CHICAGO – There is no better time to take in a stage play that is based in U.S. history, depicting the battle between fact and religion. The old theater chestnut – first mounted in 1955 – is “Inherit the Wind,” now at the Goodman Theatre, completing it’s short run through October 20th. For tickets and more information, click INHERIT.
HollywoodChicago.com Movie Reviews
‘The Interrupters’ Seek Peace One Soul at a Time
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 12, 2011 - 8:18am Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Chicago is a divided city. On one end is prosperity, modernity and all the trappings therein. On the other, abject poverty, anger and killing. One dedicated group is trying to diminish the killing end, and is documented by director Steve James (”Hoop Dreams”) in “The Interrupters.”
Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘30 Minutes or Less’ is Half Funny, Wholly Disappointing
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 12, 2011 - 1:07am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The new half-unfunny comedy “30 Minutes or Less” stands as a destructive come down for newly minted star Jesse Eisenberg following his high-profile role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in David Fincher’s “The Social Network”.
‘Final Destination 5’ Plays Like 3D Cartoon For Horror Fans
Submitted by BrianTT on August 11, 2011 - 2:06pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The “Final Destination” movies have become an increasingly-excessive orgy of gore with a twisted sense of humor – the Grim Reaper isn’t just coming for you, he’s going to have some fun before you go. The first four films in the franchise represented the typical downward spiral common in horror series with each subsequent entry falling a little deeper down the rabbit hole of typical horror genre traps.
French ‘Point Blank’ is Streamlined, Effective Thriller
Submitted by BrianTT on August 11, 2011 - 9:44am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Fred Cavaye follows his international hit “Anything For Her” (remade here as the Russell Crowe vehicle “The Next Three Days”) with another sure-to-be-remade action thriller yet again about an unlucky man going to whatever ends required to save the love of his life. With crackerjack pacing and a driven, no-frills script that brings the whole thing to a lean close in under 80 minutes (sans credits), “Point Blank” is an adrenalin-driven shot to the arthouse scene.
Emma Stone, Viola Davis Lend a Hand to ‘The Help’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 10, 2011 - 7:50amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Using fiction to express the importance of real historical events is seductive and sometimes disingenuous. The new film “The Help” manages to counteract that notion through high level, emotional performances.
‘The Devil’s Double’ Magnifies the Sorrows of Iraq
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 7, 2011 - 9:32pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There is evil all over the world, as long as there are human beings whose lust for power overcomes any semblance of morality. Iraq seems to be ground zero for those consequences, broken from within and invaded from the outside. It is the surreal tale of Saddam Hussein’s oldest son Uday that’s outlined in “The Devil’s Double.”
The Universe of Miranda July Foresees ‘The Future’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 5, 2011 - 11:09am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The beauty of indie filmmaker Miranda July lies in her ability to create substance and mystery out of the most mundane everyday circumstances. Ms. July wrote, directed and stars in the symbolically rich new film “The Future,” and nurtures the concept of “the relationship” into another realm.
Thrilling, Marvelous ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 5, 2011 - 10:27am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is spectacular entertainment, a perfect capper to the blockbuster season that is arguably the most purely enjoyable film of the warmer months of 2011. Rupert Wyatt’s highly-anticipated prequel is an old-fashioned piece of sci-fi escapism made with some of the revolutionary new toys available to special effects artists.
Brendan Gleeson Finds Caustic Charm of ‘The Guard’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 5, 2011 - 9:29amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Brendan Gleeson pushes forward John Michael McDonagh’s strong “The Guard” through the sheer power of his incredible personality. The lovable-but-irascible actor delivers one of the most enjoyable performances of the year and he’s amply assisted by the great Don Cheadle and a clever, unapologetic script from his writer, making a strong directorial debut.
Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds Buried Under ‘The Change-Up’
Submitted by BrianTT on August 5, 2011 - 8:23amRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “The Change-Up” is an undeniable mess, as any movie that opens with a grown man getting baby crap projected into his mouth would be (and that’s just the beginning), but one of the worst scripts of the year is saved from the depths of comedy hell by a talented cast headlined by the typically-restrained Jason Bateman playing against type.
‘Sarah’s Key’ Unlocks the Ever-Present Past
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 30, 2011 - 8:31amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The old saying, “those who cannot remember the past is doomed to repeat it” applies succinctly in “Sarah’s Key,” a Holocaust film with a French twist. Kristin Scott Thomas plays an American journalist who uncovers the facts in a less-remembered incident that reverberates to now.
‘Another Earth’ Reflects on Nature of Existence
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 29, 2011 - 9:36pm Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Another Earth” is a delicate movie. The emotions, atmosphere and philosophy feels like the whole thing could shatter at any moment, that’s how balanced it is on the edge of tomorrow. Through Brit Marling’s screenplay and performance, the very nature of who we are is questioned.
Only the Kiddies Will Connect to ‘The Smurfs’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 29, 2011 - 6:41pmRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There is nothing wrong with “The Smurfs” that a thousand volts of electricity couldn’t cure. It is well made, looks good in the optional 3-D and has a competent cast trying their hardest. What it lacks is a spark, either of nostalgia or a fresh update, as it meanders with the seen-it-all-before template.
