Maggie Gyllenhaal

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Away We Go’ Proves Impossible to Resist

BrianTT — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:10:21 -0600

CHICAGO – Filmmaker Sam Mendes has always been drawn to telling stories set in a dysfunctional America where the sanctity of marriage is anything but “sanct.” For the past decade, he has specialized in brutally frank social satires about the deterioration of the American family. His work is nearly always riveting, but could never be described as “feel good”…until now. The happily unmarried couple in “Away We Go” sharply contrasts with the unhappily married couple of “Revolutionary Road.” It is a rather marvelous lark, and easily the most optimistic film Mendes has ever made.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph are two enormously appealing actors, and they finally get the opportunity to prove it onscreen. They perfectly capture the excitement and uncertainty of a couple in their early thirties desperate to prove to themselves that they are not “f—k-ups.” With their first child on the way, Burt (Krasinski) and Verona (Rudolph) travel across the country to find the ideal home. This sets up the familiar whimsical plot structure involving a series of vignettes in which various couples are met and judged by our protagonists. Other films with a similar premise have been spectacular failures (“North,” anyone?), but the script by real-life couple Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida is far more sophisticated and endearing than one would expect.

Away We Go will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 29th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Some criticism has been aimed at the lead characters (and filmmakers) for “condescending” to the people they meet on their journey. I understand this criticism in theory, since I’ve found myself occasionally annoyed by the idealized treatment of Krasinski on “The Office,” where the viewer is invited to laugh at his superiority to the comic grotesqueries that surround him (Rainn Wilson is always the “PC” to Krasinski’s “Mac”).

Away We Go will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 29th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Here, however, I had no problem identifying with Krasinski and Rudolph, partly because I never found their characters to be condescending. With their lives teetering on the brink of adulthood, they are merely searching for their identity as parents, and it’s only natural that their view of other families would be heightened, and even exaggerated. They are such sweet, sane and well-intentioned individuals that it’s impossible not to root for them.

Every supporting role provides a mini-showcase for some of America’s finest character actors. Catherine O’Hara and Jeff Daniels are so funny as Krasinski’s self-absorbed parents that I would happily follow them into a movie of their own. Allison Janney earns some of the film’s biggest laughs as Rudolph’s former co-worker, who turns out to be a vulgar loudmouth, blissfully unaware of the damage she inflicts on her mortified kids and brooding husband (ever-pale Jim Gaffigan). There’s also some genuinely touching work from Chris Messina and Melanie Lynskey as an infertile couple who care for a diverse flock of adopted children. All of these characters could be dismissively labeled “quirky,” but they contain more soul than the so-called people who populate so much mainstream fare.

Away We Go will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 29th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

There’s a wonderful moment when Krasinski fakes a loud fight with Rudolph just so he can hear their baby move through a stethoscope. They are in such euphoric love with each other that the very act of “fighting” seems alien to them. But their relationship has yet to be tested with the responsibility of family life, and their future remains uncertain even at the final fade-out. But unlike all previous Mendes films, this one leaves the viewer believing in the possibility that love can endure…even in a nation of “f—k-ups.”

“Away We Go” is presented in gorgeous 1080p High Definition with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio that accentuates the rich detail in Ellen Kuras’s cinematography. It is accompanied by English, Spanish and French DTS 5.1 tracks. Special features include two featurettes, and enlightening feature-length commentary from Mendes, Eggers and Vida. Viewers can also collect their favorite scenes and share them with friends online via BD Live, which is an appropriate feature for this film, considering its episodic structure.

‘Away We Go’ is released by Universal Home Entertainment and stars John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Catherine O’Hara, Allison Janney, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Chris Messina. It was written by Dave Eggers & Vendela Vida and directed by Sam Mendes. The Blu-Ray and DVD will be released on September 29th, 2009. It is rated R.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

‘Away We Go’ From Sam Mendes a Slightly Bumpy Trip Worth Taking

Ebeth — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:21:24 -0600

CHICAGO – Has life always been this difficult? Doesn’t anybody ever stay together anymore? Have the pressures of modern times turned the majority of us into screw-ups?

