Patrick Wilson

Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – I have written over a thousand reviews and have rarely been as conflicted as I am about my response to James Wan’s “Insidious.” It comes down to this question — do you judge the effort or the execution? I love what Wan and co-writer Leigh Whannell (the team behind “Saw,” working this time with the producers of “Paranormal Activity”) are attempting with their unique ghost story, one that clearly pays homage to an old-fashioned style of horror filmmaking, but I don’t think they quite pull it off. Ultimately, a movie doesn’t exist in theory, only up on the screen, and that’s where “Insidious” doesn’t quite work as well as this classic horror fan truly wished it would.

CHICAGO – In our latest horror/thriller edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 35 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Insidious” with Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne from the “Paranormal Activity” and “Saw” makers!

CHICAGO – Patrick Wilson (“Little Children”) and Rose Byrne (“Damages”) play a truly terrified couple in James Wan’s “Insidious,” opening this Friday, April 1st, 2011. Produced by the team behind “Paranormal Activity” and written and co-starring Leigh Whannell, the man who did the same double duty on “Saw,” “Insidious” hopes to be the haunted house movie of 2011 with a twist.

CHICAGO – Rachel McAdams comes closer to achieving the star status that we’ve all thought she would one day achieve with “Morning Glory,” a likable variation on “Working Girl” that could have and should have been better but offers enough simple entertainment to make for an enjoyable rental. With its cast and crew pedigree, one would have hoped for more than “likable,” but it’s not bad for a Saturday night.

CHICAGO – What did audiences expect from “The A-Team” that Joe Carnahan’s explosive blockbuster didn’t deliver? Were they upset by the lack of Murdock’s character development? The lack of shading in Hannibal’s dialogue? Come on. “The A-Team” is about ridiculous, over-the-top lunacy and it totally works as testosterone-enhanced entertainment. It may have disappointed in theaters, but audiences will love it on Blu-ray.

CHICAGO – The Holiday Season for films is populated by epic crowd pleasers and artsy Oscar bait. In between are the warm popcorn movies that don’t attempt to be anything except what they are.

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Rachel McAdams

CHICAGO – This 24-image slideshow contains all of the official press images for the highly-anticipated “Morning Glory,” starring Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Patrick Wilson, and Jeff Goldblum. The film was directed by Roger Michell. It will be released on November 10th, 2010.

CHICAGO – In our latest romantic comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Morning Glory” with Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Jeff Goldblum and Patrick Wilson!

CHICAGO – In this edition of the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, two lucky winners will clean up with two DVDs from Magnolia Pictures for the movies “The Great Buck Howard” and “The Answer Man” plus a full-size poster for “Barry Munday” signed by Patrick Wilson, Judy Greer and director Chris D’Arienzo!

CHICAGO – “Overkill is underrated.” So says Col. Hannibal Smith (Liam Neeson) near the end of Joe Carnahan’s “The A-Team” and it clearly was the operating principle for not just the characters but the entire production.