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+.
New York City
Jason Statham in Highly Charged, Metaphoric ‘Safe’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 27, 2012 - 8:16pm Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There is an underlying smokiness to the ultra-violent “Safe” that is worth exploring. By creating a triangle of doom between the Chinese mob (the Triads), the Russian mob and the corrupt New York City Police Department, it’s just a small leap to apply the same function between the countries they represent. Action star Jason Statham puts it all together.
All Intention, No Delivery in ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 20, 2012 - 8:15am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The September 11th tragedy is still percolating through the cinematic filter, and there is a well intentioned thread throughout the various interpretations. But the latest attempt, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” stretches this intention too far, despite a cast featuring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock.
Ben Stiller in ‘Tower Heist’ is a Waste of Time, Talent
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 4, 2011 - 7:57pm Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The frustrating madness that is the typical Hollywood movie never ceases to amaze, in the sense where large sums of cash are outlaid to pair the right movie stars together, and not one wit is expended to create an interesting or cohesive story. “Tower Heist” is the latest example of this sad trend.
Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer Wallow in Aptly Titled ‘Beastly’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 4, 2011 - 1:44pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The main problem with “Beastly,” a modern high schooler retelling of “Beauty and the Beast,” is that the outcome is known (Beast will learn lessons, become handsome again). That leaves only the way it gets to that end for creating story. This film cannot find its way.
Nothing Plastic About Lena Dunham’s Post-Graduate ‘Tiny Furniture’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 10, 2010 - 8:12pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The 24 year-old Lena Dunham is a new and notable voice for her generation of filmmakers, breaking in with her first feature, the memorable “Tiny Furniture.” Dunham wrote, directed and portrays the main character Aura, a newly minted film theory graduate who is going through the time honored process of what to do with her post collegiate life.
Whole Truth Becomes a Modern-Era Reality in ‘Catfish’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 24, 2010 - 7:05pm Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Catfish” is a real oddball of a film, set in the Twilight Zone of our own virtual cyberspace. Three twentysomething men navigate through the mysterious rigors of a journey they never expected to take. Nev Schulman is the main subject and directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost provide the video exposition in this true story.
No Redeeming Quality to Jennifer Lopez’s ‘The Back-up Plan’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 23, 2010 - 9:30am Rating: 0.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “The Back-up Plan,” starring Jennifer Lopez, is spectacularly bad. Filled with leaden, supposedly comedic lines, stupid generalities and no basis in reality, this film ranks first in class for worst of 2010 so far.
Steve Carrell, Tina Fey Go Dutch on the Laughs in ‘Date Night’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 9, 2010 - 6:39amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – In this schizophrenic film, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey portray a “normal” couple from New Jersey who somehow become Steve Carrell and Tina Fey once they go on-the-town in New York City during “Date Night.”
Robert Pattinson Anchors the Forgettable ‘Remember Me’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 12, 2010 - 9:47am Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The hottest actor of the moment, smoldering Robert Pattinson, gets the opportunity to ditch the “Twilight” fangs and sink his teeth into a drama about New York City and the splintering factions of family in “Remember Me.”
Art World Bares its Soul in Adam Goldberg’s Superlative ‘(Untitled)’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 6, 2009 - 11:52am Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – One of the best and most exciting surprises of the 2009 film year is a smaller, claustrophobic film starring Adam Goldberg and set in the art gallery world of New York City. “(Untitled)” is an honest, uncompromising character study.
