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Can you guess a movie's 'mystery' villain? Here's how

Can you guess the 'secret' bad guy? Sure!

We live in an entertainment age when cutting-edge television network series such as “Game of Thrones” and “Westworld” constantly surprise us - even shock us - with clever and unpredictable twists and turns.

Meanwhile, theatrical movies continue to rely on three overused and highly outdated narrative devices that telegraph their “surprises” to smart and savvy audiences.

1. When you watch well-known actors spout a few lines of dialogue in seemingly innocuous supporting roles, then disappear, just wait. They will return in time to be revealed as the mystery killer or secret criminal mastermind behind whatever villainous plot has been hatched. (Remember Ewan McGregor in “Angels and Demons”?)

2. The mystery killer or secret criminal mastermind in any thriller will turn out to be the hero's confidante, such as the mentor (Max Von Sydow in “Minority Report”), co-worker (Tony Goldwyn in “Ghost”), sibling (Tom Sizemore in “Strange Days”) or guardian (Ben Kingsley in “Prince of Persia: Sands of Time”).

Who does the hero trust most? The villain!

3. If you don't actually see the corpse of a character who just fell off a cliff, got shot or can be presumed dead for any reason, just wait. That character will return later at a pivotal moment to everyone's “surprise.” (Remember Harrison Ford in “The Fugitive”?)

A few current movies use these moldy narrative devices. I'm not revealing titles, but you can. Send me an email at dgire@dailyherald.com and tell me where you've seen these “surprises.”

He's just one of the many canine stars to be seen in the second annual New York Dog Film Festival playing this weekend at Chicago's Music Box Theatre.

Canines embark on second film festival

The second annual New York Dog Film Festival comes to Chicago on Sunday, June 4, at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport St., with two separate canine programs.

The Dog Film Festival: Outdoor Adventure with Dogs begins at noon, Sunday, June 4. The Dog Film Festival: Who Rescued Whom? follows at 2 p.m.

Both programs benefit One Tail at a Time, a no-kill all-breed dog rescue shelter. musicboxtheatre.com.

An offer you can't refuse, even if you tried

See Marlon Brando as "The Godfather" on the big screen either Sunday, June 4, or Wednesday, June 8.

“The Godfather,” one of the greatest movies of the 20th century, returns to the silver screen at both 2 and 7 p.m. on both Sunday, June 4, and Wednesday, June 8, at more than 700 theaters nationwide, including the Century Stratford Mall in Bloomingdale, the Addison 21 and the Century 16 Deer Park. Go to fathomevents.com/events/the-godfather.

<i> Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire's column runs Friday in Time out!</i>

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