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+.
Brad Pitt
Blu-ray Review: Excellent ‘Moneyball’ With Brad Pitt Rewards Repeat Viewing
Submitted by BrianTT on January 18, 2012 - 8:39pmCHICAGO – Bennett Miller’s “Moneyball” is one of those films that was circling around my top ten when it came time to write it in December. Honestly I had about fifteen films that could have fallen anywhere between 6-20 (my top five was pretty set as I saw those films). I rewatched many of those movies to determine where they should be and one of the most rewarding second viewings in there was the story of Billy Beane and the Oakland A’s. This is a great movie that only gets deeper the second and even third time (and ended up #7 on my list and #5 on Patrick McDonald’s before winning the CFCA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Don’t miss it.
Slideshow: 37-Image Gallery of Celebrities at 69th Annual Golden Globes
Submitted by BrianTT on January 16, 2012 - 12:16pmCHICAGO – This 37-image slideshow contains a selection of NBC-provided images from the 69th Annual Golden Globes, which were handed out on January 15th, 2012 on NBC. Celebrities featured include Ricky Gervais, Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Kate Beckinsale, Meryl Streep, Claire Danes, Jean Dujardin, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Emily Blunt, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Madonna, Peter Dinklage, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and many more.
Film Feature: The Best Lead Performances of 2011
Submitted by BrianTT on December 15, 2011 - 11:39amCHICAGO – Yesterday, we brought you some of the most engaging and memorable supporting performances of 2011. As much as I love some of the acting work in that feature, it’s nothing compared to the talent on display below.
Film News: ‘The Artist’ Takes Top Prize at New York Film Critics Circle
Submitted by TimBMartens on November 29, 2011 - 10:37pmCHICAGO – The New York Film Critics Circle was the first major group to make their picks official for the best of film in 2011 when they announced their winners earlier today. After moving their awards from mid-December to late November, a move that many feel was just to make their pick more noteworthy in award season hype, the NYFCC picked the silent, black and white film “The Artist” as the Best Film recipient.
Film Review: Fate Doesn’t Fail Them Now in ‘Happy Feet Two’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 18, 2011 - 11:11amCHICAGO – Dancing animated penguins, a tradition dating back to Disney’s “Mary Poppins” and brought to further life in the first “Happy Feet” movie, finds more stepping pep in “Happy Feet Two.” Robin Williams and Elijah Wood return to lend their vocal talents in this enjoyable sequel.
Blu-Ray Review: Poetic Vision of Terrence Malick’s Beautiful ‘The Tree of Life’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2011 - 4:38pmCHICAGO – Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” has stirred up a bit of controversy since its debut early in the Summer of 2011. You almost certainly saw the stories (or Facebook posts or tweets) about the audience walk-outs and signs at theaters that warned ticket buyers that they were about to see something unique.
Film Review: Brad Pitt, Baseball Evolve in Magnificent ‘Moneyball’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 22, 2011 - 5:50pmCHICAGO – Using sports, especially baseball, as a metaphor for life can get dicey – sometimes the symbolic pieces don’t fit universally for everything. But “Moneyball, ” starring Brad Pitt, hits a grand slam with this old allegory, and educates regarding the true nature of modern large dollar sports.
Interview: Jonah Hill Makes Career Transition in Dramatic ‘Moneyball’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 20, 2011 - 1:09pmCHICAGO – I’ve done hundreds of interviews and rarely felt more like I was talking to an actor at a career turning point than when I sat with Jonah Hill of “Moneyball” last week. Having spoken to him at his first career turning point for a “Superbad” interview, it was fascinating to see how he’s changed and matured.
Film Review: ‘The Big Uneasy’ Unleashes Maddening Flood of Vital Information
Submitted by mattmovieman on August 16, 2011 - 8:02amCHICAGO – Some of the best documentaries are spawned directly from the raw outage of a filmmaker intent on sharing vital truths with the unenlightened public. Every frame is fraught with a sense of urgency that keeps viewers on the edge of their seat much like an engrossing popcorn thriller. Yet great passion alone does not make for great cinema.
Film Feature: All Things Shine in Terrence Malick’s ‘The Tree of Life’
Submitted by mattmovieman on June 3, 2011 - 6:23amCHICAGO – “Where is it that we were together? Who were you that I lived with? The brother. The friend. Darkness, light. Strife and love. Are they the workings of one mind? The features of the same face? Oh, my soul. Let me be in you now.