A Comprehensive Look at 2024
in Film |
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(122724)
The big news this year in film is that AI is starting to make its presence felt
in the motion picture industry. A few years ago, it was used to hide the true
chronological ages of some of the main actors in
The Irishman.
This year it was used even more extensively in the Tom Hank/Robin Wright
vehicle, Here, to show a couple gradually age over a whole lifetime. But the
year’s best exploration of AI as a theme was in the ending of Don’t Expect too
Much from the End of the World which includes a parody of Bob Dylan’s
Subterranean Homesick Blues video which shows the story’s villains unethically
uses AI to change the words of people to say the opposite of what they mean.
But even bigger news is that the animated films Where Robots Dream and Dreadclub
Vampires were made entirely by AI. A recent documentary called Hammer: Heroes,
Legends and Monsters used AI to resurrect Peter Cushing to narrate a new
documentary, and it is only a matter of time before they start making live films
without actors. I guess the underrated almost forgotten film; Simone (2002)
about a virtual actress who has no human form was more prophetic than most
people ever thought at the time.
Despite these disturbing trends, 2024 was another memorable year for the film.
But there were no instant classics that rose much higher than the rest like the
recent
The Irishman
(20I9),
Parasite
(20I9),
Oppenheimer (2023),
Annette (202I) or
Martin Eden
(2020), but there were many more fine films than usual that were vying for slots
in my Top 10 (or 20...okay 25) and more potential awards contenders this year than usual.
Also, there were no giant money making film phenomena’s like Barbieheimer
(composed of
Barbie and
Oppenheimer ) from last year which united
two competing but overlapping demographics and managed to bring millions back to
the theatre. The closest thing to that was the so called Glicked (comprised of
Wicked and
Gladiator 2 ) which is aiming at similar audiences (women and families for Wicked and men
of all ages for
Gladiator 2 ). So far audiences have responded positively, and
both films have been highly successful, but their release did not quite have the
financial or critical impact of last year’s Barbie/Oppenheimer craze.
Among the other films with wide appeal were
Deadpool & Wolverine, Godzilla x
Kong: The New Hope, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,
The Fall Guy,
Alien Romulus and
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. But the best of the bunch by far was the
terrific action film
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga which provided a dark, moving and
intelligent origin story for its title female character with a terrific lead
performance by Anya Taylor-Joy of the unforgettable Netflix mini-series,
Queen’s Gambit.
It’s a real shame that the best action/adventure film of the year underperformed
so badly at the box office, but I hope it gains a new life streaming.
But I have to admit, although it did not break much new ground,
Deadpool & Wolverine was a riotously funny and entertaining buddy superhero film with had
splendid chemistry between the two title characters, and it did much that
the Flash was supposed to do only better. DC remained dormant most of the year
(although Creature Commandoes had its TV debut) while fans breathlessly waited
to see if James Gunn will be able to restore the lost luster to the DC film
franchises. This year had two unsatisfying Spiderman spin-offs:
Venom: Last Dance
and Madame Web. One may be one of the worst films of the year, and the other a
disappointing coda to a trilogy. So far the third jewel in the Sony Spider-verse
triple crown for this year, Kraven the
Hunter has also been critically reviled and underperforming.
I saw fewer International Cinema films than usual due to rising gas prices preventing
me from going to the north side often. I also had fewer opportunities to see
film festival offerings, but I was able to see a few free advanced screenings at
Music Box. Some of the cream of the International crop includes the year’s best
romance,
The Taste of Things from France (via a Vietnamese film maker),
Perfect
Days from Japan (from a German film maker), Don’t Expect Too Much from the End
of the World from Romania, Kneecap from Ireland,
La Chimera from Italy as well
as The Old Oak from the UK, which was the latest socially conscious film by the
British master, Ken Loach. Surprisingly, Woody Allen did his best film in years
in France: Coup de Chance, which recalled Eric Rohmer’s best works.
