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+.
July 2011
Film Review: John Carpenter Returns With Mediocre ‘The Ward’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 6, 2011 - 10:20pmCHICAGO – John Carpenter’s “The Ward” would make for a satisfying episode of the now-canceled “Masters of Horror” and might therefore be an interesting rental someday but it doesn’t live up to the pedigree of its once-brilliant director and ultimately disappoints regardless of the name above the title. After a decade away from the big screen, Carpenter proves he still has his legendary skill with tension and the film features a few strong performances but the script is a generic, derivative mess.
John Carpenter Returns With Mediocre ‘The Ward’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 6, 2011 - 10:17pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – John Carpenter’s “The Ward” would make for a satisfying episode of the now-canceled “Masters of Horror” and might therefore be an interesting rental someday but it doesn’t live up to the pedigree of its once-brilliant director and ultimately disappoints regardless of the name above the title.
Blu-Ray Review: Amazing Extended Edition Box Set of ‘The Lord of the Rings’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 6, 2011 - 10:06pmCHICAGO – A few times every year, a box set comes into our office that simply feels beyond review. What is there to say about something as notable as the “Alien Quadrilogy” with its five days worth of special features or the gorgeous set for the “Back to the Future” movies? They’re must-owns that are beyond any minor criticism. Such is also the case with Warner Bros.’ recently-released set for the extended editions of Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” films. If you own a Blu-ray player, it’s incomplete without this box set. It’s that simple.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Chicago Passes to ‘Terri’ With John C. Reilly
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on July 6, 2011 - 4:39pmCHICAGO – In our latest comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Terri” starring John C. Reilly from the producers of “Blue Valentine” and “Half Nelson”!
Video Game Review: Visually Striking ‘Alice: Madness Returns’ Almost Works But Falls Just Short
Submitted by BrianTT on July 6, 2011 - 2:43pmCHICAGO – We’ve all played games that start frustrating but eventually find an engaging rhythm. And we’ve all played games that start off successfully but fall apart over time. Rarely has there ever been a game that straddles that line for more of its playing time than “Alice: Madness Returns.”
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Beastly’ Fails on Every Conceivable Level
Submitted by mattmovieman on July 6, 2011 - 1:20pmCHICAGO – What higher power in Hollywood decided that Alex Pettyfer should be allowed to have a film career? His “Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker” didn’t exactly set the world on fire, nor did “I Am Number Four.” He has the name of a Bond girl and the emotional range of Miley Cyrus. And yet, the dude is still considered bankable, purely because of his good looks. Apparently it’s more important to look like a movie star than to act like one.
Interviews: Star Actresses Tippi Hedren, Stella Stevens, Karen Lynn Gorney
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 6, 2011 - 12:56pmCHICAGO – The Hollywood Celebrities & Memorabilia Show yields many surprise guests, and it is the actresses who often have the most interesting stories. Tippi Hedren (”The Birds”), Stella Stevens (original “The Nutty Professor”) and Karen Lynn Gorney (”Saturday Night Fever”) shared their insights.
Exclusive Portrait: Betty White’s New Book ‘If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won’t)’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 5, 2011 - 9:09pmCHICAGO – It stands to reason that Betty White’s latest sitcom is called “Hot in Cleveland.” The veteran “Golden Girl” has had a hot and unprecedented late career surge, augmented by the Facebook campaign that resulted in her hosting Saturday Night Live in 2010. She was in Chicago recently to promote her new book, “If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won’t).”
Film Feature: Seven Things We Want From ‘Thor 2’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 5, 2011 - 8:33pmCHICAGO – Even though the summer movie season is barely halfway over, it seems clear that, when we reminisce about summer 2011 later this year, one of the biggest surprises of the season will have to be the simple fact that it was possible to make a “Thor” movie that actually works.
Interviews: Hollywood Legends Ernest Borgnine, Bruce Dern
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 5, 2011 - 11:30amCHICAGO – The wonderful bonus of the Hollywood Celebrities & Memorabilia Show is the opportunity to meet the real stars of past film eras. Ernest Borgnine and Bruce Dern were there during the show in March of this year.
Blu-Ray Review: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt in ‘The Adjustment Bureau’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 5, 2011 - 11:21amCHICAGO – “The Adjustment Bureau” was a surprising success in a season full of them (“Hanna,” “Source Code,” “Win Win,” more), earning strong reviews and breaking $100 million worldwide. That may not seem like a blockbuster for Matt Damon but when one considers that this is an existential, sci-fi, noir, romantic action movie, it doesn’t exactly scream obvious financial success. And it’s the kind of film that I suspect will grow in esteem over the years as its fans share it with their friends. A great Blu-ray release with excellent supplemental material doesn’t hurt.