Rating: 3.0/5.0

“Away We Go” is a chronicle of couple – Burt and Verona (John Krasinski of NBC’s “The Office” and Maya Rudolph of “Saturday Night Live”) – attempting to resolve just that. A narrative map of stops along the road to self-discovery, the film is an exploration of the complications and confusions in modern relationships.

Thirty-somethings Burt and Verona – a pair stunted in their college days (living with borrowed furniture and a cardboard window) – are expecting. What they’re not expecting is to be left completely alone in the venture as Burt’s parents (played by Catherine O’Hara and Jeff Daniels) announce their planned move to Belgium one month before the baby’s due date.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Away We Go” in our reviews section.

Unsettled by this lack of support with no family or friends left in the area, the couple sets off on a city-by-city tour with the goal of finding their niche: a new job, new community and new home all their own.

Each stop on their itinerary is an intended visit to a mosaic of colorful “characters”. A credit to writers Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, the film excels in finding humor in the quirky: those crazed to the point of awkwardness but sane just enough to function in society.

“Away We Go” from director Sam Mendes stars John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Jeff Daniels, Jim Gaffigan, Catherine O’Hara and Chris Messina. “Away We Go,” which opened in Chicago on June 12, 2009 and opens in other limited cities on June 5, 2009, is rated “R” for language and some sexual content.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Away We Go” in our reviews section.

Maya Rudolph (left) stars as Verona and John Krasinski (right) stars as Burt in Sam Mendes’ “Away We Go”.
Image credit: François Duhamel

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “Away We Go” in our reviews section.

Blu-Ray Review: Cult of ‘Donnie Darko’ Extends to Two-Disc Director’s Cut

BrianTT — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:53:13 -0700

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Most movies come and go. Even some of the most critically and commercially acclaimed films of the last few years have essentially been forgotten already. I knew Richard Kelly’s “Donnie Darko” was a film that was not going to go away quickly the first time I saw it and the Blu-Ray “Director’s Cut” simply extends the shelf life of this riveting cult classic.

Where does one even begin in recapping “Donnie Darko”? It’s kind of a psychological thriller with time travel and some pretty funny ’80s material. It’s like a John Hughes movie meets “The Matrix” interpreted by David Lynch. And that only begins to capture the mesmerizing weirdness of one of the hardest to forget movies of the ’00s.

Donnie Darko: Director’s Cut
Photo credit: Fox

Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the lead in “Donnie Darko” with Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Mary McDonnell filling out the all-star cast. Donnie is an average high school student who starts having end-of-the-world visions and sees a man in a terrifying bunny costume named Frank who tells him that the world is going to end in just over 28 days.

Donnie Darko: Director’s Cut
Photo credit: Fox

Going deeper into the plot or interpretations would be futile. “Donnie Darko” is a movie that means different things to different viewers. For me, it’s more of a mood piece, a dream, than something that should be interpreted literally and that’s what has given the film surprising staying power and a growing cult following in the eight years since its release.

One very notable thing about “Donnie Darko” is that the film has a markedly different “Director’s Cut” that runs twenty minutes longer than the theatrical version and actually answers a lot more questions than the original version. Some fans prefer the original version and Fox wisely includes both on the film’s Blu-Ray release, giving both the HD treatment.

The theatrical version of “Donnie Darko” includes a commentary by the cast and crew and one with Richard Kelly and Jake Gyllenhaal. When the “Director’s Cut” was put together in 2004, Kelly actually got friend Kevin Smith to stop by for an audio track and it’s still one of my favorites in the history of DVD. Smith acts more as an interviewer, prodding Kelly along to talk about the movie. It’s great and a must-listen for anyone who likes commentaries.

The second disc of “Donnie Darko” on Blu-Ray includes the supplemental material, starting with a nearly hour-long production diary about the making of the film which includes a pretty dull commentary from cinematographer Stephen Poster. A commentary on a production diary is the definition of DVD overkill.

