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.
Kevin Bacon
Audio Film Reviews of ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ & ‘Despicable Me 4’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 6, 2024 - 6:08pm- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
- Bronson Pinchot
- Despicable Me 4
- Eddie Murphy
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Joey King
- Judge Reinhold
- Kevin Bacon
- Kristen Wiig
- Movie Review
- Netflix
- Patrick McDonald
- Paul Reiser
- Sofia Vergara
- Stephen Colbert
- Steve Carell
- Steve Coogan
- Taylour Paige
- Universal Pictures
- Will Ferrell
 Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film reviews for “‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” with Eddie Murphy & “Despicable Me 4 with the voice of Steve Carrel, both in their fourth film in their respective series. “Cop” is streaming on Netflix since July 3rd, and “Me” is in theaters since the same date.
No One Ever Left Alive in 1985! Audio Film Review of ‘MaXXXine’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 6, 2024 - 10:10am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “MaXXXine,” the third film in writer/director Ti West’s overview of the 1970s/80s American Cinema porno film era, after “X” and “Pearl,” and featuring Mia Goth. In theaters since July 5th.
Boston is Strong Again in Reliable ‘Patriots Day’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 13, 2017 - 3:48pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – In the context of history, and the way information is consumed these days, the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013 seems both like yesterday and a long time ago. Director Peter Berg’s “Patriots Day” is the first film account of that horrid week, and features Mark Wahlberg.
Johnny Depp is Ghoulish in Mob Saga ‘Black Mass’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 17, 2015 - 4:51pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Black Mass” is a well crafted, if somewhat conventional crime tale. It won’t win any awards, but it’s entertaining enough. The story of real life Boston crime boss “Whitey” Bulger has no shortage of juicy details, and while the saga of this mob boss slash FBI turncoat falls short of greatness, Johnny Depp turns him into an otherworldly presence.
Billy Bob Thornton’s ‘Jayne Mansfield’s Car’ Stalls Out
Submitted by BrianTT on September 11, 2013 - 1:05pm Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There was a time when it looked like not only would Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton be one of our great actors but possibly a threat behind the camera as well. Everyone knows the impression of his character from “Sling Blade” but many forget that he directed it as well. He followed that up with the flawed but ambitious and interesting “All the Pretty Horses.”
Uninspired ‘R.I.P.D.’ is a Reminder of Better Movies
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 19, 2013 - 10:06pmRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Did everyone see “Men in Black”? Or the film’s two sequels? They you saw “R.I.P.D.,” which unfortunately for the production team has “rip” in the title, because the film is a lazy rewrite and rip-off of “MiB.” Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds are the protectors assigned in this one.
‘Footloose’ Remake Dances to Its Own Tune
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 13, 2011 - 4:26pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – If you’re gonna cut loose, “Footloose,” it is best to do what the production team and cast did in cutting this remake of the 1980s kitschy classic – pay deep homage to the source and modify it with a energetic and contemporary spin on the dance floor.
Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling in Great ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 28, 2011 - 3:17pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” is undeniably clichéd, broad in its humor, and a bit manipulative in its sentimentality, but it should be. This is a movie about grand statements, soulmates, and true passion, a film that unabashedly believes in the craziness and the stupidity of what we call love. It’s also one of the most purely entertaining films of the year.
Matthew Vaughn’s Entertaining, Stylish ‘X-Men: First Class’ Rocks
Submitted by BrianTT on June 2, 2011 - 6:26pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Matthew Vaughn rights the ship of mediocre superhero movies with the incredibly accomplished “X-Men: First Class,” the best Marvel Movie since “Spider-Man 2” and a film that proves that big blockbuster summer entertainment can be both commercially crowd-pleasing and intellectually complex at the same time. “X-Men: First Class” features a spectacular mix of well-choreographed action, revisionist history, themes of tolerance, and great performances. This will be one of the best movies of this season.
James Gunn’s Memorable ‘Super’ With Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page
Submitted by BrianTT on April 8, 2011 - 9:18amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – A much darker cousin of Matthew Vaughn’s “Kick-Ass” by way of “Taxi Driver,” James Gunn’s “Super” is a tonally inconsistent comedy that nevertheless features one of my absolute favorite performances of the year so far and enough interesting ideas to warrant a look. If only those ideas were shaped into something a bit more coherent. “Super” could have lived up to its title.
