September 2021

On-Air Film Review: Teen Age! Review of ‘The Many Saints of Newark’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 30th, 2021, reviewing the new film “The Many Saints of Newark” in theaters and streaming on HBO Max beginning October 1st.

Teen Age Tone! On-Air Review of ‘The Many Saints of Newark’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 30th, 2021, reviewing the new film “The Many Saints of Newark” in theaters and streaming on HBO Max beginning October 1st.

Via Zoom: Sarah Burns on ‘The Central Park Five,’ ‘Jackie Robinson’ & “Muhammad Ali’

Central Park Five, The

CHICAGO – Say the name “Ken Burns” and immediately images are evoked regarding the best of American documentaries. For three films – “The Central Park Five,” “Jackie Robinson” and the latest PBS documentary series, “Muhammad Ali” – Ken’s daughter Sarah Burns co-directed with him. Sarah talked to Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com on the three landmark films.

Via Zoom: T.J. Parsell of ‘Invisible’ at REELING39 Film Fest, Sep. 29, 2021

CHICAGO – The ongoing REELING39 Festival … Chicago’s International LBGTQ+ showcase … will screen “Invisible,” a new documentary by T.J. Parsell. The original subtitle of the film was “Gay Women in Southern Music,” but the shortened title points out the nature of this industry subset to hide certain elements of their talent. For more info and tickets, click REELING39.

Podtalk: Frank Carr on Virtual/Online YippieFest 2021 on Sep. 26

CHICAGO – One more time, virtual and online. YippieFest 2021 will air on Twitch TV and through their website on Sunday, September 26th (7pm start). The freewheeling festival is usually a live theater and music event every August, but with the pandemic still lingering the show must go on, virtual and online. For more info, click YippieFest.com.

Via Zoom: Director Angelo Madsen Minax of ‘North by Current,’ at REELING39 on Sep. 25, 2021

North by Current

CHICAGOREELING39 continues with its Documentary Centerpiece on Saturday, September 25th, 2021 – the searing family portrait of “North by Current,” created and directed by Angelo Madsen Minax. For tickets and more information, as part of the the 39th edition of Chicago’s REELING film festival, an International LGBTQ+ showcase, click REELING39.

On-Air Film Review: Deliver a Letter! Review of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 23rd, 2021, reviewing the new movie musical “Dear Evan Hansen” – featuring Ben Platt in the title role – in theaters beginning September 24th.

Deliver a Letter! On-Air Review of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 23rd, 2021, reviewing the new movie musical “Dear Evan Hansen” – featuring Ben Platt in the title role – in theaters beginning September 24th.

Via Zoom: Mike Houlihan for Irish Movie Hooley, Sep. 24-26, 2021

Irish American Film Hooley, 2021

CHICAGO – It twill be a touch of the Irish in Chicago’s Loop this weekend, as the Gene Siskel Film Center on State Street screens the Irish American Movie Hooley, produced by Hibernian Media Chairman Mike Houlihan. The three day fest … September 24th-26th, 2021 … welcomes three Irish based and influenced films.

Film Fest Preview: Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Reeling39, Sep. 23-Oct. 3, 2021

CHICAGO – The 39th edition of the REELING International LBGTQ+ Film Festival kicks off on September 23rd, 2021, offering 33 feature films and nine short film programs. The Opening Night film is “Firebird,” and will screen at the historic Music Box Theatre beginning at 7pm. For more info and tickets, click REELING39.

Red-Carpet Interviews: ‘Black as Night’ Director Maritte Lee Go, Writer Sherman Payne & Fabrizio Guido

CHICAGO – At the red-carpet premiere of “Black as Night” on Sept. 21, 2021 at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre, HollywoodChicago.com interviews director Maritte Lee Go (who admits she’s a Jason Blum fangirl) and writer Sherman Payne (who discusses “cultural specificity,” describes this as a “black vampire movie” that pre-dated Jordan Peele and says vampires are a metaphor for humanity).

Via Zoom: REELING39 LGBTQ+ Fest Opener is ‘Firebird’ with Tom Prior

CHICAGO – Opening Night is near – Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 – for the 39th edition of Chicago’s REELING film festival, an International LGBTQ+ showcase. The Opening film is “Firebird,” a based-on-truth gay love story set in Cold War Russia. It features actor Tom Prior, who co-wrote the film with director Peeter Rebane. For more info and tickets, click REELING39.

Via Zoom: Creators & Voice Talent of Hilarious ‘Chicago Party Aunt’

CHICAGO – The funny meter of Netflix went off the scale last week, as the animated series “Chicago Party Aunt” made its debut on September 17th. What began as a Twitter account by comic actor Chris Witaske (who also provides his voice talent) has morphed into the cartoon adventures of Aunt Diane Dumbowski, her nephew Daniel, and an array of familiar Chicago-isms and characters.

Via Zoom: Co-Director Sarah Burns on PBS Doc Series ‘Muhammad Ali’

CHICAGO – Say the name “Ken Burns” and immediately images are evoked regarding the best of American documentaries. For three films – “The Central Park Five,” “Jackie Robinson” and the latest PBS documentary series, “Muhammad Ali” – Ken’s daughter Sarah Burns co-directed with him. Sarah talked to Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com on the latest film about “The Greatest.”

