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Film Review: ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ Satisfies with Entertaining Adventure
CHICAGO– J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek Into Darkness” is like a really solid mid-season episode of a great TV series. Entertaining, for sure, but lacking the energy of a premiere or the stakes of a finale....
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Film Review: Great Michael Shannon Performance Can’t Thaw ‘The Iceman’
Rating: 2.5/5.0CHICAGO– 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...
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Film Review: Trip to Katie Aselton’s ‘Black Rock’ Lacks Purpose
Rating: 2.5/5.0CHICAGO– I really admire the girl power approach to the thriller genre in Katie Aselton’s surprising genre effort, “Black Rock,” but the admirable effort doesn’t change the fact that the...
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Film Review: Sarah Polley’s ‘Stories We Tell’ Resonates For All Viewers
CHICAGO– Sarah Polley’s “Stories We Tell” may seem deceptively simple or even boring in concept. At its core, it’s a film about a talented filmmaker and actress investigating her family’s past and her...
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Film Review: Aaron Eckhart Gets ‘Erased’ in ‘Bourne’-esque Thriller
Rating: 2.5/5.0CHICAGO– Two talented stars – Aaron Eckhart & Liana Liberato (“Trust”) – do a remarkable job of finding the depth in paper-thin, clichéd dialogue and generic contrivances but they...
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Blu-ray Review: Ambitious ‘Cloud Atlas’ Falls Just Short of Heights to Which...
CHICAGO– There’s a large part of me that wants to wholeheartedly recommend and embrace “Cloud Atlas” for two reasons. One, it’s based on arguably the best book of the millennium so far, David...
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Blu-ray Review: Awful Script Strands ‘Open Road’ in Formulaic Wasteland
CHICAGO– So you’re a young woman who decides to fall asleep in your car parked just off the highway. You’re awoken by the rapping fist of a chiseled cop who leers at you with the sexual appetite of a...
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Film Review: Fashionistas Will Swoon for ‘Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s’
CHICAGO– Watch out folks, the one percenters are fighting back. After the rabble of the 99 forced their way into Occupy Wall Street territory, the true rulers of America are pushing back in the only...
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Film Review: Visual Excess Dims ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’
CHICAGO– The anticipation of experiencing the rebooted crew of the starship Enterprise now may overwhelm any creative team’s ability to deliver to that anticipation. “Star Trek Into Darkness” piles on...
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HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 25 Pairs of Passes to ‘Fast & Furious 6’ With...
CHICAGO– In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 25 pairs of movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the highly anticipated new...
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Film News: ‘David Lynch Swerves’ Author Martha P. Nochimson on Indie Outlook
CHICAGO– Acclaimed film critic and writer Martha P. Nochimson gave an exclusive interview to Indie Outlook, the independent film blog and podcast founded by Hollywood Chicago staff writer Matt...
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TV Review: ‘Mel Brooks: Make a Noise’ Captures Comedy Genius
CHICAGO– I’m a huge Mel Brooks fan, one of those critics who bows at the altar of arguably the two best comedies of all time, “Blazing Saddles” &“Young Frankenstein.” I’ve seen them both a dozen...
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TV Review: FOX Buries ‘The Goodwin Games’ For Good Reason
CHICAGO– “The Goodwin Games” is bad, bad, bad. You know a show is likely to be awful when a network cuts back the order and buries its premiere in a time of year when most people are getting outside or...
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TV Review: ABC Gives Canadian ‘Motive’ to Mystery Fans
CHICAGO– I know — Another mystery show, right? When do we grow tired of mystery after mystery? Other cultures have to be amazed at our obsession with murder and the people who solve crimes. While I...
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Blu-ray Review: ‘Texas Chainsaw’ Continues to Diminish Legacy of Original
CHICAGO– Why do they keep making these awful movies? I’m a horror fan. I think Tobe Hooper’s original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is a truly effective (if a bit overrated) movie that has to be included...
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Blu-ray Review: Even Nicholas Sparks Fans Will Be Annoyed by ‘Safe Haven’
CHICAGO– At its best, Lasse Hallstrom’s “Safe Haven,” based on the book by the insanely popular Nicholas Sparks, is merely safe, Lifetime Channel TV Movie junk. At its worst, it’s pretty offensive and...
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Blu-ray Review: ‘Jack Reacher’ Delivers Goods For Noir Fans
CHICAGO– “Jack Reacher” doesn’t work as an action movie. However, if you approach the mannered dialogue and dark storytelling as a noir, which is what I believe the writer and director (if not the...
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HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 40 Pairs of Passes to ‘Now You See Me’ With...
CHICAGO– In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 40 pairs of movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the new thriller “Now You...
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Film Review: ‘Alyce Kills’ Takes Viewers Down Rabbit Hole to Horror
CHICAGO– Long-delayed stateside, premiering On Demand, stupidly retitled (it was and still should be just “Alyce”), Jay Lee’s twisted trip down the rabbit hole of sanity, “Alyce Kills,” was not high on...
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TV Review: Gordon Ramsay Returns with Nicer ‘Masterchef’ on FOX
CHICAGO– “Masterchef,” starring Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Graham Elliot, returns tonight, May 22, 2013 at 7pm with a two-hour premiere that hints at a kinder, gentler season, in keeping with...
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