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+.
April 2012
Film Review: Geekdom Celebrated in ‘Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 6, 2012 - 2:01pmCHICAGO – Say the words “San Diego Comic-Con” to a certain comic geek subculture and suddenly heart rates are up and anticipation is in the air. The documentary maker Morgan Spurlock (“Supersize Me”) seeks to capture that feeling in “Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope,” with help from Seth Rogen, Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, Thomas Jane, Josh Whedon, Seth Green and Matt Groening.
Geekdom Celebrated in ‘Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 6, 2012 - 1:53pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Say the words “San Diego Comic-Con” to a certain comic geek subculture and suddenly heart rates are up and anticipation is in the air. The documentary maker Morgan Spurlock (“Supersize Me”) seeks to capture that feeling in “Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope,” with help from Seth Rogen, Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, Thomas Jane, Josh Whedon, Seth Green and Matt Groening.
Film Review: ‘American Reunion’ is Tasteless, Stale Piece of Comedy Pie
Submitted by BrianTT on April 6, 2012 - 9:54amCHICAGO – “American Reunion” is not unlike the event from which it takes its title. Some of it rekindles memories of what worked in the past in a nostalgic, even sweet way. Some of it reminds one what they liked about these people in the first place. Some of it is just sad.
Film Review: Odd Thriller ‘ATM’ with Alice Eve, Brian Geraghty
Submitted by BrianTT on April 6, 2012 - 9:45am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – They have now officially run out of places in which to terrorize beautiful people on film with the release of the bizarre and unfulfilling “ATM,” a new thriller with three talented actors nonetheless caught in an ineffective film that stretches to meet its running time and then ends with a final act that destroys suspension of disbelief. There are brief glimpses here of the movie that could have worked but there’s a reason it’s only opening in limited release for now and playing On Demand through most of the rest of the country. It’s not a successful transaction.
‘American Reunion’ is Tasteless, Stale Piece of Comedy Pie
Submitted by BrianTT on April 6, 2012 - 9:42am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “American Reunion” is not unlike the event from which it takes its title. Some of it rekindles memories of what worked in the past in a nostalgic, even sweet way. Some of it reminds one what they liked about these people in the first place. Some of it is just sad. Ultimately, it’s too inconsistent a movie to recommend in any way even if Seann William Scott and Eugene Levy pull every weapon from their comedy arsenals to try and save it. It’s a stale piece of pie.
Odd Thriller ‘ATM’ with Alice Eve, Brian Geraghty
Submitted by BrianTT on April 6, 2012 - 9:35amRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – They have now officially run out of places in which to terrorize beautiful people on film with the release of the bizarre and unfulfilling “ATM,” a new thriller with three talented actors nonetheless caught in an ineffective film that stretches to meet its running time and then ends with a final act that destroys suspension of disbelief. There are brief glimpses here of the movie that could have worked but there’s a reason it’s only opening in limited release for now and playing On Demand through most of the rest of the country. It’s not a successful transaction.
Film Review: Delightful Doc ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ Pleases Crowds, Entices Taste Buds
Submitted by mattmovieman on April 6, 2012 - 9:13amCHICAGO – According to Jiro Ono, the intriguing titular subject of David Gelb’s documentary, sushi is a dish that must be savored. However, it should be eaten the instant that it’s served for maximum satisfaction. Fat will not be tolerated on the fish since lean meat carries the essence of flavor, and it is within the simplicity of each morsel that a true depth of flavor can be achieved.
Delightful Doc ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ Pleases Crowds, Entices Taste Buds
Submitted by mattmovieman on April 6, 2012 - 8:58am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – According to Jiro Ono, the intriguing titular subject of David Gelb’s documentary, sushi is a dish that must be savored. However, it should be eaten the instant that it’s served for maximum satisfaction. Fat will not be tolerated on the fish since lean meat carries the essence of flavor, and it is within the simplicity of each morsel that a true depth of flavor can be achieved.
Film Review: Emotionally Galvanizing ‘Titanic 3D’ Transcends Unnecessary Conversion
Submitted by mattmovieman on April 5, 2012 - 1:25pmCHICAGO – It takes more than expensive effects, super-sized egos and exhaustive marketing campaigns to seduce the world. For all of its visual splendor, James Cameron’s “Avatar” has already evaporated from most moviegoers’ memories. Its derivative romance and preachy messages were stretched so thin that they failed to achieve any resonant impact.
Emotionally Galvanizing ‘Titanic 3D’ Transcends Unnecessary Conversion
Submitted by mattmovieman on April 5, 2012 - 1:05pm Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It takes more than expensive effects, super-sized egos and exhaustive marketing campaigns to seduce the world. For all of its visual splendor, James Cameron’s “Avatar” has already evaporated from most moviegoers’ memories. Its derivative romance and preachy messages were stretched so thin that they failed to achieve any resonant impact.
