“If the devil’s alive, he lived here.” — Quote in the Chicago Tribune, attributed to a worker who was involved in the demolition of John Wayne Gacy’s house. While working as a news columnist in the 1990s, I had one of the most macabre experiences of my life when I was granted access to the

One of the more popular sections of the Chicago International Film Festival each year is the After Dark sidebar, a collection of films from around the world that are just a bit different from the usual fest fare—something a little stranger and wilder and containing plenty of sex, violence, and straight-up weirdness to appeal to

Documentary is a filmmaking approach inherently designed for remembrance. In fact, it’s the approach that most closely aligns with photography and the desire to capture a moment, a person, or a thing before the forces of time overcome and erase its existence. So, you know, usually with these films, you’re going to get a topic

The 61st edition of the Chicago International Film Festival has boasted an unusually strong lineup of high-quality titles from around the world, including such significant works as “The Secret Agent,” “The Mastermind,” and “It Was Just an Accident.” However, if I had to pick just one favorite, I would have to go with “Silent Friend.”

Like so many contemporary R&B fans, I was gutted when it was reported that Michael Eugene Archer, better known as groundbreaking neo-soul artist D’Angelo, passed away on Tuesday at the too-damn-young age of 51, after a long, private battle with pancreatic cancer. The man was an elusive enigma, only dropping three studio albums–Brown Sugar (1995),

Who hasn’t at least once fantasized about switching lives with someone who, from a distance, seems to have a more comfortable, secure, happier existence? While Shakespeare and others created stories about characters pretending to be someone else, it was Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper that popularized the idea of people in opposite circumstances trying out each

Season 3 of “The Diplomat,” Debora Cahn’s feast of political intrigue and personal drama, has landed on Netflix. If you thought the last two seasons were a headrush, you’re “read in” and ready. But before we jump into this cross-pollination of Sorkin-esque walk-and-talks and Rhimes-ian emotional bombshells, let’s get you caught up on the world-shaking

The FECK Awards spotlight the power of everyday heroes and bold visionaries who elevate humanity through action, proving that compassion and kindness aren’t just ideals, but powerful forces reshaping lives and communities Chicago (October 15, 2025) – Chaz Ebert—CEO of RogerEbert.com, humanitarian, film producer, and wife of the late Pulitzer Prize-winner Roger Ebert—today announced that

“Battlefield” has been around for over two decades. Still, even its most diehard fans would probably argue that it’s been a bit of a non-factor in the first-person shooter conversation for much of the second half of that timespan, after the disappointing “Battlefield V” in 2018 and “Battlefield 2042” in 2021, a game so broken

There’s something comforting about a well-done workplace comedy. It’s the relatability of people sanded down by capitalism, forced to go into cubicles or other office spaces like so many viewers do every Monday, which usually allows for a bit of perspective. Think your job sucks? At least you don’t work at the DMV. That’s the