CHICAGO – There is no better time to take in a stage play that is based in U.S. history, depicting the battle between fact and religion. The old theater chestnut – first mounted in 1955 – is “Inherit the Wind,” now at the Goodman Theatre, completing it’s short run through October 20th. For tickets and more information, click INHERIT.
October 2012
Blu-ray Review: John Cusack Can’t Save Derivative Formula of ‘The Raven’
Submitted by mattmovieman on October 24, 2012 - 9:13amCHICAGO – John Cusack is an enormously likable actor, and for the first third of James McTeigue’s period thriller, he holds audience interest long enough to inspire hope for a better two thirds. Alas, the film crash lands soon after that, as McTeigue proves to have little to no interest in his central subject, one of the greatest writers in the history of literature.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 15 Pairs of Anytime Passes to ‘Silent Hill: Revelation 3D’ Plus Original Blu-rays
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 23, 2012 - 11:02pmCHICAGO – In our latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 15 pairs of guaranteed, anytime movie passes up for grabs for the new horror film “Silent Hill: Revelation 3D”!
Blu-ray Review: Hitchcock Classics ‘Strangers on a Train,’ ‘Dial M For Murder’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 23, 2012 - 8:52pmCHICAGO – Two of Alfred Hitchcock’s most respected thrillers were recently released on Blu-ray as something of a warning shot to the gigantic box set of 15 films being released by Universal next week. Warner Bros. still owns “Dial M For Murder” and “Strangers on a Train,” and so they are the latest classic films inducted into the HD catalog.
Interview: Helen Hunt Red Carpet for ‘The Sessions’ at Chicago International Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 23, 2012 - 1:29pmCHICAGO – Oscar winning actress Helen Hunt has emerged recently with the lead role in “The Sessions,” in which she portrays a sex therapist counseling a handicapped man played by John Hawkes. The Junior Board of the Chicago International Film Festival screened “The Sessions” and honored Helen Hunt with a Red Carpet appearance on October 20th, 2012.
Film News: Trailer Released For ‘Iron Man 3’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 23, 2012 - 12:17pmCHICAGO – It’s here! The trailer for “Iron Man 3,” which will be released on May 3, 2013, was officially released today and we just had to share.
TV Review: ‘Happy Endings,’ ‘Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23’ Return to Crowded Night
Submitted by BrianTT on October 23, 2012 - 11:11amCHICAGO – Two comedies that were on the bubble of cancellation just a few months ago are being thrown into the deep end on Tuesday nights by ABC, starting tonight.
Blu-ray Review: Interminable ‘Rock of Ages’ Goes On and On and On and On
Submitted by mattmovieman on October 23, 2012 - 9:10amCHICAGO – How can the same man who made one of the most lovable movie musicals of the last decade go on to make one of the most hatable? Adam Shankman’s bouncy, broad approach was a splendid fit for the playful “Hairspray,” but it is all wrong for Chris D’Arienzo’s raunchy, melodramatic ode to ’80s rock. His show, “Rock of Ages,” may have been a hit on Broadway, but it was a complete flop with moviegoers and critics alike.
DVD Review: Nostalgia Greater Than Laughs in ‘Carol’s Favorites’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 23, 2012 - 2:56amCHICAGO – Say or sing “I’m so glad we had this time together…” and persons of a certain generation will immediately respond, “…just to have a laugh or sing a song.” The theme to the “The Carol Burnett Show” is indelibly etched in show business memory, and Time Life Video is taking advantage of those days with the DVD release of “The Carol Burnett Show: Carol’s Favorites.”
Interview: Matthew Rhys Red Carpet for ‘The Scapegoat’ at Chicago International Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 23, 2012 - 1:48amCHICAGO – The new film “The Scapegoat” made a premiere splash at the 48th Chicago International Film Festival, with lead actor Matthew Rhys – of TV’s “Brothers & Sisters” – and director Charles Sturridge walking the Red Carpet on Thursday, October 18th. The festival wraps up this week on October 25th.
