CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Amy Adams
Film Review: Science of the Human Condition Makes an ‘Arrival’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 11, 2016 - 7:11pmCHICAGO – The film genre of aliens from other planets is as old as the movies. But it hasn’t been told as boldly and humanely as the new film “Arrival.” Its theme is communication, and how this interaction relates to the concept of the life cycle. Yes, it’s lofty, but it is also edge-of-the-seat engaging.
Film Review: ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ is Both Despairing & Disappointing
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 23, 2016 - 8:25pmCHICAGO – Dang it, DC Comics and Warner Bros.! Two of my favorite comic book characters get dragged through a dull mud in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” There is a dawn all right, but instead of the bright sun over the horizon, it’s a full mooning to the fans who anticipated the film.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 Pairs of IMAX Passes to ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ With Ben Affleck
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 17, 2016 - 4:09pm- Adam Fendelman
- Amy Adams
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
- Ben Affleck
- Chris Terrio
- David S. Goyer
- DC Comics
- Diane Lane
- Gal Gadot
- Henry Cavill
- Holly Hunter
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- IMAX
- Jeremy Irons
- Jesse Eisenberg
- Laurence Fishburne
- Scoot McNairy
- Warner Bros.
- Zack Snyder
CHICAGO – Highly anticipated! In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 10 pairs of advance-screening IMAX passes up for grabs to “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” starring Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent!
Entertainment News: Best-Picture ‘Boyhood,’ TV’s ‘Transparent’ Are Golden Globe Winners
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 12, 2015 - 9:53am- Amy Adams
- Amy Poehler
- Billy Bob Thorton
- Birdman
- Boyhood
- Downton Abbey
- Eddie Redmayne
- Entertainment News
- Fargo
- George Clooney
- Golden Globe Awards
- Golden Globes
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- J.K. Simmons
- Jeffrey Tambor
- Julianne Moore
- Kevin Spacey
- Michael Keaton
- NBC
- Patricia Arquette
- Patrick McDonald
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Tina Fey
- Transparent
CHICAGO – The best of 2014 in film and TV was celebrated at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards on January 11th, 2015. Co-hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, the first big and splashy awards ceremony of the season honored the films “Boyhood” (Drama) and “The Grand Budapest Hotel (Comedy), plus continued to recognize the current influence of online TV series by awarding honors to “Transparent” (Amazon Prime) and its lead actor, Jeffrey Tambor.
Film Review: ‘Big Eyes’ Too Conventional to Generate Any Interest
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 25, 2014 - 9:24amCHICAGO – What’s up with Tim Burton? His style is hardly present in the straightforward story of artists Margaret and Walter Keane, locked in a battle of creation over “Big Eyes” child paintings. There is nothing revelatory or even interesting in the process of their struggle of who-painted-what, maybe perhaps Burton – a collector of the art – wants to increase their value?
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Pairs of Guaranteed Anytime Passes to Tim Burton’s ‘Big Eyes’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 22, 2014 - 12:36am- Adam Fendelman
- Amy Adams
- Big Eyes
- Christoph Waltz
- Danny Huston
- Elisabetta Fantone
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- Jason Schwartzman
- Jon Polito
- Krysten Ritter
- Larry Karaszewski
- Madeleine Arthur
- Regal Cinemas
- Scott Alexander
- Terence Stamp
- The Weinstein Company
- Tim Burton
- Vanessa Ross
CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 pairs of guaranteed anytime movie tickets up for grabs to the new Tim Burton film “Big Eyes” starring Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams! Pick your own theatre and time throughout Chicagoland!
Blu-ray Review: Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’ Only Gets Better with Repeat Viewing
Submitted by BrianTT on May 19, 2014 - 11:34amAs a full-time film/TV/game critic and father of three, I very rarely have time to watch something more than once, even if it’s my favorite of the year. And yet I’ve revisited Spike Jonze’s “Her” twice now (for a total of three viewings) and it’s that very rare film that gets richer and more emotionally engaging with each subsequent viewing. I think by the end of the year, it might be my favorite film of 2013.
What to Watch: Mar. 11-24, 2014
Submitted by BrianTT on March 18, 2014 - 4:47pm- American Hustle
- Amy Adams
- Blu-ray Review
- Bradley Cooper
- Brian Tallerico
- Christian Bale
- David O. Russell
- Disney
- DVD Review
- Emma Thompson
- Frozen
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Hulu
- In Fear
- iTunes
- Jennifer Lawrence
- Jeremy Renner
- Kill Your Darlings
- Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
- Netflix
- Saving Mr. Banks
- The Visitor
- Tom Hanks
- VOD
- What to Watch
- Theater, TV, DVD & Blu-Ray
An Oscar winner, a major Oscar nominee, two more pieces of Oscar bait, and a few movies that never got anywhere near Oscar. Welcome to What to Watch. We don’t play favorites. Oh, wait, yes we do. You should definitely rent or buy the titles on this first page. The second page is more optional.
Film News: ‘12 Years a Slave,’ ‘American Hustle’ Poised to Win Golden Globes
Submitted by BrianTT on January 10, 2014 - 10:33amThe Golden Globes will be presented this Sunday, January 12, 2014, and the experts are busy picking their favorites to grace the stage when the winners are announced. Pitched as a more party-like atmosphere than the Oscars, and hosted by the hilarious Tina Fey & Amy Poehler, the Golden Globes have become more difficult to predict than most awards shows, in no small part because they give away SO many awards, breaking up film into drama & comedy and doing TV as well.
Film Review: Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’ is Masterful Commentary on Connection
Submitted by BrianTT on December 19, 2013 - 2:19pmHow do we connect with other people? Why do we often push away those we need and stay with those we don’t? Why do we hold on to relationships long after they have stopped working? Is a physical relationship with no intellectual or emotional component somehow more valuable than one that can never be person-to-person but engages on a deeper level? And how do the ways we deal with love and loss impact the way we look at the rest of the world? And why aren’t more movies as good as “Her”?