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+.
IFC Films
Fallible Human Beings Bless ‘We Have a Pope’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 27, 2012 - 7:52am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It’s getting harder and harder to satirize something as über-holy as the Vatican, given their preferred state of reality, but director Nanni Morretti gives it an absurd cinematic try just by highlighting the humanity behind the state of grace. Michel Piccoli portrays the title character in ‘We Have a Pope.’
Director Wim Wenders Celebrates Choreographer in 3-D ‘Pina’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 20, 2012 - 12:13pm Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Director Wim Wenders, famous for his magical takes on life and love in “Wings of Desire” and “Until the End of the World,” brings that same enchantment through a 3-D documentary about a rebellious and unusual German choreographer named Pina Bausch in “Pina.”
Unfunny ‘Burke and Hare’ Wastes Top-Notch Cast
Submitted by mattmovieman on September 9, 2011 - 7:22am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There are few sights more depressing than a game cast all dressed up with nowhere to go and no good jokes to share. “Burke and Hare” is the sort of comedy Mel Brooks was making in the ’90s. All the ingredients are on hand for a promising comedy, and yet something’s missing—namely, laughter. The timing is off, the punch-lines are obvious and the actors are bored beyond belief.
‘Tabloid’ From Errol Morris Teases, Tantalizes, Entertains
Submitted by mattmovieman on July 15, 2011 - 8:14am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Errol Morris’s “Tabloid” is the sort of documentary so probing and inquisitive that it can’t help questioning its own validity. It’s a story about storytelling, a documentary that deconstructs the artifice of documentary filmmaking and a nonfiction narrative that may very well be comprised entirely of fiction. Such boundless ambition and self-reflexive irony is only typical of Morris, who is surely one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of the medium.
Cindy Meehl’s ‘Buck’ Celebrates a Well-Lived Life
Submitted by mattmovieman on June 24, 2011 - 6:44amRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Every once in a while, a life is profoundly enriched by the example set by another. For several animal lovers throughout the country, Buck Brannaman has served as an inspiration. His philosophical approach toward working with horses holds countless truths that can be applied to all aspects of life, and they are woven into the very fabric of Cindy Meehl’s wonderful documentary, “Buck.”
‘The Trip’ Hilariously Reunites Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon
Submitted by mattmovieman on June 17, 2011 - 7:16amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There are few things more cinematically depressing than a funny comic trapped in an unfunny movie. Think Larry David in “Whatever Works.” Scene to scene, his eyes repeatedly indicate that there’s a funnier punchline residing in his mischievous skull than there is in the lifeless script. You know a picture’s in trouble when you find yourself yearning to watch the actor eat lunch rather than finish the godforsaken movie.
Beguiling, Hypnotic ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 29, 2011 - 3:23pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Where are the vital connections between our ancient ancestors and our creative, technological selves? Prehistoric cave drawings, the oldest ever discovered, are showcased in Werner Herzog’s new documentary, “Cave of Forgotten Dreams.” The link between who they are and who are we becomes the theme of this remarkable exposition.
Dark Vision of the Future in Atmospheric ‘Stake Land’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 29, 2011 - 8:43amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Playing not unlike a much darker version of “Zombieland” (in that the post-apocalyptic creatures are similar and the veteran/rookie duo at the core not far off Woody & Jesse), “Stake Land” is a confident piece of genre filmmaking that not only deserves a wider audience but hints at truly great things to come for its talented director. It’s far from perfect but it’s incredibly promising, unlike the future of the characters it presents.
James Gunn’s Memorable ‘Super’ With Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page
Submitted by BrianTT on April 8, 2011 - 9:18amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – A much darker cousin of Matthew Vaughn’s “Kick-Ass” by way of “Taxi Driver,” James Gunn’s “Super” is a tonally inconsistent comedy that nevertheless features one of my absolute favorite performances of the year so far and enough interesting ideas to warrant a look. If only those ideas were shaped into something a bit more coherent. “Super” could have lived up to its title.
Abbas Kiarostami’s ‘Certified Copy’ Tantalizes, Delights
Submitted by mattmovieman on March 18, 2011 - 9:33am Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Nothing transfixes me quite like transcendent acting and writing when viewed under a cinematic lens. My favorite films of early 2011 have been Tommy Lee Jones’s stunning adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s play, “The Sunset Limited,” and Abbas Kiarostami’s beguiling new masterwork, “Certified Copy.” Both films derive their dramatic power from the differing philosophies of two articulate characters who may or may not be what they seem.
