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17 articles
Slideshow: 35-Image Gallery For ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ Starring Robert Pattinson
6 November 2009 1:10 PM, PST
Chicago – This 35-image slideshow contains all of the official press images for the highly anticipated “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Rachelle Lefevre, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning. The film was adapted by Melissa Rosenberg from the book by Stephenie Meyer and directed by Chris Weitz. It will be released on November 20th, 2009.
Synopsis: “In The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested.”
You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Gabourey Sidibe Shines in Inspirational True Story of ‘Precious’
6 November 2009 12:21 PM, PST
Chicago – The final scene of Lee Daniels’ “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” ends with a dedication that the film is for “precious girls everywhere”.
The words seem likely to resonate with the legions of fans of this tragic true story - women and men who can identify with rising above abuse, poverty, addiction, or whatever seemingly insurmountable odds speak most personally to them.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Daniels has made a bleak, brutal, depressing urban drama that will surely be the “feel-bad, feel-good” movie of the year, a well-made film that is so dark that it can be hard to watch but that is designed to illustrate the fact that the human power to overcome adversity is stronger than the instinct to shrivel and die.
Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” in our reviews section.
Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) is a stolid, »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Art World Bares its Soul in Adam Goldberg’s Superlative ‘(Untitled)’
6 November 2009 8:57 AM, PST
Chicago – One of the best and most exciting surprises of the 2009 film year is a smaller, claustrophobic film starring Adam Goldberg and set in the art gallery world of New York City. “(Untitled)” is an honest, uncompromising character study.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Taking its name from the practice of inscribing artwork with no label at all, (Untitled) involves three people, two who are practicing artists and one who owns a small Soho art gallery. Adrian (Adam Goldberg) is a composer of atonal symphonies – think using buckets and chains for sounds instead of harmonics – and although recognized as a significant craftsman he still needs to supplement his living by providing piano atmosphere in a haughty bistro.
His brother Josh (Eion Bailey) is a “successful” artist, having found a niche market selling his works to decorate hotel lobbies and corporate hallways. He is the biggest income generator for Madeleine (a revelatory Marley Shelton), who »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Video Game Review: Prepare to Be Addicted to ‘DJ Hero’
5 November 2009 1:27 PM, PST
Chicago – Activision has been accused of milking the music game genre to the point of absolute exhaustion and with “Guitar Hero: Van Halen,” “Band Hero,” and “Guitar Hero 5” crowding store shelves this holiday season, it’s difficult to disagree. And yet “DJ Hero” somehow finds a way to rejuvenate a genre on the ropes, bringing a new approach to the music game that is remarkably addictive. Put away the drums and the mic (but leave the guitar out) and jump into the world of “DJ Hero”.
Video Game Rating: 4.0/5.0
“DJ Hero” comes with a platter designed to replicate the genuine feel of a crossfader, effect dial controls, and actual turntable. The “record” section of the table includes three buttons - green, red, blue - that should be familiar to anyone who has played a music game before. Hit the button at the right time and make some club-thumping music.
DJ »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Round Up, Nov. 5, 2009: ‘Battlestar Galactica: The Plan,’ ‘Love Actually’
5 November 2009 11:07 AM, PST
Chicago – The Blu-Ray Round Up is back with two HD music releases, a beloved holiday movie from a director with a new comedy on the horizon (Richard Curtis, “Pirate Radio”), and a release that’s a must-own for fans of one of the most popular shows of the ’00s. This informative column is designed to let you know synopsis, technical specs, and features for titles that may have slipped under your radar. Pick your favorite.
“Nickelback: Live at Sturgis 2009” and “Rob Thomas: Something To Be Tour Live At Red Rocks” were released on October 13th, 2009.
“Battlestar Galactica: The Plan” was released on October 27th, 2009.
“Love Actually” was released on November 3rd, 2009.
“Battlestar Galactica: The Plan”
Photo credit: Universal
Synopsis: “The Cylons began as humanity’s robot servants. They rebelled and evolved and now they look like us. Their plan is simple: destroy the race that enslaved them. But when »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: Denzel Washington, Tony Scott Take ‘Pelham 123’ Seriously
5 November 2009 9:07 AM, PST
Chicago – When a New York subway dispatcher finds himself locked in a tense battle of the wits with a deranged criminal onboard Pelham 123, he’s offered this bit of advice from a seasoned hostage negotiator: don’t enter his world. The same warning could be issued to viewers intent on entering the world of Tony Scott. It is a cinematic landscape that is alternately marred and enhanced by Add.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0
With his ever-changing frame rate and rapid editing, Scott speeds through his story until he lands on a part that sparks his interest; often a moment of physical or emotional violence. This plays out in extreme slo-mo, halting the movement and blurring the action to such an extent that the audience feels like they have been punched in the head.
