October, 2009
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‘The House of the Devil’ is a Trip Back in Suspense Horror
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 31, 2009 - 11:19am.CHICAGO – Halloween is the perfect time to revisit those horror films of youth, lost in the mall theaters or crackling through the VCR in a multiply rented copy. “The House of the Devil” reveres those roots and brings them back to light.
E-mail this Main ArticleDVD Round Up, Oct. 30, 2009: ‘Sauna,’ ‘The Tournament,’ ‘The Butcher’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 30, 2009 - 6:00am.
CHICAGO – Many editions of the DVD Round-Up have featured a different genre and focus for each title within it. This week seems a little more thematically linked as we have a trio of foreign horror films and a few more independent films than usual. Of course, there has to a holiday comedy to spice things up.
TV Review: ‘The League’ on FX Has Potential to Be a Winner
Submitted by BrianTT on October 29, 2009 - 11:01am.CHICAGO – FX may have finally found a partner for the great “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” in the just-as-raunchy “The League,” a show that’s basically about how guys like to give each other sh*t.
Fans Get Chance to Meet Cast of ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 29, 2009 - 10:10am.
CHICAGO – “Twilight” fans will get the chance to meet the cast when they go on a 15-city tour this November. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles, CA at the Hollywood & Highland Center on November 6, where fans will be treated to a performance by several bands featured on the “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” soundtrack.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Whatever Works’ Coasts on Worn Formula
Submitted by BrianTT on October 28, 2009 - 8:58am.
CHICAGO – There was a time when a Woody Allen film starring Larry David would have been an obvious slam dunk. Both men have created comic personas so vivid and indelible that it’s hard for viewers to pinpoint the line separating “performance” from “personality.” They have mastered the art of neurotic kvetching, though their similarities are skin-deep at best.
‘Michael Jackson’s This is It’ Would Evocatively, Memorably Move Even Rhythmless Zombies
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 27, 2009 - 11:59pm. Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Even a rhythmless zombie will be able to siphon Michael Jackson’s prowess now. And this time, this is it.
If you thought the king of pop wouldn’t deliver on his latest bout of 50 sold-out worldwide concerts, think again.
Interview: ‘Nice Bombs’ Director Usama Alshaibi, Nat Dykeman of Cinema Obscura DVD
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 26, 2009 - 6:30pm.CHICAGO – October 27th is the release date for “Nice Bombs,” a personal documentary from Cinema Obscura DVD about the homecoming of a native Iraqi to his old hometown of Baghdad, still in the midst of the Iraq War.
‘Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ With John C. Reilly Not Freaky Enough
Submitted by BrianTT on October 23, 2009 - 1:54pm.CHICAGO – For everything that Paul Weitz’s “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” does right, there’s something about the film that just doesn’t work.
TV Review: USA Connects Again With Entertaining ‘White Collar’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 23, 2009 - 12:39pm.
CHICAGO – The creative roll of the USA Network continues tonight with the debut of another quick, clever, mystery-of-the-week series that should satisfy fans of their hits like “Monk,” “Psych,” “Burn Notice,” and “Royal Pains”. “White Collar” doesn’t break any molds, almost fitting too predictably into the USA dynamic, but it’s an entertaining program for the end of a long week and looks likely to be another slam dunk for one of the most successful cable networks of the ’00s.
‘Astro Boy’ is Here to Save Whatever is Left of the Future
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 23, 2009 - 7:18am. Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The cartoon universe is replete with superheroes, none more distinct than the title character in the new animated film “Astro Boy.” Based on a Japanese comic book from 1951, Astro Boy has new life in 3-D cartoon form.
DVD Review: Lackluster Edition of ‘My Fair Lady’ Disappoints
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2009 - 11:28pm.
CHICAGO – Can anyone explain to me why there are lavish, bonus-laden, beautifully transferred versions of so-so musicals like “Gigi” and “South Pacific” on Blu-Ray but the beloved “My Fair Lady” languishes in standard definition? It’s completely illogical, a decision made even more frustrating by a grainy, flat picture and mediocre audio track. Eliza deserves an upgrade.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Expedition Africa’ Not Worth the Trip
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2009 - 9:30pm.
CHICAGO – Mark Burnett is a man who knows no shame. The phenomenal success he’s found with shows such as “Survivor” and “The Apprentice” have cemented his reputation as the Jerry Bruckheimer of television.
Interview: Character Study With ‘An Education’ Director Lone Scherfig
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 22, 2009 - 2:50pm.
CHICAGO – In the new coming-of-age film, “An Education,” director Lone Scherfig creates a different time (the early 1960s) and place (middle class England) to tell the story of a teenage girl’s conflict between her academic life and older man lover.
