October 2009

Previous | Image 1 of 5 | Next

Uma Thurman on Oct. 8, 2009 for the red-carpet premiere of Motherhood.

CHICAGO – This five-image slideshow contains our ace photographer Joe Arce’s shots from the red carpet for the Chicago premiere of “Motherhood” on Oct. 8, 2009.

CHICAGO – The challenge of instant fame caught up with Corbin Bleu, when he portrayed Chad Danforth in the “High School Musical” series. He is now producing and starring in “Free Style,” an underdog story centered around motocross racing.

CHICAGO – Perhaps the biggest praise I can pay EA Sports’ excellent “NHL 10” is this - despite being a sports nut in general, I’m not much of a hockey fan and yet I found this trip to the ice completely entertaining, challenging, and in-depth. The best sports games not only preach to the choir by satisfying people who are already fans of the actual game but also can bring in people who don’t own a hockey jersey. “NHL 10” could actually increase the popularity of the sport.

CHICAGO – Chicago comedian and self-described Emmy-winning D-lister Kathy Griffin bit her tongue and beamed for the HollywoodChicago.com lens on Oct. 7, 2009.

CHICAGO – While you count the days until the beloved reboot of “Star Trek” hits Blu-Ray and DVD on November 17th, new and old fans should check back in with the original crew of the Enterprise in Paramount’s excellent 7-disc HD set, bursting with not only dozens of special features but enhanced visual effects and audio. This season of “Star Trek” has never looked like this.

CHICAGO – The Criterion Collection recently released a timeless document of one of the most important events in music history, The Monterey Pop Festival of 1967. Not only does this legendary fest include some seminal visuals, including Jimi Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire and Pete Townshend smashing his, but it captures a nation on the cusp of something amazing, not just musically but socially.

Previous | Image 1 of 3 | Next

Director Peter Billingsley, Actress Malin Akerman, and Vince Vaughn pose together on the red carpet at the Chicago Premiere of their film Couples Retreat on Tuesday, Oct. 6th, 2009.

CHICAGO – This 3-image slideshow contains our ace photographer Joe Arce’s shots from the red carpet for the Chicago premiere of “Couples Retreat” on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009. Stars Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman and director Peter Billingsley walked the red carpet for the film that also stars Jason Bateman, Kristin Bell, Kristin Davis, Kali Hawk, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, and Jean Reno. It opens on Friday, October 9th, 2009.

CHICAGO – In our latest martial arts edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two passes up for grabs to the Chicago screening of the new martial arts film “Ong bak 2” starring martial arts master Tony Jaa.

CHICAGO – Maybe you’ve heard of a little show called “30 Rock”? It doesn’t set the ratings on fire but critics and award-giving bodies go crazy for it like kids with pixie sticks. Personally, I think the third season of “30 Rock” was a slight step down from the second, but there’s no denying that this is one of the best comedies on television, as its recent major wins at the Emmys proved yet again.

CHICAGO – The highly acclaimed and anticipated “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2” hit store shelves recently and fans of Spiderman, Wolverine, Iron Man, and the rest of the Marvel gang should check out the awesome trailer that Activision sent over and stay tuned to HollywoodChicago.com for an upcoming full review.

CHICAGO – Twenty-three years after it was made, and nineteen years after its limited theatrical release, “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” is as potent and relevant as ever. Filmmaker John McNaughton, along with writing partner Richard Fire, proved that true horror is found not in manufactured scares that jolt the audience like a theme park ride, but in the corrupted mind and soul of an evil being.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

ATLANTA – Sometimes human tragedy hits dramatically, but other times it subtly, imperceptibly, alters the intrinsic fibers of everyday life in undetectable ways. That is the premise behind Scott Hicks’ film “The Boys Are Back.” It is the story not of death, but of the strategy human beings devise to cope, to defend and to protect themselves against pain and loss.

CHICAGO – Hugh Jackman is an awfully likable guy. He oozes the kind of effortless photogenic charisma most movie stars would kill for. He’s also comfortable in his masculinity, and unafraid to expose his inner vulnerabilities and self-deprecation.

CHICAGO – Not being a huge fan of car racing games, I was stunned at how addictive and engrossing I found EA’s excellent “Need For Speed: Shift”. A complete left turn from last year’s failure “Undercover,” “Shift” represents the beginning of a new line of games for the “NFS” franchise, one that focuses on authentic racing over its ancestors more arcade style. The only problem for driving fans may be that it’s unclear where the “Shift” line can go from here.