The Taking of Pelham 123 was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 3rd, 2009.
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Home »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: Underrated ‘Orphan’ Deserved Better Blu-Ray
5 November 2009 8:25 AM, PST
Chicago – “Orphan” is a surprisingly effective thriller that delivers exactly what audiences should expect from it. This is B-movie filmmaking elevated by A-list actors Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard in a clever mix of honest emotion and ridiculous, over-the-top, “Mommie Dearest”-esque insanity. The film deserved a better Blu-Ray release.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0
In theaters, some questioned whether or not the more ridiculous moments in “Orphan” were meant to be played for laughs or horror. I honestly don’t care. Movies are enjoyable for what they are, not what they mean to be. And I enjoyed “Orphan”. It runs way too long and features lot twists that stretch credulity but it is as genuinely intriguing and entertaining as any of the adult thrillers released this past summer.
Orphan was released on DVD, Blu-Ray, On Demand and Digital Download on October 27th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video
The great Farmiga (who »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Interview: Director Lee Daniels, Star Gabourey Sidibe on ‘Precious’
5 November 2009 6:15 AM, PST
Chicago – One of the most talked about films this year is the Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey backed “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.” Essential to the film is Gabourey Sidibe, who plays the title character of Precious.
Precious is the story of an overweight African American teenager in 1987 Harlem, who is about to have her second child. Rejected by almost every element of social order, including her immediate family, Precious is a story of survival in a world where certain people remain invisible.
Gabourey Sidbide as Precious and Paula Patton as Ms. Rain in ‘Precious’
Photo credit: © Lionsgate
During the Chicago International Film Festival in October, HollywoodChicago got to interview Gabourey Sidibe, along with her director Lee Daniels. Both participants in this one-of-a-kind production brought their perspective on the journey of both Precious and themselves.
HollywoodChicago.com: Lee, this is by far one of the hottest and »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Interview: Adam Goldberg on the Art of Performance in ‘(Untitled)’
4 November 2009 3:30 PM, PST
Chicago – The Adam Goldberg character is well known to fans of TV’s “Friends” and the movie’s “Saving Private Ryan.” With his heart-on-his-sleeve persona, he takes that character to rarified heights in the new film “(Untitled).”
Set in the galleries and small symphony halls of New York City, (Untitled) is a deeply philosophical look at the nature of art, through three characters who each believe they understand the essence of what art is within themselves.
Adam Goldberg plays Adrian, a composer of atonal symphonies, whose work continues to go unrecognized. His brother Josh (Eion Bailey), is a successful painter of hotel decor-style art, who longs to be recognized for more. Rounding out the triad is Madelaine (Marley Shelton), the arty and pretentious gallery owner who strives for the next atmospheric happening.
Adam Goldberg as Adrian and Marley Shelton as Madeleine in ‘(Untitled)’
Photo credit: Parker Film Company/Samuel Goldwyn »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
DVD Review: Complete Set For ‘Eleventh Hour’ Available Online
4 November 2009 12:40 PM, PST
Chicago – There simply wasn’t space on television for both “Fringe” and “Eleventh Hour”. As soon as I saw them, I knew one or both of the fall 2008 shows would have to go. With the strong lead performances by the great Rufus Sewell and beautiful Marley Shelton, I thought “Eleventh Hour” had the edge, especially after it did pretty well in its first season.
As many of us know, “Fringe” is currently struggling for ratings on Fox and CBS’ “Eleventh Hour” has been reduced to a cheap, online-only, feature-free complete series set. The show was far from perfect but it deserved better than this fate.
DVD Rating: 2.0/5.0
The problem with “Eleventh Hour” is clear just after disc one of the series set - it wasn’t original enough to distinguish itself from not just “Fringe” but countless other shows. The program often feels like “CSI: The X-Files,” being clearly inspired »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Slideshow: 8-Image Gallery For ‘Prince of Persia’ Starring Jake Gyllenhaal
4 November 2009 12:15 PM, PST
Chicago – This 8-image slideshow contains the official early images for the highly anticipated “Prince of Persia,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, and Alfred Molina. The film was written by Doug Miro & Carlos Bernard and directed by Mike Newell. It will be released on May 28th, 2010.
Synopsis: “From the team that brought the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy to the big screen, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time, an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia. A rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.”
You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Blu-Ray Review: Third ‘Ice Age’ Sticks to Frigid Formula
3 November 2009 1:08 PM, PST
Chicago – When did “gentleness” first become “unhip” in children’s films? Practically every studio in America, with the exception of Pixar, feels the need to make their “all ages” entertainment as abrasive, dumb and crude as their escapism targeted at teens and simple-minded adults. What’s the difference between a picture like “G-Force” and “Transformers”? A handful of swears and a few excessive shots of Megan Fox’s midriff. Kids movies in America can get away with endless mean-spirited gags and bathroom humor, just as long as there’s a sticky moral tacked on to the end. The “Shrek” series flourished under this principle, and so does “Ice Age.”
