CHICAGO – Theatrical satires of the Star Wars Universe are like the number of TV series the universe has wrought … too many to figure out if anything is worthwhile. But “Trade Federation” (subtitled “Or Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels”), presented by Otherworld Theatre in Wrigleyville Chicago, gets it right on.
Addicted to CrackBerry! On-Air Review of ‘Blackberry’



![]() Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 11th, reviewing “BlackBerry,” the story of the rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone. In theaters on May 12th.
In 1996, Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and his business partner and best friend Douglas Fregin (Matt Johnson) are on the edge of creating the Blackberry, the world’s first smartphone. Unfortunately for them, they are less successful at generating money for their ideas. Everything changes when hustler Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton) blusters his way into securing funding and taking in partners. The rest is a historic rise to the top, and as deep a reverse dive to the bottom.

BlackBerry
Photo credit: IFC Films
Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com reviewed “BlackBerry” during the Morning Mess with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM, Monroe, Wisconsin, May 11th, 2023 …
![]() | By PATRICK McDONALD |