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Despite Offering Tantalizing Possibilities, ?Jumper? Weakened By Formulaic
2008-02-17 07:00:00
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. David Rice (Hayden Christensen) is a high school geek in Ann Arbor, Mich. who desires a lovely lass named Millie (Rachel Bilson ). When a present he gives her is thrown by a bully onto a frozen river, David falls through the ice while retrieving it ? certain to drown. It?s then that he discovers he?s a ?jumper? and has the ability in organic form to transport himself to another location just by thinking about it. Click here to read Patrick McDonald?s full reviewof ?Jumper? in our reviews section! Click here for our full ?Jumper? image gallery!
More About: Hollywood , Samuel L , Chicago , Movie Review

HollywoodChicago.com Interview: ?The Spiderwick Chronicles? Writer Holly Bl
2008-02-16 10:19:00
CHICAGO ? Holly wood Chicago .com publisher Adam Fendelman has interviewed ?The Spiderwick Chronicles? writer and co-executive producer Holly Black about her first feature-film fantasy adaptation, why she loves fairies so much and how she developed the film?s unique characters. Click here to listen to the Holly Black interview! ?The Spiderwick Chronicles,? which opened on Feb. 14, stars Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, David Strathairn, Seth Rogen and Martin Short. Click here to see our huge ?The Spiderwick Chronicles? image gallery! ?The Spiderwick Chronicles? writer Holly BlackImage courtesy of Holly Black Freddie Highmore in ?The Spiderwick Chronicles?.Image credit: IMDb By ADAM FENDELMANEditor-in-ChiefHollywoodChicago. comadam@hollywoodchicago.com
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Patrons Transformed Into Zombies at Chicago ?Diary of the Dead? Screening
2008-02-15 23:38:00
CHICAGO ? At the Chicago screening on Thursday for ?Diary of the Dead ? from horror master George A. Romero, willing patrons were transformed into zombies by a makeup and body paint artist. The Chicago publicist for the film has provided us with photos of the transformations. All photo credits go to Martin McGovern. ?Diary of the Dead,? which opened on Friday, is written and directed by George A. Romero of ?Land of the Dead,? ?Dawn of the Dead,? ?Night of the Living Dead? and ?Day of the Dead? fame. A ?Diary of the Dead? sequel has already been announced for 2009. ?Diary of the Dead? involves a group of young film students who run into real-life zombies while filming a horror movie of their own. While we feature a few stills from the patron transformations below, continue on to our huge ?Diary of the Dead? image gallery where we have more from the event and production stills from the film itself. Click the ?original? link within any of the images in our galleries for full-size versio...
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?Definitely, Maybe? Borrows From Successful Romantic Comedies, Adds Fresh H
2008-02-14 23:12:00
CHICAGO ? The makers of ?Love Actually? and ?Notting Hill? know how to do romantic comedy that doesn?t somehow fall into the trap of a formulaic chick flick like ?27 Dresses?. ?Definitely, Maybe,? which is their latest effort, on the other hand isn?t particularly original and really isn?t very funny. That said, the picture still feels fresh and doesn?t do anything overly cutesy that will elicit groans from the reluctant boyfriends who will be dragged to the film this weekend. So long as you pick a comfortable seat, you?ll have an enjoyable two hours. Ryan Reynolds plays Will Hayes: the quintessential Manhattan advertising executive. His hectic life gets a little crazier when he?s served with divorce papers. Click here to read Dustin Levell?s full reviewof ?Definitely, Maybe? in our reviews section! Click here for our full ?Definitely, Maybe? image gallery!
More About: Hollywood , Chicago , Rachel Weisz , Movie Review

