Alliance Francaise Chicago
54 W. Chicago Ave.
312-337-1070
af-chicago.org
“Theatre de la Mode” (France; Stanley Garfinkel, Thomas Ball and Charles Duval, 1991) A fashion show, displayed on miniature mannequins, traveled Europe and the United States at the end of World War II to raise funds for war relief and remind people about Paris’ role as a fashion capital. 6:30 p.m. Monday
Block Cinema
Northwestern University
40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
847-491-4000
blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/block-cinema/
*”Sister” (France/Switzerland; Ursula Meier, 2012) A boy supports himself and his sister by stealing from the wealthy guests at a ski lodge near their home. 7 p.m. Friday
Cinemark
Century 16 Deer Park; Century 12 Evanston/CineArts 6 & XD; Cinemark @ Louis Joliet Mall;
Cinemark @ Seven Bridges and IMAX, Woodridge; North Aurora, Cinemark Tinseltown USA
cinemark.com/cinemark-classic-series
“The Great Escape” ???? (U.S.; John Sturges, 1963) Mass escape from a World War II German POW camp; based on fact. Rousing, stirring — with a great cast: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, James Coburn. McQueen’s performance as “Cooler King” Hilts is undoubtedly his most archetypal. Written by James Clavell and W.R. Burnett; directed by John Sturges. 2, 7 p.m. Wednesday
Doc Films
University of Chicago
Ida Noyes Hall
1212 E. 59th St.
773-702-8575
docfilms.uchicago.edu
“Prometheus” ??? (U.S./UK; Ridley Scott, 2012) This is Scott’s first straight-up science fiction outing since “Blade Runner” in 1982, three years after he became a Hollywood force with the success of “Alien.” The new film does not, in fact, require any firsthand knowledge of the thing that burst out of John Hurt’s chest 33 years ago. Yet there is no doubt that “Prometheus,” set about a hundred years from now and starring Noomi Rapace (“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”) as an archaeologist leading a space mission to capital-T Trouble, is an “Alien”-derived life form. 7, 9:15 p.m. Saturday
Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
2828 N. Clark St.
773-509-4949
landmarktheatres.com
“Jurassic Park” ??? (U.S.; Steven Spielberg, 1993) The formula isn’t drastically different from that of a “Friday the 13th” picture, but the dinosaur effects are stunning. Midnight Friday, Saturday
Logan Theatre
2646 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-342-5555
thelogantheatre.com
“Rear Window” ???? (U.S.; Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) “Rear Window” is built around the themes of confinement, voyeurism and mounting suspicion. James Stewart as Jeff, a photographer with a broken leg, is trapped in a wheelchair in his apartment, where, for entertainment, he spies with binoculars on his neighbors across the courtyard, through open rear windows in a sweltering New York summer. Gradually, he comes to believe a murder has been committed across the way by a salesman named Thorwald (Raymond Burr). In “Rear Window,” perhaps more perfectly than in other movies, Hitchcock balances the essential ingredients of his work: humor, romance and terror. 11:30 p.m. Friday
The Music Box Theatre
3733 N. Southport Ave.
773-871-6604
musicboxtheatre.com
“Dune” ? (U.S.; David Lynch, 1984) There’s a young hero named Paul (Kyle MacLachlan), and a couple of bad guys are trying to do him in before he can fulfill his messianic mission. Beyond that most basic level, everything else in “Dune” is a mystery. Midnight Friday
Singalong “Xanadu” ?? (U.S.; Robert Greenwald, 1980) More ridiculously naive than awful, “Xanadu” stars Olivia Newton-John as Kira, one of Zeus’ nine daughters, the goddess of song and dance. She takes to roller skates to inspire a struggling artist played by Michael Beck. Midnight Saturday
Northbrook Public Library
1201 Cedar Lane
847-272-6224
northbrook.info/events/film
“Hunt for Red October” ???1/2 (U.S.: John McTiernan, 1990) Sean Connery plays the Russian captain who wants to defect to the United States with the sub. Alec Baldwin, heretofore a supporting player, steals the film from Connery and from the sub as the CIA analyst who realizes what Connery is doing. The Russians, of course, would like to hang on to the ship. 1p.m. Wednesday
Northwest Chicago Film Society
Portage Theater
4050 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-850-0141
northwestchicagofilmsociety.org
*”Thanks a Million” (U.S.; Roy Del Ruth, 1935) Show business and politics mix in this film starring Dick Powell and Ann Dvorak. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
*indicates a film not reviewed by the Chicago Tribune, but of interest.
