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
Tom Hanks, Ron Howard Misfire With Ridiculous ‘Angels & Demons’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 15, 2009 - 10:34am Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Ron Howard’s “Angels & Demons,” the sequel to “The Da Vinci Code,” is an absolute mess, a film that tries hard to break free from the dull tone of its predecessor but ends up even more ridiculous, frustrating and generally worthless.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop’ With Kevin James a Massive Comedy Hit
Submitted by BrianTT on May 15, 2009 - 10:26amCHICAGO – Being a big fan of Kevin James and his underrated sitcom “The King of Queens” and marveling at the massive box office for Steve Carr’s “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” I approached the Blu-Ray release of this hit title with cautious optimism. I’m still very happy for the talented James, but he deserves better than this slapstick-y and inconsistent comedy.
TV Review: B-Movie Thrills Live on in BBC America’s ‘Primeval’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 14, 2009 - 8:26pmCHICAGO – BBC America’s “Primeval” is a wonderful slice of B-movie thrills on the small screen, a great piece of escapism on Saturday nights that is yet another jewel in the crown of this fantastic cable network.
Blu-Ray Review: Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson in Supernatural ‘Passengers’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 14, 2009 - 8:20pmCHICAGO – There have been several interesting movies about plane crashes, none more so than Peter Weir’s amazing “Fearless” with its career-best performance by Jeff Bridges. There’s something nearly supernatural about surviving falling from the sky in a several-ton hunk of metal. It’s that otherworldly quality that Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson use for creepy thrills in the moderately effective “Passengers,” now on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Interview: Managing Expectations of Life, Love With ‘Management’ Director Stephen Belber
Submitted by BrianTT on May 14, 2009 - 2:10pmCHICAGO – Stephen Belber, the acclaimed playwright behind “The Laramie Project” and “Tape,” which was adapted into a feature film by director Richard Linklater, makes his directorial debut this week with the quirky romantic comedy “Management” starring Steve Zahn and Jennifer Aniston. He took time out of his busy schedule to make an international call from Paris, France to discuss the film with HollywoodChicago.com.
Video: Trailer For ‘Nine’ With Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz
Submitted by BrianTT on May 14, 2009 - 8:45amCHICAGO – The trailer for the highly anticipated musical “Nine” was released today and you really must take a look. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Fergie, and Sophia Loren, and directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”), “Nine” feels like the first trailer for a likely major Oscar candidate for 2009.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 16 ‘Star Trek: D-A-C’ Xbox Games
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on May 13, 2009 - 11:59pmCHICAGO – We’re riding the critically acclaimed wave of the just-released “Star Trek” film from J.J. Abrams starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Eric Bana, Anton Yelchin, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Leonard Nimoy, Bruce Greenwood, Ben Cross and Winona Ryder with an extremely exciting edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film!
Martin Scorsese to Direct Frank Sinatra Biopic
Submitted by BrianTT on May 13, 2009 - 7:44pmCHICAGO – One of the best directors that ever lived, Martin Scorsese, is about to tackle the life story of one of the best singers in the history of his form, Frank Sinatra, according to today’s Variety.
‘House’ Star Olivia Wilde Named Maxim’s Hottest Woman Over Megan Fox of ‘Transformers’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 13, 2009 - 7:28pmCHICAGO – Maxim released their annual Hot 100 this week and made a surprising choice for their #1 slot, choosing “House” star Olivia Wilde over the popular favorite, Megan Fox of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”.
DVD Review, Video: ‘Paul Simon and Friends’ a Riveting Tribute to Legendary Musician
Submitted by BrianTT on May 13, 2009 - 1:32pmCHICAGO – There are dozens of concert films and music DVDs out there. Most of them are interchangeable collector’s items made almost solely for diehard fans of the band or artist. Very few transcend the limitations of their sub-genre to become more than a mild diversion. “Paul Simon and Friends” is one of those very few.
Video Game Review: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ a Mix of Fun, Frustration
Submitted by BrianTT on May 13, 2009 - 12:32pm Video Game Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The first hour of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is a total blast, a great blend of above-average graphics, interesting story elements, and clever fighting moves that hint at an enjoyable gaming experience to come. The hint is never quite fulfilled, as “Wolverine” becomes as repetitive and frustrating as the blockbuster film that inspired it.
Interview: Ryan Murphy Dances His Way to ‘Glee’ on FOX
Submitted by BrianTT on May 12, 2009 - 8:11pmCHICAGO – Ryan Murphy is not a TV writer who believes in following the rules. He reached nearly iconic status from the loyal followers of FX’s “Nip/Tuck” and is trying to create water-cooler TV yet again with FOX’s very unique “Glee,” a show that we’ll review later this week (but you can check out a great clip here if you’re impatient).
Blu-Ray Review: ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’ Special Widescreen Edition
Submitted by BrianTT on May 12, 2009 - 12:44pmCHICAGO – The first season of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” one of the most successful and beloved shows of the ’00s, is finally available in widescreen HD from CBS/Paramount. With five discs and over 17 hours of murder mystery mayhem, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” is a perfect gift for the TV fan in your circle of friends and family.
