Sean Astin

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on April 10th, 2024, reviewing “Hard Miles,” a new sports-inspirational film set featuring veteran actor Matthew Modine. In select theaters on April 19th, see local listings.

CHICAGO – The journey of a thousand miles begins … in the case of “Hard Miles” starring Matthew Modine … with a single pedal. “Hard Miles” joins the pantheon of cycling movies, in this case with Modine portraying a social worker who teaches his life lessons through a bicycling journey with his youthful charges.

CHICAGO – The sheer ordinariness of life is not fodder for most dramatic films … the popcorn munchers generally turn out for something more high concept. But in Exhibit A, there is “Gloria Bell,” in which Julianne Moore portrays the title character in a series of ordinary extraordinary events.

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Sean Astin of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy.

CHICAGO – The “Days of the Dead” convention is an annual event in Chicagoland and elsewhere, that brings together admirers of the horror film genre, cult movies enthusiasts, vendors and panel discussions related to it all. Several celebrities also attend the event, including Linda Blair (“The Exorcist”), Sherilynn Fenn/James Marshall/Dana Ashbrook (“Twin Peaks”), director Clive Barker (“Hellraiser,” “Candyman”) and rocker Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys). The 2018 convention will be held Friday, November 16th through Sunday the 18th at the Chicago Schaumburg Marriott in Schaumburg, Ill. (click link below).

CHICAGO – Liberty is a concept expressed only in irony with “Moms’ Night Out,” a female-driven minivan comedy that instructs ultimately to listen to thy husband for it is Biblical, even if thy husband is a child himself. Like sad Mitt Romney and his chocolate milk, this PG-romp is a brief walk on the wild side from the rules that await at the end of the night.

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CHICAGO – One of the great events in Chicago in 2012 was the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, affectionately called C2E2. A galaxy of movie and TV stars appeared at that Spring gathering, including Sean Astin, John Cusack, Val Kilmer and Steven Yuen (“The Walking Dead”). The next C2E2 is April 26-28, 2013.

CHICAGO – Sean Astin has distinguished himself through two memorable roles – that of the title character in the Notre Dame film “Rudy” and as Samwise Gamgee in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. But not many people know that he is a passionate civic supporter, once serving as campaign manager for his friend Dan Adler, who didn’t survive a congressional ballot runoff in 2011.

CHICAGO – There is an entire generation out there that LOVES “The Goonies.” It is one of those ’80s films that is spoken about in hushed tones in certain circles as if it is the product of a time when they just made better movies. People adore the Richard Donner film that turned Sloth and Chunk into annual Halloween costumes. A 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray and DVD of “The Goonies” has been issued with those diehard fans in mind.