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—>
December 2011
Blu-ray Review: New HD Edition of Epic ‘Tora! Tora! Tora!’
Submitted by BrianTT on December 21, 2011 - 3:46pmCHICAGO – When I was younger, I considered the blockbuster flop “Tora! Tora! Tora!” pretty boring. Critics over the years and friends have remembered the film more fondly than when it was released and therefore made me feel like perhaps a re-appreciation was in order. Nope. It’s still boring. And now it’s boring in stunning HD!
Video Game Review: Amazing ‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ is Gaming Bliss For All Players
Submitted by BrianTT on December 21, 2011 - 3:34pmCHICAGO – “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” passes the ultimate test of the best role-playing games — entertaining tedium. RPG fans have to be willing to spend hours grinding away to upgrade their character or sometimes just trying to get from point A to point B. There’s a fine line between repetition that feels worthwhile and that which feels boring. Even doing the most mundane tasks in “Skyrim,” one knows they’re playing a near-miracle of a game, one of the best RPGs of all time.
Blu-ray Review: Risque, Delightful Comedy ‘Design For Living’ From Criterion
Submitted by BrianTT on December 21, 2011 - 12:20pmCHICAGO – From the very first scene, a first-silent exchange in which a beautiful woman enters a train car to see two handsome men sleeping across from her and chooses to draw them on her sketch pad before falling asleep and waking up to flirt with both of them outright, “Design For Living” is a romantic comedy masterpiece. I’m stunned to admit that I had never seen the Ernst Lubitsch risque joy but now I consider it one of my favorite Criterion editions. The movie is laugh-out-loud funny with three stars at the peak of their skills — charming, engaging, enjoyable. I’ve been doing this long enough that it’s increasingly rare to see a classic film for the first time that floors me like “Design For Living.” It’s stellar.
Blu-ray Review: Fred Cavayé’s ‘Point Blank’ Delivers Non-Stop Suspense
Submitted by mattmovieman on December 21, 2011 - 8:22amCHICAGO – Excluding its rather unnecessary epilogue, Fred Cavayé’s latest thriller, “Point Blank,” clocks in around one hour and fifteen minutes. It’s a fast paced film, but it oddly never feels rushed. All of the set-pieces and dramatic revelations are present and executed to perfection. What’s lacking here is the extra padding so often found in bloated Hollywood blockbusters.
Film News: First Trailer Released For Peter Jackson’s ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’
Submitted by TimBMartens on December 21, 2011 - 1:57amCHICAGO – The exciting trailers for next year’s blockbusters just keep coming. Only a few days after “The Dark Knight Rises” had its first full length trailer released, Peter Jackson’s long awaited prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy finally has a trailer.
Blu-ray Review: Underappreciated ‘Margin Call’ Deserves Larger Audience
Submitted by BrianTT on December 20, 2011 - 6:31pmCHICAGO – J.C. Chandor’s CFCA-nominated “Margin Call” is the kind of film that makes me concerned about the lack of mainstream audience for adult drama. There’s no reason at all that this excellent drama with several major actors shouldn’t have found a much-larger audience. Lionsgate needs to go back to the drawing board and figure out what’s going on with their marketing and promotions since it’s total nonsense that a critically-acclaimed work like this and their even-better “Warrior” both flopped at the box office. “Warrior” was at least given a chance. “Margin Call” never went beyond 199 screens. So you probably haven’t seen it. You should.
Film Review: Spielberg’s Disappointing ‘The Adventures of Tintin’
Submitted by BrianTT on December 20, 2011 - 5:08pmCHICAGO – Being a huge Steven Spielberg fan and a pretty big aficionado of Peter Jackson (who produced) as well, I was pretty psyched to see what these two undeniable geniuses could do in the world of motion-capture animation with their collaboration on the adaptation of the hit Herge cartoon “The Adventures of Tintin.”
Steven Spielberg’s Disappointing ‘The Adventures of Tintin’
Submitted by BrianTT on December 20, 2011 - 4:57pm![]() Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Being a huge Steven Spielberg fan and a pretty big aficionado of Peter Jackson (who produced) as well, I was pretty psyched to see what these two undeniable geniuses could do in the world of motion-capture animation with their collaboration on the adaptation of the hit Herge cartoon “The Adventures of Tintin.” That’s why it hurts me to say that, excepting a few stand-out action scenes, this is a shockingly dull affair, something that lulled me to sleep far more often than it inspired my imagination to life.
Film News: Sundance Film Festival USA to Play at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre
Submitted by TimBMartens on December 20, 2011 - 3:57pmCHICAGO – A little piece of Sundance is coming to Chicago for the third year in a row. The Sundance Film Festival USA is a one day tour of films in different cities across America that brings one of the biggest film festivals of the year even closer to the rest of us.
