CHICAGO – The late playwright August Wilson left a gift to the world in the form of his “American Century Cycle,” a series of plays each individually set in a decade of the 20th Century, focusing on the black experience. Chicago’s Goodman Theatre presents Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” now through May 19th, 2024 (click here).
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Interview: Mike McNamara Hosts Female Filmmakers Night in Chicago
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 28, 2010 - 10:22amCHICAGO – Every first Tuesday of the month means it’s time for the Midwest Independent Film Festival. This upcoming March 2nd, Executive Director Mike McNamara hosts Female Filmmakers Night for the first time at the festival.
‘The Crazies’ Defies Rule That Horror Remakes Never Work
Submitted by BrianTT on February 26, 2010 - 4:32pm Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Horror remakes are almost never a good idea but there seems to be something about George A. Romero’s work that defies that expectation. Zack Snyder delivered with his version of “Dawn of the Dead” and now Breck Eisner has shocked genre fans with his effective take on the low budget classic “The Crazies”.
Interview: Claudia Wells is the Original Jennifer in ‘Back to the Future’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 26, 2010 - 2:37pmCHICAGO – The classic film “Back to the Future” celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and the original cast – including Claudia Wells as Jennifer – will be introducing the film this weekend at the Hollywood Palms and Hollywood Blvd Cinema in suburban Chicago.
DVD Review: ‘Everybody’s Fine’ is Second-Rate Hokum With a First-Rate Lead
Submitted by mattmovieman on February 26, 2010 - 2:32pmCHICAGO – Is there any cinematic prize less prestigious than the Heartland Truly Moving Picture Award? Most of the films honored by this group tend to be simple-minded, cloying and thoroughly manipulative. Any group that names “The Blind Side” as “the best film of 2009” seriously needs its head examined. The Heartland award emblem gracing the DVD box of “Everybody’s Fine” is sure to scare off serious fans of its legendary lead actor.
Blu-Ray Review: Richard Kelly Strains to Think Outside ‘The Box’
Submitted by mattmovieman on February 26, 2010 - 2:24pmCHICAGO – Most filmmakers are content in recycling ideas. Richard Kelly strains to come up with new ones every time he steps behind a camera. It’s difficult to think of him ever becoming a commercial commodity (thoughts of David Lynch directing “Return of the Jedi” come to mind). Yet Kelly’s boundless ambition has often far exceeded his abilities.
Hookup: HollywoodChicago.com Cordially Invites You to ‘The Bachelor’ Wedding With 25 ‘She’s Out of My League’ Tickets
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on February 25, 2010 - 11:24pmCHICAGO – This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is like none other. We have 25 admit-two passes to the advance screening of the new film “She’s Out of My League,” but we’re also throwing a red-carpet party with a 1.5-hour open bar for a viewing of “The Bachelor” wedding with former cast members!
Video Game Review: ‘Dante’s Inferno’ Fizzles as Much as it Flames
Submitted by BrianTT on February 25, 2010 - 5:04pmCHICAGO – As we wait for the imminent release of “God of War III,” it seems that a few developers are trying to beat Kratos to the punch with their own “GOW”-esque titles. January produced the very good “Darksiders” and now we have the buzzed arrival of EA’s “Dante’s Inferno,” a game with remarkable moments but significant flaws that dampen the flame just as it starts to heat up.
Blu-Ray Review: Human Drama of Brilliant ‘Nurse Jackie’
Submitted by BrianTT on February 25, 2010 - 4:27pmCHICAGO – Edie Falco gave one of the best performances in the history of television on “The Sopranos” and she’s found another character who could easily enter the pantheon of the format’s most beloved in the amazing title character of Showtime’s dark comedy “Nurse Jackie,” now available on Blu-ray and DVD.
Blu-Ray Review: Criterion’s Ravishing, Gorgeous ‘Lola Montes’
Submitted by BrianTT on February 24, 2010 - 8:20pmCHICAGO – When Max Ophuls’s “Lola Montes” was released in theaters in France in December of 1955, it caused an international scandal. Much to the dismay of its director, the producers of the film mangled it, pulling and going to town in the editing bay like a bull in a china shop. They cut out some scenes, translated German dialogue into French, remixed the sound, and even re-edited the film’s chronology.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ Totally Sucks
Submitted by mattmovieman on February 24, 2010 - 2:56pmCHICAGO – It’s now official: the Weitz brothers have proven that they are the wrong people to make vampire movies. While Chris got tangled in the turgid melodrama of “Twilight: New Moon,” Paul tried to inject irreverent humor into the first installment of another gloomy franchise, based on Darren O’Shaughnessy’s book series detailing the adventures of adolescent vampire Darren Shan.
Blu-Ray Review: Unfunny ‘Women in Trouble’ Confuses Vulgarity With Insight
Submitted by mattmovieman on February 23, 2010 - 3:00pmCHICAGO – The best thing about this alleged comedy is its title, evocative of David Lynch’s signature premise: “A woman in trouble.” Yet while Lynch has been accused of misogyny by some filmgoers, Sebastian Gutierrez’s “Women in Trouble” purports itself to be an empowering portrait of strong female characters. Their strength is often demonstrated by their ability to cuss and talk about sex. Boy, how far we have come.
Video Game Review: Revolutionary ‘Heavy Rain’ Mesmerizes
Submitted by BrianTT on February 23, 2010 - 2:31pmCHICAGO – When’s the last time you finished a game and didn’t merely feel like you had successfully gone through the animated motions as needed but had actually contributed to a story that felt uniquely your own? In other words, when was the last time you were emotionally invested and intellectually satisfied instead of just entertained?
Blu-Ray Review: Steven Soderbergh’s Excellent ‘The Informant!’ With Matt Damon
Submitted by BrianTT on February 23, 2010 - 12:07pmCHICAGO – Steven Soderbergh is arguably the most important American filmmaker working today and his “The Informant!” with Matt Damon, just released on Blu-ray and DVD, is a great piece of evidence to support that argument. He continues to bring traditional stories to life in continuously unique, interesting ways.
