CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.
April 2015
Rousing ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Hits Modern Society’s Central Nervous System
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 30, 2015 - 11:14pm- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Adam Fendelman
- Anthony Mackie
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Chris Evans
- Chris Hemsworth
- Cobie Smulders
- Don Cheadle
- Elizabeth Olsen
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jack Kirby
- James Spader
- Jeremy Renner
- Joss Whedon
- Mark Ruffalo
- Marvel Studios
- Movie Review
- Paul Bettany
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Scarlett Johansson
- Stan Lee
- The Avengers
- Walt Disney Studios
Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Look. We all know sequels usually suck. And blockbuster films often get panned for overprioritizing special effects at the expense of a well-written story and character development. Even when a story in a big-budget film is redeeming, it’s practically impossible not to shoot holes through it.
Film Review: Rousing ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Hits Modern Society’s Central Nervous System
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 30, 2015 - 11:14pm- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Adam Fendelman
- Anthony Mackie
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Chris Evans
- Chris Hemsworth
- Cobie Smulders
- Don Cheadle
- Elizabeth Olsen
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jack Kirby
- James Spader
- Jeremy Renner
- Joss Whedon
- Mark Ruffalo
- Marvel Studios
- Movie Review
- Paul Bettany
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Scarlett Johansson
- Stan Lee
- The Avengers
- Walt Disney Studios
CHICAGO – Look. We all know sequels usually suck. And blockbuster films often get panned for overprioritizing special effects at the expense of a well-written story and character development. Even when a story in a big-budget film is redeeming, it’s practically impossible not to shoot holes through it.
Film Review: Mixed Bag of Marvel Tricks in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 30, 2015 - 8:14amCHICAGO – Whew. There is so much going on in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” that you practically need a program to keep up with the players. This mixed bag has overwrought comic book action, head shaking plot points, and the usual Marvel angst that includes some riveting scenes.
Mixed Bag of Marvel Tricks in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 30, 2015 - 8:10amRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Whew. There is so much going on in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” that you practically need a program to keep up with the players. This mixed bag has overwrought comic book action, head shaking plot points, and the usual Marvel angst that includes some riveting scenes.
Exclusive Portraits: Happy Milestone Birthday to Kate Mulgrew of ‘Orange is the New Black’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 29, 2015 - 8:02pmCHICAGO – April 29th is Kate Mulgrew’s 60th birthday, and what better way to celebrate than Exclusive Portraits of the former Starfleet Commander (“Star Trek: Voyager”). Mulgrew was in Chicago promoting her memoir, “Born with Teeth.”
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of 7-Packs to 2015 Chicago Critics Film Festival at Music Box Theatre
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 27, 2015 - 2:42pm- Adam Fendelman
- Blind
- Cannes Film Festival
- Chicago Critics Film Festival
- Chicago Film Critics Association
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet
- Music Box Theatre
- People, Places, Things
- Quitters
- Raiders!
- South by Southwest
- Sundance Film Festival
- The Overnight
- The Second Mother
CHICAGO – Exclusive! Free festival 7-packs! In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 pairs of guaranteed festival 7-packs up for grabs to the third-annual Chicago Critics Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre from the Chicago Film Critics Association!
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘The D Train’ With Jack Black, James Marsden
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 26, 2015 - 5:12pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new comedy “The D Train” starring Jack Black and James Marsden!
Film Review: Intoxicating ‘The Age of Adaline’ a Featherweight Fantasy
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 24, 2015 - 6:35amCHICAGO – “The Age of Adaline” is a beautifully shot featherweight fantasy that remains charming as long as you don’t think about it too hard, or at all. At one point one character asks another why he loves Adaline, and he replies “because she makes no sense.” The same could be said for this movie.
Intoxicating ‘The Age of Adaline’ a Featherweight Fantasy
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 24, 2015 - 6:30amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “The Age of Adaline” is a beautifully shot featherweight fantasy that remains charming as long as you don’t think about it too hard, or at all. At one point one character asks another why he loves Adaline, and he replies “because she makes no sense.” The same could be said for this movie.
Interview: Nick Kroll Starts it Up in ‘Adult Beginners’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 23, 2015 - 11:15pmCHICAGO – Finding the adult button and hitting “on” is becoming more of a challenge as the tech generation morphs into their thirtysomething era. Comedian Nick Kroll (“Kroll Show,” “The League”) ponders this situation in the new film “Adult Beginners,” a primer on growing up and moving on.
