Dog Days of Summer Movies

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 22, 2006 4:24PM

As we trudge through the last remaining days of summer, things are rather quiet on the silver screen now that the Snakes have slithered out. This is the time when projects that studios have little-to-no confidence in get unceremoniously dropped into theaters. We’ve seen Invincible a million times before, and Idlewild has us intrigued, but worried. Working in separate studios might work for hip-hop double albums, but it’s not the best operating plan for a movie.

This is a shame for those who need their fix, as movies are the new drugs, according to the Tribune. As a result, sleepy suburbs like Lombard are turning into a hive of crime and villainy for movie pirates. Luckily for us, former homicide detective Gene Harris is on the case, busting perps and taking down the bad guys. Harris says many drug dealers are turning to movie piracy because the risks are lesser, and the profit margin is the same. Whether Harris cruises around in a white blazer with a partner named Tubbs was an issue left unexplored by the Trib.

Meanwhile, those who argue about the Tribune vs. the Sun-Times with a ferocity usually reserved for Cubs vs. Sox will soon have more fodder for their tubthumping. Tribune movie critic Michael Phillips will fill in for the recovering Roger Ebert on the syndicated “Ebert & Roeper” on September 2. Whether they’ll record any enmity-filled promos remains to be seen.

Speaking of Ebert, he posted a detailed explanation of his recent round of surgery and rehabilitation last week. Chicagoist wishes him a speedy recovery, if only to limit the amount of Jay Leno exposure on America’s television screens.

Finally, you have until Thursday to catch The Great New Wonderful at the Siskel Film Center, which, according to rottentomatoes.com, is at least two out of the three words in its title.