CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio review for the streaming series “Emily in Paris” the adventures of Emily Cooper and her fanciful/fashionable Paris friends and lovers, now in its fourth season. Episodes 1-5 currently on Netflix.
January 2008
Hookup: HollywoodChicago.com Giving Out 15 Passes For Jessica Alba’s ‘The Eye’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 31, 2008 - 2:16pmCHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com is giving out 15 admit-two movie passes for Jessica Alba’s “The Eye”. Movie posters and buttons can also come in the movie pack, which will be awarded to users who submit images of the most “standout eyes” taken, created or found elsewhere.
250 Free Tickets Available For Advance Chicago Screening of ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 30, 2008 - 1:43amCHICAGO – We just received word that 250 advance-screening tickets are now available for a free Chicago screening of “The Spiderwick Chronicles”. These tickets will surely go quickly, so if you’re interested in this film, follow the steps below with haste.
Despite Heath Ledger’s Death, Warner Bros. Presses on With Joker’s Viral Marketing For ‘The Dark Knight’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 30, 2008 - 12:34amCHICAGO – Once the swarm of sorrow hit the world on Jan. 22, 2008 following news of Heath Ledger’s death, questions soon ensued about its impact on Chris Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” and Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”.
‘Contraption’ Examines Mad-Scientist Intersection Between Invention, Insanity
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 30, 2008 - 12:08amCHICAGO – There’s a fine line between being batty and being brilliant. If there’s anything the world’s most brilliant inventors have taught us, it’s that most world-altering creators blurred that very line or visited the crazy farm before the world acknowledged their genius.
Free Advance-Screening Passes For ‘Be Kind Rewind,’ ‘In Bruges,’ ‘Jumper,’ ‘Caramel,’ ‘Fool’s Gold’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 28, 2008 - 10:35pmCHICAGO – Free advance-screening movie passes. No catch. Just click the link and RSVP.
This week, we have passes for “Over Her Dead Body,” “In Bruges” (including one screening in Chicago!), “The Hottie and the Nottie,” “Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights,” “Caramel,” “Fool’s Gold,” “Penelope,” “Jumper” and “Be Kind Rewind”. These passes go quickly, so if you’re interested in a particular film, snag your free ticket now!
Despite Flawed Plot Clichés, Dancing Takes Center Stage in ‘How She Move’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 25, 2008 - 4:58pmCHICAGO – Kids, it’s an old-fashioned dance off, and despite being about the contemporary and very urban stepdance craze, it has all the hope, dreams, choreography and clichés of a golden-age Hollywood musical revue.
Despite Flawed Plot Clichés, Dancing Takes Center Stage in ‘How She Move’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 25, 2008 - 4:54pmCHICAGO – Kids, it’s an old-fashioned dance off, and despite being about the contemporary and very urban stepdance craze, it has all the hope, dreams, choreography and clichés of a golden-age Hollywood musical revue.
Stallone Sports Aggrandized Violence, Weak Storyline in ‘Rambo’ Revival
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 25, 2008 - 12:32pmCHICAGO – The best quality about the fourth “Rambo” is its “Rambo” authenticity. The worst quality about the fourth “Rambo” is its “Rambo” authenticity.
Stallone Sports Aggrandized Violence, Weak Storyline in ‘Rambo’ Revival
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 25, 2008 - 12:12pmCHICAGO – The best quality about the fourth “Rambo” is its “Rambo” authenticity. The worst quality about the fourth “Rambo” is its “Rambo” authenticity.
Lane’s ‘Untraceable’ Plagued With Predictable, Connect-the-Dots Plotline
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 25, 2008 - 1:01amCHICAGO – Gregory Hoblit’s “Untraceable” is a predictable thriller that takes us into the masterminds of cybercrime in Portland. Diane Lane plays FBI agent Jennifer Marsh and heads up a cybercrime department that’s chasing an Internet killer.
Diane Lane’s ‘Untraceable’ Plagued With Predictable, Connect-the-Dots Plotline
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 25, 2008 - 1:01amCHICAGO – Gregory Hoblit’s “Untraceable” is a predictable thriller that takes us into the masterminds of cybercrime in Portland. Diane Lane plays FBI agent Jennifer Marsh and heads up a cybercrime department that’s chasing an Internet killer.
Paramount Pictures Releases Flood of New Production Stills For ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 23, 2008 - 3:32pmCHICAGO – Paramount Pictures on Wednesday released a flood of new production stills for the fantasy film “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” which stars Freddie Highmore, the voice of Seth Rogen, Mary-Louise Parker and the voice of Nick Nolte. The film opens on Feb. 14.
Actor Heath Ledger Found Dead in Manhattan Apartment at 28
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 22, 2008 - 5:06pmCHICAGO – Heath Ledger has been found dead in his Manhattan apartment, according to CNN. He was 28.
History-Making ‘U2 3D’ Feature-Length Film Redefines Concert Experience
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 22, 2008 - 4:40pmCHICAGO – Shot with more digital 3D cameras than any other film project, the feature-length “U2 3D” film production revolutionizes the concert experience on the big screen.
History-Making ‘U2 3D’ Feature-Length Film Redefines Concert Experience
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 22, 2008 - 4:33pmCHICAGO – Shot with more digital 3D cameras than any other film project, the feature-length “U2 3D” film production revolutionizes the concert experience on the big screen.