TV News: ABC Announces Summer Schedule with Three New Shows, Return of ‘Rookie Blue’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 5, 2012 - 12:58pmCHICAGO – ABC just announced the premiere dates for their summer series, including three new shows — “Duets,” “Final Witness,” and “Trust Us with Your Life” — along with the return of summer hits — “Secret Millionaire,” “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition,” “Wipeout,” “The Bachelorette,” “Bachelor Pad,” and a show that we often get calls about on WGN, “Rookie Blue.”
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Chicago Passes to Definitive Bob Marley Documentary ‘Marley’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 5, 2012 - 10:28amCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 50 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the new Bob Marley documentary “Marley,” which is the definitive life story of the beloved king of reggae!
TV Review: Kerry Washington Stars in Over-Written, Melodramatic ‘Scandal’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 5, 2012 - 9:54amCHICAGO – Shonda Rhimes has made waves on network TV with her unique, stylized approach to characters on hit shows “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice.” She occassionally has a gift for pulpy TV and her latest, “Scandal” sometimes hits that nerve that wants an escapist soap opera after a long day at work. More often, it feels over-done, like someone trying to stir controversy with outlandish, unbelievable behavior.
DVD Review: Embarrassingly Bad ‘Creature’ Fails to Terrify, Titillate
Submitted by mattmovieman on April 5, 2012 - 8:59amCHICAGO – After a particularly long work day, I often find it difficult to coax my mind to sleep. That’s when I turn to Video On Demand for some free and immediate assistance. Most moviegoers would probably search for a familiar comedy or predictable romance to help their eyelids grow heavy in the wee hours of the morning. Yet my insomnia-remedy of choice will always remain FEARnet.
Interviews: Tippi Hedren of ‘The Birds,’ TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz on the ‘Road to Hollywood’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 4, 2012 - 9:49pmCHICAGO – Turner Classic Movies, the popular cable channel, will kick off their third annual TCM Classic Film Festival next week, from April 12th-15th. Recently, the festival preview came to Chicago, as TCM host Ben Mankiewicz and movie star Tippi Hedren introduced Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”
Video Game Review: Sony Releases Wave of Games to Introduce PlayStation Vita
Submitted by BrianTT on April 4, 2012 - 5:44pmCHICAGO – When Sony finally unveiled their highly anticipated next generation handheld console in February it came with a wave of launch titles meant to show off the capability and potential of the PlayStation Vita. What’s the best one to buy with your new system? What is THE “day one” PlayStation Vita from Sony? We’ve played the first five from the company and offer this handy mega-review to guide the way.
Blu-ray Review: Glorious Criterion Box Set For ‘David Lean Directs Noel Coward’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 4, 2012 - 5:26pmCHICAGO – For fans less familiar with the four films in the new Criterion box set — “David Lean Directs Noel Coward” — one might be easily forgiven for assuming that the four films are very similar. Let’s be honest. “Tim Burton Directs Johnny Depp” and “Martin Scorsese Directs Robert De Niro” would have some definite thematic commonality. Perhaps that’s why it’s SO remarkable how different each of the four films in this set ended up.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Chicago Passes to ‘Lockout’ With Guy Pearce From ‘Taken’ Producers
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 4, 2012 - 11:20amCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 40 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the highly anticipated new sci-fi/thriller “Lockout” starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace from the producers of “Taken”!
TV Review: Mediocre ‘Best Friends Forever’ Could Be Better, Probably Won’t Last Long
Submitted by BrianTT on April 4, 2012 - 10:56amCHICAGO – NBC’s new sitcom “Best Friends Forever” could have been significantly worse — I had awfully low expectations for another NBC relationship comedy premiering at a time of the year when hits are uncommon — but it’s also in no way memorable enough to feel like required viewing or something that’s going to be around for any significant amount of time.
Interviews, Opening This Week: Shannon Elizabeth in ‘American Reunion,’ Danny Nucci in ‘Titanic 3D’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 3, 2012 - 5:25pmCHICAGO – Two big openings this week include the re-release tomorrow of James Cameron’s “Titanic” – this time in 3D – and the highly anticipated “American Reunion,” which again brings together the stars of “American Pie.” Shannon Elizabeth is part of the Reunion, and Danny Nucci cruises on the mighty Titanic again.
Video Game Review: ‘Street Fighter x Tekken’ Enters Crowded Arena of Stellar Fighting Games
Submitted by BrianTT on April 3, 2012 - 2:47pmCHICAGO – It’s an amazing time to be a fight game fan. For years, it seemed like the genre was on life support, waiting for someone to unleash the fatality that put it out of its misery. There seemed to be a distinct lack of creativity in the arcade-based form that once gave us titles like “Mortal Kombat” and “Street Fighter,” games so popular that they even spawned movies.
