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.
Universal Pictures
Film Review: ‘Strays’ Poops Out on Its Hard-R Talking Dog Premise
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 20, 2023 - 9:46amCHICAGO – “Strays” is a film that features a cast full of legitimately funny people, but this Hard-R-Rated talking dog movie poops out long before the final credits roll. The film tries to have heart, but is too busy making labored poo-poo jokes to give the schmaltz much gusto.
Film Review: ‘Oppenheimer’ is a Masterpiece That Allows Us to Think
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 21, 2023 - 9:21amCHICAGO – With “Oppenheimer,” director Christopher Nolan reminds us of what a blockbuster can be. They need not all be brain dead exercises in grunting and effects. Instead he delivers a thoughtful film that manages to synthesize complex elements like quantum physics into a piece of cinematic entertainment that just might be his most profound film yet.
Pride Week! Three Audio Film Reviews for a Happier Pride
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 21, 2023 - 5:19pm- 1968
- 2020
- A24
- Best Picture
- Boris Karloff
- Carla Bruni
- Eddie Volkman
- Elsa Lanchester
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Hannah B
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- James Whale
- Jon Lennon Espino
- Matt Crowley
- Michelle Yeoh
- Movie Review
- Netflix
- New York City
- Pat Über TV
- Patrick McDonald
- The Boys in the Band
- The Bride of Frankenstein
- The Daniels
- Universal Pictures
- WGBR-FM
- WSSR-FM
CHICAGO – Happy Pride! One of the best ways to celebrate Pride Week in Chicago is to take in some LGBTQ+ themed films, and HollywoodChicago.com presents three choices, reviewed by Patrick McDonald, contributor Jon Lennon Espino and guest reviewer, Chicago Preservationist Carla Bruni.
Film Review: ‘Fast X’ is a Full Scale Assault on the Laws of Logic
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 18, 2023 - 11:43pmCHICAGO – A lot of blockbusters require you to check your brain at the door. “Fast X” requires a full scale lobotomy. To the uninitiated, Vin Diesel’s blatant disregard for the laws of gravity and physics represents a full scale assault on the senses, reason, and logic in its effort to bring audiences down to its star’s lunkheaded level.
On-Air Film Review: Nicolas Cage Doesn’t Suck in ‘Renfield’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 14, 2023 - 8:59amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 13th, reviewing “Reinfield,” featuring Nicolas Cage in a part he was born to play. In theaters on April 14th.
On-Air Film Review: Players Ready in ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 7, 2023 - 7:58amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 6th, 2023, reviewing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” a modern animation of the video game legend in its third on-screen version. In theaters since April 5th.
On-Air Film Review: She Don’t Lie She Don’t Lie Etc. ‘Cocaine Bear’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 24, 2023 - 12:15pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker in for Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 23rd, 2023, reviewing “Cocaine Bear,” the based-on-truth coked up animal story. In theaters beginning February 24th.
On-Air Film Review: Somebody Answers the ‘Knock at the Cabin’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 3, 2023 - 4:33pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 2nd, 2023, reviewing “Knock at the Cabin,” the 15th feature film of the Master of Unsettling Emotions, M. Night Shyamalan. In theaters on February 3rd.
On-Air Film Review: Domo Arigato Child Roboto in ‘M3GAN’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 7, 2023 - 10:29amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 5th, 2023, reviewing “M3GAN” a term pronounced “Megan” but short for Model 3 Generative Android. This robot film is in theaters beginning January 6th.
Film Review: Holidays Granted in ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 22, 2022 - 2:16pmCHICAGO – The Shrek franchise, which had been showing signs of creative exhaustion dating all the way back to “Shrek The Third,” gets an unexpected dose of new life with this belated – and better than it has any right to be – sequel “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish,” focusing on the swashbuckling feline (voice of Antonio Banderas).