There’s a featurette called “They Made Me Do It Too - The Cult of Donnie Darko” which is essentially a “Darko” fanboy interview piece. The ultimate fanboy, Daryl Donaldson, winner of a “Donnie Darko” obsessiveness contest, is spotlighted in “#1 Fan: A Darkomentary”. The second disc is rounded out by a storyboard-to-screen comparison and the film’s trailer.

As for the film(s) themselves, the transfer of both versions of “Donnie Darko” is a little lackluster. The HD image isn’t as vibrant as it should be and doesn’t seem nearly as remastered as it would have been in another studio’s hands. The transfer simply doesn’t have the level of detail I expected. The audio is better with the English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio being the best track yet produced for Mr. Darko and his friends, both real and imaginary.

“Donnie Darko” was almost never released in theaters and didn’t even break even on its initial run. And yet it has a shelf life unlike practically any other film released in 2001. Even though the transfer could have been a little better, the excellent supplemental material combined with the quality of Kelly’s film itself makes “Donnie Darko” a great addition to any Blu-Ray collector’s catalog.

‘Donnie Darko: Director’s Cut’ is released by Fox Home Entertainment and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle, James Duval, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. It was written and directed by Richard Kelly. It was released on February 10th, 2009.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Dark Knight’ Returns to IMAX Theaters on Jan. 23, 2009

BrianTT — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:13:48 -0700

CHICAGO – You can celebrate the very likely Oscar nominations for “The Dark Knight” or lament the film’s snubbing by the academy by revisiting Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece in all of its IMAX glory starting this Friday on Jan. 23, 2009.

“The Dark Knight” will reopen at four theaters in the Chicagoland area: the Navy Pier IMAX in downtown Chicago, the Seven Bridges IMAX in Woodridge, Ill.; the Lincolnshire 20 in Lincolnshire, Ill.; and the Randall IMAX 15 in Batavia, Ill.

True Heath Ledger fans and “The Dark Knight” junkies may feel the need to see the film on opening night at Navy Pier because they will also be admitted to a special screening of “Batman Begins” at midnight for no additional cost. Yes, the 9 p.m. show of “The Dark Knight” at Navy Pier IMAX scores you tickets for this one-time event. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for children and can be bought at the Navy Pier IMAX Web site.

Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action drama “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Stephen Vaughan

All across the country, Warner Bros. is bringing back the IMAX presentation of “The Dark Knight” to give audiences one more chance to see the film on the big screen.

Dan Fellman (president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures) said in a statement: “‘The Dark Knight’ is a crowning achievement in every sense of the word. We wanted to provide one more opportunity for moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen.”

Christopher Nolan has already received a Directors Guild of America (DGA) nomination and producers Nolan, Charles Roven and Emma Thomas have garnered a Producers Guild Award nomination. A Writers Guild of America (WGA) award nomination for best adapted screenplay has gone to Chris Nolan, Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer.

Cast member Heath Ledger received a Screen Actors Guild award nomination and has also won a Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award and numerous other critics groups’ awards for best supporting actor.

“The Dark Knight” also won the Critics’ Choice Award for best action film and swept the People’s Choice Awards in five categories including favorite movie and favorite cast. It will very likely score a number of Oscar nominations when they are announced on Jan. 22, 2009. Heath Ledger’s searing performance is a front runner for best supporting actor.

“The Dark Knight” is being rereleased by Warner Brothers Pictures and stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. It was written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan and directed by Christopher Nolan. It will be rereleased in IMAX theaters on Jan. 23, 2009.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Dark Knight’ Excels Technically But Misses Special Features

BrianTT — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:32:54 -0700

CHICAGO – The most highly anticipated movie of the summer was also the most highly anticipated Blu-Ray release of the year and that was before the film had even hit theaters. The hype paid off in critical acclaim and commercial success, and audiences should be satisfied with “The Dark Knight” on Blu-Ray, if not quite as blown away as they were at the multiplex.

