Chicago International Film Festival 2013
October 9, 2013
Chicago International Film Festival 2013
The 49th Chicago International Film Festival opens this Thursday, October 10 with The Immigrant starring Marion Cottillard. Jeremy Renner, and Joaquin Phoenix.If you are in the Midwest, you might want to come to Chicago to see some of these films which run through October 24 including:
Immigrant, The
(2013) - 120 min - R
Drama, History
Marian Cotillard gives a moving performance as Ewa(pronounced Eva) who is desperate to see her sister again and falls prey to Bruno Weiss. He is not entirely evil, but evil enough. Later, his cousin,... More
Nebraska
(2013) - 115 min - R
Comedy, Drama
Bruce Dern, playing a really old guy who is somewhat senile, is Woody who gets a magazine sweepstakes letter in the mail and is sure he has won a million dollars. He wants to travel from his home in... More
Inside Llewyn Davis
(2013) - 105 min - R
Drama
Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. A gritty performance by Oscar Isaac. He sleeps on the couches of friends and acquaintances, tries to arrange an abortion for the wife of a friend whom he... More
12 Years A Slave
(2013) - 133 min - R
Biography, Drama, History
This true and terrifying story is difficult to watch; yet you should see it. It is nearly impossible to believe that only 150 years ago we enslaved people and treated them worse than animals. Solomon... More
Book Thief, The
(2013) - 131 min - PG13
Drama, War
For me, this is perhaps the best movie of 2013. It touches many chords and sentiments with even some humor usually provided by Papa played by Geoffrey Rush or Liesl's best friend Rudy. As the years... More
August: Osage County
(2013) - 130 min - R
Drama
A star cast and beautiful performances in this adaptation of Tracy Letts play. It opens in limited release on Christmas Day 2013 and hopes for some Oscar nominations. Julia Roberts is perhaps the... More
Bank Lady
(2013) - 118 min - R
Action, Crime/Mystery, Drama, Foreign, History, Romance
While a bit like Bonnie and Clyde, this German movie , also a true story, tells the tale of Gisela and Hermann, bank robbers in Hamburg. Gisela is disguised by wigs and very fashionable clothing as... More
Blue Is the Warmest Color
(2013) - 179 min - NC17
Drama, Romance
While beautifully filmed, this movie is very, very graphic sexually. Some might describe it as pornographic. It is NC17 rated which means you must be 17 or older to be admitted to the movie. It is... More
Domestic
(2012) - 100 min - PG13
Comedy, Drama
This comedy tells the story of three families whose children love animals and want to "save" them. The parents pretend not to like animals but actually do-especially the Dads. Tragedy ensues and... More
Elaine Strich: Shoot Me
(2013) - 85 min - R
Documentary
Elaine Strich is remarkable. At 86 going on 87 she still performs from her base at the Carlyle Hotel in New York. She is diabetic and often forgets lyrics, but is memorable. You also see her... More
Pact, A (Zum Geburtstag)
(2013) - 85 min - PG13
Drama, Foreign, Suspense/Thriller
This thriller builds slowly and ultimately differently from what you expect. As teenagers, two boys make a pact. Afterwards, Georg returns many years later as his friend's boss. Does he want Anna... More
Priest’s Children, The (Svecenikova Djeca)
(2013) - 98 min - NR
Comedy, Drama
I found this movie very humorous if ultimately a critical view of the Church. A young priest comes up with an idea during confession. He conspires with the local druggisst and variety store owner to... More
Philomena
(2013) - 98 min - PG13
Biography, Drama, History
Judi Dench plays a different kind of role, although no less impressive, as a simple Irish woman who became pregnant as a young girl and was sent to an Irish Abbey where the nuns gave away the... More
Trucker and Fox(Ranandeh va Roobah)
(2013) - 78 min - NR
Documentary, Drama, Foreign
This relatively short documentary is charming when you see the passion and sweetness of this grandfather trucker who loves animals and very patiently makes films about them. Over the last 10 years he... More
1000 Times Good Night
(2013) - 111 min - R
Drama, Foreign
Occasionally, a movie has a real impact. This winner of the Toronto Film Festival's Grand Prix 2013 is one of those movies. Juliette Binoche plays Rebecca who is one of the world's top war... More
Wolfschildren (Wolfskinder)
(2013) - 91 min - NR
Drama, History
This is a tragic history of which many of us were not aware. Hans and Fritz struggle to find food for their dying mother. After her death, they try to find the farm of some distant friends armed only... More
Miracle(Miraklet), The
(2013) - 89 min - NR
Drama, Foreign, Romance
The music and cinematography of this Danish gem is beautiful. Johanna once was engaged to Jakob but wanted to excel at dance competitions and changed partners. A car crash left her crippled, and... More
