January 2013

Interview: Martin Landau Lends His Voice to ‘Frankenweenie’

Martin Landau, photo by Joe Arce.

CHICAGO – One of director Tim Burton’s great actor collaborators is the veteran performer Martin Landau. Landau voices Mr. Rsykruski, a science teacher who inspires young Victor Frankenstein in “Frankenweenie,” released on Blu-Ray on January 8th. This is part of Laudau’s magnificent 60 year career in film, television, stage and acting instruction.

Video Game Review: ‘Borderlands 2: Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt’ is Old Dog with New Tricks

CHICAGO – The odds are if you own a “Borderlands 2” Season Pass, or are a member of its “Premiere Club” you’re very likely very pleased at the constant stream of high quality content being delivered to your Xbox 360.

Blu-ray Review: Horrendous ‘House at the End of the Street’ Rips Off ‘Psycho’

House at the End of the Street Blu-ray

CHICAGO – Mark Tonderai’s “House at the End of the Street” is not to be confused with this year’s “The House Across the Street” or either version of “Last House on the Left.” What Tonderai hopes you mistake it for is a classy Hitchcockian homage evocative of the Master’s most shocking and immortal picture, 1960’s “Psycho.”

Interview: Iconic Actress P.J. Soles on Her Brilliant Career

P.J. Soles, photo by Joe Arce.

CHICAGO – If one actress can represent an era of classic and cult movies, P.J. Soles is a pretty good candidate. Her string of roles in high profile and familiar films from the mid 1970s to early ‘80s including “Carrie,” “Halloween,” “Breaking Away.” “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” “Private Benjamin” and “Stripes.”

TV Review: The CW’s ‘The Carrie Diaries’ Tries Too Hard to Please

CHICAGO – It’s all about timing. Great teen dramedies find a very specific rhythm. It’s in the non-stop, often rapid-fire dialogue between characters overflowing with hormones, social drama, and parental problems.

Entertainment News: Winners of the 70th Annual Golden Globes

CHICAGO – The 70th Annual Golden Globes, hosted by Tina Fey & Amy Poehler, were given away on Sunday, January 13, 2013 and we have our continuously updated list of winners for your persual below. Keep refreshing for the latest winners and enjoy!

Interviews: Back to ‘Twin Peaks’ with Sheryl Lee, Sherilyn Fenn?

Sheryl Lee, photo by Joe Arce.

CHICAGO – The hot rumor this week in the TV industry is that “Twin Peaks” show creators David Lynch and Mark Frost were talking up a revival of that unforgettable cult TV show of the early 1990s. Will Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer) and Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey Horne) possibly participate?

TV Review: Lena Dunham’s Brilliant ‘Girls’ Takes Second Season Risks

CHICAGO – We live in a world that’s so dependent on the new that it’s difficult for as headline-grabbing a program as HBO’s “Girls” to follow up a first season that landed it multiple nominations and year-end citations. What does Lena Dunham do next?

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘Mama’ From ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ Creator

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 50 pairs of movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the new horror film “Mama” from “Pan’s Labyrinth” creator Guillermo del Toro!

TV Review: Laura Dern Returns to Carry HBO’s Clever ‘Enlightened’

CHICAGO – The season premiere of HBO’s “Enlightened,” directed by the great Nicole Holofcener (“Please Give,” “Lovely & Amazing”) is a stunner. With a great script by co-star Mike White and one of the best single performances by Laura Dern to date, it perfectly captures the current state of so many people

Slideshow: Galaxy of Stars at 2012 Wizard World Chicago Comic Con

| Image 1 of 32 |

CHICAGO – There are three characteristics that define the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con, held annually in Rosemont, Illinois – costumed participants, aisles of comic-related vendors and celebrity appearances. HollywoodChicago.com and photographer Joe Arce was there in August to capture Exclusive Portraits of those stars.

Film Review: Horror Spoof ‘A Haunted House’ is Pretty Horrible

CHICAGO – There is one funny line in “A Haunted House,” the new horror spoof starring Marlon Wayans. It’s “my foot has a cramp, don’t touch it.” The rest of the film is stunningly without humor, relying on a series of flatulence, sex and failed jokes to dauntingly fill the long, long 95 minutes.

Horror Spoof ‘A Haunted House’ is Pretty Horrible

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 1.0/5.0
Rating: 1.0/5.0

CHICAGO – There is one funny line in “A Haunted House,” the new horror spoof starring Marlon Wayans. It’s “my foot has a cramp, don’t touch it.” The rest of the film is stunningly without humor, relying on a series of flatulence, sex and failed jokes to dauntingly fill the long, long 95 minutes.

Video Game Review: New Hollywood Connection of ‘Retro City Rampage’

Retro City Rampage

CHICAGO – I’ve been gaming for two and a half decades. If I think about it, I haven’t even been potty trained that long. I played games before I rode a bike, kissed my first girl, danced my first jig, or wrote my first word. A controller is as familiar to my hands as a rifle to a rifleman.

Blu-ray Review: Catch Up with ‘Justified: The Complete Third Season’

Justified S3 Premiere

CHICAGOFX’s “Justified” is one of the best shows on TV and its cult of popularity continues to grow with each passing season. When the fourth season premiered earlier this week, it had half a million more viewers than for the third season premiere. People keep falling in love with Raylan Givens and Boyd Crowder, two of the most fascinating characters on TV. Watch the recently released third season Blu-ray set to find out why.

