 Television Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 18th, 2021, reviewing the new TV series “Young Rock,” Tuesdays on NBC-TV.
Olga Kurylenko
Chaos of Power in Hilarious ‘The Death of Stalin’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 22, 2018 - 7:38am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – If you want a film to take your mind off the current American power structure, that at the same time provides some truth to the situation, you won’t do better than “The Death of Stalin.” A monster comedic cast – including Steve Buscemi and Jeffrey Tambor – is assembled for this hilarious farce.
‘The November Man’ a Stealthy Late-Summer Spy Thriller
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 27, 2014 - 9:55am Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “The November Man” is better than its bland title and late August release date would suggest. It’s no gem, but it gets as far as it does almost solely on the strength of Pierce Brosnan’s breezy performance as an ex-CIA agent called back into duty for one last job.
Aaron Eckhart Gets ‘Erased’ in ‘Bourne’-esque Thriller
Submitted by BrianTT on May 16, 2013 - 2:28pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Two talented stars – Aaron Eckhart & Liana Liberato (“Trust”) – do a remarkable job of finding the depth in paper-thin, clichéd dialogue and generic contrivances but they can’t quite pull “Erased,” now available On Demand and opening in Los Angeles tomorrow, from its B-movie trappings. If you’re a spy thriller fan or love the perpetually underrated (and in need of a better agent) Eckhart, you may be surprised. Everyone else has a better alternative this weekend.
Eyegasmic ‘Oblivion’ With Tom Cruise Wins Your Optics, But Loses Your Brain
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 20, 2013 - 1:21pmRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Oblivion” is a Pyrrhic victory that wins its battle, but loses the overall war. While this is the kind of visual production value you’d expect on a $120 million budget, an ostentatious steak dinner in the special effects department never makes up for a story that tastes more like cheap ramen noodles.
Terrence Malick’s ‘To the Wonder’ Nearly Drowns in its Own Beauty
Submitted by mattmovieman on April 17, 2013 - 8:35amRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Deservedly renowned as one of our greatest living filmmakers, Terrence Malick has a reputation for taking his time with each project. He won’t make a picture unless he feels a burning desire to make it, and will put directing on the back burner for two decades, if necessary, in order to pursue other interests. He’s never made what could be conceivably considered a minor work—until now.
Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell in Fun ‘Seven Psychopaths’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 12, 2012 - 11:52am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Is there room for vengeance if you believe in Heaven and Hell? How do we suppress our need for moral and even physical justice if we believe that violence leads to damnation? Is there a chance to…oh, never mind. Let’s just blow someone’s brains out. That’s essentially how “Seven Psychopaths,” the clever new action comedy from Martin McDonagh (“In Bruges”) works in that it has a number of interesting ideas that aren’t fully developed even if the movie is fun enough to be considered a sin.
