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+.
HollywoodChicago.com Movie Reviews
Alfonso Cuaron’s ‘Gravity’ Rekindles Wonder of Cinema
Submitted by BrianTT on October 3, 2013 - 10:28am Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There used to be a stronger sense that films could take us someplace new. From the days of audience members screaming at the train coming at the camera because they didn’t understand that they wouldn’t be run over to Dorothy’s trip to Oz to young Skywalker’s family problems, movies captured a sense of wonder that’s been lost in an era when CGI is in KFC commercials and it feels like Hollywood has run out of new places to take us.
‘Inequality for All’ Becomes a Cry for Democracy
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 28, 2013 - 6:00am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – One of the more underreported stories of the past year is that income inequality – the gap between the wealthiest one percent in the U.S. versus the rest of the population – is at historic highs. When that balance of power is tilted, the result is documented in the new film, “Inequality for All.”
‘Baggage Claim’ is Equivalent of a Crash Landing
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 28, 2013 - 4:31am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Experiencing an unfunny comedy is one of the most painful time wasters in the movie going adventure – not only will that time never come back, but wanting to laugh when no motivation for hilarity is produced is like having eternal hiccups. “Baggage Claim” (hic) is (hic) that (hic) sort of movie.
Director Ron Howard Delivers a Meticulous ‘Rush’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 27, 2013 - 2:50pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Defining the glory days of any sport is often centered on personal rivalries. The 1970s – notable for stand-offs like John McEnroe and Björn Borg – had a similarly contentious rivalry between Formula One car racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, portrayed in Ron Howard’s “Rush.”
‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2’ Wins with Foodimals, Overemphasizes Humans
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on September 27, 2013 - 12:01amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – I was paying attention to the movie. Correction: I was mostly paying attention to the movie. It was challenging to ignore my angry, empty stomach and fully enjoy the food coma that is “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”. Just don’t make the same mistake I did and eat before you do.
Frustrating Distance Travelled by ‘Blue Caprice’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 26, 2013 - 2:59pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Alexandre Moors’ “Blue Caprice” presents no easy answers to a situation that likely doesn’t have any. I get that. I don’t need a traditional, TV-movie dissection of the D.C. sniper. However, Moors’ complete refusal to give the viewer anything substantial to hold on to in this stylish telling of a dark story pushed me out of the film both times I saw it, first at Sundance and then again more recently.
Andrew Bujalski’s Wonderful Commitment to ‘Computer Chess’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 26, 2013 - 2:20pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Andrew Bujalski’s “Computer Chess,” opening tomorrow at the Music Box Theatre here in Chicago and playing soon On Demand as it expands around the country after a very successful festival run, is a film utterly committed to its concept.
Romantic Comedy ‘Enough Said’ is a Sweet, Gentle Gem
Submitted by BrianTT on September 26, 2013 - 12:34pm Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The plot description which this review will eventually get to is going to make Nicole Holofcener’s “Enough Said” sound sitcomish. It’s a conceit straight out of Must-See TV. And so I want to say up front that you need to dismiss the overly slapstick-y preview and your hesitation about the plot and embrace this gem of a comedy, the rare laugher made by adults for adults that understands dynamics of human relationships beyond meet-cutes and slapstick humor.
‘C.O.G.’ is a Touching Indication of Life’s Crossroads
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 22, 2013 - 2:07pm Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Finding identity, especially in the post-collegiate twentysomething time of life, is often fraught with accidental circumstance and heartache. The new film “C.O.G.,” adapted from a short essay from author David Sedaris, is a beautifully sensitive comedy about that rocky identity road, portrayed through a youthful and somewhat clueless preppy from Yale.
High-Energy ‘Battle of the Year’ Needs More Originality
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 20, 2013 - 5:14pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “B Boys” – or as they’re known by the more familiar term as break dancers – are high energy street performers who combine gymnastic moves with tight choreographed dance. This all comes together in a film depicting an international competition called “Battle of the Year.”
‘Wadjda’ Captures Story of Memorable Young Heroine
Submitted by BrianTT on September 20, 2013 - 12:39pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Haifaa Al-Mansour’s “Wadjda” is a deceptive film. It feels like a relatively slight story in that it’s about a headstrong girl who wants a bike. That’s it. Pretty simple stuff. And yet it’s not simple at all in Wadjda’s part of the world. She is a 10-year-old Saudi girl and not only are Saudi girls not supposed to ride bikes, they’re not supposed to even show their faces if men could possibly be in their line of sight.
Author Remains Elusive in Documentary ‘Salinger’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 20, 2013 - 10:13amRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Jerome David Salinger, J.D. to his readers, remains one of the most influential and controversial authors of the 20th Century. Known intuitively for the classic novel “Catcher in the Rye,” he also was known as a reclusive soul. His life and times make up the new documentary, “Salinger.”
Jake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman Enter Darkness of ‘Prisoners’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 19, 2013 - 3:28pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – What would you do if your child was in jeopardy? We all love to answer quickly and instinctually that we would do absolutely anything but the fact is that we’re incredibly lucky to never be put in that situation. Would you torture someone else? What if you weren’t sure they were responsible?
