CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
December 2012
Interview: Ken Burns on Justice for ‘The Central Park Five’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 4, 2012 - 4:06pmCHICAGO – Mention “documentary,” in word association, and the next response is often “Ken Burns.” Burns brought a new voice to the documentary, and re-engineered the art form so much, that his technique is the “Ken Burns Effect.” His latest feature film, “The Central Park Five,” was co-directed by his daughter Sarah Burns and his son-in-law David McMahon.
Blu-ray Review: Great Collection of Pixar Shorts Released in HD
Submitted by BrianTT on December 3, 2012 - 3:00pmCHICAGO – The second volume of shorts created by the most influential and creatively important studio of the last twenty years was recently released on Blu-ray and it’s undeniable that a few of these mini-films are simply better than their full-length competition. Some Oscar-nominated and some including beloved characters, this may not be as obvious a holiday choice as “Brave” or “Finding Nemo,” but “Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 2” is one of the best family Blu-ray releases of the holiday season.
Video Game Review: Easy to Kinect with ‘Marvel Avengers: Battle For Earth’
Submitted by BrianTT on December 3, 2012 - 2:24pmCHICAGO – Good but not great, “Marvel Avengers: Battle For Earth” falls cleanly in the kiddie category of superhero video games, but that’s hardly a bad thing. Set in a solidly interactive array of environments, twenty different characters from the Marvel Universe duke it out in a variety of play styles including co-op, arcade, and vs., and the end result is dynamic, hi-energy, ham-fisted fun.
Film News: Nominations Announced For Best of the Midwest Film Awards
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 3, 2012 - 12:12pmCHICAGO – The Midwest Independent Film Festival, which convenes every first Tuesday of the month, is fast becoming an institution in Chicago and an influential barometer for the local and Midwestern film scene. On Tuesday, December 4th, 2012, their annual “Best of the Midwest” Awards will be handed out. Hosting the event is the co-founder of the Midwest Indie, Mike McNamara. Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com serves on the Awards Committee.
Blu-ray Review: Scathing ‘Dark Horse’ Flips Apatowian Formula on its Head
Submitted by mattmovieman on December 3, 2012 - 9:43amCHICAGO – Movie theaters have rarely appeared as depressingly airless as they do in Todd Solondz’s “Dark Horse.” Rather than confront his adult responsibilities, pathological man-child Abe (Jordan Gelber) storms into the nearest multiplex for his daily consumption of media-fed inspirational escapism. He quietly mouths the answers to pre-movie questions projected in the otherwise vacant theater, as his words fall on nonexistent ears.
Interviews: Red-Carpet Premiere of New Christmas Film ‘Scrooge & Marley’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 2, 2012 - 11:43pmCHICAGO – Bring up the immortal classic “A Christmas Carol,” by author Charles Dickens, then bring up how many film and TV versions have been done using its basic story. After a half hour of listing every conceivable production, a gay version won’t be found. “Scrooge & Marley” is the new film that takes care of that category. The premiere was last week in Chicago at the Music Box Theatre.
Blu-ray Review: Pier Paolo Pasolini’s ‘Trilogy of Life’ Gets Criterion Box Set
Submitted by BrianTT on December 2, 2012 - 4:00pmCHICAGO – In the early ’70s, Pier Paolo Pasolini made three adaptations of medieval literature that reflected the truly adult filmmaking language gaining popularity at the time. So many European filmmakers would try to copy the nudity, sexual humor, and scatological slapstick of Pasolini’s “Trilogy of Life” that the films that inspired a wave of bad movies were somtimes lumped in with them. Criterion goes a long way to correct the historical record with their glorious box set for “Trilogy of Life.”
Blu-ray Review: ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ Still Rules
Submitted by BrianTT on December 2, 2012 - 2:53pmCHICAGO – How much do I love “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”? Many of my fantasy sports teams over the years have been named Wild Stallyns, after the fictional rock band fronted by the title characters. That’s how much. I adored this movie when I was a teenager upon its first release and the movie still has such a joyful energy that is so commonly missing from modern comedies. It may be dumb fun but it’s infectiously so.
Interview: Grace McPhillips, Steve Scholz on Chicago Film Holiday Event
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 2, 2012 - 8:55amCHICAGO – One of the most anticipated gatherings in the local acting community is the annual Chicago Acting in Film Meetup (CAFM) Holiday Party, and this year’s bash is moving to downtown digs at the Hard Rock Hotel on December 10th, 2012. The co-directors of CAFM are actors Grace McPhillips and Steve Scholz.
Exclusive Portrait: The Who Rocker Pete Townshend in Chicago For New Book ‘Who I Am’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 1, 2012 - 8:58amCHICAGO – The Windy City was rocking this week as the legendary band “The Who” had two shows on Thursday and Friday. While in town, the windmilling guitarist Pete Townshend stopped by at the Barnes & Noble Old Orchard in nearby Skokie to promote his new book, “Who Am I?”
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