Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes
Publications list

HollywoodChicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer® when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Adam Fendelman, Brian Tallerico, Jon Espino, Patrick McDonald.

Prev Next
Rating Title | Year Author Quote
3.5/5
Hazel's Heart (2025) Patrick McDonald Passionate storytelling about a different time and place, South Dakota in the 1920s, practically an alien planet now. All the ensemble cast delivers the community and faith necessary to find a trapped 16-year-old and her siblings.
Posted Jan 24, 2026  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Signing Tony Raymond (2025) Patrick McDonald An indie with a great script, with two themes clashing between wacky comedy & redemptive melodrama. Writer/director Glen Owen gives his performers room to create, & the result is a decent serio-comic look into the college football recruitment process.
Posted Jan 19, 2026  Edit critic review
4/5
Is This Thing On? (2025) Patrick McDonald Although it gets a bit stuck in its own premise, this ardent story is well directed by Cooper and well realized by Arnett and Dern. The key is that the best stand up comedy is telling the truth, because if we don't laugh we cry. Take my wife... please.
Posted Dec 28, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Peter Hujar's Day (2025) Patrick McDonald One of the sleepers of the year ... Adapter/Director Ira Sachs and DP Alex Ashe create a two person/one apartment drama with space, timing of the day and creativity in use of both. Whislaw/Hall are dynamic & it all works. W/Sachs interview.
Posted Dec 27, 2025  Edit critic review
5/5
No Other Choice (2025) Patrick McDonald One of the best of the year ... relatable corporate drone material, even in murder (heh-heh). Lead actor Lee Byung-hun is properly maniacal and sociopathic, and director Park Chan-wook creates symbolic and emotional cinema. He's Hired!
Posted Dec 27, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Song Sung Blue (2025) Patrick McDonald Since I've seen the act 'Lightning & Thunder' in the 1990s, there is nice authenticity to Jackson and Hudson's performance as the duo. The film flags a bit post a tragic event, but there is enough Hugh Jackman charisma to bring it home. So good!
Posted Dec 27, 2025  Edit critic review
5/5
Marty Supreme (2025) Patrick McDonald One of the most wholly original stories in a long time, both an absurdist journey and metaphor for the post WW2 American Dream. Chalamet shines in the frantic life of Marty, with stellar support from Odessa A'zion and the sublime Gwyneth Paltrow. Pong!
Posted Dec 27, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Anaconda (2025) Patrick McDonald Weirdly introspective enough to work, but it took the combined powers of Black, Rudd and Zahn to keep something going ... the CGI snake is an afterthought. Not the powerhouse Christmas comedy, but not a bomb either. Snakes on Everything!
Posted Dec 26, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Train Dreams (2025) Patrick McDonald The film is like a lyrical poet of a "simple life" full of sh*t happens moments. Joel Edgerton interprets the delicate character with an awards level performance, and the actions of the character is both appropriately emotional and understated.
Posted Dec 12, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Under the Stars (2025) Patrick McDonald Garcia & Collette are the highlights of this romantic scenario ... great chemistry, taking ordinary dialogue to seductive heights. Pettyfer and De Dominici are both beautiful actors, and create tension themselves in a will-they-or-won’t-they struggle.
Posted Dec 10, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
The Terminator (1984) Brian Tallerico It’s a movie that would work today, which is not something that can be said about many movies from the creatively dark section of the mid-’80s.
Posted Dec 08, 2025  Edit critic review
2.5/5
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) Patrick McDonald Sorry no ... these mysteries in the KNIVES OUT series practically beg us to love them for their hip nowness, but they are nothing more than Scooby-Doo "pull off the masks." One plus is that it went after the Catholic Church, almost too harshly. KNIVES!
Posted Dec 01, 2025  Edit critic review
2/5
Eternity (2025) Patrick McDonald Ack! Too many rules for one Eternity. Didn't connect with this odd story of a young hot love vs. a long-timer, and the way they get the situation together in the afterlife would make bureaucracy look efficient. There was no appeal here. Hello Miles!
Posted Dec 01, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Left-Handed Girl (2025) Patrick McDonald Nicely done cultural film from Taiwan, rising on the performances of the ensemble cast, esp Nina Ye as the precocious five-year-old lefty. Suffered a bit from the heaviness of multiple/almost soap opera stories, Broke some molds, built others. Taipei!
Posted Dec 01, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Zootopia 2 (2025) Patrick McDonald Jumping on the ZOOTOPIA train, as this sequel is superior to the first film. It starts with the story, and this one is bright, funny and a decent action film. The combo of Jason Bateman snark and superior comedy makes this on a Disney winnah! Hopp on by.
Posted Nov 28, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Rental Family (2025) Patrick McDonald The film has a lower keyed tone, but emergent emotions, especially with the Japanese cast, taking unusual turns towards a spiritual space for all. Fraser had good chemistry with his daughter character, even as connection is movie quick. W/dir interview.
