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
Film Review: Ryan Reynolds Gets Beneath it in Tense Thriller ‘Buried’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 24, 2010 - 7:29amCHICAGO – In one of the most unusual settings for a film, actor Ryan Reynolds performs as a one-man tour de force as the only on-screen character in the new film “Buried.” Set in a coffin buried beneath the sands of Iraq, Reynolds conveys the panic, hope and inevitable outcome of a man buried alive and fighting for his very existence.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 1 DVD, 1 Soundtrack For ‘Stomp the Yard: Homecoming’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on September 24, 2010 - 1:03amCHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, we have 1 DVD and 1 soundtrack up for grabs to the new film “Stomp the Yard: Homecoming”!
Interviews: Nev Schulman, Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost of ‘Catfish’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 24, 2010 - 12:27amCHICAGO – One of the most provocative new films of 2010 is the strange and beautiful “Catfish.” As a testament to the current age of on-camera exploration, the true story focuses on New York photographer Nev Schulman, as he receives a package in the mail, which begins a journey that takes him to a relationship he thought he’d never have. Brother Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost are the “directors.”
TV Review: ‘Outsourced’ is Latest 5-Star Addition to NBC Thursday
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 23, 2010 - 5:41pmCHICAGO – It seems that NBC is getting some of their “Must See TV” mojo back, after adding the hilarious “Community” to the Thursday night comedy line-up last year and debuting the equally stellar “Outsourced’ this year, which premieres September 23rd at 8:30pm CST.
Interview: Ryan Reynolds, Director Rodrigo Cortés Uncover ‘Buried’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 23, 2010 - 3:54pmCHICAGO – “Buried” is an unconventional film, a so-called (by director Rodrigo Cortés) impossible film to make. Ryan Reynolds is the only actor on-screen in the whole film, and he plays a man buried alive somewhere in the war zone of Iraq. The story takes place within the coffin underneath the ground, and Reynolds had to convey both the desperation and hope.
TV Review: ABC’s ‘My Generation’ Wastes Talented Cast on Cliche
Submitted by BrianTT on September 23, 2010 - 11:28amCHICAGO – The new ABC dramedy “My Generation” is all concept and no execution. Creator Noah Hawley (the vastly-superior “The Unusuals”) came up with an idea and found a talented cast and the creativity died shortly thereafter. The foundation is a clever and inspired one but the writing staff adds nothing more than cliche to it, piling on characters who feel barely two-dimensional and rarely finding a genuine moment in the lackluster and bloated series premiere.
TV Review: NBC’s Hilarious ‘Community’ Returns For Second Season
Submitted by BrianTT on September 23, 2010 - 10:35amCHICAGO – NBC’s “Community” took some time to find its comic rhythm but it has developed into one of the smartest and most expertly-paced sitcoms on television. The Joel McHale vehicle returns tonight, September 23rd, 2010 for a very-important start to its second season. If it can find the audience it deserves, “Community” could be on for years. It certainly should be.
TV Review: ‘$#*! My Dad Says’ With William Shatner is Lost in Translation
Submitted by BrianTT on September 23, 2010 - 8:53amCHICAGO – Laugh tracks are a dying breed. Think of classic, full-throttle laugh tracks from “The Jeffersons,” “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Full House.”
TV Review: ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Opens New Season With a Whimper
Submitted by mattmovieman on September 23, 2010 - 7:53amCHICAGO – If “The Big Bang Theory” is truly among the better sitcoms in prime-time, that’s saying a great deal about the current state of television comedy. I was genuinely interested in checking out this show after hearing the rapturous response from viewers and critics, and especially after seeing co-star Jim Parsons snag the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series away from Alec Baldwin.
TV Review: ‘Cougar Town’ Season Premiere With Jennifer Aniston
Submitted by BrianTT on September 22, 2010 - 2:59pmCHICAGO – Courteney Cox returns tonight to try and overcome the perception that her very-clever and consistently-improving “Cougar Town” is not a success. What better way to make instant waves than to bring former co-star on “Friends” Jennifer Aniston to the party? The result is yet-another funny half-hour of television for a program that seems to get better by the week.
Interview: Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Ortiz Propel ‘Jack Goes Boating’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 22, 2010 - 1:56pmCHICAGO – When Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz were working on Bob Glaudini’s dramatic play “Jack Goes Boating,” they mentioned the cinematic potential of the project to each other on multiple occasions. Through a series of events, “Boating” would become Hoffman’s directorial debut, opening in Chicago this Friday, September 24th, 2010.
TV Review: ABC’s ‘The Whole Truth’ Promises Complete Dramatic Experience
Submitted by BrianTT on September 22, 2010 - 1:51pmCHICAGO – Every year, there’s a program or two for which it is strikingly easy to recognize exactly what people will love about it and what many will equally hate about it. Said programs are usually the product of creators with strong and identifiable styles and Jerry Bruckheimer is certainly one of those. Even casual fans would recognize his slick approach to the medium and your tolerance for that is going to determine your judgment on ABC’s “The Whole Truth,” a program that works for me but might not work for you.
Movie News: Preview Night For 2010 Chicago International Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 22, 2010 - 11:50amCHICAGO – The 2010 Chicago International Film Festival kicked off it’s 46th year with a preview party last night at the Lucky Strike Lounge, next to the location where all the films will be shown, AMC River East 21 on Illinois Street. Founder and Artistic Director Michael Kutza introduced staff members who highlighted the various cinema categories offered by the festival, and then presented a roster of notable films to be shown.
