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+.
November 2009
Video Game Review: Epic ‘Dragon Age: Origins’ Sure to Satisfy RPG Fans
Submitted by BrianTT on November 30, 2009 - 5:50pmCHICAGO – When I told a friend I was getting sucked into the world of the epic-length “Dragon Age: Origins” and worried about the time commitment and how much it would take away from the rest of my life, he used a phrase that I had never heard before: “the RPG hole”. Like a black hole, role-playing games have a way of sucking players in, and when the experience is as immersive, well-designed, and entertaining as “Origins,” it’s easy to see why.
Interview: Robert Sean Leonard of Hugh Laurie’s ‘House M.D.’ on Self-Titled Episode ‘Wilson’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 30, 2009 - 2:44pmCHICAGO – Robert Sean Leonard, who plays Dr. James Wilson on “House M.D.” (and the best friend of Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House), describes himself as less than ambitious with his career and even “lazy” in an interview with HollywoodChicago.com’s presence.
Video Game Review: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’ Delivers on High Expectations
Submitted by BrianTT on November 29, 2009 - 5:17pmCHICAGO – One of the more anticipated games in years is finally here and, by now, most diehard fans of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” have played through “Modern Warfare 2” on multiple difficulty levels and spent countless hours working through the variety of multiplayer modes and special ops missions. Hardcore fans of this franchise don’t just “play” these games. They eat, breathe, and live “Modern Warfare” for months after the game’s release and with a title this good, who can blame them?
Blu-Ray Review: Remarkable 20th Anniversary Edition of ‘Say Anything...’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 29, 2009 - 5:04pmCHICAGO – Sometimes fans have the choice between holding on to the standard DVD version of their favorite films or upgrading to the latest format, anniversary, or ultimate collector’s unrated fantastic edition. With many Blu-Ray releases merely improving the technical specs but often leaving the special features alone, it can be a tough call. Such is not the case with the 20th anniversary edition of the great “Say Anything…,” a release packed with excellent bonus material that make it a must-own for fans of Cameron Crowe’s directorial debut.
Blu-Ray Review: Rocky Balboa Fights His Way to ‘Undisputed Collection’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 29, 2009 - 5:01pmCHICAGO – There are very few characters as iconic as Rocky Balboa. A few images, sound bites, or even just a few notes of a song and audiences of the right age are transported back to the first time they saw the Best Picture-winning “Rocky,” the film that made Sylvester Stallone a star over three decades ago. That beloved sports film and the five sequels that followed have been collected on Blu-Ray for the first time in “Rocky: The Undisputed Collection”.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 20 ‘Everybody’s Fine’ Chicago Passes With Robert De Niro
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 28, 2009 - 10:38pmCHICAGO – In our latest comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 20 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Everybody’s Fine,” which stars Robert De Niro!
Blu-Ray Review: Tiresome ‘Four Christmases’ is Four Too Many
Submitted by BrianTT on November 25, 2009 - 3:02pmCHICAGO – How has Vince Vaughn become one of the most boring actors in America? It has little to do with his performances and everything to do with his career choices. Sure, Vaughn has pretty much made a habit out of playing the exact same guy since “Wedding Crashers”: a fast-talking, self-absorbed, overgrown adolescent whose funniest quips are delivered under the breath and between punch-lines.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 25, 2009 - 2:44pmCHICAGO – Yes, comedy fans, there is a Santa Claus, and he’s here early with a raunchy, gleeful take on holiday traditions courtesy of Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Danny DeVito, and the twisted writers of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas”.
DVD Review: Breathtaking 5-Disc Gift Set For ‘Gone With the Wind’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 25, 2009 - 1:48pmCHICAGO – If local news reports are to be believed, nearly everyone reading this will go holiday shopping sometime during the upcoming weekend. To those of you that are considering a DVD giftset purchase like the recent release of “The Wizard of Oz,” “Christmas Vacation,” or even “Mamma Mia!,” you couldn’t do much better than the breathtaking five-disc release marking the 70th anniversary of “Gone With the Wind”.
