HollywoodChicago.com Content

CHICAGO – With echoes of “Bioshock,” “Resistance,” and a number of shooter hits as diverse as “F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin” and “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” “Singularity” embraces its derivative nature but transcends it to become one of the more surprisingly enjoyable single-player campaigns of the year.

CHICAGO – In many ways, Christopher Nolan’s “Insomnia,” recently released on beautiful Blu-ray, is the perfect companion piece to his new masterpiece, “Inception,” now playing in theaters. The film may not get the international attention of “The Dark Knight” but it stands as further proof that this man is one of our best living directors.

CHICAGO – On paper, “Naughty Bear” sounded like a great summer video game alternative. Where most games fit into a pretty definable niche like shooter, sports game, RPG, etc., how do you categorize a game about a maniacal teddy bear killing off his teddy bear friends in unique and blood-curdling ways? Sadly, “Naughty Bear” merely proves that originality only gets you so far. You still need to make a good game.

CHICAGO – In this edition of the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, one lucky winner will clean up with three DVDs from Magnolia Pictures for the movies “Donkey Punch,” “Severance” and “Splinter” plus a full-size poster for “The Oxford Murders” signed by cult-favorite director Álex de la Iglesia!

CHICAGO – Da Super Fans were out in force on a spectacular Saturday night at the Park West in Chicago, as the TBS Network’s “Just for Laughs” Festival presented “Da Bears Movie Dat Wasn’t.” George Wendt, Joe Mantegna, Horatio Sanz and Da Coach, Mike Ditka, provided the hilarity.

CHICAGO – Maybe I live under a rock, but I must admit to being unfamiliar with the world of “Jersey Shore” outside of the occasional tabloid news item about a cast member and Bobby Moynihan’s now-even-more brilliant portrayal of “Snooki” on “Saturday Night Live.” When “Jersey Shore Uncensored: Season One” showed up on my desk, I cautiously approached the 3-disc set.

CHICAGO – I wonder if more people had seen Colin Firth’s incredible performance in “A Single Man” if he wouldn’t have been considered more of a frontrunner at last year’s Academy Awards. Easily one of the best male performances of last year (along with Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker” and Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart), Firth’s work here is revelatory, displaying depth heretofore only hinted at by this already underrated actor.

CHICAGO – Ron Howard’s Chicago-filmed “Untitled Cheating Project” comedy (which has also unofficially been referred to as “Cheaters”) has a new title: “What You Don’t Know,” Universal Pictures confirmed with HollywoodChicago.com on Thursday. The film is slated to hit theaters on Jan. 14, 2011.

CHICAGO – After thinking it’d take “a couple months” to ink, director Christopher Nolan (of “The Dark Knight” fame) took eight years to painstakingly write the “Inception” script. And you can tell. It’s his first pure masterpiece.

CHICAGO – Linda Blair trades her celebrity for activism. Her WorldHeart Foundation is a literal pet project, as it rehabilitates neglected and abandoned animals on the streets of Los Angeles. Blair, best known for her unforgettable role as Regan in “The Exorcist,” recently appeared in Chicago at the Hollywood Celebrities & Memorabilia Show.