BACK IN TOWN
On O return visit, ii Li Liam N Neeson awed d b by C Chicago’s changing skyline
NEW YORK— In the thriller film “The Commuter” ( opening Friday), Liam Neeson plays a New Yorker and former cop placed in a seemingly impossible life- and- death situation during his regular train trip home.
The actor observed real- life commuting to helping him create his character. “I know you have a big commuter train scene in Chicago, like there is in New York, but in recent years I’ve used a lot of trains in Britain. Especially when I knew I was going to do this film with Jaume [ Collet- Serra, the director with whom the actor has shot four movies], I watched other passengers carefully, trying to imagine what they were all about, who they were, and what was their back story.”
Neeson was back in Chicago last summer—“for the first time in like close to 30 years! The last time I was there was to shoot ‘ Next of Kin’ [ 1989] with Patrick Swayze and Bill Paxton. We played brothers, and that was awesome. This last summer I was there to make a Steve McQueen film with Viola
Davis. … The screenplay was written by a Chicagoan, by the way: Gillian Flynn, who wrote ‘ Gone Girl.’ ” While filming “Widows,” he “went for a walk along your lakefront. I couldn’t believe how the skyline had changed. I later went back and looked at photos I took in the ’ 80s when I was there making ‘ Next of Kin.’ All the new buildings that have gone up have so changed your skyline. Still beautiful, but very different.”
† One of Neeson’s co- stars in the film is Patrick Wilson, who portrays a police officer and a former colleague of Neeson’s character. “Playing a cop comes naturally to me,” said Wilson, explaining he had police officer friends and family members “who used to be cops.”
Since Wilson lives in New Jersey, he frequently commutes via train into New York City. “Like people in Chicago, I put in my ear buds and slip into my own world. But as an actor, as somebody who loves to study people for inspiration, I occasionally do check out other passengers. Lately, one of the things I’ve been wondering, ‘ What’s the story behind those tattoos?’ You see so many of these days— I know there’s a story behind them, I usually just can’t figure them out!”
Chicago bridal pro at center of ‘ The Perfect Fit’ reality show
Shannelle Armstrong- Fowler has a lot on her plate. Along with teaching business courses at Columbia College Chicago, the former Fortune 500 PR and marketing executive owns a successful upscale bridal boutique for larger sizes — and now will be the star of “The Perfect Fit,” premiering on People TV on Tuesday. The sixepisode series was filmed in Armstrong- Fowler’s Haute & Co. Bridal Boutique, 1760 N. Clybourn.
According to the high- powered entrepreneur, social media “has helped so much in helping positive body image and women celebrating their bodies, no matter their size.”
Commenting on how the largesize women’s apparel industry has changed in recent years, Armstrong-Fowler notes she and other large- size retailers “still push back with certain designers over sizes. We are hopeful that at some point there will be a democratization of sizing, and approaches to sizing.” However, she is delighted she has been able to build a business offering “sizes up to 36 and top- quality fashion that is up- to- date with the latest trends in the bridal field.”
Calling Chicago a “magical city,” Armstrong-Fowler said her primary clientele “does come from the tri- state area of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, but we get brides from all over the country— Colorado, Houston, New York, L. A. and interestingly enough a lot from Florida.” As for her home base, the retailer and now reality TV personality pointed out, “Chicago is not only a world- class city, but on ‘ The Perfect Fit,’ viewers will see the city offers so much — from first- class restaurants to our beautiful lakefront to hotels, parks and wedding venues that are the best. Very few places can deliver for a bride like Chicago can.”
Why so many Florida brides? “I did a little research,” said Armstrong-Fowler. “I realized there are often $ 59 specials on flights out of Midway— allowing a bride to fly up here, get a great wedding dress and fly back home for not a lot of money!”
Pete Holmes to preview new season of ‘ Crashing’ in Chicago
Giving a boost to the second season of his “Crashing” comedy series on HBO, Pete Holmes will be hosting a preview event in Chicago this week at Blu Dot, 1953 N Clybourn. The Thursday evening program will include a Q& A with Holmes and new cast member Jamie Lee, plus a screening of the new season’s first two episodes as well as a reception.
Details about the event and limited tickets are available on the Crashing HBO Facebook page. The eight- episode second season of “Crashing” debuts at 9: 30 p. m. Sunday on HBO.