April 2023

On-Air Film Review: Speak Softly with Toni Collette as 'Mafia Mamma’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 13th, reviewing “Mafia Mamma,” featuring Toni Collette in a comedy role offer she couldn’t refuse. In theaters on April 14th.

Speak Softly Love! On-Air Review of Toni Collette in ‘Mafia Mamma’

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 April 13th, reviewing “Mafia Mamma,” featuring Toni Collette in a comedy role offer she couldn’t refuse. In theaters on April 14th.

Podtalk: Dr. Jessica Steinrock, Appearing at FACETS on Intimacy Coordination, Apr. 15, 2023

Jessica Steinrock, FACETS

CHICAGO – The world broke open and came to a more evolved place after the digital campaign of #MeToo and #TimesUp late last decade. In the entertainment industry especially, the stories of institutional sexual harassment was legion and pervasive.

On-Air Film Review: Nicolas Cage Doesn’t Suck in ‘Renfield’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 13th, reviewing “Reinfield,” featuring Nicolas Cage in a part he was born to play. In theaters on April 14th.

It Doesn’t Suck! On-Air Review of Nicolas Cage in ‘Renfield’

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 April13th, reviewing “Reinfield,” featuring Nicolas Cage seemingly in a part he was born to play. In theaters on April 14th.

Audio Film Review: ‘Out of the Loop’ is Sweet Stand-up Chicago

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Out of the Loop,” an overview of the Chicago stand up scene, with many notable names that began their career in the Windy City. Currently available through Video On Demand, since April 11th.

Sweet Stand-Up Chicago! Audio Film Review of ‘Out of the Loop’

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

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Out of the Loop,” an overview of the Chicago stand up scene, with many notable names that began their career in the Windy City. Currently available through Video On Demand, since April 11th.

Film News: 39th Chicago Latino Film Fest Opener is ‘Amore y Matemáticas,’ April 13, 2023

39th CLFF 2023

CHICAGO – The 39th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) opens Thursday, April 13th, 2023, with “Amore y Matemáticas” (Love and Mathematics) at the AMC River East starting at 5:30pm, kicking off a full ten days of 51 features, 35 shorts, parties and events. For more information about Opening Night, click CLFF OPENING for details.

Podtalk: Jim Healy, Consulting Programmer of the Wisconsin Film Festival, April 13-20, 2023

2023 Wisconsin Film Festival

CHICAGO – Spring is busting out all over for film festivals, and upcoming is the Wisconsin Film Festival, taking place within the environs of the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wisconsin, from April 13th-20th, 2023, The popular fest is celebrating 25 years, and features a mix of current festival films, local filmmakers, International films and special presentations of cinema history. For all information and ticket availability, click WIfilmfest.org.

Podtalk: Alyssa Thordarson of ‘Paper Planes,’ at AfterImage Film Fest, April 15, 2023

CHICAGO – Another Chicago creator has a World Premiere. Alyssa Thordarson, who makes her director debut with Michael Glover Smith, will present the short “Paper Planes” at the AfterImage Film Fest (Fox Valley, Illinois) on April 15, 2023.

Audio Film Review: ‘Showing Up’ is a Fine Artist Exhibition

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Showing Up,” directed by notable auteur director Kelly Reichhardt and featuring recent Oscar nominee Michelle Williams. Currently in theaters, since April 7th.

Fine Artist Exhibition! Audio Film Review of ‘Showing Up’

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

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Showing Up,” directed by notable auteur director Kelly Reichhardt and featuring recent Oscar nominee Michelle Williams. Currently in theaters, since April 7th.

Podtalk: Lead Actor Jennifer Scott of ‘Eyes Upon Waking’

CHICAGO – Perseverance is most likely the greatest trait, beyond talent and creation, in filmmaking. Jennifer Scott had a passion project that she co-wrote 13 years ago, and after the various stops and starts over a course of getting it off the ground, the film “Eyes Upon Waking,” went before the cameras in 2019, and is currently on the film festival circuit.

On-Air Film Review: Players Ready in ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’

Super Mario Bros. Movie, The

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 6th, 2023, reviewing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” a modern animation of the video game legend in its third on-screen version. In theaters since April 5th.

Ready Player! On-Air Review of ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’

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

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 6th, 2023, reviewing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” a modern animation of the video game legend in its third on-screen version. In theaters since April 5th.