Oppressively Bleak ‘The Road’ Buries Great Viggo Mortensen Performance
Submitted by BrianTT on November 25, 2009 - 1:18pmCHICAGO – The long-delayed and highly-anticipated adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” has moments of stark beauty and a typically fantastic lead performance from Viggo Mortensen, but the film ultimately misses its mark as a whole piece, coming off numbing its bleak, repetitive view of the end of the world instead of inspiring emotionally or creatively.
Oppressively Bleak ‘The Road’ Buries Great Viggo Mortensen Performance
Submitted by BrianTT on November 25, 2009 - 1:13pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The long-delayed and highly-anticipated adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” has moments of stark beauty and a typically fantastic lead performance from Viggo Mortensen, but the film ultimately misses its mark as a whole piece, coming off numbing in its bleak, repetitive view of the end of the world instead of inspiring emotionally or creatively.
Blu-Ray Review: HBO’s Epic ‘Rome’ Released in HD Series Set
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 11:53pmCHICAGO – Just in time for holiday shopping, HBO has released both seasons of the epic “Rome” in one gorgeously-packaged Blu-Ray set with all 22 episodes and bonus material including audio commentaries and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Whatever you may think of the show, “Rome” was one of the most beautifully designed programs of the decade and a perfect fit for 1080p.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ Suffers From Uplift Overkill
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 10:50pmCHICAGO – Sometimes all it takes is a glance at a film’s poster to know where it’s stepped wrong. The poster for “My Sister’s Keeper” shows photogenic stars Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin smiling at each other, while their saintly co-star (Sofia Vassilieva) drifts below them, blowing bubbles.
DVD Review: ‘Humpday’ Takes Heterosexual Comedy to a New Level
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 10:40pmCHICAGO – While Apatowian bromances like “I Love You, Man” play male bonding for laughs, Lynn Shelton’s perceptive indie comedy delves into the untapped complexities of brotherly love. After garnering the Special Jury Prize at Sundance, “Humpday” had a very limited theatrical run, and deserves to find an audience on DVD.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Mamma Mia! The Movie’ Given Gift Set Treatment
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 10:30pmCHICAGO – It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Blu-Ray and DVD collectors. Every holiday season, studios pull out their most beloved films, polish up the picture, maybe add a special feature or two, and usually throw in a few collectibles for a gift set.
Wii Round Up, Nov. 24, 2009: ‘We Cheer 2,’ ‘Family Feud,’ ‘Where’s Waldo’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 24, 2009 - 1:53pmCHICAGO – Several Nintendo Wii games have been released in the last few weeks that might be just what you’re looking for when you do your holiday shopping this season. With so many huge releases like “Uncharted 2,” “Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time,” “Left For Dead 2,” and more taking up advertising space, it’s easy for smaller games to slip through the cracks.
Blu-Ray Review: Beloved Kevin Smith Films Released in High Definition
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2009 - 6:38pmCHICAGO – Very few filmmakers provoke the same kind of passionate adoration as the sometimes-great Kevin Smith, a man who has such a following that he can sell out large theaters filled with people who merely want to ask him questions for hours. Smith is a charismatic, interesting, clever filmmaker and his best work reflect his gregarious personality. Three of his best are captured in “The Kevin Smith Collection,” including two films with all-new Blu-Ray material.
Video Game Review: ‘Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2009 - 6:18pmCHICAGO – There have been several highly-touted, well-marketed video game releases this season including “Uncharted 2,” “Assassin’s Creed II,” “Left For Dead 2,” and “COD: Modern Warfare 2,” but one of my most personally anticipated titles of the year has gone somewhat unnoticed. The lack of press made me wonder if perhaps I would be let down by “Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time”. Wonder no more - this is easily one of the best games of the year and a worthy entry (and reported finale) in this beloved franchise.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Ugly Truth’ is Neither Funny Nor Romantic
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2009 - 5:02pmCHICAGO – Here’s an alleged romantic comedy as clueless about romance as it is about comedy. It has a premise designed to illustrate how women think with their minds, while men think with their nether regions. Yet the male and female leads of “The Ugly Truth” are practically indistinguishable from each other.
