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White Sox hit five homers against Guardians’ rookie starter

CLEVELAND — The White Sox pounded five home runs in the first five innings Thursday, all of them against Guardians rookie right-hander Hunter Gaddis, and opened up a big lead in their important one-game stop in Cleveland.

The five homers against one pitcher tied a Cleveland record, most recently set against Luis Tiant against Boston in 1969.

Gavin Sheets, Andrew Vaughn, Yoan Moncada, Yasmani Grandal and Elvis Andrus went deep for the Sox (73-70), who entered the game trailing first-place Cleveland (76-65) by four games in the AL Central with 19 to play. The Sox have hit 28 home runs in their last 16 games.

Sheets hit hit a two-run homer in the second inning, Vaughn homered after Sheets with his team-high 16th, Moncada homered in the third, Grandal in the fourth and Andrus in the fifth.

The Sox’ record for homers in a game is seven.

The Sox are four games behind the Guardians in the loss column and have three games left against them next week at Guaranteed Rate Field. One victory against the Sox clinches the season series and tiebreaker for Cleveland.

Lance Lynn pitched 61/3 innings of two-run ball for Sox, who led the Guardians 7-2 after the seventh. Lynn struck out six, walked one, allowed six hits and lowered his ERA to 3.99.

Lynn owns a 1.43 ERA in his last seven starts.

He was replaced by Aaron Bummer.

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Jordan ‘Last Dance’ jersey sells for record $10.1Mon September 15, 2022 at 8:42 pm

A jersey worn by Michael Jordan in Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals — part of the hallowed “Last Dance” season for Jordan that culminated with the Chicago Bulls reigning victorious over the Utah Jazz — has sold for $10.091 million with auction house Sotheby’s.

It is the most ever paid for an item of sports memorabilia, surpassing the $9.28 million paid in May for late soccer legend Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” jersey from the 1986 World Cup.

The “Last Dance” jersey marked Jordan’s sixth and final NBA championship — and his record sixth NBA Finals MVP award — before he retired for the second time.

It is only the second Jordan jersey from the NBA Finals to ever appear at auction, according to Sotheby’s. The previous record for any Jordan item was a 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey patch card, with an on-card autograph, which sold for $2.7 million in October 2021.

Before the Maradona uniform, the most ever paid for a match/game-worn jersey was $5.64 million in 2019 for a Babe Ruth jersey, worn circa 1918-1920.

It has been quite a month at auction for sports items. In late August, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card sold for $12.6 million, the most ever paid for a sports card and the first sports collectible to break the $10 million threshold.

The “Last Dance” jersey, for the time being, is the only other eight-figure sports collectible. The original predicted sale price was from $3 million to $5 million.

“The season itself is his ‘magnum opus’ as an athlete, and a testament to him as a champion and competitor,” Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectables, said in a statement. “Finals jerseys from Jordan are remarkably scant and the [1998] Finals are arguably the most coveted of them all.”

The previous record for any NBA jersey was $3.69 million, paid in May 2021 for one worn by Kobe Bryant during his 1996-97 rookie season.

“In the weeks since we announced the auction, there’s been palpable excitement from not only sports fans, but collectors alike who are eager to own a rarified piece of history,” Wachter said in a statement following the sale. “[The] record-breaking result, with an astounding 20 bids, solidifies Michael Jordan as the undisputed GOAT, proving his name and incomparable legacy is just as relevant as it was nearly 25 years ago.”

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JOBS

Caregiver Responsibilities:Assisting with personal care, Following a prescribed healthcare plan, Ensuring my Mother home is organized according to her needs. Providing mobility assistance may be required, for example helping my Mother with her motorized wheelchair, appointments, grocery. Meal and watch over. Work Schedule is 5 days a week and 5 hours per day. Salary is $26/hr. Contact by email Daniel ([email protected]) for more details.