‘The House of the Devil’ is a Trip Back in Suspense Horror
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 31, 2009 - 11:07am. Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Halloween is the perfect time to revisit those horror films of youth, lost in the mall theaters or crackling through the VCR in a multiply rented copy. “The House of the Devil” reveres those roots and brings them back to light.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 ‘The House of the Devil’ Passes to Advance Chicago Screening
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 30, 2009 - 12:28am.CHICAGO – In our latest horror edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “The House of the Devil”!
DVD Review: Belgian ‘Left Bank’ is Short on Suspense
Submitted by BrianTT on October 29, 2009 - 10:30am.
CHICAGO – “Left Bank” centers on` a woman whose apartment appears to be above a black hole, or a pit or something dark and deep like that. The Belgian horror outing (which has gone straight to DVD in the United States after playing in Chicago at the EU Film Fest) isn’t nearly as dumb as that synopsis makes it out to be, but in the end, that’s actually more of criticism than a compliment.
Video Game Review: ‘The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 29, 2009 - 12:01am.
CHICAGO – Timed to coincide with the 70th Anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz” and its accompanying Blu-Ray collector’s set, the world created by Frank L. Baum is getting its own Nintendo DS role-playing game. Sort of. “Beyond the Yellow Brick Road” uses elements of both what we know and love about Oz and what gamers enjoy about RPGs to make an odd hybrid that could appeal to both genre newcomers and diehard fans.
‘Michael Jackson’s This is It’ Would Evocatively, Memorably Move Even Rhythmless Zombies
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 28, 2009 - 12:01am.CHICAGO – Even a rhythmless zombie will be able to siphon Michael Jackson’s prowess now. And this time, this is it.
If you thought the king of pop wouldn’t deliver on his latest bout of 50 sold-out worldwide concerts, think again.
DVD Review: Beautiful Series Set For ‘It’s Garry Shandling’s Show’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 27, 2009 - 6:00am.
CHICAGO – A lot of classic TV comedies are often pointed to as being “ahead of their time”. The quirky, weird, and memorable “It’s Garry Shandling Show” wasn’t really ahead of its time because there’s nothing quite like it on the air. The groundbreaking cult classic is now available in a gorgeous 16-disc set from Shout Factory and it’s just what Shandling fans deserve.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Trick ‘r Treat’ is Shockingly Tasty Horror Anthology
Submitted by BrianTT on October 26, 2009 - 1:00am.
CHICAGO – From producer Bryan Singer (“X-Men,” “Superman Returns”), “Trick ‘r Treat” is a fantastic horror anthology film that has inexplicably been rolling around the Warner Bros. offices for years, having initially been scheduled for release back in 2007. Finally getting a Halloween-tied Blu-Ray release, this is one of the best straight-to-DVD horror flicks in years, a consistently clever and enjoyable genre entry that will have horror fans screaming in glee this holiday season.
‘Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ With John C. Reilly Not Freaky Enough
Submitted by BrianTT on October 23, 2009 - 1:51pm. Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – For everything that Paul Weitz’s “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” does right, there’s something about the film that just doesn’t work. More manic than quirky and more cluttered than consistent, “Cirque” features a few great performances and interesting characters but they’re sabotaged by the other members of this cinematic freak show.
‘Astro Boy’ is Here to Save Whatever is Left of the Future
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 23, 2009 - 7:22am.
CHICAGO – The cartoon universe is replete with superheroes, none more distinct than the title character in the new animated film “Astro Boy.” Based on a Japanese comic book from 1951, Astro Boy has new life in 3-D cartoon form.
‘New Legend’ TV Spot Airs For ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 23, 2009 - 12:26am.CHICAGO – A new TV spot has aired for the highly anticipated “Twilight” sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”. The TV spot is called “New Legend” and has this sell line: “When forever ends, a new legend begins.”
Video Game Review: ‘NBA 2K10’ Dunks Over ‘NBA Live 10’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2009 - 10:42pm.
CHICAGO – It’s the same story every year. 2K Sports and Electronic Arts release their basketball video games at the same time and it’s impossible not to contrast and compare. This critic was looking forward to writing something like a scorecard, choosing which title wins in different fields like graphics, gameplay, presentation, etc.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Natural Born Killers’ Still Resonates Years Later
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2009 - 8:59pm.
CHICAGO – Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers” is easily one of the best films of the ’90s, an experimental, daring, visually mesmerizing study of not just violence but America’s obsession with it. At the peak of his directorial abilities, one of the best filmmakers of the ’80s and ’90s turned his lens on the way we turn evil people into tabloid heroes and he did it with such vibrant style that “NBK” has just as much resonance as it did fifteen years ago.
