CHICAGO – Excelsior! Comic book legend Stan Lee’s famous exclamation puts a fine point on the third and final play of Mark Pracht’s FOUR COLOR TRILOGY, “The House of Ideas,” presented by and staged at City Lit Theater in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. For tickets/details, click HOUSE OF IDEAS.
March 2015
Interview: Director Simon Curtis Fashions the ‘Woman in Gold’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 30, 2015 - 6:00pm- Antje Traue
- Austria
- Daniel Bruhl
- Elizabeth McGovern
- Gustav Klimt
- Helen Mirren
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Interview
- Jonathan Pryce
- Katie Holmes
- Maria Altmann
- My Week with Marilyn
- Patrick McDonald
- Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer
- Randol Schoenberg
- Ryan Reynolds
- Simon Curtis
- The Weinstein Company
- Woman in Gold
CHICAGO – The painting “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer” was created by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, and was considered Austria’s greatest artwork. The remarkable journey of the painting, stolen from its original Jewish family by the Nazis during World War II, is the basis for the new film, “Woman in Gold,” directed by Simon Curtis.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of IMAX Passes to ‘Furious 7’ With Vin Diesel, Paul Walker
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 28, 2015 - 1:10pm- Adam Fendelman
- Chris Morgan
- Djimon Hounsou
- Dwayne Johnson
- Elsa Pataky
- Furious 7
- Gal Gadot
- Gary Scott Thompson
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- James Wan
- Jordana Brewster
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Luke Evans
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Nathalie Emmanuel
- Paul Walker
- Tony Jaa
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening IAMX passes up for grabs to the highly anticipated new film “Furious 7” starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez!
Film Review: ‘Get Hard’ is Less Than the Sum of Its Parts
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 27, 2015 - 7:20pmCHICAGO – Will Ferrell is a funny guy. Kevin Hart can be a funny guy. But the prison buddy comedy “Get Hard” is woefully less than the sum of its comedic parts. It fires buckshot of lame jokes at its audience, but precious few come anywhere near their targets as it squanders nearly every comic opportunity that comes its way.
‘Get Hard’ is Less Than the Sum of Its Parts
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 27, 2015 - 7:07pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Will Ferrell is a funny guy. Kevin Hart can be a funny guy. But the prison buddy comedy “Get Hard” is woefully less than the sum of its comedic parts. It fires buckshot of lame jokes at its audience, but precious few come anywhere near their targets as it squanders nearly every comic opportunity that comes its way.
Film Review: Imagine What Could Have Been for ‘Danny Collins’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 27, 2015 - 10:20amCHICAGO – “Danny Collins” is a shoulda-woulda-coulda film. It was inspired by the true story of a John Lennon letter acquired by a musician 40 years after he was suppose to to have received it, and then re-imagined as a cheap soap opera, punctuated by far superior John Lennon songs.
Imagine What Could Have Been for ‘Danny Collins’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 27, 2015 - 10:14amRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Danny Collins” is a shoulda-woulda-coulda film. It was inspired by the true story of a John Lennon letter acquired by a musician 40 years after he was suppose to to have received it, and then re-imagined as a cheap soap opera, punctuated by far superior John Lennon songs.
Film Review: ‘Home’ Continues Trend of So-So Animated Films
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 27, 2015 - 9:43amCHICAGO – What was once an “event” – even the the most medium level animated film was a rare movie occasion – has now become commonplace in the film market. Once that tipping point was reached, suddenly the event became just another weekend, with just another film like “Home.”
‘Home’ Continues Trend of So-So Animated Films
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 27, 2015 - 9:39amRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – What was once an “event” – even the the most medium level animated film was a rare movie occasion – has now become commonplace in the film market. Once that tipping point was reached, suddenly the event became just another weekend, with just another film like “Home.”
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘Woman in Gold’ With Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 26, 2015 - 10:47pm- Adam Fendelman
- Alexi Kaye Campbell
- Antje Traue
- BBC Films
- Charles Dance
- Daniel Bruhl
- E. Randol Schoenberg
- Elizabeth McGovern
- Frances Fisher
- Helen Mirren
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film
- Jonathan Pryce
- Katie Holmes
- Maria Altmann
- Max Irons
- Ryan Reynolds
- Simon Curtis
- Tatiana Maslany
- The Weinstein Company
- Tom Schilling
- Woman in Gold
CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new drama “Woman in Gold” starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds!
