Reel life: 'Cannibal Holocaust,' 'Shining' get screenings
<b>Film critics notebook:</b>
The special effects depicting violence in 1980's "Cannibal Holocaust" proved to be so realistic that director Ruggero Deodato was arrested on charges that he killed his cast to make a "snuff movie." Now, you can see a reportedly restored and uncensored version of the original movie at midnight screenings Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9 and 10, at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago.
"Cannibal Holocaust" not only ranks as one of the most banned and censored movies in history, it's one of the first "found footage" movies ever made. ("The Blair Witch Project" co-director Daniel Myrick told me that he had never seen "Cannibal Holocaust" before launching the current fascination with the "found footage" genre.)
Go to musicboxtheatre.com.
The After Hours Film Society presents "Calvary," John Michael McDonagh's critically lauded drama about a virtuous priest (Brendan Gleeson), told by an unknown parishioner that he has been targeted for assassination. A strong contender for Oscar nominees for best actor, maybe film. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Admission $10 ($6 for AHFS members). Go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com.
It's not Halloween, but the Chicago Film Critics Association will sponsor a special screening of Stanley Kubrick's controversial and classic horror tale "The Shining," adapted from Stephen King's best-seller, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Elk Grove Theatre, 1050 Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village. CFCA member Dominick Suzanne-Mayer hosts the event. Go to chicagofilmcritics.org or classiccinemas.com. Admission $5.
The Schaumburg Library edition of Dann & Raymond's Movie Club - usually presented the first Thursday of the month - has been bumped to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, when we will present "The Films of Alfred Hitchcock." Clips from the best of the master of suspense, including "Psycho," "Rear Window," "Vertigo," "The Birds," plus his early works in Great Britain. Free admission. Go to stdl.org.
<i> Dann Gire's Reel Life column runs Fridays in Time out!</i>