John C. Reilly

CHICAGO – John C. Reilly, the star of “Chicago,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “Step Brothers,” and “Magnolia” gives one of the best performances of his career in this weekend’s excellent “Cyrus” and the actor sat down with HollywoodChicago.com a few weeks ago to discuss the process behind this unusual film.

CHICAGO – It’s now official: the Weitz brothers have proven that they are the wrong people to make vampire movies. While Chris got tangled in the turgid melodrama of “Twilight: New Moon,” Paul tried to inject irreverent humor into the first installment of another gloomy franchise, based on Darren O’Shaughnessy’s book series detailing the adventures of adolescent vampire Darren Shan.

CHICAGO – Has any director watched their reputation rise as rapidly as the amazing Paul Thomas Anderson? With only five films under his belt - “Hard Eight,” “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia,” “Punch-Drunk Love,” and “There Will Be Blood” - the man has become one of the most respected and adored filmmakers in the world. Why? He not only hasn’t made a bad film, he hasn’t even come close. His second and third are now available on Blu-ray.

CHICAGO – Seventy years ago, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released a haunting animated short named “Peace On Earth.” Director Hugh Harman set his story in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited only by animals, who have rebuilt a society dedicated to peace and nonviolence. Mankind ultimately brought about their own extinction by forging never-ending wars.

CHICAGO – For everything that Paul Weitz’s “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” does right, there’s something about the film that just doesn’t work.

CHICAGO – In our latest animated edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two passes up for grabs to the Chicago screening of the new animated film “9” from producers Tim Burton of “Beetlejuice” and Timur Bekmambetov of “Wanted”.

CHICAGO – Barring extreme wealth or hermetics, everyone uses the grocery store. It is the great equalizer – the marketplace where all socioeconomic groups can co-exist side by side – in pursuit of daily bread. Inspired by this reality, writer and director Steve Conrad turned it into his feature directorial debut.

CHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we’re giving away 30 admit-two passes to the new film “The Promotion” with John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott. The screening will take place on June 2, 2008 at 7 p.m. in Chicago. To win, just submit a comment!

We reported on Wednesday that man-of-many-faces John C. Reilly would be performing in character as Dewey Cox on Thursday in Chicago to pump his upcoming film “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”.

John C. Reilly will perform in Chicago on Thursday at the Cubby Bear (1059 W. Addison) by Wrigley Field in character to pump “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”. The Chicago native stars as Dewey Cox in the film from “Superbad” and “Knocked Up” talent Judd Apatow.