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
TV Review: Confident, Clever ‘Chuck’ Returns With New Energy
Submitted by BrianTT on January 8, 2010 - 6:51pmCHICAGO – After a second season that saw already-low ratings decline, NBC took a chance by bringing “Chuck” back for a third, shortened season. As the network has struggled this year due to a number of horrible decisions (most of them related to Jay Leno), most of its lineup has been hit. Let’s hope “Chuck” bucks the trend because this cult hit has arguably never been better.
Original, Stylish ‘Daybreakers’ With Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe
Submitted by BrianTT on January 8, 2010 - 4:17pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – In the early part of the last decade, Michael and Peter Spierig (The Spierig Brothers) debuted with the unique zombie cult hit “Undead” and horror nuts waited to see what they’d do next. It took way too long but the brothers are back with the stylish, original “Daybreakers,” a vampire film that injects new life into an often-dead genre.
Heath Ledger Still Lives in ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 8, 2010 - 9:10amCHICAGO – Bogart, James Dean and Heath Ledger are not dead, they’re just stuck in the Netflix queue. And Ledger, with a little help from some friends, gets one more theatrical release in “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.”
Blu-Ray Review: ‘It Might Get Loud’ Climbs Stairway to Rock Heaven
Submitted by mattmovieman on January 8, 2010 - 7:50amCHICAGO – “It Might Get Loud” might not be the great rock documentary fans were hoping for, but it’s still quintessential viewing for anyone mesmerized by the visceral power of the electric guitar.
HollywoodChicago.com’s Top 10 Films of 2009
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 8, 2010 - 12:45amCHICAGO – They came, we saw and in the end, who conquered? HollywoodChicago.com Senior Writer Patrick McDonald weighs in on the Top Ten of 2009. From the rich palette of choices, the challenge is always to winnow it down to ten.
Video Game Review: Atmospheric, Effective ‘Silent Hill: Shattered Memories’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 7, 2010 - 10:04pmCHICAGO – I used to approach a new “Silent Hill” game with heightened anticipation but the franchise has been so lifeless for the last few years that I somewhat dreaded entering its world again in the alleged reimagining of “Silent Hill: Shattered Memories,” now available for the Nintendo Wii. Much to my surprise, Konami’s latest is an effective, atmospheric title with only a few flaws.
TV Review: ‘Nip/Tuck’ Begins Final Season Without Much Fanfare
Submitted by BrianTT on January 6, 2010 - 10:45amCHICAGO – Ryan Murphy’s “Nip/Tuck” begins its final cosmetic procedure this evening, starting a nine-episode arc that will end this once-promising series that has been in need of a face lift for a few years now.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Passes to ‘Crazy Heart’ With Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 6, 2010 - 4:30amCHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two run-of-engagement movie passes up for grabs to the new film “Crazy Heart” with Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Robert Duvall!
Blu-Ray Review: Inspired ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ Given Great Release
Submitted by BrianTT on January 5, 2010 - 5:37pmCHICAGO – Watching the inspired “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” again on Blu-ray with the wife, the word she kept using to describe it was “creative”. It’s an appropriate word for a very funny comedy with one of the best voice casts in years, an enjoyable visual aesthetic, a heartwarming message that doesn’t come off over-cooked, and a gorgeously transferred Blu-ray release. It’s a great way to start the HD decade.
Video Game Review: Mediocre ‘Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen!’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 5, 2010 - 1:58pmCHICAGO – Being a film critic makes it hard to find people willing to play “Scene It?” with you. Consequently, I haven’t become familiar with the video game versions of the popular DVD/board game and hadn’t played any incarnation of the franchise in years. The Nintendo Wii version of the latest release doesn’t make me long for missed years of “Scene It?” gaming but should provide a pleasant diversion for movie nuts.
Video Game Review: Inventive, Clever ‘The Saboteur’ Gives Vengeance Good Name
Submitted by BrianTT on January 4, 2010 - 4:06pmCHICAGO – Gamers have fought so many battles of World War II from so many different viewpoints that I have to admit that I approached the late-year release of EA and Pandemic’s “The Saboteur” with more than a little bit of trepidation.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘A Perfect Getaway’ is Surprisingly Effective Thriller
Submitted by BrianTT on January 4, 2010 - 3:17pmCHICAGO – David Twohy’s surprisingly effective thriller “A Perfect Getaway” features good-to-great performances from Milla Jovovich, Timothy Olyphant, Steve Zahn, and Kiele Sanchez, and a taut, interesting screenplay with enough twists and turns to keep the audience entertained for its scant running time. A gorgeously transferred HD picture should help this underrated film find an audience at home.
Blu-Ray Review: Worst Comedy of 2009 is ‘All About Steve’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 4, 2010 - 2:53pmCHICAGO – Sandra Bullock may have had a spectacular 2009, headlining hits “The Proposal” and “The Blind Side” and being named Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainer of the Year, but she also reached the low point of her career (yes, lower than “Speed 2”) in the horrendous, awful, laugh-free “All About Steve,” a worthy candidate for the worst film of the year just passed and now available on Blu-ray and DVD.
