CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
March 2012
TV Review: ‘Community’ Returns with Hysterically Self-Referential Episode
Submitted by BrianTT on March 15, 2012 - 10:57amCHICAGO – Leave it to the writers of “Community,” one of the best shows on television, to take TV lemons and make a tasty comedy beverage out of them. After being forced into hiatus by a network that has never known how to support or promote it, “Community” is finally back on Thursday nights, pushing “30 Rock” to the spot formerly occupied by the done-for-the-season “Up All Night.”
TV News: CBS Renews 18 Shows Including ‘The Good Wife,’ ‘Blue Bloods’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 14, 2012 - 6:30pmCHICAGO – America’s #1 TV network showed a sign of their force today by renewing EIGHTEEN programs from their reliable hits to shows that many considered to be on the bubble. The renewals include four comedies, nine dramas, three reality series, and two newsmagazines and include programs that currently air on every night of the week. CBS really is in charge.
TV News: HBO Ceases All Future Production on ‘Luck’ After Horse Deaths
Submitted by BrianTT on March 14, 2012 - 6:14pmCHICAGO – It has been a tragic week for the show “Luck,” the critical smash on HBO that stars Nick Nolte and Dustin Hoffman. After a third horse died during production of the show, it has been ceased entirely, according to a just received press release from HBO. Another David Milch show that ended far too soon.
Blu-ray Review: Catch Up with First Three ‘American Pie’ Movies
Submitted by BrianTT on March 14, 2012 - 2:17pmCHICAGO – For a brief shining moment, it looked like the cast of 1999’s “American Pie” would be the break-out stars of the new millenium. Sadly, 13 years have passed and most of them haven’t fulfilled on their potential with a few never topping that first film, which is still a sweet, raunchy, comedy classic. Therefore, I’m sure most of the “Pie” kids were ecstatic that a fourth film, “American Reunion,” finally got off the ground, to be released on April 2nd, 2012. Before you catch up with them in a theater, catch up at home with the release of the first three films — the great “American Pie,” the decent “American Pie 2,” and the pretty-bad “American Wedding.”
TV News: Comedy Central Adds ‘Community’ Off-Net Rights to Network
Submitted by TimBMartens on March 14, 2012 - 2:09pmCHICAGO – It was only a few weeks ago when the cult favorite “Communtiy” didn’t have a home at all. Through two and a half seasons on NBC, the show was put on hiatus as the network decided what to do. Now, the hit comedy is returning to the NBC Thursday night lineup tomorrow night at 7 p.m. CST and it has also found a new home.
Trailer Tracking: ‘Battleship’ ‘Men in Black III,’ ‘Frankenweenie’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 14, 2012 - 10:08amCHICAGO – As the movie industry starts to recover from the marketing disaster that was ”John Carter” – a film with possibly the least effective trailers in recent history – it might be more important than ever for film studios to connect their with audiences with really, really kick-ass movie trailers.
Blu-ray Review: Ben Affleck’s ‘The Town: Ultimate Collector’s Edition’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 14, 2012 - 9:34amCHICAGO – It’s only been a couple of years but Ben Affleck’s “The Town” already feels like more of a modern classic than it did upon its release. There are some elements of the film that still falter for this critic (most of them related to the Affleck-Hall relationship and lack of chemistry within it) although they’ve become nearly overwhelmed by what DOES work about this engaging, tight thriller. He’s only made two films (“Gone Baby Gone” before this and this fall’s “Argo” will be his third) but I honestly feel like Ben Affleck will be a better director than an actor (and I’ve always thought him an underrated actor).
Blu-ray Review: ‘Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season’ is One of Best TV-HD Releases to Date
Submitted by BrianTT on March 13, 2012 - 4:14pmCHICAGO – Being an entertainment critics calls for top ten lists in December of every year but I’ve always been someone who believes that these things are not written in stone. I don’t think there’s a single top ten for film or television that is the same today as on the day I wrote it. Oh, they’re close, but the fact is that not only do some things age better than others but sometimes it takes time to fully appreciate something or to realize one was incorrect the first time around.
Interview: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum Revisit ‘21 Jump Street’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 13, 2012 - 3:03pmCHICAGO – Combining comedy and action is always a delicate balance, and Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum do it right in the upcoming movie remake of “21 Jump Street.” Goofing on the concept of two police officers undercover in high school, the story has fun with its two back-to-school characters.