Blu-Ray Review: Criterion Edition of Noir Classic ‘Kiss Me Deadly’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 5, 2011 - 10:37amCHICAGO – Very few movies are as wonderfully weird as “Kiss Me Deadly,” a film that clearly influenced decades of work that would follow from “Blue Velvet” to “The Adjustment Bureau.” Recently released in a beautiful Criterion edition, “Kiss Me Deadly” is a film that history almost forgot but that found its way to the right people who recognized this unique gem as something worth cherishing. It’s a perfect choice for the most important collection of films released on Blu-ray and DVD as it’s a classic less-heralded than some that will now be brought to a wider, adoring audience.
On WGN Radio: HollywoodChicago.com’s Brian Tallerico on Best TV Shows of Summer 2011
Submitted by BrianTT on July 4, 2011 - 2:11pmCHICAGO – Brian Tallerico guests on Bill Moller’s show on WGN-Radio in Chicago on July 2nd, 2011 to take calls about the best Summer 2011 programming, including “The Big C,” “Louie,” “Falling Skies,” “True Blood,” “Breaking Bad,” “Necessary Roughness,” and “Royal Pains.”
Video Game Review: ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ Disappoints
Submitted by BrianTT on July 4, 2011 - 2:02pmCHICAGO – Based on the incredible box office returns, a lot of the people reading this have probably already seen Michael Bay’s divisive “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” It’s understandable that they may want to continue the adrenalin-pumping adventure at home with Activision’s latest game based on the legendary Hasbro toy line. Sadly, as much as the movie pops in 3D, the game is disappointingly flat.
Blu-Ray Review: Criterion Releases ‘Insignificance,’ ‘The Makioka Sisters’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 2, 2011 - 7:00pmCHICAGO – The Criterion Collection is one of the greatest gifts to pure cinema buffs ever perpetuated. Founded in 1984, their mission is to sell “important classic and contemporary films,” and they do just that with there latest Blu-ray releases, Nicolas Roeg’s “Insignificance” and Kon Ichikawa’s “The Makioka Sisters.”
Submit Your Comments For WGN Radio: Your Favorite Shows of Summer 2011
Submitted by BrianTT on July 2, 2011 - 7:27amCHICAGO – Brian Tallerico, content director and TV critic for HollywoodChicago.com, will appear on Bill Moller’s program this Saturday on WGN Radio 720 AM in Chicago. The show plays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every weekend. What are your favorite shows this season?
Film Review: ‘Monte Carlo’ is Cut Above Young-Women-Abroad Films
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 1, 2011 - 6:46pmCHICAGO – Nothing like a summer surprise at the movies to make the season a little more tolerable. Selena Gomez and the ubiquitous Leighton Meester take a sumptuous trip and brings us along in “Monte Carlo.”
‘Monte Carlo’ is Cut Above Young-Women-Abroad Films
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 1, 2011 - 6:39pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Nothing like a summer surprise at the movies to make the season a little more tolerable. Selena Gomez and the ubiquitous Leighton Meester take a sumptuous trip and brings us along in “Monte Carlo.”
Blu-Ray Review: Extended Cut of Controversial ‘Sucker Punch’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 1, 2011 - 12:34pmCHICAGO – We’ve seen a lot of overly stylized films based on video games and comic books but rarely has there been a movie more derivative of other mediums yet not actually based on one than Zack Snyder’s “Sucker Punch,” a movie loathed by dozens of major critics (and defended by our very own Patrick McDonald) and recently released on Blu-ray and DVD in a 17-minute longer extended cut.
Blu-Ray Review: Channing Tatum Fails to Take Flight in ‘The Eagle’
Submitted by mattmovieman on July 1, 2011 - 8:37amCHICAGO – It’s safe to say Kevin Macdonald is a filmmaker more skilled in documentaries (“One Day in September,” “Touching The Void”) than he is in scripted narratives (“The Last King of Scotland,” the forgotten “State of Play” remake). His experience in nonfiction work is certainly reflected in the realism of his production design, but it doesn’t translate to his stories, which often take a shallow approach to real-life subjects.
Film Review: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts Repurpose ‘Larry Crowne’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 1, 2011 - 6:16amCHICAGO – Movie stars need certain types of films to keep their star power safe and audiences expect certain things from them, with limitations, to create summer movie comfort. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts fill the bill in “Larry Crowne.”
Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts Seek to Repurpose ‘Larry Crowne’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 1, 2011 - 6:13am Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Movie stars need certain types of films to keep their star power safe and audiences expect certain things from them, with limitations, to create summer movie comfort. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts fill the bill in “Larry Crowne.”
