Limited runs and special events: @ Facets, 1517 W Fullerton, (800) 532-2387: Facets Film School winter courses on the films of Pedro Almodovar (Dec. 17) and Marlene Dietrich (Dec. 17 & 18)
@ Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street, (312) 846-2800: Musicals + Melodramas = Minnelli: Vincente Minnelli film festival, The Cobweb – Jan. 3 & 8, An American In Paris – Jan. 4 & 7, The Band Wagon – Jan. 10 & 13, Two Weeks In Another Town – Jan. 10 & 15, Home From The Hill – Jan. 17 & 20, Gigi – Jan. 18 & 21.
Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election - A hard-hitting, eye-opening exposé of the massive subversion of the democratic process that occurred in Florida at the climax of the 2000 presidential election directed by Richard R. Pérez and Joan Sekler. – Jan. 3 & 5.
Flag Wars: With Flag Wars, documentary filmmakers Linda Goode Bryant and Laura Poitras have touched on a subject with which many in the queer community are aware. The topic, gentrification of deteriorating urban communities by gay men and lesbians, is given an effective treatment in their documentary. The 'flag wars' of the title takes on more than one meaning. First, it refers to the rainbow flags that hang outside of some LGBT homes, and the response to the decorative and declarative items by the non-gay residents in the Columbus, Ohio neighborhood where the documentary was filmed. It also refers to the ominous presence of right-wing Christian activists, and the burning of a rainbow flag that had been flying outside of the Ohio state house. (C+) - Jan. 17 & 21.
Aileen: Life And Death Of A Serial Killer: Documentary about convicted murderer Aileen Wuornos. – Jan. 23; Resisting Paradise - Lesbian director Barbara Hammer and WWII Resistance heroine Lisa Fittko will be present for discussion at the Saturday screening. - Jan. 24 & 27; The Death Of Klinghoffer - Film version of John Adams's controversial 1991 opera, - Jan. 30-Feb. 5.
@ Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville, (773) 381-8030: Queersploitation —monthly film series viewing and examining the treatment of homosexuality in some exploitation films of the '70s and '80s. Vampyr Lesbos – Jan. 8, Thundercrack – Feb. 12, Satan's Children – March 11.
@ Navy Pier IMAX Theatre, (312) 595-5MAX (5629): Santa vs. the Snowman 3D – LGBT moms, dads, aunts, uncles and others looking for a holiday movie experience that can be enjoyed by viewers young and old, need look no further than the clever and colorful Santa Vs. The Snowman. Santa (voiced by Jonathan Winters) tells the story of the Christmas that almost wasn't which involves a lonely snowman, a stolen flute, and a newfound friendship. The 3D effects are spectacular, particularly in the scenes in the elves workshop and also in the Star Wars-like battle scenes (really!). This collaboration between writer/director John Davis and the multi-talented Steve Oedekerk has the potential to become a holiday classic for all sorts of families. (B) - Dec. 17 – Jan. 4, Young Black Stallion - Dec. 25-Mar. 18.
In theaters:
The Cooler (Lion's Gate) – Bernie (William H. Macy), who describes himself as 'shitty luck incarnate,' works as a 'cooler' (a person who 'turns winners into losers') at the Golden Shangri La casino in Las Vegas. Director of casino operations Shelly (Alec Baldwin) keeps bad luck Bernie in his employ as a way for him to pay off a large debt. Just as Bernie is about to fulfill his obligation to Shelly, he meets Natalie (Maria Bello giving a gritty Sharon Stone-y performance), a casino cocktail waitress with a checkered past. When they begin a romantic relationship, Bernie's luck changes and he soon loses the powers that made him so valuable to Shelly. Meanwhile, Shelly is dealing with his own drama, including the renovation plans that casino boss Nicky (Arthur J. Nascarella) has in store. The Cooler looks and feels like a warmer version of an Alan Rudolph movie and is populated with shady, but fascinating, characters such as junkie lounge singer Buddy (Paul Sorvino), Bernie's troubled son and wife Mikey (Shawn Hatosy) and Charlene (Estella Warren), the MBA suit Larry (Ron Livingston) that Nicky brings in to the casino, thorny bartender Rose (Ellen Greene) and especially Bernie and Natalie. (B)
The Event (Think Films) – The 'event' of the movie's title is the farewell party and ensuing assisted suicide of Matt (Don McKellar), a young gay man whose struggle with AIDS has reached a critical turning point. Told in flashbacks, the movie follows the investigation of Matt's death by District Attorney Nick (Parker Posey). As she questions AIDS-care worker Brian (Brent Carver), unstable lesbian therapist Mona (Jane Leeves), loose-lipped drag performer Rory (Rejean Joseph Cournoyer), and members of Matt's family, including his sisters Gabrielle (Joanna P. Adler) and Dana (Sarah Polley), and mother Lila (Olympia Dukakis), among others, details of the 'event' are revealed. At the same time, Nick must come to terms with aspects of her own father's death that she had repressed. Gay director Thom Fitzgerald (The Hanging Garden, Beefcake and others), who co-wrote the screenplay, gives the film a grainy, low-budget feel, while eliciting big-budget performances from Dukakis and Polley, whose portrayals of grief-stricken relatives are at the heart of this touching tearjerker. (B+)
The Lord of The Rings: The Return Of The King (New Line) – At three hours and 20 minutes, you could call the finale to the Lord Of The Rings saga bloated and self-indulgent. You could also call it the most satisfying installment in the trilogy, the way it marvelously reaches its hard-won conclusion, which is nothing more than a glorified fairy (and hobbit and dwarf and wizard and ork and treebeard and human and split-personality creature) tale. Beginning with the depiction of the downfall of Smeagol (Andy Serkis) at the mercy of the powerful ring and ending with the crowing of Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) as king, Peter Jackson has redefined the cinematic fantasy epic. Overly lengthy battle scenes and unrequited love threatens to shift our focus from the story of trust and friendship between Frodo (Elijah Wood), the Middle-earth Dorothy, and Sam (Sean Astin), the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman and Cowardly Lion all rolled into one. As wizard Gandalf, a man who confidently wields a big stick, out actor Sir Ian McKellen can't help but be the most commanding presence on screen, even as you command the various parts of your body (including your eyelids) not to atrophy. (B)
On TV:
here! Pay-Per-View (now available): Sordid Lives, Food Of Love, Circuit, When Boys Fly, The Business of Fancy Dancing.
