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.
Dev Patel
Audio Film Review: Camelot-ta Movie! Review of ‘The Green Knight’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 30, 2021 - 8:04pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on the “The Green Knight,” a new release by David Lowery set during the King Arthur Days. In select theaters on July 30th, including Music Box Theatre and Davis Theater of Chicago.!—break—>
Film Review: Dickens You Say! On-Air Review of ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 29, 2020 - 9:14amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 27th, 2020, reviewing the new film “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” now in select theaters.!—break—>
Film Review: ‘Lion’ Can’t Quite Tame Audience’s Hearts
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 30, 2016 - 12:07pmCHICAGO – “Lion” is the kind of inspirational-triumph-over-insurmountable-odds and adversity stories that’s bound to appeal to grandmothers and Academy voters, and it does offer plenty of material to tug at the heartstrings. But it’s a movie that only gets the job half done, and unfortunately loses its way once Nicole Kidman comes into the picture.
Film Review: Charming ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ Bucks Botched Sequel Trend
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 9, 2015 - 8:14pmCHICAGO – Motivated by financial necessity, sequels often mitigate business risk and satisfy studio executives by riding on the coattails of a previous fan base with brand equity. But business aside, to moviegoers the follow-up product so often feels like it “wasn’t nearly as good as the first” or didn’t need to return at all.
Film Review: Consciousness Morality for Robots in Odd ‘Chappie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 6, 2015 - 10:18amCHICAGO – Who would think a robot movie would teach us about being more intuitively “human”? “Chappie” is a very peculiar film – with fighting robots, violence and grit on one side, and the tenderness of finding a nurturing source and a consciousness on the other. It is worth experiencing.
TV Review: HBO’s ‘The Newsroom’ Adjusts Its Broadcast Style
Submitted by BrianTT on July 14, 2013 - 10:47amCHICAGO – There’s no television program that can be more simultaneously brilliant and frustrating as Aaron Sorkin’s “The Newsroom,” returning tonight, July 14, 2013, to start an already-tumultuous second season.
Film Review: ‘About Cherry’ is Little More Than a Pretty Face
Submitted by BrianTT on October 5, 2012 - 2:16pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Stephen Elliott’s “About Cherry” takes what could have been an interesting journey into the porn industry and turns it into what is essentially a TV-Movie-of-the-Week without the rating restrictions of the Lifetime Channel. Newcomer Ashley Hinshaw makes an impression and the supporting cast of Elliott’s drama is strong but the film never finds its focus, refusing to get under the beautiful surface of its lead character and present her as anything more than a sexy plot device.
Film Review: Judi Dench Checks Into ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 4, 2012 - 2:43pmCHICAGO – Seven desperate souls are taking risks to save some part of their world, which describes both “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “The Avengers.” Which will win the box office war? The “heroes” of the Marigold residence include Judi Dench, Tom Wilkerson, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Dev Patel.
Blu-Ray Review: M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘The Last Airbender’ is Nearly Unbearable
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2010 - 2:37pmCHICAGO – “The Last Airbender” was mercilessly-panned on its theatrical release and will likely pop up on a few “Worst of the Year” lists in the next few months. And yet, audiences didn’t seem to care too much, pushing the movie to nearly $320 million worldwide (although one wonders if it wouldn’t have made twice that were it actually good considering the fan base of the source material and prime summer release date).
Director M. Night Shyamalan Too Talky, Murky in ‘The Last Airbender’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 1, 2010 - 7:15amCHICAGO – The choices that M. Night Shyamalan makes in the progress of his filmography have become as perplexing as his early mysteries. “The Last Airbender,” featuring Dev Patel from “Slumdog Millionaire,” is an adaptation of a previous animated series, and although aimed at kids in the end seems tentative and…aimless.