Reel life: Catch special movie screenings in the suburbs
<b>Film critics notebook</b>
● The After Hours Film Society presents "Finding Vivian Maier" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 23, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. This doc, from John Maloof and Charlie Siskel, examines how a nanny shot 100,000 photographs of her world, and they were never seen until after her death, when Maloof purchased them at an auction. Admission is $9. Not rated. 84 minutes. Go to afterhoursfilm society.com.
● The Chicago Film Critics Association presents a special screening of Ricky Gervais' underrated 2009 comedy "The Invention of Lying" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, at the Studio Movie Grill, 301 Rice Lake Square, Wheaton. The film, starring Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill and others, will be hosted by CFCA board of directors member Erik Childress, an Elk Grove Village resident. Admission is $2. Go to chicagofilmcritics.org or studiomoviegrill.com.
● Heads up, film fans with strong stomachs. The 35th anniversary of Ridley Scott's classic science-fiction horror tale "Alien" will be celebrated with a midnight showing of a digitally remastered print on Friday, June 27, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Admission is $5. Buy tickets at the theater or classic cinemas.com. See it just for the iconic creature creations by Swiss artist H.R. Giger, who died in May at 74.
● Chicago's first Jewish Film Festival continues through June 29 at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago and Evanston's Century 18 Theater. For schedules and tickets, go to chicagojewishfilm.org.
<b>'Jersey' high jinks, Part 1</b>
The clumsy ending scene in Clint Eastwood's new musical "Jersey Boys" shows the Four Seasons singers addressing the camera as old men with poorly applied aging makeup. Each comments briefly on his life and career.
The scene uncannily resembles the awkward closing moments from Barry Manilow's new musical "Harmony," based on Europe's real-life Comedy Harmonists group from the 1920s and 1930s.
Manilow's long-gestating show, written by Bruce Sussman, is awaiting a shot on Broadway after workshop productions in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Given that the "Jersey Boys" stage show and movie have virtually hijacked the "Harmony" finale, will Manilow and Sussman be pressured to change it?
<b>'Jersey' high jinks, Part 2</b>
"Jersey Boys" gets a shout-out in Tim Story's comedy sequel "Think Like a Man Too," opening this weekend. As the guys debate on where to take groom-to-be Michael for his Las Vegas bachelor party night - strip club? casino? - their none-too-bright token white sidekick Bennett (Gary Owen) exclaims, "Let's go see 'Jersey Boys'! It won eight Tonys!"
He's half right. "Jersey Boys" won four Tonys: best musical, leading actor, featured actor and lighting.
<i> Dann Gire's Reel Life column runs Fridays in Time out! Follow Dann on Twitter at @DannGireDHFilm.</i>