DVD Review: Hysterical ‘Archer: The Complete Season Three’

Archer S3

CHICAGO – You should buy the third season of “Archer,” just released on Blu-ray and DVD, if just for the season premiere, “The Man from Jupiter,” featuring an absolutely amazing guest performance from Burt Reynolds. Actually, that is the fourth episode of this season as the three-part “Heart of Archness” aired three months earlier and kicks off this DVD. Whatever you call it, it’s hysterical. In a crowded field that includes former titans like “Family Guy,” “South Park,” and “The Simpsons,” “Archer” is the funniest animated show on TV.

Blu-ray Review: HBO’s ‘Game Change’ Triumphs with Brilliant Performances

Game Change Blu-ray

CHICAGO – When the HBO film, “Game Change,” was first announced, it sounded rather unnecessary. Why would Alaska governor-turned-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s overinflated celebrity deserve such a prestigious biopic? Wasn’t her TLC program, not to mention Tina Fey’s brilliant SNL parody, more than enough small-screen exposure for the oft-embarrassing politician?

Film Review: Michael Haneke’s ‘Amour’ Turns Inevitability of Death Into Art

Amour
HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.5/5.0
Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – One of the most shocking developments at yesterday’s Oscar nominations was the widespread inclusion of one of international cinema’s most controversial directors, Michael Haneke (“Caché,” “The White Ribbon”). His newest film, “Amour,” opening in Chicago theaters today, was nominated for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Picture of the Year.

Michael Haneke’s ‘Amour’ Turns Inevitability of Death Into Art

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.5/5.0
Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – One of the most shocking developments at yesterday’s Oscar nominations was the widespread inclusion of one of international cinema’s most controversial directors, Michael Haneke (“Caché,” “The White Ribbon”). His newest film, “Amour,” opening in Chicago theaters today, was nominated for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Picture of the Year.

Film Review: Josh Brolin, Sean Penn Sleep Through Dull ‘Gangster Squad’

CHICAGO – I know it’s only January but Ruben Fleischer’s “Gangster Squad” is sure to be one of the most disappointing films of 2013. Look at that cast! Look at them playing caricatures and doing absolutely nothing of interest! “Gangster Squad” is a total mess and absolutely none of it has to do with notorious reshoots after the shooting in Aurora that pushed the flick back four months.

Josh Brolin, Sean Penn Sleep Through Dull ‘Gangster Squad’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.0/5.0
Rating: 2.0/5.0

CHICAGO – I know it’s only January but Ruben Fleischer’s “Gangster Squad” is sure to be one of the most disappointing films of 2013. Look at that cast! Look at them playing caricatures and doing absolutely nothing of interest! “Gangster Squad” is a total mess and absolutely none of it has to do with notorious reshoots after the shooting in Aurora that pushed the flick back four months.

Film Feature: The Biggest Snubs of the 2013 Oscar Nominations

CHICAGO – I expected to write this feature from a relatively satisfied place. After all, it was such a good year for film and it seemed likely that the Academy were going to make some smart, forward-thinking decisions this morning. And then they took several steps back. Taking safe routes when more interesting ones were available.

Blu-ray Review: David Cronenberg’s Densely Talky ‘Cosmopolis’ Confounds

Cosmopolis Blu-ray

CHICAGO – Some writing sounds better on the page than it does when read aloud. That’s certainly the case with Don DeLillo’s 2003 novel, “Cosmopolis,” a spectacularly unsettling social commentary largely confined within the limo of billionaire asset manager, Eric Packer. He claims that he’s 28, but looks as if he’s been strolling the streets for centuries, while displaying all the decadent beauty of Dorian Gray.

Film News: ‘Lincoln,’ ‘Life of Pi’ Lead 2013 Oscar Nominations

CHICAGO – The 2013 Oscar nominations were announced on Thursday morning and “Lincoln” led the way as the most-nominated film of the year with 12 nominations. Come back later today for a list of this year’s biggest snubs and stick with HollywoodChicago.com for all of your Oscar features and news leading up to the big day on Feb. 24, 2013!

Interview: Marlon Wayans Chases Spoofs in ‘A Haunted House’

CHICAGO – When it comes to the art of spoofing the current movie culture, few have done it with more success than Marlon Wayans. As a sibling member of the Wayans Brothers, he has spent his career doing take-offs in films such as the “Scary Movie” franchise, “Dance Flick” and his current spooky satire, ‘A Haunted House.’

Film Feature: Predictions For the 2013 Oscar Nominations

CHICAGO – If everything goes as expected, fans of “Lincoln,” “Les Misérables,” and “Zero Dark Thirty” will be very happy on Thursday morning, as those three films will certainly be among the most nominated for this year’s Academy Awards. After that, the certainty ends.

Blu-ray Review: Unsatisfying ‘The Words’ Desperately Needed a Rewrite

The Words Blu-ray

CHICAGO – What sins can a man commit and manage to live with for the rest of his days? Can he enjoy the rewards of unearned praise and adoration? These provocative questions could easily serve as the basis for a compelling thriller, as proven by a multitude of titles including Woody Allen’s “Crimes and Misdemeanors” and “Match Point.”

TV Review: Relocated ‘Cougar Town’ Might Not Be Worth Finding

CHICAGO – When ABC canceled “Cougar Town” after three seasons of mediocre ratings offset by some critics who were surprisingly loyal to the show, TBS swooped in and grabbed it up for a potential two seasons, the first of which premieres tonight, January 8, 2013.

TV Review: Fourth Season of FX’s Brilliant ‘Justified’ Begins

CHICAGO – The third season of FX’s “Justified,” arguably the best drama on one of the most creatively vital networks on television (it’s this or “SoA”), had big shoes to fill. Mags (Emmy winner Margo Martindale) was such an amazing character that her shadow persisted over the entire next season.

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