Chicago Cab
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Chicago Cab (or Hellcab)
| image = Chicago cab dvd cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| director = Mary Cybulski
John Tintori
| producer = Suzanne De Walt
Paul Dillon
| writer = Will Kern
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Paul Dillon
- Michael Ironside
- Laurie Metcalf
- John C. Reilly
- Gillian Anderson
- John Cusack
- Julianne Moore}}
| music = Page Hamilton
| cinematography = Hubert Taczanowski
| editing = Mary Cybulski
John Tintori
| studio = Child's Will Productions
GFT Entertainment
New Crime Productions
| distributor = Castle Hill Productions
| released = October 1997 (Chicago International Film Festival)
{{Film date|1998|09|18}} (theatrical)
| runtime = 96 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| gross = $23,946
}}
Chicago Cab is a 1997 American drama film directed by Mary Cybulski and John Tintori. It is based on the play Hellcab by Will Kern.
Synopsis
The film follows an unnamed taxi driver (played by Paul Dillon) over one day in Chicago, shortly before Christmas. More than 30 passengers enter his taxi throughout the course of the film, providing brief looks into their personal lives.{{cite news|title=Chicago Cab|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/chicago-cab-1998|author=Ebert, Roger|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=October 2, 1998|accessdate=October 27, 2013}} Among the actors giving cameo appearances are Gillian Anderson, John Cusack, Laurie Metcalf, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Michael Shannon, Michael Ironside, and Reggie Hayes.
Release and reception
Chicago Cab had its premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival in October 1997, where it was nominated for a Golden Hugo Award. It was not released in movie theatres until September 18, 1998, when it played in two venues and earned $23,946.{{cite web|title=Chicago Cab|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=chicagocab.htm|publisher=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=October 27, 2013}}
The film received criticism for having unrealistic taxi passengers, since all of the characters have an exciting story. Roger Ebert, however, gave it three stars out of four, saying "Drama is always made of the emotional high points." Emanuel Levy also gave a positive review: "A compassionate portrait of a lonely cabbie is at the center of the serio comedy ... [the passengers] highlight perceptively the funny, scary and dreary moments in a typical working day of a city cab driver."{{cite web|title=Chicago Cab|url=http://emanuellevy.com/?s=hellcab|author=Levy, Emanuel|publisher=Emanuel Levy|date=March 8, 2006|accessdate=October 27, 2013}}
Chicago Cab was released on DVD on April 7, 2009.{{cite web|title=Chicago Cab|url=http://www.dvdempire.com/1453605/chicago-cab-movie.html|publisher=DVD Empire|accessdate=October 27, 2013}}
Cast
- Paul Dillon as Cab Driver
- Michael Ironside as Al
- Laurie Metcalf as Female Ad Executive
- John C. Reilly as Steve
- Gillian Anderson as South Side Girl
- John Cusack as Scary Man
- Julianne Moore as Distraught Woman
- Moira Harris as Religious Mother
- Darryl Theirse as X-hat
- Shanésia Davis-Williams as Lawyer
- Matt Roth as Male Ad Executive
- Ron Dean as Old Snack Trucker
- April Grace as Shalita
- Harry Lennix as Pissed Off Boyfriend
- Kevin J. O'Connor as South Side Guy
- Michael Shannon as Crack Head
- Shulie Cowen as Stoner Girl
- Andrew Rothenberg as Homer
- Tracy Letts as Sports Fan
- Hubert Taczanowski as Immigrant
- Tara Chocol as The Receptionist
- Reggie Hayes as Architect
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0119278}}
- {{rotten tomatoes|hellcab}}
Category:1997 comedy-drama films
Category:1997 directorial debut films
Category:American comedy-drama films
Category:1990s English-language films
Category:American films based on plays
Category:English-language comedy-drama films
{{1990s-US-comedy-drama-film-stub}}