SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE and MADELINE'S MADELINE (on CINE-FILE Chicago)

This week over at CINE-FILE, I wrote about Ingmar Bergman's great SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE. I also get a kick out of thinking about it in terms of Elvis Costello's capsule review of Gold, by that other great Swedish import, ABBA: "Fast songs: for nights entertaining your Australian friends, or playing with the dressing-up box. Slow songs: a pop-music version of Bergman’s SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE." The complete mini-series is playing this week at Gene Siskel Film Center. 

I should have added, one key to a successful relationship? Don't behave like the people in SCENE FROM A MARRIAGE. 

I also write about Josephine Decker's MADELINE'S MADELINE, which is, I think, a partial breakthrough. It's playing over at Music Box Theatre. Perhaps strangely, the film it most reminded me of, in its collage style, is the underground-style EAT THE DOCUMENT, by Bob Dylan, Howard Alk, and D.A. Pennebaker. 

To read both writeups, please pop over to CINE-FILE Chicago.

THE DEVIL'S EYE (on CINE-FILE Chicago)

The week I wrote about Ingmar Bergman's THE DEVIL'S EYE. It's about on the level of a limerick, but a transcendent, unexpectedly touching limerick. Characterized by Bergman's unpretentious, humane intelligence, it's playing at Gene Siskel Film Center, this week. To check out my writeup, head to CINE-FILE Chicago and scroll down to "Also Recommended."

SAWDUST AND TINSEL (on CINE-FILE Chicago)

This week over at CINE-FILE Chicago, under "Also Recommended," I wrote about SAWDUST AND TINSEL, another '50s effort from the immortal Ingmar Bergman. It's suffused with that famous Bergman intimacy, as if he plumbed our darkest shadows to get to the light. It's playing as part of the Bergman 100 series at the Gene Siskel Film Center. To read my writeup, please go to CINE-FILE Chicago.

TO JOY and THE KING (on CINE-FILE Chicago)

This week I wrote about TO JOY, a relatively early film by Ingmar Bergman, that immortal poet of the human heart whose films were really songs of love and hate. It's playing at the Gene Siskel Film Center as part of their "Bergman 100" centennary celebration.

Now that Eugene Jaracki's stunning Elvis Presley film THE KING is back at the Music Box Theatre, I expanded my writeup from my previous capsule. The movie's a debate, an autocritique, an interrogation of the American Dream.  

You may read both reviews, over at CINE-FILE Chicago.

THE CAKEMAKER (on CINE-FILE Chicago)

This week on CINE-FILE Chicago, I recommend Ofir Raul Graizer's THE CAKEMAKER. Grazier shows himself to be a fine director of actors with his debut feature. Starting today, it plays for a two-week run at the Gene Siskel Film Center. To read my review, please head over to CINE-FILE Chicago.