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
Gorgeous ‘Brave’ Connects While Not Matching Pixar Standard
Submitted by BrianTT on June 21, 2012 - 11:16am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Pixar’s 13th film has been lauded as a major first for the company – the inaugural adventure aimed squarely at young females. Luckily, there’s nothing here that diminishes that goal in any way. “Brave” features a strong, well-designed, interesting heroine, perfectly voiced by Kelly Macdonald, and it doesn’t pander to its demographic, proving that girls can play with the big boys while also giving them a fable of their own.
PItfalls of Love for Greta Gerwig in ‘Lola Versus’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 15, 2012 - 7:15pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Greta Gerwig is now being recognized in the movie universe, and has climbed a ladder from micro-budget independent (“Baghead”) to mainstream monstrosities (the “Arthur” remake). She takes the lead role in “Lola Versus,” and anchors a terrific story about “settling down” and the decisions behind that certain time of life.
Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg Pulls Our Chains in ‘That’s My Boy’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 15, 2012 - 4:20pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Adam Sandler is just freaking with us now. His goal is obviously to create the raunchiest, sociopathic and off-putting comedies of all time, and “That’s My Boy” belongs in his Hall of Fame. The A-list cast helps out, including Andy Sandberg, James Caan, Susan Sarandon and Leighton Meester.
‘Safety Not Guaranteed’ with Aubrey Plaza is Delightful Journey
Submitted by BrianTT on June 15, 2012 - 11:18am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – I love “Safety Not Guaranteed.” It reminds me of films of my youth – the sci-fi/dramedy hits of directors like Robert Zemeckis, Richard Donner, and Steven Spielberg – that gifted viewers with wonderful characters with which we could identify. The set-up may be ridiculous but as long as we feel grounded with the people within it, we’ll go along with anything. This is something that’s been lost over the years and writer Derek Connolly and director Colin Trevorrow have found in their delicate, lovely film.
Great Trio Elevates Lynn Shelton’s ‘Your Sister’s Sister’
Submitted by BrianTT on June 15, 2012 - 10:35amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Lynn Shelton’s “Your Sister’s Sister” is a character-driven piece about hidden feelings and complex relationships. Like her work on “Humpday,” Shelton has a keen ear for the way people alter their behavior as their dynamics with other people continue to shift, often in a sexual direction. When a close friend suddenly looks like something more, when a long-term relationship seems to be falling apart, when a sibling may have betrayed you – Shelton’s gift as a filmmaker is how she can traverse these emotional minefields while still staying true to her characters.
Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough Have Fun in ‘Rock of Ages’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 15, 2012 - 8:44amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Although the jukebox musical needs an available pasture to be put out onto, the new film “Rock of Ages” – based on the Broadway stage play – improves on that genre by having a little fun and lots of tongue-in-cheek. Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough, Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand rock the cashbox.
Visually Poetic ‘Patang’ Delivers Images of Arresting Beauty
Submitted by mattmovieman on June 15, 2012 - 8:33amRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There are few things more difficult to pull off than elegant visual poetry. The line between pretension and artful provocation is a thin one indeed, and any director that attempts to construct a metaphorical mosaic runs the risk of looking foolish. Yet cinema would sure be a dull medium without artists that aimed for the stars, and that is precisely what Prashant Bhargava does in his debut feature, “Patang” (“The Kite”).
Jane Fonda Misused in ‘Peace, Love & Misunderstanding’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 8, 2012 - 6:58pmRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Jane Fonda portraying an aging hippie seems like a slam dunk. She was a 1960s hippie at one time, right? Well, it’s obvious she wasn’t the type of hippie personified in “Peace, Love & Misunderstanding,” co-starring Catherine Keener and Elizabeth Olsen. Nobody was that type of of hippie.
Sweet, Enjoyable ‘Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted’
Submitted by BrianTT on June 8, 2012 - 8:25amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It’s incredibly rare to be able to say this – the third installment in a hit animated franchise could arguably be the best. “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” is certainly more fun, clever, and enjoyable than the last film in this series and probably holds its own against the original.
Fascinating Journey to ‘Prometheus’ Makes For Bumpy Ride
Submitted by BrianTT on June 7, 2012 - 8:39amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” rides a wave of expectation, anticipation, hype, and an already-building backlash into theaters this weekend and all I have to say is something that most critics hesitate to do – you need to see this for yourself and make up your own mind. Is it the perfect blend of adult, intellectual science fiction and summer action that I was hoping for at the beginning of the season?
Andy Garcia is Heroic, Story Isn’t in ‘For Greater Glory’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 3, 2012 - 4:23pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “For Greater Glory” attempts to bring back the David Lean style epic – even recruiting Peter O’Toole from “Lawrence of Arabia” to participate – in the story of a Mexican religious war in the 1920s. While a sincere effort, it can’t match the story to the epic history. The cast includes Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria and Bruce Greenwood.
Valid Points Make ‘U.N. Me’ a Reasonable Exposé
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 2, 2012 - 8:42amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – As a product of the post WWII era of global cooperation, the United Nations in New York City has arguably become a bloated and expensive paperweight, 67 years after its birth. Documentary filmmaker Ami Horowitz takes on this bloat with passion and some conspicuous points in “U.N. Me.”
Connection Overcomes Handicaps in ‘The Intouchables’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 1, 2012 - 8:48pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – One of the big movie hits in French cinema last year, “The Intouchables,” comes to our shores with a powerful and unusual redemption tale. The true story of a wealthy but quadriplegic man, and his poor but proud caregiver is the subject of a very compelling relationship.
