Chicago Cab

1997 American film

Paul Dillon
Michael Ironside
Laurie Metcalf
John C. Reilly
Gillian Anderson
John Cusack
Julianne Moore

CinematographyHubert TaczanowskiEdited byMary Cybulski
John TintoriMusic byPage Hamilton

Production
companies

Child's Will Productions
GFT Entertainment
New Crime Productions

Distributed byCastle Hill Productions

Release dates

October 1997 (Chicago International Film Festival)

September 18, 1998 (1998-09-18)

(theatrical)

Running time

96 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBox office$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.^[1] 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.^[2]

The film received criticism for having unrealistic taxi passengers, since all of the characters have an exciting story.^[1] Roger Ebert, however, gave it three stars out of four, saying "Drama is always made of the emotional high points."^[1] 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."^[3]

Chicago Cab was released on DVD on April 7, 2009.^[4]

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

^ ^a ^b ^c Ebert, Roger (October 2, 1998). "Chicago Cab". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
^ "Chicago Cab". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
^ Levy, Emanuel (March 8, 2006). "Chicago Cab". Emanuel Levy. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
^ "Chicago Cab". DVD Empire. Retrieved October 27, 2013.