HollywoodChicago.com Content

CHICAGO – What could “Last Tango in Paris,” “Moonstruck,” and “Rain Man” possibly have in common? Two won major oscars and the third should have? All three feature some of the career-best work by iconic actors? Honestly, all that they have in common is that they weren’t out on Blu-ray before and every catalog title needs a release date eventually and so MGM chose February 15th for the trio. Pick up all three.

CHICAGO – In our latest Blu-ray/DVD combo pack edition of the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup, we have 5 Blu-ray and DVD combo packs up for grabs to “Tangled” with Mandy Moore!

CHICAGO – An unusual new theme in the American romantic comedy is the couple who starts with sex and ends with love a la “No Strings Attached” and the recent “Love and Other Drugs” with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, now on DVD and Blu-ray. Critic Patrick McDonald HATED the film, putting it on his worst of the year, which I think may be a little harsh, but it’s a definite disappointment given the talent involved. Those of you looking for a romantic comedy can do better and so can the stars of this failed one.

CHICAGO – One of the strongest ensembles of 2010 worked together to create the crowd-pleasing “The Fighter,” a film with multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, that walked home with two major trophies for Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale) and Best Supporting Actress (Melissa Leo). Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a film will stand the test of time (the jury is still out on how history will judge “The Social Network” and “The King’s Speech”) but there is little doubt that “The Fighter” will be satisfying audiences for decades. A great Blu-ray release from Paramount doesn’t hurt.

CHICAGO – Two of the best documentaries of 2010 were recently released on DVD and both are well-worth your time in the very near future as they serve as prime examples of the vitality of the form of non-fiction filmmaking. Both “A Film Unfinished” and the Oscar-winning “Inside Job” are riveting filmmaking, proof that subjects that one might consider dry can be turned into a devastating experience.

CHICAGO – I have defended the 2K Sports baseball games in the past, even personally preferring the “Major League Baseball 2K10” edition for gameplay during last year’s baseball season over Sony’s “MLB 10 The Show,” but this year my denial defenses have fallen to an incredibly faulty release, one full of glitches and generally annoying design decisions.

CHICAGO – With the NCAA tournament distracting the nation’s attention and a lackluster group of new options at the multiplex, Bradley Cooper’s “Limitless” climbed to the top of a very weak top ten for the weekend of Mar. 17-19, 2011 with only $19 million. New films from Matthew McConaughey (“The Lincoln Lawyer”) and Simon Pegg (“Paul”) disappointed even more.

CHICAGO – Brian Tallerico guests on Bill Moller’s show on WGN-Radio in Chicago on Mar. 19, 2011 to take calls on the best shows listeners feel they’re alone in watching. Instead of us telling you what great shows you aren’t watching, you tell us. Shows discussed include “Parenthood,” “Community,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Detroit 1-8-7,” “Terriers,” “Life Unexpected,” and “Doc Martin.”

CHICAGO – In our latest comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Win Win” starring Oscar nominees Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan!

CHICAGO – In our latest sci-fi/thriller edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, we have 10 DVDs up for grabs in advance of the home entertainment release of “Skyline,” which is co-directed by the Chicago visual effects masters Colin Strause and Greg Strause!