CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio review for the doc series “Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose,” about the rise and bitter fall of the major league legend, the MLB’s all-time hits leader, only to be banned from the sport because of gambling. Streaming on MAX and on HBO since July 24th.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
DVD Review: Criterion Release of Lars von Trier’s ‘Europa’ Hypnotizes
Submitted by BrianTT on December 10, 2008 - 9:48amCHICAGO – Lars von Trier opens his brilliant “Europa” by literally trying to hypnotize his audience. A barely lit train track moves slowly across the screen as Max von Sydow calmly incants a hypnotizing speech and countdown. “On the count of ten, you will be in Europa.” Is he speaking to the audience or to the man who just appeared on the screen when he says, “You are in Germany. The year is 1945.”?
DVD, Blu-Ray Round Up, Dec. 9, 2008: ‘Jet Li’s Fearless,’ ‘Man on Wire,’ ‘Swingtown’
Submitted by BrianTT on December 9, 2008 - 11:37amCHICAGO – Every week there are a few titles that fall through the cracks. They’re movies or TV shows that don’t really merit the kind of comprehensive coverage of something like “Lost: Season Four” or “Deadwood: The Complete Series”.
Blu-Ray Review: Original ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ Stands Test of Time
Submitted by BrianTT on December 9, 2008 - 8:29amCHICAGO – Fifty-seven years after the original cautionary tale became a sci-fi classic, director Scott Derrickson and stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly are returning to the big screen with a remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still”.
Exclusive: Producer Jeffrey Katzenberg Offers Sneak Peek of ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ in Chicago
Submitted by BrianTT on December 8, 2008 - 5:07pmCHICAGO – Jeffrey Katzenberg stopped off in Chicago on the morning of Monday, December 8th, to preview DreamWorks Animation’s “Monsters vs. Aliens” and show off the brand-spanking-new 3D technology that will be used for all upcoming animated films produced by the studio.
DVD Review: HBO Bids Farewell to ‘Deadwood,’ ‘The Wire’ With Series Sets
Submitted by BrianTT on December 8, 2008 - 3:05pmCHICAGO – “Deadwood” and “The Wire”, two of the best television programs of the last decade, have been given lavish, must-own treatment by HBO with spectacular season sets available just in time for the holidays.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Lost: Season Four’ With Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly Worth Finding on Blu-Ray
Submitted by BrianTT on December 8, 2008 - 2:54pmCHICAGO – Rivaling “24” and “The Simpsons” as the TV series with the most in-depth, remarkable season DVD sets, “Lost” continues to impress with the Blu-Ray release of season four, a technically flawless presentation with a series of unique special features that should impress casual fans and make the hardcore ones drool.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘The X-Files: I Want to Believe’ Satisfies Fans More Than in Theaters
Submitted by BrianTT on December 8, 2008 - 1:26pmCHICAGO – “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” was an unqualified disaster in theaters. One of the worst movies of 2008, the film downplayed the strengths of the first few seasons of the influential series and emphasized the weaknesses of the show’s ignominious end.
Heath Ledger Wins First ‘The Dark Knight’ Award From Australian Film Institute
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 7, 2008 - 4:57pmCHICAGO – With the 80th-annual Academy Awards set for Feb. 22, 2009 and Oscar nominations to be announced on Jan. 22, 2009, the late actor Heath Ledger on Saturday was awarded his first acting honor from the Australian Film Institute (AFI) for his supporting role as The Joker in “The Dark Knight”. Australia is his home country.
Exclusive Portrait: Fashion Icon Jessica Simpson in Chicago For New ‘Fancy’ Fragrance
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 7, 2008 - 3:50pmCHICAGO – Singer, actress and fashion icon Jessica Simpson sports a fancy greeting for the HollywoodChicago.com lens on Dec. 6, 2008 at the launch of her new “Fancy” fragrance at Macy’s on State Street in downtown Chicago.
Interview: Oscar Winner Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman on TNT’s New ‘Leverage’ Series
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 6, 2008 - 4:50pmCHICAGO – After hearing comical interpretations of leverage from HollywoodChicago.com readers – including “taking someone’s pet hostage,” “having goons, paying them well and feeding them well” and a “push-up bra” – Academy Award-winning actor Timothy Hutton jumped into his “Leverage” character and said it’s just one matter-of-fact word: “power”.
Exclusive Portraits: Legendary Adult Film Star, Feminist, Best-Selling Author Nina Hartley in Chicago
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 6, 2008 - 11:46amCHICAGO – Legendary adult film star, feminist and best-selling author Nina Hartley was in Chicago for a three-night, sold-out sex education workshop series at The Pleasure Chest from Dec. 3, 2008 to Dec. 5, 2008. Hartley paid a visit to the HollywoodChicago.com celebrity photographer’s studio to shoot some of her new no-nudity publicity.
Exclusive Portrait: ‘Rescue Me’ Star Denis Leary in Chicago For ‘Why We Suck’ Book Signing
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 5, 2008 - 10:52pmCHICAGO – “Rescue Me” star Denis Leary takes a moment out of his busy schedule on Dec. 5, 2008 to explain “why we suck” before a packed book signing for his best-selling book “Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid” at Borders on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue. Leary starred in 52 episodes of “Rescue Me” from 2004 to 2007.
Exclusive Portrait: ‘American Idol’ Judge Randy Jackson in Chicago For Book ‘Randy Jackson’s New You Plan’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on December 4, 2008 - 12:25pmCHICAGO – Music producer and “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson got up close and personal with the HollywoodChicago.com lens before his book signing on Dec. 3, 2008 for “Randy Jackson’s New You Plan” at the Borders on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.
