December 2023

Podtalk: Comedian Fritz Coleman in ‘Unassisted Living’ on Tubi

CHICAGO – The sound of laughter echos on streaming service TUBI, as veteran stand up comic Fritz Coleman presents “Unassisted Living,” his wacky journey with the vagrancies of getting older. The special is currently streaming, and TUBI is a free service to download as an app or to visit at UNASSISTED LIVING.

Podtalk: Director Adrian Buitenhuis on ‘I Am Burt Reynolds’

CHICAGO – Arguably, the last great movie star was Burt Reynolds. His everyman attraction, his accessibility and of course his box office made Reynolds a compelling force during his peak in the 1970s. The CW Network will show the doc “I Am Burt Reynolds” on December 30th, 2023, directed by Adrian Buitenhuis.

FLASHBACK Interview In Memoriam: Lee Sun-kyun Dies at Age 48

Lee Sun Kyun, APUC17 2023

CHICAGO – The world was rocked on December 27th, 2023, when the report came through that South Korean (SK) actor Lee Sun-kyun – who had a prominent role in the 2019 Oscar Best Picture “Parasite’ – had died from an apparent suicide in Seoul (SK), months after his appearance during Closing Night at Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC), where he represented his outrageous new comedy, “Killing Romance

Audio Film Review: ‘The Color Purple’ Adapts to a Film Musical

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “The Color Purple,” the film musical adaptation of the beloved novel by Alice Walker, produced by Steven Spielberg … the director of the 1985 film version … and Oprah Winfrey. In theaters since December 25th.

Eternal Beloved! Audio Film Review of ‘The Color Purple’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 5.0/5.0
Rating: 5.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “The Color Purple,” the film musical adaptation of the beloved novel by Alice Walker, produced by Steven Spielberg … the director of the 1985 film version … and Oprah Winfrey. In theaters since December 25th.

Audio Film Review: Crew Olympiad for ‘The Boys in the Boat’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “The Boys in the Boat,” the latest historical drama directed by George Clooney, about the rowing crew team that competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In theaters since December 25th.

Crew Olympiad! Audio Film Review of ‘The Boys in the Boat’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “The Boys in the Boat,” the latest historical drama directed by George Clooney, about the rowing crew team that competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In theaters since December 25th.

Audio Film Review: Watery ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’

Aquaman 2

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” part of the DC Comics Universe directed by James Wan and featuring … in this second outing as the watery character … Jason Momoa. In theaters beginning on December 22nd.

Watery! Audio Film Review of ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.0/5.0
Rating: 3.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” part of the DC Comics Universe directed by James Wan and featuring … in this second outing as the watery character … Jason Momoa. In theaters beginning on December 22nd.

On-Air Film Review: ‘American Fiction’ Generates Nom de Plumage

American Fiction

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 21st, 2023, reviewing “American Fiction,” the directorial debut of Cord Jefferson, who also adapted the screenplay. In theaters December 21st, 2023.

Nom de Plumage! On-Air Review of ‘American Fiction’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 21st, 2023, reviewing “American Fiction,” the directorial debut of Cord Jefferson, who also adapted the screenplay. In theaters December 21st, 2023.

Film Review: Zac Efron the Weak Link in Wrestling Drama ‘The Iron Claw’

Iron Claw, The

CHICAGO – An epic piece of miscasting puts “The Iron Claw” in a sleeper hold it’s never quite able to escape from … the pint sized gaping empty hole at its center has a name, and it is Zac Efron. Efron mistakenly believes that his admittedly drastic physical transformation will do his acting for him.

Zac Efron the Weak Link in Wrestling Drama ‘The Iron Claw’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.0/5.0
Rating: 2.0/5.0

CHICAGO – An epic piece of miscasting puts “The Iron Claw” in a sleeper hold it’s never quite able to escape from … the pint sized gaping empty hole at its center has a name, and it is Zac Efron. Efron mistakenly believes that his admittedly drastic physical transformation will do his acting for him. But instead of looking tough, he instead looks distractingly cartoonish, like a He-Man doll come to life.

DVD Gift Ideas: Paramount Home Entertainment ... Anniversary & Special Editions, Including 4K

Paramount Home Entertainment 2023 Gifts

CHICAGODVD editions from Paramount Home Entertainment’s most popular films are on tap for holiday and general gift giving, and several are in the latest 4K ULTRA HD format … providing high definition pixel imagery that is PERFECT for backyard or any projected film nights.

DVD Gift Ideas: Three Titles for the Film Elite AKA Geeks in Your Life

Gift DVDs Film Elite

CHICAGO – Film elites are a particularly hard category of movie buffs to satisfy come gift giving time. When they drop terms like auteur and film movements and directors you’ve never heard of, what’s the best DVDs to give them? Here are three notables that have been released in the last couple of years.