Blu-ray Review: ‘The Princess Bride: 25th Anniversary Edition’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2012 - 2:55pmCHICAGO – Every few years brings another version of “The Princess Bride,” one of the most beloved films of all time. The latest is a 25th anniversary (yes, I feel old too) edition on Blu-ray, complete with an all-new 2-part featurette called “True Love: The Princess Bride Phenomenon.” That last word there is an over-used one but when you open the BD and see an ad for the “Princess Bride” game for iPhone, it’s hard to argue that Rob Reiner’s movie is NOT a phenomenon.
DVD Review: Some True Classics in ‘The Robert Mitchum Film Collection’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2012 - 2:26pmCHICAGO – They don’t make ‘em like Robert Mitchum any more. Every few years, there’s a DVD collection of classic movies that rises above the others for the holiday season. One of this year’s most star-packed entries includes not only Mitchum but John Wayne, Deborah Kerr, Kirk Douglas, Shirley MacLaine, Richard Widmark, Gene Kelly, Paul Newman, Shelley Winters, Marilyn Monroe, and many more. Mitchum may be the face on the cover but the set is a trip through the golden era of Hollywood through more than just one star.
Interview: William H. Macy Invites You to ‘The Sessions’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2012 - 1:55pmCHICAGO – You’re going to be reading a lot about “The Sessions” in the coming weeks as it expands from its already-successful art house run and weaves through an awards season in which it will likely be nominated more than once. John Hawkes leads the film as man who lives in an iron lung and longs to feel human contact.
Video Game Review: ‘NBA 2K13’ is a Slam Dunk
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2012 - 9:29amCHICAGO – Most of us thought it wouldn’t happen, others thought it couldn’t, and a select few thought it never should. Despite being the best in the world at what they do, dominating the competition, and improving themselves day in and day out, most of us were ultimately doubters. But we were proven wrong.
Blu-ray Review: Brit Marling Mesmerizes in Nail-Biting ‘Sound of My Voice’
Submitted by mattmovieman on October 22, 2012 - 5:48amCHICAGO – In between the pulse-pounding jitters of “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and the mesmerizing opaqueness of “The Master,” Fox Searchlight released a decidedly less-showy exploration of cult dynamics. Zal Batmanglij’s “Sound of My Voice” doesn’t quite have the dizzying depth of the other two films, but what it lacks in complexity, it makes up for in tantalizing dialogue, expert pacing and deliciously involving suspense.
Film Review: Easy Metaphors for WWII in ‘War of the Buttons’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 21, 2012 - 11:24pmCHICAGO – World War II, also known as “The Good War,” had more than its share of darkness and sorrow. As the conflict winds down for a French town in the new film “War of the Buttons,” young love and rival town kid gangs create metaphors for the context of the war in its time and place.
Easy Metaphors for WWII in ‘War of the Buttons’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 21, 2012 - 11:19pm Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – World War II, also known as “The Good War,” had more than its share of darkness and sorrow. As the conflict winds down for a French town in the new film “War of the Buttons,” young love and rival town kid gangs create metaphors for the context of the war in its time and place.
Film Review: Pulse-Pounding Action, Complexity Define ‘Easy Money’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 21, 2012 - 9:32pmCHICAGO – Desperation is the best emotion for formulating action movies. There is something basic and true about a chase, for example, or a heist gone bad, when it’s the “end of the world” for a character or circumstance. “Easy Money” has that vibe, and delivers on some great sequences.
Pulse-Pounding Action, Complexity Define ‘Easy Money’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 21, 2012 - 9:29pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Desperation is the best emotion for formulating action movies. There is something basic and true about a chase, for example, or a heist gone bad, when it’s the “end of the world” for a character or circumstance. “Easy Money” has that vibe, and delivers on some great sequences.
Film Review: ‘Paranormal Activity 4’ Insults Your Horror Intelligence Amid Waning Franchise
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 20, 2012 - 8:12pmCHICAGO – Following the first “Paranormal Activity” in 2007, which is most profitable film of all time based on return on investment, filmmakers Jason Blum, Oren Peli and Henry Joost have made a killing for Paramount Pictures.
Oversimplified ‘Paranormal Activity 4’ Insults Your Horror Intelligence Amid Waning Franchise
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 20, 2012 - 7:27pm Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Following the first “Paranormal Activity” in 2007, which is most profitable film of all time based on return on investment, filmmakers Jason Blum, Oren Peli and Henry Joost have made a killing for Paramount Pictures.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘Chasing Mavericks’ With Gerard Butler, Elisabeth Shue
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 20, 2012 - 3:13pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 50 pairs of movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of “Chasing Mavericks” with Gerard Butler and Elisabeth Shue!
