CHICAGO – John Michael epitomizes the art of the monologue. The Chicago transplant, by way of Dallas, is moving on (he says temporarily) from the city that inspired his last show, “Meatball Seance,” after notorious and successful runs of his other one-man shows, “John Michael and the Order of the Penix” and “Dementia Me.” His farewell performance is his latest, another laugh riot, “It’s NOT ALL About You John Michael,” and will take place at Mary’s Attic in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood on March 1st, 2019. Click here for details, including ticket information.
20th Century Fox
The James Cameron Touch Creates ‘Alita: Battle Angel’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 14, 2019 - 11:15am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The creation of new worlds has always been a mainstay of the cinema, virtually since it was invented. And whether you love or are indifferent to the films of James Cameron (“Titanic”), he remains one of the prime movers in advancing the creative tools of films. His influence is all over “Alita: Battle Angel.”
A Boy’s Adventure in ‘The Kid Who Would Be King’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 25, 2019 - 5:01pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The marketing of this film keeps mentioning the 1980s cult film ‘The Goonies,’ but this British based “school mates” adventure is rooted more in King Arthur and “The Sword in the Stone.” A boy’s grand adventure plays out with themes of what is at stake in a delightful “The Kid Who Would Be King.”
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was Destined to Celebrate Queen
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 1, 2018 - 10:59amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The lyric “And now it’s ‘Easy Come/Easy Go/Little High/Little low” from the song/movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” might just be the best description of this rock band biopic. The high is the celebration of the band Queen and its unforgettable lead singer Freddie Mercury, and it is enough to get through the story “lows.”
‘The Predator’ is the Best Sequel Reboot of the Series
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 13, 2018 - 4:11pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – By the standards of Predator sequels, “The Predator” is easily the best of the bunch. But that’s a depressingly low bar to clear… kind of like saying you got the nicest looking “Yugo” on the lot. Coming 31 years after Arnold Schwarzenegger battled the original “one ugly mother f**ker,” this reboot brings the space alien with the heat seeking vision to the suburbs.
Formula Works Well in Hilarious ‘Deadpool 2’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 17, 2018 - 8:33amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – We could all use some laughs, and “Deadpool 2” blessedly delivers. The meta superhero Deadpool – who exists both as a anti-hero and actor playing him – provides the wisecracks in the midst of the mayhem he experiences, and entertains in a way that other comic book movies wish they could be.
‘Love, Simon’ is a Palatable Queer Film Entry That Leaves Us Wanting
Submitted by JonHC on March 18, 2018 - 7:09pm- 20th Century Fox
- Alexandra Shipp
- Becky Albertalli
- Elizabeth Berger
- Gay
- Greg Berlanti
- HollywoodChicago.com
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Isaac Aptaker
- Jennifer Garner
- Jon Espino
- Josh Duhamel
- Katherine Langford
- Keiynan Lonsdale
- Love, Simon
- Movie Review
- Natasha Rothwell
- Nick Robinson
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
- Tony Hale
 Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Anyone who has ever held a big secret knows that the weight of it is usually worse than the secret itself. The only thing worse than that is when the secret you’re holding back is your true self. “Love, Simon” explores the all-too-familiar, high school coming of age story, but with the added complication of coming to terms with your sexuality and identity.
Keep Your Eye on Jennifer Lawrence in ‘Red Sparrow’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 2, 2018 - 6:17pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It is movie star time for JLaw (Jennifer Lawrence) in ‘Red Sparrow,’ because her performance transcends the muddy plot, and her charisma – even with the lowest of low key characters – creates an interest in her thought process, even as she muddles through the story.
‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ Has Run Out of Life
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 26, 2018 - 12:31pm Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The third part of the “Maze Runner” trilogy is called “The Death Cure,” and that cure best describes the faint pulse of this run-out-of-steam dystopia aimed at “young adults.” It is mostly warring and not much more, except for a stab (literally) at misplaced emotion.
‘The Post’ Illuminates the Skills of Meryl Streep
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 4, 2018 - 11:45amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – For all the films Meryl Streep is privileged to make – which is remarkable considering the industry’s attitude toward older actresses – she has even admitted that the audience may be tired of seeing her. But as publisher Katherine Graham in ‘The Post’, she nails yet another great performance.
Delightful ‘Ferdinand’ Keeps it Simple & Funny
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 17, 2017 - 5:44pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Like the repeat tenets of real estate, good animated films come down to story, story, story. And ‘Ferdinand,’ an older children’s tale adapted to modern audiences, combines a gentle source narrative with palatable visual and cartoon jokes. It’s fun for the whole family!
