HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News

Interviews: Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter in a ‘Family Ties’ Reunion

CHICAGO – Steven and Elyse Keaton were the super-parents of a certain generation. “Family Ties” was the 1980s TV show featuring Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter as the Keatons.

Blu-Ray Review: Self-Possessed M. Night Shyamalan Fails Again in ‘Devil’

Devil Blu-Ray

CHICAGO – M. Night Shyamalan’s career is a morbidly fascinating train wreck. Here’s a man who seduced the mainstream viewing public and film lovers alike with the wonderful psychological drama, “The Sixth Sense,” and the enticing mystery, “Unbreakable.” Both films garnered the director a legion of devoted fans eager to see what material he would tackle next.

Interviews: Three Actresses Speak Out at 2010 Chicago Comic Con

Angie Everhart, photo by Joe Arce.

CHICAGO – The 2010 Wizard World Chicago Comic Con was a great place to see up-and-coming stars and old favorites for pictures and autographs. Attending the show in August were actresses Kristanna Loken (”Terminator 3”), Julia Jones (The Twilight Saga) and Angie Everhart (”The Real Gilligan’s Island”).

Film Feature: The Top Overlooked Films of 2010

CHICAGO – Some films never get a fair shot with audiences. They open in a handful of art house theaters scattered throughout the country before inconspicuously landing on DVD.

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole’ Wastes Talent

Legend of the Guardians Blu-Ray

CHICAGO – The best parts of a Zack Snyder picture have consistently been the opening title sequences, from “Dawn of the Dead”’s apocalyptic montage to “Watchmen”’s brilliant prologue scored to Bob Dylan’s “The Time They Are A-Changin’.” Snyder’s latest problematic novel adaptation, “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” is no exception.

Exclusive Portrait: Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino of ‘Jersey Shore’

CHICAGOMTV’s “Jersey Shore” features Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, who recently was in Chicago promoting his book, “Here’s the Situation: A Guide to Creeping on Chicks, Avoiding Grenades and Getting in your G.T.L. on the Jersey Shore” at Borders Books Lincoln Park.

Film Review: ‘Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale’ Substitutes Elves With Zombies

CHICAGO – “What you are about to see now may traumatize you for life.” So reads a warning near the beginning of Finnish filmmaker Jalmari Helander’s 2005 short, “Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions.” The film was a clever follow-up to his 2003 effort, “Rare Exports Inc.”, which seemed to milk its one-joke premise for all it was worth.

Film Review: Jack Black, Emily Blunt Think Big in ‘Gulliver’s Travels’

CHICAGO – Call it too much holiday eggnog, but the re-imagining of the immortal classic “Gulliver’s Travels,’ starring Jack Black, Emily Blunt and Jason Segal, has a little Yuletide fun and hurts no one. If you like Jack Black, you’ll enjoy the film. If you don’t, find another way to spend 93 minutes this tinsel time weekend.

Film Review: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart Avoid Melodrama in Moving ‘Rabbit Hole’

Rabbit Hole
HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.5/5.0
Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – John Cameron Mitchell’s “Rabbit Hole” tells a story not uncommon to cinema in its exploration of the emotional minefield that comes after the loss of a child but it does so with such restraint and humanity that it sets itself apart. With some of the best performances of the year from Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, and Dianne Wiest, this is one of the strongest dramas of the awards season.

Film Review: Ryan Gosling Cannot Save Disjointed ‘All Good Things’

All Good Things
HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.5/5.0
Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Having loved Andrew Jarecki’s “Capturing the Friedmans” and having recently named Ryan Gosling the best actor of his generation for his year-best work in “Blue Valentine,” I was psyched to fall for their collaboration on the true-crime thriller “All Good Things.” Sadly, my anticipation quickly turned to disappointment as this muddled work lurched toward a bizarre conclusion. Gosling and co-stars Kirsten Dunst and Frank Langella don’t do anything wrong here but the movie is such a mash-up of tones, fiction, and reality that it never comes together into anything coherent.

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Kevin Spacey-Signed ‘Casino Jack’ Poster Plus ‘The Usual Suspects,’ ‘American Beauty’ DVDs

Casino Jack with Kevin Spacey

CHICAGO – In our latest Kevin Spacey edition of the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup, we have a Kevin Spacey-signed poster for the new film “Casino Jack” up for grabs plus these Kevin Spacey DVDs: “The Usual Suspects,” “American Beauty” and “Swimming With Sharks”!

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TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    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+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    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.

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