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+.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
TV Review: USA Connects Again With Entertaining ‘White Collar’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 23, 2009 - 1:39pmCHICAGO – The creative roll of the USA Network continues tonight with the debut of another quick, clever, mystery-of-the-week series that should satisfy fans of their hits like “Monk,” “Psych,” “Burn Notice,” and “Royal Pains”. “White Collar” doesn’t break any molds, almost fitting too predictably into the USA dynamic, but it’s an entertaining program for the end of a long week and looks likely to be another slam dunk for one of the most successful cable networks of the ’00s.
‘Astro Boy’ is Here to Save Whatever is Left of the Future
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 23, 2009 - 8:22amCHICAGO – The cartoon universe is replete with superheroes, none more distinct than the title character in the new animated film “Astro Boy.” Based on a Japanese comic book from 1951, Astro Boy has new life in 3-D cartoon form.
‘New Legend’ TV Spot Airs For ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 23, 2009 - 1:26amCHICAGO – A new TV spot has aired for the highly anticipated “Twilight” sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”. The TV spot is called “New Legend” and has this sell line: “When forever ends, a new legend begins.”
DVD Review: Lackluster Edition of ‘My Fair Lady’ Disappoints
Submitted by BrianTT on October 23, 2009 - 12:28amCHICAGO – Can anyone explain to me why there are lavish, bonus-laden, beautifully transferred versions of so-so musicals like “Gigi” and “South Pacific” on Blu-Ray but the beloved “My Fair Lady” languishes in standard definition? It’s completely illogical, a decision made even more frustrating by a grainy, flat picture and mediocre audio track. Eliza deserves an upgrade.
Video Game Review: ‘NBA 2K10’ Dunks Over ‘NBA Live 10’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2009 - 11:42pmCHICAGO – It’s the same story every year. 2K Sports and Electronic Arts release their basketball video games at the same time and it’s impossible not to contrast and compare. This critic was looking forward to writing something like a scorecard, choosing which title wins in different fields like graphics, gameplay, presentation, etc.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Expedition Africa’ Not Worth the Trip
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2009 - 10:30pmCHICAGO – Mark Burnett is a man who knows no shame. The phenomenal success he’s found with shows such as “Survivor” and “The Apprentice” have cemented his reputation as the Jerry Bruckheimer of television.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Natural Born Killers’ Still Resonates Years Later
Submitted by BrianTT on October 22, 2009 - 9:59pmCHICAGO – Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers” is easily one of the best films of the ’90s, an experimental, daring, visually mesmerizing study of not just violence but America’s obsession with it. At the peak of his directorial abilities, one of the best filmmakers of the ’80s and ’90s turned his lens on the way we turn evil people into tabloid heroes and he did it with such vibrant style that “NBK” has just as much resonance as it did fifteen years ago.
Interview: Character Study With ‘An Education’ Director Lone Scherfig
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 22, 2009 - 3:50pmCHICAGO – In the new coming-of-age film, “An Education,” director Lone Scherfig creates a different time (the early 1960s) and place (middle class England) to tell the story of a teenage girl’s conflict between her academic life and older man lover.
TV News: Hang Out With ‘Entourage’ Star Kevin Dillon at Chicago Event
Submitted by BrianTT on October 21, 2009 - 5:46pmCHICAGO – We were recently sent a flyer for a cool, entertainment-based Chicago event featuring one of the stars of HBO’s beloved “Entourage”. Enclave presents “Who’s your Entourage” event that’s hosted by Johnny Drama himself, Kevin Dillon. On November 6, Chicago fans can meet the “Entourage” star for free before 11pm. To RSVP for the event, go to Enclave Chicago’s website.
Interview: Willem Dafoe on Lars von Trier’s Controversial ‘Antichrist’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 21, 2009 - 5:32pmCHICAGO – The legendary Willem Dafoe, star of modern classics like “Platoon” and “Shadow of the Vampire,” is still one of the hardest working men in Hollywood. He has two films opening this week, a cameo role in “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” and a lead in the controversial “Antichrist,” which he brought to the 45th Chicago International Film Festival and took time for an interview with HollywoodChicago.com.
DVD Review: Ambitious ‘The Objective’ Sustains Interest, But Ultimately Fails
Submitted by BrianTT on October 21, 2009 - 3:33pmCHICAGO – While adult comedies continue to rake in the big bucks at the box office, adult dramas continue to plunge in popularity, particularly dramas centering on the war in Iraq. When a brilliant edge-of-your-seat thriller like Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” or a galvanizing documentary like “Taxi to the Dark Side” can’t even manage to find an audience, a tiny horror picture like “The Objective” doesn’t stand a chance.
TV Review: Showtime’s ‘Lock ‘N Load’ Wastes Opportunity
Submitted by BrianTT on October 21, 2009 - 12:21pmCHICAGO – The new reality series “Lock ‘N Load,” debuting tonight, October 21st, 2009, on Showtime, is a completely wasted opportunity to add something unique and interesting to the debate over gun control. Completely leaving political or personal viewpoints on controversial weapons issues out of my opinion, the show simply isn’t interesting or entertaining.
Surprise! Chicago International Film Festival Screens ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 21, 2009 - 12:03pmCHICAGO – “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassas,” the long anticipated final film of Heath Ledger, directed by Terry Gilliam, was previewed last night at the Chicago International Film Festival at their “surprise’ screening.
