Opening at Sundance Cinemas Madison this weekend, J.C. Chandor’s “All is Lost” features an accomplished performance from Robert Redford. And absolutely nobody else.
11/8 UPDATED: The Overture Center’s two silent film screenings and “Community Cinema” at the Public Library have been added to the week’s programming
Thursday
The Big Lebowski (11:50a — Point, Eastgate)
Inequality for All (12:15p, 2:50p, 5:25p, 8:00p, 10:35p — Point)
Thor Marvel Movie Marathon (2:30p — Point, Eastgate)
November isn’t the prototypical month for big action blockbusters, but this mini-marathon let’s us live in denial anyway with back-to-back-to-back screenings Thor, The Avengers, and the newest Marvel installment, Thor: The Dark World. All for $20. Great Odin’s raven, of course it’s in 3D.
The Killing (6:30p — Madison Central Public Library, Rm 302)
Before Full Metal Jacket and The Shining, and certainly before all those crazy Room 237 theories, Stanley Kubrick made The Killing, a race track holdup told from varying points of view. Starring Sterling Hayden and Coleen Gray, The Killing plays for FREE as part of the Central Public Library’s monthly “Classic and Contemporary Cinema” series.
Let the Fire Burn (7:00p — Madison Museum of Contemporary Art)
Jason Osder’s documentary takes a stunning look back at Philadelphia in 1985, when police officers set ablaze a home housing members of an urban liberation group and, as the title suggests, horrifically chose to let the home burn to the ground. Judging from this advance review at the Madison Movie Blog, MMoCA’s latest “Spotlight Cinema” entry is not to be missed. $7 for general audiences. FREE to museum members.
Like Someone in Love (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
In this 2012 Japanese language drama, Rin Takanashi plays a beautiful call girl whose latest client is a shy 80-year old widower. Like Someone in Love marks only the second film set outside of Iran for master craftsman Abbas Kiarostami. FREE.
Top Gun (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
These days, it’s easy to joke about Michael Bay’s over-the-top reverence for guns and the military, but there was a time when the music video style was a big honkin’ deal in action films. The Tom Cruise Air Force vehicle, Top Gun, marks one of the first to employ that style. Tony Scott, you can be my wingman anytime. FREE.
Friday
In the Year of the Pig (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
With October now in the rearview, the Cinematheque’s November series focuses on documentarian Emile de Antonio with “Dissenting Voice of the Cold War.” De Antonio’s anti-Vietnam War documentary, In the Year of the Pig, was apparently his personal favorite. Considering its original release was met with outrage and even death threats from audiences, I’m willing to bet not everyone loved it as much as he did. FREE.
Like Someone in Love (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
The Heat (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock play a mismatched pair of investigators. One of three FREE screenings from WUD Film this weekend.
Being John Malkovich (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
Ever wonder what it would be like to get inside an actor’s head? What about John Cusack inside an actor’s head? This brilliant offbeat comedy finds Cusack’s puppeteer manipulating a portal into John Malkovich’s mind for his own selfish ends. Come see the film that elevated Spike Jonze from skate videos to Hollywood at one of two midnight screenings this weekend. FREE.
All freakin’ weekend
All is Lost (Sundance)
J.C. Chandor’s survival at sea film’s iMDb page could fit on the back of a business card. That’s because Robert Redford, who delivers a dazzling one-man performance, is the only credited cast member.
About Time (AMC Star, Point)
From the director of Notting Hill and Love Actually comes this story of a time-traveling lover boy (Domhnall Gleeson) and his romantically comedic attempts to win the affections of one, Rachel MacAdams.
Thor: The Dark World (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
A seasoned man of television, director Alan Taylor takes a crack at the Norse God of Thunder in this Marvel sequel. Unable to defeat a new enemy (Christopher Eccleston), Thor takes a great risk to protect the realms of Asgard and Earth from certain annihilation. On the plus side, Loki’s back.
Saturday
Nosferatu (2:00p, 7:00p — Capitol Theater)
How neat is this? The Overture Center is bringing three classic silent films to the Capitol Theater for its “Duck Soup Cinema” program, with each screening featuring stellar live organ accompaniment. Saturday features two showings of F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for kids 12 and under. Be sure to order in advance as all seats are reserved.
The Crowd Roars (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
James Cagney stars as a motor-racing superstar who returns home to try his hand at a local event. First released in 1932, The Crowd Roars marks the first FREE film in the Cinematheque’s “Early Years” series on Howard Hawks.
The Heat (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Top Gun (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Being John Malkovich (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
Sunday
Risky Business (1:35p — Sundance)
It may be the Year of the Pig for the Cinematheque, but it’s clearly the “Week of the Cruise” for everyone else. He stars as a Chicago teenager who will indeed play while his parents are away.
The True Story of Jesse James (2:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
Rebel Without a Cause director Nicholas Wray presents his own rendition on the famous outlaw, played here by Robert Wagner. Part of the “CinemaScope at 60” series, this plays FREE at the Chazen Art Museum.
The Heat (3:00p — Union South Marquee)
Monday
Honor Flight (12:30p, 2:35p, 7:00p — Point, Eastgate)
Watch as one midwest town works to bring every remaining World War II veteran to the the Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. If that weren’t already heartwarming enough, Marcus Theatres is offering FREE Honor Flight admission for all vets and members of the military on Veteran’s Day.
Smokey and the Bandit (4:40p, 9:05p – Point, Eastgate)
Burt Reynolds is tasked with hauling a tractor trailer full of beer across county lines before the sheriff can catch him — sounds tailor made for Wisconsin. Co-starring Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, and that tractor trailer.
DMT: The Spirit Molecule (6:30p — Union South Marquee)
Dimethyltryptamine, nicknmaed the “spirit molecule,” is a powerful hallucinogen found inside the human brain. Director Mitch Schulz looks to research and host Joe Rogan to explain the strange phenomenon behind this powerful chemical. Co-presented by WUD Film and WUD Society & Politics. FREE.
Tuesday
Honor Flight (1:35p – Point, Eastgate)
Smokey and the Bandit (3:40p – Point, Eastgate)
Wednesday
Honor Flight (3:55p — Point, Eastgate)
Smokey and the Bandit (1:35p — Point, Eastgate)
Risky Business (2:00p, 7:15p — Sundance)
The State of Arizona (6:30p — Central Public Library, Rm 302)
Arizona’s “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act” (infamously known simply as Arizona SB 1070) has been no stranger to public outcry since it was signed into law in 2010, with its harshest critics claiming it encourages racial profiling in deterring Arizona’s illegal immigration. Directors Carlos Sandoval and Catherine Tambini take a deep look at the controversial legislation with the Public Library’s latest FREE “Community Cinema” installment.
The House I Live In (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Eugene Jarecki takes a hard, engrossing look at the American justice system in this documentary. This FREE “Social Cinema” screening is co-presented WUD Film and the UW Havens Center.