Hesher: A Big, Fat Huh?
I’m the first to admit: I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt. In 2006, he won my heart as a tough-talking high schooler in Brick. The guy’s witty, makes interesting career choices and is forever nattily...
View Article‘Midnight in Paris’: Angst is more fun in French
In the best Woody Allen films, even a tortured soul is a delight to behold. Actors in the silliest cameos are full of joy. Behavior perceived as annoying in any other environment is instead light, fun...
View ArticleShock Theater: Spook yourself silly
If scary movies are your bag and you have $5, why not take a little trip to Wicker Park this Friday? “Shock Theater from the Cinema Dementia Collection” launches June 3 at 9 p.m. at the Wicker Park...
View ArticleJudgment Day: talking dogs, living trees and ruby slippers
Welcome to Judgment Day, in which I take a completely biased look at what’s playing in Lakeview this weekend. New at Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark): Beginners: Christopher Plummer is...
View Article‘Grease Sing-A-Long’ opens July 29 at Music Box
Don your finest leather jacket and leave your hipster cool at the door. The “Grease Sing-A-Long” is back by popular demand July 29-31 at Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport). Randal Kleiser’s ode to...
View Article‘The Names of Love’: It works because it’s French
“The Names of Love” is nothing new. Uptight suit-loving gentleman meets gorgeous free spirit who teaches him a few lessons in love and life: at this point the trope is trite. And sometimes downright...
View ArticleGet your festival on at Music Box
This week, the Music Box Theatre is alive with the sound of music . . . and francais. Tonight through Sunday, the Chicago French Film Festival presents eight of the country’s best recent films,...
View ArticleNo more late movie nights in Lakeview
When I moved to Lakeview in 2006, what really struck me about the neighborhood was its 24-hour vibrancy. That first year, my roommate and I would head out for a lakefront walk, shop at Jewel, or go to...
View ArticleSo just let me introduce myself
My name is Ashley. Pronounced with an, ok you get the point. Welcome to Six Feet Over, which refers to the fact that I am tall and usually six feet over whatever I am standing on. Unless I’m sitting...
View ArticleThe dog days are over
I happen to have a dog who is of the female persuasion and since I wasn’t about to let her have babies before I did (like everyone I went to high school with,) I had to have her spayed. You’re welcome,...
View Article‘Live NEW’D Girls’ tomorrow night at Martyr’s
The art of burlesque is alive and well, despite the terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad Cher/Christina Aguilera vehicle. Fans of comely teasing accompanied by cocktails should check out “Live NEW’D...
View ArticleDon’t be an easy target
With all of this talk about a crime wave in Lakeview, I have a few things to add to the discussion. I have lived in Lakeview for four years now and while I haven’t always kept one ear to the police...
View Article‘The Devil’s Double’: Definitely disturbing
Some movies are not for the faint of heart. I pride myself on stoicism in the face of movie bloodshed, but certain scenes make an absolute wuss out of me. If a character is tortured onscreen, my hands...
View Article‘Shock Theater’ Friday in Wicker Park
Fans of Francis Ford Coppola and Roger Corman (which should be everybody) had best head to the Wicker Park Arts Center (2215 W. North Ave.) at 9 p.m. tomorrow, August 5. This month’s edition of “Shock...
View ArticleNo longer ‘Coming Soon!’
Since I moved to Lakeview East in June of 2007, the prospect of a big box grocery store seemed too good to be true. The previous site of the long-storied burned down Dominick’s taunted me with its...
View Article‘Another Earth’: Second chances
In case anyone was wondering, here’s what I decided to see last weekend and what I thought of it: Everyone has asked “what if?” at least once in their lives. What if I could go back? What if I could...
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A return to elegance for Fall
The unpredictability of Chicago weather can leave us ladies in the lurch when it comes to dressing seasonally. When do I break out the boots? When do I pack up the maxi dress? The see-sawing...
View ArticleThe ‘once was enough’ movie list
Most of my pals love movies. I’m never short of a viewing buddy with which to snark the latest Katherine Heigl trailer. So when I asked, “What’s the best film you can never watch again?” the responses...
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Stephen Markley – you owe me a cab ride
Like most Monday mornings, I was procrastinating at work and reading the RedEye when all of a sudden I had an epiphany. I was reading Stephen Markley’s hilarious (and oh-so-true) column about...
View Article‘The Homosexuals’: Measure your life in love
First a story: I was 18, scared as all get out and trying to hide it. On my first day as a theatre major at Loyola University Chicago, I got to class way too early and found myself sitting outside the...
View Article‘One Day’: Many disappointments
My boss, who knows more about film than I ever will, insists good books don’t make good movies. In the case of “One Day,” the screen adaptation of David Nicholls’ bestselling novel, my boss is right....
View ArticleKick off Labor Day weekend with ‘Shock Theater’
Cinephiles with a taste for sci-fi scares can celebrate summer’s end at “Shock Theater from the Cinema Dementia Collection.” The monthly 16mm double feature screens tonight at 9 p.m. at the Wicker Park...
View ArticleUnwanted visitors in Maison de Film Femme
Yesterday was busy and endless, but after the lovely long weekend I spent chilling at my parents’ house, I had enough energy to see it through. Finally back at my apartment, I was lying spent on my bed...
View Article‘Donnie Darko’ Oct.1, or ‘shameless self promotion’
This October, cheap and freaky fun is a hop, skip and a jump away. Facets Fright School will present cult, classic and always creepy movies each Friday and Saturday at midnight from September 30 to...
View ArticleChicago United Film Fest tonight at Music Box
Lots of good flicks in Lakeview this weekend, but if you’re in the mood for something a little different, check out the 2011 Chicago United Film Festival, opening tonight at Music Box Theatre (3733 N....
View ArticleLookin’ out my back door (er, window)
I live close to a major intersection in Lakeview. Because I don’t have cable, and because I’m 80 years old, I enjoy people-watching out my living room window. You would not believe the stuff that goes...
View ArticleJack o’lanterns and gratitude
I can remember my first Halloween in Lakeview. After that, it’s kind of a blur. On October 31, 2006, I had been unemployed for exactly one week. My roommate and partner in crime Bob was at class that...
View ArticleNaNoWriMo’ing in Lakeview: SUCCESS!
On November 1, I set out on a quest. One really badly written rough draft to rule them all. This was my third year participating in NaNoWriMo, a nationwide movement for writers at all levels to get...
View ArticleShop in the ‘hood
I’m not a fan of Christmas shopping. Let’s just get that out there. Two holiday stints at bookstores cured me of any and all affinity for braving the masses while “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the...
View ArticleThank you, Graham Crackers
A couple days ago, my friend Bob hurt his knee. I took great pleasure in calling him a gimp, because I’m a jerk like that. Then I felt guilty and asked if there was anything I could get him....
View ArticleS.S. Poseidon at Music Box New Year’s Eve
There’s got to be a morning after…if you can hold on to Dec. 31. If bar-hopping and candlelight yoga aren’t your bags, the ever-splendiferous Music Box Theatre has a fun alternaplan for New Year’s Eve:...
View Article‘The Descendants’: De-pressing
I tried to like “The Descendants.” I really did. The trailer was heartwarming: a truly sad story of letting go broken up by gentle hijinks. George Clooney is befuddled and doesn’t understand his...
View ArticleMidnight at Music Box: Party time! Excellent!
If you haven’t already guessed this weekend’s Music Box Midnight Movie…I’ll tell you. “Wayne’s World” will go from suburban cable access to midnight movie January 6-7 at Music Box Theatre (3733 N....
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