Limited runs and special events: @ Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark, (773) 293-1447: Psychic Disturbances: New Experimental Film and Video (Rolled Eyes, Learning Stalls: modular syllabi and organic exchange and Anti-Dialectic: The Letter to Nietzsche and Merleau-Ponty in Form of Density) – Jan. 17

Chicago’s Own: Recent Work by Tom Palazzolo (Down Clark Street, Rita on the Ropes, I Was a Zero in the City 2000, and more), plus Tom Palazzolo in person – Jan. 24; 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

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, naive, 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)

Also opening:

Along Came Polly – Debra Messing and Hank Azaria co-star with Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston in this new comedy.

My Baby’s Daddy – Scott Thompson and Amy Sedaris co-star in this comedy directed by lesbian filmmaker Cheryl Dunye.

Teacher’s Pet – Animated Disney feature with the vocal talents of Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Paul Reubens and others.

On DVD:

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl (Disney) – Nearly as campy and over the top as a Monty Python sketch about pirates, this Disney/Bruckheimer production is the kind of action-adventure summer movie that provides fun and entertainment all year long. Gore Verbinski’s exuberant and thrilling pirate movie returns all the swashbuckling thrills and spills to the genre. In a year when sword fights ruled at the movies (see The Last Samurai and Kill Bill, Volume 1, for example), Pirates of The Caribbean made it an art-form. As Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp managed to be both scary and funny, via his treacherous dueling skills as a swordsman, his scraggly and unkempt appearance, and his hilarious speech patterns. A cursed treasure of Aztec gold, a handsome and smitten blacksmith (Orlando Bloom), the abducted, but still feisty, daughter of the governor of Port Royal (Keira Knightley), comically frightening zombie pirates (led by Geoffrey Rush) and too many explosions to count all added up seaworthy cinematic vessel which was a pleasurable cruise. Special DVD features include amusing blooper real, obligatory deleted scenes, an enjoyable ‘making of’ documentary and much more bootie. (B+)

On TV:

PBS (Check local listings for time) –

‘In The Life’ (January 2004): The TV newsmagazine of record on gay and lesbian America takes a look back at global culture wars—from Maine to Manila.

Sundance Channel (Check local listings for time) – Get Real – Jan. 14, 24, 29; Princesa – Jan. 14, 17, 29; The Adventures of Sebastian Cole – Jan. 16, 18, 22, 28; Lan Yu – Jan. 16, 22; Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer’s End – Jan. 18, 27; ‘Anatomy of a Scene: Die Mommie Die! ‘ – Jan. 19 8:30pm ; Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss – Jan. 19, 23; The Cockettes – Jan. 19, 29; È Minha Cara/That’s My Face – Jan. 19, 23, 26, 29; Priest – Jan. 19, 28; Trembling Before G-d – Jan. 19, 27; Gods and Monsters – Jan. 20, 31; By Hook or by Crook – Jan. 22, 30; Silverlake Life: The View from Here – Jan. 26.