Thursday
Stoker (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Screenwriter Wentworth Miller sure has a peculiar sense of “nature vs. nurture.” In Stoker, Park Chan-wook directs Mia Wasikowska on a bizarre ride to maturity, one complete with crazy widow Nicole Kidman, crazier uncle Matthew Goode, and murrrderrrrr. With loads of style and atmosphere, Stoker is absolutely insane. WUD Film brings one of the year’s best films to Union South’s doorstep for FREE.
This is the End (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have gotten mainstream attention ever since their script for Superbad barfed its way onto the scene in 2007. In This is the End, the pair share duties behind the camera too, directing the likes of Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride (all playing satirical versions of themselves) as all of Hollywood crumbles to oblivion. You may not have wanted giant demon wieners, but by God, you’re gettin ’em anyway. For FREE.
Friday
This is the End (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
The Punisher (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
In addition to Dolph Lundgren’s non-stop vigilante justice, the UW Cinematheque’s FREE special presentation of The Punisher (1989) will also feature a guest appearance by the film’s editor Mark Goldblatt, famous for shepherding the classical Hollywood editing style into 80s action films.
Stoker (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Oldboy (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
In light of Spike Lee’s forthcoming Oldboy remake, it’s important to remember never to judge a film before one sees it. I’m going to anyway, because it’s very, very hard for this writer to justify a rehash of Park Chan-wook’s 2003 masterpiece. Catch one of WUD Film’s two FREE midnight screenings this weekend and talk me down from the ledge.
All freakin’ weekend
Hannah Arendt (Sundance)
German-born Barbara Sukowa has certainly come a long way in her career. A far cry from 1995’s godawful Johnny Mnemonic, the actress stars as the titular philosopher/journalist in Hannah Arendt, a biographical drama about her reporting on the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. Arendt is well known (and was widely criticized) for her philosophical approach to understanding the “banality of evil,” which has since helped me rationalize the existence of telemarketers.
Thanks for Sharing (Sundance)
The co-writer of 2010’s hit The Kids Are Alright makes his directorial debut with Thanks for Sharing, a romantic comedy that sees Tim Robbins, Mark Ruffalo, and Josh Gad all struggle to reconcile their personal lives with varied stages of sex addiction.
Prisoners (Sundance, AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Denis Villeneuve’s new thriller, in which Hugh Jackman takes the investigation of his missing daughter into his adamantium-free hands, sounds like a real hoot. But not because it also stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Viola Davis and Paul Dano. And it’s not because of the presence of perpetually-snubbed cinematography mastermind Roger Deakins. It’s the awesome character names, because if “Keller Dover” and “Detective Loki” don’t sound like rejected Pacific Rim monikers, I don’t know what’s what.
Battle of the Year (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Josh Holloway, Chris Brown, and Josh Peck all star in this 3D dance vehicle, where teams vie for the top prize in an international dance competition. With Step Up 5 not due in theaters until next year, somebody’s gotta fill that gap. And yes, I did just Google “Step Up Sequel.”
The Wizard of Oz: An IMAX 3D Experience (AMC Star)
When MGM’s adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic first hit the big screen in 1939, audiences everywhere were thinking ‘Hey, this whole Technicolor thing is okay, but what this film really needs is IMAX 3D.’ [citation needed]
One Direction: This is Us “New Fan Extended Cut” (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
This isn’t your father’s One Direction: This is Us, as in the one released in theaters a month ago. This is the “New Fan Extended Cut,” which adds 20 minutes and four extra songs to Morgan Spurlock’s far inferior “Layman’s Cut.” There’s also One Direction: This is Us 3D “New Fan Extended Cut,” but even that is a cut below One Direction: This is Us 3D “New Double-Triple Bacon Fan Extended Cut with Cheese.” So that last one isn’t actually a thing, but it would make a damn fine way to get me back into contemporary teen pop.
Saturday
Le cercle rouge (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
Alain Delon’s recently released convict, Gian Maria Volonté’s escapee, and Yves Montand’s boozy ex-cop all plot a jewel heist in Le cercle rouge, the penultimate film in UW Cinematheque’s FREE Jean-Pierre Melville series.
This is the End (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Stoker (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Oldboy (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
Sunday
The Girl Can’t Help It (2:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
Edmond O’ Brien’s mobster hires Tom Ewell to make his wife, Jayne Mansfield, a star when Cinematheque’s FREE “Cinemascope at 60” series continues this Sunday at the Chazen Art Museum.
This is the End (3:00p — Union South Marquee)
Monday
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (4:00p, 9:15p — Point Eastgate)
Eat some pizza, learn about Cuba, and see Amy Heckerling’s 1982 classic at a Marcus Theatre near you.
Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey (6:30p — Point; 4:00p, 9:15p — Eastgate)
While surely not every man’s journey, the blue collar pun is still appreciated in this music documentary about Journey adjusting to a new lead singer.
Skatetown, U.S.A. (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Skatetown, U.S.A., a retro 70’s picture of the dramatic world of roller disco, really needs no introduction. Just watch the trailer. Part of the UW Cinematheque and WUD Film’s FREE fall collaborations, Skatetown, U.S.A. stars Scott Baio and Patrick Swayze in his first ever onscreen performance. But seriously, that trailer.
Tuesday
Don’t Stop Believin: Everyman’s Journey (4:00p — Point, Eastgate)
Unstoppable: Live Event with Kirk Cameron (7:00p — Point Eastgate)
Unstoppable is Growing Pains star and Christian filmmaker Kirk Cameron’s documentary on struggling with one’s faith in times of mass tragedy. That’s something I just read in this Fox News story.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (4:30p — Point; 10:00p — Eastgate)
Wednesday
Fight Club (1:20p, 6:30p — Sundance)
I am Jack’s latest addition to Sundance’s “Classics” film series.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (4:30p — Point Eastgate)
Pompeii Live from the British Museum (7:30p — Point, Eastgate)
Fathom Events presents an exclusive live event of the British Museum’s Pompeii exhibition.
Cinema Purgatorio: Low Movie (How to Quit Smoking) (8:00p — Barrymore Theatre)
Phil Harder’s Low Movie documents the history of Minnesota indie rockers, Low, and their relationship with, well… Phil Harder. Drawing from many of the music videos Harder directed for the band, the documentary played earlier this year at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival. Tickets are $10 at the door, but you can also pre-order yours online at the Barrymore’s website.
Don’t Stop Believin: Everyman’s Journey (9:30p — Point, Eastgate)