Many of the greatest American film makers (like Martin Scorsese, David Lynch,
Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, and Steven Spielberg) took some time off but
we did get enjoyable offerings from Sean Baker (Anora), Wim Wenders (the
previously mentioned
Perfect
Days), Richard Linklater (The Hit Man), George Miller (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Ridley Scott (Gladiator 2), Robert Zemeckis (Here), Clint
Eastwood (Juror No 2) and Woody Allen (Coup de Chance). But the big news of the
year was the return of Francis Ford Coppola who did Megalopolis which did bad
box office and got mixed reviews (I still haven’t seen it.) Two of the most
creative and avant garde film makers (Guy Maddin and Yorgos Lanthimos) put out
two interesting but ultimately disappointing films, Hands of Kindness and Rumors
which has no relation to the popular Fleetwood Mac album.
There were a ton of wonderful films from my current favorite film studio: A24
films, two of which made my top ten list. Their 2024 releases include
I Saw the
TV Glow,
Love Lies Bleeding,
Maxxxine,
Civil War,
and
Sing Sing. As
if that wasn’t enough, they will soon put out the acclaimed Nicole Kidman
vehicle, Babygirl and Parthenope by Paul Sorrentino, my favorite Italian film
maker, and they are scheduled to release High and Low the long-awaited Spike
Lee/Denzel Washington reunion.
Among the great riches in animated films this year were from best to least:
Robot Dreams,
Flow,
Inside Out 2, Memoir
of a Snail and Wallace and Grommitt: Murder Most Fowl were also acclaimed but
they received less attention than the others.
Besides
Maxxxine there were quite a few examples of smart, inventive and classy
horror films such as
The Substance which featured two terrific female
performances by Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, Late Night with the Devil which
wrapped its horrors in pseudo-documentary, Abigail with a pre-teen female
vampire, The Silence of the Lambs influenced
Longlegs, and Strange Darlings as
well as the Goth paranormal romance,
Lisa Frankenstein.
Two of the most highly touted music related films both came out on Netflix.
Maria is a well-acted but predictable biopic spotlighting the talents of
Angeline Jolie as the iconic opera singer, Maria Callas. Emilia Perez is a
bizarre musical variation of Some Like it Hot about a man who gets a sex change
to escape the mob. Its star, Karla Sofia Gascon has a real shot at being the
first trans woman to win Best Actress at the Oscars. But although I thought they
were ok if overlong neither was anything to write home about. Joker Folie a Deux
is the year’s big musical flop, and it’s notable that it cost almost 200 million dollars
but it was beaten out at the box office by Terrifier 3, another film about a
homicidal clown which was made on a mere budget of 2 million.
Art and Indy films provided some of the best acting showcases including
Sing Sing (for rising star Coleman Domingo in perhaps the year’s best performance,)
The David Cronenberg influenced feminist body horror film,
The Substance (with
outstanding performances by both Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley),
The Taste of Things, for the Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimei who had real chemistry.
There are so many esteemed films that come out late in the year that it was
impossible to see them all. On December 25 No Direction Home and Nosferatu
opened and The Brutalist which is one of the main Oscar contenders is going to
come out in Chicago until January. The acclaimed film by Steve McQueen’s
Blitz came and went really fast but if it gets nom's maybe it will come back.
Although I did not get a chance to write as much as I wanted about them due to a
time crunch, there were some very good short films at this year’s CUFF (the
Chicago Underground Film Festival), The best of the bunch was the surrealist
fantasy, The Rainbow Bridge, but I also enjoyed the doc, Jennifer Hirst which
was packed with fascinating interviews and Depression Anxiety and Rage by the
acclaimed no (no new) wave performance artist/singer Lydia Lunch.
Now here are my best films of the year list.
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1)
the CONCLAVE
Director-Edward Berger
After the sudden death of the pope. Cardinal
Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with assembling a conclave or secluded
assemblage to pick the new pope. Terrific ensemble acting (including Stanley
Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabelle Rossellini) and a sharp script that takes us
deep into the inner workings of the Catholic Church. Unlike many religious films
about the church, this is neither over idealized nor especially negative. The
process /campaign with its surprises, treachery, secrets, dirty tricks, and
double crosses and some candidates that are noble and want to make a difference
that lose is in some ways similar to the recent American elections.
Streaming on
Peacock.
