Reel life: Woodstock Theatre honors Harold Ramis
Ramis remembered
A Woodstock Theatre auditorium will be dedicated to the memory of Chicago filmmaker Harold Ramis at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, followed by a free showing of his 1993 comedy classic, “Groundhog Day,” filmed in Woodstock, playing the role of Punxsutawney.
“Groundhog Day” will also be shown at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Woodstock Theatre, 209 Main St., as part of the town's annual Groundhog Days festivities. (Go to woodstockil.gov for more info.)
A plaque will be mounted at the entrance to Auditorium 1. A letter written by Ramis, who died on Feb. 24 last year, will be displayed in the lobby near a “Groundhog Day” poster autographed by co-writer Danny Rubin.
In related news: The Writers Guild of America West has selected Ramis to receive its Laurel Award for screenwriting achievement. The award will be presented at the WGA Awards ceremony Feb. 14, with Erica Mann Ramis and other Ramis family members accepting it.
Film critics notebook:
● Now that Steve James' Roger Ebert documentary “Life Itself” has been eliminated from the Oscar pool of nominees, Laura Poitras' excellent, compelling “Citizenfour” — her documentary about CIA whistle-blower Edward Snowden — moves into the lead for the Oscar. You can see it at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, when the After Hours Film Society presents “Citizenfour” at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Admission costs $10 ($6 for members). Go to afterhoursfilmsociety.com.
(By the way, “Life Itself” comes out on DVD Feb. 17.)
● Dann Gire's Reel Life column runs Friday in the Daily Herald's Time out!