Film Reviews & Interviews

HollywoodChicago.com review: Sean Penn's Oscar-Possible 'Milk' Puts Face to Gay Rights

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:12:36 -0700

HollywoodChicago.com film critic Adam Fendelman writes in his 4.0 out of 5.0 review of the new Gus Van Sant film “Milk” with Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco and Alison Pill:

“Just as Tom Hanks put a face to AIDS in 1993’s ‘Philadelphia,’ Sean Penn has now put a face to gay rights as Harvey Milk in the new Gus Van Sant true-story film ‘Milk’.”

Read our full “Milk” review here.

HollywoodChicago.com review: 'Australia' with Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman lost in own cinematic outback

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:22:46 -0700

HollywoodChicago.com film critic Brian Tallerico writes in his 2.5 out of 5.0 review of the new film “Australia” with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman from director Baz Luhrmann:

“Baz Luhrmann’s Australia is a sweeping, grand epic in the tradition of Gone With the Wind that gets away from its talented director, the writers he worked with and the team he hired to film his passion project.” Read our full “Australia” review here.

HollywoodChicago.com film review: 'What Just Happened?' with Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:48:57 -0700

HollywoodChicago.com film critic Patrick McDonald wrote in his 4.0 out of 5.0 review of the new film “What Just Happened?” with Robert De Niro and Bruce Willis:

Patrick McDonald wrote:Proving that truth is stranger than fiction, this farcical narrative delves into how egos essentially run Hollywood and how those egos are largely attached to dysfunctional human beings.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “What Just Happened?” review in our reviews section.
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HollywoodChicago.com film interview: Simon Pegg on 'How to Lose Friends & Alienate People' with Megan Fox

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:07:11 -0700

HollywoodChicago.com film critic has interviewed British cult film star Simon Pegg on his new film “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People,” which also stars Megan Fox, Jeff Bridges, Kirsten Dunst, Gillian Anderson, Thandie Newton and Max Minghella:

“Megan is mind-bogglingly beautiful. When she walks into a room, you almost have to look away.”

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People” interview.
View our full, high-resolution “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People” image gallery.

HollywoodChicago.com film interview: Director Neil LaBute on Samuel L. Jackson's 'Lakeview Terrace'

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:23:40 -0700

HollywoodChicago.com film critic Patrick McDonald wrote in his interview with acclaimed playwright Neil LaBute on directing his new film “Lakeview Terrace” with Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington and Jay Hernandez:

Patrick McDonald wrote:Already an important and controversial American playwright, Neil LaBute is looking to make the same individual mark as a director in films. His most recent effort is “Lakeview Terrace” with Samuel L. Jackson. It’s an incisive and poignant meditation on race, class and gender relations in America.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “Lakeview Terrace” interview in our news section.
View our full, high-resolution “Lakeview Terrace” image gallery.

HollywoodChicago.com film review: 'Righteous Kill' with Al Pacino, Robert De Niro

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:00:42 -0700

HollywoodChicago.com film critic Dustin Levell wrote in his 2.0 out of 5.0 review of the new film “Righteous Kill” with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, John Leguizamo, Donnie Wahlberg, Brian Dennehy, Trilby Glover, Carla Gugino and 50 Cent:

Dustin Levell wrote:Al Pacino and Robert De Niro seem to make this schlock palatable, but for everyone thinking “Righteous Kill” is going to be the next “Heat,” you’re going to be left burnt. It’s more like a bad episode of “Law & Order”.

Read Dustin Levell’s full “Righteous Kill” review in our reviews section.
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HollywoodChicago.com film interview: 'Hamlet 2' star Steve Coogan

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:08:04 -0700

“Hamlet 2” star Steve Coogan said in a HollywoodChicago.com interview:

Steve Coogan wrote:It did make me nervous to play Jesus. I wondered whether the director was just trying to be provocative to annoy Christians or if it was just funny.

“Hamlet 2,” which is written and directed by Andrew Fleming, features Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Poehler, Melonie Diaz, Phoebe Strole and Skylar Astin. HollywoodChicago.com film critic Patrick McDonald scored the film with a 2.5 out of 5.0.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “Hamlet 2” interview in our news section.
View our full, high-resolution “Hamlet 2” image gallery.

HollywoodChicago.com film review: Paul W.S. Anderson's 'Death Race' with Jason Statham, Joan Allen

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:19:58 -0700

HollywoodChicago.com film critic Adam Fendelman wrote in his 2.0 out of 5.0 review of the new Paul W.S. Anderson film “Death Race” with Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez and Ian McShane:

Adam Fendelman wrote:The unfortunately simple message of “Death Race” merely says we’re living in a time and place where financial corruption can allow us to prostitute ourselves to charge $250 to watch one guy violently off another for our viewing pleasure.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full “Death Race” review in our reviews section.
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HollywoodChicago.com film interview: Rainn Wilson of 'The Office' on new film 'The Rocker'

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:44:15 -0700

HollywoodChicago.com film critic Patrick McDonald has interviewed Rainn Wilson of “The Office” on his new film “The Rocker” with Wilson, Josh Gad, Christina Applegate, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, Teddy Geiger, Jeff Garlin, Jane Lynch, Fred Armisen, Will Arnett and Jane Krakowski. Wilson said in the interview:

Rainn Wilson wrote:There is something about a drummer. They’re not cerebral. I have a tendency in my life to be more cerebral and a bit reserved. But he’s a big puppy dog, a physical person and a ‘talk first, think later’ type with his heart on his sleeve. It was lot of fun to plunge into that character.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “The Rocker” interview in our news section.
View our full, high-resolution “The Rocker” image gallery.

HollywoodChicago.com film review: 'Man on Wire' with Philippe Petit from James Marsh

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:08:55 -0700

HollywoodChicago.com film critic Patrick McDonald writes in his 4.5 out of 5.0 review of the new documentary “Man on Wire” with Philippe Petit from director James Marsh about walking a wire between the Twin Towers:

Patrick McDonald wrote:The story that looks back at the incident plays like a great caper film. The operation to get into the tower and string the wire was a combination of ingenuity, planning and exquisite timing since the top of the building was still a construction site.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “Man on Wire” review in our reviews section.
View our full, high-resolution “Man on Wire” image gallery.