CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio review for the doc series “Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose,” about the rise and bitter fall of the major league legend, the MLB’s all-time hits leader, only to be banned from the sport because of gambling. Streaming on MAX and on HBO since July 24th.!—break—>
September 2011
Film News: Preview Night For 2011 Chicago International Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 20, 2011 - 9:14amCHICAGO – The 2011 Chicago International Film Festival kicked off its 47th year with a preview party on September 19th at the Lucky Strike Lounge, within the AMC River East 21 Theaters on Illinois Street, where all the festival screenings will take place. Founder and Artistic Director Michael Kutza introduced staff members and presented notable films to be shown.
On WGN Radio: HollywoodChicago.com’s Brian Tallerico on ‘2 Broke Girls,’ ‘New Girl,’ ‘Prime Suspect,’ More
Submitted by BrianTT on September 19, 2011 - 2:27pmCHICAGO – Brian Tallerico appears on Bill Moller’s program on Saturday, September 17th, 2011 to review “2 Broke Girls,” “New Girl,” “Person of Interest,” “A Gifted Man,” “Prime Suspect,” and more.
Blu-Ray Review: Brilliant Subtlety of Existential, Striking ‘Meek’s Cutoff’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 19, 2011 - 1:54pmCHICAGO – Kelly Reichardt’s “Meek’s Cutoff” is certainly not a film for everyone. It features long, drawn-out scenes that are not only free of dialogue but basically just feature sorrowful people walking to the rhythm of the wagon wheel and the tune of the blowing wind. For the right viewers, these passages will frustrate but if you give yourself over to this remarkable film, they will build tension inside of you in a unique, discomfiting way.
TV Review: Stana Katic, Nathan Fillion Continue to Carry ‘Castle’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 19, 2011 - 1:47pmCHICAGO – The new season of ABC’s hit “Castle” picks up right where the stunning cliffhanger of season three left off. Kate (Stana Katic) has been shot. Castle (Nathan Fillion) has confessed his love for her in the emotion of the moment. And we race with everyone to the hospital as they try to save Kate’s life.
TV Review: All Style, Little Substance in NBC’s ‘The Playboy Club’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 19, 2011 - 12:12pmCHICAGO – In the four years since the pilot of “Mad Men,” there has been an obligatory and opportunistic surge of ‘60s-themed media, capitalizing on the rising nostalgia for the era of civil rights marches and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?,’ ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 19, 2011 - 12:06pmCHICAGO – Touchstone Pictures have reached into the vault and pulled out two of their modest hits, a pair of films with little in common other than studio and that they’re both around ten years old. For teenagers, these films will be new again and the fact is that both have been a bit forgotten by history. “The Count of Monte Cristo” certainly has been more so than the Coen brothers’ “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” but you may want to revisit both now that they’re available in HD.
TV Review: ‘2 Broke Girls’ Poised to Make a Lot of Money For CBS
Submitted by BrianTT on September 19, 2011 - 9:04amCHICAGO – CBS’s “2 Broke Girls” doesn’t reinvent the formula but it certainly provides laughs within it. The new program most likely to be a consistent hit on any broadcast network makes a perfect fit on Monday nights and should work for audiences loyal to “How I Met Your Mother” and “Two and a Half Men.”
Film Review: ‘Flood Streets’ Paints Enlightening Portrait of New Orleans
Submitted by mattmovieman on September 19, 2011 - 7:31amCHICAGO – With their town ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and their neighborhood under government-ordered quarantine, one New Orleans couple decided to combine their artistic strengths into one cohesive project. Their goal was to portray their beloved city in a way that was strikingly different from the representation popularized by HBO’s “Treme.”
‘Flood Streets’ Paints Enlightening Portrait of New Orleans
Submitted by mattmovieman on September 19, 2011 - 7:20am![]() Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – With their town ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and their neighborhood under government-ordered quarantine, one New Orleans couple decided to combine their artistic strengths into one cohesive project. Their goal was to portray their beloved city in a way that was strikingly different from the representation popularized by HBO’s “Treme.”
TV News: ‘Mad Men,’ ‘Modern Family’ Lead 2011 Emmy Award Winners
Submitted by BrianTT on September 18, 2011 - 9:56pmCHICAGO – AMC’s “Mad Men” and “Modern Family” were the big winners for the 63rd Annual Emmy Awards and “Game of Thrones,” “Justified,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Mildred Pierce,” and “Mike & Molly” also won acting awards.
