Live in Chicago? Capone has seats for an early screening of PATTI CAKE$, with writer-director Geremy Jasper, and stars Danielle Macdonald & Bridget Everett Q&A!!!

Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here.

I caught wind of writer-director Geremy Jasper’s feature debut PATTI CAKE$ at Sundance (where it won a Grand Jury Prize), although I didn’t actually see it until less than two months later at SXSW. I’d heard it was a crowd pleaser in the truest sense of the word, with catchy songs and a fantastic story about a young woman rising up from nothing to become…something. Comparisons to 8 MILE seemed almost too easy, given that most of the music in the movie is hip-hop in nature, with a few important and notable exceptions. At the heart of the film is a stunning performance from Danielle Macdonald as Patricia Dombrowski (aka Killer P, aka Patti Cake$) and her friendship with Hareesh (Siddharth Dhananjay), who is her greatest hype man.

There are rap battles, concert performances, and a down-and-dirty story about Patti’s estranged relationship with her former-singer mother (Bridget Everett), who almost seems resentful of the prospects of her overweight daughter being successful in music when she wasn’t. PATTI CAKE$ is exciting, tense, and uplifting in ways I wasn’t expecting, even as it explores the depths of Patti’s broken world. This is one of the most enjoyable times you’ll likely have in the movies this year, and wouldn’t you know it, I have something for you…

I have seats to an early screening of PATTI CAKE$ for Ain’t It Cool News readers in the Chicago area, which will include a special Q&A with writer-director Geremy Jasper, and stars Danielle Macdonald & Bridget Everett. The screening takes place Thursday, August 10, 2017, at 8:00pm at a theater in downtown Chicago (the exact location will only be given to the winners). Here’s how to win…

To win, send me an email at caponeaicn@gmail.com (please note the new email address) with the subject line “Killer P” (exactly like that). In the body of the email, I need your full Name, if you are bringing a guest (write “Guest” or “No Guest”; each winner may bring ONE, confirmed guest—if I think you gave your extra ticket to someone trolling for free tickets at the theater, you won't get in), and the answer to the following question: “What is your favorite (non-documentary) film about a musician—real or fictional, and why?” So I need a film title and a well-reasoned explanation for your decision. Keep your responses BRIEF—no more than 100 words (no matter how tempted you are to go over the limit). Best answers (as judged by me) win, and you'll hear from me very soon if you win, so keep checking your email over the next couple of days.

Although this is not an exclusive Ain't It Cool News event, winners’ seats will be reserved until 30 minutes before showtime (meaning 7:30pm). The venue is deliberately overbooked to guarantee a full house for our guests. If you can't arrive by 7:30pm, don't enter this contest. If you show up at the last minute, there is no guarantee that your seats will be good or together. If there's even the slightest chance you or your guests will have to back out of attending or arrive late if you do win, don't enter. If you have a job that might make you late or unable to attend, or an ill/pregnant relative, or a temperamental significant other, or a scratchy throat, do not enter. And the 24-hour-notice-to-cancel rule is done. If you win and don't show up, the Black List is your new best friend.

Good luck, everyone! And thanks to Fox Searchlight Pictures for giving us this very cool screening opportunity and bringing in these fantastic guests.

-- Steve Prokopy
"Capone"
capone@aintitcool.com
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