Top Chicago Theater Picks For Feb. 14, 2008: ?Heat Wave,? ?Augusta,? ?Colum
2008-02-14 20:01:00
CHICAGO ? Following the popularity of our Hollywood Chicago .com Hookup: Film offering (free advance-screening movie passes!), we?ve had numerous requests from readers to offer the same kind of deals for local theater and comedy, too. We are now pleased to bring you the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Theater & Comedy as a result of a new partnership with Goldstar. Similiar but a bit different than our partnership with FilmMetro.com for HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, this new package features our top selections for the best theater and comedy shows just about to raise their curtains specifically in Chicago. While these obviously can?t all be offered for free, some are free and most are half price! We are confident about our decision to partner with Goldstar for this important offering. Founded in 2002 in Los Angeles, Goldstar is comprised of Internet professionals from Warner Bros., Yahoo!, etc. who have been working in e-commerce since before it was called e-commerce. For each o...
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Theater: ?Dreadful Penny?s Exquisite Horrors? Wickedly Flirts With Fear, Fa
2008-02-14 17:22:00
CHICAGO ? The minds who bring alive this risqué Chicago remount took their time to unearth their manipulatively seductive emcee. They spent five years, in fact, to dig the now-coined ?Dreadful Penny ?s Exquisite Horrors? up from its resting place and rework the production into the quintessence of sex, violence, fear, fantasy and all the faults that make humans humane while also quite the contrary. Jennifer R. LaTurner and Mike Simmer in the Chicagoproduction of ?Dreadful Penny?s Exquisite Horrors?.Photo credit: Tantalus Theatre Group Based on Matthew Rossi?s original iteration by a similar name (?Dreadful Penny?s Midnight Cavalcade of Ghoulish Delights?), writers Alexandra Herryman and Glen Cullen with direction by Cullen send a clear message we already all know: we?re both saints and sinners. While that concept isn?t novel, the way the performance illustrates the point decisively flirts with a new message: not only do we sin, but many of us do and hide it or want to and deny it....
More About: Theater , Fear

Free Advance-Screening Passes For ?Harold & Kumar,? ?Stop-Loss,? ?The Bank
2008-02-13 08:19:00
CHICAGO ? Free advance-screening movie passes. No catch. Just click the link and RSVP. This is our largest list yet! Through our relationship with FilmMetro.com, we?re offering 41 free screenings for 11 films from Feb. 13 through Feb. 28. This week, we have the most updated passes for ?Step Up 2 the Streets,? ?Penelope,? ?Jumper ,? ?In Bruges,? ?Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay,? ?Be Kind Rewind,? ?Honeydripper,? ?Stop-Loss,? ?Semi-Pro,? ?Vantage Point? and ?The Bank Job?. These passes go quickly, so if you?re interested in a particular film, snag your free ticket now! Snag your ?Step Up 2 the Streets? pass! Feb. 13 in Denver Snag your ?Penelope? pass! Feb. 13 in Royal Palm Beach Feb. 14 in Tampa Feb. 14 in San Francisco Feb. 19 in Orlando Feb. 19 in Tampa Feb. 19 in San Francisco Feb. 19 in San Jose, Calif. Feb. 19 in Sacramento, Calif. Feb. 19 in Fresno, Calif. Feb. 21 in Visalia, Calif. Feb. 23 in San Rafael, Calif. Feb. 23 in Roseville, Calif. Feb. 23 in Fresno, Cal...
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Paramount Pictures Releases Flood of New Production Stills For ?Stop-Loss?
2008-02-11 19:45:00
CHICAGO ? Paramount Pictures on Monday released a flood of new production stills for the war film ?Stop-Loss,? which stars Ryan Phillippe . Directed by relatively new director Kimberly Peirce (?Boys Don?t Cry?), ?Stop-Loss? opens on March 28, 2008. While we feature a few new production stills below, continue on to our huge ?Stop-Loss? image gallery! Here?s the film?s plotline: Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind with the help and support of his family and his best friend, Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum), who served with him in Iraq. Along with their other war buddies, Brandon and Steve try to make peace with civilian life. Then, against Brandon?s will, the U.S. Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and ...
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Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson Feel Valentine?s Day Love in ?Fool?s Gold?
2008-02-08 10:56:00
CHICAGO ? Check off this list of stock movie characters: the broke rogue adventurer, his sensible love interest, the daffy heiress, her gruff but benign wealthy father, the evil rival, the doltish but loyal sidekick, the evil rival?s goons and the ?seems to be evil but in the end turns out heroic? buddy. These role players appear in every Cary Grant film from 1935 to 1960 along with the current release of ?Fool ?s Gold ?. The buff Matthew McConaughey plays the rogue (nicknamed Finn) who is about to be divorced from his more sensible wife Tess (Kate Hudson ). At the same time, he has closed in on a historic treasure trove off the South Florida coast. It?s funded by the infamous Bigg Bunny: a scurrilous rapper who has a reputation for dispensing his rival enemies (which Finn is about to become). Click here to read Patrick McDonald?s full reviewof ?Fool?s Gold? in our reviews section! Click here for our full ?Fool?s Gold? image gallery!
More About: Love , Valentine

