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+.
February 2015
Slideshow: Lana & Andy Wachowski Red-Carpet Appearance for ‘Jupiter Ascending’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 9, 2015 - 3:39pmCHICAGO – The City of Chicago has more than their share of Hollywood here, as represented by local filmmakers Lana and Andy Wachowski. The siblings have made sure that the Windy City is well represented in their latest science fiction film release, “Jupiter Ascending.” Chicago plays a prominent role in the film, which opened on February 6th, 2015.
2015 Sundance Diary: ‘Listen to Me Marlon,’ ‘Pervert Park,’ ‘Seoul Searching’ & Festival Wrap-Up
Submitted by NickHC on February 9, 2015 - 12:25pm- 2015 Sundance Diary
- 2015 Sundance Film Festival
- Alison Brie
- Ariel Kleiman
- Benson Lee
- Frida Barkfors
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jason Sudeikis
- Lasse Barkfors
- Leslye Headland
- Listen to Me Marlon
- Marlon Brando
- Nick Allen
- Partisan
- Seoul Searching
- Sleeping with Other People
- Stevan Riley
- Sundance 2015 Coverage
- Sundance Film Festival
- Vincent Cassel
PARK CITY, Utah – This is the last batch of Sundance reviews I’ve got to offer. A tad late, but I couldn’t let these films go uncommented on, especially with their special offerings for those who seek them out. I hope that each of these films finds an audience.
Film Review: Following a Two-Year Delay, ‘Seventh Son’ Should Have Been Shelved
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on February 8, 2015 - 4:47pmCHICAGO – I can’t decide which is worse: the “fake deep talk” from Jeff Bridges in “Seventh Son” or the “angry whisper talk” from Eddie Redmayne in “Jupiter Ascending,” which also opened on Friday. Both speech impediments are ugly fish out of water, both films are getting punished by critics and both are underperforming at domestic box offices.
Following a Two-Year Delay, ‘Seventh Son’ Should Have Been Shelved
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on February 8, 2015 - 3:35pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – I can’t decide which is worse: the “fake deep talk” from Jeff Bridges in “Seventh Son” or the “angry whisper talk” from Eddie Redmayne in “Jupiter Ascending,” which also opened on Friday. Both speech impediments are ugly fish out of water, both films are getting punished by critics and both are underperforming at domestic box offices.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Pairs of Passes to ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ With Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on February 7, 2015 - 3:53pm- Adam Fendelman
- Callum Keith Rennie
- Dakota Johnson
- Dana Brunetti
- Dylan Neal
- E.L. James
- Eloise Mumford
- Fifty Shades of Grey
- Focus Features
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- Jamie Dornan
- Jennifer Ehle
- Kelly Marcel
- Luke Grimes
- Marcia Gay Harden
- Max Martini
- Michael De Luca
- Rita Ora
- Sam Taylor-Johnson
- Universal Pictures
- Victor Rasuk
CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the hotly anticipated “Fifty Shades of Grey” starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson based on the best-selling E.L. James novels!
Film Review: Life, Geopolitics & Hockey in Excellent ‘Red Army’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 7, 2015 - 2:42pmCHICAGO – How often can we learn life lessons from the most unlikely of sources? The documentary “Red Army” is one such source, as director Gabe Polsky tells the story of the Soviet Union hockey team, which expands to the the very parameters of human nature and competition.
Life, Geopolitics & Hockey in Excellent ‘Red Army’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 7, 2015 - 2:38pmRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – How often can we learn life lessons from the most unlikely of sources? The documentary “Red Army” is one such source, as director Gabe Polsky tells the story of the Soviet Union hockey team, which expands to the the very parameters of human nature and competition.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’ With Colin Firth
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on February 6, 2015 - 3:21pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the highly anticipated new film “Kingsman: The Secret Service” starring Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson!
Film Review: ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water’ Squeezes Out More Fun
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 6, 2015 - 12:49pmCHICAGO – “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water” squeezes another big-screen adventure out of America’s favorite undersea fry cook, and introduces some tantalizing comic possibilities that ramp up the series – including winking meta references – but it’s ambitions remain distinctly small scale.
‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water’ Squeezes Out More Fun
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 6, 2015 - 12:46pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water” squeezes another big-screen adventure out of America’s favorite undersea fry cook, and introduces some tantalizing comic possibilities that ramp up the series – including winking meta references – but it’s ambitions remain distinctly small scale.
Film Review: ‘Jupiter Ascending’ Might Cause Attention Descending
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 5, 2015 - 5:11pmCHICAGO – “Jupiter Ascending” is certainly one of the oddest and densest of sci-fi movies, this side of “Dune,” and has some of the most laughable acting and dialogue seen in a major film in awhile. But the worst offense is that the film is dull, and practically without emotion or human empathy.
‘Jupiter Ascending’ Might Cause Attention Descending
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 5, 2015 - 5:07pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Jupiter Ascending” is certainly one of the oddest and densest of sci-fi movies, this side of “Dune,” and has some of the most laughable acting and dialogue seen in a major film in awhile. But the worst offense is that the film is dull, and practically without emotion or human empathy.
Slideshow: ‘The Walking Dead’ Highlights 2014 Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 3, 2015 - 5:41pmCHICAGO – Last August, the 2014 Wizard World Comic Con came to Chicago, and featured cast members from “The Walking Dead,” among other film and television celebrities. Another edition of the popular convention, called “Fan Fest,” is taking place next month in Chicagoland, March 7th and 8th, 2015, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.
Interview: Director Gabe Polsky on Superb Documentary ‘Red Army’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 3, 2015 - 3:49pmCHICAGO – Every red-blooded American has been told the story of the “Miracle on Ice,” the 1980 Winter Olympic upset of the mighty Soviet Union hockey team by Team USA. But who were the Soviet players? Why were they the best in the world? Director Gabe Polsky explores these questions in the documentary “Red Army.”
2015 Sundance Diary: ‘Digging for Fire,’ ‘Entertainment’ & ‘Results’
Submitted by NickHC on February 2, 2015 - 9:38pm- 2015 Sundance Diary
- 2015 Sundance Film Festival
- Anna Kendrick
- Brie Larson
- Chris Messina
- Cobie Smulders
- Digging for Fire
- Entertainment
- Gregg Turkington
- Guy Pearce
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jake Johnson
- Joe Swanberg
- Kevin Corrigan
- Nick Allen
- Results
- Rick Alverson
- Sam Rockwell
- Sundance 2015 Coverage
- Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY, Utah – There are still some films to be discussed in my Sundance coverage. Here’s write-ups of “Digging for Fire,” “Entertainment,” and “Results,” which featured the return of festival-approved directors, albeit heading in different directions.
Interview: Filmmaker Alex Beh Presents ‘Warren’ at Midwest Independent Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 2, 2015 - 12:58pmCHICAGO – The opening night of the 2015 Midwest Independent Film Festival is on its usual First Tuesday of the month, February 3rd, and what better way to kick it off then to have Chicagoland native Alex Beh come back to present the Windy City premiere of his first feature film, “Warren.” Beh wrote, directed and performed as the title character in this slice-of-life romance about staying true to a life’s path, and everything that happens in spite of that hope.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 75 Pairs of IMAX Passes to ‘Seventh Son’ With Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on February 1, 2015 - 2:21pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 75 pairs of advance-screening IMAX movie passes up for grabs to the highly anticipated epic action/adventure “Seventh Son” starring Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges!
Film Review: Jude Law Submarines a Passable But Unspectacular ‘Black Sea’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on February 1, 2015 - 12:49amCHICAGO – I’m on board with Jude Law leading a film and neutral about submarine movies as a genre. My primary pre-screening interest in the quietly marketed thriller “Black Sea” was what Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald would do with this material following his hit with the hard-hitting drama “The Last King of Scotland”.
Jude Law Submarines a Passable But Unspectacular ‘Black Sea’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on February 1, 2015 - 12:14amRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – I’m on board with Jude Law leading a film and neutral about submarine movies as a genre. My primary pre-screening interest in the quietly marketed thriller “Black Sea” was what Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald would do with this material following his hit with the hard-hitting drama “The Last King of Scotland”.