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+.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Blu-Ray Review: Kevin Smith’s ‘Cop Out’ Lives Up to Its Title
Submitted by mattmovieman on July 22, 2010 - 12:07amCHICAGO – Perhaps “Cop Out” wouldn’t have tarnished Kevin Smith’s reputation so much if he had simply changed his name in the credits to “Kevin Smithee.” This is the dreariest comedy made by a gifted filmmaker since “Year One.” It’s an entirely derivative picture from one of the most distinctive and original voices in modern movies. To quote Fred Willard in “A Mighty Wind,” “Wha’ happened?”
Exclusive Portrait: Pat Benatar Gets Clicked With Her Best Shot
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 21, 2010 - 4:59pmCHICAGO – Pat Benatar, the rocker best known for her mega-hits “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Love is a Battlefield,” is now an author. She was recently in Chicago promoting her memoir “Between a Heart and a Rock Place” at the Borders Books on Michigan Avenue.
Blu-Ray Review: Jaw-Dropping HD Transfer of Timeless ‘The Red Shoes’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 21, 2010 - 3:47pmCHICAGO – Can an old movie look too good on Blu-ray? This has been the subject of much debate, most notably in the over-removal of natural film grain by some production studios and the purists who think sometimes HD damages the original look of the film by coating it with too much polish. Watching the six-decades-old “The Red Shoes” from the incredibly influential Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, I was reminded once again of this controversy by a video transfer that’s simply jaw-dropping in its crystal clear quality.
Blu-Ray Review: Riveting Moral Drama of Bong Joon-Ho’s ‘Mother’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 21, 2010 - 3:37pmCHICAGO – Korean Bong Joon-Ho is one of our best working filmmakers with three films that deserve consideration among the best of the last decade — the procedural thriller “Memories of Murder,” the brilliant monster movie “The Host,” and the dark drama of this year’s “Mother,” now released on Blu-ray and DVD. With extensive special features, the Blu-ray of this mesmerizing film should bring one of 2010’s best films to a wider audience.
Video Game Review: ‘Transformers: War For Cybertron’ Proves Sometimes Bigger is Better
Submitted by BrianTT on July 21, 2010 - 1:10pmCHICAGO – With Michael Bay filming “Transformers 3” in downtown Chicago, it’s reawakened our childhood love for the famous toys and we wanted to share arguably the best product to bear the “Transformers” name in the last several years — “Transformers: War For Cybertron.”
Theater Review: Bailiwick Chicago Rediscovers a Buried ‘AIDA’
Submitted by Alissa Norby on July 21, 2010 - 12:10amCHICAGO – When the initial production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida” made its foray to the Broadway stage, following what was surely a tempestuous artistic adolescence, the public hurrah with which it was met signaled the birth of two eminent stage relations. First, that of John’s with both Broadway and West End investors, a collaboration that has far outstretched the boundaries set forth by “The Lion King”.
Blu-Ray Review: BBC’s ‘Being Human’ Gets Better With Every Episode
Submitted by BrianTT on July 20, 2010 - 3:38pmCHICAGO – When I first reviewed the BBC American premiere of “Being Human” it was framed in terms of potential and how the program wasn’t as instantly addictive as some of network’s other spectacular imports. Now that I’ve seen the spectacular first season, recently released on Blu-ray and DVD in time for the season two premiere on July 24th, 2010, I’m happy to report that I’m painfully addicted to the fascinating saga of Mitchell, George, and Annie and their attempts at “Being Human.”
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Chicago Passes to ‘Charlie St. Cloud’ With Zac Efron
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on July 20, 2010 - 12:09pmCHICAGO – In our latest romance/drama edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Charlie St. Cloud” starring Zac Efron!
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Chicago Passes to ‘Countdown to Zero’ From ‘The Inconvenient Truth’ Producer
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on July 20, 2010 - 1:02amCHICAGO – In our latest documentary edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new documentary “Countdown to Zero”!
DVD Review: Lost Robert Altman Comedy ‘Brewster McCloud’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 19, 2010 - 3:53pmCHICAGO – Robert Altman made very few films that didn’t have at least a few redeeming qualities and often much more than that faint praise. Even Altman’s relative failures were often fascinating in their own way. Such a film is 1970’s “Brewster McCloud,” a work nowhere near as beloved as some of his ’70s comedies but that definitely warrants a look on its newly remastered DVD, available exclusively through the WB Shop online.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 ‘Megamind’ Comic Books in Conjunction With Comic-Con
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on July 19, 2010 - 3:34pmCHICAGO – In this edition of the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 10 exclusive comic books up for grabs to the new film “Megamind” (in conjunction with Comic-Con) starring Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill!
Video Game Review: Despite Obvious Inspirations, ‘Singularity’ Delivers Original Thrills
Submitted by BrianTT on July 19, 2010 - 3:17pmCHICAGO – With echoes of “Bioshock,” “Resistance,” and a number of shooter hits as diverse as “F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin” and “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” “Singularity” embraces its derivative nature but transcends it to become one of the more surprisingly enjoyable single-player campaigns of the year.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Insomnia’ From ‘Inception’ Director Christopher Nolan
Submitted by BrianTT on July 19, 2010 - 2:33pmCHICAGO – In many ways, Christopher Nolan’s “Insomnia,” recently released on beautiful Blu-ray, is the perfect companion piece to his new masterpiece, “Inception,” now playing in theaters. The film may not get the international attention of “The Dark Knight” but it stands as further proof that this man is one of our best living directors.
