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.
HollywoodChicago.com Movie Reviews
Crew Olympiad! Audio Film Review of ‘The Boys in the Boat’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 26, 2023 - 3:27pm Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “The Boys in the Boat,” the latest historical drama directed by George Clooney, about the rowing crew team that competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In theaters since December 25th.
Watery! Audio Film Review of ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 22, 2023 - 9:22pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” part of the DC Comics Universe directed by James Wan and featuring … in this second outing as the watery character … Jason Momoa. In theaters beginning on December 22nd.
Nom de Plumage! On-Air Review of ‘American Fiction’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 22, 2023 - 8:43pm 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 December 21st, 2023, reviewing “American Fiction,” the directorial debut of Cord Jefferson, who also adapted the screenplay. In theaters December 21st, 2023.
Zac Efron the Weak Link in Wrestling Drama ‘The Iron Claw’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 22, 2023 - 4:52pm Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – An epic piece of miscasting puts “The Iron Claw” in a sleeper hold it’s never quite able to escape from … the pint sized gaping empty hole at its center has a name, and it is Zac Efron. Efron mistakenly believes that his admittedly drastic physical transformation will do his acting for him. But instead of looking tough, he instead looks distractingly cartoonish, like a He-Man doll come to life.
Eggy! On-Air Review of ‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 15, 2023 - 12:23pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 14th, 2023, reviewing “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” the animated sequel to 2000’s “Chicken Run.” Steaming on Netflix beginning December 15th, 2023.
Charming Timothée Chalomet Brings the Willy to ‘Wonka’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 15, 2023 - 9:01amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Wonka” is a sweet, perhaps too sweet, musical origin story of the world famous cantankerous candy man. Timothée Chalomet has got a song in his heart and sweets up his sleeve in a movie that threatens to give old fashioned “family films” a good name once again.
Bird is the Word! On-Air Review of ‘The Boy and the Heron’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 8, 2023 - 11:27am Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 7th, 2023, reviewing “The Boy and the Heron,” the latest animated film from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki. In theaters on December 8th, 2023.
Pepperminty! On-Air Review of Eddie Murphy in ‘Candy Cane Lane’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 1, 2023 - 6:07pmRating: 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 Christmas movie “Candy Cane Lane,” streaming on Prime Video beginning December 1st, 2023.
Conducting Lenny! On-Air Review of Bradley Cooper in ’Maestro’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 1, 2023 - 5:30pmRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on November 30th, 2023, reviewing “Maestro,” co-written, directed by and starring Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein. In theaters on December 1st, 2023.
Past in Present Tense! On-Air Review of ‘May December’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 1, 2023 - 4:55pm Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on November 30th, 2023, reviewing “May December,” featuring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, directed by Todd Haynes. Streaming on Netflix beginning December 1st, 2023.
Ere I Saw Nappy! On-Air Review of Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Napoleon’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 23, 2023 - 6:07pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on November 22nd, 2023, reviewing “Napoleon,” a biopic of Emperor Bonaparte, directed by Ridley Scott. In theaters on November 22nd, 2023.
A Dream Your Heart Makes! On-Air Review of Disney Studios ‘Wish’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 23, 2023 - 5:44pmRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on November 22nd, 2023, reviewing “Wish,” the latest original film from Walt Disney Studios. In theaters on November 22nd, 2023.
Legacy! Audio Film Review of ‘Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 19, 2023 - 2:40pmRating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story” an intimate documentary – co-directed by insiders Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz – about the rags to riches story of the Entertainment Mogul known as “TP.” Currently on Prime Video.
