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—>
November 2011
‘The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch’ is Cliché Drowned in French Style
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2011 - 1:53pmRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – From what I understand, the name Largo Winch is a household one in Europe. While it may mean nothing here, a French spy thriller with a name like “The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch,” based on a European comic book, might sound like the perfect alternative for arthouse movie goers looking for something different this holiday weekend. Sadly, from the very beginning, “Largo Winch” feels like nothing different at all.
Slideshow: 17-Image Gallery For ‘The Muppets’ With Jason Segel
Submitted by mattmovieman on November 23, 2011 - 11:56amCHICAGO – This 17-image slideshow contains official press images for the Nov. 23, 2011 release of Disney’s “The Muppets,” directed by James Bobin (“The Flight of the Conchords”) and co-written by “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” collaborators Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller. The cast features Segel, Amy Adams and Chris Cooper alongside Muppet stars Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and newcomer Walter.
Film Review: Michelle Williams is Luminous in ‘My Week With Marilyn’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 23, 2011 - 9:59amCHICAGO – Bringing the popular culture past back to life in a movie is always a tricky proposition. No matter what, there are always inevitable comparisons to the real thing.
Michelle Williams is Luminous in ‘My Week With Marilyn’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 23, 2011 - 9:53amRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Bringing the popular culture past back to life in a movie is always a tricky proposition. No matter what, there are always inevitable comparisons to the real thing. They don’t come any more really famous than Marilyn Monroe, and Michelle Williams takes on a portrayal that exemplifies, honors and humanizes the iconic star in “My Week with Marilyn.”
Video Game Review: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’ Stuns With Intense, Refined Action
Submitted by BrianTT on November 22, 2011 - 7:10pmCHICAGO – By now, millions of players have screamed at their television as a screen popped up to reveal how some jerk got the jump on them and damaged their ratio of deaths to kills. And they’ve loved every minute of it. Such is the world of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” a place built around pain.
Blu-ray Review: Holiday Releases of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Sequels
Submitted by BrianTT on November 22, 2011 - 6:56pmCHICAGO – It’s been twenty years since “Beauty and the Beast” truly changed the animation landscape, bringing even more esteem to the Disney logo after the company’s comeback with “The Little Mermaid” by earning the first nomination for Best Picture for an animated film. The movie became a franchise, spawning toys, games, and even a hit musical. It also birthed a pair of straight-to-video quasi-sequels, both of which have been re-released just in time for families shopping on Black Friday. Add “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” and “Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World” to your shopping list.
DVD Review: Special Edition of BBC’s Original ‘The Office’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 22, 2011 - 6:52pmCHICAGO – I can still vividly remember when it was announced that NBC was to air a remake of the incredible British series “The Office.” Those of us familiar with the original thought it was a VERY bad idea. A guy from “The Daily Show” filling the shoes of Ricky Gervais? Now it’s safe to say, the current season excepted, that the remake has eclipsed the original. It leads me to wonder if there isn’t a whole generation now that doesn’t even know the NBC version is a remake. School them with “The Office: Special Edition,” now available for discerning Black Friday shoppers everywhere.
Film Review: ‘The Muppets’ is Hilarious, Joyful Entertainment
Submitted by BrianTT on November 22, 2011 - 11:21amCHICAGO – The Muppets stand on such a pedestal for an entire generation that there was an understandable amount of trepidation when it was announced that Jason Segel and Disney were moving forward with a reboot. How could it possibly live up to our expectations?
‘The Muppets’ is Hilarious, Joyful Entertainment
Submitted by BrianTT on November 22, 2011 - 11:17amRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The Muppets stand on such a pedestal for an entire generation that there was an understandable amount of trepidation when it was announced that Jason Segel and Disney were moving forward with a reboot. How could it possibly live up to our expectations? Would they turn Kermit, Fozzie, and Miss Piggy into commercial commodities like “The Smurfs” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks”?
Video Game Review: ‘Super Mario 3D Land’ is Best Nintendo 3DS Title
Submitted by BrianTT on November 21, 2011 - 11:12pmCHICAGO – Nintendo has arguably received more negative press than at any other time in their existence regarding the lack of must-own titles for their newest product, the Nintendo 3DS. Why upgrade to 3D if there are no games that demand it? Every single console has been driven by the software available for it.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 3 Deluxe CDs to Toby Keith’s New Country Album ‘Clancy’s Tavern’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 21, 2011 - 7:32pmCHICAGO – In our latest new music album edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Music, we have 3 deluxe CDs up for grabs for super hit country artist Toby Keith’s newest album “Clancy’s Tavern”!
