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.
Universal Pictures
‘Argylle’ is a Triple Threat … Uninspired, Idiotic and Boring
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 2, 2024 - 10:30amRating: 1.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Argylle” is a nasty, smelly cinematic hairball coughed up on unsuspecting audiences. It’s a collection of half remembered clichés, atrocious writing, incoherent action, and terrible performances. A flaming dumpster fire of which only the great comic actor Catherine O’Hara emerges largely unscathed.
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!
Boring ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ is Five Nights Too Many
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 27, 2023 - 12:15pmRating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – For the uninitiated, “Five Nights At Freddy’s” is based on a popular series of video games with a simple premise … you play a security guard trapped inside a Chuck E Cheese-type pizzeria where the animatronics come to life and keep trying to kill you. Yet the biggest threat facing audiences with the film is that they just might die… of boredom.
Devil You Say! On-Air Review of ‘The Exorcist: Believer’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 5, 2023 - 2:24pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on October 5th, 2023, reviewing “The Exorcist: Believer” a story continuation from the universe of the original film. In theaters on October 6th.
‘Strays’ Poops Out on Its Hard-R Talking Dog Premise
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 20, 2023 - 9:44amRating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Strays” is a film that features a cast full of legitimately funny people, but this Hard-R-Rated talking dog movie poops out long before the final credits roll. The film tries to have heart, but is too busy making labored poo-poo jokes to give the schmaltz much gusto.
‘Oppenheimer’ is a Masterpiece That Allows Us to Think
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 21, 2023 - 9:19amRating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – With “Oppenheimer,” director Christopher Nolan reminds us of what a blockbuster can be. They need not all be brain dead exercises in grunting and effects. Instead he delivers a thoughtful film that manages to synthesize complex elements like quantum physics into a piece of cinematic entertainment that just might be his most profound film yet.
‘Fast X’ is a Full Scale Assault on the Laws of Logic
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 18, 2023 - 11:39pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – A lot of blockbusters require you to check your brain at the door. “Fast X” requires a full scale lobotomy. To the uninitiated, Vin Diesel’s blatant disregard for the laws of gravity and physics represents a full scale assault on the senses, reason, and logic in its effort to bring audiences down to its star’s lunkheaded level.
It Doesn’t Suck! On-Air Review of Nicolas Cage in ‘Renfield’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 14, 2023 - 8:57amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April13th, reviewing “Reinfield,” featuring Nicolas Cage seemingly in a part he was born to play. In theaters on April 14th.
Ready Player! On-Air Review of ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 7, 2023 - 7:56amRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 6th, 2023, reviewing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” a modern animation of the video game legend in its third on-screen version. In theaters since April 5th.
She Don’t Lie Times 3! On-Air Film Review of ‘Cocaine Bear’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 24, 2023 - 12:10pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker in for Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 23rd, 2023, reviewing “Cocaine Bear,” the based-on-truth coked up animal story. In theaters beginning February 24th.