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.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Audio Film Review: In Search of the Family in ‘Fourth of July’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 4, 2022 - 10:42amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “Fourth of July,” a new film co-written (with lead actor Joe List) and directed by exiled comedian Louis C.K.. It opened in select theaters on July 1st, 2022, see local listings.
Audio Film Review: The Faces of Face-Off in ‘Official Competition’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 3, 2022 - 7:32pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “Official Competition,” a new Spain/Argentina film about a trio – two actors and a director – trying to get a film out of rehearsal and in front of the cameras. It opened in select theaters on July 1st, 2022, see local listings.
On-Air Film Review: He’s Coming Out! ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 1, 2022 - 1:36pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 30th, reviewing “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” an expansion of the popular YouTube series featuring Jenny Slate. In select theaters starting July 1st..
On-Air Film Review: Loving the Man in ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 1, 2022 - 1:08pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 30th, reviewing “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” the fifth film in the “Despicable Me” animated film series, in theaters beginning July 1st.
Living La Vita! Audio Blu-ray Review of Federico Fellini's ‘La Dolce Vita’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 28, 2022 - 12:22pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio Blu-ray DVD review of “La Dolce Vita,” the Federico Fellini film masterpiece that introduced the 1960s to itself, and the term “Paparazzi” to the language, now available through Paramount Pictures wherever Blu-rays are sold.
Podtalk: Gary G. Chichester, Grand Marshall, Chicago Pride Parade
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 25, 2022 - 1:30pmCHICAGO – 52 years ago Monday (June 27th, 2022), a young activist got together with a group of marchers – with no permit – and showed the City of Chicago the actual faces of gay liberation. Gary G. Chichester was part of that first gay pride march in 1970 … and 52 years later he’s the Grand Marshall of the 2022 Chicago Pride Parade, live and in person!
On-Air TV Review: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Rewrites the Superhero Rules
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 25, 2022 - 12:53pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson, WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin), on June 23rd, 2022, reviewing the new streaming series “Ms Marvel,” a new kind of Marvel Universe superhero now streaming on Disney+.
Film News: Matt Damon Named Gene Siskel Film Center Renaissance Award Honoree
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 24, 2022 - 11:55amCHICAGO – Matt Damon, the leading man whose roles play like a character actor, is the latest recipient of the Gene Siskel Film Center Renaissance Award, part of the Center’s 50th Anniversary fundraiser (click here for details) He will do a live virtual interview moderated by Robert Downey Jr., which will be s
Film Review: Baz Luhrman’s 'Elvis' is a Hanka Hunka Burning Drudge
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 24, 2022 - 10:04amCHICAGO – Director Baz Luhrman’s “Elvis” has plenty of suspicious minds, but precious little mystery as his trademark excess fails to breathe new life into the tired legacy of the King. No amount of montages, quick cuts, and odd music choices can obscure the fact that we don’t see anything here that even the casual Elvis fan doesn’t already know.
Podtalk: Exec Director Frank Carr of 2022 YIPPIE FEST, Calling for Acts to Perform, Aug. 19-21
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 21, 2022 - 2:44pmCHICAGO – YIPPIE! It’s back. Coming off two years of cancellations, the performance event YIPPIE FEST 2022 will take place from Friday, August 19th through Sunday, August 21at at the Den Theatre, 1331 North Milwaukee, Chicago. Currently, the Fest is calling for acts, with music and stand up comedy slots already filled, but any other type of performance, sketch, improv or theatre. This is your opportunity to perform, so sign up by clicking YiPPIE FEST 2022.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Harold and Maude’ Reminds Us Be Free & Be You
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 21, 2022 - 11:55amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on Star 96.7 WSSR-FM (Joliet, IL) reviewing the new Blu-Ray edition of “Harold and Maude,” the cult classic featuring Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort in the ultimate May/December lesson about freedom, passion and love.
Flashback: Happy 80th Birthday to Brian Wilson of ‘The Beach Boys’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 20, 2022 - 8:29amCHICAGO – In 2015, I got the call that I would get an opportunity to interview legendary songwriter and pop artist Brian Wilson of the 1960s supergroup The Beach Boys. He was at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago introducing the bio-film “Love & Mercy.” Today (June 20th) is Brian Wilson’s 80th Birthday, and the interview is reprinted below.
Tribeca2022: In Person Fest Ends, At Home Continues Until June 26th
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 19, 2022 - 10:40amNEW YORK – The 2022 in-person 21st Tribeca Film Festival ends today (June 19th). But the highly successful hybrid (click link) TRIBECAatHOME goes on through June 26th, for an extra week to catch up with the films of Tribeca.