BT Tech Consulting Manager – (Chicago, IL) RSM US LLP: Dirct creation of tax rel docs incl reqs, user stories, acceptance criteria, feature description PowerPoint decks, user guides, process flows, wireframes & newsletters. May work remote from anywhere in US. Reqs: Bachelor’s or (or frgn equivt) in Acctg, Info Syst or rel; 5 yrs as a Tax Senior, Systems Developer or a rel pos. Email res: Attn: C Volkening – Ref # 2542, [email protected]

Sr Director, Info Tech – (Chicago, IL) for Matrix Sciences Int’l: Leads & Provides guidance by forming Analytics Team w/ing IT Org to design Enterprise-wide Business Intelligence & Data Anlytcs Platform. Reqs: Master’s * (or for equiv) in Info Tech, Comp Sci or a rel’d field; 3 yrs as Dir/Mgr of Info Tech, IT Anlyst or rel’d. *Will accept Bach + 5 yrs exp in lieu of Master’s + 3 yrs exp, incl exp listed above. Email resumes to: Attn: Matrix HR, Ref 1001 [email protected]

Medline Industries, LP in Northfield, IL is seek’g: A) IS Business Analyst Associates to dvlp & maint’n enterprz & dept’mntl biz intelligence, data warehs’g, & report’g solut’ns. No trvl; no telecomm. Apply at: https://medline.taleo.net/careersection/md_confidential/jobapply.ftl?lang=en&job=INF0100OI B) Sr. Software Tester(s)/Quality Analyst(s) to be respon’ble for QA test case dvlpmnt & execut’n to ensure biz rqmnts are met & quality stndrds are upheld. No trvl; WFH bnft. Apply at: https://medline.taleo.net/careersection/md_confidential/jobapply.ftl?lang=en&job=INF0100OK

Computer Programmer,Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic; Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced; Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements; Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment; Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes; Compile and write documentation of program development and subsequent revisions, inserting comments in the coded instructions so others can understand the program; Coordinate and review work and activities of programming personnel; Develop Web sites. Mail résumé to Amgaabaatar Purevjal, iCodice LLC, 5005 Newport Dr, Suite# 505, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Vistria Group (Chicago, IL) seeks Associate to perform due diligence/financial modeling & valuation of privately held & public companies & research regarding sectors & investment themes. Occ. travel w/in U.S. Submit resumes to [email protected], Job ID: 202208

Northwestern University seeks Assistant Professor of Accounting Information for Evanston, IL. PhD or ABD in Accounting/Finance/Economics/related field req’d. Req’d: High-quality research & teaching record & strong recommendations. Applications should include vita, job market paper, & the names of at least 3 recommenders. Send application to: M.J. Herth, Ref: GR, 2211 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208

DePaul University seeks Professional Lecturers for Chicago, IL location to teach courses to grad & undergrad students in the College of Computing & Digital Media. PhD or ABD in Data Sci/Comp Sci/Modeling & Simulation/related field req’d. Req’s: submit a cover letter, CV, teaching statement, & research statement. Send resume to: L. Perkovic, 1 East Jackson, Chicago, IL 60604

PROFESSIONALS & SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICES CHESTNUT ORGANIZING AND CLEANING SERVICES: especially for people who need an organizing service because of depression, elderly, physical or mental challenges or other causes for your home’s clutter, disorganization, dysfunction, etc. We can organize for the downsizing of your current possessions to more easily move into a smaller home. With your help, we can help to organize your move. We can organize and clean for the deceased in lieu of having the bereaved needing to do the preparation to sell or rent the deceased’s home. We are absolutely not judgmental; we’ve seen and done “worse” than your job assignment. With your help, can we please help you? Chestnut Cleaning Service: 312-332-5575. www.ChestnutCleaning.com

RESEARCH

Have you had an unwanted sexual experience since age 18?Did you tell someone in your life about it who is also willing to participate? Women ages 18+ who have someone else in their life they told about their experience also willing to participate will be paid to complete a confidential online research survey for the Women’s Dyadic Support Study. Contact Dr. Sarah Ullman of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Criminology, Law, & Justice Department at [email protected], 312-996-5508. Protocol #2021-0019.

ADULT SERVICES

Danielle’s Lip Service, Erotic Phone Chat. 24/7. Must be 21+. Credit/Debit Cards Accepted. All Fetishes and Fantasies Are Welcomed. Personal, Private and Discrete. 773-935-4995

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A fall full of film

It’s almost autumn, which means it’s time to put on our sweaters, light up our pumpkin spice-scented candles, and watch Hocus Pocus on DVD for the thousandth time. Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, check out what the Chicago film scene has to offer this fall. From horror movie fests and indie short films to the best in queer and international cinema, you’re guaranteed to find something new to watch this season. And with even more film event lineups—like the Black Harvest International Film Festival and the 34th Annual Polish Film Festival—yet to be announced, this fall is shaping up to be a wildly entertaining one. 