Posted Nov 24, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
The Man Who Saves the World? (2025) Patrick McDonald Man, this one is mind blowing, esp if you're seeking optimism. Gabe Polsky portrays Sancho to Don Patrick, and comes out it as perplexed as the rest of us, but changed forever. Another example of reality being stranger than fiction. W/Polsky interview.
Posted Nov 22, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Exes of Christmas Past (2025) Patrick McDonald Brittany Underwood uses her character Josie’s Type A skills to high level. Alex Trumble also is the essential holiday hunk, turning on the charm esp while selling Christmas trees. The supporting cast turns up the humor and warmth. Egg nog ready!
Posted Nov 21, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Galaxy 360 (2019) Patrick McDonald A super indie film, with writer/director/lead actor Fishbeyn making potent use of new filmmaker tech, & a passionate cast/story. This allegory, with an incredibly effective conclusion, smashes the stereotypical patriarchal world, and realizes a utopia.
Posted Nov 10, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Nuremberg (2025) Patrick McDonald Choices were made in the story that didn't gibe ... too many subplots and not enough gravitas. The all-star cast was like a WW2 film from the 1960s, with Russell Crowe's take on Herman Göring the standout. Oddly, it was the epilogue that saved the film.
Posted Nov 09, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
It Was Just an Accident (2025) Patrick McDonald This is what films do best, deliver a complex geo-political-cultural topic and put it on human terms. The actors in this story are most likely not acting … they're are in a real emotional horror that has plagued them either symbolically or directly.
Posted Nov 03, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Blue Moon (2025) Patrick McDonald Ethan Hawke is sensational as Lorenz Hart … he owns the room, & delivers 80% of the dialogue in a running monologue of the lyricist's demise. I'm a sucker for show biz history, and this history is significant, plus a subtle Margaret Qualley rules as well!
Posted Oct 26, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE (2025) Patrick McDonald A FAIL SAFE for our more frightening time, in the scariest movie of the spooky season. Like FAIL, the structure of the story looks at all angles, and the points of view creates both food-for-thought & an inevitable path of destiny, all managed by humans.
Posted Oct 26, 2025  Edit critic review
From Beyond (1986) Brian Tallerico Jeffrey Combs is SO good here, completely committing to every element of a very demanding role.
Posted Oct 20, 2025  Edit critic review
5/5
Re-Animator (1985) Brian Tallerico Stuart Gordon’s “Re-Animator” is a gore masterpiece, one of the best horror movies of its type ever made.
Posted Oct 15, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5 (2025) Patrick McDonald If you are depressed about the state of the world, this won't cheer you up, but George Orwell ... who only lived 47 years ... did have the wherewithal to warn everyone of what has come about, through the disremembering of history. Orwell that ends well?
Posted Oct 15, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Roofman (2025) Patrick McDonald Suffered a bit from unlikely-ness, even in its "true story," but Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst have great chemistry, & the modest approach to the characters from vet Derek Cianfrance and an all-star cast delivers something charming. W/Derek interview.
Posted Oct 11, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Good Boy (2025) Patrick McDonald The technique (Dog POV) is the star here, along with the remarkable actor Indy the Golden Retriever, overcoming some familiar horror tropes. Kudos to the production team for generating a story structure that creates the classic 'bump in the night." Woof!
Posted Oct 03, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Eleanor the Great (2025) Patrick McDonald Two things make this work ... the themes that come out of defying the truth, especially that of grief, & national treasure June Squibb. She owns her title character, and is able to lend her familiar persona within Eleanor. Nice director debut for ScarJo.
Posted Sep 28, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
The Senior (2023) Patrick McDonald Works because it strove for authenticity, and Michael Chiklis delivers the soul as the title character. There are six ways to football Sunday to screw up a film like this, but very few ways to make it work, and the production found that way. Daddy issues!
Posted Sep 22, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
I'm Only Blind (2025) Patrick McDonald The film is a pure expression of inspiration. The brightly composed atmosphere by Kamelya Alexan also emphasizes that nothing can be done alone, & at times it takes a blind man to make us see, as a pure reminder. May we all approach life like Tim Paul.
Posted Sep 20, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Naked Ambition (2023) Patrick McDonald The way the film is built thematically is through a woman’s point of view … cultural observers and photographer Bunny Yeager's daughters weigh in on what she meant to loosening standards and feminism, which begs the question "What Hath Nudies Wrought?"
Posted Sep 17, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex (2022) Patrick McDonald This is a spectacularly structured rock doc, by dir Ethan Silverman, allowing room for Marc Bolan’s incredibly intensive music to shine through the tributes while telling his fascinating story. He was glam before glam, dance before disco, punk before punk
Posted Sep 17, 2025  Edit critic review
3/5
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025) Patrick McDonald Ironic that Paul McCartney appears, as he once said about a Beatles reunion, "you can't reheat a soufflé," a perfect description for this film. It's the creative difference between being young/hungry & old/rich, BUT they're back, STONEHENGE forever more!