Interview: Director Simon Curtis Realizes ‘My Week With Marilyn’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 21, 2011 - 5:47pmCHICAGO – Marilyn Monroe will never go away. The iconic actress of a long-gone era is the subject of a new film, “My Week with Marilyn,” directed by Simon Curtis. Ms. Monroe is portrayed during a in collaboration with Sir Lawrence Olivier, and their characters are played with sublime grace by Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Being Human: The Complete First Season’ Defies Rules of TV Remakes
Submitted by BrianTT on November 21, 2011 - 12:33pmCHICAGO – Remakes/reboots of popular television shows almost never work. Ask the few viewers of “Charlie’s Angels,” “Knight Rider,” or “Bionic Woman.” And it seemed like a particularly awful idea to remake a hit British show that most people with cable access to BBC America would have seen in the very recent past. How could a new version of “Being Human” on Syfy possibly justify its existence with the original version still producing new episodes?
Interview: Director Michel Hazanavicius Becomes ‘The Artist’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 21, 2011 - 11:50amCHICAGO – The sheer craft of the actor’s expression is what drove the early “silent” film industry, before syncing up the “talking.” Director Michel Hazanavicius has a new film opening called “The Artist,” in which he explores the expression of early moviemaking, during the era of its transition to talking, and it is rendered as a silent film.
Blu-ray Review: Christopher Plummer Brings Gravity to ‘Beginners’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 21, 2011 - 10:37amCHICAGO – Mike Mills’ “Beginners” is a deeply personal piece, a drama about how one man’s choice to end his life in love and happiness impacted his son’s previously-stunted attempts at romance. It’s the kind of story that would make for great fiction but makes for merely average cinema, in no small part due to the fact that so much of the progression of its central character is internal. A stellar supporting turn by living legend Christopher Plummer helps to ground the piece, but the flawed script keeps the overall project from truly graduating.
Film News: ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1’ Dominates Box Office
Submitted by TimBMartens on November 20, 2011 - 11:33pmCHICAGO – No surprise here: “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” dominated the box office this weekend and took home the number one spot. The fourth film in the hit vampire/teenage love franchise brought in an estimated $139.5 million in its opening three days.
Video Game Review: ‘NCIS’ For Hardcore Fans of CBS Hit Only
Submitted by BrianTT on November 19, 2011 - 5:46pmCHICAGO – Everything immensely popular eventually falls victim to an awkward tie-in. There are graveyards of fast food toys related to blockbuster hits that never should have existed (a fact brilliantly parodied in the upcoming “Toy Story” short in front of “The Muppets”).
Film Review: ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1’ Hardly Even Bewitches Twi-Hards
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 18, 2011 - 7:16pmCHICAGO – The bloated franchise’s worst film without question, the fourth “Twilight” popcorn flick is a futile exercise on the disappointment of anti-climactic waiting.
TV News: ‘Cougar Town,’ ‘Pan Am’ Missing From ABC Mid-Season Schedule
Submitted by BrianTT on November 18, 2011 - 7:01pmCHICAGO – Fans of “Pan Am,” “Man Up!,” and “Cougar Town” better be sitting down. None are on ABC’s mid-season schedule, announced today. It’s unclear for sure what the heck is going on with “Cougar Town,” a show that was announced as returning mid-season months ago, but one hopes it will still return in the spring. Stay tuned for further updates. The fact that the sliding “Pan Am” and “Man Up!” appear less and less likely to make it through their first seasons should come as a surprise to no one.
‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1’ Hardly Even Bewitches Twi-Hards
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 18, 2011 - 6:43pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The bloated franchise’s worst film without question, the fourth “Twilight” popcorn flick is a futile exercise on the disappointment of anti-climactic waiting. Waiting for something more. Waiting for something bigger. For 117 minutes, you’re waiting – for something – but just not ever getting it. It doesn’t sparkle or shine. It flickers, and then disappointingly dies.
TV News: ‘Dexter’ Gets Order For Two More Seasons
Submitted by TimBMartens on November 18, 2011 - 2:34pmCHICAGO – After almost six seasons of avenging murders from everyone’s favorite Miami Metro blood specialist/serial killer, “Dexter” has been renewed for two more seasons. The hit Showtime drama will start production on season seven next year in Los Angeles.