HollywoodChicago.com Analyzes 10 Oscar Contenders For Best Supporting Actor
2008-02-08 08:37:00
CHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com film critic Adam Fendelman has analyzed the 10 nominated contenders for best supporting actor and best supporting actress (five in each category) and reveals his selections for the top prize. Hosted by Jon Stewart, the 80th Academy Awards ceremony will be presented on Feb. 24, 2008. Best Supporting Actor Nominees Casey Affleck, “The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford� Adam Fendelman says: Everyone remembers who assassinated Jesse James, but no one recalls who mowed down Robert Ford shortly thereafter. While Casey’s delivery of the spineless character might indeed embody Ford with authenticity, he ultimately shoots himself in his own back with a laissez-faire performance. Ben Affleck (left) and brother Casey Affleck on Oct. 10, 2007 at theChicago International Film Festival premiere of “Gone Baby Gone�.Photo credit: Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com Javier Bardem, “No Country For Old Men� Adam Fendelman says: ...
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Free Advance-Screening Passes For ?The Spiderwick Chronicles,? ?Run Fatboy
2008-02-07 17:22:00
CHICAGO ? Free advance-screening movie passes. No catch. Just click the link and RSVP. This week, we have passes for ?The Spiderwick Chronicles,? ?Penelope,? ?In Bruges,? ?Caramel,? ?Run Fatboy Run,? ?Jumper ,? ?Be Kind Rewind? and ?Semi-Pro?. These passes go quickly, so if you?re interested in a particular film, snag your free ticket now! Snag your ?The Spiderwick Chronicles? pass! Feb. 7 in Orlando Feb. 7 in Tampa Feb. 7 in West Palm Beach Feb. 12 in South Miami Feb. 12 in Orlando Feb. 12 in Tampa Snag your ?Penelope? pass! Feb. 7 in Philadelphia Feb. 12 in Aventura, Fla. Feb. 13 in Royal Palm Beach Feb. 14 in Tampa Feb. 19 in Orlando Feb. 19 in Tampa Feb. 23 in South Miami Feb. 23 in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Feb. 23 in Tampa Feb. 23 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Feb. 13 in Royal Palm Beach Feb. 26 in Ft. Lauderdale Feb. 28 in South Miami Feb. 28 in Orlando Feb. 28 in Tampa Feb. 28 in West Palm Beach Snag your ?In Bruges? pass! Feb. 7 in West Valley City, Utah Snag your ?Caramel? pas...
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Following Super Bowl Spot, 13 New ?Iron Man? Production Stills Surface
2008-02-04 06:32:00
CHICAGO ? Paramount Pictures on Sunday decided not only to rain by advertising ?Iron Man? at the pricey 2008 Super Bowl but then also pour by releasing a flood of new, high-quality production stills. We reveal to you several of the new images below and have all of them (13 in total!) at our ?Iron Man? image gallery. View the rest of the new photos at our ?Iron Man? image gallery! Discuss this on our discussion boards here! Directed by Jon Favreau, ?Iron Man? features Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges. It is slated to open on May 2, 2008. The new ?Iron Man? Super Bowl spot is below. It can also be found at Paramount?s ?Iron Man? site and in HD at Apple.com. By ADAM FENDELMANEditor-in-ChiefHollywood Chicago . comadam@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Analyzes 10 Oscar Contenders For Best Actor, Actress
2008-02-04 01:15:00
CHICAGO ? Hollywood Chicago .com film critic Adam Fendelman has analyzed the 10 nominated contenders (five men for best actor and five women for best actress) and reveals his selections for the top prize. Hosted by Jon Stewart, the 80th Academy Awards ceremony will be presented in one form or another on Feb. 24, 2008. Best Actor Nominees George Clooney for the character Michael Clayton in ?Michael Clayton? Adam Fendelman says: Clooney upgrades himself from the ?A? list to an ?A+? grade and his report card earns him a richly deserved fighting chance. Leading this masterful but underrated film the way a leading Hollywood man should, Clooney ? led by first-time director Tony Gilroy ? will fight for ?blood? and come up short. George Clooney in ?Michael Clayton?.Photo credit: IMDB Daniel Day-Lewis for the character Daniel Plainview in ?There Will Be Blood? Adam Fendelman says: Like a bat, Daniel Day-Lewis goes into Hollywood hibernation and only comes out when the pickings are prime a...
More About: Johnny Depp , Cate Blanchett

