HollywoodChicago.com Content

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “They Shot the Piano Player,” an animated epic written and co-directed by Fernando Trueba that combines the Bossa Nova sound, a music reporter and a mystery about a long lost pianist. Currently in select theaters. See local listings.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 7th, 2024, reviewing “Ricky Stanicky,” featuring John Cena in a comedic dual role, directed by Pater Farrelly. Streaming on Prime Video.

CHICAGO – One of the great lesser known pioneers of social and civil rights history is Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. As a black woman in the 1960s/70s, she not only was elected to the House of Representatives but also ran for president in 1972 against all odds. Actor Christina Jackson was in Chicago on behalf of the new biopic, “Shirley.”

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Club Zero,” a presupposition story about eating techniques that can lead to complete elimination for food, written and directed by Jennifer Hausner. In select theaters since March 15th. See local listings

AUSTIN, TX – The 2024SXSW Conference and Festivals wrapped on March 16th, after nine days of magic and Austin wackiness, showcasing film, TV, interactive, conferences, interviews and music. The Film & TV Fest named “Bob Trevino Likes It” as the top Narrative Feature and “Marvin is Sorry” as top TV Pilot.

CHICAGO – Wednesday, March 20th, will begin Season 18 of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC), a film festival that has grown and evolved to become a prime cultural influencer. The Founder and Curator of APUC, Sophia Wong Boccio, provides a preview to the new season below. For details, click SEASON 18.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Arthur the King” the latest film from Mark Wahlberg, regarding an adventure race, a need for fulfillment in the pursuit of victory and an actual victory in a friendship with a dog. In theaters on March 15th.

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Killer Mike and ‘Magic City’ creator Cole Brown (right).

AUSTIN, TX – The Red Carpet traditions at SXSW take on a different intensity, and the cast and production crew of “Magic City: An American Fantasy” walked the walk on March 12th, 2024. The documentary series is about a famous strip club in Atlanta that became a hangout for celebrities. One of the narrators in the doc is Atlanta’s own Killer Mike, and he was there.

AUSTIN, TX – The depth and number of films at the SXSW Film & TV Festival portion of the week is nirvana for a film geek’s adventure. Here are three of the films I caught at SXSW … all led by familiar names and have high interest. “Arcadian,” “Gutter” and “Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie” … look for them in 2024.

AUSTIN, TX – One thing that SXSW attracts are movie stars. With the big premieres headquartered at the famous art deco Paramount Theatre in Austin, audiences were treated to appearances by the legendary Susan Sarandon (“Gutter”), a reunited Cheech & Chong, and for the creme de la creme we were in the “Cage.” The great Nicolas Cage appeared on behalf of “Arcadian.”