Limited runs:
“International Dinner & A Movie” @ Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington, 312/742-8497) : Rules Of The Game (French cuisine served) 9.10; The Vanishing (Dutch cuisine served) 10.15; Amarcord (Italian cuisine served) 11.12; Rashomon (Japanese cuisine served) 12.10.
Landmark After Dark midnight movie series hosted by Dick O’Day @ Landmark Century Cinema (2828 N Clark Street, (773) 248-7744) : Female Trouble Sept. 7.
In Theaters:
The Notorious C.H.O. (Wellspring) : In her second comedy concert-film The Notorious C.H.O., beloved and iconic comedian Margaret Cho lets loose with her unique brand of humor on a variety of subjects, both tasteful and taboo. She covers a lot of ground, from post-9/11 America to colon hydrotherapy, from menstruating men to teenage drag queens, from her and her mother’s relationships with gay men to orgasms. The movie is filled with feminist and self-esteem messages about sex, food, and body weight, among other things. She refers to having self-esteem as “an act of revolution,” and she says that the “revolution is long overdue,” which is a powerful message from which everyone can benefit. Rating: 8/10
On TV:
Bravo: Gay Weddings: Queer people have long been a presence on reality TV shows. Remember Richard Hatch on Survivor? What about Norm or Pedro from The Real World? Please don’t forget Lance Loud in An American Family.
Cable network Bravo deserves a standing ovation for their sensitive and insightful look at four California-based couples (two male and two female) making plans for their very special days in the eight-part miniseries Gay Weddings. Creator and executive producer Douglas Ross brings his expertise from reality series such as Fear Factor and Big Brother to the fore and manages to present a loving portrait of a serious subject. Having seen four of the eight episodes, I can say with confidence that the benefits of watching this program extends to the lesbian and gay community, as much as it does to straight folks. (@ 9 p.m., airing nightly until Sept. 5)
Sundance Channel:
Bedrooms and Hallways (9.4, 9) ; Bent (9.5, 15) ; The Brandon Teena Story (9.7, 11) ; Burnt Money (9.15) ; Chuck & Buck (9.1, 6) ; Chutney Popcorn (9.2, 8, 11) ; I’m The One That I Want (9.4, 13)