Tom Hanks

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 22nd, reviewing “Asteroid City,” the latest film directed by America’s auteur, Wes Anderson. In theaters on June 23rd.

CHICAGO – Tom Hanks finds himself – as the title character – stranded in a slough of artificiality in this clumsy manipulative attempt at a crowd pleaser. He plays a grump in “A Man Named Otto,” a remake of a 2015 Swedish film. The setting has been transferred to the grey rust belt of Pittsburgh, and Hanks is a widower with a lot of chips on his shoulder about the world today.

CHICAGO – Looking for a last minute book gift for the Chicago film buff? Well, it doesn’t get any more insider than “Starstruck: How I Magically Transformed Chicago into Hollywood for More than 50 Years” by Michael Kutza … the founder of the Chicago International Film Festival and a film influencer for a couple generations.

CHICAGO – It’s been 20 years since the seminal release of the “Concert for George,” a gathering of George Harrison’s musical partners – including Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – to memorialize his life of contributions, to the culture and beyond. George Harrison died on November 29th, 2001.

CHICAGO – Chicago International Film Festival Founder Michael Kutza will sign his new book – “Starstruck: How I Magically Transformed Chicago into Hollywood for More than 50 Years” – during the current Fest, at Chicago’s AMC River East lobby from 6-9pm on October 19th, 2022.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 8th, 2022, reviewing “Pinocchio,” the live-action remake of the 1940 animated classic, directed by Robert Zemeckis. It’s streaming on Disney+ beginning September 8th.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on September 2nd, reviewing the new TV series “A League of Their Own,” a parallel universe adaptation of the popular 1992 film, now streaming on Prime Video.

CHICAGO – Filmmaker James Ponsoldt has earned the moniker “veteran” in front of his name, after notable hits like “The Spectacular Now,” “The End of the Tour” and “The Circle” (with Tom Hanks). He’s back with a seasonal film called “Summering,” featuring four girls going through their own “Stand by Me” moment.

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Prime Video’s ‘A League of Their Own’ will premiere in Rockford.

ROCKFORD, ILL. – It’s time for the classic film “A League of Their Own” to go back to their roots … Rockford, Illinois, home of the old timey woman’s baseball team the Rockford Peaches. To celebrate the NEW Prime Video series adaptation of “League,” and the 30th anniversary of the film, Prime Video will be premiering the series in a special Rockford screening on July 2nd, 2022.

CHICAGO – Director Baz Luhrman’s “Elvis” has plenty of suspicious minds, but precious little mystery as his trademark excess fails to breathe new life into the tired legacy of the King. No amount of montages, quick cuts, and odd music choices can obscure the fact that we don’t see anything here that even the casual Elvis fan doesn’t already know.