TV News: HBO Renews ‘Enlightened,’ Cancels Three Other Series
Submitted by BrianTT on December 20, 2011 - 2:14pmCHICAGO – HBO has such a limited amount of series and so many critical darlings that when they announce a renewal or a cancellation it carries more weight than most networks. They announced four today with no major surprises as we all expected that Golden Globe-nominated “Enlightened” would return for a second season and even fans of “Hung,” “Bored to Death,” and “How to Make It in America” could have guessed that those series were headed in the other direction.
Blu-ray Review: Fans Should Flip For ‘Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition’
Submitted by BrianTT on December 20, 2011 - 1:11pmCHICAGO – With David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” hitting theaters today, there seems to be no better time to revisit the Swedish trilogy that set arthouses on fire last year and appreciate these films from a new angle. Music Box Films recently released a lavish Blu-ray box set with extended editions of all three films along with a complete disc of bonus material. The set includes two hours of footage, detailed material from the books that fans of the bestselling trilogy probably longed for when they first saw them. Now, your vision of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist can be more complete.
Video Game Review: ‘Sonic Generations’ Speeds Past Some Significant Flaws
Submitted by BrianTT on December 20, 2011 - 12:09pmCHICAGO – Like a lot of video game critics my age, the original Sega Genesis “Sonic the Hedgehog” games hold a special place in my heart and my gaming history. Nearly as much as the adventures of Mario and Link, the time I spent with that speedy blue hedgehog impacted the way I would judge games like it forever. I was woefully addicted to “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.”
Film Feature: The 10 Best Films of 2011
Submitted by BrianTT on December 20, 2011 - 11:12amCHICAGO – We could tell, very early on, that 2011 would be a stellar year for film. As the year opened, great genre product like “Source Code,” “Hanna,” and “The Adjustment Bureau” entertained viewers and critics alike, while art houses unspooled gems like “Certified Copy” and “Meek’s Cutoff.”
Blu-ray Review: ‘The Smurfs’ Inspires Feelings of Intense Unhappiness
Submitted by mattmovieman on December 20, 2011 - 8:24amCHICAGO – Here is an alleged family film made with all the heart and invention of a cynical business deal. Not a single person involved in the production appears to have any concept of what constitutes quality family entertainment. It’s essentially 103 minutes of product placement, with the biggest product being the Smurfs. There’s also room for Rock Band, Google, M&Ms, the Blue Man Group and every single business located on Times Square.
Film Review: ‘The Artist’ is Magical Ode to Old Hollywood
Submitted by BrianTT on December 19, 2011 - 4:17pmCHICAGO – “The Artist” is the kind of film for which a critic feels an added responsibility. The fact is that I know that a large number of readers won’t go anywhere near a movie that is described as “a black & white ode to silent films.” Eek. Sounds like torture.
‘The Artist’ is Magical Ode to Old Hollywood
Submitted by BrianTT on December 19, 2011 - 4:11pm![]() Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “The Artist” is the kind of film for which a critic feels an added responsibility. The fact is that I know that a large number of readers won’t go anywhere near a movie that is described as “a black & white ode to silent films.” Eek. Sounds like torture. And yet, I also know for a fact that a vast majority of those same readers would LOVE “The Artist.” This is a stellar piece of filmmaking, one of the best of the year. Jump on the bandwagon early for what will surely be one of the major players of the upcoming awards season.
Film News: New ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Trailer Released
Submitted by TimBMartens on December 19, 2011 - 3:00pmCHICAGO – Holy exploding football field Batman! The new trailer for “The Dark Knight Rises” has officially been released from Warner Bros., and let’s just say there is a lot to look at. Unlike the teaser trailer that premiered before Harry Potter last summer, this new trailer gives us a full look at the cast of characters and some of the unbelievable sequences Christopher Nolan has ready for us in his third and final Batman film.
Blu-ray Review: Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Lady Vanishes’ Gets Criterion Upgrade
Submitted by BrianTT on December 19, 2011 - 12:27pmCHICAGO – Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Lady Vanishes” isn’t one of his most heralded films. You don’t hear it mentioned on most lists of the best works of arguably the most influential director who ever lived. And yet it was the third film chosen for The Criterion Collection and has now been given the upgrade and joined the esteemed Blu-ray ranks of the most important collection in the history of home entertainment. If you’re unfamiliar with this witty, delightful gem of a thriller, there’s no other way to experience it for the first time. And if you’re a fan of Hitchcock’s more famous films, do yourself a favor by checking out one of his earliest.
Film News: Terrence Malick’s ‘The Tree of Life’ Wins Four 2011 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Submitted by BrianTT on December 19, 2011 - 8:04amCHICAGO – Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” led the way for film in the eyes of the Chicago Film Critics Association, as they have dubbed it the Best Picture of 2011. Malick also took Best Director for his long-delayed labor of love, while the CFCA also chose the cinematography and the work by Jessica Chastain as the Best Supporting Actress work of the year. “Drive” and “Martha Marcy May Marlene” came in second with two wins a piece.