Super Bowl Spot For Chicago-Filmed ?Wanted? Surfaces Online
2008-02-03 03:18:00
CHICAGO ? You don?t have to wait until Sunday, Feb. 3 to watch the official Super Bowl spot for ?Wanted,? which was filmed in part in Chicago and stars Angelina Jolie , James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. The spot just appeared online at Yahoo! Movies. For your convenience and viewing pleasure, we?ve uploaded the new spot to YouTube and embedded it below. We have also created a new Angelina Jolie screenshot from this spot and have it for you below. Angelina Jolie in ?Wanted? from the 2008 Super Bowl spot.Screenshot created by Adam Fendelman, Hollywood Chicago.com See our Dec. 6, 2007 ?Wanted? coverage where we report on why the film?s release date was pushed back. Click here for our huge ?Wanted? image gallery! By ADAM FENDELMANEditor-in-ChiefHollywoodChicago. comadam@hollywoodchicago.com

Lebanese Film ?Caramel? Coats Women?s Relationships With Truth
2008-02-01 18:16:00
CHICAGO ? In the social palette that makes up relationships for adult women, the main brushstrokes involve trust, unity and a passion for friendships. Of course, it doesn?t hurt if they can meet in their favorite beauty parlor. The film ?Caramel? follows the lives of five women in Beirut, Lebanon as they experience aging, commitment, lifestyle choices and bikini waxing. The title ?Caramel? refers to the salon technique for removing hair using the sticky confectionary. In a sort of Lebanese ?Steel Magnolias? (but without the schmaltz), writer and director Nadine Labaki explores the generational gamut regarding women?s concerns in the Middle Eastern city. Labaki herself portrays Layale: a salon caramel expert and the ?other woman? in a relationship that?s sapping her resolve. Rima (Joanna Moukarzel) ? the manager of the salon ? is exploring her own alternate lifestyle choices. Click here to read Patrick McDonald?s full reviewof ?Caramel? in our reviews section! Click here for our full...
More About: Hollywood , Truth , Women , Relationships

HollywoodChicago.com Giving Out 15 Passes For Jessica Alba?s ?The Eye?
2008-01-31 20:16:00
CHICAGO ? Hollywood Chicago .com is giving out 15 admit-two movie passes for Jessica Alba ?s ?The Eye?. Movie posters and buttons are available in the movie pack, too, which will be awarded to users who submit images of the most ?standout eyes? you can take, create or find elsewhere. We?re looking for pictures of ?standout eyes,? which means eyes that pop out to us as beautiful, horrid or wonderfully artistic. You have the full range of creative license here. Jessica Alba in ?The Eye?.Image credit: IMDb To post your ?standout eye,? just click ?Add new comment? at the bottom of this story and either embed your image or link to it. If linking to it, you can store the image on free services like Flickr, Photobucket, etc. As we will be e-mailing the winners to provide prizes, you must register for a HollywoodChicago.com account. It?s free and takes only a moment. If you don?t already have an account, you can create one here. The studio?s publicist will also need your mailing address an...
More About: Content , Giving

250 Free Tickets Available For Advance Chicago Screening of ?The Spiderwick
2008-01-30 07:43:00
CHICAGO ? We just received word that 250 advance-screening tickets are now available for a free Chicago screening of ?The Spiderwick Chronicles?. These tickets will surely go quickly, so if you?re interested in this film, follow the steps below with haste. This Chicago screening is on Feb. 12, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.). Freddie Highmore in ?The Spiderwick Chronicles?.Photo credit: IMDB ?The Spiderwick Chronicles? is suitable for parents and their children ages eight and up. These tickets are being offered by GoFobo.com in partnership with Film Metro .com, which also deals with Hollywood Chicago.com. You?re allowed up to one guest. As tickets are given on a first-come, first-served basis, you are advised to arrive early to the theater. Here?s how to snag your free pass: Go to http://www.gofobo.com/rsvp Enter RSVP code FMTO9679 Create an account Print your tickets Attend the screening Click here to view our entire ?The Spiderwick Chronicles? gall...
More About: Free