The work of Tsai Ming-liang at the Gene Siskel Film Center

Through October 3 

The Gene Siskel Film Center at SAIC is spotlighting the work of trailblazing Taiwan-based filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang this fall. Known for his long shots and artistic cinematography, Ming-liang’s work explores social disconnect and urban alienation in a truly unique and sometimes unsettling way. Visit the Gene Siskel Film Center for screenings of his films Stray Dogs and Days. An in-person lecture and Q&A with the director himself wraps up the series on October 3. siskelfilmcenter.org/tsai

Cinema/Chicago Presents My Father Marianne

September 21 

Visit Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center to catch the tail end of Cinema/Chicago’s free summer programming. In the final event of the season, watch director Mårten Klingberg artfully translate Ester Roxberg’s 2014 autobiographical novel to the screen. My Father Marianne (Min pappa Marianne in its original Swedish) follows twentysomething Hanna as she moves back in with her parents and learns that her father, a respected priest, is transgender. chicagofilmfestival.com/film/my-father-marianne

Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival

September 22 to October 6 

Did you know? The Reader is nonprofit. The Reader is member supported. You can help keep the Reader free for everyone—and get exclusive rewards—when you become a member. The Reader Revolution membership program is a sustainable way for you to support local, independent media.

The 40th annual Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival is here! This event showcases a diverse range of new queer cinema, from mainstream movies like Bros (dir. Nicholas Stoller) to unique intersectional narratives. Two Eyes (dir. Travis Fine) is a cinematic triptych exploring multiracial genderqueer identity over three generations; and Manscaping (dir. Broderick Fox), copresented by Brave Space Alliance, follows the owners of three unconventional queer barbershops who challenge what it means to be a man. With over 50 groundbreaking films, this is a can’t-miss event for LGBTQ+ cinephiles. In-person and streaming passes are available now. reelingfilmfest.org

Chicago Horror Film Festival

September 24 and 25 

Get in the spirit of spooky season with the 23rd annual Chicago Horror Film Festival. Showing at Cinema Chatham, this weekend event features indie shorts and full-length films that span the breadth of the horror genre—from classic slashers and psychological thrillers to sci-fi stories and convention-breaking spoofs, there’s something for everyone. The fest also features vendors, after-hours events, free snacks, and more. chicagohorrorfest.com

Chicagoland Shorts Volume 8

September 29 

Hosted by The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern, the latest collection of Full Spectrum Features’s Chicagoland Shorts explores the experience of the outsider who yearns for connection. Featured short films include Warren? (dir. Juan C. Linares), considering the identity and experiences of a white-passing Latino; Silver Lining (dir. Yanyi Xie), a documentary about a Chicago drag artist coping with COVID-19 quarantine; and First Week Out, which chronicles a man’s first week of freedom after 42 years behind bars. This event is free and open to the public. www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu

Screening of The African Desperate

September 30

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents SAIC alum Martine Syms’s debut feature-length film, The African Desperate. The story follows a day in the life of Palace, a recent MFA graduate who hopes to escape microaggressive white academia by returning home to 

Chicago. The African Desperate promises to be a fast-paced, darkly funny, scathing exploration of white liberalism, creative spaces, and complex interpersonal relationships. siskelfilmcenter.org/african-desperate

Various Artists independent Film Festival

October 7 and 8

The sixth annual Various Artists independent Film Festival (VAiFF) is a yearlong indie film competition culminating in two days full of screenings, awards, symposiums, and live music and dance. Come for genre-defining and -defying features and shorts, stay for the live jazz and for talks with guest artist Carl Jones (The Boondocks, Black Dynamite). Virtual and in-person passes are on sale now. vaiff.com

The 58th Chicago International Film Festival

October 12 to 23

Now in its 58th year, the Chicago International Film Festival showcases the best in international cinema, along with Q&As, discussions, panels, networking events for aspiring filmmakers, and more. While the full lineup has yet to be announced, early bird tickets are on sale now. This event promises to be eye-opening for moviegoers, industry professionals, and everyone in between. chicagofilmfestival.com/festival/

Screening of Andy Warhol’s Batman Dracula

November 3

Moviegoers who want a more artsy (read: campy and queer) horror experience this Halloween season are encouraged to visit the Gene Siskel Film Center for their screening of Andy Warhol’s ambitious and unfinished Batman Dracula. With elaborate sets and staging, intersecting storylines, and a main character who is, yes, both Batman and Dracula, this is the spooky camp classic you’ve been waiting for. siskelfilmcenter.org/andy-warhols-batman-dracula

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MatchesChicago Readeron September 15, 2022 at 3:00 pm

Did you know? The Reader is nonprofit. The Reader is member supported. You can help keep the Reader free for everyone—and get exclusive rewards—when you become a member. The Reader Revolution membership program is a sustainable way for you to support local, independent media.

