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+.
June 2013
Film Review: Frustrating Thriller ‘Wish You Were Here’ with Joel Edgerton
Submitted by BrianTT on June 4, 2013 - 12:48pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There’s an honesty in the increasingly-great Joel Edgerton’s (“Animal Kingdom,” “Warrior,” “The Great Gatsby”) harrowing performance in Kieran Darcy-Smith’s “Wish You Were Here,” opening in New York and Los Angeles this Friday, that makes it a difficult film to dismiss. Sadly, the truth of what Edgerton brings to the role of a man who carries a dark secret is shrouded by a filmmaker who refuses to let us in on the cause of his pain. “Wish You Were Here” is a thriller/mystery that should have been a drama and feels more like it’s playing games with its audience than offering truthful characters or engaging storytelling.
Intriguing ‘Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay’
Submitted by BrianTT on June 4, 2013 - 12:39pm Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Ricky Jay is a fascinating character. He went from a staple of late night TV on shows like “Dinah Shore” and “The Tonight Show” to a notable collaborator with David Mamet, co-starring in most of his films, to an author and performer on Broadway. The man is one of the true living masters of his chosen art form – magic. As one might imagine, getting behind the curtain of this particular wizard proves difficult for “Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay” but the film about him remains an entertaining bio-doc regardless of the fact that the bio portion really only stays within its subject’s profession.
Frustrating Thriller ‘Wish You Were Here’ with Joel Edgerton
Submitted by BrianTT on June 4, 2013 - 11:14amRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There’s an honesty in the increasingly-great Joel Edgerton’s (“Animal Kingdom,” “Warrior,” “The Great Gatsby”) harrowing performance in Kieran Darcy-Smith’s “Wish You Were Here,” opening in New York and Los Angeles this Friday, that makes it a difficult film to dismiss. Sadly, the truth of what Edgerton brings to the role of a man who carries a dark secret is shrouded by a filmmaker who refuses to let us in on the cause of his pain.
Interview: Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij Journey to ‘The East’
Submitted by mattmovieman on June 4, 2013 - 10:03amCHICAGO – If you don’t like the roles you’re being offered, why not write them yourself? That has been the philosophy of actress Brit Marling, who taught herself the art of screenwriting in order to create the sort of complex female roles Hollywood avoids like the plague.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Passes to Sundance Hit ‘The Kings of Summer’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on June 3, 2013 - 10:50pmCHICAGO – Sundance hit! In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the Sundance hit “The Kings of Summer,” which was handpicked for 2013’s first-annual Chicago Critics Film Festival!
Interview: Dave Franco Creates Magic in ‘Now You See Me’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 3, 2013 - 5:01pmCHICAGO – Dave Franco is James Franco’s brother. Since that’s now out of the way, Dave Franco is also a writer, actor, regular on the “Funny or Die” website and co-star in the newly released film, “Now You See Me.” Franco plays a streetwise magician, and in his career he keeps bringing the magic.
TV Review: ABC’s ‘Mistresses’ Cheats on Good Television
Submitted by BrianTT on June 3, 2013 - 10:19amCHICAGO – At its worst, ABC’s “Mistresses” feels like “Nicholas Sparks: The TV Series” with all the horrendous plotting and melodrama that implies. At its best, it feels like a “Desperate Housewives” knock-off, in which the charisma of its leading ladies get viewers past the writing flaws.
Blu-ray Review: ‘The Last Stand’ Marks Career Low for Schwarzenegger
Submitted by mattmovieman on June 3, 2013 - 9:09amCHICAGO – “The Last Stand” may mark the first time Arnold Schwarzenegger fulfilled his iconic promise, “I’ll be back,” and the general public replied, “Who cares?” Designed as a comeback vehicle for the actor-turned-governor-turned-wannabe actor, this competently made yet instantly forgettable flick has already gained notoriety as one of the year’s biggest bombs. Hasta la vista, indeed.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Pairs of Passes to ‘Man of Steel’ With Henry Cavill From ‘300’ Director
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on June 2, 2013 - 8:38pmCHICAGO – Highly anticipated! In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 25 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to one of 2013’s most highly anticipated films: “Man of Steel” with Henry Cavill!
TV Review: AMC Resurrects ‘The Killing’ with Intriguing Results
Submitted by BrianTT on June 2, 2013 - 10:08amCHICAGO – There are times when the third season premiere of AMC’s “The Killing” shows the signs of a program that was resurrected from the dead. The series was axed by AMC after a controversial end to the first season and disappointing second one.
Slideshow: Comedian Jim Gaffigan Reveals New Book ‘Dad is Fat’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 2, 2013 - 9:06amCHICAGO – Just in time for Father’s Day, comedian Jim Gaffigan has written a new book about his adventures in Papa-hood, entitled “Dad is Fat.” The hilarious observational comic, known for his riffs on America’s food habits (“Hot Pockets”), takes on the rigors and rites of fatherhood as only he can.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘The Internship’ With Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on June 1, 2013 - 2:52pmCHICAGO – 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 the highly anticipated new comedy “The Internship” starring Vince Vaughn!
Film Review: ‘After Earth’ Proves M. Night Shyamalan’s Checkmate With Mismatched Smith Family
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on June 1, 2013 - 2:06pmCHICAGO – Oscar accolades are a godsend, but so are they an affliction. They’re the ultimate vote of respect from your industry, but then you’ve got to keep being as genius as they thought you were. In M. Night Shyamalan’s case, it’s all gone downhill since his 1999 smash-hit “The Sixth Sense,” which was nominated for six of these portly golden statues.
‘After Earth’ Proves M. Night Shyamalan’s Checkmate With Mismatched Smith Family
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on June 1, 2013 - 1:14pm Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Oscar accolades are a godsend, but so are they an affliction. They’re the ultimate vote of respect from your industry, but then you’ve got to keep being as genius as they thought you were. In M. Night Shyamalan’s case, it’s all gone downhill since his 1999 smash-hit “The Sixth Sense,” which was nominated for six of these portly golden statues.
