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TV Review: ABC’s ‘The Deep End’ is Shockingly Shallow

The Deep End

CHICAGO – “The Deep End” is yet another legal show about young stars in their field trying to do what’s right within the system and keep their heads above water at a high-powered firm. To say we’ve seen the set-up of ABC’s “The Deep End” a dozen times before would be a massive understatement. The question is what the writers and cast do within the tried-and-true structure. The answer is nothing at all.

TV Review: ‘Burn Notice’ Entertains But Spins Its Wheels

CHICAGO – When we last saw “Burn Notice” lead Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), he was putting his life on the line for Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) by saving hers.

Blu-Ray Review: Disappointing ‘The Simpsons: The Complete Twentieth Season’

The Simpsons: Season 20

CHICAGO – I never thought I’d be disappointed by a season release of “The Simpsons”. Even though I knew the show would start to dip in quality by the time it got to the end, I somehow assumed that the DVD (and eventual Blu-ray) releases would continue to be stellar. D’oh!

DVD Review: ‘Amreeka’ Balances Genuine Warmth with Obvious Clichés

Amreeka DVD

CHICAGO – Nominating Cherien Dabis’s “Amreeka” for an Independent Spirit Award is sort of redundant, since the film has, in a sense, been nominated many times before. The film will only seem original to audiences unfamiliar with “The Visitor,” “Real Women Have Curves,” and “Crash” (and no, I’m not referring to the one about James Spader’s fetish for car accidents).

Video Game Review: ‘Army of Two: The 40th Day’ Addictive Guilty Pleasure

CHICAGO – Every good gamer has their guilty pleasures. They’re the titles that we know are flawed but that we still enjoy playing from opening cinematic through closing credits.

Blu-Ray Review: Comedy Fans Must Own ‘The Mel Brooks Collection’

The Mel Brooks Collection

CHICAGO – “The Mel Brooks Collection” contains two undeniable masterpieces, four more films that I could watch repeatedly, two so-so entries, and one interesting dud. The range of material, the special features, and the collectible packaging make it a must-own for anyone who dares claim to be a hardcore comedy fan.

Blu-Ray Review: Clever ‘(500) Days of Summer’ is Smart, Sexy Fun

(500) Days of Summer

CHICAGO – Marc Webb’s “(500) Days of Summer” became one of the sleeper hits of 2009. Sure, the Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel romantic comedy didn’t light the box office on fire like “The Hangover,” but it did crack the top ten and work its way to a remarkable $32 million domestically on a reported $8 million budget. That’s a monster arthouse hit.

Blu-Ray Review: Tyler Perry’s ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’ Has Soul

I Can Do Bad All By Myself

CHICAGO – Tyler Perry has made a fortune with films that play off easy comedy and obvious moral messages. He weaves common themes into modern entertainment that usually connects with audiences but not critics. Usually. Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” surprised many of the critics who sought it out, displaying a new confidence in Perry’s direction, only held back by minor flaws that viewers will easily overlook on the home market.

TV Review: Earnest ‘Life Unexpected’ Should Connect With Viewers

CHICAGO – The television landscape changes so often that it’s a remarkable fact that a network as young as The CW can already have a past that makes a new program feel like a throwback.

‘Avatar,’ ‘Glee,’ ‘Mad Men,’ ‘The Hangover’ Big Winners at 2010 Golden Globes

Ricky Gervais, Host of the Golden Globes

CHICAGO – The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards were held tonight, January 17th, 2010 and big winners included Mo’Nique, Meryl Streep, Christoph Waltz, James Cameron, Sandra Bullock, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Michael C. Hall, Juliana Margulies, Toni Collette, John Lithgow, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Bacon, Alec Baldwin, and Chloe Sevigny.

TV Review: Entertaining, Action-Packed ‘Human Target’ Rocks

Human Target

CHICAGO – Fox has long struggled to find an action series as popular and accomplished as their massively successful “24”. It’s nowhere near as intense or self-serious, but the network has finally found an heir to the throne of Jack Bauer in the wildly enjoyable “Human Target,” an action series more reminiscent of weekly escapism of the 1980s but with modern production values. It’s a blast.

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TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    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.

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