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
Oppressively Bleak ‘The Road’ Buries Great Viggo Mortensen Performance
Submitted by BrianTT on November 25, 2009 - 1:18pmCHICAGO – The long-delayed and highly-anticipated adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” has moments of stark beauty and a typically fantastic lead performance from Viggo Mortensen, but the film ultimately misses its mark as a whole piece, coming off numbing its bleak, repetitive view of the end of the world instead of inspiring emotionally or creatively.
Blu-Ray Review: HBO’s Epic ‘Rome’ Released in HD Series Set
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 11:53pmCHICAGO – Just in time for holiday shopping, HBO has released both seasons of the epic “Rome” in one gorgeously-packaged Blu-Ray set with all 22 episodes and bonus material including audio commentaries and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Whatever you may think of the show, “Rome” was one of the most beautifully designed programs of the decade and a perfect fit for 1080p.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ Suffers From Uplift Overkill
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 10:50pmCHICAGO – Sometimes all it takes is a glance at a film’s poster to know where it’s stepped wrong. The poster for “My Sister’s Keeper” shows photogenic stars Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin smiling at each other, while their saintly co-star (Sofia Vassilieva) drifts below them, blowing bubbles.
DVD Review: ‘Humpday’ Takes Heterosexual Comedy to a New Level
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 10:40pmCHICAGO – While Apatowian bromances like “I Love You, Man” play male bonding for laughs, Lynn Shelton’s perceptive indie comedy delves into the untapped complexities of brotherly love. After garnering the Special Jury Prize at Sundance, “Humpday” had a very limited theatrical run, and deserves to find an audience on DVD.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Mamma Mia! The Movie’ Given Gift Set Treatment
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 10:30pmCHICAGO – It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Blu-Ray and DVD collectors. Every holiday season, studios pull out their most beloved films, polish up the picture, maybe add a special feature or two, and usually throw in a few collectibles for a gift set.
Wii Round Up, Nov. 24, 2009: ‘We Cheer 2,’ ‘Family Feud,’ ‘Where’s Waldo’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 1:53pmCHICAGO – Several Nintendo Wii games have been released in the last few weeks that might be just what you’re looking for when you do your holiday shopping this season. With so many huge releases like “Uncharted 2,” “Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time,” “Left For Dead 2,” and more taking up advertising space, it’s easy for smaller games to slip through the cracks.
Blu-Ray Review: Beloved Kevin Smith Films Released in High Definition
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2009 - 6:38pmCHICAGO – Very few filmmakers provoke the same kind of passionate adoration as the sometimes-great Kevin Smith, a man who has such a following that he can sell out large theaters filled with people who merely want to ask him questions for hours. Smith is a charismatic, interesting, clever filmmaker and his best work reflect his gregarious personality. Three of his best are captured in “The Kevin Smith Collection,” including two films with all-new Blu-Ray material.
Video Game Review: ‘Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2009 - 6:18pmCHICAGO – There have been several highly-touted, well-marketed video game releases this season including “Uncharted 2,” “Assassin’s Creed II,” “Left For Dead 2,” and “COD: Modern Warfare 2,” but one of my most personally anticipated titles of the year has gone somewhat unnoticed. The lack of press made me wonder if perhaps I would be let down by “Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time”. Wonder no more - this is easily one of the best games of the year and a worthy entry (and reported finale) in this beloved franchise.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Ugly Truth’ is Neither Funny Nor Romantic
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2009 - 5:02pmCHICAGO – Here’s an alleged romantic comedy as clueless about romance as it is about comedy. It has a premise designed to illustrate how women think with their minds, while men think with their nether regions. Yet the male and female leads of “The Ugly Truth” are practically indistinguishable from each other.
Interview: Debbie Reynolds Dishes on Her Lucky Star Career
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 23, 2009 - 12:04pmCHICAGO – Debbie Reynolds, who began her movie star journey as a teenager during another show biz era, made her big splash in 1952’s “Singin’ in the Rain.” What followed was a long and varied career as a singer, dancer and respected film actress.
Blu-Ray Review: After ‘New Moon’ Sets, Pick Up ‘Near Dark’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2009 - 11:32amCHICAGO – It’s funny the way that the Blu-Ray market has developed in that success of a new title can often bring an old one to the HD format more quickly than it otherwise would get there. In the case of the great “Near Dark,” it’s the success of two films, one that shares a theme (“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”) and one that shares director Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”). Whatever the reason, don’t fail to include arguably the best vampire movie ever made in your collection.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 ‘Transylmania’ Chicago Passes to ‘Twilight’ Meets ‘Scary Movie’ Film
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 23, 2009 - 3:20amCHICAGO – In our latest comedy/horror spoof edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Transylmania,” which is like “Twilight” meets “Scary Movie”!
Melodrama, Weak Performances Hold Back ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 20, 2009 - 12:57pmCHICAGO – The amazing adoration for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” is based on one of two things: a crush on one of the cast members or goodwill spawned by a love of Stephenie Meyer’s books.
