February 2011

Blu-Ray Review: DC Universe Releases Lackluster ‘All-Star Superman’

All-Star Superman

CHICAGO – “All-Star Superman” would be perfectly enjoyable on a Saturday morning but it once seemed that the straight-to-DVD series of films that wore the “DC Universe” banner aimed a little higher than lazy weekend entertainment. Oh, how even the superheroes have fallen. This once-ambitious series (that might be again with an exciting fall release of “Batman: Year One”) has released what is, in many ways, their most lackluster affair to date.

Interviews: Voice of Young ‘Bambi’ Donnie Dunagan

CHICAGO – “Bambi” maintains its impact nearly 70 years after debuting in 1942. Walt Disney Studios releases the Blu-ray Diamond Edition DVD of the film on March 1st, and the voice of Young Bambi, Donnie Dunagan, was in Chicago with animator Andreas Deja to talk about it.

Blu-Ray Review: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis Waste Efforts on ‘Due Date’

Due Date

CHICAGO – Todd Phillips followed up his mega-hit and award-winning comedy “The Hangover” with a decidedly lesser affair, a traditional road movie that simply isn’t funny enough to warrant a look except for die hard fans of its stars. Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis don’t do anything particularly wrong in “Due Date,” but the lackluster script and pedestrian direction lets them down.

Slideshow: 21-Image Gallery of Red Carpet Photos From the 2011 Oscars

| Image 1 of 21 |
Jennifer Lawrence

CHICAGO – This 21-image slideshow contains a selection of the available red carpet images from the 2011 Academy Awards including shots of Jennifer Lawrence, Natalie Portman, Melissa Leo, Hailee Steinfeld, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Amy Adams, Jennifer Hudson, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and more. The awards were broadcast on ABC on February 27th, 2011.

Film News: ‘The King’s Speech’ Given Royal Treatment at 2011 Oscars

CHICAGO – “The King’s Speech” reigned supreme at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards February 27, 2011. After its recent award victories, the British drama was widely expected to win in the categories of Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay (the film snagged all three accolades).

Film Feature: AMC Theatres Hosts 2010 Best-Picture Screenings

CHICAGO – Film buffs broke out the coffee and energy drinks the morning before the 83rd Academy Awards as AMC Theatre River East Chicago hosted the 2010 Best Picture nominee screenings, part of a nationwide AMC Theatre promotion.

On WGN Radio: HollywoodChicago.com’s Brian Tallerico on Renewal Chances For Your Favorite TV Shows

WGN Radio

CHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico speaks with WGN Radio host Bill Moller on Feb. 26, 2011 about the cancel/renew status of new TV shows including “Detroit 1-8-7,” “Human Target,” “Fringe,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Defenders,” “Justified,” “The League,” and more.

Film Review: Life’s a Grind For Nicolas Cage in ‘Drive Angry 3D’

CHICAGO – Muscle cars, kick-ass dudes and foxy ladies have been staples of the grindhouse since Detroit had a pulse. Nicolas Cage joins that parade in the over-the-top road picture called “Drive Angry 3D,” lest we mistake it for the 2nd dimension.

Life's a Grind For Nicolas Cage in ‘Drive Angry 3D’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.0/5.0
Rating: 3.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Muscle cars, kick-ass dudes and foxy ladies have been staples of the grindhouse since Detroit had a pulse. Nicolas Cage joins that parade in the over-the-top road picture called “Drive Angry 3D,” lest we mistake it for the 2nd dimension.

Film Review: Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis Skate By in ‘Hall Pass’

CHICAGO – The Farrelly Brothers’ “Hall Pass” is a near-miss for the directors of “There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb & Dumber” that features enough laughs to remember when the boys were in their prime but ultimately doesn’t come enough together to get them back to it.

Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis Skate By in ‘Hall Pass’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.5/5.0
Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – The Farrelly Brothers’ “Hall Pass” is a near-miss for the directors of “There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb & Dumber” that features enough laughs to remember when the boys were in their prime but ultimately doesn’t come enough together to get them back to it. With Owen Wilson delivering a pretty lazy performance but “SNL” star Jason Sudeikis balancing it out with a nearly-great one, “Hall Pass” is a hit-and-miss affair that falls too often on the wrong side of that comedy corridor.

Film Review: ‘Even the Rain’ Takes Preachy Approach to Powerful Story

Even the Rain Film Review

CHICAGO – Actress-turned-filmmaker Icíar Bollaín has an important story to tell in her fifth directorial feature, “Even the Rain.” The film is drenched in self-importance, nearly all of it justifiable. Historical events are eerily and poignantly re-enacted against a fascinating modern backdrop, drawing parallels between past and present corruption. It’s regrettable that this great idea was given such a workmanlike execution.

‘Even the Rain’ Takes Preachy Approach to Powerful Story

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Actress-turned-filmmaker Icíar Bollaín has an important story to tell in her fifth directorial feature, “Even the Rain.” The film is drenched in self-importance, nearly all of it justifiable. Historical events are eerily and poignantly re-enacted against a fascinating modern backdrop, drawing parallels between past and present corruption. It’s regrettable that this great idea was given such a workmanlike execution.

Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Twilight Zone: Season 3’ Continues Spectacular Series

The Twilight Zone Season 3

CHICAGO – The first two seasons of “The Twilight Zone” were two of the best Blu-ray releases of 2010, absolute heaven for fans of the classic TV show. With “The Twilight Zone: Season 3,” Image Entertainment has done it again, delivering an amazing collection of pristinely-transfered episodes with literally days worth of special features to keep fans busy. These releases are an easy choice for the best series of TV on Blu-ray yet released.

Interview: Peter Farrelly, Pete Jones Issue Comedy ‘Hall Pass’

CHICAGO – After a brief hiatus, Bobby and Peter Farrelly are back with the comedy “Hall Pass,” starring Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, and Christina Applegate. Wilson and Sudeikis play a pair of married men longing for some time off from their marriages when they’re handed a week without repercussions. What would you do with a week-long hall pass?

Blu-Ray Review: Bill Nighy’s ‘Wild Target’ Completely Misses the Mark

Wild Target Blu-Ray

CHICAGO – There’s no good way to discuss “Wild Target,” except in hushed tones and somber expulsions of regret. It’s a crime comedy that steals ninety-eight minutes of your life without delivering a single decent laugh. How could Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt, Rupert Grint, Martin Freeman and Eileen Atkins possibly have been attracted to this material, other than by force?

Film Feature: HollywoodChicago.com Predicts the 2011 Oscar Winners

CHICAGO – Have you filled out your Oscar pool ballot yet? Let us guide the way. The film think-tank at HollywoodChicago.com (Matt Fagerholm, Patrick McDonald, and, myself, Brian Tallerico) has convened to break down the major eight categories with their picks for who will win, who should win, and who should have been nominated.

Blu-Ray Review: Hirokazu Kore-eda’s ‘Still Walking’ Impossible to Resist

Still Walking Blu-Ray

CHICAGO – Jaded moviegoers eager to have their faith restored in the power of the medium are advised to see Hirokazu Kore-eda’s gorgeously lensed, effortlessly involving masterwork. This acclaimed family drama from 2008 has been granted a stellar Criterion release that further illuminates its meticulous beauty and the deeply meaningful connection it has to its filmmaker’s past.

TV Review: ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Has Run Out of New Ideas

CHICAGO – Fourteen cycles into “America’s Next Top Model,” it is now clear that this sometimes-engaging program has lost all hope of rekindling what once made it entertaining. Perhaps realizing that they haven’t cast that many interesting models in the last few years, the producers have turned to torture, trying to make them intriguing by abusing them. It’s not that clever a plan.

DVD Review: ‘Tamara Drewe’ Charms, Exasperates in Equal Measure

Tamara Drewe DVD

CHICAGO – A simple glance at the trailer and poster for “Tamara Drewe” would lead one to assume that the film was a showcase for the largely untapped abilities of Gemma Arterton. At age 25, she’s already been wasted in three regrettable Hollywood blockbusters, emerging as little more than a low-rent Rachel Weisz. Her strong work in British productions like “The Disappearance of Alice Creed” suggests that she may merely be miscast.