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2)
Origin
Director-Ava
DuVernay
This often-brilliant docudrama about the origins
of social stratification follows an author who travels through India, the
American south, and Germany to find the roots of classism, and America as a
whole is really more like these biased cultures then we like to think. It also
illustrates different historical scenarios involving race including a mixed
marriage with a tragic ending. It is hard to think of a better film to see for a
class which discusses the issue of economic and racial social divisions. Based
on the terrific book, Castes which was also terrific. Unfairly neglected film
deserved a truckload of Oscar nominations.
Streaming on You tube, Google play,
Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime.
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3)
Dune Part 2
Director-Dennis
Villeneuve
Spectacular sequel develops the relationship between Paul Artredes
(Timothy Chalomel) and Chani (rising star Zandaya who was also terrific
in
Challengers)
from the excellent first film,
Dune
Part 1,
and it features a glorious scene involving a confrontation between the
hero and a sand worm that is a technical marvel. The director, Denis
Villanueve has a unique gift for doing sci-fi and he imbues the
characters with rare psychological complexity. An unusually intelligent
sci-fi film that includes compelling dialog and a truckload of
astonishing special effects. This David Lean influenced film which
captures enormous landscapes screams out to be seen on the big screen.
Streaming on Max, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Fandango at Home, and Google
Play.
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4)
Anora
Director-Sean
Baker
A lively, lovely, sometimes ugly variation on Pretty Woman tells the story
of a streetwise but in some ways naïve working girl who dances in a strip club.
One day she unwisely runs off and marries the decadent son of a Russian oligarch
who is rich but shockingly immature. The lead character Anora (also called Ani)
is easily the freshest role to come along for a new, young actress since Alana
Haim’s spectacular turn in the wonderful
Licorice Pizza
(2021). Mikey Madison’s career making performance is one of the year’s most
engaging and she is likely to get nominated for best actress in this year’s
Oscar race. The terrific director, Sean Baker who has made a name for his
sensitive multi-dimensional and unsentimental portrayals of sex workers in The
Florida Project and Tangerine hits his peak with this film. This life affirming
film which has an energy that is irresistible was the first film from the USA to
win the Palm D’Or since Tree of Life won in 2011.
Still playing at some theatres and it will soon be streaming on Neon.
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5)
Robot Dreams
Director-Pablo Berger
(Spanish/French) An utterly charming and highly
imaginative animated film about the unusual friendship between a lonely Labrador
and a primitive looking, wide eyed robot. They tour the best sights in New York
and have different adventures until the robot freezes up on a beach. About half
an hour of the film is devoted to his imaginative hallucinations and dreams.
This silent film says more and packs more of an emotional punch than almost any
film this year with dialogue.
Streaming on Hulu, Disney plus, YouTube, Google Play, Fandango at Home, Amazon
Prime, and Apple TV.
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6)
Sing Sing
Director-Greg Kwedar
Tough, tender and highly humanistic dramatic film about
the world-famous Rehabilitation through the Arts (RTA)
program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison in
California. Through the program the prison created a
theatre group comprised mostly of felons imprisoned for
serious crimes that put on shows in jails. This includes
fine performances by an ensemble comprised of
professional actors and real prisoners in the program
and Coleman Domingo gives perhaps the best male
performance of the year (he was also great in the last
year’s Netflix film, Rustin). The most tragic sequence
shows an inmate who is totally reformed who misses out
on parole because since he is an actor the board thinks
that he is only acting like a good guy to get free.
There is not a phony or unconvincing moment in the whole
film and it ranks right up there with the all-time great
prison pics like Cool Hand Luke and The Defiant Ones.
Few people saw the film when it first came out, but it
will get a wider re-release on January I7.
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7)
The Taste of Things
Director-Tran Anh-Hung
(French) Delicious love story about a man who employs a live-in cook who have a
very unconventional relationship. They often express their love and passion by
cooking for each other and she sometimes leaves the door open so he can join her
at night. Former real life couple Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimei have great
chemistry and the film is a sumptuous feast for the eyes and heart. The
characterization and dialogue are top notch, and this makes most American
romantic films look like kid’s stuff. In French with English subtitles,
Streaming on AMC, Acorn, YouTube, Sling, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Fandango at
Home, and Google Play.
