Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here. Next week is going to be a busy one for screenings in Chicago. With a couple of exceptions, I pretty much took the month of October off from arranging screening, but November is going to be much busier. Case in point…


One of the Fantastic Fest 2009 films that had me giggling like a maniac was the opening night offering GENTLEMEN BRONCOS, from director and co-writer Jared Hess (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE; NACHO LIBRE). The film is set in the world of science fiction literature...sort of. It's set in a couple of places, but that's the general world in which this bizarre movie exists. Michael Angarano plays a young man who is struggling to get his first novel published, and "Flight of the Conchords" Jemaine Clement plays the esteemed Dr. Ronald Chevalier, an successful sci-fi writer who likes the young man's work so much, he steals it. The movie is far from conventional (I think it's safe to say that about all of Hess's work), but I think I laughed more watching this than anything else he's done. It's just really well done and sometimes beyond uncomfortable to watch.

And now folks in the Chicago area get a chance to enjoy that discomfort too. I've got 100 seats for AICN readers to the Chicago premiere of GENTLEMEN BRONCOS on Monday, November 2 at 8:00pm at a theater in downtown Chicago (the exact location will only be given to contest winners).

The added bonus for the evening will be a post-screening Q&A with the film's producer and co-star Mike White, a very funny writer, actor and producer who has appeared in and written such films as ORANGE COUNTY, CHUCK & BUCK, THE SCHOOL OF ROCK, THE GOOD GIRL, NACHO LIBRRE, and has a great cameo in ZOMBIELAND. He also was a writer on such shows as "Dawson's Creek" and "Freak & Geeks," and was a writer/creator on the series "Pasadena" and "Cracking Up."

Here's how to secure a pass good for you and one guest: Send me an email at capone@aintitcoolmail.com with the subject line "BRUTUS & BALZAAK" (watch the trailer, you'll understand). In the body of the email, I need your Name, whether or not you're bringing a Guest (guests' names are not required), and the answer to the following question (read carefully): What science fiction novel or series is your favorite? And which made you laugh the most because of its ridiculousness? So I'm looking for two titles/authors. You can give supporting evidence if you like, but limit your entries to 50 words or less (no matter how tempted you are to go over the limit). Winners will receive an email from me by week's end. Good luck, everyone! Hope to see you there.

-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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