DVD Review: Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Renee Zellweger in 4-Film Collections
Submitted by BrianTT on April 3, 2012 - 2:44pmCHICAGO – What’s an inevitability when a company like Lionsgate gets access to a film archive like that of Miramax (besides the wonderful wave of Blu-ray reissues that has seen recent HD releases of “Amelie,” “Shakespeare in Love,” “Swingers,” and more)? DVD collections! Three of today’s biggest stars, all three Oscar winners, are getting the 4-film collection treatment from the company this week with some definite fan favorites in each set. Pick your favorite.
Blu-ray Review: Great Actors Drive Intellectually Engaging ‘A Dangerous Method’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 3, 2012 - 2:42pmCHICAGO – David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, features four of the most interesting performances of 2011 and is certainly a conversation piece in the themes that writer Christopher Hampton has chosen to explore. I still wish it had more of the actual “danger” of Cronenberg’s early work but there’s more to like here than I first thought, especially in what was brought to the material by those cast to deliver it.
Blu-ray Review: Jonah Hill Continues His Plans For Movie Domination with ‘The Sitter’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 3, 2012 - 2:39pmCHICAGO – Jonah Hill is EVERYWHERE. He was just on the Oscars for his nominated work in “Moneyball,” his work in “21 Jump Street” still stands high on the box office chart, and previews for “Neighborhood Watch” with Ben Stiller & Vince Vaughn have been lighting up theaters. And then there’s “The Sitter,” probably the least of these four films but a reasonable rental if you’re looking for a new comedy and a Blu-ray release that comes with some pretty funny deleted scenes and other bonus material.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 150 Pairs of Chicago Passes to ‘Detention’ With ‘The Hunger Games’ Star Josh Hutcherson
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 3, 2012 - 10:04amUpdate (4/6/12 at 1:47 p.m.): Studio approval to increase from 75 to 150 admit-twos!
CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 150 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the new horror/comedy “Detention” with “The Hunger Games” star Josh Hutcherson and Dane Cook!
Video Game Review: Spectacular ‘Mass Effect 3’ Provides Emotional End to Amazing Trilogy
Submitted by BrianTT on April 3, 2012 - 9:35amCHICAGO – The highly-anticipated “Mass Effect 3” has been devastating and dividing fans for about a month now while we played through our copy of the title and tried to figure out how to fully capture it in a review. It’s difficult to address a title this complex, this emotional, this epic, and this popular.
Blu-ray Review: ‘The Ring’ Remake Initially Frightens Before Going in Circles
Submitted by mattmovieman on April 3, 2012 - 8:54amCHICAGO – I have a certain begrudging affection for Gore Verbinski’s 2002 remake of Hideo Nakata’s 1998 thriller, “Ringu,” despite the fact that I know in my heart of hearts that it doesn’t really work. Verbinski’s film falters precisely when it should be at its scariest, and yet it still has enough memorably eerie moments to inspire at least a couple sleepless nights.
Interview: Columbia College Chicago Alumnus Sean J.S. Jourdan to Helm Noir Pic ‘Teddy Boy’
Submitted by mattmovieman on April 3, 2012 - 8:27amCHICAGO – There’s been a mix-up. Distraught couple Jakob and Helene were not expecting to host a kid for the local tennis tournament this year, and yet James has mistakenly shown up anyway. Mourning the loss of their son, the couple suddenly begins to relive their past as the tennis star engages in a charade that threatens to culminate in certain disaster.
Video Game Review: Incredible ‘MLB 12 The Show’ Sets New Bar For Baseball Games
Submitted by BrianTT on April 2, 2012 - 3:31pmCHICAGO – Previous installments of Sony’s hit baseball series “MLB The Show” have shattered sales records and won dozens of awards. The new edition, “MLB 12 The Show,” is the best to date. With amazing graphics, an addictive new pitching mechanic, and the depth of play we’ve come to expect from this series, a new bar has been set.
Blu-ray Review: Goofy ‘Hop’ Wants Your Easter Bunny Money
Submitted by BrianTT on April 2, 2012 - 3:27pmCHICAGO – They don’t make too many Easter movies. There are tons of Christmas movies. Halloween has a genre. Even “Independence Day.” But Easter is under-served. Based on “Hop,” there’s a reason for that. The film isn’t as torturous as I was expecting, but it definitely misses its mark for all but the littlest ones. If you have a toddler looking for something new to watch this Easter, it might get the job done. Everyone else, wait for another holiday.
