CHICAGO – There is no better time to take in a stage play that is based in U.S. history, depicting the battle between fact and religion. The old theater chestnut – first mounted in 1955 – is “Inherit the Wind,” now at the Goodman Theatre, completing it’s short run through October 20th. For tickets and more information, click INHERIT.
August 2011
Interview: Producer Michael Uslan is ‘The Boy Who Loved Batman’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 18, 2011 - 11:10amCHICAGO – Although Producer Michael Uslan seemed to be just another unassuming presence at the Chicago Comic Con, he was mostly likely the most influential cultural influencer there. He was behind bringing The Batman back to the movies, launching the current super hero revival, and has written a book about his relationship to the hero, appropriately entitled “The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir.”
Blu-Ray Review: Disney’s ‘Mars Needs Moms’ Surprises, Delights
Submitted by mattmovieman on August 18, 2011 - 7:35amCHICAGO – Sometimes all a film needs is a bad title to repel audiences. “Mars Needs Moms” is based on the Berkeley Breathed picture book of the same name, which derived its own title from the 1966 film, “Mars Needs Women.” Even as an obscure homage, the title falls flat, and most certainly could’ve been replaced. Yet that’s not the only reason why this woefully overlooked film became one of the biggest box office bombs in history.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Chicago Passes to ‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’ With Katie Holmes
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 17, 2011 - 4:40pmCHICAGO – In our latest horror/thriller edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” starring Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce!
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Cul-de-sac’ From Masterful Director Roman Polanski
Submitted by BrianTT on August 17, 2011 - 3:20pmCHICAGO – Whatever you may think about Roman Polanski as a human being (or a criminal for that matter), it is simply undeniable that he is one of our best living filmmakers. From “Repulsion” to “Chinatown” to “The Pianist” to “The Ghost Writer” — he’s a master of the form, one of my absolute favorite directors of all time. One of his lesser-known works (that would be the best film of many other director’s entire careers but arguably doesn’t even rank top ten for Polanski) is the tense, taut “Cul-de-sac,” given the special edition treatment this week by The Criterion Collection.
Blu-Ray Review: Great Comedy Ensemble in Disappointing ‘Paul’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 17, 2011 - 1:53pmCHICAGO – On paper, “Paul” should easily be one of the best comedies of 2011 to date. The cast is amazing, including two leads who also wrote the scripts for the brilliant “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.” The director is talented. The premise is clever and entertaining. But movies don’t exist in paper. Overall, the talent of the ensemble keep the piece moving but “Paul” is an undeniable disappointment.
Interview: Lone Scherfig Directs Anne Hathaway in ‘One Day’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 17, 2011 - 1:13pmCHICAGO – Director Lone Scherfig has a rare delicate touch when it comes to portraying the subtlety of human relationships in films. After a triumph in 2009 directing Carey Mulligan in “An Education,” Scherfig returns with Anne Hathaway in the new film “One Day.”
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Jumping the Broom’ Stumbles Over Clichés
Submitted by mattmovieman on August 17, 2011 - 8:16amCHICAGO – Salim Akil’s “Jumping the Broom” is the sort of sociological comedy so hell-bent on smothering the audience in a sentimental love-fest that it quickly softens its potentially biting premise. Akil’s background in television (“The Game,” “Girlfriends”) may explain why the film feels like an uneasy melding of sitcom and soap opera clichés. Any time the film threatens to become interesting, it instantly goes into autopilot.
TV News: ‘Sex and the City’ Possibly Returning to Television
Submitted by BrianTT on August 16, 2011 - 4:56pmCHICAGO – Fans that were excited for the possibility of a third “Sex and the City” film may be disappointed at the news the movie will be put on hold. However, the fix to see Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda could still be filled.
Video: Review of Video Games in First 6 Months of 2011
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 16, 2011 - 4:53pmCHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com is pleased to announce we’ve inked a new syndication relationship with the video behemoth Metacafe to bring you compelling, original entertainment videos!
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 3 Windbreakers, Posters For 2011 Sundance Winner ‘Senna’ on Formula One Racing
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 16, 2011 - 3:01pmCHICAGO – In our latest documentary edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 3 prize packs up for grabs for “Senna” about Brazilian Formula One race car champion Ayrton Senna!
