Daniella

A lot of movies this year tried to talk about *what's happening here.* Daniella & Whitney discuss how Michael Shannon's directorial debut ERIC LARUE (written by Brett Neveu) accesses grief, discomfort, & anxiety through timelessness, rather than timeliness, succeeding where many others haven't.

We're so tired but we do really like da movies

Oh hell yeah, imagine my delight when seeing that one of my fav new podcasts @daniellamazzio.bsky.social’s Michael Shannon themed “Hand Me The Mike” has a new episode today, but also my wonderful friend @soberrabbit.bsky.social is the guest!
Go check that out where you listen to such things!

Hand Me the Mike #08: Eric LaRue with Whitney Wasson We don't want these wounds to get infected.

Truly one of my favorite conversations. Heavy (and for additional reasons that are explained in some timing notes in the intro lol), but covers a lot of ground and really gets into how people navigate (or avoid) discomfort around tragedy and fear.

room-tone.ghost.io/hand-me-the-...

A graphic that features an image of Judy Greer in Eric LaRue, multiple behind the scenes images of Michael Shannon directing, and the text: episode #08, Eric LaRue featuring Whitney Wasson.

Hand Me the Mike is BACK, baby, with a new episode on Shannon's directorial debut ERIC LARUE, featuring my dear dear friend
@soberrabbit.bsky.social.

Listen as we navigate some tough topics and talk about how the movie speaks to many feelings that have come to define 2025. 🔗➡️

Asking the near-impossible here but say a girl was putting together a last-minute and small film screening fundraiser, is there a venue or space that might be interested and/or available this month? lol

As with everything, when talking about the loss of cinemas, it's not just about whether cinemas survive--but for who? People who live in cities? Predominantly white communities? How does that dictate the independent scene? Repertory screenings?

Chicago movie theater accessibility is unequal across the city - Chicago Reader Chicago movie theater accessibility and distribution is limited for both chain and indie cinema, but the local scene is ready to adapt.

Good as time as any to re-up the piece that gave me my start at the @chicagoreader.com that gets into the decline of cinemas and how even in a city as big as Chicago, few audiences have access to even decide if they want to show up for smaller movies.

🫠 chicagoreader.com/film-tv/chic...

Review: Train Dreams - Chicago Reader Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams is a compelling and beautiful film, but it struggles as an adaptation to live up to its source material.

Most people know where I stand on Train Dreams but that doesn't stop me from thinking this is a great, well-written, informative piece on what many consider its shortcomings. chicagoreader.com/film-tv/movi...

Load-bearing 12 foot skeleton

Review: Train Dreams - Chicago Reader Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams is a compelling and beautiful film, but it struggles as an adaptation to live up to its source material.

In my latest piece for @chicagoreader.com, I reviewed the film adaptation of Train Dreams.

One big question I'm trying to work through: Can an adaptation engineered to *feel* faithful to a work, rather than *being* faithful to it, be considered a success? chicagoreader.com/film-tv/movi...

Ted Geltner’s "Flagrant, Self-Destructive Gestures" reconnects us with Denis Johnson - Chicago Review of Books In “Earth Angel,” a review of Denis Johnson’s posthumously-published short story collection, The Largesse of the Sea Maiden, Rachel Kushner shared an anecdote about attending a reading by Johnson in t...

For my first book review & my first piece in @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social since its early days, I'm keeping my Denis Johnson November rolling right along with a review of "Flagrant, Self-Destructive Gestures" Ted Geltner's new biography of Johnson.

chireviewofbooks.com/2025/11/19/t...

Review: Train Dreams - Chicago Reader Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams is a compelling and beautiful film, but it struggles as an adaptation to live up to its source material.

I wrote about Train Dreams for @chicagoreader.com. It looked beautiful on the big screen, but the best picture may be the one you conjure reading Denis Johnson's novella.
chicagoreader.com/film-tv/movi...

Review: Train Dreams - Chicago Reader Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams is a compelling and beautiful film, but it struggles as an adaptation to live up to its source material.

Joe had me read the beginning of TRAIN DREAMS to understand why he was losing his mind over the movie, and since, I too have lost my mind. Joe gets into what it means to sanitize such a deliberate structural choice from Johnson, leaving a pretty but empty film.

chicagoreader.com/film-tv/movi...

Review: Hedda - Chicago Reader Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler inspired director Nia DaCosta’s fresh depiction of the titular character’s sexuality and tragedy.

My latest for the Chicago Reader:

I had a lot of fun with Nia DaCosta's take on 'Hedda Gabler,' a fascinating adaptation where Hedda's complexity is transcribed to the gender-swapped Lovborg, enriching that character while flattening Hedda's.

chicagoreader.com/film-tv/movi...

A screenshot of the latest stories from the Chicago Reader homepage, featuring Review: Train Dreams by Joe Engleman, with subheader text reading: Clint Bentley's Train Dreams is a compelling and beautiful film, but it struggles as an adaptation to live up to its source material. Followed by Review: Hedda by Daniella Mazzio, with subheader text reading: Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler inspired director Nia DaCosta's fresh depiction of the titular character's sexuality and tragedy.

