CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
HBO
Blu-ray Review: Lavish Season Set For HBO’s Beloved ‘True Blood’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 29, 2013 - 5:21amCHICAGO – I’ve talked to a number of people who think the fifth season of “True Blood” is when it jumped the bloodsucking shark, although there are certainly legions of fans of this HBO smash hit who will never give up on Sookie Stackhouse and her neverending parade of supernatural friends and foes. HBO Home Video knows how faithful viewers for a program like “True Blood” will become even more so with great home releases and so have turned the “True Blood” line into one of their absolute best. The latest, “True Blood: The Complete Fifth Season,” is no exception.
TV Review: HBO Delivers Likable Laughs in ‘Family Tree’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 11, 2013 - 9:22pmCHICAGO – Christopher Guest, the beloved writer/director behind “Best in Show” and “Waiting For Guffman,” comes to TV this weekend with the premiere of HBO’s “Family Tree” and the result is something unique for television comedy — a show that doesn’t force the laughs as much as build likable characters.
TV Review: HBO’s Hysterical ‘Veep’ Returns Stronger Than Ever
Submitted by BrianTT on April 19, 2013 - 11:00amCHICAGO – It premiered on Sunday night and so we’re a few days behind but we’re also a few weeks ahead as HBO sent four episodes for review. Better late than never, right? If you saw the season two premiere of “Veep,” you know it was damn smart and incredibly funny. The good news? The cast and writers don’t lose any of that stellar rhythm from the premiere, as this show seems even more confident and accomplished than its award-winning first season (which was recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, details below).
TV Review: HBO Returns to Dark World of Beloved ‘Game of Thrones’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 31, 2013 - 10:58amCHICAGO – Millions of viewers will return this week to a land of dragons, swords, magic, and characters that are difficult to tell apart when HBO’s “Game of Thrones” premieres its third season tonight, March 31, 2013 at 8pm CST. What is it about “Game of Thrones” that has engendered such incredible loyalty?
TV Review: David Mamet’s ‘Phil Spector’ with Al Pacino, Helen Mirren
Submitted by BrianTT on March 24, 2013 - 11:56amCHICAGO – With the larger-than-life acting tics that have invaded most of Al Pacino’s performances in the last twenty years, it seemed inevitable that the actor was the only person who could possibly play a notable loon like Phil Spector. In tonight’s HBO movie named after the legendary producer, Pacino chews the scenery as one would expect but it’s Helen Mirren who steals the piece from the Oscar winner.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season’ Serves as Standard
Submitted by BrianTT on February 28, 2013 - 3:08pmCHICAGO – “Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season” is one of the undeniable best TV-on-Blu-ray releases in the brief history of the form.
TV Review: Star-Studded ‘Parade’s End’ is True Accomplishment
Submitted by BrianTT on February 26, 2013 - 2:38pmCHICAGO – HBO brings BBC2’s “Parade’s End,” based on the highly-acclaimed novels by Ford Madox Ford, stateside and the star-studded mini-series with a breathtakingly good script from the legendary Sir Tom Stoppard is a must-see for anyone interested in historical drama, quality acting, or the kind of stunning production values usually reserved for big-screen adaptations with Oscar aspirations.
TV Review: Lena Dunham’s Brilliant ‘Girls’ Takes Second Season Risks
Submitted by BrianTT on January 13, 2013 - 10:13amCHICAGO – We live in a world that’s so dependent on the new that it’s difficult for as headline-grabbing a program as HBO’s “Girls” to follow up a first season that landed it multiple nominations and year-end citations. What does Lena Dunham do next?
TV Review: Laura Dern Returns to Carry HBO’s Clever ‘Enlightened’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 12, 2013 - 1:42pmCHICAGO – The season premiere of HBO’s “Enlightened,” directed by the great Nicole Holofcener (“Please Give,” “Lovely & Amazing”) is a stunner. With a great script by co-star Mike White and one of the best single performances by Laura Dern to date, it perfectly captures the current state of so many people
Blu-ray Review: Great Set For HBO’s ‘Girls,’ Best New Show of 2012
Submitted by BrianTT on December 26, 2012 - 7:01pmCHICAGO – HBO’s “Girls” was the best new show of 2012 and one of the best shows, period, new or old. Knowing they have a growing cultural phenomenon on their hands (more people seem to be talking about January’s upcoming season two premiere than any sophomore season that I can ever remember), HBO has given fans of the show a gift, a season set with multiple ways to watch the program along with stellar special features. It’s a great way to use the gift card money you may have acquired from Santa this week.