Limited runs and special events:
— Adler Planetarium – (312) 322-0548: SonicVision – Open-ended run
— Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark, (773) 293-1447: Calling all dykes and dykes-at-heart for an evening of lesbolicious cinematic excitement. May 'Shorts,' a program of frolicsome short films and videos by local and national talent, including many Chicago and world premieres. May 8, starts 7 p.m. at T's, then 8 p.m. films start; second screening 10 p.m., 5243 N. Clark. One Small Step – directed by Catherine Crouch; I'm Straight – directed by Kelly Hayes with KJ Mohr; Rough Cut - directed by Logan Kibens; Crush – directed by RJ Spencer; Beguiled – directed by Yasmina Cadiz; Hummer – directed by Guinevere Turner.
— Landmark Century Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St., (773) 509-4949: Crushed – Chicago film directed by Lauretta Tagli. The 90-minute movie follows employees of a fictional Chicago advertising agency to their holiday party, where they realize their boss' embezzling has bankrupt the company. The movie was shot only months before the Enron, WorldCom and Tyco scandals began grabbing headlines.
— Navy Pier IMAX Theatre, (312) 595-5MAX (5629): Nascar: The IMAX Experience 3D; Ocean Wonderland 3D
In theaters:
Super Size Me (Roadside/Goldwyn) – In his award-winning documentary debut directorial effort, Morgan Spurlock put himself at grave risk to prove the point that fast food is bad for you. Spurlock, who was in 'outstanding general health' prior to his cinematic experiment, existed on a diet of nothing but three meals (including Super Size Meals, when asked) at McDonald's for 30 days. Monitored by three doctors, a nutritionist and others (including his vegan chef girlfriend Alex), Spurlock's decline is shocking and rapid. Interviews with doctors (including former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher), lawyers, food industry representatives among others give Spurlock's story bite. As appalling as it is informative, and as unappetizing as it is entertaining, while Super Size Me may be hard to digest for some, it is nevertheless a satisfying and nourishing experience. (A-)
On DVD:
Calendar Girls (Touchstone Home Entertainment) – More than just a touching and heartwarming portrait of friendship and generosity, Calendar Girls is a reminder of the bountiful talents of Helen Mirren. Chris (Mirren) and Annie (Julie Walters) are old friends who can always rely on the other to entertain and humor them during the stuffy Women's Institute meetings and functions. When Annie's husband John (John Alderton) dies of cancer, the annual calendar that the WI assembles to raise funds, with its boring photos of local bridges or churches, becomes a vehicle for change. To raise money to buy a new couch for the 'relatives room' at the hospital where John died, Chris takes inspiration from a Pirelli calendar she sees hanging in a garage, and proposes that the women of the WI pose tastefully nude for their calendar. Lawrence (Philip Glenister), an orderly and photographer, is enlisted, and before you know it, there are enough models to fill all 12 months. A genuinely appealing and pleasing film, made even more so knowing that it is based on a true story. DVD features include 'The Naked Truth,' a documentary about the real women on whom Calendar Girls is based, deleted scenes and a 'Creating The Calendar' documentary. (B+)
On TV:
HBO (check local listings for times) – Elaine Stritch at Liberty – May 29
Sundance (check local listings) – L.I.E. - May 5, 15, 20; Lifting the Veil - May 5, 17, 27; The Devil in the Holy Water - May 5, 28; Scotland, PA - May 6, 9, 17, 26, 29; 'Anatomy of a Scene: Off the Map' - May 7, 8, 9, 10; Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election - May 7, 17, 25; Stranger Than Paradise - May 8, 14, 18, 23, 27; Veronika Voss (aka Die Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss) - May 8, 21, 27; The Brandon Teena Story - May 9, 12, 22, 25; Our Lady of the Assassins - May 9, 27; American Eunuchs - May 10, 14, 17, 27, 29; 'Anatomy of a Scene: The Clearing' - May 11, 14, 15, 16, 17 ; At Five in the Afternoon (aka Panj é asr) - May 12, 15, 30; Look Out Haskell, It's Real – May 12, 18, 24; My Left Breast - May 13, 29; Gerry - May 15, 18, 23, 28, 31; The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter - May 31.