Posted Sep 13, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Pools (2025) Patrick McDonald Sam Hayes' debut is a fresh spin on the "graduate" angst of what should we do with our lives, spotlighting not-knowing-what-we're-looking-for while featuring Odessa A'zion as the rep seeker, combining grief, pathos and runaway fun. W/Sam Hayes interview.
Posted Sep 08, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Preparation for the Next Life (2025) Patrick McDonald "Ripped from headlines," as an undoc immigrant is punished by a U.S. system that cannot sustain itself. She's paired w/a PTSD-ridden U.S. military veteran, together as starred-crossed lovers trapped in a world that cannot help them. W/director interview.
Posted Sep 07, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
James Can Eat (2025) Patrick McDonald An ardent and one-of-the-kind observation of the world of Major League Eating (MLE) through up-and-comer Australian James Webb. The film is not afraid to strip away artifice & show the obsession and clear weirdness of competition eaters. Only in America!
Posted Aug 23, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Night Always Comes (2025) Patrick McDonald Nice tense 24-hour style assignment story, with Vanessa Kirby delivering on a range of desperation emotions. The underlying themes of an economy leaving the middle class behind adds to the tension, in addition to layers of a woman's tormented soul. Kirby!
Posted Aug 19, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
East of Wall (2025) Patrick McDonald Ah the Matriarchy! Well done debut by Kate Beecroft in an unusual subject that morphs into something deeper beneath the surface, despite a somewhat overwrought fictional story. Riding the range, Tabitha and Porshia Zimiga do justice portraying themselves.
Posted Aug 19, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Hola Frida (2024) Patrick McDonald Grand tribute to Frida Kahlo's origins, with stunning animation to illustrate that start. I presume this would be good for ill children, as it depicts the challenges Frida had in overcoming childhood polio. The child as artist for the artist in waiting.
Posted Aug 08, 2025  Edit critic review
2.5/5
Freakier Friday (2025) Patrick McDonald Scattershot funny with only oldster Jamie Lee actually trying. The flat & over-baked plot didn't help, nor did the non-acting of the teen actors as supposedly older souls. This felt like stiff movie marketing next to the more organic 2003 film. JLC rules!
Posted Aug 05, 2025  Edit critic review
5/5
The Naked Gun (2025) Patrick McDonald Not only is this hilarious, but necessary for difficult times. Combining the POLICE SQUAD playbook ... gags, jokes, topical humor, visual puns and non sequiturs ... with the new generation of comic voices equals do go find a packed house and laugh loudly.
Posted Jul 30, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Shoshana (2023) Patrick McDonald Impressively, director Winterbottom understands the history of this land volatility and is able symbolically to express it through star-crossed lovers. Irina Starshenbaum as Soshana deftly creates a character whose loyalties and legacy are tested. Shalom.
Posted Jul 28, 2025  Edit critic review
2.5/5
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) Patrick McDonald In jump the shark, bringing in baby is fatal, and FF:1st is no exception. The plot was flat, the villain too much like Thanos and the main four were shuffled aside for THE BABY! Even the anticipated look of the film was diminished by the story. Non-fan!
Posted Jul 23, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) Patrick McDonald The cast was young & sparkly and the Fisherman is back. Who's to complain? Suffers from the same old same old but the it's fairly stylish & has some decent humor. The crowd I saw it with cheered some of the O.G.s from '97. But does have Scooby Doo BLEEP!
Posted Jul 23, 2025  Edit critic review
5/5
Eddington (2025) Patrick McDonald Ari Aster is the horror artist, but there is no supernatural here, only the horror of humans v humans. A stark realization of how we got to where we are, with a divide based on mistrust and misinformation, wrapped in a ball gag of self doubt. America!
Posted Jul 15, 2025  Edit critic review
4.5/5
Sovereign (2025) Patrick McDonald A stark reminder of the paranoid depths in our vast American divide. Nick Offerman is a revelation, embracing an extreme vision of his public persona. As a debut feature, Christian Swegal takes a real tragedy and creates a larger statement on USA reality.
Posted Jul 12, 2025  Edit critic review
3.5/5
Superman (2025) Patrick McDonald This ain't your Granddaddy's Supes, but it's still good enough for a watch. The immigrant angle was pretty brassy of James Gunn, and scenically the film breaks new ground. But too much Supes torture, too little Supes presence and Worst. Perry White. Ever.
Posted Jul 08, 2025  Edit critic review
4/5
Sorry, Baby (2025) Patrick McDonald A distinct film of empathy, as the crime perpetuated on Agnes (written, directed and acted by Eva Victor) generates an appalling reaction. In a sense, the film is about survival instincts, especially when fellow travelers are there to provide a lifeline.
Posted Jul 04, 2025  Edit critic review
5/5
8 1/2 (1963) Patrick McDonald What can I say that hasn't been said for the 62 year life span of this masterpiece, except that it flavors my cinema soul. On this third viewing, with a long time in between the last one, it also reflected on the point of life I"m at now. I AM FELLINI!
Posted Jul 04, 2025  Edit critic review
Prev Next