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8)
I Saw the TV Glow
Director-Jane Schoenbrun
Visually striking and bizarre David Lynch influenced film about
alienated high school misfits that bond over a cult TV show that
gives young cinephile viewers much to identify with. The film
shows that a fictional work can help people find their real
selves or identities. This charming, creepy, and tender coming
of age film should please both fans of Stranger Things and the
Avant Garde, and at times the story and dialogue have a Stephen
King like feel. The relatively new director, Jane Schoenbrun,
who is trans (the film explores some gender identity related
themes) is one of the most promising talents to come out of
cinema in years.
Streaming on AMC, Acorn, YouTube, Sling, Amazon Prime, YouTube,
Fandango at Home, and Google Play.
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9)
Perfect Days
Director-Wim Wenders
(Japan/Germany) Lovely, understated, charming little film about
the day-to-day incidents in the life of a lowly, elderly toilet cleaner in
modern day Japan. He once had ambitions but now apparently wants nothing more
out of life. The film is spare and restrained without any special effects,
frills or flash and this special film’s greatest strength is it makes visual
poetry out of mundane and everyday occurrences. This humanistic film also
conveys the honor and nobility of a struggling working-class individual and his
ordinary pleasures and it makes wonderful use of Lou Reed’s classic ballad with
the same name. Like the song, the film Is happy on the surface but melancholy
underneath. From the German New Wave genius Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire) who
sees Japan and its regimentation from a unique cross-cultural perspective.
Nominated for Best International Film at the 2024 Academy Awards. In Japanese
with English subtitles. Streaming on Hulu, YouTube, Fandango, Google Play, and
Amazon Prime.
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10)
Don’t Expect Too Much from the End of the World
Director-Radu Jude
(Romania/Croatia/France/Luxembourg) Wickedly funny and timely film about a
female newscaster hired to make little propaganda/public safety films about
employees that got hurt for not following the office rules. But she finds out
that most of the time it was the company’s fault they were injured, and she is
supposed to mislead the public so the company can have good PR and they can
limit payouts This masterfully takes down Tic Tock and other social media
outlets and it shows that the Romanian New Wave is not over and the country is
still putting out some of the best films in the world. The most boldly modern
and experimental film of the year. In Romanian with English subtitles. Streaming
on Amazon Prime and Fandango at Home.
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Honorable Mentions (#11-25)
11) The Old Oak (UK/France/Belgium) Beautiful
little low budget film about the unlikely friendship between
a vulnerable Muslim immigrant and a seasoned UK bar owner
which often borders on unromantic love. As he gets involved
in her immigrant community life and allows immigrant
meetings to be held at his bar his regular customers feel
neglected and react negatively. This all leads to the bar
owner paying a terrible price for his kindness and
compassion. Another fine film by the great British film
maker, Ken (Land and Freedom) Loach, this nearly matches the
quality of last year’s immigrant themed film,
R.M.N.
Streaming
on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, and Fandango at Home.
12)
The Hit Man
The film is not what you think. Richard (Apollo 10 ½) Linklater’s noir influenced dramady is
about a mild-mannered college philosophy professor who works
for the police to entrap people who want to hire assassins
so they can be arrested. He is fabulous at the job because
he does lots of research and in a sense takes on different
personalities to become whatever the potential clients are
looking for. But things get complicated when he falls for
one of his potential clients. Partially inspired by a true
story. Streaming exclusively on Netflix
13)
Love Lies Bleeding Grim, gritty, and sexy lesbian
neo noir about a woman in a terrible household (played by
the underrated Kristen Stewart) that is run by a crime lord
father (well-played by Ed Harris.) She falls for an unstable
steroid taking body builder (Kay O’ Brien) who only brings
trouble and increased danger to her life. This film, in a
different way than Little Reindeer (look for the review here
soon) cleverly plays with and often reverses the binary
relations and tropes in traditional film noirs.
Streaming on
YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Fandango at Home.
