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+.
Russell Crowe
Film Review: Daring Vision of Darren Aronofsky’s Epic ‘Noah’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 27, 2014 - 1:01pmDarren Aronofsky’s controversial “Noah” exists somewhere between the sentimental, straight-faced versions of biblical tales that Hollywood has been producing for decades and more auteur-driven fare like Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ”.
Film Review: ‘Winter’s Tale’ Freezes in Cheesy Movie Hell
Submitted by NickHC on February 14, 2014 - 5:10pmCHICAGO – The poster for “Winter’s Tale,” after promising that “It’s not a true story, it’s a love story,” makes a large demand from its viewers at the bottom: “This Valentine’s Day, Believe In Miracles.”
Film Review: ‘Man of Steel’ is Strong, But Not Completely Heroic
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 14, 2013 - 4:35pmCHICAGO – Place the Superman legend into the hands of director Zack Snyder (“Watchmen”) and storyteller/producer Christopher Nolan (“Dark Knight”), and old Supes is bound for a makeover in “Man of Steel.” When it works, it’s adds to a legend’s richness. When it doesn’t, it is less than hero.
Film Review: ‘Man of Steel’ Soars Visually But Lacks Humanity
Submitted by BrianTT on June 12, 2013 - 9:24pmCHICAGO – From the CGI-heavy attack on Krypton that opens Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” to its soaring finale, I had the same reaction -– where’s the “Man half? Snyder’s attempt to reboot the Superman legacy with the loving assistance of David Goyer and Christopher Nolan of “The Dark Knight” fame gets the superhero part but misses the humanity at the core of this legendary character.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Pairs of Passes to ‘Man of Steel’ With Henry Cavill From ‘300’ Director
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on June 2, 2013 - 8:38pmCHICAGO – Highly anticipated! In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 25 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to one of 2013’s most highly anticipated films: “Man of Steel” with Henry Cavill!
DHD Review: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe in Entertaining ‘Broken City’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 16, 2013 - 1:23pmCHICAGO – This may be the first “DHD Review” on HollywoodChicago.com but it’s unlikely to be the last. Just this past weekend, the great William Friedkin spoke at the Chicago Critics Film Festival about how the future of film is not celluloid or even disc but streaming. And now you can watch Allen Hughes’ “Broken City” before it’s out on Blu-ray or DVD and you can do so anywhere you can access your iTunes account.
Blu-ray Review: Nice, Deep Release For Beloved ‘Les Miserablés’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 30, 2013 - 8:02pmCHICAGO – I stand by my swooning praise for Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” when I reviewed it in theaters. Mostly. I must admit that its flaws are easier to see on the small screen as the grand, epic scope suits itself better to the movie theater (although I think people who claim to hate this movie simply don’t like musicals). It doesn’t hold up quite as well as that first, glorious experience with it in theaters. Even if the Blu-ray is one that will appeal greatly to fans of this beloved, Oscar-winning flick.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 5 ‘Les Misérables’ Blu-ray, DVD Combo Packs With Hugh Jackman
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 21, 2013 - 10:53pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Combo Pack with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 5 free Blu-ray and DVD combo packs up for grabs for the highly anticipated home entertainment release of the Oscar-winning “Les Misérables”!
Blu-ray Review: Michael Mann’s Masterful ‘The Insider’ Makes HD Debut
Submitted by BrianTT on February 27, 2013 - 2:04pmCHICAGO – There are still a stunning number of films from the ’90s and ’00s not on Blu-ray but BVHE recently corrected one of those oversights by releasing the stellar “The Insider,” one of the best films of arguably the best year for cinema in the last two decades — 1999.
Blu-ray Review: ‘The Man with the Iron Fists’ Scrapes Bottom of Kung Fu Barrel
Submitted by mattmovieman on February 22, 2013 - 7:00amCHICAGO – “The Man with the Iron Fists” is the most tedious picture in many a moon. How, you may ask, can wall-to-wall action possibly by tedious? Two reasons: 1.) The action is nonstop, and 2.) The characters are impossible to care about. The single take of Uma Thurman’s devastated outburst upon awakening from her coma is the emotional hook that keeps the audience engaged as she wreaks her path of vengeance through both volumes of “Kill Bill.”