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 Fest News: Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema & Reeling39 Announce Sept. 2021 Line-Ups
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 24, 2021 - 2:58pmCHICAGO – September of 2021 is just around the corner, and two major Chicago film festivals have announced their Fall film line-ups … both Season 13 of the Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) and the 39th edition of the REELING LGBTQ+ International Festival.
Film Review: 'Reminiscence' is a Mystery with Very Little in Mind
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 22, 2021 - 4:33pmCHICAGO – “Reminiscence” is a futuristic noir with precious little on its mind. Instead of ideas, this sci-fi thriller offers half remembered cop movie cliches and hard boiled detective narration that’s just barely a step above Harrison Ford’s in the original cut of “Blade Runner.”
Film Review: ‘The Protege’ Understood the Assignment and Studied Up On Action Films Past
Submitted by JonHC on August 21, 2021 - 9:32amCHICAGO – I’ve always felt that the line between being a spy or an assassin has always been blade-thin. Both kill people based on the orders of someone else.
Audio Film Review: Black Sisters United! Review of ‘Unapologetic’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 19, 2021 - 4:50pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on the new release by Chicago’s Kartemquin Films, “Unapologetic,” premiering at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago on August 20th, 2021.
On-Air Film Review: Papa Can You Hear Me! Review of ‘Flag Day’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 19, 2021 - 4:27pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 19th, 2021, reviewing the new film “Flag Day” – featuring and directed by Sean Penn – In theaters on August 20th, 2021.
On-Air Film Review: Haunted Domicile! Review of ‘The Night House’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 19, 2021 - 3:59pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 19th, 2021, reviewing the new film “The Night House” – featuring Rebecca Hall – in theaters on August 20th, 2021.
Podtalk: Filmmaker/Actor Ashton Swinford Talks Magic in Her New Short Film, ‘Basic Witches’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 18, 2021 - 9:48amCHICAGO – When we last checked in with actor and filmmaker Ashton Swinford, she had just completed her hilarious web series ”Miss Information”. She is back with a new short film, equally funny, in the white privilege satire “Basic Witches.”
Via Zoom: Filmmaker/Actor Clare Cooney on Her New Short ‘Pick Up’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 16, 2021 - 8:50pmCHICAGO – Although this former Chicago-based actor has moved on to Los Angeles, she continues as a filmmaker with her excellent second short, “Pick Up.” Clare Cooney wrote, directed and is featured in this poignant journey, as two ex-lovers figure out their current status in the midst of the world pandemic.
Film Review: Spike is Back! Counter Point For ‘Free Guy’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 15, 2021 - 1:57pmCHICAGO – Welcome back to film reviewer Spike Walters … “Free Guy” has the sort of premise that seems to tingle with possibility. Ryan Reynolds stars as a background character in a Grand Theft Auto/Fortnite-style video game who gradually discovers the true nature of his existence. There are many different ways to go with this material, but “Free Guy” inexplicably strands Reynolds and us in a half assed romantic comedy about coders instead.
Audio Film Review: The Spark That Lights Fire! Review of ‘Ema’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 15, 2021 - 1:44pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on the new Pablo Larrain film “Ema,” a Chilean Film distributed in the U.S. by Music Box Films of Chicago. In select theaters, including the Music Box Theatre. beginning August 13th, 2021.
Film Review: 'Free Guy' Doesn’t Play Around When It Comes to Delivering a Good Time
Submitted by JonHC on August 13, 2021 - 6:48pmCHICAGO – Playing video games is one of the single most infuriating experiences that I continue to put myself through. One of my few masochistic traits emerge whenever I boot up my PC or PS4 …
Audio Film Review: Do You Here What I Hear? Review of ‘CODA’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 12, 2021 - 11:50pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on the new release “CODA” – the Grand Jury Prize winner as Best Film at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival – now in theaters and streaming on Apple TV+ beginning August 13th, 2021.
On-Air Film Review: What it Means to Me! Review of ‘Respect’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 12, 2021 - 11:24pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 12th, 2021, reviewing the new film “Respect” – featuring Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin – In theaters on August 13th, 2021.
