'Public Enemies' wasn't exactly an Oscar contender

'Enemies' forgotten?Dear Dann: What is your opinion as to why "Public Enemies" was not nominated for anything? Is it true what they say about the Academy "forgetting" about the summer releases? I was expecting "Public Enemies" to show up in at least one category, e.g. costumes, cinematography, score, extras. Reviews of this film ranged from extremely bad to really good, and I recall yours was positive.- Russ PanzarellaRuss: I think that many of Hollywood's prestige projects get pushed back into the fourth quarter because studio heads fear Academy voters haven't taken their collective Adderall and will forget their earlier films. Let's remember, though, that in 1991, "Silence of the Lambs" swept the top five Oscars and it went into theaters on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day. (I wonder how many hearts were delivered with fava beans?)"Public Enemies" was a good action movie directed by Chicago's own Michael Mann. But it wasn't exactly Oscar material and didn't deliver the kind of memorable cinematic experience that holds up through the Oscar season.- DannLocal films premiereThe Lake County Film Festival continues today through Monday and features the world premieres of two movies from Palatine native Michael P. Noens: "Darren Abby" (6:10 p.m.) and "Coasting" (8:20 p.m.) on Saturday at the campus of the College of Lake County in Grayslake. (Specifically, at 19351 W. Washington St.) Go to lakecountyfilmfest.com or call (224) 441-1108.'Prophet' or 'Profit'?Crime really does pay in Jacques Audiard's gritty prison drama "Un Prophete" ("A Prophet") that last weekend mopped up at the Cesars (the French Oscars) winning 13 of its 19 nominations, including best picture, director and actor.I can best describe "A Prophet" as "Midnight Express" redone as Steven Soderbergh's "Traffic." It stars an amazing young actor named Tahar Rahim as Malik, a French-Arab teenager placed in a French slammer for six years on petty criminal charges. Through Malik, we are introduced to a tribal prison culture where violence and intimidation rule, and where Malik is torn between a Corsican faction that rules the prison, and a challenging Muslim faction that wants to claim him as their own."A Prophet" is a mini-epic of great power, not just in its explosions of brutal violence (rendered in unapologetically graphic terms), but in contemplative moments as Malik, a canny survivalist, weighs his limited options behind bars.Veteran French actor Niels Arestrup plays Cesar, the corrupt Corsican leader who views Malik as his personal servant, but only after Malik proves himself by slashing to death a Muslim inmate Cesar wants dead.Alexandre Desplat's robust score works well in tandem with Stephane Fontaine's appropriately color-bled camerawork capturing the soulessness of bleak life in a French prison."The Prophet" competes Sunday night for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and it's a steely, no-holds-barred contender. It opens today at the Century Centre in Chicago and the Evanston CineArts 6. It will expand to the Renaissance Place in Highland Park March 12. Rated R for drug use, language, nudity, sexual situations and violence. 149 minutes. . . . .Chi's Irish film festMore than 25 films will be showcased at the 11th annual Chicago Irish Film Festival, today through March 10 at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. The six-day fest - Chicago's only event dedicated to contemporary and classic Irish cinema - will screen new features, classics, documentaries, children's films and shorts made by Irish and Irish-American filmmakers and producers.Screening admission is $10. The opening night reception and screening costs $30. Go to chicagoirishfilmfestival.net or call (773) 445-3838 or purchase tickets at beverlyartcenter.org.A kick out of Kubrick Join me and film historian/novelist Raymond Benson as Dann Raymond's Movie Club presents "Stanley Kubrick: Inside the Artist's Maze," a look at the controversial reclusive filmmaker behind "2001: A Space Odyssey," "A Clockwork Orange," "Dr. Strangelove," "Lolita" and "The Shining." Clips from all of his features will be shown. Free admission. It's scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. Go to ahml.info or call (847) 392-0100 for more information.Silent films sound offThe Sound of Silent Film Festival features modern silent films screened to live music, created by Chicagoland composers. These silent films range from Alexander Payne's 1970 short up through 2009 works. ACM (Accessible Contemporary Music) presents the fest at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (and 7:30 p.m. March 17) at the Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. Tickets cost $15 ($10 online). Go to acmusic.org or call (773) 334-3650.Filmmaker 'Shortcuts'If you're an Illinois resident or student at an Illinois college (and 18 or older), you can enter the Illinois Film Office's third annual Shortcuts contest. The winner gets a cash prize and his/her entry screened at the Chicago International Film Festival this fall. Film, video, graphics and/or animation can be used for a narrative, documentary or free-form expression of ideas. But submissions can't exceed 15 minutes and must be postmarked by Aug. 31. Go to illinoisfilm.biz for details.