MJM DOM 52 SEEKS SUB JEWISH FEMALE MJM DOM 52 seeks submissive mature jewish female who needs on going pleasure and punishment bondage bare bottom spanking hair pulling and will train and seeking discreet LTR I can host call/text-224-292-9899 em: [email protected]

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ClassifiedsChicago Readeron September 15, 2022 at 3:00 pm

JOBS

Caregiver Responsibilities:Assisting with personal care, Following a prescribed healthcare plan, Ensuring my Mother home is organized according to her needs. Providing mobility assistance may be required, for example helping my Mother with her motorized wheelchair, appointments, grocery. Meal and watch over. Work Schedule is 5 days a week and 5 hours per day. Salary is $26/hr. Contact by email Daniel ([email protected]) for more details.

BT Tech Consulting Manager – (Chicago, IL) RSM US LLP: Dirct creation of tax rel docs incl reqs, user stories, acceptance criteria, feature description PowerPoint decks, user guides, process flows, wireframes & newsletters. May work remote from anywhere in US. Reqs: Bachelor’s or (or frgn equivt) in Acctg, Info Syst or rel; 5 yrs as a Tax Senior, Systems Developer or a rel pos. Email res: Attn: C Volkening – Ref # 2542, [email protected]

Sr Director, Info Tech – (Chicago, IL) for Matrix Sciences Int’l: Leads & Provides guidance by forming Analytics Team w/ing IT Org to design Enterprise-wide Business Intelligence & Data Anlytcs Platform. Reqs: Master’s * (or for equiv) in Info Tech, Comp Sci or a rel’d field; 3 yrs as Dir/Mgr of Info Tech, IT Anlyst or rel’d. *Will accept Bach + 5 yrs exp in lieu of Master’s + 3 yrs exp, incl exp listed above. Email resumes to: Attn: Matrix HR, Ref 1001 [email protected]

Medline Industries, LP in Northfield, IL is seek’g: A) IS Business Analyst Associates to dvlp & maint’n enterprz & dept’mntl biz intelligence, data warehs’g, & report’g solut’ns. No trvl; no telecomm. Apply at: https://medline.taleo.net/careersection/md_confidential/jobapply.ftl?lang=en&job=INF0100OI B) Sr. Software Tester(s)/Quality Analyst(s) to be respon’ble for QA test case dvlpmnt & execut’n to ensure biz rqmnts are met & quality stndrds are upheld. No trvl; WFH bnft. Apply at: https://medline.taleo.net/careersection/md_confidential/jobapply.ftl?lang=en&job=INF0100OK

Computer Programmer,Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic; Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced; Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements; Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment; Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes; Compile and write documentation of program development and subsequent revisions, inserting comments in the coded instructions so others can understand the program; Coordinate and review work and activities of programming personnel; Develop Web sites. Mail résumé to Amgaabaatar Purevjal, iCodice LLC, 5005 Newport Dr, Suite# 505, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Vistria Group (Chicago, IL) seeks Associate to perform due diligence/financial modeling & valuation of privately held & public companies & research regarding sectors & investment themes. Occ. travel w/in U.S. Submit resumes to [email protected], Job ID: 202208

Northwestern University seeks Assistant Professor of Accounting Information for Evanston, IL. PhD or ABD in Accounting/Finance/Economics/related field req’d. Req’d: High-quality research & teaching record & strong recommendations. Applications should include vita, job market paper, & the names of at least 3 recommenders. Send application to: M.J. Herth, Ref: GR, 2211 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208

DePaul University seeks Professional Lecturers for Chicago, IL location to teach courses to grad & undergrad students in the College of Computing & Digital Media. PhD or ABD in Data Sci/Comp Sci/Modeling & Simulation/related field req’d. Req’s: submit a cover letter, CV, teaching statement, & research statement. Send resume to: L. Perkovic, 1 East Jackson, Chicago, IL 60604

