L A N C E B A K E R

I'll be appearing as "An Actor Who's Not Really Sure What's Going On" [a role that never gets tiring] at Chicago Dramatists this Wed the 16th of September, 2009.  I believe the show starts at 8pm.  

Photos, videos and reviews at this older post.

"300 yards from the ocean."

To my mom and dad, et al--

So I saw the new Johnny Depp movie "Public Enemies" last night-- I believe
it was the 1st time it's ever been shown for the public. And I did make the
final cut-- no lines, but you can't miss me. For those who may go to see
it, look for me about an hour and a half into the movie, after Johnny Depp,
sitting on a park bench, reads a letter from his girl in prison. I'll be on
the left side of the screen at the start of the next scene, looking badass.

I've enclosed cell phone pics you can follow along to. Look at the invite--
I had no idea this was going to be a big deal. I almost showed up in jeans
and t-shirt. I dressed up a little, almost to be "ironic," thinking the
theatre was going to be full of Chicago people getting to see the film first
as a "thank-you" to the city. Then, approaching the movieplex, we noticed
the street was blocked off-- I said, oh no, this is a bigger deal than I
thought, I hope they still have my tickets reserved. Walking into the main
lobby, every single poster frame had been filled with "Public Enemy"
posters-- the place had been taken over! They rented the whole damn
building, shutting down all but two of the 21 screens for the duration of
the night. We checked in, our tickets were not only there, but reserved
seating! Although I was a bit disappointed that they were row 'A'-- front
row at a movie? Not usually my idea of a good time. My neck can't take it
anymore. We went up the first escalator and checked out the view of the
crowd from the windows-- there were hundreds of people behind barracades, a
press tent, vintage cars, and an honest-to-god red carpet. There was free
popcorn and soda laid out, and we grabbed them, said hello to some friends,
and went inside. Sure enough, front row center, but how cool was it when
(30 minutes late) the director Michael Mann came out and said a few words in
praise of the city. And then, he introduced all three of the leads-- they
all made it! Bale, Depp, and Marion Cotillard (the only Oscar winner among
them). They said nothing, smiled, waved, left to give the same speech in
the adjacent theatre (where they apparantly did a bit where Mann said the
three actors had prepared a little song they were going to sing-- they
cleared their throats, opened their mouths, and cracked up at the tease).
Then, the movie. I didn't care for it much-- like most Michael Mann movies
it was overlong, not very engaging, too caught up in period and historical
details, and not clear about what story it was telling. Anyone who saw
"Heat" will see this guy doesn't have a whole lot of new tricks up his
sleeve-- there's the same overly long and loud gun battle in the middle, and
the same slo-mo faceoff between the good guy and bad guy in the end, set to
the same kind of atmospheric techno music and fog machines. But look, a
vintage train! A vintage plane! Vintage automobiles! The love-interest
story was repetitive and hackneyed. Bale had nothing to do-- you know he
worked way too hard for what was asked of him. Cotillard had some lovely
moments, but was given very little to work with-- same with Depp. So many
characters in this movie, whispering to each other about plans you couldn't
understand. With all the hard work the production took making Chicago look
authentically 1930's, you never had a very clear idea of where you were,
where the characters were going to or coming from-- the scene where
Dillinger is gunned down could have been a you-are-there moment of realistic
excitement-- instead it was a swirly haze. The book it was based on told
the story of the origins of the FBI, but the movie's too interested in
Dillinger, and so the whole thing is torn between two (or many many more)
stories and it never quite coheres. On the plus side, I didn't hit the
cutting room floor as I have done so many times in the past with movies that
come through Chicago. And the thing will still make 100 million, though not
much more. Bring on the residuals!

Then we went to the afterparty-- free food and drinks, good stuff. Bale
left, Depp came in. Depp left, Coltillard came in. Coltillard left.
William Peterson and John Mahoney were also around, though surrounded by far
fewer flashbulbs and screaming teens clutching bouquets of glow in the dark
roses. Three drinks and time to relieve the babysitter. That's it! Sorry
the pictures suck-- I swear I had no idea there was going to be anything to
take a picture of.

Bye!

Just found this very interesting dissection of a single moment I carried out in Northlight's "Mauritius" on Benedict Nelson's The@er blog.  The entry is a few months old, but it's funny: being called a "really great actor" who does "amazing" things seems to have no sell-by date....

LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE @ NORTHLIGHT

"Due to the overwhelming response we’ve received from the Chicago theatre community, we have added one more Industry night this coming TUESDAY, MAY 12.  We also have a Pay-What-You-Can Performance on SUNDAY, MAY 10 at 7pm.  Call 847.673.6300." http://www.northlight.org/

THE OVERWHELMING @ NEXT THEATRE

For Monday, 5/11/09, 7:30PM-- $10 Industry tickets – call the box office 847/475-1875, extension 2. (The show has been selling out and there are not many seats left for even this Industry night – so if you’re interested, call ASAP. www.nexttheatre.org, . 

PUMPGIRL @ A RED ORCHID THEATRE

5 bucks off-- Click here for online discount-- code "Sandman" -- or call b.o. and mention "sandman." 312-943-8722

http://www.aredorchidtheatre.org/

AND JUST GO SEE FLU SEASON @ BLACK SHEEP ALREADY

*The Lieutenant of Inishmore*, Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie,
IL, www.northlight.org

*This is for Wednesday, 5/6/09, 7:30PM.*

* *

For your FREE tickets, e-mail mmihlfried@northlight.org no later than 4PM on
Wednesday with the # of tickets you’d like. Subject to availability – you
will receive a confirmation e-mail if your request is fulfilled.

* *

Enjoy the show!

John B

FOR STUDENTS $10 Student Tickets* For EVERY PERFORMANCE with a current, valid Student ID. Purchase in person at the Box Office, by phone at 847.673.6300, or online at northlight.org. Subject to availability. Valid for students 25 years or younger. Student ID required for ticket pick-up. Limit 1 ticket per ID.

FOR INDUSTRY $10 Industry Tickets For all preview performances April 29 through May 5.   Offer available by phone or walk-up, Call the Box Office at 847.673.6300  and mention the code "INDUSTRY" to reserve.  Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc.) requeste

GENERAL PUBLIC $25 Thursdays** $25 Tickets are available every Thursday! Purchase in person at the Box Office, by phone at 847.673.6300, or online at northlight.org. **Excludes Opening Nights. Offer applies to select seats only. Standard convenience fees apply to telephone and online orders. Subject to availability.

$20 "Day-Of" Discount**Limited supplies of $20 Tickets are available for purchase the day of performance, in person at the Box Office or by phone at 847.673.6300.***Offer applies to select seats only. Available day of performance only. Standard convenience fees apply to telephone orders. Subject to availability.