FILM CRITICISM IS ALIVE AND IN LOVE, BABY!!

You won't believe the conversations about adaptation (and streaming services) @joeengleman.bsky.social and I have been having around the house lately.

Read my dive on HEDDA and Joe's on TRAIN DREAMS now online @chicagoreader.com ❤️‍🔥

‘Like shooting fish in a barrel’ - Chicago Reader Federal agents have repeatedly terrorized rideshare drivers at O’Hare International Airport.

Check out @dmbrown-tboy.bsky.social's @chicagoreader.com piece about how rideshare drivers at O'Hare are being targeted. chicagoreader.com/news/border-...

Review: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - Chicago Reader Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere resists the spirit of creative risk that inspired it and glosses over a very significant relationship.

Incredibly fortunate to have my first film review published yesterday & in the @chicagoreader.com no less! It's about SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE.
chicagoreader.com/film-tv/movi...

Review: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - Chicago Reader Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere resists the spirit of creative risk that inspired it and glosses over a very significant relationship.

My dear @joeengleman.bsky.social has debuted his first piece of film criticism, and it's a doozy taking on SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE and Jon Landau's influence on the Boss as documented in "Mansion on the Hill."

From Joe for the @chicagoreader.com ❤️:
chicagoreader.com/film-tv/movi...

Listen to me talk about the Bolivian film THE CONDOR DAUGHTER (which I believe still does not have distribution) ❤️

Cullen Atchley and Emilio Diaz of @cannesikickit.bsky.social joined us to wrap up the Chicago Int'l Film Festival! ft. recs from @isaacfeldberg.bsky.social, @anotherkylel.bsky.social, Brennan McMahon, @daniellamazzio.bsky.social, @cineniche.bsky.social, Zachary Lee + Steve Prokopy bit.ly/47IxD1h

ALERTA COMUNITARIA UBICACIÓN: ALBANY PARK, VARIOS LUGARES FECHA: 31 DE OCTUBRE DEL 2025 HORA: 9:30 AM Voluntarios han confirmado la presencia de la Patrulla Fronteriza y del ICE en Albany Park. Hemos confirmado avistamientos en Lawrence, entre Central Park y California. Los agentes vestían ropa de camuflaje y fueron vistos en una camioneta Ford Silverado negra con placas de Missouri WM8 V5. ¡Es probable que el ICE siga en la zona! ¡Por favor, quédense en casa! SI VE POSIBLE ACTIVIDAD DE ICE, LLAME A LA LINEA DE APOYO DE ICIRR: (855)-435-7693

COMMUNITY ALERT LOCATION: ALBANY PARK, MULTIPLE LOCATIONS DATE: OCTOBER 31, 2025 TIME: 9:30 AM Volunteers have confirmed Border Patrol and ICE presence in Albany Park. We have confirmed sightings on Lawrence between Central Park and California. Agents are in camoflauge and were seen in a black Ford Silverado with Missouri plate WM8 V5. ICE is likely still in the area! Please stay home! IF YOU SEE ICE PLEASE REPORT TO ICIRR HOTLINE: (855)-435-7693

kristi noem promised federal agents would continue to terrorize chicagoland—and that’s exactly what they’re doing.

border patrol/ice currently rolling through the city’s northwest side. reports of abductions in albany park earlier this morning.

Devastating to hear about vendors taken at Swap O Rama. Back of the Yards has had no rest for weeks. Every day on assault on immigrants and anyone that is existing while Brown.

Alderwoman Julia Ramirez of the 12th Ward which spans part of the southwest side posted a video statement on social media. She says that her office can confirm there have been 30 detainments/kidnappings throughout the ward. She says that 15 people were taken at Swap-O-Rama in Back of the Yards.

Afterward, be sure to put on my Hand Me the Mike conversation on TAKE SHELTER with
@isaacfeldberg.bsky.social. PLUS: Prep for BUGONIA with SAVE THE GREEN PLANET! Seriously, don't miss this night of da pictures!

facets.org/programs/tak...

Screenshot of the Facets web page for Take Shelter.

Daniella holds a postcard featuring artwork for the podcast "Hand Me the Mike."

Chicago! Don't miss tonight's Cold Sweat double feature of TAKE SHELTER and SAVE THE GREEN PLANET at
@facetschicago.bsky.social!

If you go, you may even see a familiar postcard....

Before my first Chi Film Fest screening I turned to Joe and was like "who do you think did the voice over for the sizzle reel this year?" and then joked "what if it's Michael Shannon?" Well.....

Wall Street Journal Lays Off a Dozen Reporters, Editors From Health and Science News Team The Wall Street Journal has laid off around a dozen reporters and editors from its health, science and education verticals.

Layoffs at the WSJ, NBC News, and Penske Media this week. All the while these companies continue to tout 'record' quarters/years. Funny, that.

www.thewrap.com/wall-street-...

Really genuinely love that the chi film fest has been running with so many Michael Shannon photos for festival promo despite him not having anything there this year lol

Even in the local scene, I have an easier time getting Chicago updates on Instagram than I do here, even though all the news-y Chicago accounts moved here from Twitter. And I really don't want to get news from IG lol