CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio review for the doc series “Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose,” about the rise and bitter fall of the major league legend, the MLB’s all-time hits leader, only to be banned from the sport because of gambling. Streaming on MAX and on HBO since July 24th.
HollywoodChicago.com Movie Reviews
Academy Award-Nominated ‘Beaufort’ Ponders Question of Why We Fight
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 25, 2008 - 11:35pm
CHICAGO – History eludes us. It’s what happens when we’re busy making other plans. In his new film “Beaufort,” director Joseph Cedar turns his lens toward the history and misery of a Mideastern soldier’s outpost eight years ago that was both defended and attacked while highlighting the human element that has to endure when protecting the territory of warfare.
Brazillian Indie ‘The Year My Parents Went on Vacation’ a Tender Window to the World
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 23, 2008 - 11:38pm
CHICAGO – Film is often at its best when it offers a “window to the world” or surprising and personal stories about other countries and cultures dealing with issues that life in the U.S. never imagines. “The Year My Parents Went on Vacation” is a meticulous, fascinating and tender story of Brazil in 1970 when revolution was in the air and the World Cup was the hope of bringing a country back together.
‘Snow Angels’ an Essential Examination of Yin, Yang in Our Vulnerable Lives
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 22, 2008 - 6:50pmCHICAGO – Staying sane is truly an edge-of-the-knife proposition. We are all the sum of our past environments, our present circumstances and our future worries. The sludge that is generated by such a mixture becomes the psyche that’s ready to interact with other psyches we deem important or are forced to be around through family or commerce.
The Wizard of Oz is America in Immigration Film ‘Under the Same Moon’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 20, 2008 - 1:47pmCHICAGO – The immigrant “crisis” in the United States is discussed mostly in political generalities as if those seeking a better life are subhuman. “Under the Same Moon” focuses on the real faces of these people through a 10-year-old Mexican boy who risks everything in a journey to reunite with his mother in Los Angeles.
Israeli Directorial Debut ‘The Band’s Visit’ Built on Series of Bittersweet, Exquisite Moments
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 18, 2008 - 11:05pm
CHICAGO – When we speak of conflicts between people or ideologies, there’s a tendency for broad categorization. Who are the liberals or the conservatives? What type of people make up the Israelis or Palestinians? Who are the people of color and who are white?
‘Wild Ocean 3-D’ in IMAX Offers Breathtaking Cinematography, Profound Message
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 17, 2008 - 11:04pmCHICAGO – “Wild Ocean 3-D” – an unforgettable nature documentary playing now in IMAX at Chicago’s Navy Pier – dives to the depths of the ocean and through the vastness of the sea with breathtaking 3-D cinematography and a profound message for all mankind.
Skater Boy Culture Takes Center Stage in Cult Director Van Sant’s ‘Paranoid Park’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 15, 2008 - 7:41pmCHICAGO – For “Paranoid Park,” cult director Gus Van Sant returns to high school, which is the setting of his previous chilling look into the Columbine incident in 2003’s “Elephant”. Though not as successful as “Elephant,” “Paranoid Park” evokes a dream-like meditation on the trials and extreme tribulations of a skateboarding teenage boy trying to find his way.
With Surreal Madness, Strange Boys Play ‘Funny Games’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 15, 2008 - 6:36pm
CHICAGO – Imagine a film with no redeeming or uplifting emotional qualities with evil that tortures the soul, squirm-inducing narrative elements and a relentless anxiety that practically has us – like the characters in the film – screaming for mercy. Imagine also that this film is excellent.
‘Sleepwalking’ Has Exactly That Potential Effect on Moviegoers
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 14, 2008 - 1:12am
CHICAGO – When done improperly, there’s nothing more embarrassing than actors playing against their type or social class. There is a subtlety to channeling the lower middle or the working class beyond dressing down or developing a bad hairstyle. “Sleepwalking” is the type of film that gets it wrong and just gets worse as it tries harder.
Dr. Seuss’ ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ Heard Loudly Into Instant Children’s Classic
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 13, 2008 - 9:15pmCHICAGO – One of Dr. Seuss’ most famous storybooks has finally been granted life with its self-titled animated feature “Horton Hears a Who!,” which involves a morally righteous elephant, philosophical timbre and Dr. Seuss’ ingenious lyrical rhymes.
Filled With Political Blackmail, ‘The Bank Job’ Pays Dividends
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 7, 2008 - 1:25pmCHICAGO – Done properly, the classic heist or caper film is a welcomed genre of suspense-filled locations, stereotyped experts and the big cash payoff. Based in speculative part on the true story of a robbery in a vital London safety deposit vault, “The Bank Job” adds the spice of political intrigue as an underlying factor to the actual crime.
‘Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day’ as Rare as Boobs Without Silicone in Hollywood
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 6, 2008 - 1:37pmCHICAGO – Character comedies that actually have some depth and fun are as rare as boobs without silicone in Hollywood. “Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day” reaches these heights with a sensibility of an old studio picture with stylized glamour, lovable rogues and at the center the great Frances McDormand as the title character taking a chance in 24 sparkling and event-filled hours.
Despite Potty Humor, ‘CJ7’ Crosses Into Cliché to Reveal Alien Lassie
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 6, 2008 - 12:13am
CHICAGO – Stephen Chow, who directed “Shaolin Soccer” and “Kung Fu Hustle,” brings us his latest eccentricity in the form of the kid-oriented film “CJ7”. Slapstick antics, sarcastic humor and excessively absurd characters are simply a few of Chow’s cinematic trademarks and “CJ7” is no exception to his design.
