THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

@ Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark, (773) 293-1447: Chicago's Own: Memory Pieces (Target Practice, Untitled Affair, The Invalids, arrivals & departures, Ships Out to Sea, Dear Gary, Room) – Jan. 31; Film Studies: The Films of Guy Sherwin and Barbara Meter. Guy Sherwin and Barbara Meter in person. Feb. 7; Al-Jazeera Exclusive – Feb. 15; Star Spangled To Death – Feb. 21, 22, 28 & 29, Mar. 6, 7; Third Party: Political Alternatives in the Age of Duopoly - Mar. 13; Speaking Of...: Recent Video by Jacqueline Goss (Jacqueline Goss in person) – Mar. 27

@ 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. Thundercrack – Feb. 12; Satan's Children – Mar. 11; Nightmare on ElmStreet 2 – Apr. 8; City in Panic – May 13

@ Navy Pier IMAX Theatre, (312) 595-5MAX (5629): Young Black Stallion - Jan. 28-Mar. 18

In theaters:

Monster (Newmarket) – Based on a true story, Monster, the feature-length writing and directing debut of Patty Jenkins, is the gritty and brutal story of real-life prostitute turned serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Charlize Theron's praiseworthy transformation into and portrayal of Wuornos is easily the most consistent aspect of the movie. Wuornos, who was executed in 2002 after 12 years on Death Row, was something of a familiar face on the national news scene, and seeing Theron's incredible physical depiction, complete with accent and speech patterns, facial expressions and demeanor is almost unnerving. When she speaks of being raped by a friend of her father's, being abandoned by her family and stumbling into the life of a hooker at the age of 13, we believe what she is saying. In spite of her rapid, violent, downward spiral, which occurs following a brutal rape and beating at the hands of a sadistic john, she earns our compassion. Somewhat less consistent is the movie itself. Wuornos's relationship with the one-dimensional Selby (Christina Ricci), a young, naïve, lesbian, offers a temporary respite, but only serves to remind her of her vast limitations. There is also inconsistent use of voice-over narration (if you want to see good use of that, see Ricci in The Opposite Of Sex), which is meant to make us feel empathy for Wuornos, but just bogs down the narration. Simply put, Monster rages and rivets on the strength of Theron's singular performance. (B)

On DVD:

Boys Life 4 (Strand Releasing) – The fourth installment in the popular gay short film series proves to be more of a good thing. The first segment, L.T.R. is a mockumentary about long-term relationships. Even thought they've only been going out for a couple of weeks, interviewer John (L.T.R.'s writer/director Phillip J. Bartell) selects 21-year-old Michael (Cole Williams) and 20-year-old Riley (Weston Mueller) as his interview subjects. The adorable couple radiates the blush of new love, but by week three, the relationship is in trouble. Michael, who is of age, likes to go out, leaving underage Riley at home alone to get high. Their friends Caitlan (Aimee Garcia) and Tobias (Michael Azria) don't like their choices in boyfriends, and by week four, the honeymoon has ended with the first fight. The humorously observed short made me laugh on more than one occasion. The mood takes a decidedly dramatic and intense turn with writer/director Alan Brown's exceptional O beautiful. The short feature opens in a cornfield where Brad (Jay Gillespie), who has just been sexually assaulted by a group of high school jock classmates, lies bleeding and naked from the waist down. A truck pulls up and Andy (David Rogers) gets out and offers to help Brad. Brad recognizes Andy as one of his attackers and moves away from him, but Andy insists that he wasn't present. Presented in split screen, we watch the boys' interactions and the way Andy earns Brad's trust through words and by offering him is jeans, his jacket, a shoe. By the time they end up in Andy's truck, they have come to terms with their differences and arrived on a path that that will lead them to healing and resolution. Bumping Heads, from acclaimed gay director Brian Sloan, which is mostly set in an emergency room, is a return to comedy with renowned gay actor Craig Chester playing Craig, a man in his mid-30es, who falls in love with Gary (Edge of Seventeen's Andersen Gabrych) a twenty-something twink. Craig and Gary each provide the perspective on their relationship and how Craig ended up in the emergency room with amusing results. The fourth segment, This Car Up, is the most unusual. Like O beautiful, This Car Up is presented in split screen. With minimal use of dialogue, the heavily visual story is about nicotine patch-wearing, lottery-playing, lucky quarter tossing bike messenger Adrian (Brent Doyle) and cigarette smoking, Magic Eight Ball shaking office worker Pete (Michael Booth), the way they meet, and their thought processes, which are presented as slot machines above each of their frames. (B+)

On TV:

Sundance Channel (check local listings for times) -

The Adventures of Sebastian Cole – Jan. 28

Priest - Jan. 28

È Minha Cara/That's My Face - Jan. 29

Get Real - Jan. 29

The Cockettes – Jan. 29

Princesa - Jan. 29

By Hook or by Crook – Jan. 30

Gods and Monsters - Jan. 31