| Chicago Cab (or Hellcab) | |
| Director: | Mary Cybulski John Tintori |
| Producer: | Suzanne De Walt Paul Dillon |
| 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) (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.
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.
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]