CHICAGO – Theatrical satires of the Star Wars Universe are like the number of TV series the universe has wrought … too many to figure out if anything is worthwhile. But “Trade Federation” (subtitled “Or Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels”), presented by Otherworld Theatre in Wrigleyville Chicago, gets it right on.
Movie Review
Audio Film Review: What is Afghanistan Good For in ‘Kandahar’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 28, 2023 - 10:56amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the new feature “Kandahar,” with Gerard Butler teaming up for a third time with action/thriller director Ric Roman Waugh. In theaters on May 26th.
Audio Film Review: Managing Marriage in ‘You Hurt My Feelings’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 28, 2023 - 10:12amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the new feature “You Hurt My Feelings,” with Julia Louis-Dreyfus pairing a second time with writer/director Nicole Holofcener. In theaters on May 26th.
Audio Film Review: Turning the World On in ‘Being Mary Tyler Moore’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 27, 2023 - 12:17pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for a new documentary spotlighting the long-time star of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and her own self-titled TV series. It’s “Being Mary Tyler Moore,” premiering on HBO and streaming on HBO Max on May 26th.
On-Air Film Review: Sebastian and Dad in ‘About My Father’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 27, 2023 - 8:50amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 25th, reviewing “About My Father,” the first film with comedian Sebastian Maniscalco taking a lead role. In theaters on May 26th.
On-Air Film Review: ‘The Little Mermaid’ is Under Sea Live Action
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 26, 2023 - 12:48pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 25th, reviewing “The Little Mermaid,” Walt Disney Studios live action reboot. In theaters on May 26th.
Audio Film Review: Family Transitions Begin in ‘L’Immensitá’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 20, 2023 - 4:13pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for a 2022 foreign language film distributed in the U.S. by Chicago’s Music Box Films … and featuring Penélope Cruz … entitled “L’Immensitá.” In select theaters beginning May 19th, see local listings.
Film Review: ‘Fast X’ is a Full Scale Assault on the Laws of Logic
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 18, 2023 - 11:43pmCHICAGO – A lot of blockbusters require you to check your brain at the door. “Fast X” requires a full scale lobotomy. To the uninitiated, Vin Diesel’s blatant disregard for the laws of gravity and physics represents a full scale assault on the senses, reason, and logic in its effort to bring audiences down to its star’s lunkheaded level.
Audio Film Review: Lord in the Dance for ‘The Starling Girl’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 18, 2023 - 6:26pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the first feature film debut from writer/director Laurel Parmet … set in a fundamentalist Christian community in Kentucky … entitled “The Starling Girl.” In select theaters beginning May 19th, see local listings.
On-Air Feature: Expressing the Heroics in Superhero Movies
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 15, 2023 - 9:43amCHICAGO – Often on my weekly appearances on WGBR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin), there is a topic associated with that week’s reviews. I don’t usually publish them, but the result of May the 4th was special. Host Dan Baker and I did a ranking of our favorite superhero movies on “Guardians 3” release day, and the talk was lively and surprising.
On-Air Film Review: Called CrackBerry, Addicted to ‘BlackBerry’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 13, 2023 - 8:23amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 11th, reviewing “BlackBerry,” the story of the rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone. In theaters on May 12th.
