CHICAGO – Society, or at least certain elements of society, are always looking for scapegoats to hide the sins of themselves and authority. In the so-called “great America” of the 1950s, the scapegoat target was comic books … specifically through a sociological study called “The Seduction of the Innocent.” City Lit Theater Company, in part two of a trilogy on comic culture by Mark Pracht, presents “The Innocence of Seduction … now through October 8th, 2023. For details and tickets, click COMIC BOOK.
Jon Hamm
Audio Film Reviews: ‘The Blackening’ and 'Maggie Moores(s)'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 19, 2023 - 11:43amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film reviews for the new releases “The Blackening,” a tart horror/comedy directed by Tim Story and the mystery comedy/romance “Maggie Moores(s), directed by John Slattery. Both In theaters since June 16th.
Tribeca2023: Tribeca Festival Highlighting Upcoming Film Releases
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 13, 2023 - 10:36pmNEW YORK, NY – With five days to go, the 22nd Tribeca Festival is in the middle of the festival, with a wild ride of screenings and events. On June 12th, Tribeca hosted the world premiere of “Maggie Moore(s),” a new film featuring Jon Hamm and Tina Fey, and directed by Hamm’s old “Mad Men” co-star John Slattery. !—break—>
On-Air Film Review: The High Flying Skies of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 26, 2022 - 8:55pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 19th, reviewing “Top Gun: Maverick,” the sequel to the 1980s classic 36 years later … but still features Tom Cruise. In theaters beginning May 27th.
Podtalk: Bashir Salahuddin & Charles Parnell in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 26, 2022 - 4:39pmCHICAGO – The big excitement for Memorial Day weekend 2022 at the movies is the delayed-for-two-year release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” the sequel to the 1986 classic, both starring Tom Cruise. Two of his supporting actors in the film, both from Chicago, are Bashir Salahuddin and Charles Parnell.
Podtalk: Director Jeff Tomsic Plays the Game of ‘Tag’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 17, 2018 - 1:15pmCHICAGO – When a real life group of friends keep a thirty year tradition alive, playing a game of “Tag,” there is bound to be a film that shares the same name. Jeff Tomsic makes his director debut with a killer cast… Ed Helms, Jon Hamm, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress and Jeremy Renner, all still playing that childhood game.
Film Review: ‘Beirut’ is a Superbly Tense Geopolitical Thriller
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 11, 2018 - 9:17amCHICAGO – The psychological desperation of life-or-death decisions are in play within “Beirut,” the new geopolitical thriller featuring Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”). The various mazes within the story, set during the Lebanon civil war of the 1980s, is comparative to “Casablanca,” especially through the world-weary expression of Hamm’s character.
Film Review: ‘Baby Driver’ Runs on the Fast Track of Movieland
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 28, 2017 - 8:28amCHICAGO – While it may seem that we’ve seen this type of tough-guy robbery gang film before, “Baby Driver” lives in its own universe, that of the movieland of movies. It is rich in squealing tires, bang-bang guns synched to the soundtrack, and a mystery cool boy creating his own star-crossed romance.
Film Review: No Need to Bother ‘Keeping Up with the Joneses’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 25, 2016 - 10:07amCHICAGO – “Keeping Up With The Joneses” illustrates how hard it really is to make a funny action comedy. After watching this, I have begun to think that the ones that work are something of anomaly – more often than not they’re like this. An amiable but aimless project that can’t quite grasp what it wants to be and doesn’t have the vision or the laughs to sustain itself.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Passes to ‘Keeping Up With the Joneses’ With Zach Galifianakis
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 11, 2016 - 11:36pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the new action/comedy “Keeping Up With the Joneses”!
Film Review: ‘Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie’ Too Thin to be Completely Winning
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 24, 2016 - 5:42pmCHICAGO – As far as TV shows that fans wish could be movies, the cult hit “Absolutely Fabulous” was high on the list. The adventures of Patsy and Edina, two middle age Brits with an appetite for self medication, has had a dedicated following since it premiered in 1992. Even though there were six full TV seasons, and various reunions, “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” has emerged.
