CHICAGO – The Steppenwolf Theatre of Chicago continues to provide different viewpoints on the American stage, and their latest “Little Bear Ridge Road” is no exception. Featuring ensemble member Laurie Metcalf, it’s the resonate story of a family at the crossroads. For tickets/details, click LITTLE BEAR.
January 2012
Gospel According to Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah in ‘Joyful Noise’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 16, 2012 - 12:37pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The old fashioned musical has gotten a boost from the recent popularity of “Glee” and other singing shows. It was inevitably that the marriage of the gospel choir and the movie musical would take place, and writer/director Todd Graff (”Camp”) is the matchmaker in “Joyful Noise.”
Slideshow: 37-Image Gallery of Celebrities at 69th Annual Golden Globes
Submitted by BrianTT on January 16, 2012 - 12:16pmCHICAGO – This 37-image slideshow contains a selection of NBC-provided images from the 69th Annual Golden Globes, which were handed out on January 15th, 2012 on NBC. Celebrities featured include Ricky Gervais, Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Kate Beckinsale, Meryl Streep, Claire Danes, Jean Dujardin, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Emily Blunt, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Madonna, Peter Dinklage, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and many more.
TV Review: J.J. Abrams’ Highly Anticipated ‘Alcatraz’ on FOX Needs Some Work
Submitted by BrianTT on January 16, 2012 - 11:09amCHICAGO – There’s “potential” all over FOX’s highly-anticipated “Alcatraz,” debuting tonight, January 16th, 2012 with two back-to-back episodes. A great cast, strong production pedigree, interesting concept — so why are both of the first two episodes so forgettable? Why is this show more “meh” than amazing?
Film Review: Joe Swanberg’s ‘Marriage Material’ Deftly Observes Young Adulthood
Submitted by mattmovieman on January 16, 2012 - 8:04amCHICAGO – Ever since stumbling upon his 2005 directorial debut, “Kissing on the Mouth,” I’ve been deeply transfixed by the cinema of Chicago filmmaker Joe Swanberg. There’s a startling honesty to his work that is unmatched by many of his peers, as well as a near-obsessive desire to capture the “truth” in his fictional characters. He never shies away from sexual frankness or raw intimacy if they are required to serve the story.
Joe Swanberg’s ‘Marriage Material’ Deftly Observes Young Adulthood
Submitted by mattmovieman on January 16, 2012 - 7:48am Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Ever since stumbling upon his 2005 directorial debut, “Kissing on the Mouth,” I’ve been deeply transfixed by the cinema of Chicago filmmaker Joe Swanberg. There’s a startling honesty to his work that is unmatched by many of his peers, as well as a near-obsessive desire to capture the “truth” in his fictional characters. He never shies away from sexual frankness or raw intimacy if they are required to serve the story.
TV News: AMC Announces Return Dates For ‘Mad Men,’ ‘The Killing’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 15, 2012 - 6:21pmCHICAGO – AMC has finally announced the premiere dates for the fifth season of “Mad Men” and the second season of “The Killing,” while also revealing that the third season of “The Walking Dead,” to air in October 2012, will be three episodes longer (for a total of sixteen).
Film News: ‘Contraband’ Beats ‘Beauty and the Beast 3D’ at Box Office
Submitted by TimBMartens on January 15, 2012 - 3:52pmCHICAGO – In a battle between action/thriller and Disney/animation, Mark Wahlberg’s new film “Contraband” came out on top. Battling all weekend against the 3D re-release of “Beauty and the Beast 3D,” “Contraband” was able to come in at number one after earning an estimated $24.1 million in its first weekend in theaters.
Film News: Live Updates, Results For 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Submitted by TimBMartens on January 15, 2012 - 2:37pmCHICAGO – Welcome to the HollywoodChicago.com coverage of the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards. These awards honor the best in film and TV for 2011 while also allowing host Ricky Gervais to poke fun at all your favorite Hollywood stars.
Interview: Actor, Filmmaker Edward Burns on Guiding ‘Newlyweds’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 14, 2012 - 6:06pmCHICAGO – Edward Burns is a recognizable character actor, having introduced himself to audiences in the mid-1990s with “The Brothers McMullen.” He also is a veteran filmmaker, having written and directed that film, “She’s The One,” “Sidewalks of New York” and the recent “Newlyweds.”