In one of the most brilliant marketing decisions of the year, Warner Brothers included the first six minutes of “The Dark Knight” in high-definition 1080p on their special edition Blu-Ray release of “Batman Begins” earlier this year, giving audiences a taste of what the sequel would look like on the next-gen format. Most of us, heavily under the influence of the incredible viral marketing and hype for the biggest movie of the decade, watched those six minutes more than any other part of the “Batman Begins” Blu-Ray release.

The Dark Knight is available on DVD/Blu-Ray on December 9, 2008.

After “The Dark Knight” made a billion dollars (give or take) around the world, a special edition Blu-Ray release was inevitable. But Warner Brothers was clearly caught in a double-dip dilemma. Would they release all of the special features and produce one of the best Blu-Ray releases of the year or hold back and release an inevitable even-more-special edition to coincide with the Batman film following “The Dark Knight”?

They went with the latter choice. “The Dark Knight” is a technically beautiful Blu-Ray release, but the selection of special features and their execution is consistently frustrating and not up to the caliber of the movie itself.

With “The Dark Knight”, Warner Brothers has made two things clear. 1.) They are very interested in the potential of BD-Live, a special feature that could truly revolutionize the home viewing market and, in turn, the theatrical one. 2.) They’re going to ask for your money twice. There are just too many missing special features on “The Dark Knight” to not assume that they’ll be back for more. Come to terms with that, and you’ll enjoy “The Dark Knight” on Blu-Ray. But just know that it’s a placeholder.

As for the film itself, it would be hyperbolic overkill to review it for too long. “The Dark Knight” is the best superhero movie ever made. It’s what is often referred to as a game-changer - a movie that changes the genre forever. A new bar has been set. For more on the greatness of the film itself, check out HollywoodChicago.com publisher Adam Fendelman’s 5-star review.

The Dark Knight is available on DVD/Blu-Ray on December 9, 2008.

The most positively remarkable thing about the Blu-Ray release of “The Dark Knight” is that it represents perhaps Warner Brothers’ best video transfer to date. This studio led the way in standard definition, but backed the wrong army in the HD war and has only been doing Blu-Ray since the merciful end of that conflict.

But they have quickly risen to the top in Blu-Ray as well with “The Dark Knight” representing the apex of that rise. Put simply, the 1080p High Definition 16x9 Variable 2.40:1 and 1.78:1 (IMAX Sequences) video transfer is flawless. Films with as much darkness as “Knight” often lose the clarity of their color. Blacks blend into blues and browns aren’t as distinct as they should be. And it’s not surprising to see visual noise or loss of clarity in the dark backgrounds. NONE of that is apparent in the transfer of “The Dark Knight”. Stores looking to sell more Blu-Ray players this holiday season need only show this on a 24/7 loop.

And stereo stores should play it too. Sound is such a crucial part of director Christopher Nolan’s vision and the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track on “The Dark Knight” is perfectly mixed. Turn it up loud, wake the neighbors, and enjoy.

Before we get into what special features are included and their quality - a general note. “The Dark Knight” comes with no commentary tracks, no deleted scenes, and a bizarre selection of featurettes that miss the mark in providing a full look at what went into making and marketing this masterpiece. It’s not as much a case of what IS there being bad, it’s just poorly arranged and incomplete.

The Dark Knight is available on DVD/Blu-Ray on December 9, 2008.

The most interesting aspect of the special features for “The Dark Knight” is the attempt at interactivity. Users can provide their own video commentary and share it with their friends via BD-Live. Now your interpretation of “The Dark Knight” can be heard by all. BD-Live also allows for live chats with filmmakers, exclusive content not on the disc itself and more trailers for WB product than your average multiplex.

When I accessed it, all I got was the preview for the movie on a constant loop for a while. There are clearly some kinks still being worked out. Once that was cleared up, there are some interesting extras available for stream, including some pretty cool animated short films (that buffered forever but eventually played) and more behind-the-scenes information.

