June 2022

Living La Vita! Audio Blu-ray Review of Federico Fellini's ‘La Dolce Vita’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio Blu-ray DVD review of “La Dolce Vita,” the Federico Fellini film masterpiece that introduced the 1960s to itself, and the term “Paparazzi” to the language, now available through Paramount Pictures wherever Blu-rays are sold.

Podtalk: Gary G. Chichester, Grand Marshall, Chicago Pride Parade

CHICAGO – 52 years ago Monday (June 27th, 2022), a young activist got together with a group of marchers – with no permit – and showed the City of Chicago the actual faces of gay liberation. Gary G. Chichester was part of that first gay pride march in 1970 … and 52 years later he’s the Grand Marshall of the 2022 Chicago Pride Parade, live and in person!

On-Air TV Review: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Rewrites the Superhero Rules

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson, WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin), on June 23rd, 2022, reviewing the new streaming series “Ms Marvel,” a new kind of Marvel Universe superhero now streaming on Disney+.

Film News: Matt Damon Named Gene Siskel Film Center Renaissance Award Honoree

2022 Gene Siskel Rennaisance Award Honoree Matt Damon

CHICAGO – Matt Damon, the leading man whose roles play like a character actor, is the latest recipient of the Gene Siskel Film Center Renaissance Award, part of the Center’s 50th Anniversary fundraiser (click here for details) He will do a live virtual interview moderated by Robert Downey Jr., which will be s

Film Review: Baz Luhrman’s 'Elvis' is a Hanka Hunka Burning Drudge

CHICAGO – Director Baz Luhrman’s “Elvis” has plenty of suspicious minds, but precious little mystery as his trademark excess fails to breathe new life into the tired legacy of the King. No amount of montages, quick cuts, and odd music choices can obscure the fact that we don’t see anything here that even the casual Elvis fan doesn’t already know.

Baz Luhrman’s 'Elvis' is a Hanka Hunka Burning Drudge

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.5/5.0
Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Director Baz Luhrman’s “Elvis” has plenty of suspicious minds, but precious little mystery as his trademark excess fails to breathe new life into the tired legacy of the King. No amount of montages, quick cuts, and odd music choices can obscure the fact that we don’t see anything here that even the casual Elvis fan doesn’t already know.

Podtalk: Exec Director Frank Carr of 2022 YIPPIE FEST, Calling for Acts to Perform, Aug. 19-21

YippieFest 2022

CHICAGOYIPPIE! It’s back. Coming off two years of cancellations, the performance event YIPPIE FEST 2022 will take place from Friday, August 19th through Sunday, August 21at at the Den Theatre, 1331 North Milwaukee, Chicago. Currently, the Fest is calling for acts, with music and stand up comedy slots already filled, but any other type of performance, sketch, improv or theatre. This is your opportunity to perform, so sign up by clicking YiPPIE FEST 2022.

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Harold and Maude’ Reminds Us Be Free & Be You

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on Star 96.7 WSSR-FM (Joliet, IL) reviewing the new Blu-Ray edition of “Harold and Maude,” the cult classic featuring Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort in the ultimate May/December lesson about freedom, passion and love.

Flashback: Happy 80th Birthday to Brian Wilson of ‘The Beach Boys’

CHICAGO – In 2015, I got the call that I would get an opportunity to interview legendary songwriter and pop artist Brian Wilson of the 1960s supergroup The Beach Boys. He was at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago introducing the bio-film “Love & Mercy.” Today (June 20th) is Brian Wilson’s 80th Birthday, and the interview is reprinted below.

Tribeca2022: In Person Fest Ends, At Home Continues Until June 26th

NEW YORK – The 2022 in-person 21st Tribeca Film Festival ends today (June 19th). But the highly successful hybrid (click link) TRIBECAatHOME goes on through June 26th, for an extra week to catch up with the films of Tribeca.

On-Air Film Review: Consensual ‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 16th, reviewing “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande,” a two-person dance featuring Emma Thompson. Streaming on HULU beginning June 17th.

Consensual! On-Air Film Review of ‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’

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 June 16th, reviewing “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande,” a two-person dance featuring Emma Thompson. Streaming on HULU beginning June 17th.

Tribeca2022: Modern Love and Honor at Tribeca Film Festival

NEW YORK – After the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival AWARD WINNERS were named June 16th, the festival heads into its last weekend, which is the last opportunity to take advantage of
TRIBECAatHOME for viewing the fest selections.

Tribeca2022: Best U.S. Narrative Film at Fest is ‘Good Girl Jane’

NEW YORK – The 21st Tribeca Film Festival announced their Jury Prizes for 2022 on June 16th. Best U.S. Narrative was rewarded to “Good Girl Jane,” an adolescent story of young love, written/directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz. Best International Narrative goes to “January” and Best Documentary is “The Cave of Adullam.”