Film News: ‘The Lion King 3D’ Wins Box-Office Crown
Submitted by TimBMartens on September 18, 2011 - 11:57amCHICAGO – Somebody better get Doc Brown on the phone because I think we have gone back to 1994. For the first time in 17 years, “The Lion King” is the title that won the weekend box office. The new release, which, of course, must be in 3D, raked in enough dough to beat out last week’s winner “Contagion” as well as the new releases “Drive,” “Straw Dogs” and “I Don’t Know How She Does It”.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 5 ‘Bridesmaids’ DVDs With Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on September 17, 2011 - 8:34pmCHICAGO – In our latest comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, we have 5 DVDs up for grabs in advance of the highly anticipated home entertainment release of the “R”-rated comedy “Bridesmaids” starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Rose Byrne!
Film Review: Following a Perfect 1994 Release, ‘The Lion King 3D’ a Money-Hungry, Manipulative Exploitation
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on September 17, 2011 - 6:30pmCHICAGO – While “The Lion King” is one of the best Disney movies of all time, “The Lion King 3D” is a manipulative exploitation to bring paying parents back with their kids merely through the sexiness of today’s 3D fad.
Following a Perfect 1994 Release, ‘The Lion King 3D’ a Money-Hungry, Manipulative Exploitation
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on September 17, 2011 - 5:59pm![]() Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – While “The Lion King” is one of the best Disney movies of all time, “The Lion King 3D” is a manipulative exploitation to bring paying parents back with their kids merely through the sexiness of today’s 3D fad.
Exclusive Portrait: Caroline Kennedy Remembers Her Mother Jacqueline
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 17, 2011 - 3:22pmCHICAGO – This week marked Caroline Kennedy’s release of “Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life With John F. Kennedy”. It’s an eight-CD collection of interviews in 1964 that Caroline’s mother, Jacqueline, made shortly after the assassination of her father, U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
Blu-Ray Review: Superhero Hit ‘Thor’ Serves as Nifty ‘Avengers’ Prequel
Submitted by BrianTT on September 17, 2011 - 2:49pmCHICAGO – This summer saw the release of two movies that were basically just appetizers for next year’s full meal in Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers” — “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Both were surprisingly well-received although both fall short of being considered among the best Marvel movies (“Iron Man,” “X-Men: First Class,” “Spider-Man 2”) in part by virtue of so obviously being set-ups for something yet to come. “Thor” works best when one considers where this franchise will go in “Thor 2” and “The Avengers” but is merely average when judged on its own. It’s a decent movie with a decent Blu-ray release that promises more-than-just-decent material to come.
Blu-Ray Review: Stellar Release For Best Summer Superhero Movie ‘X-Men: First Class’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 17, 2011 - 1:33pmCHICAGO – In many ways, “X-Men: First Class” is the most loyal film yet to the Marvel aesthetic in the way director Matthew Vaughn and the film’s multiple screenwriters capture the tone, spirit, and themes of one of the most legendary comic books of all time. It is a spectacular mix of great performances, well-choreographed action, and cleverly-revised history. It is crowd-pleasing to action fans and yet intellectually complex at the same time. It is what more producers of superhero movies should strive to accomplish and it deserves mention with the best of the genre (“Spider-Man 2,” “X-Men,” and even “The Dark Knight”).
Blu-Ray Review: Steve Carell’s Final Season of ‘The Office’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 17, 2011 - 11:32amCHICAGO – Very few 2011 programs were as hit-and-miss as NBC’s “The Office.” I don’t think anyone involved with the program would argue that it was this sometimes-great comedy’s best year but there were still great moments throughout and Steve Carell’s departure from the program that turned him into a superstar was handled with incredible humor and grace. The season may not have been the show’s best, but it was still one of the better comedies on TV. See for yourself with the seventh season, recently released on Blu-ray and DVD.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 30 Pairs of Chicago Passes to Horror/Comedy ‘Tucker & Dale vs. Evil’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on September 16, 2011 - 5:52pmCHICAGO – In our latest horror/comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” starring Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk and Katrina Bowden!
