The best $25 you can spend on movies this weekend
Sneak peek fundraiser
CNGM Pictures, a group of independent filmmakers made up of graduates from Palatine's Fremd High School, are pulling out the proverbial sprocket holes for its 2010 Sneak Peek Fundraiser, 7 p.m. Saturday at the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine.
Tickets cost $25 and include appetizers, beer and wine. Call the Cutting Hall Box Office (847) 202-5222 or go to palatineparks.org.
What do you get for $25?
1. Previews of CNGM movies now on the festival circuit or in production. These include "Two Days in February" (in postproduction), "Off Loop: Hitting the Wall" (a short prequel to CNGM's "Off Loop"), and the to-be-released "Coasting."
2. Performance Award winners. CNGM voters will select a Best Actor, Best Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress and Best Original Music from its own works.
3. Live performances by three emerging Midwest musicians: Dennis Florine of Palatine, Chris Petlak of Mount Prospect and Josh Rosen of Chicago.
4. Comedy from the Chicago-based improv group, Octavarius.
5. A raffle and silent auction.
Artistic Director Michael P. Noens, a Palatine native, said of the not-for-profit organization, "Our films have continued to grow, working with new, talented artists and pushing to keep up with the most state-of-the-art filmmaking tools."
CNGM has partnered on projects with Theatre Nebula of Palatine, along with Nothing Special Productions of Elgin. CNGM also supports Chicago's Midwest Independent Film Festival, and is a member of Independent Film Producers of Chicago.
So, that's a lot for $25.
Reel Life review: 'Young Victoria'
If you go to see Jean-Marc Vallee's quietly modulated historical drama "The Young Victoria," notice how Hagen Bogdanski's camera lens oh-so-subtlely suggests that the young English queen (played with fiery charm by Emily Blunt) is the dominant character of her time.
Take the last shot of Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert (Rupert Friend). She is sharply in focus. He is slightly out-of-focus, because Prince Albert has learned to accept the reality that his wife is the ruler, and that he is her partner and assistant.
"The Young Victoria" also stars Paul Bettany as the smooth and politically motivated Lord Melbourne, who, for a while at least, poses a challenge to Albert for young Victoria's affections. A hilariously acidic Jim Broadbent plays the harsh and impulsive King William.
The ending credits reveal that Victoria was the longest-reigning monarch in British history, and her story, told here in a thoughtfully sharp screenplay from actor/writer/producer Julian "Gosford Park" Fellowes, whisks her through political minefields and tricky romantic entanglements, all exquisitely captured by Bogdanski's eye-catching Super-35 widescreen camerawork.
"The Young Victoria" opens today at the River East 21, Century Centre and Showplace Icon 16 in Chicago, and the Evanston CineArts 6. It opens wide to South Barrington 30, Addison Cinemas 21, Lincolnshire 20 and Cantera 30 in Warrenville on Dec. 25. Rated PG. 100 minutes.
It's singalong time!
Chicago's Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, celebrates its 26th annual Christmas Show with Michael Curtiz's 1954 classic "White Christmas" double-billed with Frank Capra's 1946 classic "It's a Wonderful Life," separated by a holiday singalong led by Santa Claus himself. Tickets cost $11 (one movie), $16 (double-bill).
The Christmas Show runs Friday through Sunday, then again Dec. 23 and 24. Call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com. Go to musicboxtheatre.com for details.