Chicago Cab . Austin Chronicle . 03-23-98

Chicago Cab

DIRECTED BY: Mary Cybulski

REVIEWED: 03-23-98

A special hell is reserved for bartenders and cabdrivers, folks who are forced to listen to the angst of the world, delivered by the souls who wander in and can't afford actual therapy. This kind of verbal vomit gets worse during the holidays, as emotions stretch like an overtuned guitar string. The cabdriver, soulfully played by Paul Dillon in Cybulski and Tintori's Chicago Cab, can personally attest to the inner workings of this level of hell as he cruises Chicago's streets, picking up the devilish, the stoned, the abused, and the powerful, all of whom view his backseat as a therapist's couch. UT film alumnus Will Kern's screenplay captures the essence of human flotsam, and the skillful cast, including names such as Gillian Anderson, John Cusack, Julianne Moore, and Laurie Metcalf, bring depth and dimension to each character, no matter how bizarre. Dillon himself does a remarkable job of tying this whole slice-of-humanity together with an amused, cynical, and full-fleshed performance that fills the screen with heartfelt substance and cautious amusement. The directors' skill with pace ensures that these dialogues never last too long and keeps Dillon's hell from becoming ours as well.

--Adrienne Martini

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Chicago Cab

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Chicago Cab

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