CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.
Ray Liotta
She Don’t Lie Times 3! On-Air Film Review of ‘Cocaine Bear’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 24, 2023 - 12:10pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker in for Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on February 23rd, 2023, reviewing “Cocaine Bear,” the based-on-truth coked up animal story. In theaters beginning February 24th.
Teen Age Tone! On-Air Review of ‘The Many Saints of Newark’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 30, 2021 - 4:47pm- Alessandro Nivola
- Corey Stoll
- Got Yourself a Gun
- HBO MAX
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- John Margaro
- Leslie Odom Jr.
- Livia
- Michael Gandofini
- Monroe
- Movie Review
- Pat Über TV
- Patrick McDonald
- Ray Liotta
- Scott Thompson
- Silvio
- The Many Saints of Newark
- The Morning Mess
- The Sopranos
- Tony Soprano
- Uncle Junior
- Vera Farmiga
- Warner Bros.
- WBGR-FM
- Wisconsin
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 September 30th, 2021, reviewing the new film “The Many Saints of Newark” in theaters and streaming on HBO Max beginning October 1st.
More Risqué ‘Sin City: A Dame to Kill For’ Doesn’t Dare to Trailblaze Again
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 22, 2014 - 9:36pm- Adam Fendelman
- Bruce Willis
- Christopher Lloyd
- Dennis Haybert
- Eva Green
- Frank Miller
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jeremy Piven
- Jessica Alba
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Josh Brolin
- Julie Garner
- Lady Gaga
- Mickey Rourke
- Movie Review
- Powers Boothe
- Ray Liotta
- Robert Rodriguez
- Rosario Dawson
- Sin City
- Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Sex sells, sure, but the film-noir sequel “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” makes you feel dirty if you’re left thinking that’s enough.
Nine years since the visually groundbreaking, avant-garde hit “Sin City,” Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez’s biggest mistake with their next incarnation is replacing the first film’s bloodthirsty impact with too much nudity.
‘Sin City: A Dame to Kill For’ Breaks No New Ground
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 21, 2014 - 8:44pm- Bruce Willis
- Christopher Lloyd
- Dennis Haybert
- Eva Green
- Frank Miller
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jeremy Piven
- Jessica Alba
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Josh Brolin
- Mickey Rourke
- Movie Review
- Patrick McDonald
- Powers Boothe
- Ray Liotta
- Robert Rodriguez
- Rosario Dawson
- Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
- The Weinstein Company
Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – When the first “Sin City” (2005) was released – based on the graphic novels by Frank Miller – the conversion of a film to a noir-like comic book atmosphere was pioneering. The sequel “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” has heightened that look, but this time has much less to say.
Muppets Still Know How to Entertain in ‘Muppets Most Wanted’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 21, 2014 - 8:34amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There is a comfort, like a favorite drink in a childhood mug, about Jim Henson’s legendary Muppets and their standard of entertainment and humor. It’s brilliant that Walt Disney Studios continues to understand what makes them work, producing their latest, “Muppets Most Wanted.”
Great Michael Shannon Performance Can’t Thaw ‘The Iceman’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 16, 2013 - 11:09amRating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Another great Michael Shannon performance should come as no surprise as everything he touches lately seems to be interesting, from “Take Shelter” to “Boardwalk Empire” to letters written by batshit crazy sorority girls. However, his increasingly impressive ability can’t save “The Iceman,” a misguided, clichéd hitman flick that careens tonally and doesn’t really justify its existence. It doesn’t work as thriller or as drama, serving as little more than a performance piece for its talented star.
Crime, Fatherhood Intersect in ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 5, 2013 - 8:21amRating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Derek Cianfrance’s masterful “The Place Beyond the Pines” is a complex, epic piece of storytelling about the ripple effect of crime through families and across generations. Drastic action does not exist in a vacuum. It influences generations below and those impacted by their parent’s decisions.
Metaphor is Message in Violent ‘Killing Them Softly’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 30, 2012 - 1:50pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – If there ever was an industry that deserved a good metaphor bashing, it would be the financial sector. “Killing Them Softly” does a hit-over-the-head with the symbolism, but at the same time delivers a gritty and literate parable, featuring Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini and Ray Liotta.
Channing Tatum Stars in Inconsistent ‘The Son of No One’
Submitted by BrianTT on November 4, 2011 - 12:52pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Director Dito Montiel and star Channing Tatum were once tagged with the label of the hot new debut artistic partnership. 2006’s great “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints” introduced both men to the world and it felt like it could be the calling card for a creative team to someday rival Scorsese and De Niro.
Spirituality, Zac Efron Overcome Plot Holes in ‘Charlie St. Cloud’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 30, 2010 - 12:44amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The rise of Zac Efron has been one of the more interesting movie stories of the past year. Fresh from his notable role in “Me and Orson Welles,’ Efron takes the lead in “Charlie St. Cloud,” with veteran actors Ray Liotta and Kim Basinger. This journey into afterlife issues highlights some nice acting chops from Efron.