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+.
127 Hours
DVD Review: Danny Boyle’s Excellent ‘127 Hours’ Retains Dramatic Power
Submitted by BrianTT on March 16, 2011 - 7:16pmCHICAGO – Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours” came to theaters, originally in the Windy City as a part of the Chicago International Film Festival, with such fanfare and controversy over its notorious arm-cutting scene that it had almost the force of nature when it first screened. It was a visceral punch to the gut. I wondered how it would play, months later, on the couch instead of in a theater seat. It still works. Boyle’s film is still a dramatically powerful piece of work with a career-best performance from the great James Franco.
Film Feature: AMC Theatres Hosts 2010 Best-Picture Screenings
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 27, 2011 - 12:30pmCHICAGO – Film buffs broke out the coffee and energy drinks the morning before the 83rd Academy Awards as AMC Theatre River East Chicago hosted the 2010 Best Picture nominee screenings, part of a nationwide AMC Theatre promotion.
Film Feature: Our 10 Favorite 2011 Oscar Nominations
Submitted by BrianTT on January 27, 2011 - 4:13pmCHICAGO – Tuesday morning brought a great sigh of relief to movie lovers jaded by last year’s problematic Oscar nominees, which unforgivably included two major nods for the dreadful “The Blind Side.”
Film Feature: 2011 Oscar Favorites Respond to Nominations
Submitted by BrianTT on January 26, 2011 - 3:02pmCHICAGO – Wondering what the 2011 Oscar nominees thought yesterday when they got the big news? Wonder no more with this compilation of official responses to the one of the biggest days of their lives. Respondees include James Franco, Annette Bening, Javier Bardem, Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter.
Blu-Ray Review: James Franco Rocks in Intriguing if Flawed ‘Howl’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 6, 2011 - 1:43pmCHICAGO – James Franco gave a riveting performance in Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours” that is likely to earn one of the best actors of his generation an Academy Award nomination in a few weeks, but it wasn’t his only stellar turn in 2010. He also thoroughly delivered as the legendary poet Allen Ginsberg in the hybrid “Howl,” a film that’s part poem, part courtroom drama, and part history lesson. It doesn’t always come together but it’s worth seeing just for Franco’s work and the strength of the source material alone.
Film Feature: The 10 Best Films of 2010
Submitted by BrianTT on December 20, 2010 - 9:29amCHICAGO – When we look back on this past year in cinema, what will we remember? Ironically, a year after “Avatar” was supposed to change the movie paradigm forever, it’s the human faces that I most vividly remember from 2010.
Film News: ‘The Social Network’ Leads Chicago Film Critics Nominations
Submitted by BrianTT on December 17, 2010 - 7:00amCHICAGO – David Fincher’s “The Social Network” leads the 2010 nominations of the Chicago Film Critics Association with eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Anytime Chicago Passes to ‘127 Hours’ From Oscar-Winning Director Danny Boyle
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 18, 2010 - 12:35amCHICAGO – The film recently hit theaters, but we’re excited to present 25 admit-two run-of-engagement tickets so you can see one of HollywoodChicago.com’s most-raved films of 2010: “127 Hours” from Danny Boyle (the Oscar-winning director of “Slumdog Millionaire”)! And in this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, you can even see the incredible true story of Aron Ralston (as portrayed by James Franco) for free at the convenient time of your choosing!
Feature: The Top 9 Films of Director Danny Boyle
Submitted by BrianTT on November 15, 2010 - 12:46pmCHICAGO – In various interviews over the years, British filmmaker Danny Boyle has expressed his belief that “your first film is your best film.” It may not be the most technically accomplished or dramatically satisfying work, but it marks a crucial period of freshness and experimentation, as the rookie director becomes acquainted with the creative challenges of feature film production.
Film Review: James Franco, Danny Boyle Elevate Harrowing Saga of ‘127 Hours’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 12, 2010 - 8:39amCHICAGO – What separates us during extreme danger? Why do some people collapse under the weight of likely death while others push forward and make it out alive? What fuels the will to survive to the point that it can do the unimaginable?