CHICAGO – Theatrical satires of the Star Wars Universe are like the number of TV series the universe has wrought … too many to figure out if anything is worthwhile. But “Trade Federation” (subtitled “Or Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels”), presented by Otherworld Theatre in Wrigleyville Chicago, gets it right on.
Dev Patel
Camelot-ta Movie! Audio Review of ‘The Green Knight’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 30, 2021 - 8:01pm Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on the “The Green Knight,” a new release by David Lowery set during the King Arthur Days. In select theaters on July 30th, including Music Box Theatre and Davis Theater of Chicago.
Dickens You Say! On-Air Review of ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 29, 2020 - 9:11am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 27th, 2020, reviewing the new film “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” now in select theaters.
‘Lion’ Can’t Quite Tame Audience’s Hearts
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 30, 2016 - 12:02pm Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Lion” is the kind of inspirational-triumph-over-insurmountable-odds and adversity stories that’s bound to appeal to grandmothers and Academy voters, and it does offer plenty of material to tug at the heartstrings. But it’s a movie that only gets the job half done, and unfortunately loses its way once Nicole Kidman comes into the picture.
Charming ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ Bucks Botched Sequel Trend
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 9, 2015 - 9:05pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Motivated by financial necessity, sequels often mitigate business risk and satisfy studio executives by riding on the coattails of a previous fan base with brand equity. But business aside, to moviegoers the follow-up product so often feels like it “wasn’t nearly as good as the first” or didn’t need to return at all.
Consciousness Morality for Robots in Odd ‘Chappie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 6, 2015 - 10:15amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Who would think a robot movie would teach us about being more intuitively “human”? “Chappie” is a very peculiar film – with fighting robots, violence and grit on one side, and the tenderness of finding a nurturing source and a consciousness on the other. It is worth experiencing.
‘About Cherry’ is Little More Than a Pretty Face
Submitted by BrianTT on October 5, 2012 - 2:11pm Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Stephen Elliott’s “About Cherry” takes what could have been an interesting journey into the porn industry and turns it into what is essentially a TV-Movie-of-the-Week without the rating restrictions of the Lifetime Channel. Newcomer Ashley Hinshaw makes an impression and the supporting cast of Elliott’s drama is strong but the film never finds its focus, refusing to get under the beautiful surface of its lead character and present her as anything more than a sexy plot device.
Judi Dench Checks Into ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 4, 2012 - 2:28pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Seven desperate souls are taking risks to save some part of their world, which describes both “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “The Avengers.” Which will win the box office war? The “heroes” of the Marigold residence include Judi Dench, Tom Wilkerson, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Dev Patel.
Director M. Night Shyamalan Too Talky, Murky in ‘The Last Airbender’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 1, 2010 - 7:10amRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The choices that M. Night Shyamalan makes in the progress of his filmography have become as perplexing as his early mysteries. “The Last Airbender,” featuring Dev Patel from “Slumdog Millionaire,” is an adaptation of a previous animated series, and although aimed at kids in the end seems tentative and…aimless.