Film News: TCM, Comcast Bringing ‘The Birds’ to Chicago
Submitted by TimBMartens on March 13, 2012 - 11:40amCHICAGO – Turner Classic Movies and Comcast are teaming up to bring a classic film back to the big screen in Chicago. Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller “The Birds” will play at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago on Tuesday, March 27 as part of TCM’s 10-city Road to Hollywood Tour.
TV Review: NBC’s ‘Fashion Star’ Comes Apart at the Seams
Submitted by BrianTT on March 13, 2012 - 8:51amCHICAGO – NBC’s “Fashion Star” could technically be considered the first highly-promoted infomercial on primetime TV. It didn’t even dawn on me until halfway through this annoyingly produced reality disaster that the show probably came into existence as the answer to how to advertise clothes to people who fast-forward through commercials.
Video Game Review: ‘Major League Baseball 2K12’ Strikes Out Swinging
Submitted by BrianTT on March 12, 2012 - 9:20pmCHICAGO – I have long-defended 2K Sports’ “Major League Baseball” franchise, more commonly referred to as “MLB2K,” against the claims that it doesn’t compare to Sony’s more acclaimed “MLB The Show” and encouraged hardcore baseball fans to play both games. In fact, while I understood that “The Show” was a “better game,” recent installments of “MLB2K” actually took up more of my personal playing time.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 5 ‘Hop’ Blu-rays With Russell Brand From ‘Despicable Me’ Makers
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 12, 2012 - 7:20pmCHICAGO – In our latest animated comedy/family edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Blu-ray, we have 5 Blu-rays up for grabs for the highly anticipated home entertainment release of “Hop” starring Russell Brand and Chelsea Handler from the makers of “Despicable Me”!
TV News: ‘Homeland,’ ‘Dexter’ Set to Return Sept. 30, 2012
Submitted by TimBMartens on March 12, 2012 - 1:23pmCHICAGO – It may still seem like a while away, what with season finales of tons of shows coming in the next months, summer blockbuster films to look forward to, and almost seven full months of waiting, but Showtime has officially given the date for fans of “Homeland” and “Dexter” to circle. Sunday, September 30 will be the return of both shows on the premium cable channel.
On WGN Radio: Brian Tallerico on Movies, TV Including ‘Game Change,’ ‘A Thousand Words,’ ‘John Carter’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 12, 2012 - 12:14pmCHICAGO – Brian Tallerico appears for a full hour on Bill Moller’s program to take listener calls and discuss television programs and new films including Game Change, Blue Bloods, Jesse Stone, Missing, Terra Nova, Fringe, Alcatraz, Drive, John Carter, A Thousand Words, Silent House, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, and more!
Slideshow: 21-Image Gallery from ‘The Hunger Games’ with Jennifer Lawrence
Submitted by BrianTT on March 12, 2012 - 12:01pmCHICAGO – This 21-image slideshow contains a selection of the Lionsgate-provided official stills from Gary Ross’ “The Hunger Games” with Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, and Donald Sutherland.
Blu-ray Review: ‘54,’ ‘Reindeer Games’ Are Still Troubled Films
Submitted by BrianTT on March 12, 2012 - 11:48amCHICAGO – Blu-ray allows for an interesting reassessment of perceived failures as titles that haven’t been available on the next-gen format hit HD for the first time and one can see if perhaps history has been kinder to a near-miss than critics were upon its release. When I heard that “54” and the director’s cut of “Reindeer Games” were hitting Blu-ray (one can only assume the latter is tied to the collector’s edition of Ben Affleck’s “The Town” that hit last week), I wondered if their reputations as disasters were unearned and looked forward to reappreciations. They’re both still a mess.
Video Game Review: Hit the Slopes with Flawed but Fun ‘SSX’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 12, 2012 - 10:52amCHICAGO – Pick your favorite rider and coolest board and hit the mountains of “SSX,” an attempted reboot of a hit snowboarding franchise from the last-generation of consoles. How has the concept aged and how has EA adapted for a new age demographic for whom the name “SSX” might not mean anything? Put on your snowsuit and find out.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 5 Blu-Ray, DVD Combo Packs to Gary Oldman’s ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 11, 2012 - 10:10pmCHICAGO – In our latest spy/mystery edition of the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup, we have 5 Blu-ray and DVD combo packs up for grabs to the highly anticipated home entertainment release of “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Tom Hardy!