Despite Heath Ledger?s Death, Warner Bros. Presses on With Joker?s Viral Ma
2008-01-30 06:34:00
CHICAGO ? Once the swarm of sorrow hit the world on Jan. 22, 2008 following news of Heath Ledger ?s death, questions soon ensued about its impact on Chris Nolan?s ?The Dark Knight? and Terry Gilliam?s ?The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus?. While the status of ?The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus? is entirely in limbo, ?The Dark Knight? had completed filming and is in post-production. Still, followers wondered how Warner Bros. would tactfully react with its viral marketing and how it would advertise Ledger?s dark and crazed Joker character. HollywoodChicago.com just received an answer: the show is going on. Our repeatedly reliable source (who was awarded the cell phone-embedded cake in Chicago from a WhySoSerious.com viral marketing effort is back with new news from moments ago: A WhySoSerious.com viral marketing movieposter for ?The Dark Knight?.Image credit: IMDB Good evening, Adam! Chicago Joker phone here. I just got a text at 10:49 p.m. on the cake phone that said $30 was add...
More About: Viral , Death

?Contraption? Examines Mad-Scientist Intersection Between Invention, Insani
2008-01-30 06:08:00
CHICAGO ? There?s a fine line between being batty and being brilliant. If there?s anything the world?s most brilliant inventors have taught us, it?s that most world-altering creators blurred that very line or visited the crazy farm before the world acknowledged their genius. ?Contraption?.Photo credit: The Neo-Futurarium Generated by a thought current from the Christian Bale film ?The Prestige,? previous writer and first-time Chicago theater director Bilal Dardai created ?Contraption? so society?s often-portrayed mad scientist could question the burdens and the blessings of his own devices. In his Chicago play at The Neo-Futurarium, Dardai examines a titular character like we?ve seen in Mary Shelley?s ?Frankenstein? who is part ?nutty,? part ?absent-minded? and perhaps ?sobered by tales of arrogant inventors who should have known better than to clone velociraptors? all while being made aware of his fanatical nature. It wouldn?t stretch your imagination to imagine the passionate ...
More About: Hollywood , Theater , Scientist , Content

Free Advance-Screening Passes For ?Be Kind Rewind,? ?In Bruges,? ?Jumper,?
2008-01-29 04:35:00
CHICAGO ? Free advance-screening movie passes. No catch. Just click the link and RSVP. This week, we have passes for ?Over Her Dead Body,? ?In Bruges? (including one screening in Chicago !), ?The Hottie and the Nottie,? ?Vince Vaughn ?s Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights,? ?Caramel,? ?Fool?s Gold ,? ?Penelope,? ?Jumper? and ?Be Kind Rewind ?. These passes go quickly, so if you?re interested in a particular film, snag your free ticket now! Snag your ?Over Her Dead Body? pass! Jan. 28 in Denver Jan. 29 in Salt Lake City Jan. 29 in New York Jan. 29 in Los Angeles Jan. 29 in Birmingham, Mich. Jan. 30 in Orange, Calif. Jan. 31 in Los Angeles Snag your ?In Bruges? pass! Jan. 29 in Denver Jan. 31 in Orange, Calif. Jan. 31 in Chicago Snag your ?The Hottie and the Nottie? pass! Jan. 29 in Aventura, Fla. Jan. 30 in Washington, D.C. Feb. 5 in Los Angeles Snag your ?Fool?s Gold? pass! Feb. 4 in Novi, Mich. Feb. 4 in Norfolk, Va. Feb. 4 in Baltimore Snag your ?Vince Vaughn?s Wild West ...
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Despite Flawed Plot Clichés, Dancing Takes Center Stage in ?How She Move?
2008-01-25 22:58:00
CHICAGO ? Kids, it?s an old-fashioned dance off, and despite being about the contemporary and very urban stepdance craze, it has all the hope, dreams, choreography and clichés of a golden-age Hollywood musical revue. ?How She Move? has Rutina Wesley portraying Raya Green: a private-school scholarship student who?s forced to come back to her old, inner-city neighborhood and high school after the death of her sister from a drug overdose. As kids, the siblings entertained themselves with stepdancing, which is an intensely programmed variation on hip-hop moves. The sister who passed away went on to be a champion stepper, and when Raya comes back, she?s drawn in again by the lure of the dance despite her scholarship pursuit. Click here to read Patrick McDonald?s full reviewof ?How She Move? in our reviews section! Click here for our full ?How She Move? image gallery!
More About: Dancing , Chicago , Movie Review , Content