14)
Maxxxine
New reigning queen, Mia Goth is wonderful as a porn star who
desperately yearns to be a respectable actress in this
deliberately arty and retro sort of slasher film. But after
she gets a major role in a horror film her life begins
to unravel when many of her friends end up dead and
they are murdered by someone connected to her past. Lurid,
violent, spell binding and delightfully sleazy final film in
the X Trilogy is beautifully shot and it manages to
successfully channel Brian De Palma psychosexual classics
like Dressed to Kill (80), and Body Double (84) as well as
Italian giallo films such as Suspiria. (77) and Inferno
(80).
Streaming on Max and Hulu. YouTube, Sling, Amazon
Prime, Google Play, and Fandango at Home
15) Thelma June Squibb plays a gutsy, ninety
something determined grandmother who goes on a quest to get
her money back after she is victimized by a con man in an
Internet scam. Featuring an unexpected but wonderful
supporting performance by Richard Roundtree who played the
original king of the blaxploitation cops, Shaft.
Streaming
on Hulu, Disney plus, Fandango at Home, Amazon Prime,
YouTube and Google Play.
16)
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Fast paced and excited prequel to
Mad Max: Fury Road which
nearly matches its fine predecessor focuses on the
heart-breaking origin story of Furiosa, who was taken from
her matriarchal society and adopted by the villainous
delightful mentor (Chris Hemsworth in his best role.)
Furiosa is no Mary Sue and she grows into a
multi-dimensional character as she goes through her trials
and tribulations. Not a masterpiece but this is much better
than it had to be and it is the best action film of the
year. Anya Taylor Joy has proven she can do anything, and
her mere presence is enough to get me to see any future or
past film.
Streaming on Max, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon Prime,
Fandango at Home and Google Play.
17) The Bike Riders Beyond a doubt one of the most
realistic and satisfying biker films, and it is also one of
the more celebrated Indy films of the year It gets deeper
into “biker culture” than anything since the Hell’s Angels
book by Hunter S.Thompson, and it explores it as an
alternative lifestyle worthy of respect showing both the
advantages and pitfalls. A documentary like film has many
allusions to previous biker films like Easy Rider and The
Wild One and it should be especially enjoyable to fans of
the genre. It is also one of the grittiest and most
authentic biker films of all time. Among the many terrific
performances, Austin Pendleton as a young recruit, Tom Hardy
as his mentor and Jodie Comer is a standout in one of the
year’s most oddly unforgettable performances as his
long-suffering girlfriend. The recruit is torn between his
outlaw biker lifestyle plus his lover of danger and the
demands of marriage. Look for a longer review on this page
soon.
Streaming on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Fandango
at Home.
18)
The Substance
Mesmerizing and thoughtful feminist body horror film that
was heavily influenced by David Cronenberg uses comedy and
gory special effects well to comment on the compromises and
the hard choices women have to make to stay in the still
heavily male dominated entertainment industry. Demi Moore
makes a devil’s pact to stay young which comes with a
terrible price. She gets to use a younger female body for a
few hours a day but if she switches bodies too late her
older body will age. Demi gives a marvelous comeback
performance and she is almost matched by the splendid and
intense Margaret Qualley playing the same character in a
younger body (they have a Jekyll and Hyde like
relationship). The biggest thing that mars this often-great
film is a too long and overwrought ending which made the
film too much of a good thing.
Streaming on Mubi and VOD.
19) The Promised Land (Denmark/Germany) Sensitive
and beautifully acted historical part film about a man who
gets permission from the government to cultivate some land
in the US, but nature and corrupt politicians get in his
way. He hires a female worker and somewhere along the way he
begins to fall for her. Reminiscent of an old sprawling
Billie August or Igmar Bergman film or miniseries which is a
great compliment. In Danish and German with English
sub-titles.
Streaming on You Tube, Google Play, Fandango at
Home.
20) Kneecap (Ireland)- Terrific docu drama about a
real controversial rap group (They are kind of like the hip
hop equivalent to the Sex Pistols) that caused controversy
and chaos with their politically charged recordings and
performances. Their anti-English lyrics and actions
repeatedly get them into hot water and they along with their
manager risk everything for free expression. A probable
nominee for best International Film at the Oscars. In Irish
English with English subtitles.