Interview: 2015 Chicago Latino Film Festival Welcomes Filmmakers for ‘Day Release’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 23, 2015 - 3:29pmCHICAGO – The film festival circuit is not for the faint of heart. Two young Spanish filmmakers – Geoffrey Cowper and Jesús Lloveras – are making their way across the U.S., as they promote their film “Day Release” (Tercer Grado). The pair started out in California – with a couple of film festivals there – and then stopped in Chicago, for the 31st Chicago Latino Film Festival.
Exclusive Portrait: Russell Crowe in Chicago for ‘The Water Diviner’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 23, 2015 - 3:23pmCHICAGO – Actor and Oscar Winner Russell Crowe, known for films such as “L.A. Confidential,” “Gladiator,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Cinderella Man,” “Les Miserables” and “Man of Steel,” breaks out in his directorial debut and also stars in “The Water Diviner,” a story of war and his native Australia.
Video Game Review: ‘Life is Strange Episode 2: Out of Time’ Asks a Lot of Players
Submitted by Crush on April 22, 2015 - 7:49pmCHICAGO – Dontnod Entertainment struck potential conceptual gold with “Life is Strange.” Iterating on Telltale’s point-and-click episodic narrative adventure formula, they’ve crafted a truly intriguing world that begs to be explored through the lens of protagonist Max Caulfield’s eyes.
Interview: Hitting the Links with the Collaborators of ‘The Squeeze’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 20, 2015 - 10:16pmCHICAGO – Golf and gambling go together like the 19th hole and tall tales. The green grass of the course isn’t the same without a little wagering, and the new film ‘The Squeeze’ – written and directed by Terry Jastrow – follows the game from small town America to the big stage of Las Vegas.
Film Review: There are Future Consequences in ‘Ex Machina’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 19, 2015 - 11:26pmCHICAGO – The title “Ex Machina” is a play on Deus ex machina, the stage/scenario term meaning god from the machine, or the basic happy ending. By cutting out the “Deus” in the phrase, the film is left with just the machine, and the humans.
There are Future Consequences in ‘Ex Machina’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 19, 2015 - 11:21pmRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The title “Ex Machina” is a play on Deus ex machina, the stage/scenario term meaning god from the machine, or the basic happy ending. By cutting out the “Deus” in the phrase, the film is left with just the machine, and the humans.
Film News: Second Week Highlights of the 31st Chicago Latino Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 19, 2015 - 7:32pmCHICAGO – It’s the second week of the 31st edition of the Chicago Latino Film Festival which continues through Thursday, April 23rd, 2015. It concludes on that evening with the musical comedy film “Ciudad Delirio.” All films are at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘The Water Diviner’ With Russell Crowe
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 19, 2015 - 7:31pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new war drama “The Water Diviner” starring Russell Crowe (his directorial debut!) and Olga Kurylenko!
Film Review: ‘True Story’ Just Leaves a False Impression
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 19, 2015 - 3:06pmCHICAGO – Sometimes, just casting a film with “names” is not enough to make it work. Jonah Hill and James Franco play cat-and-mouse for 100 minutes in “True Story,” but the narrative, the structure and their own inability to communicate their characters conspired against the overall experience.
‘True Story’ Just Leaves a False Impression
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 19, 2015 - 3:02pmRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Sometimes, just casting a film with “names” is not enough to make it work. Jonah Hill and James Franco play cat-and-mouse for 100 minutes in “True Story,” but the narrative, the structure and their own inability to communicate their characters conspired against the overall experience.
Interview: BADASSS Winner Julien Temple at 2015 Chicago CIMMfest
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 19, 2015 - 2:39pm- 1980s
- 2015
- Absolute Beginners
- Chicago International Movies & Music Festival
- CIMMfest
- Earth Girls Are Easy
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Interview
- Joe Strummer
- Julien Temple
- MTV
- Patrick McDonald
- Rolling Stones
- The Clash
- The Filth and the Fury
- The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle
- The Kinks
- The Sex Pistols
- Whitney Houston
CHICAGO – In receiving the official BADASSS Award at the 2015 Chicago International Movies & Music Fest (CIMMFest), legendary rock documentary maker Julien Temple simply said, “Badass is not a phrase we use in England. I’ve never been called a badass, I prefer ‘enfant terriblé,’ with a hope toward ‘monstre sacré.’”
