CHICAGO – The late playwright August Wilson left a gift to the world in the form of his “American Century Cycle,” a series of plays each individually set in a decade of the 20th Century, focusing on the black experience. Chicago’s Goodman Theatre presents Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” now through May 19th, 2024 (click here).
January 2024
Podtalk: Film Editor Ana Christian on Her Craft, First Short ‘Baby’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 30, 2024 - 5:01pmCHICAGO – The cinema scene is vital and growing in Chicago and it has to do with local innovators and contributors like film editor Ana Christian. Along with her husband Ryan Stemple, they have built a post production biz called Journeywork Entertainment, and Ana has recently finished directing her first short film, “Baby.”
In Memoriam: Actress Cindy Morgan Lives as Her Character Yori in ‘Tron’ … by Joe Arce
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 29, 2024 - 10:12pmCHICAGO – Cindy Morgan: So the first time you saw ‘Caddyshack’ did you ever imagine that one day you’d be wrangling my boobs for a photo?
Joe Arce: Constantly
Cindy: (Laughing) Okay, Cowboy. Welcome to Fantasy Island! Wrangle away!
Joe: Are you sure?
Cindy: Christ!, do I have to buy you dinner first? Yup, get that double sided tape ready and give me the full ‘Jayne Mansfield’ table shot treatment!
Joe: God,I love my job
Cindy: Consider yourself tipped.
Film News: Best of the Midwest Short Film Showcase Kicks Off 2024 Fest, Jan. 29, 2024
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 28, 2024 - 8:28pmCHICAGO – It’s 2024 y’all and what better way to start the new season of the Midwest Film Festival than a short film “Best of the Midwest” (BMA) Showcase. These Award Honorees, announced at the BMAs in November, spotlights the filmmaker diversity that is now the calling card of this once-a-month fest.
On-Air Film Review: Drop Snoop Dogg’s ‘The Underdoggs’ Like It’s Not
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 27, 2024 - 9:16pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on a 3-Station Broadcast … Star 96.7 Joliet (IL), Star 102.3 Waukegan and Star 105.5 McHenry on January 5th, reviewing the new film featuring Snoop Dogg entitled “The Underdoggs.” Streaming on Prime Video beginning January 26th.
Drop it Like It’s Not! On-Air Review of Snoop Dogg’s ‘The Underdoggs’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 27, 2024 - 9:09pm Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on a 3-Station Broadcast … Star 96.7 Joliet (IL), Star 102.3 Waukegan and Star 105.5 McHenry on January 5th, reviewing the new film featuring Snoop Dogg entitled “The Underdoggs.” Streaming on Prime Video beginning January 26th.
Audio Theater Review: Red Orchid Theatre Speaks ‘In Quietness’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 27, 2024 - 12:39pmCHICAGO – Marriage is a complex dynamic, and the subtle but effective “In Quietness,” currently at Chicago’s Red Orchid Theatre through March 10th, jumps the nuptial institution through some unusual hoops in exploration of religion, fidelity and promises made/broken. For information and tickets, click IN QUIETNESS.
On-Air Film Review: She’s Got the Write Stuff in ‘Miller’s Girl’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 25, 2024 - 9:56pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 25th, 2024, reviewing “Miller’s Girl.,” a teacher and student reciprocation written and directed by Jade Hailey Bartlett. In theaters on January 26th.
She’s Got Write Stuff! On-Air Film Review of ‘Miller’s Girl’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 25, 2024 - 9:51pm Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 25th, 2024, reviewing “Miller’s Girl.,” a teacher and student reciprocation written and directed by Jade Hailey Bartlett. In theaters on January 26th.
On-Air Film Review: Ground Control to Major Release in 'I.S.S.'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 19, 2024 - 9:21pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 18th, 2024, reviewing “I.S.S.,” a story of intrigue and skullduggery … in spaaaaaaaace! In theaters on January 19th.
Ground Control to Major Release! On-Air Film Review of ‘I.S.S.’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 19, 2024 - 9:17pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 18th, 2024, reviewing “I.S.S.,” a story of intrigue and skullduggery … in spaaaaaaaace! In theaters on January 19th.
Audio Film Review: In the Beginning for Ava DuVernay’s ‘Origin’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 18, 2024 - 12:36pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Origin,” the latest film from director Ava DuVernay of “Selma” and featuring Augunue Ellis-Taylor of “King Richard” portraying author Isabel Wilkerson, as she seeks a thesis for a new book. In theaters January 19th.
In the Beginning! Audio Film Review of Ava DuVernay’s ‘Origin’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 18, 2024 - 12:31pm Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Origin,” the latest film from director Ava DuVernay of “Selma” and featuring Augunue Ellis-Taylor of “King Richard” portraying author Isabel Wilkerson, as she seeks a thesis for a new book. In theaters January 19th.
Podtalk, Review: Director Ilker Çatak of ‘The Teachers’ Lounge’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 17, 2024 - 4:44pmCHICAGO – Public education is in the fight of its life. As curriculums are determined more through the state, parents and politics, the local authority of a child’s educator is being consistently diminished. This subject is the centerpiece of “The Teacher’s Lounge,” co-written and directed by German/Turkish filmmaker Ilker Çatak.
Slideshow: Notables In Memoriam for 2023 by Photographer Joe Arce
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 11, 2024 - 12:51pmCHICAGO – As always, we lost a number of notable people in 2023. In his hustle and glory, photographer Joe Arce has spent his career not only taking Exclusive Portraits of every notable he runs across, but he also has collected an archive that makes their image available again for the 2023 IN MEMORIAM.
