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 2019
Film Review: An Obsessive Couple’s Journey in ‘Ash is Purest White’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 9, 2019 - 10:06amCHICAGO – Obsessive love is a movie story staple, and “Ash is Purest White” puts a Chinese point-of-view on this strange phenomenon. This is a coupling in the background of organized crime and a changing China, and their success and failure is based on the events surrounding them as much as their devotion to each other.
An Obsessive Couple’s Journey in ‘Ash is Purest White’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 9, 2019 - 10:03am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Obsessive love is a movie story staple, and “Ash is Purest White” puts a Chinese point-of-view on this strange phenomenon. This is a coupling in the background of organized crime and a changing China, and their success and failure is based on the events surrounding them as much as their devotion to each other.
Film Review: Terrible Messaging in ‘The Best of Enemies’ Ruins an Otherwise Serviceable Film
Submitted by JonHC on April 6, 2019 - 7:48pmCHICAGO - According to my YouTube history, unlikely animal friendships would likely be in my top 10 most watched videos, alongside DIY home projects and finding out if that sharp pain means I’m dying. Something as simple as a cat and dog being bffs is adorable, but unlike what “The Best of Enemies” would have you believe, two naturally opposing forces don’t always need to play nice.
Terrible Messaging in ‘The Best of Enemies’ Ruins a Serviceable Film
Submitted by JonHC on April 6, 2019 - 7:45pm Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – According to my YouTube history, unlikely animal friendships would likely be in my top 10 most watched videos, alongside DIY home projects and finding out if that sharp pain means I’m dying. Something as simple as a cat and dog being bffs is adorable, but unlike what “The Best of Enemies” would have you believe, two naturally opposing forces don’t always need to play nice.
Podtalk: Alison Klayman on ‘The Brink,’ Her New Documentary Profiling Steve Bannon
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 6, 2019 - 10:21amCHICAGO – What does the title of Alison Klayman’s new documentary, “The Brink,” mean? On the surface, it is a fly-on-the-wall profile of right wing operative Steve Bannon, who worked for Donald Trump’s campaign in 2016 and was on his executive staff at the White House, until he unceremoniously resigned.
Interview: Dillon Schneider of ‘Best Video’ Nominee at American Country Music Awards
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 5, 2019 - 10:14pmCHICAGO – Dillon Schneider is the quintessential local man made good. A graduate of Chicagoland’s Barrington High School and the city’s Columbia College, Schneider was the cinematographer for the music video “Burn Out” by Midland, which is nominated for Best Video at the 54th American Country Music (ACM) Awards, coming up on April 7th, 2019.
HollywoodChicago.com ESP, En Español: 'Shazam!' y 'The Best of Enemies'
Submitted by JonHC on April 5, 2019 - 8:15pmCHICAGO – Cada semana, HollywoodChicago.com le traerá las criticas de las películas que hemos visto y que están saliendo esa semana, pero en español. HollywoodChicago.com ESP no sólo representa HollywoodChicago.com Espanol, sino también Esta Semana en Peliculas. Esta semana, nos sobrecargamos y canalizamos a nuestro héroe interior con “Shazam!”, y luego tomamos un viaje al pasado con una historia real que tiene un mensaje dañino con “The Best of Enemies”.
Podtalk: Wendy Mateo of ‘Good Mothers’ at 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival, April 7, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 5, 2019 - 8:14pmCHICAGO – The 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) continues this week through April 11th, 2019, with a ghostly double feature. The short film “Good Mothers” (USA) is about two sisters building an altar to their mother, which conjures her spirit for 24 hours. Writer/director/Lead Actor Wendy Mateo will represent the film at the screening on April 7th, paired with “My Girlfriend’s Ghost” (Dominican Republic). For more details and tickets, click here.
Photo Gallery: The Darbies Perform at the RocHaus on April 5, 2019
Submitted by JeffDoles on April 5, 2019 - 2:20pmWEST DUNDEE, Ill. – The Darbies are a rock n roll quartet forged in the majestic and azure city-tide of the west end of Los Angeles. Like many bands before them, The Darbies are tinged with that peculiar, mythic brilliance that characterizes the musical portraiture of the teeming Los Angeles soundscape. Young, ambitious, persistent and forged with an undeniable devil-may-care-vintage-rock swagger, The Darbies are climbing to the top with a rapidity matched only by the sweltering charisma of their captivating musical presence, and breathtakingly cathartic live performances.
Film Review: ‘Shazam!’ is a Paint by Numbers Superhero Movie
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 5, 2019 - 9:04amCHICAGO – The former Captain Marvel (story below) is now “Shazam!,” and has his own film in the DC Comics universe. Zachary Levi portrays the title character, now with a new origin to go along with his new name. Speaking of that, no new ground is broken in this pretty standard foster-kid-makes-good hero epic.
‘Shazam!’ is a Paint by Numbers Superhero Movie
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 5, 2019 - 9:01am Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The former Captain Marvel (story below) is now “Shazam!,” and has his own film in the DC Comics universe. Zachary Levi portrays the title character, now with a new origin to go along with his new name. Speaking of that, no new ground is broken in this pretty standard foster-kid-makes-good hero epic.
Interview: U.S Premiere of ‘Humanpersons’ at 35th Chicago Latino Film Fest, April 3, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 2, 2019 - 1:45pmCHICAGO – The 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) continues this week with the special U.S. Premiere of “Humanpersons,” a searing Spain/Panama/Brazil co-produced drama on human trafficking, specifically for the harvesting of transplant organs. Writer/director Frank Spano, a Spanish/South American filmmaker and actor, completed this second feature recently, and filmed some scenes in the State of Illinois. He will make an appearance at the premiere, which will be at 6pm on April 3rd, 2019. For more details and tickets, click here.
Podtalk: Chicago Co-Producer JoAnn Fakhouri on Digital Release of ‘Dreams I Never Had’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 1, 2019 - 6:50pmCHICAGO – Immigration is a hot-button topic in our current landscape, and director Iyad Hajjaj has pushed that button with his latest film, “Dreams I Never Had.” The spin in the story is based on truth, where a teenage girl – trafficked illegally into America – is attached to a family to essentially become their domestic laborer. Chicagoan JoAnn Fakhouri was the co-producer on the project, and brought in some Chicago talent to contribute to the production. “Dreams I Never Had” is now available for download on Amazon Prime Video and other digital outlets.
Film Review: Historical Drama is Fortified by Technique in 'Sunset'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 1, 2019 - 12:19pmCHICAGO – History is made when you’re often busy making other plans. That is ardently illustrated in “Sunset,” a drama set early in the second decade of the 20th Century in the on-the-brink-of-revolution capital of Budapest, Hungary. A retail store is the town’s centerpiece, plus there is a mysterious woman associated with that store, until she isn’t.
Historical Drama is Fortified by Technique in 'Sunset'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 1, 2019 - 12:13pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – History is made when you’re often busy making other plans. That is ardently illustrated in “Sunset,” a drama set early in the second decade of the 20th Century in the on-the-brink-of-revolution capital of Budapest, Hungary. A retail store is the town’s centerpiece, plus there is a mysterious woman associated with that store, until she isn’t.
Podtalk: Midwest Independent Film Fest Screens ‘Same Boat’ on Apr. 2, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 1, 2019 - 11:00amCHICAGO – Combining time travel and a cruise ship has never been so hilarious. So describes this unique and magical “Same Boat” (directed by Chris Roberti and written by Roberti with Josh Itzkowitz), is a Chicago Premiere at the Midwest Independent Film Festival on April 2nd, 2019. Click here for tickets and details.
