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
‘A Serious Man’ Plays as Masterfully Fictionalized Autobiography For Joel, Ethan Coen
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on October 11, 2009 - 11:55am Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “A Serious Man” isn’t the story of Joel and Ethan Coen’s lives. But you might not necessarily know it. While the brothers continue to turn their films into Hollywood gold, this 1967-set black comedy is among the more personal projects in their repertoire.
‘Good Hair’ Has Chris Rock Getting to the Roots of Follicle Follies
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 9, 2009 - 3:38pm Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Positioning himself as a informational bridge-builder, comedian Chris Rock explores the often complex social economics of African American hair, specifically the intense styling that is a borderline obsession for women of color.
The Beauty and the Ugliness of Loss in ‘The Boys Are Back’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 5, 2009 - 7:30am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
ATLANTA – Sometimes human tragedy hits dramatically, but other times it subtly, imperceptibly, alters the intrinsic fibers of everyday life in undetectable ways. That is the premise behind Scott Hicks’ film “The Boys Are Back.” It is the story not of death, but of the strategy human beings devise to cope, to defend and to protect themselves against pain and loss.
Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg Deliver Action, Laughs With Great ‘Zombieland’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 2, 2009 - 3:08pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The horror/comedy “Zombieland” is one of the few 2009 films to honestly deserve the overused phrase “thrill ride.” From the opening shots to the best post-credits tag in years, “Zombieland” attempts nothing but pure fun and completely delivers.
‘I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell,’ Then Serve Up the Filmmakers
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 26, 2009 - 7:00pm Rating: 1.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The main problem with “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell,” based on Tucker Max’s memoir about a hard partying, devil-may-care womanizer, is that the screenwriter (Max himself) didn’t have the cojones to go all the way.
John Malkovich and the Morality of South Africa in ‘Disgrace’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 26, 2009 - 7:59amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – In a stark and compelling tale of naked vulnerability, John Malkovich becomes the centerpiece of the continuing battle for territory and humanity within the country of South Africa, in the newly released “Disgrace.”
‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ Tastes Right For All Generations
Submitted by BrianTT on September 18, 2009 - 11:30amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Proving that you should never judge an animated film by its cover or its typically predictable brethren, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is a very funny comedy with one of the best voice casts in years, an enjoyable visual aesthetic, and even a heartwarming message that doesn’t come off over-cooked.
Steven Soderbergh’s ‘The Informant!’ Puts Matt Damon on a Wire
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 18, 2009 - 7:09amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Behind every great fortune lies a great crime, as the saying goes. In director Steven Soderbergh’s “The Informant!,” he and Matt Damon carve out a satire where the “crime” becomes entangled with the larger issues of “justice.”
‘Jennifer’s Body’ a Bloody, Out-of-Body Dud For Oscar-Winning ‘Juno’ Scribe Diablo Cody
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on September 18, 2009 - 1:01am Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – For Oscar-winning “Juno” writer Diablo Cody, writing “Jennifer’s Body” with “Transformers” star Megan Fox and “Mamma Mia!” star Amanda Seyfried as the two lead women was as much of an out-of-body experience as Charlize Theron’s against-type role in 2003’s “Monster”.
Kate Beckinsale’s ‘Whiteout’ About as Thrilling as a Blank Screen
Submitted by BrianTT on September 11, 2009 - 3:22pmRating: 1.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Producing more derisive snickers than gasps and more snores than thrills, Dominic Sena’s “Whiteout” is a massive waste of time, a predictable, dull, and hysterically cliched slice of junk that should be run out of theaters before month’s end.
Ang Lee’s ‘Taking Woodstock’ Lays Down Too Mellow a Vibe to Be Memorable
Submitted by BrianTT on August 28, 2009 - 2:23pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – More about the vibe surrounding the three days of peace and love that would become the most influential festival in history than the actual music itself, Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock” is a frustrating drama with individual elements that work but a cinematic set list that is ultimately disjointed and unsatisfying.
Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Inglourious Basterds’ With Brad Pitt Lives Up to Expectations
Submitted by BrianTT on August 21, 2009 - 3:02pmRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – What truly distinguishes Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” from the cookie-cutter marketplace also makes its impact incredibly difficult to put into words. It’s a film that’s impossible to pin down - a thriller, drama, comedy, action film, and a slice of revisionist history played as modern revenge fantasy. And it’s a total blast.
Paul Giamatti Does More With Less in ‘Cold Souls’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 21, 2009 - 2:21am Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – How is the best way to discover the elusiveness of the soul? For Paul Giamatti, playing himself, the key is to store the legendary organ into the deep freeze, in his new absurdist comedy, “Cold Souls.”
