Allow us to pose a silly rhetorical question. Just what exactly is America? And how does one make a film about it? You can take the Disney approach (i.e. America's Heart & Soul) and fashion a melange of "inspiring" vignettes, but the result is as syrupy as canned fruit cocktail. The Michael Moore route adds some shading and texture yet can still be just as guilty of taking a sledgehammer approach. And a movie like Koyaanisqatsi, although stuffed with eye-popping imagery, doesn't quite get at the soul of America. more ›

An inevitable confirmation of the obvious: Hollywood movies only exist in order to make money. On Friday, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission approved a proposal to establish Trend Exchange, a futures market for entertainment that would be run out of Chicago. Pending approval by the CFTC, the first products to be offered would be options and futures contracts on opening weekend domestic box office sales by MPAA feature films. As the company states on their website, "The creation of a regulated marketplace for these options and futures products will improve risk transfer opportunities and provide price discovery information in the public interest." Translation: it's time for us all to place our bets on which movies will make a pile of dough opening weekend, since that's all that seems to matter anymore. more ›

We hope to see a ton of you tomorrow night, canned goods in hand for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. But the great thing about giving is that you more you give, the better it feels. Especially when you get a little back in return. more ›

This is part of Chicagoist's continuing coverage of the 45th Chicago International Film Festival. more ›

A whole lot more than just the Oscars comin' up. For instance: more ›

Whoa. Che has been held over at the Landmark Century for yet another week! Unfortunately it's no longer the whole salteña but only Part One. Still, half is better than none, and Part One has many powerful moments that should spur you on to catching up with Part Two (the full film is available through video-on-demand on Comcast). We highly recommend you see it in its entirety. more ›

As Duke Ellington might have said, Arthur Russell was a musician and composer "beyond category." In his short life (he died of complications from AIDS at the age of 40) he composed and recorded music that could be classified as folk, disco, ambient, classical, pop and even country. He was born in Iowa and followed in his mother's footsteps by taking up the cello as a child. Later he moved to San Francisco (befriending Allan Ginsberg) and then eventually New York City, where he became a catalyst in the art scene of the 70's as musical director of The Kitchen. Ginsberg, who lived in the same apartment building as Arthur for many years, described his music as "Buddhist bubblegum," and it's that sly tension between childlike joy and a more cerebral experimentation that has posthumously made him a favorite of David Byrne, Jens Lekman and Pitchfork. more ›

Since retiring from the Reader earlier this year, Jonathan Rosenbaum has been as busy as ever. He's finishing up his film lecture series at the Siskel, which includes the upcoming screenings of Play Time, his all-time favorite movie. (For a great list, check out his Alternate Top 100 Films/Movies). And his website is now up and running. It's bulging with content dating back to 1987 and also features a Publications and Events section. more ›

-- The DVD release of local indie short film You Can't Outrun Bullets is being celebrated tonight at 7:30 with a party at Strawdog Theater, 3829 N. Broadway. Stalker paranoia, fate and chance collide on a dark night when Alan bumps into a stranger at a bar, a stranger he's convinced has been following him. It's director Tim Bruns' fifth short film. It'll be shown every 30 minutes until 10:30, with snacks and a cash bar. Tickets are $10; cash only at the door. more ›