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 100 Pairs of Advance TV Premiere Passes to NBC’s ‘American Odyssey’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 23, 2015 - 10:19pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV, we have 100 pairs of advance TV premiere tickets up for grabs to the new NBC drama “American Odyssey” starring Anna Friel and Peter Facinelli! This will be a special event honoring women in the military for their services.
Interview: Director Dan Fogelman on Nurturing ‘Danny Collins’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 23, 2015 - 4:45pmCHICAGO – Dan Fogelman is a familiar behind-the-scenes creator, having wrote scripts and screenplays for “Cars,” “Fred Claus,” “Tangled,” “The Guilt Trip” and “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” He takes on his first directorial effort, the story of “Danny Collins,” a faded rock star who finds redemption through a lost letter from John Lennon.
Slideshow: Exclusive 2014 C2E2 Portraits to Anticipate the 2015 Chicago Expo From April 24 to 26
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 22, 2015 - 8:42pmCHICAGO – The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, popularly known as “C2E2,” is coming back to the Windy City next month, Friday, April 24th through Sunday, April 26th. The three day event draws many celebrities, comic book artists and memorabilia vendors. HollywoodChicago.com was at last year’s event, and got 33 Exclusive Portraits of the TV and film personalities.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Passes to ‘Home’ With Jim Parsons, Rihanna
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 22, 2015 - 3:17pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new animated comedy “Home” starring Jim Parsons and Rihanna!
Film Review: Tense Creepy Factor Along the Way for ‘It Follows’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 22, 2015 - 10:48amCHICAGO – There is a particular atmosphere in “It Follows,” that stalks a viewer long after the credits recede. That is a fine legacy for a horror film, which contains symbolic elements of life itself, and some graveyard humor that breaks the agitation. Yet it also relies on the same old, same old.
Tense Creepy Factor Along the Way for ‘It Follows’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 22, 2015 - 10:44amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There is a particular atmosphere in “It Follows,” that stalks a viewer long after the credits recede. That is a fine legacy for a horror film, which contains symbolic elements of life itself, and some graveyard humor that breaks the agitation. Yet it also relies on the same old, same old.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘Get Hard’ With Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 21, 2015 - 2:55pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new comedy “Get Hard” starring Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart!
Film Review: Lack of Cohesiveness, Intrigue Stymies ‘The Gunman’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 20, 2015 - 11:03pmCHICAGO – If you’re going to see a Sean Penn action movie, I guess “The Gunman” would be appropriate. As he and the filmmakers inject some reality in the usual motivations, the puzzle pieces don’t connect well and in the end are not that interesting. That is not to say that the film is bad.
Lack of Cohesiveness, Intrigue Stymies ‘The Gunman’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 20, 2015 - 10:59pmRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – If you’re going to see a Sean Penn action movie, I guess “The Gunman” would be appropriate. As he and the filmmakers inject some reality in the usual motivations, the puzzle pieces don’t connect well and in the end are not that interesting. That is not to say that the film is bad.
Interview: Director Pierre Morel on Sean Penn, Liam Neeson & His Latest ‘The Gunman’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 20, 2015 - 10:10amCHICAGO – There were basically two careers for Pierre Morel, before he directed the mega-hit “Taken,” starring Liam Neeson, and afterward. The French-born cinematographer, camera operator and now director is releasing “The Gunman,” an action film that stars Sean Penn. Like “Taken,” the motivations for the action are based in the real world, and “The Gunman” travels to Africa, London and Barcelona on his way to redeeming his soul.
Film Review: Shortage of Spark Makes ‘The Divergent Series: Insurgent’ a Second-String Effort
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 20, 2015 - 7:01amCHICAGO – “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” does nothing to change the “Divergent” series status as an off-brand Young Adult epic. As we’ve seen with “The Hunger Games,” these Young Adult franchises can be lots of fun and be faithful to their source material. But “Insurgent” has the same problem as the first two “Harry Potter” films – it’s too faithful, coupled with a dearth of inspiration behind the camera.
