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.
Twentieth Century Fox
Film Review: Weak Story Wipes Out ‘Chasing Mavericks’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 26, 2012 - 11:55amCHICAGO – After the initial disappointment that “Chasing Mavericks” wasn’t about the pursuit of John McCain archetypes – it’s political season, don’t you know – it was interesting to note that mavericks are water waves, and chasing them means surfing. Hang ten, dudes.
Film Review: Ben Stiller in ‘The Watch’ Needs a Better Mechanism
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 27, 2012 - 9:46amCHICAGO – Star studded, special effects ladened “comedies” featuring aliens should have been put to rest after last year’s “Paul.” But “The Watch” is here, and it features Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and an odd Richard Ayoade as four suburban neighborhood watch volunteers who end up hunting space men. Yep, right after “Paul.”
Film Review: ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ Proves History Bites
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 22, 2012 - 8:47amCHICAGO – In this new film, don’t describe the 16th U.S. President as “The Great Emancipator,” call him “The Great Kick-Ass-ipator.” In this high concept romp, the President who presided over the Civil War is now winning it single-handedly by fighting his demons in “Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.”
Film Review: Harmless ‘The Three Stooges’ Can’t Deliver the Goods
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 13, 2012 - 7:48amCHICAGO – Moe, Larry and Curly are three of the most popular names in the show business universe, and bringing them back to life in the new film “The Three Stooges” was a questionable risk. The re-imaging, with Chris Diamantopoulous, Sean Hayes and Will Sasso filling the trio’s roles, is a loving tribute that unfortunately veers in too many “Un-Stooge” like directions.
Film Review: Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, Jack Black Flock Up in ‘The Big Year’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 15, 2011 - 2:06amCHICAGO – “The Big Year” is advertised as a comedy. The subject is bird watching, or as the new film likes to express the proper term, “birding.” It stars comic legend Steve Martin, and funnymen Jack Black and Owen Wilson. It is both not funny and is ACTUALLY, seriously about birding. Time to fly away.
Film Review: Nature is Abused By Jim Carrey in ‘Mr Popper’s Penguins’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 17, 2011 - 7:56amCHICAGO – Pity the poor penguin making pictures. Their wings cannot fly, they have no script approval or agents, just a trainer bribing them with food to hit the mark. Their presence, their cuteness, even their flightlessness are exploited for a dreadful Jim Carrey film called “Mr Popper’s Penguins.” Somebody call PETA.
Film News: James Cameron to Helm ‘Avatar 2,’ ‘Avatar 3’
Submitted by mattmovieman on October 27, 2010 - 9:03pmCHICAGO – How does a filmmaker follow up the highest-grossing movie of all time? For writer and director James Cameron, the answer is simple: make the movie a trilogy.
Film Review: Beverly Cleary’s ‘Ramona and Beezus’ Works For Young Adults
Submitted by BrianTT on July 23, 2010 - 1:21pmCHICAGO – “Ramona and Beezus” may not be the perfect film that Beverly Cleary fans hoped for when they fell in love with these characters but it is successful on its own terms in its refusal to talk down to its pre-teen audience and through the massive future star-power of its talented young stars. I admittedly have a soft spot for any film that places teachers on a higher pedestal than businessman and effectively teaches young viewers to stick to their creative visions. It’s flawed, but “Ramona and Beezus” works.
Slideshow: 16-Image Gallery For ‘Bride Wars’ With Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson
Submitted by BrianTT on December 29, 2008 - 5:32pmCHICAGO – This 16-image slideshow contains official press images for Fox’s “Bride Wars,” which stars Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Bryan Greenberg, Chris Pratt, Steve Howey, Candice Bergen, and Kristen Johnston from writers Greg DePaul and Casey Wilson & June Diane Raphael and director Gary Winick. The film opens on Jan. 9, 2009.