CHICAGO – It began with a boy and his dream (nightmare?). John LaFlamboy, to be exact, as he took an idea he had in college and made it his life’s work. He owns and operates the HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport (Illinois), which was designed, built and put together by Haunted House experts expressly for the spookiest month of the year. For info on how to purchase tickets, click HellsGate.
Jon Hamm
In Theaters! Audio Reviews of ‘The Blackening’ & ‘Maggie Moore(s)’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 19, 2023 - 11:32am Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film reviews for the new releases “The Blackening,” a tart horror/comedy directed by Tim Story and the mystery comedy/romance “Maggie Moores(s), directed by John Slattery. Both In theaters since June 16th.
High Flying Skies! On-Air Film Review of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 26, 2022 - 8:49pm Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 19th, reviewing “Top Gun: Maverick,” the sequel to the 1980s classic 36 years later … but still features Tom Cruise. In theaters beginning May 27th.
‘Beirut’ is a Superbly Tense Geopolitical Thriller
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 11, 2018 - 9:11amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The psychological desperation of life-or-death decisions are in play within “Beirut,” the new geopolitical thriller featuring Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”). The various mazes within the story, set during the Lebanon civil war of the 1980s, is comparative to “Casablanca,” especially through the world-weary expression of Hamm’s character.
‘Baby Driver’ Runs on the Fast Track of Movieland
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 28, 2017 - 8:24amRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – While it may seem that we’ve seen this type of tough-guy robbery gang film before, “Baby Driver” lives in its own universe, that of the movieland of movies. It is rich in squealing tires, bang-bang guns synched to the soundtrack, and a mystery cool boy creating his own star-crossed romance.
No Need to Bother ‘Keeping Up with the Joneses’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 25, 2016 - 10:04am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Keeping Up With The Joneses” illustrates how hard it really is to make a funny action comedy. After watching this, I have begun to think that the ones that work are something of anomaly – more often than not they’re like this. An amiable but aimless project that can’t quite grasp what it wants to be and doesn’t have the vision or the laughs to sustain itself.
‘Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie’ Too Thin to be Completely Winning
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 24, 2016 - 5:37pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – As far as TV shows that fans wish could be movies, the cult hit “Absolutely Fabulous” was high on the list. The adventures of Patsy and Edina, two middle age Brits with an appetite for self medication, has had a dedicated following since it premiered in 1992. Even though there were six full TV seasons, and various reunions, “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” has emerged.
Nothing of Substance in Cute, Fluffy ‘Minions’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 9, 2015 - 9:24pmRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – They’re cute, they talk like babies, and they already have “brand recognition.” In what feels like a product exercise rather than a movie, “Minions” extends its story from the dawn of time to 1968. Did we need that much back story? The voices of Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm star.
‘Million Dollar Arm’ Misses the Strike Zone
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 16, 2014 - 7:17am Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Million Dollar Arm” harkens back to a period of shameless family friendly schmaltz that used to play to families in theaters and then run in perpetuity on “The Wonderful World Of Disney” on television. But this treacly baseball drama throws nothing but balls.
Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm Consider ‘Friends with Kids’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 9, 2012 - 4:27pmRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Jennifer Westfeldt created a distinct movie persona in her debut in 2001 in “Kissing Jessica Stein,” but she has been generally off the radar since then. Her choice for a major film re-emergence is as a nebbish career woman with less memorable character traits. She also directs Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox and Maya Rudolph in “Friends with Kids.”
Obsessive, Intriguing ‘Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 24, 2011 - 7:54am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It’s the movie poster that says it all. The familiar red-headed talk show host, now bearded, resting his head against an ever-present microphone. The show must go on for “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop.”