Exclusive Portrait: Figure Skater Johnny Weir For New Book ‘Welcome to My World’

Johnny Weir by Joe Arce

CHICAGO – Johnny Weir is the showiest celebrity in the showiest sport ever concocted: figure skating. Last month, he made an appearance in Chicago at Borders on State Street for his new book “Welcome to My World”. HollywoodChicago.com got these exclusive photos by Joe Arce on Weir’s tour bus.

TV Review: ‘Shedding For the Wedding’ Turns Weight Loss Into Torture

CHICAGO – As mash-ups take off in the music world, it was only a matter of time before reality TV joined the party, taking two concepts that worked on their own and smashing them together in a fit of childlike glee. What do you get when you cross “The Biggest Loser” and “Bridezillas”?

Blu-Ray Review: ‘All the President’s Men,’ ‘Network’ Hold Up After 35 Years

All the President's Men

CHICAGO – As drama circulates around this weekend’s Oscar awards and people question what winners will hold up over the years, it makes sense to look back 35 years to two Best Picture nominees from 1976, a pair of critical darlings (not unlike “The Social Network”) beat out by a popular favorite (“Rocky”) — “All the President’s Men” and “Network.” Both films have recently been released on Blu-ray in great editions for film collectors everywhere.

TV News: Kiefer Sutherland Says ‘24’ Movie is Still in the Works

24 Redemption

CHICAGO – When FOX’s “24” ended, promises were made about a big-screen adventure for Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer but that project has failed to get off the ground and the star recently signed to a new TV project called “Touch,” according to TVGuide.com. Worry not “24” fans. He claims that the dream is not yet dead.

Video Game Review: ‘Killzone 3’ Delivers Multi-Faceted Entertainment Assault

CHICAGO – If you’re looking for subtlety, don’t go anywhere near the incredibly intense and borderline chaotic “Killzone 3,” a remarkably accomplished game that offers an impressive single-player campaign, deep multi-player action, and the next step in motion control in modern shooters.

Video Game Review: ‘You Don’t Know Jack’ a Witty Rival to ‘Guitar Hero’ Party Games

CHICAGO – Millions of players remember the worldwide phenomenon that is the witty and cheeky “You Don’t Know Jack” trivia game as a blast from their past.

Blu-Ray Review: Misguided ‘Life As We Know It’ With Katherine Heigl

Life As We Know It

CHICAGO – I recently made a reference to Katherine Heigl being the symbol of the modern decline of the romantic comedy and was reminded that she’s done good work on “Grey’s Anatomy” and was actually quite good in “Knocked Up.” Then why has she made such horrible films since then? Why have we had to suffer through “27 Dresses,” “The Ugly Truth,” “Killers,” and, now, “Life As We Know It,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD and a film that doesn’t break her downward slide even if it does slow it a bit.

Film News: Lindsay Lohan Plans Move From Courtroom Back to Movies

Lindsay Lohan

CHICAGO – Does anyone remember when Lindsay Lohan made headlines for film roles instead of legal troubles? It seems like LiLo would like to go back to those days as she’s reportedly eyeing a new role in a big screen drama according to Radar Online.

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Waiting For Superman’ Presents Bleak Picture of Public Education

Waiting For Superman

CHICAGO – Davis Guggenheim was crowned one of the Kings of the new documentary movement when his “An Inconvenient Truth” won the Oscar for its category but the follow-up, a scathing look at the public education system, failed to make the cut after a wave of controversy hit the film like a melting glacier. How much of the drama surrounding “Superman” — some of which went as far as to suggest that facts in the film were wrong and that case studies of children were faked — was deserved and how much was blown out of proportion? Rent or buy the film, now on DVD and Blu-ray, and decide for yourself.

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  • Manhunt

    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+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

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