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
Yet while DreamWorks has found financial success with multiple franchises (“Shrek,” “Madagascar,” “Kung Fu Panda”), Blue Sky Studios still insists on focusing most of its moviemaking efforts on the decade-old premise of prehistoric creatures riffing through an arctic wasteland. »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
TV Review: ABC’s Reboot of ‘V’ Feels Rushed But Promising
3 November 2009 9:46 AM, PST
Chicago – Reboots of classic TV programs have been a tough sell lately as shows like “Bionic Woman” and “Knight Rider” have failed to connect with critics or audiences. The long-in-the-works reboot of “V” feels like a more appropriate and timely attempt to rekindle a dead franchise, as the depressing state of the world seems downright in need of an alien savior. With only one episode available for critics, it’s too soon to tell whether or not “V” will suffer the same fate as its recent remake brethren or if it will rise above and be another feather in the cap of a network that has been creatively rejunevated with shows like “Modern Family” and “FlashForward”. The premiere is deeply flawed but there’s reason to believe “V” could be a hit.
Television Rating: 3.5/5.0
“V” opens with three title cards that read…
“Where were you when JFK was assassinated?”
“Where »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
DVD Review: ‘Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition’ Rules
2 November 2009 3:01 PM, PST
Chicago – Legendary TV shows deserve legendary DVD sets and the “Ultimate Edition” release for the beloved “Blackadder” truly lives up to the often over-used “ultimate” title. Giving fans everything “Adder”-related that they could possibly ask for, this is the perfect gift this holiday season for fans of British television.
DVD Rating: 5.0/5.0
The glorious six-disc set for “Blackadder” includes every episode of the show digitally restored from the original program masters plus a host of all-new bonus features.
Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition was released on DVD on October 20th, 2009.
Photo credit: BBC Home Video
Starring Rowan Atkinson (“Bean”), Hugh Laurie (“House”), Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, and more, the four-series program is a classic in England and has a legion of fans here in the States, and this set is good enough to make a few new “Adder”-holics on either side of the pond.
Each »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Interview: 50 Years of Filmmaking With Martin Landau
2 November 2009 2:30 PM, PST
Chicago – The legendary Martin Landau was recently in Chicago with two films in special presentation at The 45th Annual Chicago International Film Festival - the classic “North by Northwest,” also releasing on Blu-Ray tomorrow, November 3rd, 2009, and the new drama “Lovely, Still,” co-starring Ellen Burstyn.
Very few actors will ever have an experience like Mr. Landau did at the film festival in October, bringing two experiences from such different eras of their working life. We spent a lot of time with Martin discussing what’s important to him as an actor and he made clear that it’s the arc of his character that’s essential to the projects he chooses.
Landau explains, “The interesting thing is that I’ve had an interesting cross-section of directors - Joe Mankiewicz, George Stevens, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall, Tim Burton, Francis Coppola, Woody Allen, Steve Spielberg. The good directors create a playground for »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
DVD Review: ‘Fear(s) of the Dark’ Dazzles More Than Scares
2 November 2009 10:03 AM, PST
Chicago – Though graphic novels may read like great movie storyboards, they often fail to translate into compelling cinema. From “Sin City” to “Watchmen,” filmmakers have tried replicating graphic art with a reverence more suffocating than exhilarating. Images that reverberated with power on the page become coldly calculated on the big screen. No matter how tightly structured a film may be, it must give viewers the illusion of spontaneity. And there’s nothing more tiresome than a horror film in which all the scares feel telegraphed.
DVD Rating: 3.0/5.0
That’s the interesting challenge facing “Fear(s) of the Dark,” a compilation of short subjects from six of today’s most celebrated graphic artists. As an animation exercise, the film is consistently fascinating. Each artist’s approach to the cinematic medium is as distinctive as their trademark visual styles. Though their films are wildly different from each other, they all grapple with »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Video Game Review: ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ a Missed Opportunity
2 November 2009 8:36 AM, PST
Chicago – Have you ever liked a movie so much that you’re willing to play through a sub-par video game tie-in just to spend more time in its universe? As I played through the adaptation of “Where the Wild Things Are” in only two marathon sittings, I realized that the reason I couldn’t turn it off had a lot more to do with Spike Jonze’s incredible film and really nothing to do with this inferior game.
Video Game Rating: 2.0/5.0
Where the Wild Things Are starts promisingly enough. One of the elements of the film that I adored was the way Jonze and his team incorporated a natural setting into what is essentially a fantasy story. And the first thing one notices about the game is the lovingly recreated natural world. As water splashes on the coast, clouds float by overhead, and trees and rocks play an immediate role »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
17 articles
