The Chicago Rep-port 1/12-1/18, by Aaron Pinkston
Repertory screenings may not be as abundant in Chicago as they are in LA/NY but when you look around, there are many theatergoing delights. The Chicago Rep-port is a weekly(ish) series highlighting the best and most compelling repertory screenings in the Second City.
Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State St
As the Siskel focuses on a handful of independent films on their schedule this week, the lone rep screening is a run of the new 4K restoration of The Crime of Monsieur Lange (Jean Renoir, 1936, DCP). Though the film doesn’t have as much cultural cache as Renoir’s The Rules of the Game or The Grand Illusion, among others, The Crime of Monsieur Lange is a delightful murder mystery that is expertly shot and a great mix of comedy and intrigue. The film runs throughout the week with 9 different opportunities to catch this rare, newly restored, underrated gem from a true cinema master.
Doc Films, 1212 E 59th St # 3
With the new year, a new batch of fantastic film series is on tap at Doc Films. Over the next few months, you can check out great classic and genre films on bad marriages, feminist horror films, African American visions of the future, and retrospectives on Seijun Suzuki and Alain Delon.
Fridays, Marriage on the Verge of Collapse: A Separation (Asghar Farhadi, 2011, 35mm), the tense and complex Oscar-winning film from Iran is one of the best of the decade
Sundays, Phantom Rides: Trains & Cinema: Doctor Zhivago (David Lean, 1965, 35mm), Lean’s three-hour-plus Russian epic
Mondays, The Future is Black: Afrofuturism in World Cinema: The Brother from Another Planet (John Sayles, 1984, 35mm), fantastically unique sci-fi alien “invasion” that doubles as a fish-out-of-water comedy
Tuesdays, Deep Seijun: Rare Films of Suzuki Seijun: Harbour Toast: Victory in My Hands (Seijun Suzuki, 1956, 35mm), Suzuki’s debut feature, focused on a sailor whose younger brother gets involved with the mob
Wednesdays, Le Samouraï: An Alain Delon Retrospective: Rocco and His Brothers (Luchino Visconti, 1960, 35mm), a lavish Italian drama centered on a family of 5 brothers and a romantic love triangle involving two of them
Thursdays, A Dish Best Served Hot: Feminist Revenge Fantasies: Jackie Brown (Quentin Tarantino, 1997, 35mm), perhaps Tarantino’s most underrated film, it is the favorite pick among many of the director’s most hardcore fans
Thursdays, Ginger Snaps Back: A Feminist Take on Horror: Suspiria (Dario Argento, 1977, DCP), the apex of Italian giallo, a bright colored witching tale set at a ballet school
The Logan Theatre, 2646 N Milwaukee Ave
As we’ve turned the page on 2017, the Logan Theatre’s late night lineup in January is preparing for a better year with Jolly January, spotlighting purely enjoyable cinema. This week includes two the best of music and sports parodies: This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984, format unknown) on January 12-15 and Slap Shot (George Roy Hill, 1977, format unknown) on January 16-18.