Stallone Sports Aggrandized Violence, Weak Storyline in ?Rambo? Revival
2008-01-25 18:32:00
CHICAGO ? The best quality about the fourth ?Rambo? is its ?Rambo? authenticity. The worst quality about the fourth ?Rambo? is its ?Rambo? authenticity. Unlike the previous three, which released every three years in the 1980s (?First Blood? in 1982, ?Rambo: First Blood Part II? in 1985 and ?Rambo III? in 1988), ?Rambo? exactly two decades later featured some commonalties and also broke some new ground. Sylvester Stallone ? who?s now 61 years old, and though he shows it, still looks the buff part ? of course starred in all of them as John Rambo. In addition to starring in the films in 1982, 1985 and 1988, Stallone was also a scribe. The films were all directed by other talents (Ted Kotcheff, George Cosmatos, Peter MacDonald, respectively). Click here to read Adam Fendelman?s full reviewof ?Rambo? in our reviews section! Click here for our full ?Rambo? image gallery!
More About: Hollywood , Sports , Chicago , Movie Review

Lane?s ?Untraceable? Plagued With Predictable, Connect-the-Dots Plotline
2008-01-25 07:01:00
CHICAGO ? Gregory Hoblit?s ?Untraceable? is a predictable thriller that takes us into the masterminds of cybercrime in Portland. Diane Lane plays FBI agent Jennifer Marsh and heads up a cybercrime department that?s chasing an Internet killer. The contradictive story leads us into the path of the serial killer ? played by Joseph Cross ? who seeks revenge on an apathetic society focused on Internet violence. The character grotesquely tortures and kills victims online at his KillWith Me.com site. He sets up extravagant torture devices so victims endure more pain with each and every additional Web site visitor. The process continually expedites them to their death. Click here to read Allison Pitaccio?s full reviewof ?Untraceable? in our reviews section! Click here for our full ?Untraceable? image gallery!
More About: Hollywood , Chicago , Movie Review , Content

Paramount Pictures Releases Flood of New Production Stills For ?The Spiderw
2008-01-23 21:32:00
CHICAGO ? Paramount Pictures on Wednesday released a flood of new production stills for the fantasy film ?The Spiderwick Chronicles,? which stars Freddie Highmore, the voice of Seth Rogen, Mary-Louise Parker and the voice of Nick Nolte. The film opens on Feb. 14. While we feature a few below, continue on to our huge ?The Spiderwick Chronicles? image gallery! Here?s the film?s plotline: Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace along with their sister, Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures. Click here to view our entire new ?The Spiderwick Chronicles? gallery! By ADAM FENDELMANEditor-in-ChiefHollywood Chicago . comadam@hollywoodchicago.com
More About: Content , Production

Actor Heath Ledger Found Dead in Manhattan Apartment at 28
2008-01-22 23:06:00
CHICAGO ? Heath Ledger has been found dead in his Manhattan apartment, according to CNN. He was 28. Police sources have called the death an ?accidental overdose,? according to MSNBC, and Ledger was ?found naked and unconscious with pills strewn all around him?. CNN has published the following details about his death in his Broome Street apartment: Heath Ledger in ?Casanova? in 2005.Photo credit: IMDb Actor Heath Ledger was found dead [on] Tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a lower Manhattan apartment, the New York Police Department said. The Academy Award-nominated actor was 28. ?Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed,? police spokesman Paul Browne told CNN. ?This is being looked at as a possible overdose.? The pills appeared to be over-the-counter sleeping medication, said police spokeswoman Barbara Chen. Ledger was unresponsive when he was found by a housekeeper who had gone to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse in the Soho apartment, Browne said. Ledger was ...
More About: Dead

History-Making ?U2 3D? Feature-Length Film Redefines Concert Experience
2008-01-22 22:40:00
CHICAGO ? Shot with more digital 3D cameras than any other film project, the feature-length ?U2 3D? film production revolutionizes the concert experience on the big screen. Directors Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington bring together incredible cinematography and surround sound to create this intimate musical experience in a 360-degree landscape. Even more, ?U2 3D? etches itself into history as the first-ever, live-action, three-dimensional concert film. The U2 ?Vertigo? tour was filmed throughout seven shows in Argentina in one of the largest stadiums in South America. The most amazing feature of this film is the contagious energy it releases. Click here to read Allison Pitaccio?s full reviewof ?U2 3D? in our reviews section! Click here for our full ?U2 3D? image gallery!
More About: Hollywood , History , Film , Chicago , Movie Review

