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+.
HollywoodChicago.com Blu-Ray Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Lavish Release For Frustrating ‘The Great Gatsby’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 26, 2013 - 9:25amCHICAGO – God, I want to love “The Great Gatsby,” on Blu-ray and DVD from Warner Bros. tomorrow, August 27, 2013. I adore “Moulin Rouge!” and think Baz Luhrmann’s approach to the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic was a daring one. And, watching the film again at home, in a great 2D/HD transfer instead of a garish 3D one, I found more to respect here.
What to Watch: Aug. 20-26, 2013
Submitted by BrianTT on August 23, 2013 - 2:07pmCHICAGO – This week’s What to Watch on DVD, Blu-ray, Netflix, Amazon, On Demand, and more features one of the best programs on television, a great indie drama that had its Windy City premiere at the Chicago Critics Film Festival, something for the family, and two of the worst movies of 2013. Pick your favorites.
Blu-ray Review: Sleepy Thriller ‘The Company You Keep’ Boasts Starry Cast
Submitted by mattmovieman on August 22, 2013 - 4:27pmCHICAGO – Robert Redford has slowly become that grandfatherly figure who spends his time in the corner at family gatherings, lecturing nearby whippersnappers on the importance of challenging authority, while reminiscing about the war protests of generation’s past. He’s a well-meaning guy, but his crusty words of wisdom could use a shot of adrenaline.
Blu-ray Review: Andre Téchiné’s Invaluable Lost Gem ‘The Brontë Sisters’
Submitted by mattmovieman on August 22, 2013 - 4:25pmCHICAGO – Hats off to Cohen Media Group for unearthing yet another indispensable piece of cinema. Andre Téchiné, the brilliant French director perhaps best known for 1994’s “Wild Reeds,” united three great actresses to star in his ambitious, painstakingly researched 1979 portrait of the Brontë sisters who authored literary classics under male pseudonyms.
What to Watch: Aug. 13-19, 2013
Submitted by BrianTT on August 19, 2013 - 5:02pmCHICAGO – Welcome to the new world of Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming coverage on HollywoodChicago.com. With so many options from iTunes to Video On Demand to Hulu to Blu-ray, what should you be watching this week? Every week, we’ll highlight some of the most interesting new releases, link to our full review coverage when applicable, tell you what’s special about the Blu-ray releases, and point you in the right direction to watch them.
Blu-ray Review: Wes Craven’s Cult Classic ‘Swamp Thing’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 15, 2013 - 4:20pmCHICAGO – After making incredibly influential, low-budget horror films like “The Last House on the Left” and “The Hills Have Eyes,” Wes Craven was essentially at a career crossroads. Keep staying off the radar or join contemporaries like John Carpenter in a quest for more mainstream success. Thus, “Swamp Thing” was born. While it is seen as a cult B-movie now, this was Craven’s attempt at showing he could do something more crowd-pleasing than his dark fare.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Mud’ Has the Feel of a Modern American Classic
Submitted by BrianTT on August 14, 2013 - 1:59pmCHICAGO – Maybe it’s the indeterminate time period that doesn’t rely on modern pop culture references or technology. Maybe it’s the sense that we’re watching a great Young Adult novel turned into a film. Maybe it’s the timeless themes of rebellion, love, and loss. Whatever it is, “Mud” already feels like a classic.
Blu-ray Review: Remastered Edition of ‘70s Cult Hit ‘A Boy and His Dog’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 14, 2013 - 1:53pmCHICAGO – Some people take L.Q. Jones’ adaptation of Harlan Ellison’s “A Boy and His Dog” very seriously. When Jones begins his new discussion with the author talking about how there are people who consider his film the best science fiction movie of all time, it raises an eyebrow for a second, but he’s right. There are people who bow at the altar of this kinky tale of survival. Not me. I’ve always found it a bit clunky and too episodic in its narrative but if you think I’m crazy for that opinion, the Blu-ray is a beauty with a gorgeous transfer and illuminating special features.
Blu-ray Review: Beautiful Criterion Edition of ‘The Earrings of Madame De...’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 12, 2013 - 9:40pmCHICAGO – French films from the ’50s can be a tough sell to a modern audience and Max Ophuls’ “The Earrings of Madame De…” recently upgraded by Criterion to a gorgeous Blu-ray edition and re-released on DVD, hasn’t gotten the critical attention it deserves over the years and so it’s not as instantly recognizable as “something that should be seen” as some of the other films of its era. Trust me. This is “something that should be seen” by everyone.
Blu-ray Review: Stunning Visuals Can’t Save Hollow ‘Oblivion’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 9, 2013 - 4:15pmCHICAGO – Does anyone else remember when sci-fi was fun? Sure, there have always been philosphical, “deep” pieces of science fiction like “2001” and “Blade Runner,” but the genre has become so stunningly self-serious this year. The weight of it nearly crushes “Elysium” and totally decimated “After Earth.” And then we have “Oblivion,” recently released on Blu-ray, a movie that looks great but thinks it has a lot more to say than it ultimately does. And it’s just not fun.