Exclusive Portraits: Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz of ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ in Chicago
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 23, 2009 - 4:33pmCHICAGO – This five-image slideshow contains our exclusive Chicago photography of Ashley Greene (who stars as Alice Cullen) and Kellan Lutz (who stars as Emmett Cullen) in the highly buzzed “Twilight” sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” which hit theaters on Nov. 20, 2009.
Interview: Debbie Reynolds Dishes on Her Lucky Star Career
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 23, 2009 - 12:04pmCHICAGO – Debbie Reynolds, who began her movie star journey as a teenager during another show biz era, made her big splash in 1952’s “Singin’ in the Rain.” What followed was a long and varied career as a singer, dancer and respected film actress.
Blu-Ray Review: After ‘New Moon’ Sets, Pick Up ‘Near Dark’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2009 - 11:32amCHICAGO – It’s funny the way that the Blu-Ray market has developed in that success of a new title can often bring an old one to the HD format more quickly than it otherwise would get there. In the case of the great “Near Dark,” it’s the success of two films, one that shares a theme (“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”) and one that shares director Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”). Whatever the reason, don’t fail to include arguably the best vampire movie ever made in your collection.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 ‘Transylmania’ Chicago Passes to ‘Twilight’ Meets ‘Scary Movie’ Film
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 23, 2009 - 3:20amCHICAGO – In our latest comedy/horror spoof edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Transylmania,” which is like “Twilight” meets “Scary Movie”!
Melodrama, Weak Performances Hold Back ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 20, 2009 - 12:57pmCHICAGO – The amazing adoration for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” is based on one of two things: a crush on one of the cast members or goodwill spawned by a love of Stephenie Meyer’s books.
Melodrama, Weak Performances Hold Back ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 20, 2009 - 12:51pm Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The amazing adoration for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” is based on one of two things: a crush on one of the cast members or goodwill spawned by a love of Stephenie Meyer’s books.
Sandra Bullock, Strong Script Bring Clarity to ‘The Blind Side’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 20, 2009 - 8:20amCHICAGO – “Based on a True Story” films are difficult to pull off, especially those that are the improbable story of a white Memphis family adopting an African American football prodigy. Sandra Bullock is the mother, through it all, in “The Blind Side.”
Sandra Bullock, Strong Script Bring Clarity to ‘The Blind Side’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 20, 2009 - 8:14am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Based on a True Story” films are difficult to pull off, especially those that are the improbable story of a white Memphis family adopting an African American football prodigy. Sandra Bullock is the mother, through it all, in “The Blind Side.”
Video Game Review: ‘Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier’ Missed Opportunity
Submitted by BrianTT on November 19, 2009 - 9:09pmCHICAGO – It would be polite to say that “Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier” is merely an unessential entry in one of the most beloved franchises of the ’00s. It would be more accurate to say that it’s a disappointment, a missed opportunity to create a true sequel to one of the most essential PSP games in the history of the handheld platform, “Daxter”.
TV News: Premiere Date Announced For ABC’s ‘Lost’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 19, 2009 - 8:54pmCHICAGO – The sixth and final season of the J.J. Abrams hit television series “Lost” will premiere with a special all-night event on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2009. The recap special will start at 7pm CST followed by the highly anticipated sixth season two-hour premiere at 8pm CST on ABC.
Interview: Kellan Lutz in ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ on Chicago, Satiating Fans
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 19, 2009 - 6:56pmCHICAGO – “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” knows what it is, what it isn’t and how to quench fans.