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Passes to ‘Little Boy’ With Kevin James, Emily Watson
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 18, 2015 - 4:17pm- Abraham Benrubi
- Adam Fendelman
- Alejandro Monteverde
- Ben Chaplin
- Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
- David Henrie
- Eduardo Verastegui
- Emily Watson
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- Jakob Salvati
- Kevin James
- Little Boy
- Michael Rapaport
- Open Road Films
- Pepe Portillo
- Ted Levine
- Toby Huss
- Tom Wilkinson
CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new war dramedy “Little Boy” starring Kevin James, Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson and introducing Jakob Salvati as the little boy!
Film Review: ‘Monkey Kingdom’ is a Disappointing Destination
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 17, 2015 - 10:25amCHICAGO – Disney has always imported a bit of its cutesy narratives into its nature films. The best ones seem to spring organically from the images on screen and it becomes easy to forget the contrivances and get swept up in the story. n the lesser entries, these attempts to impose a Hollywood story structure on the lives of wild animals only highlight how artificial they all are.
‘Monkey Kingdom’ is a Disappointing Destination
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 17, 2015 - 10:19amRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Disney has always imported a bit of its cutesy narratives into its nature films. The best ones seem to spring organically from the images on-screen and it becomes easy to forget the contrivances and get swept up in the story. In the lesser entries, these attempts to impose a Hollywood story structure on the lives of wild animals only highlight how artificial they all are.
Interview: Director Alex Garland Seeks Humanity in ‘Ex Machina’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 16, 2015 - 2:59pmCHICAGO – Who are we anyway, when as inventors of artificial intelligence, we can create a new wave of thought process? That is what writer – and now director – Alex Garland (“28 Days Later…,” “Sunshine”) has been grappling with his entire career. His directorial debut is the stunning and prescient “Ex Machina.”
Film News: CIMMfest, the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival, Opens April 16, 2015
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 16, 2015 - 2:49pmCHICAGO – CIMMfest, the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, has become one of the fastest growing and buzzworthy Chicago film festivals in recent years. Combining film, tribute events and live performances – and centered in and around the neighborhood of Wicker Park from April 16th through the 19th, 2015, – CIMMfest is not so much a festival as a organic happening.
Theater Review: ‘Down the Moonlit Path’ a Sensational, Interpersonal Stage Experience
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 16, 2015 - 9:50amCHICAGO – The power of creativity, and the risk of live theater, is all on display through Nothing Without a Company’s latest amazing journey, “Down the Moonlit Path.” The interactive stage experience refreshes the soul and realizes the joy of life.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 20 Pairs of ‘Insidious: Into the Further 4D Experience’ & C2E2 Passes
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 15, 2015 - 2:41pm- Adam Fendelman
- Angus Sampson
- Blumhouse Productions
- C2E2
- Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo
- Dermot Mulroney
- Focus Features
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- Insidious: Chapter 3
- Insidious: Into the Further 4D Experience
- James Wan
- Jason Blum
- Leigh Whannell
- Lin Shaye
- Oculus Rift
- Oren Peli
- Stefanie Scott
- Steve Coulter
- Tate Berney
CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 20 pairs of Oculus Rift virtual reality passes up for grabs to the new “Insidious: Into the Further 4D Experience” at C2E2 plus 20 pairs of one-day passes to C2E2! Pick your own C2E2 day and 4D experience time!
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Passes to ‘Unfriended’ From Jason Blum, Timur Bekmambetov
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 12, 2015 - 4:01pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new horror film “Unfriended” from horror producer Jason Blum (“Paranormal Activity,” “The Purge” and “Insidious” series) and visionary filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted,” “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”)!
Slideshow: Chicago International Film Festival TV Awards Slated for April 22. 2015
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 12, 2015 - 10:46amCHICAGO – The Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) kicks off its 51st year by presenting their annual Television Awards on April 22, 2015. The Awards honors innovative and outstanding members of the television community, in production and advertising. The honorees include Whitehouse Post production house, TV newscaster Jay Levine (Investigative Journalism) and ‘Chicago Legend in Advertising’ Tom Burrell.