PROFESSIONALS & SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICES CHESTNUT ORGANIZING AND CLEANING SERVICES: especially for people who need an organizing service because of depression, elderly, physical or mental challenges or other causes for your home’s clutter, disorganization, dysfunction, etc. We can organize for the downsizing of your current possessions to more easily move into a smaller home. With your help, we can help to organize your move. We can organize and clean for the deceased in lieu of having the bereaved needing to do the preparation to sell or rent the deceased’s home. We are absolutely not judgmental; we’ve seen and done “worse” than your job assignment. With your help, can we please help you? Chestnut Cleaning Service: 312-332-5575. www.ChestnutCleaning.com

RESEARCH

Have you had an unwanted sexual experience since age 18?Did you tell someone in your life about it who is also willing to participate? Women ages 18+ who have someone else in their life they told about their experience also willing to participate will be paid to complete a confidential online research survey for the Women’s Dyadic Support Study. Contact Dr. Sarah Ullman of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Criminology, Law, & Justice Department at [email protected], 312-996-5508. Protocol #2021-0019.

ADULT SERVICES

Danielle’s Lip Service, Erotic Phone Chat. 24/7. Must be 21+. Credit/Debit Cards Accepted. All Fetishes and Fantasies Are Welcomed. Personal, Private and Discrete. 773-935-4995

Want to add a listing to our classifieds?

See classified advertising information at chicagoreader.com/ads.

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ClassifiedsChicago Readeron September 15, 2022 at 3:00 pm Read More »

A fall full of filmBrooks Eisenbiseon September 15, 2022 at 6:45 pm

It’s almost autumn, which means it’s time to put on our sweaters, light up our pumpkin spice-scented candles, and watch Hocus Pocus on DVD for the thousandth time. Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, check out what the Chicago film scene has to offer this fall. From horror movie fests and indie short films to the best in queer and international cinema, you’re guaranteed to find something new to watch this season. And with even more film event lineups—like the Black Harvest International Film Festival and the 34th Annual Polish Film Festival—yet to be announced, this fall is shaping up to be a wildly entertaining one. 

The work of Tsai Ming-liang at the Gene Siskel Film Center

Through October 3 

The Gene Siskel Film Center at SAIC is spotlighting the work of trailblazing Taiwan-based filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang this fall. Known for his long shots and artistic cinematography, Ming-liang’s work explores social disconnect and urban alienation in a truly unique and sometimes unsettling way. Visit the Gene Siskel Film Center for screenings of his films Stray Dogs and Days. An in-person lecture and Q&A with the director himself wraps up the series on October 3. siskelfilmcenter.org/tsai

Cinema/Chicago Presents My Father Marianne

September 21 

Visit Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center to catch the tail end of Cinema/Chicago’s free summer programming. In the final event of the season, watch director Mårten Klingberg artfully translate Ester Roxberg’s 2014 autobiographical novel to the screen. My Father Marianne (Min pappa Marianne in its original Swedish) follows twentysomething Hanna as she moves back in with her parents and learns that her father, a respected priest, is transgender. chicagofilmfestival.com/film/my-father-marianne

Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival

September 22 to October 6 

Did you know? The Reader is nonprofit. The Reader is member supported. You can help keep the Reader free for everyone—and get exclusive rewards—when you become a member. The Reader Revolution membership program is a sustainable way for you to support local, independent media.

The 40th annual Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival is here! This event showcases a diverse range of new queer cinema, from mainstream movies like Bros (dir. Nicholas Stoller) to unique intersectional narratives. Two Eyes (dir. Travis Fine) is a cinematic triptych exploring multiracial genderqueer identity over three generations; and Manscaping (dir. Broderick Fox), copresented by Brave Space Alliance, follows the owners of three unconventional queer barbershops who challenge what it means to be a man. With over 50 groundbreaking films, this is a can’t-miss event for LGBTQ+ cinephiles. In-person and streaming passes are available now. reelingfilmfest.org

Chicago Horror Film Festival

September 24 and 25 

Get in the spirit of spooky season with the 23rd annual Chicago Horror Film Festival. Showing at Cinema Chatham, this weekend event features indie shorts and full-length films that span the breadth of the horror genre—from classic slashers and psychological thrillers to sci-fi stories and convention-breaking spoofs, there’s something for everyone. The fest also features vendors, after-hours events, free snacks, and more. chicagohorrorfest.com

