CHICAGO – The Steppenwolf Theatre of Chicago continues to provide different viewpoints on the American stage, and their latest “Little Bear Ridge Road” is no exception. Featuring ensemble member Laurie Metcalf, it’s the resonate story of a family at the crossroads. For tickets/details, click LITTLE BEAR.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Max Payne’ is Like Watching Someone Else Play Video Games
Submitted by BrianTT on January 29, 2009 - 9:47am Blu-Ray Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It can be so easy to waste multiple hours, even days with great video games, and yet it is sometimes unbearable to sit through 90 minutes of the cinematic adaptation of the same concept. Such is the case with the abysmal “Max Payne,” yet another in a long line of video-game-to-screen disasters that continue to prove how little Hollywood thinks of gamers.
Exclusive Portrait: ‘New in Town’ Star Harry Connick Jr. in Chicago
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 28, 2009 - 11:03pmCHICAGO – Actor Harry Connick Jr. flashed the HollywoodChicago.com lens a welcoming smile while signing autographs for fans in the name of his new film “New in Town” on Jan. 28, 2009 at the Shops of North Bridge mall on downtown Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 20 Autographed ‘Underworld: Rise of the Lycans’ Posters From Kevin Grevioux
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 28, 2009 - 6:47pmCHICAGO – Following our interview with Chicago-born Marvel Comics writer and “Underworld” and “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” character creator Kevin Grevioux, we now have a special HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with 20 autographed Kevin Grevioux posters for the new film up for grabs.
‘Privileged’ Star Lucy Hale Auditions For Role in ‘Twilight’ Sequel ‘New Moon’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 28, 2009 - 6:37pmCHICAGO – Lucy Hale, the star of The CW’s “Privileged,” revealed this week that she too has auditioned for a role in the upcoming sequel to Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight,” the highly anticipated “New Moon,” to be directed by Chris Weitz and going into production soon.
Blu-Ray Round Up, Jan. 28, 2009: ‘Hulk Vs.,’ ‘Antwone Fisher,’ ‘Repo,’ ‘Stargate’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 28, 2009 - 3:32pmCHICAGO – We’re back with our recurring feature, the Blu-Ray Round Up, a collection of HD releases that might have slipped through the cracks but that could grab your attention. With dozens of catalog titles and straight-to-video releases hitting the next-gen format every week, it’s easy to miss a movie that you’d love to add to your collection. The Blu-Ray Round Up is here for you.
Gordon Ramsay’s Overly Formulaic ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Has Grown Cold
Submitted by BrianTT on January 28, 2009 - 12:17pm Television Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – By its very nature, reality television is formulaic. “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race,” “Project Runway,” “Top Chef” - They all follow the same structure every year. But good reality TV mixes it up with interesting competitors and enough variety to keep viewers interested. It has gotten to the point where you can barely tell one episode of “Hell’s Kitchen” from another one, much less from season to season.
Blu-Ray Review: Mixed Bag of Clichés, Quality Performances in ‘Lakeview Terrace’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 28, 2009 - 10:44am Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Neil LaBute’s “Lakeview Terrace” delivers as close to the “marginal thumbs up or down” line as any movie released in 2008. There are some intriguing ideas about race and excellent performances, but the film feels like a missed opportunity to be something greater, even if a strong Blu-Ray release helps the final product.
Video Game Review: ‘Wonder World Amusement Park’ Creates Portable Fun
Submitted by BrianTT on January 27, 2009 - 5:18pmCHICAGO – Majesco’s “Wonder World Amusement Park” for the Nintendo DS is a pleasurable diversion but could just as easily be deemed by some buyers to be a wasted opportunity to be something more. Ultimately, for a low purchase price and a game targeted at kids, it’s hard to complain too much about a title that will likely satisfy its target audience.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Pride and Glory’ Wastes Two Talented Stars in Generic Drama
Submitted by BrianTT on January 27, 2009 - 10:41am Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The Blu-Ray package for Gavin O’Connor’s “Pride and Glory” features shots of stars Edward Norton and Colin Farrell wielding guns on both the front and back of the case. The artistic intention is clear - Try and sell this generic, dull cop drama as an action film, as that’s the genre that takes off on the home market. Don’t buy it.
DVD Review: ‘Sam Kinison Unleashed’ Brings Comic Genius to DVD
Submitted by BrianTT on January 27, 2009 - 10:29am DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Anyone who has ever seen a Sam Kinison stand-up special knows the truth. The man was a genius. Finally, people unfamiliar with the mad preacher will get to see for themselves and those of us old enough to remember Kinison’s all-too-brief time in the spotlight can revisit this inspirational and hilarious comedian on DVD with “Sam Kinison Unleashed”.
DVD Round Up, Jan. 27, 2009: ‘Moonlight,’ ‘College,’ ‘City of Ember’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 27, 2009 - 10:19amCHICAGO – We apologize to the people behind these four titles but the star power is a little dim in this edition of HollywoodChicago.com’s DVD Round Up. When a canceled vampire series is arguably the biggest release in a four-pack of titles, it’s a weird edition of the Round Up. Prepare yourself.
Blu-Ray Review: True Story, Good Performance Give Speed to ‘The Express’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 26, 2009 - 1:39pm Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There’s nothing surprising about “The Express”. It’s a true story that hits all of the beats that you would expect it to for an inspirational sports movie. A big game, a bad injury, and the will to overcome extreme adversity - these are the staples of the genre.
Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet Win 2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards
Submitted by BrianTT on January 26, 2009 - 10:41amCHICAGO – The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) gave out its coveted awards on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009 and Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet, Sean Penn and Meryl Streep walked away with the major film acting prizes.
