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+.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Blu-Ray Review: Comedy Fans Must Own ‘The Mel Brooks Collection’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 20, 2010 - 12:43pmCHICAGO – “The Mel Brooks Collection” contains two undeniable masterpieces, four more films that I could watch repeatedly, two so-so entries, and one interesting dud. The range of material, the special features, and the collectible packaging make it a must-own for anyone who dares claim to be a hardcore comedy fan.
Blu-Ray Review: Clever ‘(500) Days of Summer’ is Smart, Sexy Fun
Submitted by BrianTT on January 20, 2010 - 12:00pmCHICAGO – Marc Webb’s “(500) Days of Summer” became one of the sleeper hits of 2009. Sure, the Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel romantic comedy didn’t light the box office on fire like “The Hangover,” but it did crack the top ten and work its way to a remarkable $32 million domestically on a reported $8 million budget. That’s a monster arthouse hit.
Blu-Ray Review: Tyler Perry’s ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’ Has Soul
Submitted by BrianTT on January 19, 2010 - 9:16pmCHICAGO – Tyler Perry has made a fortune with films that play off easy comedy and obvious moral messages. He weaves common themes into modern entertainment that usually connects with audiences but not critics. Usually. Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” surprised many of the critics who sought it out, displaying a new confidence in Perry’s direction, only held back by minor flaws that viewers will easily overlook on the home market.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 5 VIP Prize Packs Valued at $250 For ‘White Collar’ on USA Network
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 18, 2010 - 11:19pmCHICAGO – In our latest TV edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV, we have 5 VIP prize packs each valued at $250 up for grabs for the new season of the crime drama “White Collar” on USA Network!
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 VIP Prize Packs For ‘Daybreakers’ With Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 18, 2010 - 6:55pmCHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have a VIP prize pack for 10 lucky winners for the new film “Daybreakers”!
TV Review: Earnest ‘Life Unexpected’ Should Connect With Viewers
Submitted by BrianTT on January 18, 2010 - 11:52amCHICAGO – The television landscape changes so often that it’s a remarkable fact that a network as young as The CW can already have a past that makes a new program feel like a throwback.
‘Avatar,’ ‘Glee,’ ‘Mad Men,’ ‘The Hangover’ Big Winners at 2010 Golden Globes
Submitted by BrianTT on January 17, 2010 - 11:11pmCHICAGO – The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards were held tonight, January 17th, 2010 and big winners included Mo’Nique, Meryl Streep, Christoph Waltz, James Cameron, Sandra Bullock, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Michael C. Hall, Juliana Margulies, Toni Collette, John Lithgow, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Bacon, Alec Baldwin, and Chloe Sevigny.
TV Review: Entertaining, Action-Packed ‘Human Target’ Rocks
Submitted by BrianTT on January 17, 2010 - 1:32pmCHICAGO – Fox has long struggled to find an action series as popular and accomplished as their massively successful “24”. It’s nowhere near as intense or self-serious, but the network has finally found an heir to the throne of Jack Bauer in the wildly enjoyable “Human Target,” an action series more reminiscent of weekly escapism of the 1980s but with modern production values. It’s a blast.
TV Review: Promising Eighth Season of ‘24’ Starts With a Bang
Submitted by BrianTT on January 17, 2010 - 12:55pmCHICAGO – Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) returns tonight in the eighth season premiere of one of the most influential shows of the ’00s, the often-brilliant “24”. At its best, FOX’s “24” is visceral entertainment, an adrenalin-pumped hour often unmatched by its many copycats.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Pandorum’ Puts Space Saga on Autopilot
Submitted by mattmovieman on January 15, 2010 - 1:51pmCHICAGO – Christian Alvart’s “Pandorum” is the kind of efficient time-waster that sucks you in, spits you out, and leaves you two hours older. There’s nothing that can be said in its favor, apart from the fact that its not offensively awful (like the producers’ “Resident Evil” franchise). But it is thoroughly mediocre, and for some viewers, mediocrity is offensive enough.
Interview: Cinematographer Christian Berger Unravels ‘The White Ribbon’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 15, 2010 - 11:29amCHICAGO – The international reputation of director Michael Haneke (”Caché,” “Funny Games”) is due in no small part to his longtime collaboration with cinematographer Christian Berger, who photographed Haneke’s latest film, “The White Ribbon.”
Decalogue: HollywoodChicago.com Evaluates Films From 2000 to 2009
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 15, 2010 - 12:32amCHICAGO – In developing Top Ten film lists every year, the “critic” tends to move on and simply forget what they said in previous annual evaluations. Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com looks back, with less fear than expected.
DVD Review: Gut-Busting Laughs Are Found ‘In The Loop’
Submitted by mattmovieman on January 14, 2010 - 5:25pmCHICAGO – The more you love the art of language, the more you’ll love Armando Iannucci’s “In The Loop.” Words have rarely sounded so alive or been arranged so hilariously. In a year when the WGA has honored formulaic scripts like “Avatar,” “Julie & Julia,” and “The Hangover,” Iannucci’s film is a refreshing reminder of just how much fun and exhilarating speech can be.