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Video Game Review: ‘Dante’s Inferno’ Fizzles as Much as it Flames

CHICAGO – As we wait for the imminent release of “God of War III,” it seems that a few developers are trying to beat Kratos to the punch with their own “GOW”-esque titles. January produced the very good “Darksiders” and now we have the buzzed arrival of EA’s “Dante’s Inferno,” a game with remarkable moments but significant flaws that dampen the flame just as it starts to heat up.

Blu-Ray Review: Human Drama of Brilliant ‘Nurse Jackie’

Nurse Jackie

CHICAGO – Edie Falco gave one of the best performances in the history of television on “The Sopranos” and she’s found another character who could easily enter the pantheon of the format’s most beloved in the amazing title character of Showtime’s dark comedy “Nurse Jackie,” now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Blu-Ray Review: Criterion’s Ravishing, Gorgeous ‘Lola Montes’

Lola Montes

CHICAGO – When Max Ophuls’s “Lola Montes” was released in theaters in France in December of 1955, it caused an international scandal. Much to the dismay of its director, the producers of the film mangled it, pulling and going to town in the editing bay like a bull in a china shop. They cut out some scenes, translated German dialogue into French, remixed the sound, and even re-edited the film’s chronology.

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ Totally Sucks

Cirque du Freak

CHICAGO – It’s now official: the Weitz brothers have proven that they are the wrong people to make vampire movies. While Chris got tangled in the turgid melodrama of “Twilight: New Moon,” Paul tried to inject irreverent humor into the first installment of another gloomy franchise, based on Darren O’Shaughnessy’s book series detailing the adventures of adolescent vampire Darren Shan.

Blu-Ray Review: Unfunny ‘Women in Trouble’ Confuses Vulgarity With Insight

Women in Trouble Blu Ray

CHICAGO – The best thing about this alleged comedy is its title, evocative of David Lynch’s signature premise: “A woman in trouble.” Yet while Lynch has been accused of misogyny by some filmgoers, Sebastian Gutierrez’s “Women in Trouble” purports itself to be an empowering portrait of strong female characters. Their strength is often demonstrated by their ability to cuss and talk about sex. Boy, how far we have come.

Video Game Review: Revolutionary ‘Heavy Rain’ Mesmerizes

CHICAGO – When’s the last time you finished a game and didn’t merely feel like you had successfully gone through the animated motions as needed but had actually contributed to a story that felt uniquely your own? In other words, when was the last time you were emotionally invested and intellectually satisfied instead of just entertained?

Blu-Ray Review: Steven Soderbergh’s Excellent ‘The Informant!’ With Matt Damon

The Informant

CHICAGO – Steven Soderbergh is arguably the most important American filmmaker working today and his “The Informant!” with Matt Damon, just released on Blu-ray and DVD, is a great piece of evidence to support that argument. He continues to bring traditional stories to life in continuously unique, interesting ways.

Blu-Ray Review: Check Out Original ‘The Crazies’ Before Remake

The Crazies

CHICAGO – Before you go and check out Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell in Breck Eisner’s remake of George A. Romero’s “The Crazies” this weekend, pick up the original on Blu-ray from the great indie horror house Blue Underground. “The Crazies” is a fantastic example of low budget horror filmmaking and ’70s paranoia from one of the genre’s best directors.

Blu-Ray Review: ‘SG-U Stargate Universe: 1.0’ Offers Lots of Conflict, Little Adventure

SG-U Stargate Universe 1.0 Blu Ray

CHICAGO – Some franchises are best left undiscovered. “Stargate” originally began as a terrible 1994 film from B-movie maestro Roland Emmerich. It took a potentially interesting premise, and used it as an excuse for a lot of uninspired sci-fi warfare. The film, bad as it was, inexplicably spawned two long-running TV shows: “Stargate SG-1” and “Stargate: Atlantis.”

Take Trip to Riveting ‘Shutter Island’ With Leonardo DiCaprio

CHICAGO – “Shutter Island” is a riveting trip through a cinematic funhouse led by one of the best filmmakers of all time in Martin Scorsese, who fully employs the copious skills of his most talented collaborators including star Leonardo DiCaprio.

‘The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2010’ Are a Mixed Bag at Best

Miracle Fish

CHICAGO – In a year where commercial products and prefabricated award bids are being celebrated, it’s refreshing to see two Oscar categories uncorrupted by popular taste. While the short film nominees of 2010 are a mixed bag at best, they offer a splendid variety of fresh artistic visions from around the world. There isn’t a Pixar film in the bunch, though a certain beloved British comedy duo make a welcome return to the category they’ve won twice before.

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Contempt,’ ‘The Ladykillers,’ ‘Ran’

Contempt

CHICAGO – I have to admit to a bit of trepidation every time a studio outside of the widely acknowledged masters tries their hand at catalog releases but the Lionsgate/StudioCanal Blu-ray releases of “Contempt,” “The Ladykillers,” and “Ran” are spectacular. Not only do the films look amazing in HD but they’ve been given copious special features. Don’t miss them.

Interview: Rose Byrne, Hugh Dancy For ‘Adam’ on Being ‘Mind Blind’ With Asperger’s

CHICAGO – People who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, which is on the autistic spectrum, are sometimes described as being “mind blind”. In other words, they often don’t understand what people are thinking.

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TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    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+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    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.

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