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+.
Magnolia Pictures
Social Evolution with a Twist in ‘A Royal Affair’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 9, 2012 - 4:05pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – European history is – in a sense – our history, especially as it relates to the “Age of Enlightenment,” the intellectual movement in the 1700s that anticipated the Declaration of Independence. One of the quirks in that timeline is passionately explored in the new Danish/French film, “A Royal Affair.”
Beguiling Ensemble Nearly Salvages Frustrating ‘Nobody Walks’
Submitted by mattmovieman on November 9, 2012 - 10:37am Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – From the very beginning of her screen career, Olivia Thirlby has specialized in playing youthful seductresses intent on jump-starting their male partners’ sexual coming-of-age. She exuded megawatt allure in everything from David Gordon Green’s “George Washington” to Brett Ratner’s memorable segment in “New York, I Love You.”
‘The Queen of Versailles’ Takes Comedic Look at Riches-to-Rags Tale
Submitted by mattmovieman on August 3, 2012 - 9:15amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Whenever I hear someone complain about the inexplicable popularity of an obscenely rich and distressingly vapid non-celebrity, I’m reminded of the last scene in “Chicago,” when murderess-turned-superstar Roxy Hart blows a kiss to her adoring fans after exclaiming, “Believe us, we could not have done it without you!” No one maintains a celebrity status without a whole lot of help from the general public.
‘Marley’ Highlights the Movement, Forgets the Man
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 20, 2012 - 4:04pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The enigma and idolization of Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley is an ongoing, quasi-religious advocation. His influence on reggae music and its variations, plus his general representation of the Rastafarian movement has lived beyond his short time on earth. His life and times are encapsulated in the new documentary “Marley.”
Delightful Doc ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ Pleases Crowds, Entices Taste Buds
Submitted by mattmovieman on April 6, 2012 - 8:58am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – According to Jiro Ono, the intriguing titular subject of David Gelb’s documentary, sushi is a dish that must be savored. However, it should be eaten the instant that it’s served for maximum satisfaction. Fat will not be tolerated on the fish since lean meat carries the essence of flavor, and it is within the simplicity of each morsel that a true depth of flavor can be achieved.
‘Angels Crest’ Takes Lead-Footed Trip Down Misery Lane
Submitted by mattmovieman on December 30, 2011 - 8:43amRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Six years after her sentimental debut feature, “On a Clear Day,” filmmaker Gaby Dellal has gotten mired in the wintry sludge of her sophomore effort, “Angels Crest.” This is the sort of film that doesn’t stand a chance of being embraced by many viewers, particularly during an awards season crowded with gems. There’s little to recommend here beyond the icily beautiful cinematography and a few strong performances.
‘I Melt With You’ Succumbs to Shallow Pretensions
Submitted by mattmovieman on December 9, 2011 - 7:50am Rating: 1.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Mark Pellington’s “I Melt with You” is one of the worst movies of 2011, but has the benefit of also being among the weirdest. Students of rotten cinema will surely flock to this disaster simply to watch it in morbid, mouth-gaping awe. Yet without a scenery chewing wild card like Nicolas Cage in the ensemble, this mournful mess is far from an enjoyable guilty pleasure.
‘Blackthorn’ Offers Wistful Rethinking of Butch Cassidy Legend
Submitted by mattmovieman on October 14, 2011 - 7:16amRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Western buffs have often criticized George Roy Hill’s 1969 classic, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” for romanticizing its subject matter to the point where it felt less concerned about its titular criminals and more interested in the friendship between stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Yet for all of the charm in William Goldman’s script, there was an underlying darkness and tragic poignance that allowed the final act to pack an unforgettable punch.
Rutger Hauer Stars in Grindhouse Lunacy of ‘Hobo With a Shotgun’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 6, 2011 - 2:10pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – What do you expect from a movie called “Hobo With a Shotgun” (other than perhaps the most truthful title since “Snakes on a Plane”)? If you’re spending hard-earned money on a movie about a vengeful homeless person played by Rutger Hauer, you probably know what you’re in for. On those grindhouse terms, “Hobo With a Shotgun” totally works. It’s so far over-the-top that it makes “Machete” look believable, but that’s why it’s effective. Unlike so many movies you will see this season, “Hobo With a Shotgun” delivers.
Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck Annoy in Worthless ‘I’m Still Here’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 10, 2010 - 5:36pmRating: 1.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Is “I’m Still Here,” the story of Joaquin Phoenix’s attempts to leave behind his acting career and try to make it as a hip-hop star, an elaborate piece of performance art or a documentary about an identity crisis of a man committing professional suicide? The problem is that the answer is irrelevant. Either way, “I’m Still Here” is grating, boring, and completely without value.
