My final take on Sundance: listen in for all the movies you SHOULD see in 2018! I dish on Bernard and Huey, American Animals, The Tale, RBG, Three Identical Strangers, Shirkers and Quiet Heroes.  For more information, visit http://TheDinnerParty.tv .

You had to figure that, among all the great films at Sundance, there would be a bunch that just didn't work...at least, not for me.  Of course, just like I couldn't see all the great films at Sundance, there were probably many other films that weren't very good that I didn't get to see. Thus, this list is only of the films that I was able to see and that I thought either didn't come together, weren't well done, or I just flat out didn't get.  Listen in to hear my list of a few of the films that you may want to avoid in 2018.  For more information, visit http://TheDinnerParty.tv .

From Sundance, I sit down with Nicolas Cage who gets real and tells about the creation of the film, Mandy, with awesome director, Panos Cosmatos, and fellow actor, Linus Roache. The respect and camaraderie are palpable and yes, Nicolas Cage is exactly as you would imagine him! Plus, Nicolas and I talk about his famous art collection and legendary encounter with Dale Chihuly. Check it! Listen in! For more information, visit http://TheDinnerParty.tv/ .

It was an Ethan Hawke love fest on the Blaze film red carpet at the recent Sundance Film Festival.  Actors Alia Shawkat, Richie Montgomery and Josh Hamilton gush about their experience on set with Ethan, and it is easy to understand why. I have one of the most sincere and joy-filled conversations with Ethan Hawke, who still holds the torch for his craft as if this was his first movie.   Listen in as we talk about the art of making movies, working with friends and the women's movement. For more information, visit http://TheDinnerParty.tv .

A film that got LOTS of buzz at Sundance and won three awards was Search.  Directed by newcomer, Aneesh Changaty (won the Audience Award: NEXT and the Albert P. Sloane Award) and produced by award-winner Sev Ohanian, stars Debra Messing and John Cho have lots to say about this new film.  In addition, I also dish with Debra on Will and Grace and the women's movement.

Praised for its technologically new approach to filmmaking, I highly recommend Search, a film about a father who takes the law into his own hands and conducts a search for his missing daughter on-line.  Listen in! For more information, visit TheDinnerParty.tv/podcast .

From a bustling red carpet awaiting Keira Knightley, I interview Dominic West, Ray Panthaki and director, Wash Westmoreland of the Oscar-worthy film, Colette, at the Sundance Film Festival. For more information, visist TheDinnerParty.tv .

From Sundance, I interview director Ben Lewin of The Catcher Was A Spy movie, featuring Paul Rudd and Paul Giamatti, about the life of Moe Berg. I also interview actor Hiroyuki Senada, review the movie Lizzie starring Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart, and dish on The Game Changers premiere after-party. For more information or to view the video, visit TheDinnerParty.tv/Podcast .

In the first of many podcasts from Sundance, I speak with Maggie Gyllenhaal and the cast of the film, The Kindergarten Teacher, from the madness that is the red carpet at the Sundance Film Festival. We talk about the women's movement, art in America, race in America and, of course, film!  For more information, visit, TheDinnerParty.tv/Podcast. 

Film Director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Chain Reaction, Holes, Under Siege, Steal Big, Steal Little) sits down with me at the Third Coast Cafe in Chicago to discuss his most personal and first movie, currently re-released, Stony Island, about his hometown, Chicago, in the 1970s. For more information, visit http://TheDinnerParty.tv/podcast/. 

Are truth and justice still the American Way? Documentary filmmaker, Steve James, joins me in LA to discuss his newest film. Best known for his Academy Award nominated film, Hoop Dreams, and other films such as The Interrupters and Life Itself, James’ newest film is called, Abacus, Small Enough to Jail. Over Steve’s surpise favorite snack, we dish on the movie which centers around The Sung Family’s David and Goliath tale in which they take on the District Attorney of NYC in hopes of saving face, their business, the New York Chinese community and their family name. So grab some good take out and listen in to my interview with director, Steve James.

For more information, visit http://TheDinnerParty.tv/podcast .

I dish with actress, model (um, Sexiest Swimsuit Model in the WORLD, according to Maxim) and animal activist, Joanna Krupa on the red carpet of her newest movie, You Can't Have It, scheduled for release Friday, March 17, 2017. (Producer Lyle Howry.)

Joanna reveals the early difficulties of coming to America from Poland as a little girl with her mother.  With no money, she's worked her way to the top, all while keeping a big heart.  We also chat about You Can't Have It, breaking into acting from modeling, her work with animals and favorite snacks.  Listen in!   For more information, visit http:TheDinnerParty.tv/podcast .

What does it mean to be a movie producer? More specifically, what exactly does a movie producer do?

Movie producer and CEO of Oddlot Entertainment, Gigi Pritzker, joins me in the WGN Studios. Over Beet Bruschetta with black kale, smoked pecans, red onions, and whipped goat cheese, and a Spinach and Endive Salad with apple, pecorino, hempseed and buttermilk dressing from Lula Cafe, we discuss just how the heck movies actually get made.

Gigi Pritzker has been producing films for most of her adult life. In 2001 she began OddLot Entertainment, a film production and financing company. Based in Los Angeles and Chicago, OddLot’s past releases include Jon Stewart’s directorial debut, Rosewater; Ivan Reitman’s Draft Day, starring Kevin Costner; the highly-anticipated adaptation of the sci-fi novel, Ender’s Game with Harrison Ford; the directorial debut of Academy Award® winning writers, Jim Rash and Nat Faxon’s, The Way, Way Back; the critically acclaimed Drive, starring Ryan Gosling; and Rabbit Hole, the 2010 Academy Award®-nominated film starring Nicole Kidman. Now, Hell or High Water, with Jeff Bridges, is up for an Academy Award® for Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Original Screenplay and Bridges for Best Supporting Actor.

Pull up a chair and your favorite snack, and enjoy the latest podcast of The Celebrity Dinner Party with Elysabeth Alfano on WGN Radio, featuring movie producer, Gigi Pritzker. For more information, visit http://TheDinnerParty.tv