iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

What a cool surprise this week! A library patron who regularly attends my talks made me this incredible piece of book art—with the pages folded into the word MOVIES! ❤️

150

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

It’s certainly discussed, marketed, and reviewed as a satire (as well as a black comedy). 🤷🏼‍♀️ I have not seen it yet.

Quote: "We are living in a satire," Iñárritu said. "The more we stretched our imagination, reality was chasing and catching us. It was crazy.
Now I think the tone of the film feels almost realistic because if you turn on the TV, this is what is going on. The people in power are trying to convince all of us that everything is fine, and people want to buy that, and that's the power of someone like Digger."

110

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I’ve now seen two episodes and I have no idea how this can sustain as a series! 👀

121

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Thomas and Dick ain’t afraid to lay it out plainly, LOL: “Illinois is among the most corrupt states and Chicago is undoubtedly the most corrupt city in our nation. […] Four of the last eleven governors in Illinois went to jail.”

Book cover: Corrupt Illinois: patronage, cronyism, and criminality, by Thomas Gradel

210

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Nice! Caught ‘em filming around Berwyn too.

010

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Christopher Nolan is wrong about a lot of things (particularly when representing women onscreen), but he ain’t lyin’ about Chicago:

Quote: “I think the architecture of the city is really brilliant, fantastic. That gave us an incredible amount of variety that's used as the background for the film.”

051

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In case you ain’t from Chicago and don’t know said building.

Newspaper article from 2007 entitled “City holds key to Trump hotel debut"

010

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Revising my Batman talk and have made it to this scene from The Dark Knight, filmed atop the [Redacted] International Hotel & Tower Chicago, which was still under construction in 2007. Thoughts and prayers welcome. 🦇🙏

140

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

It could be the last patio night of the summer, so you’ve gotta do it. 🍹

010

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Whoa. A silent-era Chicago film, produced by Essanay Studios and featuring the actual Chicago Fire Dept, has been newly discovered and restored. More on the 20-min. movie, called "An Unbeliever Convinced" (1917), here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCD2...

074

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Get out there, Chicago. Today’s the day! ☀️

051

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This restaurant is blaring Run DMC’s “It’s Tricky,” which reminds me: in fifth-grade P.E. class, my friend and I choreographed a kick-ass jump rope routine to this song. We made an A.

Old school jump rope, plastic: red, white, and blue

050

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I’ve successfully edited the Odessa Steps sequence into roughly 60 seconds. That tops my achievements for the week.

250

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A baby carriage. A staircase. A frantic mother. Even The Simpsons couldn’t resist. 😏 This week’s newsletter takes a closer look at the famous scene from The Untouchables—and invites you to join me Thurs. for the premiere of my newest program, Behind the Baby Carriage: Chicago and The Untouchables.

141

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Do I care if Pitt’s character dies? Nah. The dog? Absolutely. (Doubt I’ll see this, but I’m off to check doesthedogdie.com just in case.)

020

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

[in Pacino's voice from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood] What a picture.

Promotional shot of The Untouchables (1987)

1526022

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Alas, only 45% of the opening sequence of "Naked Gun 33 1/3" holds up. 😬 (Now I fear I might have to explain WTH O.J. Simpson is doing in a film comedy.)

001

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

“As any film student will be quick to tell you […] the scene is a liberal borrowing of the great Odessa steps montage from Eisenstein's masterly 'The Battleship Potemkin.' The Eisenstein version, however, moves; De Palma's lumbers, redundant and reverential.” Lumbers? LOL, baby’s mama disagrees.

220

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Dunno who needs to hear this, but lots of Chicago in the pilot of “Neagley” (Amazon Prime).

130

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Good for him! (I still quote Stephen Root’s line from Seinfeld at least once/month: “I think it’s pine.”) #Emmys

110

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

OMG, Colman Domingo is dressed as “the four seasons.” ❤️ #Emmys #RedCarpetFoolery

Screenshot from Grease 2, the song “Girl for All Seasons.”

120

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The Role of Food in Seinfeld: Tues. Sep 15, 2026 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (CT) Syosset Library Register Free: tinyurl.com/seinfeld-syo... Tues. Sep 22, 2026 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (CT) Winnetka-Northfield Public Library Register Free: tinyurl.com/seinfeld-win... (2/2)

010

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Can't get enough Junior Mints, black-and-white cookies, poppyseed muffins, marble rye, or Snickers? Have I got the program for you. "No Soup for You! The Role of Food in Seinfeld" makes its Zoom debut this week—and I have two free dates available: 👇 (1/2)

120

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Hey, @robertloerzel.bsky.social! An audience member at my talk last night on the Marx Bros. handed me your article. She had actually taken the time to track it down and photocopy it because she thought I might enjoy it. ❤️ (I’d already read it, but I’ll definitely be adding the copy to my files!)

170

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Moment of zen from the Chicago Botanic Garden. 🍃

0224

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Toured a 19th-century mansion on Chicago’s North Shore today, and all I could think about while in the dining room was—this is some borderline Charles Foster Kane foolery right here. (I could’ve walked inside the firebox.)

Large fireplace that reaches to the ceiling

070

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Watched the first half of “The Soup Nazi” 8x this afternoon. AMA. 👀🥣 #ComingSoon

Presentation title slide reads No Soup for You! The Role of Food in Seinfeld

010

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Ready for these two to bite it—not because the characters deserve it (they do), but because of the actors’ performances. 😬

010

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

If you’ve been reminiscing of late about your love of (fictional) movies like “9 to 5,” remember: they wouldn’t exist without (the very real) Gloria Steinem. #RIPMsSteinem

Steinem and Parton in 1987 via Getty Images

050

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Okay, dude, gimme enough action to last me the rest of this week. #ReacherS4

000

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Yes, go—preferably in a theater full of adults and kids, the former of whom will be having the most fun. P.S. This movie—and the fiasco surrounding it—is another example of Hollywood’s misunderstanding its audience. And, of course, its own greed.

Woman stands in front of a movie poster for “Coyote vs. Acme.”

0142

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

As a Gen-Xer, I’m unsure what to do with all the feelings that come with being on DollyTok and DollyReels. 😭

031

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Thanks, DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center, for taking care of this little gal or fella. It’s nice to know it's in good hands and will eventually be released into the Forest Preserve with the other orphaned possums it grew up with. (2/3)

Sign for DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center

Rehab room devoted just to baby possums.

241

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Unexpected rescue this morning. Found a baby possum huddled next to a street curb, shaking and scared. We grabbed a shoebox, poked holes in the top, filled it with old T-shirts, and tucked the little one inside. It curled up and fell asleep for the ride to the wildlife rehabilitation facility. (1/3)

Shoebox in the front seat of a car with a seatbelt over it

171

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Here's one from 1913, showing set designers and carpenters arranging a constructed set to fit the actual Chicago landscape, including three mature trees growing on the lot. I hope this was built during the non-winter months! (3/3)

031

Kelli Marshall @kellimarshall.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I love looking at photos of old studio backlots, like this one from MGM during the filming of Show Boat (1951). (Yes, MGM built a Mississippi River on its backlot in Culver City, CA!) (1/3)

161