Movies + Musique

Johnny Depp and Christian Bale are currently in Chicago this month filming Public Enemies, a film about John Dilinger, a famous bank robber from the 30's and 40's who was shot in front of the Biograph Theatre, which is coincidentally two blocks from my apartment. Universal Studios has converted the entire strech of Lincoln Ave between Sheffield and Halsted into a 30's film set, complete with inset windows, awning, lighted signage, and period automobiles. We can smell the diesel in our place. Last week when the set first went up, Drew and I tried to get in on the action.















Alas, we had to scamper off to a lukewarm show of Panic at the Disco at the Congree Theatre. The audience was filled with 14-year old girls and their mothers. The abnd played mostly stuff from their first album (emo-disgust) when they recognized the less than enthused response from the audience when performing their new material. I purchased the tickets after hearing the new album, Pretty. Odd. which is great, and absolutely nothing like the original work. About 25% of the performance was enjoyable, sad to say, but rarely do I catch a show so boring, so my odds are still good. It must be said, the set design was beautiful.