"Dirty Work" is an atmospheric and gritty crime film that makes great use of its Chicago setting. It has multiple intersecting narratives, which center on a policeman, an evil D.A., a high power mobster, and his associates.

The film will have an extended run at the Gene Siskel Center on February 17-23. It will show on Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3:15, 5:15 and 7:45; Sunday at 3:15 and 5:15; and Monday through Thursday at 6:15 and 8:15. The director, producer, and some of the cast members will be attending Friday’s screening.

"Dirty Work" must be one of the most overused titles in film history. Other films sharing the name include a horrific 1998 Bob Saget directed comedy; the 2004 documentary about bad jobs: the 1933 Laurel and Hardy short about chimney sweepers; and an obscure 1990 made-for-TV movie.

Lance Reddick, from TVs "The Wire," stars as Manning, a likeable but corrupt cop-on-the-take. He gets involved with a prostitute who later turns up dead. He feels pressured by both sides of the law when he begins working on the puzzling murder case.

A D.A. finds his ID in the dead hooker’s pocket. Later the D.A. kills his own wife, and with the help of his manager, he makes it look like the crime follows the same pattern as the previous one.

Lena (Nutsa Kukhianidze) is an immigrant who works as a maid, and is tempted to become a prostitute. Julian (Austin Pendleton) is the mobster who wants to use her, and Manning is on his payroll.

The acting is always competent, and some of the performances are better than the ones found in big budget films. Austin Pendelton (of "My Cousin Vinnie") is especially memorable as a cold blooded mobster. Nutsa Kukhianidze is also wonderful, and she exudes an earthy vulnerability

The movie benefits greatly from an excellent soundtrack, which features some atmospheric, high tech contributions by the veteran Chicago musician, Mark Messing.

Very few major films have recently been shot in the Windy City (even "Chicago" was shot mostly in Toronto). The need for moviegoers to support Chicago made films and Chicago based filmmakers is greater than ever.