Josh Brolin to Play George W. Bush in Oliver Stone-Directed ?Bush? Film
2008-01-21 05:56:00
CHICAGO ? Announced during our politically charged primary elections and potentially for release around the 2008 presidential election or inauguration, the legendary Oliver Stone on Sunday revealed his next directing gig: a biopic about President George W . Bush aptly titled ?Bush?. Josh Brolin from the acclaimed ?No Country For Old Men? has attached himself to play the embattled 43rd U.S. president while Stone has discreetly begun shopping the script to studios. The screenplay has already been penned by Stone?s ?Wall Street? co-scribe Stanley Weiser. Before simply deciding on ?Bush? as its title, the film was aliased ?POTUS? (president of the United States) and separately ?Misunderestimated?. Film ing could begin as soon as April. From left to right: Oliver Stone, George W. Bush and Josh Brolin.Photo credits (from left to right): IMDb; blog.apocalypse.org; WireImage.com on Nov. 27, 2007 Though Stone in his interview with Variety declined to offer his personal opinion of the presi...
More About: George W Bush , Play

Star Power Can?t Save ?Mad Money? From ?Thelma & Louise? Writer Callie Khou
2008-01-18 21:17:00
CHICAGO ? Whenever there?s stunt-movie casting with divergent generations of Hollywood ?stars,? there?s bound to be trouble at the multiplex. This time, the ?old to young? range of Diane ?Annie Hall? Keaton, Queen Latifah and the increasingly annoying Katie Holmes attempt a stab at the classic heist movie in ?Mad Money ?. Keaton portrays Bridget Cardigan: an upper-middle class matron whose husband (Ted Danson) has been laid off for a year and has given up trying to find another gig. Overwhelmed by debt and bills, Keaton goes back out into the work force. In an ?it only can happen in the movies? turn of events, the best job she can find is as a janitor at the Federal Reserve bank (I guess all the administration jobs at the real estate offices were full). As she gets into her new career ? strangely doing the cleaning work during the day shift ? she notices there are some flaws in the airtight security involving the shredding of old currency. Click here to read Patrick McDonald?s full r...
More About: Power , Chicago

Woody Allen?s ?Cassandra?s Dream? Expressly Hitchcockian
2008-01-18 19:54:00
CHICAGO ? Woody Allen ? the most prolific American writer/director of the last quarter century ? has a desire for a particular expression in this last part of his epic career. Allen is exploring topics of morality and behavior that are directly connected to the deadly sins. ?Cassandra?s Dream? ? Allen?s third film in a row set in London ? this time shines a light on the struggling middle class and the desperate nature of having to rely on outside wealth to compensate their lifestyle. Colin Ferrell and Ewan McGregor portray brothers Terry and Ian: blood relatives who dream of a more upscale life. Click here to read Patrick McDonald?s full reviewof ?Cassandra?s Dream? in our reviews section! Click here for our full ?Cassandra?s Dream? image gallery!
More About: Hollywood , Kate Beckinsale , Chicago , Movie Review , Content

Advance ?In Bruges? Screening, Director Q&A Coming to Chicago
2008-01-17 05:50:00
CHICAGO ? A special advance screening for the new Focus Features action film ?In Bruges? is coming to Chicago on Jan. 25 along with a Q&A with director Martin McDonagh immediately following the screening. ?In Bruges? stars Colin Farrell , Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleeson . Click here to download your free tickets! Here?s the film synopsis: Martin McDonagh makes his feature directorial debut on the film from his own original screenplay. His plays (which include ?The Lieutenant of Inishmore? and ?The Pillowman?) have brought him two Olivier Awards and four Tony Award nominations. Colin Farrell in ?In Bruges?.Photo credit: IMDb He wrote and directed ?Six Shooter? (starring Brendan Gleeson), which earned him the 2006 Academy Award for best live-action short film. ?In Bruges? was filmed on location. Bruges (pronounced ?broozh?), which is the most well-preserved medieval city in the whole of Belgium, is a welcoming destination for travelers from all over the world. But for hit men ...
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