TV Review: HBO’s ‘The Girl’ Presents Intersection of Madness, Genius
Submitted by BrianTT on October 20, 2012 - 11:21amCHICAGO – Alfred Hitchcock is inarguably one of the most important and influential directors in the history of cinema. There’s no debate or controversy regarding his agreed-upon genius. However, fans of films like “Rear Window,” “Psycho,” “Vertigo,” and “The Birds” may not know that Hitch had a much darker side behind the camera.
Film News: ‘Holy Motors’ is Top Film at 2012 Chicago International Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 20, 2012 - 10:52amCHICAGO – The 2012 48th Annual Chicago International Film Festival and Michael Kutza, Founder and Artistic Director, announced the competition award winners at a ceremony in the ballroom of the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel on October 19th, 2012. The Gold Hugo for Best Film went to “Holy Motors,” from France and Germany.
Film Review: Mary Elizabeth Winstead is Emotionally Wrecked in ‘Smashed’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 19, 2012 - 7:36pmCHICAGO – “Young Drunks in Love” could be the subtitle of the new film “Smashed,’ or maybe “Recovery Can’t Recover All.” Regardless, Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives a career-defining performance as a young adult facing up to that adulthood, and leaving behind everything she has known for a life that’s healthier, but less familiar.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is Emotionally Wrecked in ‘Smashed’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 19, 2012 - 7:31pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Young Drunks in Love” could be the subtitle of the new film “Smashed,’ or maybe “Recovery Can’t Recover All.” Regardless, Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives a career-defining performance as a young adult facing up to that adulthood, and leaving behind everything she has known for a life that’s healthier, but less familiar.
Film Review: Tyler Perry Bores Criminals to Death in ‘Alex Cross’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 19, 2012 - 8:46amCHICAGO – A cinematic lifetime ago, Morgan Freeman injected a bit of class and style into the role of Alex Cross in the adaptations of James Patterson’s “Along Came a Spider” and “Kiss the Girls.” Seventeen years later, director Tyler Perry steps into the shoes of the detective doctor with all the answers in the narcoleptic, horrendous “Alex Cross,” a misfire that makes the Freeman movies look like “The Silence of the Lambs” by comparison.
Tyler Perry Bores Criminals to Death in ‘Alex Cross’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 19, 2012 - 8:42am Rating: 1.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – A cinematic lifetime ago, Morgan Freeman injected a bit of class and style into the role of Alex Cross in the adaptations of James Patterson’s “Along Came a Spider” and “Kiss the Girls.” Seventeen years later, director Tyler Perry steps into the shoes of the detective doctor with all the answers in the narcoleptic, horrendous “Alex Cross,” a misfire that makes the Freeman movies look like “The Silence of the Lambs” by comparison.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 5 Blu-ray, DVD Combo Packs to ‘Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted’ Plus Circus Wigs
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 18, 2012 - 10:40pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Combo Pack with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 5 free Blu-ray and DVD combo packs – plus Marty’s rainbow wigs! – up for grabs to the home release of “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted”!
Video Game Review: ‘Dishonored’ is at War with Itself
Submitted by BrianTT on October 18, 2012 - 9:13pmCHICAGO – I’m more or less “over” the whole killing evil aristocrats thing. Between “Skyrim”, “Assassin’s Creed”, “Mount and Blade”, “Ultimate” and dozens of other games that take place in some sort of medieval setting, I think I’ve killed every Lord, Duke, and Earl in Europe.
Film News: Tom Tykwer, Wachowskis Attend ‘Cloud Atlas’ at Chicago International Film Festival
Submitted by mattmovieman on October 18, 2012 - 6:30pmCHICAGO – On October 17th, the 48th Annual Chicago International Film Festival welcomed three of the most adventurous directors in modern cinema. The celebrated German auteur Tom Tykwer was joined on the red carpet by his co-directors, Chicago natives Andy and Lana Wachowski, prior to the 7pm screening of their hugely anticipated sci-fi spectacular, “Cloud Atlas.”