Music News: HollywoodChicago.com to Cover Riot Fest in Chicago, Sept. 16-19, 2021

Riot Fest 2021

CHICAGO – One of the top music festivals in the country comes back to Chicago as the 2021 Riot Fest opens Thursday, Sept. 16 and continues through Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. HollywoodChicago.com founder Adam Fendelman and photographer Jeff “Doc” Doles will be covering the stages with their lens, and will be publishing throughout the upcoming weekend and week. For more information and tickets, head to RiotFest.org.

Film Review: Clint Eastwood Moseys Into the Sunset in ‘Cry Macho’

CHICAGO – Clint Eastwood’s return to the western is an amiable-but-relativiely-minor mosey south of the border. The 91-year-old doesn’t embarrass himself, but this small stakes story is far from Clint’s finest hour. In “Cry Macho” Eastwood is a former rodeo cowboy and horse trainer named Mike who has run into hard times after a devastating heartbreak.

Clint Eastwood Moseys Into the Sunset in ‘Cry Macho’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.0/5.0
Rating: 3.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Clint Eastwood’s return to the western is an amiable-but-relativiely-minor mosey south of the border. The 91-year-old doesn’t embarrass himself, but this small stakes story is far from Clint’s finest hour. In “Cry Macho” Eastwood is a former rodeo cowboy and horse trainer named Mike who has run into hard times after a devastating heartbreak.

Film News: Chicago’s FACETS Reopens on Sep. 17, 2021, with ‘Anne at 13,000 Feet’

Anne at 13,000 Feet

CHICAGO – Another Chicago cinema gem is reopening after 18 long months in pandemic shutdown. FACETS is a multimedia gem co-founded by legendary film influencer Milos Stehlik, which has resided on Fullerton Avenue west of the DePaul neighborhood for nearly 50 years.

Author as True Man! On-Air Review of ‘The Capote Tapes’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 16th, 2021, reviewing the new documentary “The Capote Tapes” – regarding the author Truman Capote – in select theaters beginning September 17th.

On-Air Film Review: Author as True Man! Review of ‘The Capote Tapes’

Capote Tapes, The

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 16th, 2021, reviewing the new documentary “The Capote Tapes” – regarding the author Truman Capote – in select theaters beginning September 17th.

Film News: Chicago's Asian Pop-Up Cinema Opening Night, Sep. 15, 2021

CHICAGO – Season 13 of Chicago’s Asian Pop Up Cinema (APUC) is about to launch on Wednesday, September 15th, 2021, at the AMC River East in Chicago. The Opening Night film is “Ascension” – directed by Jessica Kingdon – an artistically cinematic documentary on the new Chinese Dream. For ticket information, click here.

Via Zoom: Director Michelle Bossy of ‘klutz.,’ Premiere at the 24th Dances With Films Festival

Michelle Bossy of 'klutz.'

CHICAGO – Director Michelle Bossy has just put her first feature film into festivals – “Under the Lantern Lit Sky.” But she also submitted her latest short film – the aptly entitled ‘klutz.,” in this case at the recent 24th Dances With Films Festival in Los Angeles. Michelle Bossy is a innovative and sensitive up-and-comer, and in “klutz.” she takes on the delicate subject of mourning.

On-Air Film Review: Coming Together! Review of ‘Come From Away’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 9th, 2021, reviewing the new film “Come From Away” – a staged version of the Broadway musical hit – streaming on AppleTV+ beginning September 10th, 2021.

Coming Together! On-Air Review of ‘Come From Away’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.5/5.0
Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 9th, 2021, reviewing the new film “Come From Away” – a staged version of the Broadway musical hit – streaming on AppleTV+ beginning September 10th, 2021.

Podtalk: Lead Actors, Director of ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’

CHICAGO – Coming out as one’s true self is a benefit of our evolving social order. In “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie,” which will stream on Amazon Prime Video on September 17th, the title character is an intuitive teenage drag queen, and fights the last vestiges of prejudice against his destiny. Oh yes, and it’s a musical.

Via Zoom: Lead Actors of ‘Ma Belle, My Beauty,’ at Gene Siskel Film Center Thru Sept. 8, 2021

Ma Belle My Beauty 2

CHICAGO – If you ever wondered how a polyamorous relationship might play out – in this case He-She-She – then writer/director Marion Hill has created “Ma Belle, My Beauty” as one such delving into the territory. The Gene Siskel Film Center presents the Sundance Film Festival Award Winner through September 8th, 2021.

Film Review: 'Shang-Chi' Proves to be a Master of Multiple Genres

CHICAGO – There is an undeniable pleasure in watching films that don’t take themselves too seriously. Nothing against the Nolans and Snyders of the comic book universe because they provide an essential service to the film community with their more grounded, dramatic approach.

'Shang-Chi' Proves to be a Master of Multiple Genres

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.5/5.0
Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – There is an undeniable pleasure in watching films that don’t take themselves too seriously. Nothing against the Nolans and Snyders of the comic book universe because they provide an essential service to the film community with their more grounded, dramatic approach.

Audio Film Review: Witchy! Review of ‘We Need to Do Something’

We Need to Do Something

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on the new psychological horror film “We Need to Do Something” – featuring Pat Healy of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater Company – in select theaters, beginning on September 3rd, 2021.

Witchy! Audio Review of ‘We Need to Do Something’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on the new psychological horror film “We Need to Do Something” – featuring Pat Healy of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater Company – in select theaters, beginning on September 3rd, 2021.

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