Film Feature: The 10 Best Films of 2023, By Patrick McDonald

CHICAGO – Here we are again, the end of another year, and it’s time to momentarily look back. Thus opens the 10 BEST FILMS OF 2023, the list that represents one soul interacting with the art of cinema. That soul belongs to Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, WBGR-FM and WSSR-FM.

On-Air Film Review: Eggy Fun in ‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’

Chicken Run 2

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 14th, 2023, reviewing “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” the animated sequel to 2000’s “Chicken Run.” Steaming on Netflix beginning December 15th, 2023.

Eggy! On-Air Review of ‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 14th, 2023, reviewing “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” the animated sequel to 2000’s “Chicken Run.” Steaming on Netflix beginning December 15th, 2023.

Film Review: Charming Timothée Chalomet Brings the Willy to ‘Wonka’

CHICAGO – “Wonka” is a sweet, perhaps too sweet, musical origin story of the world famous cantankerous candy man. Timothée Chalomet has got a song in his heart and sweets up his sleeve in a movie that threatens to give old fashioned “family films” a good name once again.

Charming Timothée Chalomet Brings the Willy to ‘Wonka’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – “Wonka” is a sweet, perhaps too sweet, musical origin story of the world famous cantankerous candy man. Timothée Chalomet has got a song in his heart and sweets up his sleeve in a movie that threatens to give old fashioned “family films” a good name once again.

Interview, Film Review: Um Tae-hwa and His ‘Concrete Utopia’

CHICAGO – There is a thoughtfulness in the top South Korean films that cannot be duplicated in any other cinema culture. Along with now classics like “Oldboy” and “Parasite,” another Korean visionary emerges with a story about humanity … co-writer and director Um Tae-hwa has created a “Concrete Utopia.” The film is in U.S. theaters on December 15th.

In Memoriam: Rocker Denny Laine of Band on the Run ‘Wings’

Denny Laine, Photo by Joe Arce 2010

CHICAGO – Denny Laine is a historic force in both the British Invasion of the 1960s with the Moody Blues, and as a member of “Wings” the band formed by him plus Paul and Linda McCartney in the 1970s. Laine died on December 5th, 2023, in Naples, Florida. He was 79.

Podtalk: Playwright Desiree Burcum Wishes Us ‘A Judy Christmas’

CHICAGO – In 1963, Judy Garland had a CBS-TV variety series, and in December there was a Christmas episode featuring her kids … including Liza Minnelli. Playwright Desiree Burcum and the comedy troupe FAMOUS IN THE FUTURE have created (click link) ”A Judy Christmas” as a stage play.

Podtalk: Costume Designer Holly Waddington of ‘Poor Things’

Holly Waddington, Photo by Patrick McDonald 2023

CHICAGO – One of the great “characters” in Yorgos Lanthinmos excellent new film “Poor Things” is undoubtably the costumes that Bella (Emma Stone) wears. The costume designer behind those works of art is Holly Waddington, and HollywoodChicago.com talked to her at the Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) in October.

In Memoriam: Icon Norman Lear is Just Another Version of You

CHICAGO – In his humility, Norman Lear liked to express that he was “just another version of you.” In our humanity, we are different renderings, but all related, as the titan of TV philosophically said. Norman Lear died at his home in Los Angeles on December 5th, 2023. He was 101 years old.

On-Air Film Review: Bird is the Word in ‘The Boy and the Heron’

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 7th, 2023, reviewing “The Boy and the Heron,” the latest animated film from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki. In theaters on December 8th, 2023.

Bird is the Word! On-Air Review of ‘The Boy and the Heron’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 5.0/5.0
Rating: 5.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 7th, 2023, reviewing “The Boy and the Heron,” the latest animated film from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki. In theaters on December 8th, 2023.

Podtalk: New Doc on HULU Expresses ‘We Live Here: The Midwest’

CHICAGO – The scapegoating of LGBTQIA+ folks as a backlash to the community progress in the last decade has been swift, fear-based and uniquely unAmerican. In response, producer David Clayton Miller and director Melinda Maerker have created a new doc entitled “We Live Here: The Midwest,” streaming on HULU beginning December 6th, 2023.

Podtalk: Jeremy Coon & Steven Kozak for ‘A Disturbance in the Force’

CHICAGO – A long time ago (1978) in an America far far away, the one and only showing of the “Star Wars Holiday Special” took place on CBS-TV. Infamously miscast and difficult to watch, the history of the show is chronicled in a new doc “A Disturbance in the Force,” co-directed by Jeremy Coon and Steven Kozak.

On-Air Film Review: Pepperminty Eddie Murphy in ‘Candy Cane Lane’

Candy Cane Lane

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on a 3-Station Broadcast … Star 96.7 Joliet (IL), Star 102.3 Waukegan and Star 105.5 McHenry on September 1st, reviewing the Christmas movie “Candy Cane Lane,” streaming on Prime Video beginning December 1st, 2023.

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