Interviews: Alexa Vega, Latest Spy Kids on ‘Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 16, 2011 - 2:13pmCHICAGO – It’s fun espionage time at the movies this week, as “Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D” introduces some new young adventurers to the popular series, Mason Cook and Rowan Blanchard. Former kid Alexa Vega also appears in the film.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Big Lebowski’ Really Ties Your Collection Together
Submitted by BrianTT on August 16, 2011 - 11:29amCHICAGO – Most Coen brother releases on Blu-ray are going to cause a ripple through the film-loving community. Who doesn’t want to own “Fargo,” “Miller’s Crossing,” and even less-beloved films like “The Man Who Wasn’t There” or “The Hudsucker Proxy” in 1080p? Joel and Ethan Coen have long been visually-gifted filmmakers and those gifts shine through brightly in HD. But the release of the massively-adored “The Big Lebowski” in a special Blu-ray edition? Well, that’s more of a wave than a ripple.
Blu-Ray Review: Criterion Updates Influential ‘The Battle of Algiers’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 16, 2011 - 11:10amCHICAGO – Criterion Blu-rays are beautiful enough that when one arrives that’s two discs, you know it’s something special. Very few films have warranted a multi-disc treatment from the most important home video company in history but very few films are as influential or as widely-regarded as “The Battle of Algiers,” the latest work given the upgrade from standard Criterion DVD to Blu-ray.
TV Review: Strong Cast Keeps BBC America’s ‘The Hour’ Fresh
Submitted by BrianTT on August 16, 2011 - 10:15amCHICAGO – BBC America’s “The Hour,” debuting tomorrow night, August 17th, 2011, is a well-produced, well-acted, well-conceived piece that’s just…well. It’s a great piece of drama to use as an example as to how quality television is more than just the sum of its parts.
Film Review: ‘The Big Uneasy’ Unleashes Maddening Flood of Vital Information
Submitted by mattmovieman on August 16, 2011 - 8:02amCHICAGO – Some of the best documentaries are spawned directly from the raw outage of a filmmaker intent on sharing vital truths with the unenlightened public. Every frame is fraught with a sense of urgency that keeps viewers on the edge of their seat much like an engrossing popcorn thriller. Yet great passion alone does not make for great cinema.
‘The Big Uneasy’ Unleashes Maddening Flood of Vital Information
Submitted by mattmovieman on August 16, 2011 - 7:51amRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Some of the best documentaries are spawned directly from the raw outage of a filmmaker intent on sharing vital truths with the unenlightened public. Every frame is fraught with a sense of urgency that keeps viewers on the edge of their seat much like an engrossing popcorn thriller. Yet great passion alone does not make for great cinema.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 Pairs of Chicago Anytime Passes to French Thriller ‘Point Blank’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 15, 2011 - 5:11pmCHICAGO – In our latest French thriller edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 10 admit-two run-of-engagement movie passes up for grabs to the film “Point Blank” from French director Fred Cavayé!
Blu-Ray Review: Spectacular Fifth Season of Showtime’s ‘Dexter’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 15, 2011 - 4:56pmCHICAGO – Showtime’s “Dexter” was in a precarious position in season five after essentially blowing up their own program at the end of season four. Would they jump the shark or keep taking incredible risks? The result is definitely the latter as this turned out to be one of the best seasons of Michael C. Hall’s incredible program and it will be available on Blu-ray and DVD this week.
Film News: ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ Takes Second Box Office Crown
Submitted by BrianTT on August 15, 2011 - 3:02pmCHICAGO – For the second weekend in a row, a rarity in the summer of 2011, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” came in at number one at the box office with $27.8 million. Positive word-of-mouth and a serious lack of viable competition pushed the suprising hit to #1 at the box office for the second weekend in a row.
Interview: Tony Todd Takes You to His ‘Final Destination 5’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 15, 2011 - 2:43pmCHICAGO – “Final Destination 5” may have under-performed a bit this past weekend at the box office but that has nothing to do with the legendary Tony Todd. The horror icon perhaps best-known for playing the title character in “Candyman” but also a major part of the movie and TV landscape for decades breezed through Chicago on the day his new sequel opened.
