Some fairy godmother at the Siskel must be granting wishes lately. Not only did they bring Helvetica to town and decide to mount an Antonioni series (including the radically awesome, hard-to-see Zabriskie Point) but now we've learned that next week they're launching "Lost Highways & Wild Hearts: The Films of David Lynch." Wild at heart and weird on top; or, as Gordon Cole might exclaim, "This is like some sort of miracle. A ...a phenomenon."... more ›

Filmmaker David Lynch was on hand Saturday evening at the Music Box for two sold-out screenings of his new movie INLAND EMPIRE. Die-hard cinephiles began lining up outside the theater in sub-zero temps two hours before the show just to get the best seats. Inside, the setting couldn't have been more appropriate. The red curtains in front of the screen and a pipe organ "improvisation" before the film were elements straight out of his oeuvre.... more ›

Oscar fever has got us doing cartwheels all over the Chicagoist offices, as well as placing more than a few friendly wagers over who will be taking home those expensive doorstops come February 25th. But that’s not the only thing going down in the film world at the moment. A little gathering in Park City, Utah called the Sundance Film Festival has been underway since last week. And lest you shrug your shoulders indifferently just... more ›

David Lynch is scheduled to be in Chicago at the Music Box on January 27 accompanying his new film INLAND EMPIRE. Advance tickets went on sale this morning. Our advice: get them now. In other cities, tickets have sold out quickly. Lynch should be bringing along samples of his new David Lynch Signature Roast Coffee as well as some promotional coffee mug coasters. He will not, however, be bringing his cow.... more ›

Maybe it's the old-timey atmosphere, the popcorn that's always fresh or the fact that it's locally-owned: the Music Box is just an awesome place to see a movie among friends. And if you and your friends are die-hard LOTR fans or Buffyheads, then the Music Box is definitely the place to be. If you don't know what LOTR stands for or what a Buffyhead is, you can probably just skip the rest of this post.... more ›

Professional film critics usually like to pretend that, at the end of the year, they've seen it all. But let's be honest. Even if you watched movies nonstop, you'd miss a few (and probably become a little bug-eyed). And if you're like us, attempting to cover everything from Chicago politics to food to sports to Macy's discontent to the CTA, there'll be a few holes in your cinematic vocabulary. It doesn't help matters that all... more ›