Josh Brolin to Play George W. Bush in Oliver Stone-Directed ‘Bush’ Film
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 20, 2008 - 11:56pmCHICAGO – Announced during our politically charged primary elections and potentially for release around the 2008 presidential election or inauguration, the legendary Oliver Stone on Sunday revealed his next directing gig: a biopic about President George W. Bush aptly titled “Bush”.
Star Power Can’t Save ‘Mad Money’ From ‘Thelma & Louise’ Writer Callie Khouri
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 18, 2008 - 3:17pmCHICAGO – Whenever there’s stunt-movie casting with divergent generations of Hollywood “stars,” there’s bound to be trouble at the multiplex. This time, the “old to young” range of Diane “Annie Hall” Keaton, Queen Latifah and the increasingly annoying Katie Holmes attempt a stab at the classic heist movie in “Mad Money”.
Star Power Can’t Save ‘Mad Money’ From ‘Thelma & Louise’ Writer Callie Khouri
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 18, 2008 - 2:56pmCHICAGO – Whenever there’s stunt-movie casting with divergent generations of Hollywood “stars,” there’s bound to be trouble at the multiplex.
Woody Allen’s ‘Cassandra’s Dream’ Expressly Hitchcockian
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 18, 2008 - 1:54pmCHICAGO – Woody Allen – the most prolific American writer/director of the last quarter century – has a desire for a particular expression in this last part of his epic career.
Akin to ‘Match Point,’ Woody Allen’s ‘Cassandra’s Dream’ Expressly Hitchcockian
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 18, 2008 - 1:35pmCHICAGO – Woody Allen – the most prolific American writer/director of the last quarter century – has a desire for a particular expression in this last part of his epic career.
Advance ‘In Bruges’ Screening, Director Q&A Coming to Chicago
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 16, 2008 - 11:50pmCHICAGO – A special advance screening for the new Focus Features action film “In Bruges” is coming to Chicago on Jan. 25 along with a Q&A with director Martin McDonagh immediately following the screening. “In Bruges” stars Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleeson.
Exclusive: ‘Star Trek’ Teaser Trailer Description Surfaces Online
Submitted by MagnoliaFan on January 15, 2008 - 6:08pmCHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com on Tuesday had a trusted source post on our message boards a description of the upcoming teaser trailer for J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek”.
Marvel Releases Two New Production Stills of ‘Iron Man’ With Downey Jr.
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 14, 2008 - 10:29pmCHICAGO – Marvel on Monday released two new production stills from the highly anticipated adaption “Iron Man” with Robert Downey Jr. In the first photo, he displays a gauntlet for from the “Iron Man” armor and the second new photo shows Downey Jr. with director Jon Favreau as they talk about a scene on a workshop set.
‘The Dark Knight’ Viral Marketing Rings Again From Cake-Embedded Cell Phones
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 14, 2008 - 1:47pmCHICAGO – Back on Dec. 4, 2007, we reported on “The Dark Knight” viral marketing activities that concluded in fans rushing around the U.S. to snag cakes in bakeries. Items were baked inside them and enthusiasts tore apart the treats to find out what they were. The Joker promised that the embedded cell phones would have a purpose later.
Production Stills Surface For George A. Romero’s ‘Diary of the Dead’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 13, 2008 - 9:01pmCHICAGO – The Weinstein Company has released 11 new production stills for George A. Romero’s “Diary of the Dead,” which will show at the Sundance Film Festival later this month and hits limited U.S. theaters on Feb. 15.
Theater: ‘Bird Dog Sedition’ Billed as ‘Most Dangerous Play in Chicago’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 12, 2008 - 7:42pmCHICAGO – With Chicago’s art gallery district as its conversational and thought-provoking backdrop, the free-thinking “Bird Dog Sedition” is written, directed and performed explicitly to dangerously deconstruct theatrical conventions.
Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise, Diane Keaton Walk ‘Mad Money’ Red Carpet
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 10, 2008 - 9:42pmCHICAGO – “Mad Money” rolled out a glitzy red carpet in Los Angeles on Wednesday and we have the photos to show it.
Paramount Pictures Releases 25 New Production Stills For ‘Cloverfield’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 10, 2008 - 4:23amCHICAGO – “Cloverfield” continues on its tear not this time with more viral marketing but with a “monster” amount of new production stills. In fact, there are so many we had to create an image gallery just to hold them all. There are 25 new images in total. The J.J. Abrams-produced film opens on Jan. 18.
Darker Director For Darkest ‘Harry Potter’? Guillermo del Toro Hopes So
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 9, 2008 - 12:07amCHICAGO – So, Warner Bros.: Yes or no? Darker director Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) wants to direct “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” so badly he bought the final J.K. Rowling book for his daughter and latched onto it himself so she had to say: “When are you going to give it to me?”
He solidified his position of passion for the gig to MTV on Tuesday.
Golden Globe Telecast Canceled; Awards Become Highest-Profile Casualty of Writer’s Strike
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 7, 2008 - 11:11pmCHICAGO – The organizers of the 2008 Golden Globe Awards on Monday announced the cancellation of its telecast. The move earned the title of the highest-profile casualty of the writer’s strike.
Following last week’s declaration to protest the event in defense of striking WGA writers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and NBC on Monday said the typically high-profile telecast will be substituted with a mere press conference.