On WGN Radio: HollywoodChicago.com’s Brian Tallerico on ‘In the Flow,’ ‘The Lying Game,’ ‘The Hour,’ More
Submitted by BrianTT on August 15, 2011 - 9:56amCHICAGO – Brian Tallerico guests on Bill Moller’s show on WGN-AM 720 Radio in Chicago on August 13th, 2011 to talk about upcoming programs including “In the Flow with Affion Crockett,” “The Lying Game,” and “The Hour,” along with recent news developments at ABC, TBS, USA, and CBS.
TV Review: ABC Family’s ‘The Lying Game’ Features Future Star Alexandra Chando
Submitted by BrianTT on August 15, 2011 - 9:43amCHICAGO – ABC Family’s “The Lying Game” is a so-so soap but it’s elevated beyond that by a young lady with the kind of screen presence that virtually announces that she will be a star. There’s nothing you can do or say about it. It’s just going to happen.
Interview: Oscar Nominee Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari Keep Comedy Real in ‘30 Minutes or Less’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 14, 2011 - 11:56pmCHICAGO – Following our low-grade review of the new Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari comedy “30 Minutes or less,” what we find most interesting is why these talented stars think it’s much funnier than it actually is.
TV News: AMC Renews ‘Breaking Bad’ For Fifth, Final Season
Submitted by BrianTT on August 14, 2011 - 8:40pmCHICAGO – AMC just announced that they have come to terms with creator Vince Gilligan to bring his smash hit and Emmy winner “Breaking Bad” back to the network for a 16-episode fifth season, which will also, as has been widely rumored, be the program’s last.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 20 Pairs of Chicago Passes to ‘Fright Night’ With Colin Farrell, Toni Collette
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 14, 2011 - 1:05pmCHICAGO – In our latest comedy/horror edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 20 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “Fright Night” starring Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Imogen Poots and Toni Collette!
Film Review: Rachel Weisz Anchors Melodrama of ‘The Whistleblower’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 12, 2011 - 4:26pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Rachel Weisz elevates the harrowing true story of “The Whistleblower,” a pull-no-punches drama about a disturbing international conspiracy to cover up a sex trafficking ring involving the men tasked with protecting the innocent who turned to exploiting them. This is a graphic, dark, violent piece of drama, as it should be given its subject matter, but it’s the work of one of our best working actresses that truly makes it worth venturing into the darkness.
Rachel Weisz Anchors Melodrama of ‘The Whistleblower’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 12, 2011 - 4:23pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Rachel Weisz elevates the harrowing true story of “The Whistleblower,” a pull-no-punches drama about a disturbing international conspiracy to cover up a sex trafficking ring involving the men tasked with protecting the innocent who turned to exploiting them. This is a graphic, dark, violent piece of drama, as it should be given its subject matter, but it’s the work of one of our best working actresses that truly makes it worth venturing into the darkness.
Film Review: Pop Idolatry Lives in ‘Glee: The 3D Concert Movie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 12, 2011 - 11:24amCHICAGO – Gleeks Unite! You have nothing to fear from “Glee: The 3D Concert Movie,” except the extra fee for those glasses. This film charms through it’s fabulous cast of singers and personalities singing jukebox hits.
Pop Idolatry Lives in ‘Glee: The 3D Concert Movie’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 12, 2011 - 11:18amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Gleeks Unite! You have nothing to fear from “Glee: The 3D Concert Movie,” except the extra fee for those glasses. This film charms through it’s fabulous cast of singers and personalities singing jukebox hits.
Blu-Ray Review: Disney’s ‘The Fox and the Hound’ Deserves Better Release
Submitted by mattmovieman on August 12, 2011 - 9:26amCHICAGO – As far as kiddie tearjerkers go, “The Fox and the Hound” is one of Disney’s finest. It’s not a great film, and certainly not in the same league as the watershed game-changers that came before or the renaissance masterworks that followed. But it is a tender and bittersweet fable with a message of refreshing complexity. At its heart is a friendship that society has deemed unsustainable, and the film doesn’t shy away from its troubling repercussions.