Limited runs and special events:
@ Butler Field/Grant Park, Lake Shore Drive and Monroe: Chicago Outdoor Film Festival -It Happened One Night - Jul. 15; A
Night At The Opera - Jul. 22; On The Town - Jul. 29; In The Heat of The Night - Aug. 5; Only Angels Have Wings - Aug.12; Pillow Talk -
Aug. 19; Rear Window - Aug. 26
@ Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State, 312/846-2600: Ronit Bezalel, Sree Nallamothu and Laurie Little's A Day On The Force,
which chronicles the last home game of the professional women's tackle football team, the Chicago Force, on May 25, 2003. The film
was made in conjunction with the Gene Siskel Film Center's 72 Hour Feature Project. - Jun. 20 (extra screening added June 25, 8:15
p.m.)
In theaters:
Together—Farewell My Concubine director Chen Kaige's latest film tells the story of sacrifices made by a father so that his son
may study the violin in Beijing.
Capturing The Friedmans (HBO Documentary Pictures)—MovieFone co-founder Andrew Jarecki's debut documentary tells the
shocking story of the Friedman family and their downfall centering on a Great Neck, NY, sex abuse scandal during the mid-to-late
1980s. The late Arnold Friedman, husband of Elaine, and father of David, Seth and Jesse, was arrested for possession of child
pornography which led to subsequent allegations that he molested several young boys who were enrolled in a computer class taught
in his home. Moreover, Jesse, the youngest son, was also implicated. In addition to Jarecki's footage, which includes interviews with
David and Jesse (middle brother Seth chose not to be included in the documentary), two of the Friedman's three sons, their mother
Elaine, and Arnold's brother Howard, among others, there is family movie footage as well as video footage that David Friedman shot
himself. If the story wasn't complex enough on the surface, further complications arise when it is discovered in some of Arnold's
writings that he, in fact, struggled with his own homosexual urges and actions (including an incestuous relationship with his brother)
and his attraction to young boys. Furthermore, the adult David, who works with children as New York's No. 1 birthday clown, finds his
livelihood is threatened because of his family history. The extremely difficult subject matter is treated with the utmost respect, although
it raises more questions than it answers. (A-)
May (Lion's Gate)—Socially awkward May (Angela Bettis) is a weird patchwork quilt of a young woman. She works as a
veterinarian's assistant, has a creepy doll collection, makes her own clothes, and has an unusual fixation on body parts. At the same
time that May develops a crush on car repairman and aspiring filmmaker Adam (Jeremy Sisto), she is being pursued by the
receptionist at the vet's office, a lesbian named Polly (Anna Faris). Amidst May's budding sexual identity, including erotic encounters
with both Adam and Polly, there is some doll demolition, a cat killing and a sudden descent into madness. Following a disastrous
broken-glass incident at the school for blind children where she is a volunteer, May declares that there are 'so many pretty parts and
no pretty wholes,' leading her to become an American psycho Dr. Frankenstein. May's killing and dismembering spree includes a
street punk named Blank (James Duval), Polly, Polly's unpleasant girlfriend Ambrosia (Nicole Hiltz), and Adam and his girlfriend. As
May says, 'If you can't find a friend, make one,' and in this contemporary and sometimes comedic re-telling of the Frankenstein story
with a lesbian sub-plot, May attempts to do so. Ultimately, all May wants is to be seen, but will May's sacrifice of a part of herself be
the necessary component to give her creation, Amy, vision? May be, May be not—you'll just have to see for yourself. (B+)
On TV
Cinemax (www.cinemax.com): Ruthie and Connie: Every Room In The House is a beautiful and touching documentary about two
women who are celebrating 40 years of friendship and 25 years together as a couple. Both married with families when they first met
as residents of the same housing complex in Brooklyn in the 1960s, Ruthie and Connie are fascinating people you will want to know
more about even after the documentary ends. (B+) - Jun. 25
HBO (www.HBO.Com): Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now—After taking the stage, at The Beacon Theater in New York, to
thunderous applause Ellen DeGeneres proclaims that it is a 'lovely way to start the show.' In an unprecedented turn, DeGeneres
offers a list of reasons for being in the audience at the show, concluding with 'We're all gay,' which leads to her imitating non-gay
audience members' reactions to that statement. She calls the joke her one obligatory gay reference, otherwise people will think she
abandoned them. Frankly, I was surprised at the amount of recycled material in DeGeneres's set, although her routines on
procrastination, too many TV channels, and 24-hour news remain timely. Cell-phones, call-waiting (which she declared as a 'mini
People's Choice Awards') technology and general laziness were all given the once over. Her movie theater etiquette bit, which
included a hilarious imitation of a person inhaling a box of popcorn, and a lengthy riff on the packing of pickles, were also quite funny.
DeGeneres had a chance to show off her pleasant singing voice when she spoke about misunderstood song lyrics and the
misperception inherent in the song 'If I Had A Hammer' (because once you get a hammer, 'you don't hammer as much as you think
you would'). In reference to the title of the show, DeGeneres talked about multi-tasking, and summed everything up with the final
thought, 'Procrastinate now, don't put it off.' (B-) - Jun. 28 on HBO
Friday, June 20: WTTW Channel 11—Georgie Girl, a documentary about Georgina Beyer, elected to New Zealand's Parliament in
1999 and the first transsexual ever to hold national office. 10 p.m., www.pbs.org/pov.
PBS (www.inthelifetv.org): In The Life—Hosted by actor Denis O'Hare (of the Tony Award-winning play Take Me Out), the Pride
month edition of In The Life, titled Body Politic, is 'an examination of our community's health.' Designer John Bartlett hosts the first
segment which focuses on AIDS drug marketing and advertising and includes interviews with HIV-positive models and AIDS activists.
Pamela Snead hosts the next segment which focuses on the ongoing debate about age representation in the LGBT community, with
special attention being paid to the necessity of individual preparation for the future. Co-directors Beverley Ditsie and Nicky Newman
are interviewed about their documentary Simon And I about the late South African gay-rights and AIDS activist Simon Nkoli. A
segment titled Walk Like A Man deals with the issue of bullying in schools, dealing primarily with the harassment of high school
student Scott Lipitch. Special guest Patricia Clarkson hosts the segment about the 2003 Tony Award-winning play Take Me Out,
which was written by her good friend Richard Greenberg. As always, Harvey Fierstein, also a Tony winner this year, wraps up the
program with his Out Takes segment, which deals with coming out. - Jun. 22 (midnight)
Sundance Channel: See Web site www.sundancechannel.com for pride films.