21) Cabrini Touching and inspirational bio pic about
their Italian immigrant who became the first American who
was canonized. This well told film about a struggling nun
who fights for the poor and faces many barriers when she
establishes a hospital. This is a rare religious themed film
that does not proselytize and is never heavy handed with a
socially conscious message. This is one of the best in a new
wave of Christian Indy films and it should please fan of the
TV show The Chosen, which is excellent even if you are a not
religious.
Streaming exclusively on Angel Studio website.
I could not choose between the next two animated films so
they are tied.
22A)
Flow (Latvia) Superb, lovingly done silent
animated film that combines both modern and more traditional
techniques; it used both hand drawn images as well as the
art styles of GameCube and PS2 X-Box. It focuses on a small
group of animals that meet by chance and slowly become
allies and eventually friends. Although they are all silent
animals cartoon figures, they are often developed better
than recent Marvel/Disney characters. A likely Best animated
Film Oscar nominee and I would not be surprised if it won.
Still playing at some theatres.
22B)
Robot Dreams
Superior film with gorgeous animation about a
unique friendship between a cute gosling and his robot
companion. It is based on the 2016 novel of the same name by
Peter Brown. The film and book received their titles because
the author wanted to explore what would happen if a robot
was stuck in the wild where it becomes a kind of surrogate
mother to a gosling. The film has been a big success in
bringing people to the theaters and a sequel is already
being planned. Among the delightful voice actors used are
Mark Hamill, Catherine O Hara, and Pedro Pascal.
Unfortunately, it had the misfortune of being released in
the same year as the similar Robot Dreams which is even more
excellent.
Streaming soon on Peacock.
23)
American Fiction
This
clever meta-dramedy effectively satirizes the attitudes
towards race by book publishers and to a lesser degree
Hollywood producers. It is about a serious but unsuccessful
author who can’t get his book published who anonymously
authors an intentionally stereotypical book which panders to
the lowest common denominator and it becomes an instant
massive overnight success, It recalls Robert Townsend's
classic comedy Hollywood Shuffle and to a lesser extent
Spike Lee’s Bamboozled-which was cruder, but it is more
serious and thoughtful than its predecessors.
Streaming on
Amazon Prime, MGM plus, YouTube, Philo, Fandango at Home,
and Google Play.
24) The Rainbow Bridge Goofy and experimental film
about a woman who hires an agency to help connect her with
her dead pet and she ends up in a visually striking and
surreal animal afterlife. One of the undisputed highlights
at this year’s Chicago Underground Film Festival, which is
known for showing superior offbeat short films.
25) Coup De Chance (French) Believe it or not Woody
Allen makes a film that compares favorably to most rom coms
in a film in French that often recalls Eric Rohmer’s works
like Boyfriends and Girlfriends more than his own classics
like Manhattan or Annie Hall. This has crisp, realistic
dialogue, and it is good that Woody did not create any one
character here that represents himself.
Streaming on
Fandango at Home, Xumo Play, The Roku Channel, Prime Viveo
and Apple TV.
Runner Ups:
Civil War,
Deadpool & Wolverine,
La Chimera,
Longlegs, The Monk and
the Gun, My Old Ass, Piano Lesson, Rebel Ridge,
Saturday
Night,
and Strange Darlings
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Vittorio Carli, who teaches at area community colleges and has reviewed films
for The Star and The
Examiner. He is an avid film buff and an author.
His latest book "Tape Worm Salad with Olive Oil for Extra Flavor" is also
available.
You can find more of his writings at.
www.chicagopoetry.org
For more of his reviews including previous Top 10 lists go to
www.artinterviews.org,
www.artinterviews.org/best.
and
www.reelmoviecritic.com
Come to the New Poetry Show on the first Saturday of every month at
Tangible Books in Bridgeport from 7-9 at 3324 South Halsted
January 4-Dami Andonova, Matt Churney, Dina Marie Marguerite
Patrick-Stewart, and Eric Allen Yankee
February 7-Felissia Mae Cappeletti, Chiron Kingfish, and Adrienne
Sunshine Nadeu |
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