The hit 2013 documentary “Cutie and the Boxer” rings in Cinematheque’s Spring calendar this Friday. FREE.
Thursday
Gladiator (3:10p, 9:55p — Point; 3:30p, 10:10p — Eastgate)
Out of Africa (6:25p — Point; 6:45p — Eastgate)
Gymkata (6:30p — Central Public Library, Rm 302)
“Bad Cinema” returns to the Central library with this 1985 martial arts flop. The film stars gold medal gymnast Kurt Thomas who’s approached by the “Special Intelligence Agency” to compete in a deadly overseas competition in a fictional country. To Parmistan we go! FREE.
An American in Paris (7:15p — Point; 6:45p — Eastgate)
Friday
Key of Life (7:00p — Alicia Ashman Branch Library)
In Kenji Uchida’s comedic thriller, a failed actor unknowingly swaps identities with an assassin. Japanese with English subtitles, Key of Life is another FREE entry in the library’s “Best of the Fests” film series.
Cutie and the Boxer (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
The UW Cinematheque begins its spring calendar with this widely-acclaimed 2013 documentary. “Boxing” painter Ushio Shinohara, now in his 80s, tries to stage the latest of late career comebacks alongside his wife and confidant “Cutie,” who depicts their eccentric marriage with her stunning illustrations. FREE.
All freakin’ weekend
Devil’s Due (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
What’s more terrifying than a premature pregnancy? How about when your evil offspring begins to possess your wife’s soul? That do anything for ya?
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
The trailers dub him as “the director of Thor,” but Kenneth Branagh’s take on the titular Tom Clancy character makes one wonder what a thespian and Shakespeare vet can bring to the action-espionage arena. For one thing, he’s starring alongside Chris Pine’s fresh-faced Jack Ryan as the film’s big baddie, Viktor Cherevin. Sounds like a good start.
Ride Along (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Kevin Hart attempts to win the respect of his soon-to-be brother-in-law (Ice Cube) by shadowing him on a 24-hour Atlanta police patrol. Hilarity ensues — and Training Day references probably.
The Nut Job (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Will Arnett voices a squirrel who plans an “outrageous” nut store heist. With Disney’s Frozen has dominated theaters for weeks, could The Nut Job take the throne as January’s hit family film? Ice Queen? Or nut heist?
Saturday
Nostalghia (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Vall)
The first of Andrei Tarkovsky’s films to be shot outside the USSR, Nostalghia is the haunting story of a Russian poet who travels to Italy to study the life of a Russian composer — and finds his life inexorably altered when he meets a local lunatic (Erland Josephson). Part of Cinematheque’s Spring “Special Presentations,” Nostalghia screens FREE on a new 35mm print.
Sunday
Micro-Wave Cinema: You Make Me Feel So Young & The International Sign for Choking (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
How’s this for indie filmmaking? The new Micro-Wave Cinema Series plucks little-known films from independent obscurity and screens them for FREE. The inaugural event is a double-feature and promises a post-screening Q&A with the director of both films, Zach Weintraub.
Monday
Gigi (1:30p — Point; 10:45a — Eastgate)
Marcus Theatres’ Entertainment Network follows An American in Paris with yet another Vincente Minnelli musical. Leslie Caron stars as Gigi, the object of a rich playboy’s (Louis Jourdan) affections in this modern-styled “Cinderella story.”
Driving Miss Daisy (4:10p, 9:35p — Point; 1:25p, 9:00p — Eastgate)
Jessica Tandy plays a strong-headed Southern matron against Morgan Freeman’s chauffeur in Bruce Beresford’s adaptation of the Pullitzer-winning stage play.
A Beautiful Mind (6:35p — Point; 6:00p — Eastgate)
In Ron Howard’s Oscar-winning drama, Russell Crowe goes through the psychological wringer in depicting American mathematician John Nash’s lifelong struggles with schizophrenia. Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany co-star.
Tuesday
A Beautiful Mind (1:30p, 9:35p — Point; 12:00p, 10:20p — Eastgate)
Gigi (4:30p — Point; 5:15p — Eastgate)
Driving Miss Daisy (7:10p — Point; 7:55p — Eastgate)
Wednesday
Driving Miss Daisy (1:30p — Point; 12:35p — Eastgate)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1:40p, 6:55p — Sundance)
Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates — all your old high school pals are back, provided you went to high school thirty years ago. The teen comedy of choice for 40-somethings everywhere, Fast Times at Ridgemont High is this week’s Sundance Cinemas Madison’s “Classic” selection.
A Beautiful Mind (5:10p — Eastgate)
Gigi (6:55p, 9:35p — Point; 8:00p, 10:30p — Eastgate)
Chasing the Ghost Particle (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Chasing the Ghost Particle follows a real group of Antarctic scientists who, in search of microscopic neutrinos, construct a massive space telescope made entirely of ice. It already sounds better than The Thing remake. Co-presented by WUD Film and the Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center.