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+.
Sam Rockwell
Blu-ray Review: Great Cast Rocks Clever ‘Seven Psychopaths’
Submitted by BrianTT on February 11, 2013 - 4:18pmCHICAGO – When I saw the ensemble assembled for Martin McDonagh’s very funny “Seven Psychopaths” and realized it was from the creator of the brilliant “In Bruges,” personal expectations were set pretty high. In fact, higher than this film achieves, but don’t let the fact that it’s not quite as solid as “Bruges” overwhelm your response to this flick, recently on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s still smart, funny, dark, twisted, and unlike anything else on the New Releases shelf.
2013 Sundance Diary, Day 5: Coming-of-Age Stories Dominate the Fest
Submitted by BrianTT on January 23, 2013 - 11:48amPARK CITY, Utah – Perhaps it’s due to the success of the Sundance hit “Beasts of the Southern Wild” and its story of a girl who was forced to grow up too soon or just the fact that it’s a common theme of independent cinema but coming-of-age stories dominated this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Film Review: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell in Fun ‘Seven Psychopaths’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 12, 2012 - 12:55pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Is there room for vengeance if you believe in Heaven and Hell? How do we suppress our need for moral and even physical justice if we believe that violence leads to damnation? Is there a chance to…oh, never mind. Let’s just blow someone’s brains out. That’s essentially how “Seven Psychopaths,” the clever new action comedy from Martin McDonagh (“In Bruges”) works in that it has a number of interesting ideas that aren’t fully developed even if the movie is fun enough to be considered a sin.
Interview: Martin McDonagh Introduces You to ‘Seven Psychopaths’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 10, 2012 - 2:22pmCHICAGO – Playwright Martin McDonagh really broke into the film world in a big way with his Oscar-nominated script for the stellar “In Bruges.” He defies the sophomore slump this week with the release of “Seven Psychopaths,” starring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, and Woody Harrelson.
Blu-ray Review: Jonah Hill Continues His Plans For Movie Domination with ‘The Sitter’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 3, 2012 - 2:39pmCHICAGO – Jonah Hill is EVERYWHERE. He was just on the Oscars for his nominated work in “Moneyball,” his work in “21 Jump Street” still stands high on the box office chart, and previews for “Neighborhood Watch” with Ben Stiller & Vince Vaughn have been lighting up theaters. And then there’s “The Sitter,” probably the least of these four films but a reasonable rental if you’re looking for a new comedy and a Blu-ray release that comes with some pretty funny deleted scenes and other bonus material.
Film Review: Jonah Hill Gets Lost in Mediocre ‘The Sitter’
Submitted by BrianTT on December 9, 2011 - 2:12pmCHICAGO – David Gordon Green’s “Your Highness” was like a punch to the gut – an unqualified train wreck from someone who had been correctly dubbed one of the best working filmmakers. His same-year follow-up, “The Sitter,” opening this weekend, is far less disastrous but similarly disappointing in that it displays flaws that the talented director never showed even hints of previous to 2011.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ Has Little Fun With High Concept
Submitted by mattmovieman on December 7, 2011 - 6:37amCHICAGO – For all of its ambition and integrity, Jon Favreau’s “Cowboys & Aliens” is a dull genre exercise devoid of charm or wit. Whereas “Iron Man” got a great deal of mileage out of Robert Downey Jr.’s deadpan persona, this sci-fi/western hybrid is marred by its two one-note leads: the morose Daniel Craig and the snarly Harrison Ford. Viewers expecting a “Bond meets Indy” lark a la “The Last Crusade” will be sorely disappointed.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 30 Pairs of Chicago Passes to Jonah Hill’s Twisted Comedy ‘The Sitter’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 4, 2011 - 4:57pmCHICAGO – Worst. Babysitter. Ever. In our latest “R”-rated comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the twisted “R”-rated Jonah Hill comedy “The Sitter” from the “Pineapple Express” director!
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 5 Blu-Ray, DVD Combo Packs to ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ With Harrison Ford
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 30, 2011 - 12:09amCHICAGO – In our latest action/sci-fi edition of the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup, we have 5 Blu-ray and DVD combo packs up for grabs to the highly anticipated home release of “Cowboys & Aliens” from the director of “Iron Man” starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford!
Film Review: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford in Dull ‘Cowboys & Aliens’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 29, 2011 - 9:23amCHICAGO – Jon Favreau’s “Cowboys & Aliens” with Daniel Craig & Harrison Ford is a depressing snooze, a film with so many of the right elements but none of the personality to connect them into something memorable. With so many revisions from a number of writers, it feels like everyone added their own color to the piece until it all faded to gray.