On-Air Film Review: To Infinity and Beyond with ‘Lightyear’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 16, reviewing “Lightyear,” the latest Pixar Animation film spun off from the Toy Story Universe. In theaters beginning June 17th.

To Infinity & Beyond! On-Air Film Review of Lighyear’

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 June 16, reviewing “Lightyear,” the latest Pixar Animation film spun off from the Toy Story Universe. In theaters beginning June 17th.

Podtalk: Monologist John Michael Books a Summer Canadian Tour With ‘Meatball Seance’

John Michael 2022, photo by Paul Clark

CHICAGO – John Michael is kicking out the pandemic and going on the road! Chicago’s favorite monologist is reviving his show, “Meatball Seance” for a Canadian Festival Tour. It kicks off on June 18th, click the Ottawa Fringe Fest for dates, times and details. Future shows will take place at the Toronto (July) and Edmonton (August) Fringe Festivals.

Podtalk: Filmmaker Cooper Raiff is Doing the ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’

CHICAGO – Cooper Raiff was ready for his close-up. His improbable journey to filmmaker, aided in part by a random tweet to Jay Duplass, came to fruition with the success at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival with “Cha Cha Real Smooth.” The film streams on Apple TV+ beginning June 17th, 2022.

Tribeca2022: Seeking Justice Through the Tribeca Film Fest

NEW YORK – One of the honorable characteristics of the Tribeca Film Festival is their documentary programming, which reflects our current debates and circumstances. Two docs reviewed below are indicative of the search for truth and justice. The at-home Fest is available now, click TRIBECAatHOME for access.

Tribeca2022: High Grades for First Weekend of Tribeca Film Fest

NEW YORK – After the big Red Carpet Opening last Wednesday on June 8th, the Tribeca Film Festival has begun to roll out its diverse and international screenings of narrative films, documentaries and shorts. Film screenings at home are available in this hybrid fest format by clicking TRIBECAatHOME.

On-Air TV Review: It’s the Final Frontier Again in ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson, WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin), on June 9th, 2022, reviewing the new streaming series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” a prequel to the 1960s TOS (The Original Series) now streaming on Paramount+.

Audio Film Review: ‘The Phantom of the Open’ Yells FORE!

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “The Phantom of the Open,” a new film about an unlikely entrant (Mark Rylance) into golf’s prestigious British Open. in the groovy 1970s. It “opens” in select theaters on June 10th, 2022, see local listings.

FORE! Audio Film Review of ‘The Phantom of the Open’

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

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “The Phantom of the Open,” a new film about an unlikely entrant (Mark Rylance) into golf’s prestigious British Open in the groovy 1970s. It “opens” in select theaters on June 10th, 2022, see local listings.

Podtalk: Judy Garland’s Daughter Lorna Luft, On the 100th Anniversary of Her Mother’s Birth

CHICAGO – It was 100 years ago today – June 10th, 1922 – that Frances Gumm was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, but the world would soon know her as Judy Garland. The entertainer, who went from child star to adult fame, is honored by her daughter Lorna Luft.

Film Review: Intelligence Extinct in Dopey ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’

CHICAGO – Intelligence goes extinct in this supremely dopey sixth installment of the Jurassic Park franchise. Not even the reunion of original stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum can counteract the law of diminishing returns and a lack of focus behind the camera.

Intelligence Extinct in Dopey ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.0/5.0
Rating: 2.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Intelligence goes extinct in this supremely dopey sixth installment of the Jurassic Park franchise. Not even the reunion of original stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum can counteract the law of diminishing returns and a lack of focus behind the camera as the film turns Dino after Dino into a deadening drumbeat of dull destruction.

Audio Film Review: 'Relative' is a Realization of Family as Truth

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “Relative,” the latest film from Chicago-based filmmaker Michael Glover Smith. Its theatrical release begins on June 8th (click links) at Music Box Theatre and on June 10th at Gene Siskel Film Center, and will expand from there.

Realizing Family as Truth! Audio Film Review of ‘Relative’

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

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “Relative,” the latest film from Chicago-based filmmaker Michael Glover Smith. Its theatrical release begins on June 8th (click links) at Music Box Theatre and on June 10th at Gene Siskel Film Center, and will expand from there.

Tribeca2022: Hybrid 21st Tribeca Film Fest Will Open with ‘Halftime’

NEW YORK – Film Festivals are opening up again all over, and that includes New York City’s preeminent Tribeca Film Festival, beginning June 8th with the Opening Night film “Halftime.” The Fest will be in-person, but there is also an opportunity to experience “Tribeca at Home” by clicking TRIBECAatHOME.

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