Elton John Bio 'Rocketman' Doesn't Deliver
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 31, 2019 - 10:31am
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Honky Cat
I'm Still Standing
Saturday NIght's Alright for Fighting
Stanley Mackintosh
CHICAGO – As a wee lad, one of the first records I bought was Elton John's Greatest Hits. The album was magnificent, each song expressing the very emotion it sought to deliver. With that basis in mind, I approached John's biopic "Rocketman" with a hope of deliverance. It felt flatter than a pancake under a steam roller.
Annette Bening Proves 'Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 12, 2018 - 12:27pm
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
Vanessa Redgrave
CHICAGO – GEORGE BAILEY: "Hey, you look good. That's some dress you got on there." VIOLET: "This old thing? I only wear it when I don't care how I look." That is how actress Gloria Grahame (as Violet Bick) was introduced in the classic "It's a Wonderful Life". Now she is portrayed by Annette Bening in "Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool".
'Snowpiercer' is a Wild Ride, One-of-a-Kind Dystopia
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 4, 2014 - 1:35pm
Ah-Sung Ko
Alison Pill
Tilda Swinson
CHICAGO – Travelers. We are travelers in this life, and metaphorically we're mostly in coach, but sometimes manage to get some first class treatment. What if all this traveling were confined to one vehicle? Imagine a future world contained in a constantly traveling train, and the premise for "Snowpiercer" realizes a one-of-a-kind dystopia.
Steven Spielberg's Disappointing 'The Adventures of Tintin'
Submitted by BrianTT on December 20, 2011 - 4:57pm
Brian Tallerico
Herge
Stephen Moffat
CHICAGO – Being a huge Steven Spielberg fan and a pretty big aficionado of Peter Jackson (who produced) as well, I was pretty psyched to see what these two undeniable geniuses could do in the world of motion-capture animation with their collaboration on the adaptation of the hit Herge cartoon "The Adventures of Tintin." That's why it hurts me to say that, excepting a few stand-out action scenes, this is a shockingly dull affair, something that lulled me to sleep far more often than it inspired my imagination to life.
Mia Wasikowska, Judi Dench Float on 'Jane Eyre'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 18, 2011 - 10:53am
CHICAGO – Film adaptations of classic literature are often lose-lose scenarios. The ardent admirers of the source often sour on what is left out, and the average filmgoer might wonder what the fuss is about when experiencing a truncated interpretation. There is obvious passion behind the latest adaptation of "Jane Eyre," with performances that follow that lead.
Channing Tatum, Roman Empire Land in 'The Eagle'
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 11, 2011 - 5:27pm
Denis O'Hare
CHICAGO – In ancient times, history was at the end of a sword point and edge of the world. "The Eagle" tells of a Roman Empire battle in those times, and Channing Tatum plays a general bent on restoring his family name.
Edward Zwick's 'Defiance' Drains Strength From Powerful True Story
Submitted by BrianTT on January 16, 2009 - 9:13am
Bielskis
Clayton Frohman
WWII Movies
CHICAGO – Ed Zwick's "Defiance" is a dramatically inert film that misses the mark by allowing its director to play up his notable weaknesses as a filmmaker.
Despite Offering Tantalizing Possibilities, 'Jumper' Weakened By Formulaic Clichés
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on February 17, 2008 - 12:51am
CHICAGO – As a distinct premise, "Jumper" offers tantalizing possibilities. The ability to transport yourself from one location to another with simple mind control is a cool rule of the world. While the film speaks to some of the far-reaching potential of the power, it also follows story formulas that weaken it.