Audio Film Review: Musical Version of ‘Mean Girls’ is Clique Bait
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 11, 2024 - 11:16amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Mean Girls,” a movie adaptation of the Broadway musical, which in turn was born from the 2004 comedy … with Tina Fey adapting the screenplay and featuring Jenna Fischer and Jon Hamm. In theaters January 12th.
Clique Bait! Audio Film Review of Musical Version of ‘Mean Girls’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 11, 2024 - 11:13am Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Mean Girls,” a movie adaptation of the Broadway musical, which in turn was born from the 2004 comedy … with Tina Fey adapting the screenplay and also featuring Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows and Jon Hamm. In theaters January 12th.
Audio Film Review: A Reading From ‘The Book of Clarence’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 10, 2024 - 10:19amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “The Book of Clarence,” featuring LaKeith Stanfield as a contemporary of Jesus In Jerusalem, directed by Jeymes Samuels (“The Harder They Fall”). In theaters on January 12th, 2024.
A Reading From! Audio Review of ‘The Book of Clarence’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 10, 2024 - 10:15amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “The Book of Clarence,” featuring LaKeith Stanfield as a contemporary of Jesus In Jerusalem, directed by Jeymes Samuels (“The Harder They Fall”). In theaters on January 12th, 2024.
Exclusive Photo: Cinema Royalty & Character Actor Bob Balaban
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 9, 2024 - 4:32pm- 2023
- Asteroid City
- Balaban & Katz
- Bob Balaban
- Bob Roberts
- Capote
- Catch-22
- Chicago Humanities Festival
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- Ed Begley Jr.
- Exclusive Photo
- Fall Season
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- Interview
- Joe Arce
- Midnight Cowboy
- Moonrise Kingdom
- Patrick McDonald
- Podcast
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- The Politician
- Uptown Theatre Chicago Theatre
- Waiting For Guffman
CHICAGO – The seemingly middle-of-the-road character actor Bob Balaban has more to his legacy than just a ton of appearances from the 1960s to present in classic films and TV. His Chicago family were pioneers in film exhibition and the movie executive suite during the studio system in the early days of the history of film. It is in his DNA.
On-Air Film Review: Staying Alive in ‘Society of the Snow’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 8, 2024 - 10:33pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 4th, 2023, reviewing “Society of the Snow,” the third film version of one of the great survival stories in history, as it occurred in the Andes Mountain. Currently on Netflix.
Staying ALIVE! On-Air Review of ‘Society of the Snow’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 8, 2024 - 10:30pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 4th, 2023, reviewing “Society of the Snow,” the third film version of one of the great survival stories in history, as it occurred in the Andes Mountain. Currently on Netflix.
Feature: Pure Imagination for Gene Wilder and Timothée Chalamet in Wonka vs. Wonka
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 6, 2024 - 1:36pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 4th, 2024, comparing “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) with “Wonka” (2023), which is currently in theaters.
On-Air Film Review: Anthony Hopkins Attends ‘Freud’s Last Session’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 6, 2024 - 12:53pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 4th, 2024, reviewing “Freud’s Last Session,” featuring Anthony Hopkins portraying Sigmund Freud. In theaters January 5th, 2024.
Mother Should Know! On-Air Review of ‘Freud’s Last Session’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 6, 2024 - 12:51pm Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 4th, 2024, reviewing “Freud’s Last Session,” featuring Anthony Hopkins portraying Sigmund Freud. In theaters January 5th, 2024.
On-Air Film Review: Blumhouse Films ‘Night Swim’ is on Life Guard
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 5, 2024 - 5:32pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on a 3-Station Broadcast … Star 96.7 Joliet (IL), Star 102.3 Waukegan and Star 105.5 McHenry on January 5th, reviewing the new film from horror masters Blumhouse Films, “Night Swim,” in theaters beginning January 5th, 2024. Happy New Year!
Be on Life Guard! On-Air Review of Blumhouse Films ‘Night Swim’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 5, 2024 - 5:30pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on a 3-Station Broadcast … Star 96.7 Joliet (IL), Star 102.3 Waukegan and Star 105.5 McHenry on January 5th, reviewing the new film from horror masters Blumhouse Films, “Night Swim,” in theaters beginning January 5th, 2024. Happy New Year!
Feature: Top 25 Celebrity Portraits of 2023, by Photographer Joe Arce
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 4, 2024 - 12:03pm- 2023
- 25
- Best
- Beverly D’Angelo
- Bob Balaban
- Christie Brinkley
- Ed Begley Jr.
- Entertainment News
- Exclusive Portraits
- Feature
- Ginger Spice
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Joe Arce
- List
- Matthew Modine
- Mira Sorvino
- Patrick McDonald
- Peter Sarsgaard
- Photography
- Photos
- Pictures
- Poor Things
- Robert De Niro
- Top 25 2023
CHICAGO – 2023 to Me: “Hey Buddy, you can take a hike!”/Cause it’s harder work for a celebrity photographer/when your subjects are all on strike. And sure, the world is melting down/It was a hell of a year … But TIME still favored Taylor Swift/and that’s worthy of a cheer.
Exclusive Photos: Ed Begley Jr. Wants You to Make Resolutions
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 2, 2024 - 10:33amCHICAGO – Although Ed Begley Jr. has had hundreds of roles in TV and film, he is most likely best known as an activist for environmental and sustainability concerns. He highlighted his latest book, “To the Temple of Tranquility…and Step on It!” at the Fall 2023 Chicago Humanities Festival, and HollywoodChicago.com got the Exclusive Photos and Interview.
