Movie Rant: Honoring Ron Howard

By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 8, 2010 3:40PM

This Saturday, cinephiles from across the city will humbly assemble at The Museum of Science and Industry to honor a filmmaker who has toiled in underappreciation for decades. As Cinema/Chicago describes him,

He has mastered all film genres, including action spectaculars, moving dramas, chilling thrillers, and character-driven comedies. His films - including Splash, Cocoon, Parenthood, Backdraft, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code, and Frost/Nixon - have left a significant impact on film history and changed the way we look at the movies.

Ron Howard, can you feel the love tonight? Of course, we're not saying he doesn't deserve some sort of recognition. While he's not exactly an obscure auteur, those films are blockbusters that millions love. There's also the fact he's already in town filming that new flick with local boy Vince Vaughn. And The Chicago International Film Festival can honor whomever it pleases -- it's not as if the $400-a-ticket, Bill Kurtis-hosted "black tie optional" gala exists for any other reason than to part wealthy celebrity-voyeurs from their money. On that level we hope they sell out, stuffing the Cinema/Chicago coffers to capacity.

But couldn't they honor someone, you know, more interesting? For example, why not give John Landis a fancy ceremony? Not only is he a native Chicagoan but he's made some movies we can get behind. If Sarasota, Florida can honor him, why can't we?

Harold Ramis is another excellent contender. And since being born here doesn't seem to be a qualification (Ron Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma), the field is wide open. May we suggest Paul Thomas Anderson. Or even Wes Anderson. Both of those filmmakers take actual chances in their work and have truly "changed the way we look at the movies."

We're pretty sure our suggestions would fall on deaf ears. In which case Chris Columbus better keep his schedule open next June.