TV Review: Stunning Performances Drive HBO’s Fantastic ‘Game Change’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 10, 2012 - 2:06pmCHICAGO – You may be surprised by the angle taken by HBO’s controversial “Game Change,” a film already being summarily dismissed by conservative pundits who probably haven’t even seen the piece and merely assume that it’s another liberal Hollywood hatchet job. It’s not that at all.
Film Review: ‘John Carter’ is Poor Man’s ‘Star Wars’ With Kitschy Taylor Kitsch, Soft-Porn Lynn Collins
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 10, 2012 - 6:32amCHICAGO – Usually it’s critics critically flogging a film when we say it weakly lacks originality and borrows too heavily from others. Disney’s “John Carter” attacks that classic grumble by promotionally comparing itself to “Star Wars” and “Avatar” before critics even had a chance to deduct points for it.
‘John Carter’ is Poor Man’s ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Avatar’ With Kitschy Taylor Kitsch, Soft-Porn Lynn Collins
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 10, 2012 - 5:35am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Usually it’s critics critically flogging a film when we say it weakly lacks originality and borrows too heavily from others. Disney’s “John Carter” attacks that classic grumble by promotionally comparing itself to “Star Wars” and “Avatar” before critics even had a chance to deduct points for it.
Film Review: Robert De Niro Triumphs Again in ‘Being Flynn’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 9, 2012 - 6:12pmCHICAGO – The intensity that Robert De Niro puts into his movie characters had slackened a bit, as he bent his reputation on more commercial roles. But Director Paul Weitz has revived the old legend with a meaty, purposeful character, and De Niro delivers it with his old fire. ‘Being Flynn’ is not a comeback, but a gratefully received reboot.
Robert De Niro Triumphs Again in ‘Being Flynn’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 9, 2012 - 6:09pm Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The intensity that Robert De Niro puts into his movie characters had slackened a bit, as he bent his reputation on more commercial roles. But Director Paul Weitz has revived the old legend with a meaty, purposeful character, and De Niro delivers it with his old fire. ‘Being Flynn’ is not a comeback, but a gratefully received reboot.
Film Review: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt Flounder in ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 9, 2012 - 5:03pmCHICAGO – Often when novels with quirky titles get made into films, all that is left of the quirk is the name on the cover. That is exactly what has happened to “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” a tome authored by Paul Torday, and reduced to torpid blandness by director Lasse Hallstrøm.
Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt Flounder in ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 9, 2012 - 4:59pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Often when novels with quirky titles get made into films, all that is left of the quirk is the name on the cover. That is exactly what has happened to “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” a tome authored by Paul Torday, and reduced to torpid blandness by director Lasse Hallstrøm.
Film Review: Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm Consider ‘Friends with Kids’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 9, 2012 - 4:31pmCHICAGO – Jennifer Westfeldt created a distinct movie persona in her debut in 2001 in “Kissing Jessica Stein,” but she has been generally off the radar since then. Her choice for a major film re-emergence is as a nebbish career woman with less memorable character traits. She also directs Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox and Maya Rudolph in “Friends with Kids.”
Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm Consider ‘Friends with Kids’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 9, 2012 - 4:27pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Jennifer Westfeldt created a distinct movie persona in her debut in 2001 in “Kissing Jessica Stein,” but she has been generally off the radar since then. Her choice for a major film re-emergence is as a nebbish career woman with less memorable character traits. She also directs Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox and Maya Rudolph in “Friends with Kids.”
Film Review: Elizabeth Olsen Takes Misguided Trip to ‘Silent House’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 9, 2012 - 2:54pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Elizabeth Olsen does her damned best to save “Silent House” from itself but this quasi-thriller collapses under the weight of a script that just doesn’t work. It’s one of those horror movies with no internal logic and camera tricks as ways to heighten tension instead of anything that feels remotely genuine. The trip through “Silent House” starts promisingly but you’ll be running for the doors before it ends.
Elizabeth Olsen Takes Misguided Trip to ‘Silent House’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 9, 2012 - 1:40pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Elizabeth Olsen does her damned best to save “Silent House” from itself but this quasi-thriller collapses under the weight of a script that just doesn’t work. It’s one of those horror movies with no internal logic and camera tricks as ways to heighten tension instead of anything that feels remotely genuine. The trip through “Silent House” starts promisingly but you’ll be running for the doors before it ends.
