CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Viola Davis
Film Review: Julia Roberts Learns How to ‘Eat Pray Love’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 13, 2010 - 3:32pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Despite its flaws, the often-beautiful “Eat Pray Love,” starring Julia Roberts, works because it refuses to talk down to its audience. This is the rare “chick flick” that treats its demographic with respect, never becoming the sentimental or manipulative dreck that so many other filmmakers would have delivered from Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling memoirs.
Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz Meet Cute in High-Octane ‘Knight and Day’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 23, 2010 - 10:32amCHICAGO – Whenever there is a audacious and entertaining action thriller like “Knight and Day,” how do the characters stay so calm? Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise are shot at, nearly blown up, asked to drive and leap around like lunatics, yet remain perfectly white-toothed calm. A normal human reaction would be ‘Oh my gaaaaaaaaaawd!”
Slideshow: 7-Image Gallery For ‘Knight and Day’ Starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz
Submitted by BrianTT on June 21, 2010 - 2:33pmCHICAGO – This 7-image slideshow contains all of the official press images for the highly anticipated “Knight and Day,” starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis, Jordi Molla, and Paul Dano. The film was written by Patrick O’Neill and directed by James Mangold. It will be released on June 23rd, 2010.
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 30 Chicago Passes to ‘Knight and Day’ With Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on June 21, 2010 - 10:23amCHICAGO – In our latest action/comedy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 30 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Knight and Day” starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz!
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ Guilty of Incessant Gimmickry
Submitted by mattmovieman on February 15, 2010 - 2:36pmCHICAGO – 2009 was a very bad year for Gerard Butler. He has the potential to be one of the most appealing actors in Hollywood, but like Hugh Jackman, he’s usually cast in roles that sap him of all his inherent charisma, such as the obnoxious misogynist in “The Ugly Truth” or the tormented prisoner in “Gamer.” Yet while both of those films were tortuously awful, “Law Abiding Citizen” at least has the germ of a good idea.
Interview: Director F. Gary Gray of ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ With Jamie Foxx
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 16, 2009 - 8:14amCHICAGO – Justice is the theme of “Law Abiding Citizen,” a new film starring Jamie Foxx as a district attorney in Philadelphia who is targeted for revenge by a former client (Gerald Butler). Directing the film is veteran F. Gary Gray (”Friday,” “The Italian Job”).
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Doubt’ Spotlights Spectacular Performances in HD
Submitted by BrianTT on April 13, 2009 - 8:27amBlu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The history of films to score four acting Oscar nominations would make for a very short list. And yet most critics knew the rare set of nods was inevitable when they saw the quartet of talent on display in John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt”. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis shine in “Doubt,” now available on Blu-Ray.
Slideshow: 30-Image Gallery For Red-Carpet Arrivals at 2009 Academy Awards
Submitted by BrianTT on February 23, 2009 - 1:45amCHICAGO – This 30-image slideshow contains a selection of the arrivals at The 81st Annual Academy Awards. Want to know what people were wearing? Check out images of Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, “High School Musical“‘s Vanessa Hudgens, Marisa Tomei, Mickey Rourke, Natalie Portman, Taraji P. Henson, Melissa Leo, “New Moon“‘s Robert Pattinson, and many more.
Blu-Ray Review: Shockingly High Levels of Melodrama Sink ‘Nights in Rodanthe’
Submitted by BrianTT on February 16, 2009 - 1:15pmBlu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – I have a very high threshold for melodramatic romance. I was raised on cheesy musicals and will admit to pausing on the underrated “The Notebook” more than once when I pass it on cable.
Interview: From Central Falls to Oscar With Viola Davis of ‘Doubt’
Submitted by BrianTT on February 5, 2009 - 5:32pmCHICAGO – Having met Viola Davis, Oscar-nominated for “Doubt,” it’s easy to believe that people who have spent time with this charming, fascinating woman might be more inclined to give her the edge in the very close Best Supporting Actress race.