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
Via Zoom: Director James Ponsoldt on His New Film ‘Summering’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 9, 2022 - 4:48amCHICAGO – Filmmaker James Ponsoldt has earned the moniker “veteran” in front of his name, after notable hits like “The Spectacular Now,” “The End of the Tour” and “The Circle” (with Tom Hanks). He’s back with a seasonal film called “Summering,” featuring four girls going through their own “Stand by Me” moment.
On-Air TV Review: The Best Things in Life are Free in ‘Loot’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 5, 2022 - 10:46amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on August 5th, reviewing the TV series “Loot,” featuring Maya Rudolph. Currently on Apple TV+ with the 9th of ten episodes available to stream today.
On-Air Film Review: ‘Bullet Train’ Has the Need for Speed on Track
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 5, 2022 - 9:27amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 4th, reviewing “Bullet Train,” featuring Brad Pitt and a very fast train in Japan. The film is in theaters beginning August 5th.!—break—>
On-Air Film Review: 'Luck’ Proves She’s Bad to the Zone
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 4, 2022 - 5:35pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 4th, reviewing “Luck,” an animated movie treat featuring the voices of Simon Pegg and Jane Fonda. The film will stream on Apple TV+ beginning August 5th.!—break—>
On-Air Film Review: Got to Begin Again with ‘Resurrection’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 3, 2022 - 7:52amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on July 29th, 2022, reviewing the film “Resurrection,” featuring Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth, currently in theaters.!—break—>
In Memoriam: Nichelle Nichols, Uhura in Original ‘Star Trek’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 2, 2022 - 7:22amSILVER CITY, N.M.– No more can Uhura communicate. The ground breaking actor who originated the role of Nyota Uhura, the Communications Officer on The Original Series (TOS) “Star Trek,” passed away on July 30th at her home in New Mexico. Nichelle Nichols was 89. Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com took this Exclusive Portrait in Chicago in 2018. !—break—>
Via Zoom: Mary Tilden for Her Short ‘Rough River Lake’ at Midwest Film Fest, Aug. 2, 2022
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 1, 2022 - 9:51amCHICAGO – First Tuesday for the Midwest Film Festival (MFF) is on August 2nd, 2022, and will present “Women & Gender Non-Conforming Filmmakers Night” at the Gene Siskel Film Center. For ticket info, click MFF AUG FIRST TUESDAY.
In Memoriam: Unpublished Exclusive Photo of Child Star Tony Dow
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 31, 2022 - 10:59amTOPANGA, CALIF – Tony Dow is still dead. The featured cast member of the iconic 1950s sitcom “Leave it to Beaver” joined the ranks of Mark Twain and Generalissimo Francisco Franco on the list of deaths that were announced before the individual had died. On July 26th, 2022, a rep inadvertently leaked that Dow had passed, after a battle with cancer. His family had to intervene, expressing that he was still alive. Dow officially died on July 27th at his home in Topanga, California.
Podtalk: Last Day of CUFF29 with Caroline Dean’s ‘Hermit Day’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 30, 2022 - 8:22pmCHICAGO – The 29th Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF29) Closing Day/Night is July 31st, 2022, and will present both short and feature films. One such work of art is the short film “Hermit Day,” written, directed and featuring Caroline Dean. It will be screened at SHORTS 7 on July 31st, for more info and tickets, click HERMIT.
On-Air Film Review: B.J. Novak's ‘Vengeance’ T’is Ours, Sayeth We
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 29, 2022 - 1:36pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on July 29th, reviewing “Vengeance,” which is written, directed and features B.J. Novak of “The Office,” opening in theaters beginning July 29th.
On-Air Film Review: ‘DC League of Super-Pets’ is Super, Man
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 28, 2022 - 8:40pm- Batman
- Ben Thompson
- DC League of Super-Pets
- Diego Luna
- Dwayne Johnson
- Flash
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- John Krasinski
- Kate McKinnon
- Keanu Reeves
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- Marc Maron
- Monroe
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- Olivia Wilde
- Pat Über TV
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- Superman
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- Warner Bros. Krypto
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CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on July 29th, reviewing “DC League of Super-Pets,” an animated comedy/adventure featuring Krypto the Super Dog, opening in theaters beginning July 29th.
In Memoriam: Actor Paul Sorvino of ‘Goodfellas’ Dies at 83
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 28, 2022 - 10:48amCHICAGO – In one of my trips to New York City, I saw him in the distance on the street (this actually happens often in NYC. Pay attention!). Actor Paul Sorvino, Paulie Cicero of ‘Goodfellas’ legend, as well as many other films/stage/TV/opera work, was unmistakably walking right towards me. “Hey Paulie,” I instinctively said. “Hey,” he said back. Fast forward several years later, Mr. Sorvino was honored by the Chicago Film Critics Awards in 2013, I was a newly minted Chicago Film Critic, and I met him again (see below). Paul Sorvino died on July 25th, 2022, in Jacksonville, Florida. He was 83.
Via Zoom: Jim Vendiola on His Short Film ‘Pretty Pickle’ at CUFF 29
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 28, 2022 - 9:23amCHICAGO – The 29th Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF) highlights many short films in several programs, and local filmmaker Jim Vendiola will screen his latest “Pretty Pickle” on July 28th, 2022 in SHORTS 2. For ticket information, click PICKLE JIM.