Rock 'n' Roll High School @ Music Box

It was originally supposed to be Disco High School, but a dismayed associate of executive producer Roger Corman explained that he'd better go with rock 'n' roll if he wanted his film to survive past its 1979 opening date. And survive it has: thanks to the brilliant idea of casting The Ramones as the heroes of the film, Rock 'n' Roll High School remains a classic "Mad Magazine"-style movie experience that precisely captures the juvenile delinquency attitude that the band was all about. Ignore the cheezy PJ Soles-sung version of the title song, the 1970s spandex costumes, and the unnerving Vincent Van Patten. This movie has shifty hall monitors, lab rats that listen to rock'n'roll, mercilessly picked-on freshmen, a cubic yard of bad jokes and dumb puns, and Clint Howard as Eaglebauer, a high-school entrepreneur who sets up his black-market office in a stall in the boys room. Plus, it's got an excellent soundtrack, fronted by (of course) The Ramones. "Do your parents know you're Ramones?" The movie plays at the Music Box tonight at midnight. Music Box Theatre: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.

Califone @ Empty Bottle

Califone headline the Empty Bottle, with their record release. With Make Believe. 10:00pm, $8 advance, $10 door buy.

The Animation Show @ Doc Films

Doc Films presents The Animation Show, a greatest hits package of animation from past and present. Included are six Academy-Award winning shorts, impressionistic exercises and early claymation. The film plays at Max Palevsky cinema in Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St., at 9 p.m. Admission is $4. For more information, call 702-8575.

Aileen Wuornos doc @ Siskel Film Center

If you've seen the new movie Monster, you'll probably be interested in seeing Nick Broomfield's new documentary Aileen: Life and Death of A Serial Killer. This is Broomfield's second documentary about Wuornos, and reviewers who have seen both movies have deemed Aileen the better and more unsettling of the two. The film shows tonight at the Siskel Film Center at 8:00. Siskel Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Elmore Leonard @ Barbara's Bookstore

Prolific crime novelist Elmore Leonard appears at the Barbara's Bookstore at 1350 N. Wells tonight at 7:30PM, to read from his new book "Mr. Paradise." More info: (312) 642-5044.

Fog of War @ Music Box

The Fog of War, the new documentary by prolific director Errol Morris, opens at the Music Box Theatre tonight. The subject of the film: former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who worked with two separate presidential administrations and was involved in the major US military operations of the 1960s: the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban missile crisis, and the escalation of American involvement in Vietnam. Fans of Morris' former films don't need to be told to check it out. Music Box Theatre: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.

Diverse @ The Bottom Lounge

Chicago's own hip hop super talent Diverse will be opening for Mr. Len of Company Flow at The Bottom Lounge. Tickets are $10 in advance and $13 at the door. You can purchase tickets online here. The show starts at 8pm and will be featuring Roosevelt Franklin and Kice.

Elmore Leonard Reading

Mystery writer Elmore Leonard reads from his latest book, Mr. Paradise, on January 23, 7:30pm, at Barbara's Bookstore, 1350 North Wells, Free. Call 312/642-5044 for more info.

Tom Lynch in New City has this review:
The crime novelist returns to the scene with another saga of cops, drugs, and cash in "Mr. Paradise," his first book in a long while that abandons Florida and uses Detroit as its predominant setting. The master of putting police lingo to the page creates a few more memorable characters in the thug Anthony Paradiso and the sleazeball lawyer Avern Cohn, although they're not quite as charming as "Get Shorty"'s Chili Palmer or "Rum Punch"'s Jackie Brown. Leonard, 78-years-old with over forty years of fiction behind him, is certainly worth seeing in person, even if his prose is all thrills and popcorn.

Remnant @ Open-end

Stop by Open-end tonight for the opening reception of "Remnant", a photography and installation art show featuring works by Jessica Rowe, Anna Fitzloff, Jean Kahler and Corey Carr. The opening reception and performance will be held from 7-11 pm. "Remnant" will be showing through February 6th. Open-end is located at 2000 W. Fulton #310.