CHICAGO – Society, or at least certain elements of society, are always looking for scapegoats to hide the sins of themselves and authority. In the so-called “great America” of the 1950s, the scapegoat target was comic books … specifically through a sociological study called “The Seduction of the Innocent.” City Lit Theater Company, in part two of a trilogy on comic culture by Mark Pracht, presents “The Innocence of Seduction … now through October 8th, 2023. For details and tickets, click COMIC BOOK.
Taika Waititi
On-Air Film Review: Thunder Struck by ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 8, 2022 - 10:47amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on July 7th, reviewing “Thor: Love and Thunder,” the continuing Marvel Universe adventures of the God of Thunder, opening everywhere on July 8th.
On-Air Film Review: To Infinity and Beyond with ‘Lightyear’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 17, 2022 - 8:15amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 16, reviewing “Lightyear,” the latest Pixar Animation film spun off from the Toy Story Universe. In theaters beginning June 17th.
Film Review: Spike is Back! Counter Point For ‘Free Guy’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 15, 2021 - 1:57pmCHICAGO – Welcome back to film reviewer Spike Walters … “Free Guy” has the sort of premise that seems to tingle with possibility. Ryan Reynolds stars as a background character in a Grand Theft Auto/Fortnite-style video game who gradually discovers the true nature of his existence. There are many different ways to go with this material, but “Free Guy” inexplicably strands Reynolds and us in a half assed romantic comedy about coders instead.
Film Review: 'Free Guy' Doesn’t Play Around When It Comes to Delivering a Good Time
Submitted by JonHC on August 13, 2021 - 6:48pmCHICAGO – Playing video games is one of the single most infuriating experiences that I continue to put myself through. One of my few masochistic traits emerge whenever I boot up my PC or PS4 …
Podtalk: Actress Thomasin McKenzie Hops Into ‘Jojo Rabbit’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 25, 2019 - 5:48amCHICAGO – Thomasin McKenzie is a 19-year-old actress with a purposeful, intellectual and historical approach to her craft, and those characteristics are on display in her latest film, “Jojo Rabbit.” McKenzie portrays Elsa, a teenage girl who is hiding from the Nazis during World War II, and is aided by the title character.
DAY SEVEN Podtalk: Thomasin McKenzie of ‘Jojo Rabbit,' 55th Chicago International Film Fest
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 22, 2019 - 8:23amCHICAGO – Thomasin McKenzie – a rising young actor – has just had her second high profile role, as Elsa in the upcoming “Jojo Rabbit.” The 55th Chicago International Film Festival had a special screening of the film on October 21st, 2019, and New Zealand native McKenzie walked the Red Carpet. The Film Festival continues through October 27th.
Film Review: ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Shatters the Hammer, But Maintains the Mold
Submitted by JonHC on November 1, 2017 - 2:12pmCHICAGO – Any blacksmith will tell you that their job is much more than the brute action of slamming a hammer onto steel. There is some finessing and an attention to detail that needs to take place in order to make something truly notable. With Taika Waititi manning the hammer, he takes the “Thor” franchise out from the Dark Ages and into the technicolor light.
Taika Waititi’s Geeky, Deadpan ‘Eagle vs. Shark’ is Antidote to Slapstick
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on June 22, 2007 - 9:54pm
CHICAGO – “Playing out extreme or unusual characters in the straightest of ways is what makes deadpan serious so funny,” said “Eagle vs. Shark” director Taika Waititi. “It is the antidote to slapstick.”