Film Review: Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 16, 2011 - 4:22pmCHICAGO – She produced and starred in one of the great TV-to-film franchises of the last 15 years. She has made millions in endorsements for the fashion industry. She is married to a prominent celebrity who once played Ferris Bueller. Regarding Sarah Jessica Parker, “I Don’t Know How She Does It.”
Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 16, 2011 - 4:18pm![]() Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – She produced and starred in one of the great TV-to-film franchises of the last 15 years. She has made millions in endorsements for the fashion industry. She is married to a prominent celebrity who once played Ferris Bueller. Regarding Sarah Jessica Parker, “I Don’t Know How She Does It.”
Video Game Review: Poor Execution Leaves ‘Bodycount’ in the Dust
Submitted by BrianTT on September 16, 2011 - 3:16pmCHICAGO – The shooter genre has become not just immensely popular but critically adored as well, making it even more difficult for sub-par fare to pass as viable entertainment. I remember the years following the breakthrough of “Doom II” as a cavalcade of mediocrity disguised as competition. For every great shooter title, there are a handful of near-misses or even complete failures.
Film Review: Family Dynamics Provide Unusual Journey Down ‘Gun Hill Road’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 16, 2011 - 1:11pmCHICAGO – Who you are at birth eventually becomes entangled in where and how you are nurtured throughout your life. Given who you are, did you get the proper care, encouragement and love? Did you get to blossom into the best part of your nature? The new film “Gun Hill Road” explores these questions, filtered through the family, in an odd and poignant way.
Family Dynamics Provide Unusual Journey Down ‘Gun Hill Road’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 16, 2011 - 1:04pm![]() Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Who you are at birth eventually becomes entangled in where and how you are nurtured throughout your life. Given who you are, did you get the proper care, encouragement and love? Did you get to blossom into the best part of your nature? The new film “Gun Hill Road” explores these questions, filtered through the family, in an odd and poignant way.
Film Review: Anarchy, Chaos Suffocate the Dream in ‘Bellflower’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 16, 2011 - 7:11amCHICAGO – A film about the American Dream returned to the sender is released, in its own way and time, through the youth of every generation. “Bellflower” feels like the anarchist statement of the current post college dreamers, stuck in a detached atmosphere with electronic time wasters, material glut and little income opportunity to pay for it all.
Anarchy, Chaos Suffocate the Dream in ‘Bellflower’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 16, 2011 - 7:05am![]() Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – A film about the American Dream returned to the sender is released, in its own way and time, through the youth of every generation. “Bellflower” feels like the anarchist statement of the current post college dreamers, stuck in a detached atmosphere with electronic time wasters, material glut and little income opportunity to pay for it all.
Blu-Ray Review: Ambitious, Remarkable Third Season of ‘Fringe’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 15, 2011 - 8:58pmCHICAGO – There are very few programs as ambitious or refined as “Fringe.” Low ratings have proven that it’s not a show for everyone and I’ll admit to dipping in and out of it myself over the first two seasons, but I was struck by the confidence on display in season three, recently released on Blu-ray and DVD. In many ways, this program is redefining what it takes to stay on network television with low ratings but impressive numbers in other arenas. Check it out and see why.
Film Review: Ryan Gosling Stars in Instant Classic ‘Drive’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 15, 2011 - 7:55pmCHICAGO – Nicholas Winding Refn’s “Drive” is an amazing thriller, a modern examination of heroism filtered through the fairy tale culture of the underbelly of the movie machine that is easily one of the most memorable and effective films of not just this year but the last several.
Ryan Gosling Stars in Instant Classic ‘Drive’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 15, 2011 - 7:49pm![]() Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Nicholas Winding Refn’s “Drive” is an amazing thriller, a modern examination of heroism filtered through the fairy tale culture of the underbelly of the movie machine that is easily one of the most memorable and effective films of not just this year but the last several.
TV Feature: ‘Mad Men,’ ‘Modern Family’ Top 2011 Emmy Predictions
Submitted by BrianTT on September 15, 2011 - 3:10pmCHICAGO – With the Emmy Awards very nearly upon us (Sunday, September 18th, 2011), it seems the right time to take one last look at the Academy’s 2011 nominees before they turn into winners and runner-ups. Who will win? Who should win? And who should have been invited to the party?