CHICAGO – The late playwright August Wilson left a gift to the world in the form of his “American Century Cycle,” a series of plays each individually set in a decade of the 20th Century, focusing on the black experience. Chicago’s Goodman Theatre presents Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” now through May 19th, 2024 (click here).
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Blu-Ray Review: You Will Fall For Thrilling ‘Source Code’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 26, 2011 - 2:54pmCHICAGO – Critics often fall back on cliched phrases about rollercoaster rides or edge-of-your-seat entertainment and then you’re disappointed when you head to the theatre or rent their recommendation and nearly fall asleep. “Source Code” is one of the few honestly-satisfying thrill rides that deserves that title. It’s one of the most entertaining films of the year and it’s going to garner an even-larger following with a strong Blu-ray and DVD release this week from Summit Entertainment.
Blu-Ray Review: Clive Owen, Liana Liberato Are Stellar in ‘Trust’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 26, 2011 - 11:49amCHICAGO – David Schwimmer’s ‘Trust’ is one of the best films of the year to date that I’m pretty sure you haven’t seen. After playing at the Chicago International Film Festival last fall (where it was easily one of the best works at the fest), it received a far-too-limited release in April and has made barely over $120k TOTAL domestically. Rent it. Watch it. Now.
Interview, Portrait: Tom Felton on Draco Malfoy in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 26, 2011 - 10:20amCHICAGO – Playing Draco Malfoy, a less-than-savory counterpoint to the heroics of Harry Potter in the film series just completed with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” would presumably be difficult.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 2 Signed Books For ‘Psychic in Suburbia’ on Style Network
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on July 25, 2011 - 5:23pmCHICAGO – In this edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV, we have two autographed books of “The Medium Next Door: Adventures of a Real-Life Ghost Whisperer” up for grabs for Style Network’s new TV show “Psychic in Suburbia”!
Video Game Review: ‘NCAA Football 12’ Wins Sports Game Championship
Submitted by BrianTT on July 25, 2011 - 4:24pmCHICAGO – I’m not sure there’s any sports title of the year that I look forward to as much as “NCAA Football” and the new edition, “NCAA Football 12” is like another solid season from your favorite team — it doesn’t make any significant-enough changes to drop the ball but doesn’t really air it out either. It just moves it on down the field and wins the game.
Blu-Ray Review: Johnny Depp Gets Animated in Confident ‘Rango’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 25, 2011 - 11:58amCHICAGO – There’s a rare level of artistic confidence in “Rango” that we usually don’t see outside of Pixar. What I mean by that is that SO many animated flicks that I have to suffer through in a calendar year are trying to appease a marketing plan, a producer, a focus group, etc. “Rango,” while being a bit overrated by some, is undeniably unique in its vision and trying only to appease that creativity. It’s an occasionally inspired film that looks stunning in HD and is accompanied by some stellar special features.
Feature: Limited-Release Sarah Palin Film ‘The Undefeated’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 25, 2011 - 11:34amCHICAGO – Spending nearly two hours with Sarah Palin, midday on a Saturday, is a questionable use of time at best, especially when not an admirer of the half term governor and defeated vice presidential candidate. Producer Stephen Bannon creates an irony with the title of the Palin documentary, “The Undefeated,” but supporters don’t seem to notice.
Interview: Joe Cornish, John Boyega of ‘Attack the Block’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 25, 2011 - 11:02amCHICAGO – “Attack the Block” has been building buzz all year and Chicago will finally be able to see what all the positive internet hype has been about when it opens here on Friday, July 29th, 2011.
On WGN Radio: HollywoodChicago.com’s Brian Tallerico on ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Same Name,’ ‘Zen,’ More
Submitted by BrianTT on July 25, 2011 - 10:03amCHICAGO – Brian Tallerico guests on Bill Moller’s show on WGN-AM 720 Radio in Chicago on July 23rd, 2011 to talk about recently-premiered and upcoming programs including “Entourage,” “Same Name,” “Breaking Bad,” “Zen,” and “Web Therapy.”
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 25, 2011 - 9:44amCHICAGO – Is it wrong to say that I prefer the three “Robot Chicken” specials that spoof the “Star Wars” franchise more than the prequel trilogy? Heck, I enjoy the “Family Guy” trilogy of “Star Wars” take-offs more, so I suppose that’s not surprising. In all seriousness, these are very funny specials and the latest was recently released on Blu-ray with an abundance of special features. Don’t miss it.
TV Review: HBO’s ‘Entourage’ Starts Final Season on Down Note
Submitted by BrianTT on July 24, 2011 - 1:12pmCHICAGO – I remember when “Entourage” first took off back in 2004 wondering how Doug Ellin and his talented cast could possibly keep this concept fresh for the length of a series. Wouldn’t we get tired of watching Vinnie Chase (Adrian Grenier) try to make it big? Or worse, would these guys turn into the preening celebrities that the show at least somewhat skewered at the start?
Film Review: Despite Disastrous Skinny Steve, ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ is Perfectly Imperfect
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on July 23, 2011 - 2:10amCHICAGO – With mammoth special effects budgets carelessly puked into blockbuster films these days without story or heart, it’s effortless to wow audiences with beguiling explosions and one or two trademark, “The Matrix”-like innovations.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series,’ ‘Doctor Who: Series Six, Part 1’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 22, 2011 - 4:27pmCHICAGO – Are you loving the Starz import of the great “Torchwood” into the pretty-good “Torchwood: Miracle Day” and wondering where the heck Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) came from? Do you already know about one of the best sci-fi series of the last decade? Either way, the gorgeous HD box set for “Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series” is spectacular and you might as well keep your BBC fix going with the strong “Doctor Who: Series Six, Part 1,” both released this week on Blu-ray.
