CHICAGO – In anticipation of the scariest week of the year, HollywoodChicago.com launches its 2024 Movie Gifts series, which will suggest DVDs and collections for holiday giving.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
On-Air Film Review: A Blue Xmas with ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 15, 2022 - 1:17pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 8th, 2022, reviewing “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the highly anticipated sequel to the 2009 original, directed by James Cameron. In theaters beginning December 16th, in 3D and IMAX screen options.
On-Air Film Review: Silver Screen Dreams in ‘Empire of Light’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 12, 2022 - 10:59amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 8th, 2022, reviewing “Empire of Light,” the latest from director Sam Mendes, about a memory of the cinema. Currently In theaters.
Podtalk: Richard Knight Jr. on Chicago Live Staging of ‘Scrooge & Marley,’ Dec. 12, 2022
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 11, 2022 - 10:42amCHICAGO – Ten years ago, an Independent film was released in Chicago, co-written and co-directed by Richard Knight Jr., an entertainment fixture in the Windy City. “Scrooge & Marley” offered a bit more than the previous versions of the familiar “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, it was the first to filter the story through same sex coupling and LGBTQ+ themes. A new staged version of the film, complete with the featured songs, will be presented at Chicago’s Center on Halsted on December 12th, 2022, at 7pm. It’s a FREE event, register for tickets by clicking SCROOGE & MARLEY.
Podtalk: Playwright Desiree Burcum Wishes You 'A Judy Christmas’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 10, 2022 - 11:12am- 1963
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CHICAGO – This year was the 100th anniversary for the birth of the classic movie star/singer/performer Judy Garland. In 1963, as part of her regular CBS-TV variety series, she presented a Christmas episode, featuring her family … including Liza Minnelli. Playwright Desiree Burcum has created a musical comedy about this historic moment in television, appropriately titled “A Judy Christmas.” The show, presented by FAMOUS IN THE FUTURE productions, will have three performances the week before Christmas, December 15th, 16th and 17th, at the Den Theatre in Chicago. For tickets and more information, A JUDY CHRISTMAS.
On-Air Film Review: Pure Artistry in Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 9, 2022 - 3:33pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 8th, 2022, reviewing “Pinocchio,” an adaptation of the legendary story through the eyes of filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. In select theaters and streaming on Netflix beginning December 9th.
Podtalk: Director, Co-Writer & Lead Actor Nate Boyer is an ‘MVP’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 5, 2022 - 11:34amCHICAGO – What links the military and football players? The uniforms, the camaraderie and a shared purpose are some examples. The new film “MVP,” currently available through Video On Demand, explores those links and what happens when those careers get separated from the individual. Nate Boyer co-wrote, directed and is the lead actor in the film.
On-Air Film Review: No Static at All in Adaptation of ‘White Noise’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 3, 2022 - 8:17amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Jason Makos on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 1st, 2022, reviewing “Emancipation,” featuring Will Smith and set in the Civil War period and within the eradication of slavery, in theaters on December 2nd.
On-Air Film Review: Will-ing Redemption in ‘Emancipation'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 2, 2022 - 12:45pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Jason Makos on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 1st, 2022, reviewing “Emancipation,” featuring Will Smith and set in the Civil War period within the eradication of slavery. In theaters on December 2nd, streaming December 9th on Apple TV+.
Film Review: Die Hard is a Christmas Movie in ‘Violent Night’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 1, 2022 - 9:44amCHICAGO – David Harbour is part Bad Santa, part John McClane in this yuletide spin on Die Hard which never takes itself the slightest bit seriously. It’s a spiked Christmas cocktail that’s surprisingly light on its feet. So Here comes Santa Claus with a sledge hammer ready to dispatch some North Pole justice to bad guys on his naughty list.
Exclusive Portrait: Jessica Lange at 2022 Chicago Humanities Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 30, 2022 - 9:12amCHICAGO – Jessica Lange’s long career as actor is on the record … from “King Kong” to “American Horror Story.” But her new book “Dérive” focuses on the photo artist in her, and she discussed it at the the 2022 Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) on November 12th. Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com was there to get the Exclusive Portrait.
Film News: 20th Anniversary Screenings of ‘Concert for George’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 29, 2022 - 9:35amCHICAGO – It’s been 20 years since the seminal release of the “Concert for George,” a gathering of George Harrison’s musical partners – including Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – to memorialize his life of contributions, to the culture and beyond. George Harrison died on November 29th, 2001.
On-Air Film Review: ‘Spirited’ is Ghost of Musical Presents
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 26, 2022 - 7:55amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on November 23rd, reviewing the holiday musical “Spirited,” a reimagined version of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol, currently streaming on Apple TV+.
On-Air Film Review: Weird Planet Inside Disney’s ‘Strange World’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 26, 2022 - 7:26amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on November 23rd, reviewing the new Disney animated film “Strange World,” in theaters beginning November 23rd.