Shortage of Spark Makes ‘The Divergent Series: Insurgent’ a Second-String Effort
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 20, 2015 - 6:47amRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” does nothing to change the “Divergent” series status as an off brand Young Adult epic. As we’ve seen with “The Hunger Games,” these Young Adult franchises can be lots of fun and be faithful to their source material. But “Insurgent” has the same problem as the first two “Harry Potter” films – it’s too faithful, coupled with a dearth of inspiration behind the camera.
Film Review: A Magician Debunks the Paranormal in Beguiling Doc ‘An Honest Liar’
Submitted by NickHC on March 19, 2015 - 2:23pmCHICAGO – Magician James Randi, or “The Amazing Randi,” has a made a legacy in using his love of magic to show audiences how they’re being tricked by evangelists, spoon-benders, psychics, etc. A ruthlessly charming Houdini-wannabe with instant showman charisma, he exists as the humbling gravity to a world that can convince itself that unattainable answers are to be found in ideas beyond science.
A Magician Debunks the Paranormal in Beguiling Doc ‘An Honest Liar’
Submitted by NickHC on March 19, 2015 - 2:19pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Magician James Randi, or “The Amazing Randi,” has a made a legacy in using his love of magic to show audiences how they’re being tricked by evangelists, spoon-benders, psychics, etc. A ruthlessly charming Houdini-wannabe with instant showman charisma, he exists as the humbling gravity to a world that can convince itself that unattainable answers are to be found in ideas beyond science.
Blu-ray Review: Chris Rock’s ‘Top Five’ is Pretty Interesting
Submitted by NickHC on March 18, 2015 - 10:39amCHICAGO – Chris Rock isn’t a huge writer/director, but when he does make a film, it’s an event to consider. For example, he made black president tale “Head of State” long before then-senator Barack Obama was even considered for the real-life role, and whether behind the stand-up mic or in an interview, he’s a voice to be reckoned with.
Exclusive Video Interview: Best-Selling Chicago Author Veronica Roth on ‘The Divergent Series: Insurgent’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 15, 2015 - 2:47amCHICAGO – A year ago, we spoke with best-selling Chicago author Veronica Roth along with stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Ansel Elgort at the “Divergent” red-carpet premiere. Since then, the 2014 film has earned $288 million globally on an $85 million production budget.
Theatre Review: Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Princess and the Pea’ Gets Modern Makeover at The Marriott
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 14, 2015 - 10:42pmCHICAGO – Merging old-fashioned chivalry with modern-day TV screens, The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences is currently staging a smile-inducing, family friendly reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea”.
Film Review: Adam Sandler’s ‘The Cobbler’ a Historical, Stupefying Disaster
Submitted by NickHC on March 13, 2015 - 9:40pmCHICAGO – The newest Adam Sandler film that doesn’t feature him dressed like a chubby middle schooler is really bad, but in a special way. Similarly, it is an instant classic in the legacy of bizarre disasters, a footnote in writer/director history that must be witnessed to be fully understood.
Adam Sandler’s ‘The Cobbler’ a Historical, Stupefying Disaster
Submitted by NickHC on March 13, 2015 - 9:36pmRating: 1.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The newest Adam Sandler film that doesn’t feature him dressed like a chubby middle schooler is really bad, but in a special way. Similarly, it is an instant classic in the legacy of bizarre disasters, a footnote in writer/director history that must be witnessed to be fully understood.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘Seymour: An Introduction’ From Ethan Hawke
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 13, 2015 - 5:23pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new music film “Seymour: An Introduction” from writer and director Ethan Hawke on beloved piano teacher Seymour Bernstein!
Interview: Director Robert Kenner Calls Out ‘Merchants of Doubt’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 13, 2015 - 2:05pmCHICAGO – In the War on Truth, there is no more fertile battleground that the United States. As special interests and corporations continue to pour money into their agendas, the traditional information delivery systems – print, broadcast and the internet – are capitulating to liars for the sake of dollars and both-sides-do-it reporting. Director Robert Kenner profiles these “Merchants of Doubt” in his new documentary.