This is Gregg Shapiro’s last week with Windy City Times. We wish him well. We welcome Richard Knight as our new film reviewer later this month.
Limited runs and special events:
— Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville, (773) 381-8030: ‘Queersploitation’ film series: City In Panic – May 13; ‘Cinema Lesbiana’ film series – May 28
— Navy Pier IMAX Theatre, (312) 595-5MAX (5629): Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk: Complete with a disclaimer about the kinds of dangerous daredevil activities performed by the BASE (Building Antennae Span Earth) jumpers featured in the movie, Adrenaline Rush also offers educational and informative details about Leonardo Da Vinci. In fact, the most exhilarating part of the movie takes place when a 15th century DaVinci parachute rendering is actually manufactured and functions as designed. (B-) – opens May 7
— Northwestern University Block Cinema, 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, (847) 491-4000: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – June 3; Kill Bill: Vol. 1 – June 4
In theaters:
The Saddest Music In The World (IFC) – For my first entry into the bizarre cinematic world of director Guy Maddin, I’m glad that it was the somewhat accessible, pseudo-musical The Saddest Music In The World. Set in 1933 Winnipeg, Canada during the Great Depression, where double amputee Lady Helen Port-Huntley (Isabella Rossellini), the ruthless ruler of a beer empire, proposes a contest in which musicians from around the world compete to compose the saddest music in the world for a prize worth $25,000 in depression-era cash. The contest attracts the attention of fast-talking, down-on-his-luck Broadway producer Chester (Kids In The Hall’s Mark McKinney), who bills himself as the ‘American Ambassador of Sadness,’ and is a former lover of Helen’s. It also attracts Chester’s strange and long-estranged cello-playing brother Roderick (Ross McMillan) and Fyodor (David Fox), the former surgeon and upturned piano-playing father of the feuding brothers, whose alcohol abuse led him to perform an accidental amputation on Helen which he will forever regret. Also present is the mysterious Narcissa (Maria de Medeiros) whose talking tapeworm and foggy memory add to her air of intrigue. Shot (mostly) in grainy and textured black and white, the movie is a visual treat, right down to the art deco sets. As for the actual story, which includes peculiarities such as a pair of glass, beer-filled artificial legs created by Fyodor for Helen, the visuals almost override any difficulties that arise. (B+)
Also playing/opening:
Troy (Warner Brothers) – Brad Pitt + Greek mythology. You do the math.
On DVD:
Cock & Bull Story (Wolfe Video/Pantheon) – Set in Chicago, and originally titled Southside, this indie flick written and directed by Billy Hayes (of Midnight Express renown) examines a friendship that threatens to implode over the pressures of homophobia. Travis (the incredibly handsome Bret Roberts) is a young, up-and-coming boxer who lives at home with his supportive mother (’70s TV Movie of The Week superstar Kay Lenz) and abusive father. He is coached by Pascoe (Greg Mullavy, of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman fame) and has a girlfriend named Annie (Wendy Fowler). But the strongest relationship he has is in his life is with best friend Jack (Beverly Hills 90210’s Brian A. Green). However, where Travis is sensitive and level-headed, Jack is violent and out of control, and this is a source of tension in their friendship. Jack is also exceedingly homophobic, even going so far as to lure Ralph (Matt Westmore), a gay man he meets in a nightclub, into an alley for the purpose of bashing him. When Jack learns that Travis is known to become aroused in a clinch with another boxer in a match, he goes into a tailspin, leading to a confrontation. DVD extras include director’s commentary. (C-)
The Kids In The Hall – Complete Season 1: 1989-1990 (Broadway Video/A&E): Sketch comedy is risky, and few television sketch comedy programs were ever as risky, or as rewarding, as The Kids In The Hall. The five cast members, including Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and openly gay Scott Thompson, crossed geographic, sexual and comedic borders, challenged gender roles, and even, on occasion, racial lines. This four DVD compilation features 20 episodes, among which you will find early and enduring favorites and characters such as the ‘Head Crusher,’ Buddy Cole, secretaries Kathie and Cathy, and, of course, the ‘thirty Helens.’ The Kids often targeted ‘businessmen’ during the first season, and also aimed their sharp focus on suburbia, societal and cultural issues, to mention a few. Perhaps the most memorable aspect of the first season (and the seasons to follow) was the all-male cast’s ability for and comfort with donning drag to portray female characters. And as with most daring sketch comedy, not every segment is as successful as intended. Still, The Kids In The Hall had a better than average track record, particularly in their first season. A fourth DVD of ‘Bonus Features’ includes the informative ‘An Oral History,’ consisting of interviews with cast members, as well as a pair of best-of compilations and performances previously unseen on television. (B+)
9 Dead Gay Guys (TLA Releasing/Park Entertainment/Little Wing): Byron (Brendan Mackey), a self-professed ‘lazy bastard in the best of times’ is a young Irishman living on the dole in London. He is joined by best mate Kenny (Glen Mulhern), who pays a visit from Ireland, looking for the gold-paved London streets that Byron had once mentioned. What straight Byron failed to mention to questioning Kenny is that he earned most of his income through his fellatio skills. Ultimately, the year that Kenny went down to London also came to be known as ‘the year of nine dead gay guys,’ and this dark, distasteful, but somewhat entertaining British Guy Ritchie-like comedy could easily be renamed Cock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, fills us in on the details. Hints of anti-Semitic, anti-dwarf, anti-East Indian and anti-lesbian/gay humor eventually dissipate when writer/ director Lab Ky Mo delivers his moral about people actually having sex for pleasure (what a concept). Controversial, but comical, 9 Dead Gay Guys is a lively, if irreverent, little flick. For a somewhat more graphic depiction of violence and a much higher body count, don’t forget to check out Quentin Tarantino’s amazing Kill Bill, Volume 1 (Miramax), starring Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen and others. (C+)