Gene Siskel Film Center

Renamed in 2000 in tribute to the late Tribune film critic Gene Siskel, State Street’s Siskel Film Center continually shows artful cinema from all over the world, whether it’s the theater’s long-run weekly programming or one-off screenings of films that, let’s face it, we wouldn’t have the chance to see in a theater setting otherwise. With more than a hundred filmmaker appearances each year, plus distinguished festivals such as the European Union Festival the Stranger Than Fiction doc fest, Siskel strives to keep film lovers both informed and entertained.

164 North State
(312)846-2800
siskelfilmcenter.org

Audience choice:
Music Box
3733 North Southport
(773)871-6604
musicboxtheatre.com

Best of Chicago 2009

Thumbs

Media behemoth Disney, known for obstreperous litigation and lobbying for over-extension of copyright expiration, among other legal issues, played hardball in late summer against the show recently retitled “At The Movies With Ebert And Roeper” (formerly “Ebert and Roeper”). The THUMBS (which are capitalized to qualify for trademark protection) are owned by Roger Ebert and the late Gene Siskel’s successors, and while Ebert was under the impression a fair price for their continued use was under negotiation, Disney summarily pulled their use from the program, leading to an unattractive public digital spat. “I did not demand the removal of the THUMBS,” the recovering critic responded. “They made a first offer… which I considered offensively low. I responded with a counter-offer. They did not reply to this, and… ordered the THUMBS removed from the show.” At press time, twiddling persists.

Best of Chicago 2007