Chicago is My Home

10
Nov

‘What Would Jesus Buy?’ From ‘Super Size Me’ Producer Opens in Chicago on Nov. 30

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Documentary

---

Morgan Spurlock, who you’ll remember from gaining 25 pounds eating nothing but McDonald’s in the game-changing documentary “Super Size Me,” is back as the producer of “What Would Jesus Buy?”.

In Chicago, the documentary opens on Nov. 30 at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema. The film will also open in Austin, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco.

2 Comments

09
Nov

Scoop: Stacy Keach From ‘American History X,’ ‘Prison Break’ Joins ‘Chicago Overcoat’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Independent Film

---

I just received a detail-packed casting update about “Chicago Overcoat,” which has been and continues to film in Chicago. This information comes from casting director Chris Charles.

Hello, Adam. We are on day 35 of 50 for “Chicago Overcoat” and the production is running smoothly.

I just thought I’d send you an update on the film. I am very pleased to report that veteran actor Stacy Keach (“American History X,” “Prison Break”) recently joined the cast of “Chicago Overcoat”.

Stacy Keach
Photo credit: Jemal Countess, WireImage.com

Keach was in town last week to play retired Chicago detective Ray Berkowski: a character who provides crucial information that propels the plot forward.

Keach, who has performed for years at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will share screen time with his old friend, Danny Goldring, who plays detective Ralph Maloney in the film.

Goldring was Keach’s understudy for the Goodman’s 2004 production of Arthur Miller’s “Finishing the Picture”. Three years later, they are acting side by side in “Chicago Overcoat”.

1 Comment

08
Nov

Robert Redford to Walk ‘Green Carpet’ Tonight in Chicago For ‘Lions For Lambs’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Film

---

I just learned moments ago that Robert Redford will be in Chicago tonight at AMC River East 21 to walk an environmental “green carpet” to promote “Lions For Lambs”. The event is a private benefit.

Robert Redford in “Lions For Lambs”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Redford directs and stars in the film along with Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. “Lions For Lambs” opens wide on Nov. 9.

Leave a Comment

06
Nov

Confirmed: ‘Eagle Eye’ Filming in Chicago From Nov. 6 to 16

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Film

---

Since actor Shia LaBeouf popped up on the Chicago grid this weekend and was arrested following an incident at a Walgreens on the Magnificent Mile, we questioned which film he was in town to film.

Michelle Monaghan (left) and Rosario Dawson.
Photo credit: IMDb

IMDb lists LaBeouf as only having two projects in the works: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “Eagle Eye”. We know the new Indiana Jones didn’t film in Chicago and we logically assumed “Eagle Eye” would be it.

I can now confirm that LaBeouf is in Chicago for “Eagle Eye” filming.

Rich Moskal, director of the Chicago Film Office, told me on Tuesday: “‘Eagle Eye’ is currently scheduled to be filming in Chicago and the surrounding area from Nov. 6 to 16.”

Shia LaBeouf (left) and Billy Bob Thornton.
Photo credit: IMDb

Directed by D.J. Caruso (“Disturbia,” “Taking Lives”), the film stars Shia LaBeouf (“Transformers,” “Disturbia”), Michelle Monaghan (“Gone Baby Gone”), Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton (“The Astronaut Farmer”).

In “Eagle Eye,” IMDb says “a young slacker and a single mom get tangled up in a terrorist cell plotting a political assassination”.

Leave a Comment

06
Nov

True Story: Chicago ATM Spits Out $100, Immediately Sucks it Back

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: News of the Weird

---

This is a true story. To start off my Tuesday morning in Chicago on the wrong foot, I decided to use an ATM I’ve used only, oh, a hundred times before.

As my wallet stared me in the face with zeroes, I decided to roll with the big boys and debit 100 large. The ATM thought it funny to toss me my hard-earned lollipop and snatch it right back.

All prose aside, I literally debited $100 from an ATM in the grocery store where I live, the transaction processed as usual, the cash spewed out and not but a second later it sucked itself back in.

As the icing on the cake, the receipt then shot out displaying proudly that computer systems considered the transaction complete and the money is now gone from my account.

The store proprietor spoke little English except to say “not my problem”. There was no phone number on the ATM. All I had was my receipt. The printing on the receipt was faded and you could barely make out the words.

I called Chicago Community Bank, which was legible on the receipt. I had never heard of them. They said to call Chase, which is my bank. I went in person to snip this one right.

The personal banker there knew me. He called a toll-free number. That chap “trusted” my story and said the funds will be credited back within 24 to 48 hours as they research the claim.

Was this an ATM glitch or are ATMs actually designed to eat money after a certain amount of time? That’s the question.

Leave a Comment

05
Nov

‘Transformers’ Star Shia LaBeouf Arrested in Chicago, Charged With Criminal Trespassing

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Film

---

When “Transformers” star Shia LaBeouf was in Chicago this weekend, his trip went awry and he spent some time with Chicago police.

Shia LaBeouf
Photo credit: CBS 2 Chicago

The 21-year-old actor was reluctantly handled by security guards at a downtown Walgreens at 757 N. Michigan Ave. Around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, Chicago police arrested him due to his unwillingness to leave the store.

Chicago police said a security guard excessively told LaBeouf he wasn’t welcome and had to leave because he appeared to be drunk. LaBeouf refused and a guard called the cops.

Once the cuffs went on, police said LaBeouf was “very courteous and polite”. Police said he posted bond before 7 a.m. on Sunday. He is a resident of Glendale, Calif.

LaBeouf, who was charged with a misdemeanor for criminal trespassing, is slated to appear in court in on Nov. 28 at 9 a.m.

He was in Chicago to film a movie. IMDb only lists him as having two projects in the works: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “Eagle Eye”.

Leave a Comment

01
Nov

Vince Vaughn to Walk Chicago Red Carpet on Nov. 5 For ‘Fred Claus’

Author: Adam Fendelman, Category: Celebrity News, Film

---

I have just learned that Vince Vaughn is confirmed to walk a Chicago red carpet on Nov. 5 for “Fred Claus”. Red-carpet arrivals start at 5 p.m. that day on the second floor of AMC River East 21 at 322 E. Illinois St.

Paul Giamatti (left) and Vince Vaughn in “Fred Claus”.
Photo credit: IMDb

The event is presented by Warner Bros. and American Eagle Outfitters. Directed by David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers”), the film features Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Elizabeth Banks and Ludacris.

“Fred Claus” was filmed in Chicago and parts of England. The story centers around Fred Claus – Santa’s bitter, older brother – who is forced to move to the North Pole. The red-carpet event is open to the public.

1 Comment