Hey everyone. Capone here with big news about a spectacular event happening here in Chicago later this month.
So, you know that HOTT FUZZTIVAL that's happening at the Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Austin on March 31? Yeah, it's that, but in Chicago, and earlier in the month, spread out over two days. Have I got your attention yet? Here are the details. READ VERY CAREFULLY!
The first thing you should know is the event in Chicago IS NOT an Ain't It Cool-sponsored event, so please don't bombard me with e-mails begging for tickets. Second, you don't actually need tickets for part of the event. On Sunday, March 25 at the Chicago's Brew & View (3145 N. Sheffield), HOT FUZZTIVAL kicks off with screenings of three classic cop movies, hand picked by the HOT FUZZ folks:
At 3pm, we've got TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A., William Friedkin's awesome 1985 work starring William Peterson and Willem Dafoe, in the film that first made me scared of Dafoe. But the film is probably best known for its scorching theme song by Wang Chung!
INFERNAL AFFAIRS (2002) from Hong Kong comes at 5pm. You probably don't need me to tell you that this is the film that THE DEPARTED is based on, but don't miss this opportunity to see it on the big screen.
At 7pm, we get the film that is most directly referenced in HOT FUZZ, the 1991 Kathryn Bigelow hit POINT BREAK with Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze and Gary Busey. You haven't lived until you've seen Keanu jump out of plane without a parachute.
All you have to do to see these three films is show up to the Brew & View on March 25. The first 25 people to show up AND sit through all three films get VIP reserved seating to a special advanced screening of HOT FUZZ the following night, Monday, March 26.
If you are NOT among the first 25 at the Sunday HOT FUZZTIVAL, you'll still get a pass to the Monday night HOT FUZZ screening, but no reserved seats for you.
After the Monday night screening, the film's stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and director Edgar Wright will do the Q&A thing. I remember Simon and Nick's post-SHAUN OF THE DEAD Q&A a couple years ago in Chicago being among the best I've ever seen (even though it was only about a half-full theater).
Folks, this is just going to be one of those things you remember for years to come. Mark the calendar, make the plans, and prepare for two days of wondrous movies.
Capone