Chicagoland Shorts Volume 8

September 29 

Hosted by The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern, the latest collection of Full Spectrum Features’s Chicagoland Shorts explores the experience of the outsider who yearns for connection. Featured short films include Warren? (dir. Juan C. Linares), considering the identity and experiences of a white-passing Latino; Silver Lining (dir. Yanyi Xie), a documentary about a Chicago drag artist coping with COVID-19 quarantine; and First Week Out, which chronicles a man’s first week of freedom after 42 years behind bars. This event is free and open to the public. www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu

Screening of The African Desperate

September 30

The Gene Siskel Film Center presents SAIC alum Martine Syms’s debut feature-length film, The African Desperate. The story follows a day in the life of Palace, a recent MFA graduate who hopes to escape microaggressive white academia by returning home to 

Chicago. The African Desperate promises to be a fast-paced, darkly funny, scathing exploration of white liberalism, creative spaces, and complex interpersonal relationships. siskelfilmcenter.org/african-desperate

Various Artists independent Film Festival

October 7 and 8

The sixth annual Various Artists independent Film Festival (VAiFF) is a yearlong indie film competition culminating in two days full of screenings, awards, symposiums, and live music and dance. Come for genre-defining and -defying features and shorts, stay for the live jazz and for talks with guest artist Carl Jones (The Boondocks, Black Dynamite). Virtual and in-person passes are on sale now. vaiff.com

The 58th Chicago International Film Festival

October 12 to 23

Now in its 58th year, the Chicago International Film Festival showcases the best in international cinema, along with Q&As, discussions, panels, networking events for aspiring filmmakers, and more. While the full lineup has yet to be announced, early bird tickets are on sale now. This event promises to be eye-opening for moviegoers, industry professionals, and everyone in between. chicagofilmfestival.com/festival/

Screening of Andy Warhol’s Batman Dracula

November 3

Moviegoers who want a more artsy (read: campy and queer) horror experience this Halloween season are encouraged to visit the Gene Siskel Film Center for their screening of Andy Warhol’s ambitious and unfinished Batman Dracula. With elaborate sets and staging, intersecting storylines, and a main character who is, yes, both Batman and Dracula, this is the spooky camp classic you’ve been waiting for. siskelfilmcenter.org/andy-warhols-batman-dracula

Read More

A fall full of filmBrooks Eisenbiseon September 15, 2022 at 6:45 pm Read More »

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ review: Fabulously screwball comedy is an oldie but very goodie at Court Theatre

As an art form, stage comedies tend to have shorter lives than dramas.

There are exceptions, of course.Shakespeare’s comedies have lasted just as well as his tragedies.But of course, that’s Shakespeare.Moliere similarly sits in a league of his own.And the American musical comedy — well, that really must be considered a separate art form altogether.

Comedy tends to be more socially specific than drama, with style, theme and content more likely to lose their comic bite or relevance, sometimes tilting from being edgy into being offensive. That also explains why film comedies don’t suffer the same tendency for obsolescence; they exist as a type of time capsule, unlike plays, which need to be re-embodied and made funny anew when produced for a contemporary audience.

All of this serves to point out the rarity of a play like “Arsenic and Old Lace,” a comedy by Joseph Kesselring that was a huge Broadway hit in the early ’40s, and that has managed to survive as a relative staple of the American stage repertoire.

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’

That survival might be partly explained by the popularity of the Frank Capra-directed movie version starring Cary Grant, which was filmed in 1941 but kept on the shelf until a few years later when the Broadway production closed.But there are plenty of other stage comedies that became films but didn’t continue to be produced.(A nod here has to be made to Michael Frayn’s farce “Noises Off,” another exception that proves the rule.)

So what is it about “Arsenic and Old Lace” that explains its longevity and appeal?

The current Court Theatre production is a darn good place to start.It’s a faithful and lovingly detailed production of the play, cast with a mostly African American ensemble that genuinely seems to be having a blast.

First off, it’s really funny.Maybe not often rolling in the aisles funny, but always funny pleasurable.Under Ron OJ Parson’s direction, the play moves as it needs to between a bit of realism, heavy doses of screwball goofiness, some outright farce — the physical humor here is particularly effective — and a good comic scare or two.

Mortimer (Eric Gerard, center) is determined to put an end to his aunts’ (played by Celeste Williams, left, and TayLar) murderous mayhem in “Arsenic and Old Lace” at Court Theatre.