Film News: ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ Rules Weekend Box Office
Submitted by TimBMartens on December 18, 2011 - 9:06pmCHICAGO – In a weekend box office that had a little more life than the previous weekend, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” reigned supreme. The detective thriller starring Robert Downey Jr. made an estimated $40 million in its opening three days.
Interview: ‘Young Adult’ Director Jason Reitman on Open-Ended, Non-Message Directing
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 18, 2011 - 4:58pmCHICAGO – Instead of trying to fill giant shoes in the shadows of his legendary filmmaker father Ivan Reitman (“Ghostbusters”), Jason Reitman has been successfully blazing his own path of films without message that are designed to incite your thoughts and question your actions.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 3 CD, DVD Combo Packs to Slash’s First Live Solo Album ‘Made in Stoke 24/7/11’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 17, 2011 - 2:49pmCHICAGO – In our latest live solo album edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Music, we have 3 special-edition CD and DVD combo packs up for grabs for Slash’s first-ever live solo album “Made in Stoke 24/7/11” from the iconic, Grammy-winning rock guitarist and songwriter!
HollywoodChicago.com Halfoff: $5 (50% Off) For Double Feature at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 16, 2011 - 10:09pmCHICAGO – Exclusive! HollywoodChicago.com has negotiated for our readers an alternative Christmas HollywoodChicago.com Halfoff in partnership with Chicago’s legendary Music Box Theatre! For just $5 (instead of $10), you can snag a 50% discount for this double film feature: “Edward Scissorhands” and “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”!
Film Review: Robert Downey Jr. Personifies ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 16, 2011 - 5:28pmCHICAGO – The production team of “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” – designers, crew, writers, director and actors – should be proud of the level of respect they have given and embodied in delivering an updated Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Professor Moriarty and the like. They take liberties, of course, but they also make sure that the truth of the characters are always intact.
Robert Downey Jr. Personifies ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 16, 2011 - 5:23pm![]() Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The production team of “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” – designers, crew, writers, director and actors – should be proud of the level of respect they have given and embodied in delivering an updated Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Professor Moriarty and the like. They take liberties, of course, but they also make sure that the truth of the characters are always intact.
Film Review: David Cronenberg’s ‘A Dangerous Method’ Needed More Risk
Submitted by BrianTT on December 16, 2011 - 3:11pm![]() Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There are glimpses of actual danger in David Cronenberg’s divisive “A Dangerous Method” with Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen, and Keira Knightley, and the film has a lingering power as it’s easy to roll around your brain and contemplate its themes, but I wanted a bit more actual risk to the filmmaking. Easily the masterful director’s most straightforward work in some time (possibly ever), this is a worthwhile piece that nonetheless disappoints in the context of the rest of his filmography.
David Cronenberg’s ‘A Dangerous Method’ Needed More Risk
Submitted by BrianTT on December 16, 2011 - 3:07pm![]() Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There are glimpses of actual danger in David Cronenberg’s divisive “A Dangerous Method” with Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen, and Keira Knightley, and the film has a lingering power as it’s easy to roll around your brain and contemplate its themes, but I wanted a bit more actual risk to the filmmaking. Easily the masterful director’s most straightforward work in some time (possibly ever), this is a worthwhile piece that nonetheless disappoints in the context of the rest of his filmography.
Video Game News: Rockstar Contest Could Make You a Max Payne Gangster
Submitted by TimBMartens on December 16, 2011 - 1:41pmCHICAGO – Rockstar Games has given fans of the Max Payne series everywhere a chance to be a part of the game more than ever. A Twitter contest created by the video game company will pick out eight lucky fans to have their likeness rendered as eight gangsters in the multiplayer version of “Max Payne 3.”
Blu-ray Review: ‘The Art of Getting By’ Sleepwalks Through Coming-of-Age Clichés
Submitted by mattmovieman on December 16, 2011 - 8:25amCHICAGO – Poor George Zinavoy. He’s been cursed with striking good looks, remarkable artistic talent, a dedicated mentor and a gorgeous woman who clearly desires to have sex with him. Thankfully, nothing appears to have gotten in the way of his stubborn pessimism, comfortable apathy and belief in the meaningless of existence. How can George be expected to care about his homework when he’s too busy contemplating his mortality?
Film News: Terrence Malick’s ‘The Tree of Life’ Leads 2011 Chicago Film Critics Association Nominees
Submitted by BrianTT on December 16, 2011 - 8:03amCHICAGO – It may have had a controversial journey to the big screen, but the Chicago Film Critics Association thought that Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” was worth the wait, nominating it today for a leading seven awards, including Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Director, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, and Promising Performer (Hunter McCracken).