The Chicago Rep-port 11/10-11/16, by Aaron Pinkston

by · November 9, 2017

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

This week’s screenings at the Siskel are highlighted by a new restoration of Daughter of the Nile (Hou Hsiao-Hsien, 1987, 4K DCP). Among the premiere filmmakers from Taiwan, Hou has grown to prominence on the international stage with ultra-stylish films like The Flight of the Red Balloon and The Assassin. Daughter of the Nile is a more straight-forward emotional drama, but in the hands of a master filmmaker.

The theatre’s partnership with the School of the Art Institute, Making ‘Em Move: A History of Animation, continues with a Saturday and Tuesday screening of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (Robert Zemeckis, 1988, DCP). Mixing madcap Loony Tunes-like animation with a live-action film noir style, the film has become a beloved classic and remains one of the most innovative animated films ever made. The Tuesday night screening will feature a post-film discussion led by University of Notre Dame professor Dr. Donald Crafton.

Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave

As you prepare for James Franco’s take on the making of an all-time classic bad movie, The Room (Tommy Wiseau, 2003, 35mm) comes back to the Music Box Theatre for two midnight shows on Friday and Saturday night.

Co-presented by the Chicago Film Society, silent film The Last Man on Earth (J.G. Blystone, 1924, 35mm) gets a Saturday noon matinee. The underseen film takes place in the 1950s when a mysterious disease kills off all men over the age of fourteen. As the title would suggest, one male survivor is found in this new world of women.

Doc Films, 1212 E 59th St # 3

The fall slate of nightly film series at Doc Films is underway and it is an impressive slate (as usual). Here is the rundown along with this week’s screenings:

Fridays, From Here to Eternity: A Burt Lancaster and Montgomery Clift Retrospective: A Place in the Sun (George Stevens, 1951, 35mm), winner of six Academy Awards with stars Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, and Shelley Winters at the top of their games.

Sundays, Love Is Colder Than Death: The Films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Germany in Autumn (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1978, 35mm), an intimate look at the brutal political terrorist attacks that occurred in Germany in 1977.

Mondays, Commedia All’Italiana: Italian Comedy in the 60’s and 70’s: Bread and Chocolate (Franco Brusati, 1974, 35mm), a comedy of cultural identity about a man from Italy who finds work for a wealthy family in Switzerland.

Tuesdays, Dreams and Ashes: Essentials of Polish Cinema: Black Cross (Aleksander Ford, 1960, DCP), known as Poland’s first blockbuster, a sword battle historical epic.

Wednesdays, Il Padrone: An Al Pacino Retrospective: Glengarry Glen Ross (James Foley, 1992, 35mm)

Thursdays, Growing Up: Coming of Age Around the World: Distant Voices, Still Lives (Terence Davies, 1988, DCP), a serene drama about growing up in an abusive patriarchal family, with a fantastic performance by the late Pete Postlethwaite.

Thursdays, Down the Rabbit Hole: Mindfucks and Mysteries at the Movies: Naked Lunch (David Cronenberg, 1991, 35mm), a wacked out hallucination of a movie that is the perfect blending of Cronenberg and author William S. Burroughs.

The Logan Theatre, 2646 N Milwaukee Ave

The Logan Theatre’s late-nite programming shifts into Nerdy November, offering some cult classics and nostalgia-laden films from sci-fi epics to pitch black comedies. From November 10-13 is WarGames (John Badham, 1983, format unknown), a Cold War era film where a computer game may have actual global consequences. Following that up from November 14-16 is The Dark Crystal (Jim Henson and Frank Oz, 1982, format unknown), a beautiful fantasy epic from the creative mind of Jim Henson and the creation of the horrific skeksis.

Cinemark Theaters, various Chicagoland locations

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of its premiere, Cinemark Theaters in partnership with TCM is showcasing all-time Hollywood classic love story Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942, format unknown).

Patio Theater, 6008 W. Irving Park Rd

Remember about a month ago when I talked about the 24-hour horror movie marathon presented by local film group Terror in the Aisles? Well, the event was cancelled the morning of due to weather issues and safety concerns. As someone with a ticket and the iron will to watch a dozen scary movies in a row, I was bummed. Thankfully, however, the group was able to reschedule the event in its entirety for this Saturday, November 11, running all the way to noon on Sunday. For those who refuse to move on from horror films now that October is over, this is perfect for you. There will also be great local vendors selling all kinds of awesome horror memorabilia, a charity auction supporting Vital Bridges, and more!

Here’s the rundown of the awesome films that will be shown:

Beauty and the Beast (Jean Cocteau, 1946, format unknown)

House on Haunted Hill (William Castle, 1959, format unknown)

Sleepaway Camp (Robert Hiltzik, 1983, format unknown)

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (John D. Hancock, 1971, format unknown) — with Hancock in person!

Creepshow (George A. Romero, 1982, format unknown)

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (Tobe Hooper, 1986, format unknown)

Aliens (James Cameron, 1986, format unknown)

Terror Train (Roger Spottiswoode, 1980, format unknown)

Drive In Massacre (Stu Segall, 1976, format unknown)

Two Thousand Maniacs! (Herschell Gordon Green, 1964, format unknown)

The Devil Rides Out (Terence Fisher, 1968, format unknown)