As for what is included, Warner Brothers has unwisely gone from including scene-specific featurettes picture-in-picture, as they had been most of this year, to something new called “Focus Points”. When they’re activated, a gold disc will appear in the upper corner of the movie when there’s a related featurette available. So, instead of watching the movie and having the b-t-s features available automatically, you’ll have to hold your remote in your hand the entire time. It’s a stupid change.

The entirety of the “Focus Points” can be watched in one, hour-long sitting under the banner, “Gotham Uncovered: Creation of a Scene”. There are 18 mini-featurettes with relatively self-explanatory titles. They are “The Prologue”, “The New Bat-Suit”, “Joker Theme”, “Hong Kong Jump”, “Judge’s Car Blows Up”, “Challenges of the Chase, In IMAX”, “SWAT Van Into River”, “Miniature Unit”, “Destruction of Batmobile”, “Bat-Pod”, “Helicopter Crash”, “Truck Flip”, “MCU Explosion”, “Lamborghini Crash”, “Hospital Explosion”, “Mob Car Flip”, “String of Sausages Stunt”, and “Upping the Ante”.

The Dark Knight is available on DVD/Blu-Ray on December 9, 2008.

The second disc includes three featurettes, galleries, and trailers. Here’s where the missing pieces - no deleted scenes, comprehensive documentary, etc. - come into clear focus. The “Behind the Story” section includes two 45-minute featurettes called “Batman Tech” about the gadgets of the film and “Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of The Dark Knight” about the history of the damaged hero. “Gotham Tonight” is a 46-minute collection of news broadcasts that were partially seen in the background of the film. It’s a lot of time with Anthony Michael Hall. All the excellent trailers and marketing materials are included in galleries.

“The Dark Knight” is one of the best movies of 2008 with one of the best video/audio transfers in the history of the Blu-Ray format. Those two things alone make it a must-buy, even if it’s pretty clear that you’re going to be asked to buy it twice.

‘The Dark Knight’ is released by Warner Brothers on DVD/Blu-Ray and stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Gary Oldman. It was written by Jonathan Nolan and directed by Christopher Nolan. It was released on December 9th, 2008.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Dark Knight’ Slideshow: 10-Image Gallery of New DVD, Blu-Ray Collector’s Sets

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:57:49 -0700

CHICAGO – In anticipation of the DVD and Blu-ray release of “The Dark Knight” on Dec. 9, 2008, we now have high-quality collector’s set images for your viewing pleasure and details about where to get them.

“The Dark Knight” from director Chris Nolan stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Chin Han, Eric Roberts and Anthony Michael Hall.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All image credits for this “The Dark Knight” slideshow are from here and here.

thedarkknight1: Best Buy will have a collector’s set in DVD and Blu-ray with a scaled-down version of the mask Heath Ledger wore as the Joker in the opening bank-robbery scene.
thedarkknight2: Best Buy will have a collector’s set in DVD and Blu-ray with a scaled-down version of the mask Heath Ledger wore as the Joker in the opening bank-robbery scene.
thedarkknight3: Best Buy will have a collector’s set in DVD and Blu-ray with a scaled-down version of the mask Heath Ledger wore as the Joker in the opening bank-robbery scene.
thedarkknight4: The steelbook version of the DVD and Blu-ray case, which will be available from Futureshop in Canada and FYE in the U.S.
thedarkknight5: The steelbook version of the DVD and Blu-ray case, which will be available from Futureshop in Canada and FYE in the U.S.
thedarkknight6: Walmart will sell a gift set for Harvey Dent believers. The two-disc DVD has his luck coin and a comic book.
thedarkknight7: A Blu-ray release for “The Dark Knight” with a scale model of the batpod.
thedarkknight8: “The Dark Knight” Blu-ray.
thedarkknight9: “The Dark Knight” Blu-ray.
thedarkknight10: “The Dark Knight” DVD.

Read our comprehensive film review of “The Dark Knight”.

