CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on January 20th, reviewing the new series reboot “Velma,” created by Mindy Kaling and featuring the Scooby-Doo gang. Currently streaming on HBO Max.
Antonio Banderas
The Holidays Are Granted in ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 22, 2022 - 1:12pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The Shrek franchise, which had been showing signs of creative exhaustion dating all the way back to “Shrek The Third,” gets an unexpected dose of new life with this belated – and better than it has any right to be – sequel “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish,” focusing on the swashbuckling feline (voice of Antonio Banderas).
Face Off Faces! Audio Film Review of ‘Official Competition’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 3, 2022 - 6:28pm Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “Official Competition,” a new Spain/Argentina film about a trio – two actors and a director – trying to get a film out of rehearsal and in front of the cameras. It opened in select theaters on July 1st, 2022, see local listings.
Say Hello to Your Mother and Kid! On-Air Review of ‘Uncharted’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 18, 2022 - 4:59pm Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on February 18th, 2022, reviewing the new release, “Uncharted,” based on the popular video game, in theaters on February 18th.
Wive’s Tale! On-Air Review of ‘HItman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 17, 2021 - 7:12pm 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 June 17th, 2021, reviewing the new film “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,” in theaters beginning June 16th.
Terence Malick’s Feverish Dream in ‘Knight of Cups’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 11, 2016 - 9:46amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – I’ve been quoting Martin Scorsese over the years, that he said “movies are a psychotic’s feverish dream on display.” In searching for those words, I found he never said it. He did say they are “dreams with eyes open.” So let us combine the two quotes in analyzing Terence Malick’s “Knight of Cups.”
‘The 33’ Adds Depth to the Trapped Miners of Chile
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 13, 2015 - 11:21amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – In the art of film, the best way to approach a based-on-truth story – where the outcome is well known – is to create a point-of-view vision for the narrative. The story of “The 33,” the trapped miners from Chile who were rescued with worldwide attention, is a prime example of that vision.
‘The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water’ Squeezes Out More Fun
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 6, 2015 - 11:46amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water” squeezes another big-screen adventure out of America’s favorite undersea fry cook, and introduces some tantalizing comic possibilities that ramp up the series – including winking meta references – but it’s ambitions remain distinctly small scale.
‘Machete Kills’ So Over the Top, it Has No Bottom
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 11, 2013 - 7:16amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – You gotta love director Robert Rodriguez. When other filmmakers are slogging through their important films, he’s out convincing big stars to blow off cinematic fireworks, giggling all the time. The excess is the thing, more so and more so, in his new film “Machete Kills.”
Zoe Kazan Illuminates Fascinating Fable of ‘Ruby Sparks’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 24, 2012 - 8:40am Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris return to the spotlight this week with their first film since the award-winning “Little Miss Sunshine” and they completely defy the sophomore slump, delivering a smart, fascinating, fun gem in the spectacular “Ruby Sparks.” Buoyed by one of the best screenplays of the year courtesy of one of our most interesting young actresses, “Ruby Sparks” is a clever romantic fantasy that works on nearly every level.
Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor in Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Haywire’
Submitted by BrianTT on January 19, 2012 - 2:45pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Steven Soderbergh is one of the few directors who can do whatever the hell he wants. Whatever genre, whomever he casts, whichever story he chooses to tell – he pulls it off. He hasn’t made anything approaching a stumble since 2004’s “Ocean’s Twelve” (and, believe it or not, there have been eight films released since including this one) and his latest, “Haywire,” serves as further evidence that any conversation of the best working directors that doesn’t include him is incomplete.
