“The Worm and the Poodle” is the latest local film featured in Broom Street Theater’s “Madison Underground” programming this Sunday
Thursday
Yoyo (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
If you couldn’t catch Cinematheque’s first entry in their FREE Pierre Étaix series last week, never fear. You have multiple chances at redemption, the first of which comes in the form of Étaix’s Yoyo, where the French comedian slowly morphs his film from silent film homage to a full-on talkie.
Friday
Infra-Man (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Borrowing from Roger Ebert’s own review of this Shaw Brothers cult favorite:
Within the first four minutes of “Infra-Man,” (a) a giant flying lizard attacks a school bus, (b) the Earth cracks open, (c) Hong Kong is destroyed by flames, (d) mountains disintegrate to reveal the forms of reptilian monsters with blinking yellow eyes…
One might ask “What more could you want out of WUD Film and the Cinematheque’s FREE Ebert tribute?” but the sentiment might get lost when translated to Giant Flying Lizard Speak.
Kill and Kill Again (9:00p — Union South Marquee)
Far be it from WUD Film and the Cinematheque to tell you when you’ve had enough insane, absurd martial arts action. Infra-man is followed by this South African “guilty pleasure,” where martial arts star James Ryan teams with Anneline Kriel (and “Miss World” winner in 1974) to rescue her kidnapped father and prevent the creation of kung-fu army. If only competing in international beauty pageants has this much stake today. Ah, the good old days.
All freakin’ weekend
The Way, Way Back (Sundance)
Hot off their Academy Award win for penning Alexander Payne’s The Descendants, Nat Faxon and Community’s Jim Rash get behind the camera this time in their directorial debut starring an awkward Liam James surrounded by a cast of quirky, outrageous caricatures and Sam Rockwell. Rob Thomas seems to have enjoyed Faxon and Rash’s love of “bittersweet” 80’s stylings. I personally found it a serviceable albeit predictable coming of age story whose characters while interesting, seemed far too exaggerated to earn their individual moments. So it’s really up to you what you decide. Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a dean.
Girl Most Likely (Sundance)
In this dramedy about a failed playwright, Kristen Wiig stars as Imogene which means there’s a character in Girl Most Likely named Imogene. Judging this from its name only — or from Annette Bening’s skanky mother — wouldn’t be fair, especially considering this comes from American Splendor co-directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini.
RED 2 (Point, AMC Star, Eastgate, Sundance)
Your favorite action stars from the 90s are back with Helen Mirren and Mary-Louise Parker in the sequel to the 2010 comic book movie that enough people presumably saw to greenlight a sequel.
The Conjuring (Point, AMC Star, Eastgate)
Saw co-creator and newly-christened Fast and Furious trustee James Wan tells the sorta true adaptation of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and their visit to the farmhouse of a terrorized family. Catching quite a lot of positive buzz for a horror film, The Conjuring has already been called “too scary” for its own good which of course will now raise your expectations to unattainable levels.
R.I.P.D. (Point, AMC Star, Eastgate)
After Detective Ryan Reynolds is killed in a raid gone wrong, the afterlife recruits him to become a member of the “Rest in Peace Department,” an organization of dead police officers (and Jeff Bridges repeating his best Rooster Cogburn impression) who in no way bear any resemblance to the Ghostbusters or the Men in Black.
Jefferson’s Highway 18 Drive-In is also screening a double feature of Turbo (which released earlier this week) alongside The Internship through next Thursday.
Sunday
Madison Underground: The Worm and the Poodle (7:00p — Broom Street Theater)
Local filmmaker Amy Thorstenson and producer Justin Schober will appear for a post-screening Q&A of their new film The Worm and the Poodle as part of Broom Street Theater’s FREE string of events highlighting local filmmakers. A story of friendship and art, the film stars a freshly-graduated film student who decides to memorize a 1,000 page novel.
Monday
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (9:00p — Memorial Union Terrace)
Because I’m so excited for the next film in WUD’s ongoing summer series, I started making homage mashed potato sculptures in my office’s break room. In unrelated news I was told to stay home tomorrow and not bother coming in Monday either. Four day weekend!
AMC Summer Nights: Olympus Has Fallen (10:00p — AMC Star)
As usual, every $3 ticket goes towards Autism Society of America. So do the patriotic thing, and pay good money to see your President get kidnapped.
Wednesday
Sundance Classics: Animal House (1:45p, 7:00p — Sundance)
I’ve always wanted to honor John Belushi by standing up and shouting “Food fight!” in the middle of a crowded room. Sundance probably isn’t the best place to try this one out, though.