writing about any film fests that are running in Chicago. At least until next week. But we’d be remiss in our reporting duties if we failed to alert you to the 13th Annual Independent Filmmakers Conference at the School of the Art Institute. more ›