Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here. So technically, my mission to bring some of the best films of the summer to AICN readers in Chicago ended last week with TROPIC THUNDER, which was a rousing success. But that doesn't mean the screenings are through. Quite the opposite. Writer-director Alan Ball's TOWELHEAD isn't coming out until the second half of September, but I've got about 75 passes (each good for two people) to give out to the AICN faithful. The added bonus to the screening will be that the Alan Ball will be on hand after the screening for a Q&A that is sure to be a little different, considering the film, which I saw a few days ago and am still sorting out my feelings on (not about whether it's good or not, but how I get rid of the guilty feelings I have for watching certain scenes). Aaron Eckhart is returning to a kind of role he hasn't taken on since IN THE COMPANY OF MEN. And young Summer Bashil is going to break your heart. I'll tell you right off the bat, if you have sensitivity issues, you may want to skip this one. I'm not talking about sensitivities to violence or anything that obvious. I'm talking about an aversion to controversial material the likes of which aren't often dealt with in mainstream cinema, at least not with this level of seriousness. Ball has never been one to tread safe waters. He won an Oscar for writing AMERICAN BEAUTY and an Emmy for directing the pilot of "Six Feet Under," a show he created and one I loved dearly. His new HBO series, "True Blood," is premiering in a couple of weeks (and feel free to ask him questions about that as well), and I can't wait to see it. TOWELHEAD, based on the novel by Alicia Erian which Ball adapted, is Ball's first feature-directing effort and is a film that almost demands discussion after seeing it. And I can't think of a better person to discuss the film with than it's writer-director. Can you? The screening is on Monday, August 25, 7:00 pm, at the Landmark Century Center Cinema, 2828 N. Clark Street in Chicago. This is NOT an exclusively AICN event, so anyone who wins a pass from me needs to arrive early to guarantee you get a seat. The event will likely be overbooked (not by me), so if you can't arrive early, don't enter this contest because you probably won't get in. But if you're feeling lucky and brave, and are ready to ask our guest some killer questions, send me an e-mail at capone@aintitcoolmail.com. The subject line should rad "TOWELHEAD screening", and in the body of your email give me your name (guest names are not necessary) and the name of a movie you remember making you feel very uncomfortable because of the subject matter (AMERICAN BEAUTY is a good example) or maybe it was a combination of the film and who you were seeing it with. Feel free to provide a little explanation if you think it's necessary, but keep your wordcount low. Again, each pass is good for two people, but I only need your name. If you win, I'll email you a copy of a pass with an RSVP email on it, which you should use ASAP. This is a very different kind of movie than the ones I've been bringing to Chicago over the last few months, and I'm nervous and curious to see how people react. TOWELHEAD is a movie that you will not soon forget. Good luck. -- Capone capone@aintitcoolmail.com
