McCarthy to be hailed as Comedic Genius at MTV Movie Awards
Film critics notebook:
• Plainfield native Melissa McCarthy will receive the Comedic Genius Award at the MTV Movie Awards, starting at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, from the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank, California.
The comedian, actress, writer and producer will be cited for her “bold and fearless” comic style in such films as “Spy,” “Bridesmaids,” “St. Vincent” and the TV series “Mike and Molly.” She stars in “Ghostbusters” in July.
The awards show will be hosted by Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. Go to mtv.com/ontv/movieawards.
• East Aurora High School graduate Earl Halbe was surprised to get a phone call last weekend from Willis Johnson, one of the owners of the Classic Cinemas movie theater chain in the Northwest suburbs.
Johnson read in Reel Life that Halbe was spearheading a campaign to save the foreclosed Will Rogers Theatre in downstate Charleston from the wrecking ball.
Halbe was flabbergasted when Johnson offered his support and advice, having already restored numerous vintage movie houses such as the Tivoli in Downers Grove, the Woodstock, the York in Elmhurst and the Lake in Oak Park.
Johnson also pledged $1,000 to the ILoveTheWill.com campaign. I called him up to ask why.
“It's a wonderful theater,” Johnson said of the Will Rogers. “Shirley (his wife) and I looked at it last year, thinking we might buy it and restore it as a commercial movie theater.”
But Johnson decided it was too far away.
“The important thing is that the Will Rogers is saved,” he said. “I'm really excited for it.”
Spoken like a dedicated member of the Theatre Historical Society of America. historictheatres.org.
• The After Hours Film Society presents the Oscar-nominated animated feature “Anomalisa” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Codirected by Charlie Kaufman, the drama is created by the painstaking process of stop-motion animation. Go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com.
• In 1979, I proclaimed Dustin Hoffman to be the No. 1 working actor in Hollywood. At 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, we'll explore why when Dann & Raymond's Movie Club presents “Hollywood's Favorite Graduate: The Films of Dustin Hoffman,” at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. ahml.info.
Free admission! Clips from such classics as “Midnight Cowboy,” “The Graduate,” “Kramer vs. Kramer,” “Little Big Man” and 10 others.
• Buy a drink at the Wheaton Studio Movie Grill and support National Autism Awareness Month. In April, Studio Movie Grill theaters (except Chatham) will donate $2 to the Autism Speaks campaign for each Blue Puzzler Margarita purchased, and will donate $1 for each children's Reel Blue Refresher purchased (with complimentary glow stick). studiomoviegrill.com.