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 35 Pairs of Chicago Passes to ‘The Flowers of War’ With Christian Bale
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 14, 2012 - 5:13pmCHICAGO – In our latest foreign-language edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 35 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the Golden Globe-nominated foreign-language film “The Flowers of War” starring Christian Bale from the director of “Hero”!
Film Review: Mark Wahlberg’s ‘Contraband’ Steals Half Justice From Icelandic Conquest
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 14, 2012 - 3:46pmCHICAGO – One way to craft an unforgettable, undeniably adept film is to make a new one. Hollywood views that as financially risky, though, and it often doesn’t happen without being based on a book with a built-in audience or a film that’s already an international box-office success.
Mark Wahlberg’s ‘Contraband’ Steals Half Justice From Icelandic Conquest
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 14, 2012 - 3:00pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – One way to craft an unforgettable, undeniably adept film is to make a new one. Hollywood views that as financially risky, though, and it often doesn’t happen without being based on a book with a built-in audience or a film that’s already an international box-office success.
TV Review: BBC America Offers More Supernatural Drama With ‘The Fades’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 14, 2012 - 1:37pmCHICAGO – “My only friend is either a lunatic or Heather Langenkamp.” It’s clever lines like that keep BBC’s “The Fades” from becoming yet-another teen supernatural drama (the Brit’s “The Vampire Diaries,” if you will) along with a relative consistency of tone and with some strong performances.
Film Review: Meryl Streep Accentuates Margaret Thatcher in ‘The Iron Lady’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 14, 2012 - 4:12amCHICAGO – It would be a cheap jab to say that “The Iron Lady” is a drag version of “J. Edgar,” and also redundant (hyy-ooh). Meryl Streep takes on the role of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, with a dreamy and vague interpretation of the PM’s life that at times feels like it’s told through the wrong end of a telescope.
Meryl Streep Accentuates Margaret Thatcher in ‘The Iron Lady’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 14, 2012 - 4:00amRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It would be a cheap jab to say that “The Iron Lady” is a drag version of “J. Edgar,” and also redundant (hyy-ooh). Meryl Streep takes on the role of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, with a dreamy and vague interpretation of the PM’s life that at times feels like it’s told through the wrong end of a telescope.
Film Review: ‘Beauty and the Beast 3D’ Brings Magic to New Generation in Unnecessary Dimension
Submitted by BrianTT on January 13, 2012 - 10:49pmCHICAGO – It is a tale as old as time, and a film almost as old as I am. After the success that Disney had bringing “The Lion King” back to theaters this past September, it is no surprise that they have decided to bring four more films back to the theaters, starting with the classic tale “Beauty and the Beast,” which was first released in November of 1991.
‘Beauty and the Beast 3D’ Brings Magic to New Generation in Unnecessary Dimension
Submitted by BrianTT on January 13, 2012 - 10:46pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It is a tale as old as time, and a film almost as old as I am. After the success that Disney had bringing “The Lion King” back to theaters this past September, it is no surprise that they have decided to bring four more films back to the theaters, starting with the classic tale “Beauty and the Beast,” which was first released in November of 1991.
TV News: HBO Announces Dates For ‘Game Change,’ ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Girls,’ ‘Veep’
Submitted by TimBMartens on January 13, 2012 - 3:12pmCHICAGO – Apparently, HBO likes to give its news in bulk. The premium network announced debut dates for a new HBO feature film, the new season of a hit series, and the premiere of two new series to the network.
Film Review: Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz Shine in Roman Polanski’s Surprisingly Average ‘Carnage’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 13, 2012 - 11:31amCHICAGO – Roman Polanski may not seem to be the first choice for a film about culture clashes in New York City but he has notable experience with dramas with only a few characters in a few locations (“Knife in the Water,” “Cul-de-sac,” “Death and the Maiden”).
Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz Shine in Roman Polanski’s Surprisingly Average ‘Carnage’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 13, 2012 - 11:28am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Roman Polanski may not seem to be the first choice for a film about culture clashes in New York City but he has notable experience with dramas with only a few characters in a few locations (“Knife in the Water,” “Cul-de-sac,” “Death and the Maiden”). He knows how to build character tension through interaction – the games people play with words.
