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+.
Luke Evans
Podtalk: Ed Skrein & Luke Kleintank Relive WW2 in ‘Midway’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 6, 2019 - 8:37amCHICAGO – “Midway” is an epic film that combines the best of what you love about a World War II film … the relationships of human beings during a global crisis with sensational and acrobatic battle sequences. It also looks at WW2 in modern hindsight, respecting both opponents in the Pacific theater. Actors Ed Skrein & Luke Kleintank are featured, as real-life participants.
Film Review: Dull ‘Professor Marston & the Wonder Women’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 17, 2017 - 8:05pmCHICAGO – For a film that has free love, lie detection, bondage, the origin of a great comic superhero and 3-way carnality, “Professor Marston & the Wonder Women” still comes out rather flat… quite a achievement. Wonder Woman is the comic hero, and this is the rest of her story.
Film Review: ‘The Fate of the Furious’ is a Vehicle Running on Fumes
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 13, 2017 - 4:20pm- Charlize Theron
- Chris Morgan
- Dwayne Johnson
- Elsa Pataky
- F. Gary Gray
- Helen Mirren
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jason Statham
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Luke Evans
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Movie Review
- Nathalie Emmanuel
- Scott Eastwood
- Spike Walters
- The Fate of the Furious
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
CHICAGO – Bigger, Dumber, and Duller…that’s the name of the game this time in this ongoing franchise which is now so ludicrous it makes Bond films seem like the epitome of realism. While it’s true this is the first time Oscar winners and a “Fast and the Furious” film have ever been associated together, there’s a dearth of inspiration in this eighth go around.
Film Review: Flawless ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a New Classic
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 16, 2017 - 3:41pmCHICAGO – Do not doubt the power of live action to create a new atmosphere of joy and…dare I say it…beauty. The re-imagining of the animated classic “Beauty and the Beast” is everything that the previous was and much more. It packs a true and emotional wallop that follows through to the end.
Film Review: ‘The Girl on the Train’ is a Book Club ‘B’ Movie
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 6, 2016 - 7:31pmCHICAGO – “The Girl On The Train” is a decent enough “Book Club” movie potboiler – it passes the time away, but never quite rises above the pulpiness of its source material. It desperately wants to recreate the suburban upper-class ennui and tone from last year’s “Gone Girl.” But while that film had David Fincher behind the camera, this one has Tate Taylor, the director of “The Help.”
Film Review: Relentlessly Action-Packed ‘Furious 7’ Actually Has a Story, Too
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 3, 2015 - 8:16am- Adam Fendelman
- Chris Morgan
- Djimon Hounsou
- Dwayne Johnson
- Elsa Pataky
- Furious 7
- Gal Gadot
- Gary Scott Thompson
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- James Wan
- Jordana Brewster
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Luke Evans
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Movie Review
- Nathalie Emmanuel
- Paul Walker
- Tony Jaa
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
CHICAGO – I’ve never classified myself as a “Fast & Furious” franchise fan. Nor have I been a hater. I’ve fallen somewhere in between – willingly watching the popcorn flicks but then quickly going about my life as fast as the furious action ended. Until “Furious 7”…
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of IMAX Passes to ‘Furious 7’ With Vin Diesel, Paul Walker
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 28, 2015 - 1:10pm- Adam Fendelman
- Chris Morgan
- Djimon Hounsou
- Dwayne Johnson
- Elsa Pataky
- Furious 7
- Gal Gadot
- Gary Scott Thompson
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- James Wan
- Jordana Brewster
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Luke Evans
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Nathalie Emmanuel
- Paul Walker
- Tony Jaa
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening IAMX passes up for grabs to the highly anticipated new film “Furious 7” starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez!
Film Review: Too-Long ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’ Delivers on Intimate, Hand-to-Hand Combat
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 17, 2014 - 4:36pm- Adam Fendelman
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Billy Connolly
- Cate Blanchett
- Christopher Lee
- Evangeline Lilly
- Fran Walsh
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Hugo Weaving
- Ian McKellen
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- Lee Pace
- Luke Evans
- Martin Freeman
- Movie Review
- Orlando Bloom
- Peter Jackson
- Philippa Boyens
- Richard Armitage
- The Hobbit
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- Warner Bros. Pictures
CHICAGO – Though he’s never been called it before in scientific speak, I’m saying it now: Peter Jackson is a master of mitosis. He’s one of Hollywood’s best in splitting up the cinematic cellular DNA of one story into three because, apparently, he can’t do epics unless they’re in groups of three.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 30 Pairs of Passes to ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 7, 2014 - 6:26pm- Adam Fendelman
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Billy Connolly
- Cate Blanchett
- Christopher Lee
- Evangeline Lilly
- Fran Walsh
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- Hugo Weaving
- Ian McKellen
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- Lee Pace
- Luke Evans
- Martin Freeman
- Orlando Bloom
- Peter Jackson
- Philippa Boyens
- Richard Armitage
- The Hobbit
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
CHICAGO – To celebrate the release of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” in cinemas, HollywoodChicago.com, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and New Line Cinema are giving away 30 pairs of advance-screening passes to the highly anticipated “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”!
Film Review: Artificially Glorified ‘Dracula Untold’ Lacks Reason for Being Retold
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 11, 2014 - 6:35pmCHICAGO – For moviegoers, each new film is a chance to escape, feel, fear, cry, be thrilled or laugh. Filmmakers and actors want you to experience this range of emotions, but producers and investors care most about the film making money. That’s why Hollywood is scared of truly original stories. Originality is an unknown without a built-in fan base.