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.
Mila Kunis
Film Review: Imagination is the Key to Charming ‘Wonder Park’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 16, 2019 - 5:56pmCHICAGO – Most animated films depicting the “family” often includes a parallel lesson about togetherness or some such domestic symbolism. In “Wonder Park,” the lesson is how the spark of imagination can keep a childhood alive. When that spark is temporarily dosed, the destination of the title also suffers.
Film Review: ‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ Didn’t Need the Spy Part
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 2, 2018 - 9:46pmCHICAGO – It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a film completely stolen by a supporting character, but Kate McKinnon in “The Spy Who Dumped Me” managed to do just that… which was fortunate because the “spy” part of the story is a seen-it-before kill and gun fest that felt like the first draft of a James Bond knock-off.
Slideshow, Audio: Interviews with the Featured Stars of ‘A Bad Moms Christmas’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 31, 2017 - 6:40pmCHICAGO – The holiday season officially kicks off on November 1st, 2017, with the early present of “A Bad Moms Christmas.” This sequel to the popular “Bad Moms” of last year is decorated with tinsel and has more badness, much of that generated from the stars of the first film… Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn. Joining these Bad Moms are three iconic actresses portraying their mothers… Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon. Every major cast member except Baranski came to Chicago last week to promote the film.
Film Review: Strong Cast Makes ‘Bad Moms’ Good for Some Laughs
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 29, 2016 - 8:59amCHICAGO – “Bad Moms” is another raunchy women behaving badly comedy that never met a curse word it didn’t like. But I’ll say this for ‘Bad Moms,’ it’s rebellion comes from a relatable place. What parent hasn’t wondered if they were in some way failing their children in some way by failing to live up to our pinterest levels of perfection?
Slideshow: Lana & Andy Wachowski Red-Carpet Appearance for ‘Jupiter Ascending’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 9, 2015 - 3:39pm
Lana Wachowski at the Chicago International Film Festival Red-Carpet Premiere of ‘Jupiter Ascending.’CHICAGO – The City of Chicago has more than their share of Hollywood here, as represented by local filmmakers Lana and Andy Wachowski. The siblings have made sure that the Windy City is well represented in their latest science fiction film release, “Jupiter Ascending.” Chicago plays a prominent role in the film, which opened on February 6th, 2015.
Film Review: ‘Jupiter Ascending’ Might Cause Attention Descending
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 5, 2015 - 5:11pmCHICAGO – “Jupiter Ascending” is certainly one of the oddest and densest of sci-fi movies, this side of “Dune,” and has some of the most laughable acting and dialogue seen in a major film in awhile. But the worst offense is that the film is dull, and practically without emotion or human empathy.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Pairs of Passes to ‘Jupiter Ascending’ With Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on January 31, 2015 - 1:15pmCHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the highly anticipated new fantasy film “Jupiter Ascending” starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum from Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski (“The Matrix“ films)!
Film Review: ‘Third Person’ an Intriguing Yet Foreseeable Labyrinth
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 28, 2014 - 8:52amCHICAGO – Don’t you hate it when you figure out where a film is going long before it gets there? That could be a problem with “Third Person,” but writer/director Paul Haggis (“Crash”) also adds enough secrets to chew on and enough multiple pathways to explore. Enter at your own risk.
Interview: Writer/Director Paul Haggis Creates ‘Third Person’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 26, 2014 - 4:39pmCHICAGO – Not many Oscar winning screeenwriters change the course of their professional lives because of a dream (story below), but Paul Haggis is an exceptionally brilliant writer whose credits include “Crash” (2005) and “Million Dollar Baby” (2004) – which both won Best Picture – and his new film, “Third Person.”
Blu-ray Review: ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ Sinks Like Leaky Balloon
Submitted by BrianTT on June 24, 2013 - 3:43pmCHICAGO – Sam Raimi’s “Oz the Great and Powerful” starts so promisingly. The full-frame black-and-white scenes that open the film have a clever charm as they introduce us to the title character (James Franco) and whisk him off to the legendary land of witches and talking scarecrows. And that scene where the film expands as he reaches his fantasy land is a beauty.