TV News: ‘Rob!’ Opens Strong, ‘The Finder’ Goes Missing
Submitted by BrianTT on January 13, 2012 - 10:58amCHICAGO – Thursday nights looked radically different last night with changes on three major networks, including a new line-up on NBC and premieres on CBS and FOX. How’d they do? Well, CBS may have finally found a hit in the post-“The Big Bang Theory” slot, but NBC and FOX are going to have to go back to the drawing board.
Film News: ‘The Artist,’ ‘The Help’ Big Winners at Critics’ Choice Awards
Submitted by TimBMartens on January 13, 2012 - 10:57amCHICAGO – The 17th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards played out last night, and the big winning films of the night were “The Artist” and “The Help.” Winning Best Picture and Best Director, “The Artist” placed itself into the category of serious contender for this year’s Academy Awards, while “The Help” won Best Actress (Viola Davis), Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), and Best Ensemble Cast.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’ With Tom Hanks
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 13, 2012 - 1:31amCHICAGO – In our latest drama edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the highly anticipated new film “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” starring Tom Hanks!
Blu-ray Review: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle in Clever ‘The Guard’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 12, 2012 - 5:01pmCHICAGO – Rarely has a film been more successfully driven by two great actors than John Michael McDonagh’s “The Guard.” The sheer incredible personalities of Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle give two of the most enjoyable performances of the year, bringing to life a clever, unapologetic script from their writer, who is also making a strong directorial debut. “The Guard” fell relatively flat at the box office but it’s the kind of quality comedy that will almost certainly find a big audience on the home market and was recently released on Blu-ray and DVD.
Video Game Review: The Force is Strong Within Massive ‘Star Wars: The Old Republic’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 12, 2012 - 4:23pmCHICAGO – Set an even longer time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Bioware, Electronic Arts, and LucasArts brings us “Star Wars: The Old Republic;” a fascinating blend of deeper Star Wars lore and a very entertaining and addictive MMORPG. Like many MMOs before it, “The Old Republic” world is incredibly vast with tons and tons to do.
TV Review: FOX’s Derivative ‘The Finder’ Loses Its Personality
Submitted by BrianTT on January 12, 2012 - 10:09amCHICAGO – Every once in awhile there’s a show that feels so derivative of other programs that it kind of just disappears while you’re watching it. A show that gets sucked into the fabric of TV history because it never develops a personality of its own. There have been countless failed procedurals, comedies, and dramas that tried to walk a well-trod road only to find that they couldn’t make it. We can add “The Finder” to that list.
TV Review: Cultures Clash in CBS’s Mediocre Comedy ‘Rob!’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 12, 2012 - 9:43amCHICAGO – After an absolute train wreck like ABC’s “Work It” and something that comes close to disaster in NBC’s “Are You There, Chelsea,” there’s something nearly-satisfying about a mediocre sitcom like “Rob!”
Blu-ray Review: ‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’ Fails to Deliver Quality Scares
Submitted by mattmovieman on January 12, 2012 - 8:40amCHICAGO – Just as Peter Jackson’s adaptation of “The Lovely Bones” suffered from visual over-saturation, writer/producer Guillermo del Toro’s remake of John Newland’s 1973 TV movie succumbs to ineffectual excess. As soon as its fearsome creatures appear for longer than a flash frame, they instantly lose their scare-factor. Didn’t del Toro and his crew learn anything from “Signs”?
Blu-ray Review: Steven Soderbergh Delivers Again With Riveting ‘Contagion’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 11, 2012 - 5:32pmCHICAGO – January 2012 is Steven Soderbergh month. The man’s newest film, “Haywire,” opens in theaters on January 20th (and we’ll have a review up shortly before it opens) while Criterion is upgrading his Oscar-winning “Traffic” to Blu-ray and re-releasing their DVD edition on the 17th of the month (you can, of course, also expect a review of that to run soon). The first wave of the Soderbergh trifecta is the Blu-ray and DVD release of “Contagion,” another expertly-made piece of filmmaking from a man who seems to know how to do nothing less.
Video Game Feature: The 10 Best Video Games of 2011
Submitted by BrianTT on January 11, 2012 - 2:20pmCHICAGO – We may already be planning our 2012 gaming experience (and watch for a piece next week on HC’s most-anticipated games), but there’s still time (before “Mass Effect 3” takes over our lives) to look back at the year that was and ask the key questions — Was 2011 a good year for gamers? What were the highlights? Let us guide the way with our ten favorite games of last year (and ten runner-ups).
