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
‘The Good, The Bad, The Weird’ Favors Spectacle Over Story
Submitted by BrianTT on May 6, 2010 - 11:36am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Any guess what’s going on?” asks Zhang Qi, the befuddled leader of the Tri-Nation gang, as he observes a nearby train erupting into utter chaos. This line earns the first big laugh in Kim Ji-woon’s breathlessly entertaining “The Good, The Bad, The Weird,” precisely because it mirrors the thoughts of audience members during the film’s delirious opening sequence.
Blu-Ray Review: Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘K-19: The Widowmaker’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 6, 2010 - 11:16amCHICAGO – Her ceiling-breaking Oscar win for Best Director and Best Picture for “The Hurt Locker” is likely to send many movie watchers into the back catalog of the great Kathryn Bigelow, a fact that has driven Paramount to release her least accomplished film, the truly mediocre Harrison Ford vehicle “K-19: The Widowmaker” on Blu-ray.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Day 7 of 10 Days of ‘Iron Man 2’ Giveaways
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on May 5, 2010 - 5:21pmCHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com welcomes back our earlier contestants to day seven of our exclusive 10 Days of “Iron Man 2” giveaway! If you didn’t win yesterday or learn about the fun until now, today’s your next chance to win! And if today isn’t yours, tomorrow might be!
‘Twilight’ Sequel ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn’ Set For Nov. 18, 2011
Submitted by BrianTT on May 5, 2010 - 3:53pmCHICAGO – Summit announced the release date for the final film in the “Twilight” franchise today, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn,” starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner, but did not yet reveal if it will be one or two films, as has been rumored. “Breaking Dawn,” helmed by recently-announced director Bill Condon, will be released on Nov. 18, 2011.
Marvel DVD Round Up, May 2010: ‘X-Men,’ ‘Iron Man,’ ‘Wolverine’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 5, 2010 - 1:13pmCHICAGO – With “Iron Man 2” hitting theaters in a matter of hours, the round-up is back with a trio of superhero animated DVDs clearly timed to release with the launch of the biggest Marvel movie of the year. See “Iron Man 2” and take home whichever animated TV on DVD release suits your fancy. Or get all three.
Interview: Writer, Actor Justin Theroux on His ‘Iron Man 2’ Screenplay
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 5, 2010 - 1:07pmCHICAGO – Justin Theroux has a long resume as both a cult actor (”Muholland Dr.”) and screenwriter (”Tropic Thunder”). Through a key connection and his own point-of-view, he was hired to write “Iron Man 2,” the sequel to one of the biggest blockbusters ever.
DVD Review: Coppola’s ‘Tetro’ Arrives With a Wealth of Special Features
Submitted by mattmovieman on May 5, 2010 - 11:52amCHICAGO – It’s been thirty-five years since Francis Ford Coppola wrote an original screenplay for one of his pictures, and though “Tetro” is certainly not in the same league as his last singular written work (1974’s “The Conversation”), it is still the most cinematically exciting, hauntingly beautiful, and achingly personal film he’s made in decades.
Matthew Vaughn Set to Direct ‘X-Men: First Class’ With June 2011 Release
Submitted by BrianTT on May 4, 2010 - 10:47pmCHICAGO – In an ironic twist of movie fate, “Kick-Ass” director Matthew Vaughn, the man once assigned the role of directing “X-Men: The Last Stand” will direct the next installment in the mega-franchise, “X-Men: First Class,” to be released on June 3rd, 2011.
Blu-Ray Review: John Malkovich Anchors Excellent ‘Disgrace’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 4, 2010 - 10:27pmCHICAGO – One of our best living actors, John Malkovich, drives the very good drama “Disgrace” with the subtlety of his decisions as an actor reflected back in a complicated script based on the acclaimed, Booker Prize-winning novel by J.M. Coatzee. This is a rare film willing to leave some questions unanswered and to be content with the knowledge that life is full of gray moral areas more often than black and white.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Leap Year’ Represents the Nadir of Romantic Comedy
Submitted by mattmovieman on May 4, 2010 - 10:27amCHICAGO – Amy Adams is one of the most charming, appealing, and brilliant actresses working in Hollywood today. Sure, she’s often been typecast in sweetly naive roles, and could definitely benefit from a change of pace. But seriously, who thought it was a good idea to cast her as a bitchy micromanager, first in the disappointing “Julie & Julia,” and now in this cataclysmic disaster? It’s yet another instance of Hollywood’s consistent gift for wasting talent.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Dirty Dancing: Limited Keepsake Edition’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 4, 2010 - 10:05amCHICAGO – How does one review a lavish “Keepsake Edition” of a beloved hit? Does it matter what the critic thinks of the movie itself? It’s not like anyone out there will be buying a gift set such as this having not even seen the film, so the opinion of a potential buyer is pretty much set in stone. With that in mind, if you love “Dirty Dancing” as so many do, it’s hard to think of anything missing from Lionsgate’s new “Limited Keepsake Edition”.
Video Game Review: ‘Puzzle Chronicles’ Barely Satisfies
Submitted by BrianTT on May 3, 2010 - 3:40pm Video Game Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Those of us that are wildly addicted to “Bejeweled Blitz” and played through “Puzzle Quest” like a gleeful toddler with a new toy were pretty psyched that the developers of the latter, spectacular Nintendo DS title were releasing a DLC game called “Puzzle Chronicles”. Once again, our puzzle-loving persona could meld with the kid inside us who misses the days when he played Dungeons and Dragons in his basement. Sadly, “Puzzle Chronicles” only barely delivers.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘District 13: Ultimatum’ Falls Short of Predecessor
Submitted by mattmovieman on May 3, 2010 - 1:42pmCHICAGO – Parkour is a type of physical discipline well suited for the cinema. It trains mere mortals to move like supermen. They can leap from one place to another, while overcoming formidable obstacles, without the need for any harnesses or special effects. The only tools used by parkour practitioners are their own bodies and their surrounding environment. Buster Keaton would’ve excelled at this.
