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
Podtalk: Co-Writer/Director/Actor Matt Johnson of ‘BlackBerry’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 8, 2023 - 7:25pmCHICAGO – As technology goes, it seems so long ago, but at its peak the first multi-use smartphone was nicknamed the “CrackBerry” because of user addiction. The product’s improbable rise and fall is told in the new film “BlackBerry,” co-written/directed and featuring Matt Johnson.
CCFF2023: 10th Chicago Critic’s Fest Weekday Films Preview
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 8, 2023 - 9:48amCHICAGO – The 10th Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) continues through May 11th, with many screenings to come. On Wednesday, May 10th, a searing drama of sibling youth set in early 1990s Toronto is “Brother.” Click on BROTHER for tickets and more information.
On-Air Film Review: Arrangement in ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It?’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 6, 2023 - 10:41amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 4th, reviewing “What’s Love Got to Do With It?,” featuring Lily James and Emma Thompson about neighbors in England. In theaters on May 5th.
CCFF2023: 10th Chicago Critic’s Fest Weekend Films Preview
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 5, 2023 - 11:20amCHICAGO – The 10th Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) continues on May 6th, with a local filmmaker and her feature debut. “Waiting for the Light to Change,” directed by Lihn Tran, is Sunday’s featured film. Click on WAITING for tickets and more information.
Film Review: Pocket Rocket in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 5, 2023 - 8:27amCHICAGO – The Guardians of the Galaxy have lost some of their freshness over the years. They’re no long the scrappy obscurities who came out of nowhere to deliver one of the more idiosyncratic and enjoyable adventures in the Marvel Cinema Universe. But while familiarity has taken some of the elements of surprise, they’re still an agreeable bunch to watch.
Podtalk: Writer/Director Waheed AlQawasmi for Now Streaming ‘Jacir’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 4, 2023 - 10:51pmCHICAGO – As new cinema voices emerge, writer/director Waheed AlQawasmi takes us on a journey through his hometown streets of Memphis in the Syrian immigrant drama “Jacir.” The film, featuring newcomer Malek Rahbani as the title character and Lorraine Bracco (“The Sopranos”) in a different type of role for her, will be available to stream beginning May 5th, 2023.
Film News: 2023 Doc10 Opening Night is 'Still' on Thursday, May 4
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 4, 2023 - 12:24amCHICAGO – Doc10, the yearly Chicago documentary film festival, opens on May 4th, 2023, with the magnificent new documentary about the life of Michael J. Fox entitled “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” directed by Davis Guggenheim, who will make an appearance and participate in a Q&A. Click MJF for more information and tickets.
Film News: 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival Opens with 'BlackBerry' on Friday, May 5th
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 3, 2023 - 11:54pmCHICAGO – One of the best local film gatherings is back, as the 2023 Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) opens on Friday, May 5th, with “BlackBerry” at the Music Box Theatre. The Fest runs through May 11th, click CCFF for opening night ticket info.
Review: May the Fourth Be With You in Must-See 'Trade Federation’ at Otherworld Theatre
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 2, 2023 - 1:35pm- Andy Boyd
- Blake Hood
- George Lucas
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jar Jar Binks
- Liam Ryan
- Obi-Wan Kenobi
- Or Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels
- Otherworld Theatre
- Patrick McDonald
- Queen Amidala
- Sith
- Star Wars
- Stromtroppers
- Theater Review
- Trade Federation
- Trey Plutnicki
- Wrigleyville
- Theater, TV, DVD & Blu-Ray
CHICAGO – Theatrical satires of the Star Wars Universe are like the number of TV series the universe has wrought … too many to figure out if anything is worthwhile. But “Trade Federation” (subtitled “Or Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels”), presented by Otherworld Theatre in Wrigleyville Chicago, gets it right on.
Exclusive Portraits: U.S. Congress Rep. Katie Porter at Chicago Humanities Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 1, 2023 - 8:40pmCHICAGO – This past January, U.S. Congress California Representative Katie Porter (Democrat, 47th District) announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate. The populist for the people, who famously takes down unprepared corporate overlords with her profound financial knowledge (symbolically often illustrated with a white board), also appeared at the Spring Chicago Humanities Festival on April 29th for her book “I Swear: Politics is Messier Than My Minivan.” Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com took these Exclusive Portraits.
Podtalk: Omi Hopper of ‘Next Level Chef’ at Puerto Rican Museum
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 1, 2023 - 10:31amCHICAGO – Omi Hopper is competing … and still survives … on the second season of “Next Level Chef,” the TV cooking show on FOX hosted by Gordon Ramsay. The social media viral star, who created a following with her approach to traditional Puerto Rican dishes, is still in play as the show winds down to the finale on May 11th.
Podtalk: Screenwriter Alex Convery Reaches Rarified ‘Air’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 29, 2023 - 11:48amCHICAGO – The “Black List” of Hollywood means something totally different in the current vernacular. This list contains the un-produced screenplays of the highest quality, either optioned and not sold or in turnaround from an attempt to produce. One of those screenplays on the List was “Air Jordan” by Chicagoland native Alex Convery. Once eventual director Ben Affleck got involved, the finished film became “Air.”
On-Air Film Review: 'Peter Pan & Wendy' Battle to Never Grow Up
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 29, 2023 - 10:05am- Alexander Molony
- Captain Hook
- Dan Baker
- Disney+
- Ever Anderson
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- J.M. Barrie
- Jacobi Jupe
- Jim Gaffigan
- Joshua Pickering
- Jude Law
- Lost Boys
- Monroe
- Movie Review
- Pat Über TV
- Patrick McDonald
- Polite Society
- Scott Thompson
- Tinkerbell
- Walt Disney Studios
- WBGR-FM
- Wisconsin
- Yara Shahidi
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 27th, reviewing “Peter Pan & Wendy,” the live action reboot of the 1953 animated “Peter Pan.” Streaming on Disney+ beginning April 28th.
