Derek Cianfrance’s crime epic “The Place Beyond the Pines” comes to The Place Beyond the Train Tracks this weekend.
UPDATED: For as yet undisclosed reasons, WUD Film has cancelled their Frances Ha screenings and pushed them to next week
Thursday
The Place Beyond the Pines (6:00p, 9:15p — Union South Marquee)
This sweeping crime drama is director Derek Cianfrance’s followup to Blue Valentine and stars one of its leads, Ryan Gosling, as a motorcycle stunt rider who robs banks to support his child with Eva Mendes. But watch out for ambitious police officer Bradley Cooper at one three FREE screenings this weekend.
Friday
Eraserhead (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
David Lynch’s feature-length debut was most definitely a weird one. The Cinematheque will screen a fresh 35mm print of this surreal depiction of one man’s struggles to find a mate. Back when the director still spent time in Wisconsin, a friend of mine almost clipped Lynch with his car in a movie theater parking lot. True story. Eraserhead‘s FREE and open to the public.
Iron Man 3 (6:00p, 9:15p — Union South Marquee)
The third installment in Marvel’s Iron Man series finds billionaire playboy Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) at odds against his greatest foe yet… a vengeful corporate mogul? No, that can’t be right. Ben Kingsley’s “Mandarin?” No wait, himself. Yeah, that sounds good. Written and directed by master of screen snark, Shane Black, all four screenings of Iron Man 3 are FREE this weekend.
The Room (Midnight — Union South Marquee)
Often described as the “Citizen Kane of bad movies” by people who are not me, Tommy Wiseau’s failed pet project first garnered ironic cult acclaim when it played on Adult Swim’s late night programming several years ago. Since then, fans of The Room have formed whole factions, and you can join them for FREE this weekend at one of WUD Film’s two screenings. Or both, Mark! Bring spoons.
All freakin’ weekend
Stories We Tell (Sundance)
Actress-turned-breakout director Sarah Polley made her documentary debut in 2012 with Stories We Tell, an autobiographical exploration of Polley’s upbringing that features re-created scenes of her childhood and a troubled relationship with her parents.
Adore (Sundance)
Premiering at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, Adore finds lifelong friends Naomi Watts and Robin Wright falling in love with each other’s sons. Weeeird.
Riddick (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
You wanted another one of these, yes? Nine years after The Chronicles of Riddick, Vin Diesel and director David Twohy re-team for a third installment in the saga of science fiction anti-hero, Richard B. Riddick, aptly titled… Riddick. With a cult following, hard R-rating and early fall release, maybe it’s this year’s Dredd? Hey, you should watch Dredd! Now there’s a movie that deserves a sequel.
The Ultimate Life (Eastgate)
Jim Stovall’s novel The Ultimate Gift found moderate theatrical success with a 2006 adaptation. A prequel of sorts, The Ultimate Life follows benevolent millionaire Drew Fuller as he finds moral and spiritual guidance in his grandfather’s journal. From director Michael Landon, Jr., who’s produced a number of films under the “Fox Faith” subsidiary, The Ultimate Life also features Peter Fonda.
Instructions Not Included (Eastgate)
This Spanish-language comedy, about a man (Eugenio Derbez) left with a baby on his doorstep, quietly made $10.4 million over Labor Day weekend. That’s a domestic record for Spanish films, so maybe this is worth checking out at Eastgate this weekend.
Shuddh Desi Romance (AMC Star)
Play along with critics at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and check out Hindi rom-com Shuddh Desi Romance, which runs as part of the festival’s “Gala Presentation” series.
Saturday
Iron Man 3 (6:00p — Union South Marquee)
Le Doulos (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
Perhaps best known for his starring role in Jean Luc Godard’s New Wave classic, Breathless, Jean-Paul Belmondo plays a suspected police informant who may end up taking the fall for a heist gone wrong. The Cinematheque’s FREE Jean-Pierre Melville retrospective continues with one of the French director’s hard-boiled, stylized gems.
The Place Beyond the Pines (9:15p — Union South Marquee)
The Room (Midnight — Union South Marquee)
Sunday
Contempt (2:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
This fall, Cinematheque’s Sunday series at the Chazen Art Museum chronicles the 60th anniversary of the widescreen “Cinemascope” format. The series begins with Jean-Luc Godard’s Contempt, where screenwriter Michel Piccoli is hired by Jack Palance’s American producer to adapt Homer’s Odyssey into a big-screen epic.
Iron Man 3 (3:00p — Union South Marquee)
Monday
Animal House (Point, Eastgate)
Maybe you’re feeling nostalgic for college now that September is here. Or maybe you’re still in college. Wait, are you? Because you should be studying instead of catching one of Marcus Theatres’ four Animal House screenings. Definitely do not check their website for complete listings.
Starbuck (Point, Eastgate)
Before Ken Scott’s Vince Vaughn-helmed comedy Delivery Man comes to theaters this fall, Marcus Theatres is giving you a leg up with the chance to see Scott’s original French language Canadian comedy, Starbuck. Patrick Huard plays a former sperm donor who learns he’s fathered 533 children. Be a responsible parent and refer to Marcus Theatres for complete showtimes through Thursday.
Wednesday
Frances Ha (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Playing at Sundance earlier this year, WUD Film brings Noah Baumbach’s latest, Frances Ha, to the Union South Marquee. The film follows the dreams of Greta Gerwig’s young, fickle New Yorker. Just like Gerwig’s FREE spirit, this makes me want to spontaneously burst into dance! Quick, find me the nearest borough!
Some Like It Hot (1:25p, 6:45p — Sundance)
Billy Wilder’s classic comedy, where Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon disguise themselves as women after witnessing a mafia hit, plays twice as part of Sundance Cinema’s “Classics” series.