Chicago Critics Film Festival – May 2nd – 8th, 2025

THE BALTIMORONS – Opening Night. Writer/Director Jay Duplass creates a fun situation comedy when after cracking a tooth on Christmas Eve, newly sober Cliff (Michael Strassner) embarks on an unexpected May/December adventure through Baltimore with Didi, (Liz Larsen), his emergency dentist. The film won the Audience Award when it premiered at this year’s SXSW in March.  Jay Duplass, Michael Strassner and Liz Larsen will be in attendance for Q & A.

Brother Verses Brother – Inspired by Francis Coppola’s concept of Live Cinema, Brother Verses Brother is an incredible film shot in one take that is the personal musical odyssey of Ari and Ethan Gold. Combative twin musicians hunt for their dying poet father in an improvisation performed by the director’s own family. They tell the whole story in one single unbroken shot through Chinatown, North Beach and up Russian Hill in San Francisco. A piece of remarkable creativity, planning and photography.  One brother is looking for love and excitement, while the other just wants to do music. As night falls they strum and sing their story going through secret haunts of the Beat poets up to find their Dad, all done in real time. Ari and Ethan Gold will be in attendance for Q & A.

Fantasy Life -Writer/Director Matthew Shear plays Sam Stein, a nervous and depressed young man who loses his job as a paralegal, suffers a panic attack and accidentally gets a job babysitting the granddaughters of his therapist (Judd Hirsch). The girls’ mother, Dianne, (Amanda Peet in her first role in 10 years) is an actor whose once-promising career has stalled, she’s in a difficult marriage to David (Alessandro Nivola), a rock bassist constantly on tour. Dianne and Sam find a lot in common, including a shared history of mental illness. Mayhem ensues when Sam joins Dianne’s family to babysit for the summer on Martha’s Vineyard, in a house with the woman he pines for, her husband, three kids,  all four grandparents, and his psychiatrist. Fascinating film and relationships. Matthew Shear will be in attendance for Q & A. 

SORRY BABY – Writer/Director Eva Victor stars in a powerful personal film about, the aftermath of trauma, showing that whatever problems you have to deal with, life goes on. Victor handles all in this her first feature, with dark humor, realism, and a fairly light touch. Naomi Ackie in an excellent, performance as her loyal, caring, friend. Good to see Lucas Hedges again, in a different but sensitive,  romantic role. Eva Victor in attendance for Q & A. 

FRIENDSHIP –  Andrew De Young directs Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, and Kate Mara in a film that give new meaning to being a neighbor when suburban dad Craig tries to get a little too close to the new guy on the block, which starts out excitingly good, but hits some very slapstick, funny, but also disturbingly awkward, bumps along the way. Robinson flashes his crazy brand of comedy, while Rudd plays along as a really good sport. A lot of loud laughter from Robinson fans in the sold out crowd. Kate Mara as Craig’s wife trying to run her floral business encouraging him to get more social in a film for all about “Be careful what you wish for. Awkward, uncomfortable, but funny.