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Mary Lane
A Quiet Place
(Mortenson), Best Supporting Actor (Ali),
Best Film-Drama, as well as SAG and Critics
Choice nominations.
Widows
Steve McQueen's first film in 5 years film
tells the tale of a robbery committed by four
women (Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez,
Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo), yet it’s as
far a cry from “Ocean’s 8” as you can get.
It’s a reality-based feminist caper that’s not
really a caper; it's about survival. In
Chicago’s criminal underworld, four men
die after a heist goes terribly wrong. Their
widows are forced to clean up the mess and
embark on a heist of their own — against
the backdrop of a corrupt political race for
the soul of the city. Colin Farrell, Brian
Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Jacki Weaver,
Robert Duvall, Liam Neeson also star, but
Viola Davis rocks this film.
A Quiet Place
John Krasinski directed this terrifying
and imaginative horror film and also co-
wrote the screenplay. The film also stars
Krazinski's and his real-life wife, Emily
Blunt, along with Millicent Simmonds and
Noah Jupe as a family facing unimaginable
struggles in a post-apocalyptic world inhab-
ited by blind monsters with an acute sense
of hearing. The film is nominated for multi-
ple awards, including a SAG Best
Supporting Actress nomination for Blunt.
Eighth Grade
In his feature film directorial debut,
comedian Bo Burnham deftly explores the
awkwardness, angst, self-loathing and rein-
vention that a teenage girl on the cusp of
high school must endure. Thirteen-year-old
Kayla (Elsie Fisher) experiences the tidal
wave of contemporary suburban adoles-
cence as she makes her way through the last
week of middle school -- the end of her
cringe-worthy and disastrous eighth-grade
year. This film has a slew of award nomina-
tions, from Golden Globe, Independent
Spirit, and Critics Choice, and star Fisher is
a revelation.
believe her, I lot of singers, I don’t believe
them,” explains producer Jim Tullio in the
film. He is producing her new album.
Travellin Women, which will be released on
March 8th with a record release party at
Buddy Guy’s Legends. The 10-track CD fea-
tures juke joint jammers like “Leave That
Wine Alone” as well as the soul-steeped bal-
lad “Let Me Into Your Heart,” and features
guest artists Billy Branch, Corky Siegel, and
the late Eddie Shaw.
If recording a new CD, starring in a doc-
umentary and kicking off a new blues series
at 83-years-old isn’t enough of a triumph,
Mary will be honored with a proclamation
by the City of Chicago on January 23. The
proclamation acknowledges the signifi-
cance of her career and highlights her work
at legendary blues clubs the Checkerboard
Lounge and Peppers Lounge, which she
also managed. It’s a full circle journey that
Mary is accepting wholeheartedly. “I may
give out, but I won’t give up,” she said.
Mary Lane performs at the Logan Center
Blues Series on January 14, with an interview
with Billy Branch at 7 pm and live music at
7:30, at the Logan Center, 915 E. 60th St. Lane
also appears on January 3rd & 24th at Rosa's
Lounge in Chicago.
A birthday tribute to the late Eddy
Clearwater will open on January 12 at 8 pm
at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave. in Evanston. A
celebration of what would have been the
blues legend’s 84th birthday will feature
Atlanta singer Sammy Blue performing 16
of Eddy’s original songs and appearances
by Billy Branch and Jimmy Johnson.
january
2019
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