Film Review: Fate Doesn’t Fail Them Now in ‘Happy Feet Two’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 18, 2011 - 11:11amCHICAGO – Dancing animated penguins, a tradition dating back to Disney’s “Mary Poppins” and brought to further life in the first “Happy Feet” movie, finds more stepping pep in “Happy Feet Two.” Robin Williams and Elijah Wood return to lend their vocal talents in this enjoyable sequel.
Fate Doesn’t Fail Them Now in ‘Happy Feet Two’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 18, 2011 - 11:07amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Dancing animated penguins, a tradition dating back to Disney’s “Mary Poppins” and brought to further life in the first “Happy Feet” movie, finds more stepping pep in “Happy Feet Two.” Robin Williams and Elijah Wood return to lend their vocal talents in this enjoyable sequel.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Bellflower’ Tries to Set Heartbreak on Fire
Submitted by BrianTT on November 17, 2011 - 8:19pmCHICAGO – “Bellflower” is another indie drama about romance gone horribly awry. And yet it’s also not “another” anything. With unique style choices and competing streaks of nihilism, romantic love, and misogyny, star/writer/director Evan Glodell’s debut made waves in certain circles and now comes to Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of one of the most impressive home release studios on the market, Oscilloscope. The film is such a dark slice of work that it will only appeal to a certain audience but at least Oscilloscope treats the fans of this likely cult classic well.
Blu-ray Review: Hefty Set For Fan Favorite ‘Farscape: The Complete Series’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 17, 2011 - 8:14pmCHICAGO – Hardcore fans will know why they decided to release a box set of “Farscape: The Complete Series” in November 2011. The fan favorite was created by The Jim Henson Company and there just happens to be a little Disney movie coming out next week that hopes to return Kermit, Fozzie, and the rest of the gang to international prominence yet again. What about Crichton, Aeryn Sun, and Ka D’Argo? In all seriousness, this unusual tie-in to “The Muppets” may not appeal to many fans of the sure-to-be blockbuster but it will hit its target audience like a freight train. With hours of special features and remastered transfers, it’s a great HD set.
Celebrity News: Demi Moore Files For Divorce From Ashton Kutcher
Submitted by TimBMartens on November 17, 2011 - 6:38pmCHICAGO – After a few weeks of rumors that indicated the marriage between Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher was coming to an end, papers have been filed officially ending the relationship. Demi Moore (49) filed for divorce from her husband of six years, Ashton Kutcher (33), this afternoon.
Video Game News: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’ Shatters Five-Day Sales Record
Submitted by TimBMartens on November 17, 2011 - 12:09pmCHICAGO – “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” is everything the video game universe predicted: a monster hit. “MW3” is now the highest selling movie, book, or video game of all time in a five day span. No, these numbers are not fake: the game grossed over $775 million in less than a week.
Film Review: George Clooney Stars in Stunning ‘The Descendants’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 17, 2011 - 10:27amCHICAGO – If one looks solely at the central male characters, it can seem remarkably easy to classify Alexander Payne’s movies under the subgenre heading of “mid-life crisis comedies”: Jim McAllister (“Election”), Warren Schmidt (“About Schmidt”), Miles (“Sideways”), and now the memorable protagonist of his stellar new dramedy “The Descendants,” Matt King.
George Clooney Stars in Stunning ‘The Descendants’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 17, 2011 - 10:21amRating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – If one looks solely at the central male characters, it can seem remarkably easy to classify Alexander Payne’s movies under the subgenre heading of “mid-life crisis comedies”: Jim McAllister (“Election”), Warren Schmidt (“About Schmidt”), Miles (“Sideways”), and now the memorable protagonist of his stellar new dramedy “The Descendants,” Matt King.
DVD Review: ‘The Adventures of Tintin: Season One’ Lacks Excitement, Extras
Submitted by mattmovieman on November 17, 2011 - 8:18amCHICAGO – For fans of comic strip legend Georges “Hergé” Rémi’s celebrated investigative reporter and trusty canine sidekick, director Stéphanie Bernasconi’s short-lived TV series from the early ’90s represented the ideal adaptation of the Belgian author’s work. Unlike Belvision’s series of the late ’50s and early ’60s, Bernasconi stuck to the original design, structure and spirit of Rémi’s internationally beloved books.