See our 35-image “The Dark Knight” red-carpet slideshow.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Dark Knight’ Bestows Role of a Lifetime For Heath Ledger, Epic Proportions For Itself

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:01:00 -0600

CHICAGO – With only three short words comprising the film’s enigmatic title, “The Dark Knight” also boasts three epic claims to fame: the role of a lifetime for the late Heath Ledger as the hauntingly deranged Joker, one of the best films of 2008 and one of the greatest superhero films of all time.

In a year when Hollywood has the superhero woody comparable to when westerns where the greatest thing since sliced bread, “The Dark Knight” not only fares well against blockbuster competition with films like “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk” but also manages to rise above chartbuster status into a whole new league of undisputed justice.

FULL REVIEW
Read Adam Fendelman’s full “The Dark Knight” review.

RELATED IMAGE GALLERIES
View our exclusive Chicago red-carpet slideshow.
View our full, high-resolution “The Dark Knight” image gallery.

RELATED READING
Read our comprehensive news on “The Dark Knight”.
More film reviews from critic Adam Fendelman.

Rating: 5.0/5.0
(rarely perfect)

Though a decidedly dark and outcast Batman is the heart behind the marketing machine for “The Dark Knight” from writer and director Christopher Nolan (who also directed the film’s first iteration in 2005 entitled “Batman Begins”), Christian Bale in the seminal role has his show stolen by Ledger’s villain.

While to some it may be surprising to classify Bale’s performance as “B” list and Ledger’s as “A+” list, you almost feel modesty in Bale’s screen time to honor the true man of this film’s 142 minutes.

While “The Dark Knight” completed principal photography prior to Ledger’s death, Bale delivers an intricately muted role as compared to Ledger. While entwined with the power inherent in his superhero marauding, Bale’s also humbled from working with another man who was delivering the culmination of his life’s work.

Health Ledger disappears so convincingly and completely into the Joker that you struggle to remember him in anything else.

This is a telling testament to an illustrious – albeit too short – career of an actor who memorably broke free in transformative roles in films including “Brokeback Mountain”. Nolan – who for this film was significantly influenced by the 1995 film “Heat” – says he selected Ledger for the focal Joker role based on his “fearlessness”.

Ledger’s Joker is developed to the finest of details even down to his unruly tongue action and the sounds of his excess saliva. Moreover, Nolan and co-writing brother Jonathan Nolan (David S. Goyer was also integral in the film’s story) deliver to Ledger the best profundities of any talent in the star-studded film.

“The Dark Knight,” which is directed by Christopher Nolan and features Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Eric Roberts, Anthony Michael Hall, Colin McFarlane, Joshua Harto, Michael Jai White and William Fichtner, will open everywhere on July 18, 2008 in traditional theaters and in IMAX. The film will show in IMAX for a continuous 72 hours for its opening Chicago weekend.

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “The Dark Knight” review. View our exclusive red-carpet coverage of “The Dark Knight” in Chicago.

Heath Ledger stars as the Joker in “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Warner Bros., copyright DC Comics

Gary Oldman at Chicago’s Navy Pier for the red-carpet premiere of “The Dark Knight” on July 16, 2008. In the film, Oldman plays Lt. James Gordon.
Original photography for HollywoodChicago.com by Kris Kasperek of iKLiKphoto

Christian Bale as Batman on his Batpod in “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Warner Bros., copyright DC Comics

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “The Dark Knight” review. View our exclusive red-carpet coverage of “The Dark Knight” in Chicago.

Chicago’s Navy Pier to Feature ‘72 Hours of Batman’ For ‘The Dark Knight’ IMAX Premiere

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:08:17 -0600

CHICAGO – “The Dark Knight,” which for hordes of moviegoers across the U.S. is 2008’s most anticipated film, won’t just open on July 18, 2008 in Chicago to everyday fanfare. It was announced on Wednesday that the film will have “72 hours of Batman” that weekend at Chicago’s Navy Pier for its IMAX version.

