Yesterday, I hosted a “Meet & Greet” event for my neighbor & good friend Bonnie Carol McGrath (who is running for Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County). We went to see THE LOVELY BONES at our beautiful new Icon Showplace Theatre on Delano Place (just off Roosevelt Road & Clark Street), & afterwards we ate gourmet pizzas in the upstairs lounge. We even had a celebrity guest: Democratic State Representative Ken Dunkin (a great friend of the Illinois film community).
Now here’s the thing: Despite the dismal reviews from our two most prominent local critics (Roger Ebert & Michael Phillips), we all loved THE LOVELY BONES. Me, I was seeing it for the fourth time, & able to attend to all the subtle nuances & the delicate construction, I loved it all more! If I ruled the world, THE LOVELY BONES would be my top contender for “Best Adapted Screenplay” this year, above even AN EDUCATION, BRIGHT STAR, & JULIE & JULIA (every one of which is way better than UP IN THE AIR which I nominated for this year’s Women Film Critics Circle “Hall of Shame” award).
So what gives??? I’m reminded of THE CIDER HOUSE RULES brouhaha, & the many critics (all male) who claimed that they couldn’t figure out what it was about. Funny how I have yet to meet a woman who had any doubts!
