HollywoodChicago.com Movie Reviews

Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot Will Go ‘A Haunting in Venice’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – While Kenneth Branagh still isn’t a favorite Hercule Poirot, I was as surprised as anyone to find that this third go around as the Belgian detective was my favorite. As the title implies, there are jump scares a-plenty as Poirot tries to get his little gray cells around the strange goings-on in a spooky house, and solve the mystery.

Slice of Life! On-Air Review of ‘Sitting in Bars with Cake’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 7th, 2023, reviewing “Sitting in Bars with Cake,” an adaptation of a cookbook memoir by Audrey Shulman. In theaters on September 8th.

Reflections on the Way We Are! Audio Review of ‘Fremont’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 5.0/5.0
Rating: 5.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Fremont,” a beautiful and poignant story of an Afghanistan immigrant, stuck between two cultures in America … co-written and directed by Babak Jalali. In select theaters on September 8th, see local listings.

RSVP! On-Air Review of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 7th, 2023, reviewing “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,” the third film that highlights that wacky Greek family. In theaters on September 8th.

Together! On-Air Review of ‘Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on a 3-Station Broadcast … Star 96.7 Joliet (IL), Star 102.3 Waukegan and Star 105.5 McHenry on September 1st, reviewing the animated French film “Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia.” In theaters since September 1st.

From the Dregs to Destiny! Audio Review of ‘Bottoms’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.0/5.0
Rating: 3.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Bottoms,” a dark comedy parody of the high school caste system, featuring jocks, cheerleaders, freaks and geeks, directed and co-wrttien by Emma Seligman (“Shiva Baby”). In theaters since August 25th.

Scenario of ‘Gran Turismo’ Gets Stuck in First Gear

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.0/5.0
Rating: 2.0/5.0

CHICAGO – “Gran Turismo” uses the life story of a gamer named Jann Mardenborough to get its message across … he was a college dropout in the UK who used the hours spent behind the steering wheel in his bedroom to become a real race car driver. While the racing scenes deliver the goods, this poorly conceived piece of product placement never gets its narrative out of first gear.

Prime Minister Prime! On-Air Review of ‘Golda’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 25th, reviewing “Golda,” set in a tense period in the career of 1970s Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. In theaters on August 25th.

Phone Home! Audio Review of ‘Landscape with Invisible Hand’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 5.0/5.0
Rating: 5.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Landscape with Invisible Hand,” a space alien science fiction film with highly symbolic overtones to our current society, based on a novel by M.T. Anderson and featuring Tiffany Haddish. In theaters since August 18th.

‘Strays’ Poops Out on Its Hard-R Talking Dog Premise

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 1.5/5.0
Rating: 1.5/5.0

CHICAGO – “Strays” is a film that features a cast full of legitimately funny people, but this Hard-R-Rated talking dog movie poops out long before the final credits roll. The film tries to have heart, but is too busy making labored poo-poo jokes to give the schmaltz much gusto.

They’ll Follow the Son! On-Air Review of ‘Blue Beetle’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 17th, reviewing “Blue Beetle,” the latest superhero film from the DC Comic Universe. In theaters since August 18th.

Fluid Coupling! On-Air Review of Ira Sachs Directed ‘Passages’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 9th, reviewing “Passages,” directed by Ira Sachs (“Married Life,” “Love is Strange”) and featuring Ben Whishaw. In theaters since August 11th.

Karma of the Title! On-Air Review of ‘Shortcomings’

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.5/5.0
Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on August 3rd, reviewing “Shortcomings,” directed by Randall Park in his feature debut, based on a graphic novel. In theaters beginning August 4th.

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  • Importance of Being Earnest, The, Strawdog Theatre

    CHICAGO – Just in time for Pride Month, Strawdog Theatre Co. presents an updated staging of the Oscar Wilde classic, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Strawdog policy … the tickets are FREE (donations encouraged), but you must put in a reservation by clicking EARNEST.

  • Prodigal Daughter, The

    CHICAGO – One of the open secrets of Chicago is its horrible racist past, which remains like an echo. Playwright Joshua Allen has been exploring this theme in his Grand Boulevard Trilogy – the last chapter talking place during the infamous 1919 race riots – in Raven Theatre’s “The Prodigal Daughter.” For tickets and info, click TPD.

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