Film Review: Mellow Fellow Owen Wilson Channels Bob Ross in ‘Paint’

CHICAGO – The newly released “Paint” film offers an amiable enough premise that’s amusing in a two minute trailer, but entirely out of gas 20 minutes into the story, and then plods around for a whole other hour. While it’s hard to hate it, but I don’t think my time was very well spent either.

Mellow Fellow Owen Wilson Channels Bob Ross in ‘Paint’

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

CHICAGO – The newly released “Paint” film offers an amiable enough premise that’s amusing in a two minute trailer, but entirely out of gas 20 minutes into the story, and then plods around for a whole other hour. While it’s hard to hate it, but I don’t think my time was very well spent either.

SXSW2023: Star Wars Documentary ‘A Disturbance in the Force’

A Disturbance in the Force

AUSTIN, TX – The best film I saw at SXSW 2023 was “A Disturbance in the Force,” a new documentary about one of the most infamous TV programs in the medium’s history … “The Star Wars Holiday Special.” In a precise narrative with celebrity commentary, the history and mystery of this CBS-TV holiday event is unspooled.

On-Air Film Review: Becoming Super Rich Like Mike in ‘Air’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 6th, 2023, reviewing “Air,” the origin story of Michael Jordan’s shoe contract with Nike, resulting in the iconic Air Jordan. In theaters since April 5th.

I Wanna Be Like Mike … Super Rich! On-Air Review of ‘Air’

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 April 6th, 2023, reviewing “Air,” the origin story of Michael Jordan’s shoe contract with Nike, resulting in the iconic Air Jordan. In theaters since April 5th.

FLASHBACK: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’

Ted Neeley, photo by Joe Arce.

CHICAGO – This Easter weekend it’s worth noting that one of the greatest renditions of “the greatest story ever told” celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2023. “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the film adaptation of the 1970 rock opera by then 21-year-old Anthony Lloyd Webber and 24-year-old Tim Rice, was directed by Norman Jewison and starred Ted Neeley.

Podtalk: Director Kelly Reichardt New Film is ‘Showing Up’

CHICAGO – The acclaimed director Kelly Reichardt has been an influencer in cinema since her debut film “River of Grass” in 1994. Her multi-award winning films include “Wendy and Lucy” (2008), “Meek’s Cutoff” (2010) and “First Cow” (2019). Her most recent film, set to release April 7th, is “Showing Up.”

Exclusive Portrait: Stormy Daniels at EXXXOTICA Expo in Chicago for ‘Spooky Babes’

Stormy Daniels in Chicago

CHICAGOStormy Daniels appeared in Chicago on July 16, 2021 at the EXXXOTICA Expo. HollywoodChicago.com photographer Joe Arce exclusively shot the below unpublished, authorized photo while promoting her TV show “Spooky Babes”.

Exclusive Portrait: Donald Trump at Trump International Hotel & Tower

CHICAGODonald Trump appeared in Chicago on Sept. 24, 2008 before reporters and VIPs at the opening of his Trump International Hotel & Tower. Below is an unpublished, authorized photo HollywoodChicago.com photographer Joe Arce took of Trump there.

Audio Film Review: Superheroing Fights ’Smoking Causes Coughing’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Smoking Causes Coughing,” an official selection of the Cannes Film Festival, and a ripe, necessary superhero genre parody. Currently in theaters, since March 31st.

Superheroing! Audio Film Review of ‘Smoking Causes Coughing’

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

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Smoking Causes Coughing,” an official selection of the Cannes Film Festival, and a ripe, necessary superhero genre parody. Currently in theaters, since March 31st.

On-Air Film Review: A Fitting Group of Blockheads in ‘Tetris’

Tetris

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 30th, 2023, reviewing “Tetris,” the 1980s origin of the addictive video game. Currently in theaters, since March 31st.

A Fitting Group of Blockheads! On-Air Review of ‘Tetris’

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 March 30th, 2023, reviewing “Tetris,” the 1980s origin of the addictive video game. Currently in theaters, since March 31st.

Audio Film Review: ’Spinning Gold’ Loves to Love You Baby

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Spinning Gold,” the outrageous 1970s tale of the founding of Casablanca Records by Neil Bogart. Currently in theaters, since March 31st.

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  • Manhunt

    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+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

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