Beginning with the first public showing at midnight on Friday, July 18 (late Thursday night), the film will show consecutively all weekend until late Sunday, July 20 (the midnight show). As well, various Batman-themed games, contests and prizes will add to the buzz throughout the weekend.

A scene from “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: The New York Times on March 9, 2008

Just in time for Father’s Day, tickets for every show that weekend go on sale this Thursday, June 12. Because it’s IMAX, the price is jacked up a bit to $15 for adults or $13 for children. Tickets can be obtained at http://www.imax.com/chicago. This is the film’s description:

“The Dark Knight” reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne. Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of lieutenant Jim Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets.

The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.

The film also stars Academy Award winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) as Alfred; Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”) as arch villain The Joker; Gary Oldman as lieutenant Jim Gordon; Aaron Eckhart as district attorney Harvey Dent; Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) as Lucius Fox.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

New Poster Surfaces For ‘The Dark Knight’: ‘Welcome to a World Without Rules’

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:49:18 -0600

CHICAGO – The Joker played nice on Thursday and delivered new fan fruit for “The Dark Knight”: a movie poster sporting the new statement “welcome to a world without rules”. He used his popular viral site WhySoSerious.com to unleash the award.

Feast your eyes on the new poster below. View a high-resolution version here. View our full image gallery here for “The Dark Knight”. Read our extensive “The Dark Knight” coverage here. Stay tuned for another marvel in four days, too, which is speculated to be a new trailer.

This new poster for “The Dark Knight” was revealed on April 24, 2008 from a WhySoSerious.com viral marketing campaign. View a high-resolution version here.
Image credit: Warner Bros.

“The Dark Knight” from Warner Bros., which features Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy and Anthony Michael Hall, is scheduled to hit theaters everywhere on July 18, 2008.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Three Months Early, First Review For ‘The Dark Knight’ Surfaces Online

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:05:10 -0600

CHICAGO – With today being April 9, 2008 and with “The Dark Knight” scheduled to open on July 18, 2008, the difference between the two dates, of course, is more than three months. Even so, the first review for the monolithically anticipated film has just hit the Web in Portuguese.

Contributor Alexandre Winck for the respected Batman site Batman-on-Film.com reports that the review comes from a “well-known blog in Brazil” that’s part of the “largest media corporation” there, which is known as Globo. Winck says the author is a “respected journalist”. While the translation into English is a bit rough, you’ll get the gist. The following information may contain spoilers.

Director Chris Nolan on the set of “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Released by the New York Times on March 9, 2008

My secret agent between the Armani suits saw a super private session for “The Dark Knight” and came out drooling. It will be a great success, he guarantees.

The gadgets – especially the [Batpod], [which is] responsible for an acclaimed action sequence – are crazy and Heath Ledger might receive a deserved [award?] for his Joker. [He is] a mixture of a fool/clown, schizophrenic, sadistic and crazy.

The guy delivered, got himself into the role and it’s unrecognizable. There will be no other Joker after him.

Many great scenes. Impeccable effects. Music and sounds pretty loud, but helping the story. They have a heartbeat they use in a sensational way [that helps to anticipate] the next scene [as] a psychological trigger [like in “Jaws”].

The cast is awesome. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman [steal] scenes in which all are present. Maggie Gyllenhaal [is] fantastic replacing Katie Holmes and Aaron Eckhart [is] a great surprise as the politician with a heart of gold whose personality changes after a horrible accident.

Another surprise is Eric Roberts as the mobster he knows so well how to do. Christian Bale [is] solid as ever [and] cool since Bruce Wayne is a rich playboy and Batman is the opposite. The film plays a lot with this duality. All the characters are complex, [have] ambiguities [and are] very interesting and delicate.

The humor … is totally dark. The movie is very dark and, in this version, a little too long. [It] will blow [everyone] away.

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Another scene … with Ledger [as] the Joker playing dead inside a body bag caused adverse reactions in the audience for obvious reasons. It will possibly be cut.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com