Michael Brosilow

Most importantly, and almost certainly the essential ingredient of the play’s success, the central characters are genuinely likable company, the most appealingly sweet and well-meaning serial murderers ever written.Played here with wonderful comic timing and understated dryness by TayLar and Celeste Williams, Abby and Martha Brewster, respectively, are the epitome of generosity and kindness to their Brooklyn neighbors.They just love doing favors for everyone, and they consider it a particularly enjoyable favor to poison lonely old men, whom they are convinced are much happier dead than alive.

They’ve just completed an even dozen when comic chaos ensues as their nephew Mortimer (Eric Gerard in the Cary Grant role) discovers a body and sets out to both stop his aunts — not easy to do, they love killing old men so much — and to protect them from the police, who in this depiction embody the older cop stereotype (remember, comedy is social), well-intentioned but dumb and perennially hungry.

Add in Brewster brothers Teddy (Allen D. Edge), who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and prodigal sadistic killer Jonathan (AC Smith), whose tag-along plastic surgeon (Guy von Swearingen) has changed Jonathan’s face to match the Boris Karloff of “Frankenstein,” and you get a joyful mix of the macabre and the amusing.

I found Smith’s performance, so needily vulnerable and so menacing at the same time, and his hilariously brow-accentuating makeup (credited to Rebecca A. Scott designs), to be reliably the funniest elements on stage, which I don’t think is usually the case.And the design work here is really impeccable, particularly John Culbert’s set.You can admire the detail he’s put into it, such as the beautiful staircase railing, and then be surprised when Gerard’s Mortimer manages to use it to slide down in a hurry when he’s alarmed, as usual, at his aunts’ behavior.

There’s something deeper here if you care to analyze it.It’s certainly not coincidental that the Brewster aunts are named after the wives of our nation’s first two presidents.Kesselring definitely saw in them the innocent and smiling fa?ade of a darker American foundation.The casting of the Brewsters as an African American family manages, intriguingly, to both dampen that and emphasize it.

But most of all, the play and production both just work as comedy, the humorous dissonance of innocent delight and death proving to be perennial.I left thankful for the shenanigans.

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Aaron Rodgers had one wish for Chicago Bears during offseasonJordan Campbellon September 15, 2022 at 6:41 pm

The Chicago Bears will face a true litmus test on Sunday night as they are set to play the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 of the 2022 NFL Regular Season.

After the Chicago Bears’ surprising victory over the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday, the focus has shifted to the Green Bay Packers.

The upcoming Sunday night game between the two teams likely will be the first data sample that can be used for determining where exactly the Bears are as a team under first-year head coach Matt Eberflus.

The Bears’ victory over the 49ers should not be discredited but it can be viewed as a bit of an anomaly on the season considering the monsoon conditions under which the game was played.

Rain is forecasted for the Bears’ primetime game against the Packers on Sunday night but not nearly to the level of what transpired this past weekend at Soldier Field.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has often admitted that he preferred playing against the Bears in poor weather conditions as it slowed down the pass rush and allowed him to make reads while on the field.

Rodgers was monitoring the drama between the Chicago Bears and Roquan Smith.

One of the Bears’ defenders that Rodgers hopes to be slowed down on Sunday is linebacker Roquan Smith. Rodgers had nothing but praise for Smith while speaking with reporters on Wednesday.

“I like the way he goes about his business. He’s kind of low-key classy. . . . Every now and then you hear a little trash talk, which he’s good at. A lot of respect for Roquan.”

Part of the business to which Rodgers was referring to were the rumors surrounding Smith during training camp when the linebacker requested a trade from the Bears.

Rodgers was paying close attention to those rumors and was hoping for a trade that would move Smith out of the NFC North division.

“Wouldn’t have minded if he’d gotten traded,” Rodgers cracked Wednesday, referring to Smith’s contract squabble.

The Bears and Smith have set aside their differences for now with the mutual goal of focusing on the season and the linebacker proved his value to the team in Week 1. Smith was the Bears leading tackler against the 49ers as he had 9 total tackles to go along with half a sack and a pass deflected.

Fortunately for the Bears, Smith was not traded and he remains at the center of the team’s defense. With the goal this season of proving his value to the team in the new defensive system under Eberflus, Smith can make a strong showing for himself on Sunday night with the national audience tuning in.

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Aaron Rodgers had one wish for Chicago Bears during offseasonJordan Campbellon September 15, 2022 at 6:41 pm Read More »