HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Toy Story’ Films Released in Advance of ‘Toy Story 3’

Toy Story Blu-Ray

CHICAGO – If you don’t at least like the “Toy Story” movies, you’re probably kind of a jerk. Personally, I adore them both and have seen them multiple times on DVD; the standard go-to when babysitting nieces and nephews. And yet watching them again in glorious Disney HD, they still felt new. I’m blinded by love for Pixar, but these are must-owns for anyone with a Blu-ray player.

Blu-Ray Review: B-Movie ‘Armored’ Works on Own Terms

Armored

CHICAGO – The basic moral message of “Armored” is simple: Don’t get partnered with sociopathic lunatics especially when they’re given guns and armored cars as a part of their job. This defiantly old-fashioned B-movie wasn’t screened for critics and was dismissed by audiences around the last holiday season but more than gets the job done as an entertaining rental on its own terms.

Interview: From Norman Bates to ‘Mother’ With Director Bong Joon-ho

Mother

CHICAGO – The masterful young director of “Memories of Murder” and “The Host,” two of the best films of the ’00s, has done it again with the incredible thriller “Mother,” opening in Chicago tomorrow, March 26th, 2010. He recently called over to discuss his new film and its inspirations, along with upcoming work with “Thirst” director Park Chan-wook and even a sequel to “The Host”.

13th Annual EU Film Festival Highlights, Week Four: ‘The Secret of Kells,’ ‘Hadewijch’

CHICAGO – We have now reached the fourth and final week of the 13th Annual European Union Film Festival at the Siskel Film Center, and what a fantastic festival it has been. From international sensations to critically acclaimed gems rarely available in the US, the EU annual line-up is consistently one of the finest offered by any festival in the Windy City.

Video Game Review: Gorgeous World Created in ‘Final Fantasy XIII’

HollywoodChicago.com Video Game Rating: 4.0/5.0
Video Game Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Very few games have been as divisive as “Final Fantasy XIII”. The highly anticipated game hit stores recently and message boards have been flooded with nearly equal parts praise and disgust. Rarely have you been able to find such a diversity of opinion on one game but “Final Fantasy” fans have always been a passionate group.

Blu-Ray Review: Unnecessary ‘Brothers’ Remake Works on Own Terms

Brothers Blu-Ray

CHICAGO – Was there really any need to remake “Brothers,” the 2004 Danish drama directed by Susanne Bier? Not only was the film nearly flawless, but its riveting emotions and themes resonated on a universal level that transcended any cultural boundaries. Just because a war film is set in a different country or a different time period doesn’t mean the modern-day American soldier won’t be able to relate to it.

DVD Review: Incredibly Smart, Enjoyable Teen Comedy ‘Bandslam’

Bandslam

CHICAGO – Movies with teenagers that don’t talk down to them and presents them in lovable, realistic ways are so few and far between that seeing one can almost send chills up a cynical critic’s spine. I don’t mean to over-praise what is ultimately a light film but with all the junk aimed at kids nowadays, the incredibly smart “Bandslam” practically feels like a revelation. Those of you buying “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” should be forced to pick this one up too. You won’t regret it.

Video Game Review: Expand ‘Heavy Rain’ Experience With ‘The Taxidermist’

Heavy Rain The Taxidermist
HollywoodChicago.com Video Game Rating: 3.0/5.0
Video Game Rating: 3.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Sony’s “Heavy Rain” has become the most controversial game of the year with many players realizing the importance of the most influential game in a very long time with others being turned off by the title’s very unique style.

TV Review: Toni Collette Continues to Shine on ‘United States of Tara’

United States of Tara S2

CHICAGO – I personally think the show is slightly inferior to its hour-partner “Nurse Jackie,” but Toni Collette does such spectacular work on “United States of Tara” that her performance alone demands you tune in. Like Edie Falco on “NJ,” the incredibly talented Collette takes a challenging role that could have turned into caricature in the hands of a lesser actress and makes it genuine.

TV Review: Edie Falco Returns With Great ‘Nurse Jackie’

CHICAGO – After years without many strong roles for women, 2009 saw the debut of at least three in the great turn by Juliana Margulies on “The Good Wife,” the lead performance by Toni Collette in “United States of Tara” and, the best of them all, Edie Falco in the great “Nurse Jackie,” which returns tonight on March 22, 2010 on Showtime.

Blu-Ray Review: Oscar-Winning ‘The Blind Side’ With Sandra Bullock

The Blind Side

CHICAGO – Most critics and industry types expected “The Blind Side” with Sandra Bullock to be a modest holiday season hit but if a single one of them, including the people who made the film, told you that they knew this would be an Oscar-winning Best Picture nominee that grossed over $250 million, they are straight-up lying. “The Blind Side” shattered all expectations and Warner Brothers has quickly and somewhat lazily shuffled it off to Blu-ray and DVD.

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Passes, Signed Poster For ‘Brooklyn’s Finest’ With Don Cheadle, Richard Gere

CHICAGO – In our latest crime/drama edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two run-of-engagement movie passes and one signed poster for one grand-prize winner for the new film “Brooklyn’s Finest” from the director of “Training Day”!

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TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    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+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

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