Thursday
Little Shop of Horrors (12:00p, 2:20p, 4:40p — Point; 2:25p, 4:40p, 10:20p — Eastgate)
LakeFront Cinema presents: “A Visit with Video Artist Aaron Granat” (6:30p — Central Madison Library, Rm 302)
After two long, cold, warm, and then cold again months, “LakeFront Cinema” is back at the Central Library. This time, Madison cinematographer, UW instructor and video artist Aaron Granat will appear in person to present highlights from his video portraiture. You can prepare for the FREE showcase in Room 302 by reading an interview with Aaron on his creative influences and a closer look at his music videos. Good times.
Dead Man Walking (6:30p — Central Madison Library, Rm 301)
Just next door, the Central Library and the Madison Opera are teaming up to promote the April 25-27 production of Dead Man Walking with Tim Robbins’ film of the same name. FREE.
La strada (7:00p — UW Education Building, L196)
La Cineteca presents Federico Fellini’s The Road, about a strongman who buys a young woman from her parents. Fellini’s now-recognized classic is a road movie — just not a Cormac McCarthy road movie. FREE.
“Damage Control:” The Films of Adam Paradis & JB Mabe (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Chicago-based filmmakers Adam Paradis and JB Mabe appear in person for FREE samples of their short films, ranging in such tasty flavors as found footage and documentary.
Russian Ark (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Sadly connected to the forthcoming Noah in name only, Aleksandr Sokurov’s surrealist drama finds a French aristocrat second-guessing his criticisms of Mother Russia when he travels through a museum and meets ghosts from history’s past. FREE.
Friday
“Pinney Mini Film Fest” (6:00p — Pinney Branch Library)
The Pinney Branch Library preps you for the Wisconsin Film Festival with some locally-grown filmmaking of their own. The short film showcase will feature Steven Miosku’s “Gears,” Sam Karow’s “3 Miles East,” and Brijetta Waller and Megan Monday “Solstice.” The filmmakers will appear in person and discuss their works afterward. FREE.
Russian Ark (6:00p — Union South Marquee)
The Iran Job (7:00p — Alicia Ashman Branch Library)
This documentary follows the life of Jacksonville soccer player-turned-basketballer Kevin Sheppard as he plays through a season on Iran’s A.S. Shiraz pro team. FREE.
The Big Country (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
William Wyler’s western throwback stars Gregory Peck as a man stuck in the midst of a land war between two families. FREE.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (8:00p — Union South Marquee)
Inglourious Basterds (11:00p — Union South Marquee)
If not Tarantino’s outright masterpiece, then at least the Tarantino film most seem to refer to as a “masterpiece.” Including Tarantino. FREE.
All freakin’ weekend
Noah (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate, Stoughton Cinema Cafe)
Featuring a famous group of Biblical names attached to arguably more famous celebrities, Noah marks the first bonafide big budget effort from director Darren Aronofsky. With review embargoes now lifted, surprisingly positive reviews have started to flood in. (Forgive me, Father, for I have punned.)
Bad Words (AMC Star, Sundance)
In Jason Bateman’s directorial debut, the comedian stars as a dickish man-child who tries to retroactively win a school spelling bee. From the looks of its red band trailer, Bad Words might be a chance for Bateman to flex his chops as lately the only bad words associated with Michael Bluth have been “plays the straight man.”
The Face of Love (Sundance)
Annette Bening stars as a widow who falls in love with a man (Ed Harris) who bears an uncanny resemblance to her very deceased husband (also Ed Harris). Alive or dead, maybe one of them can explain what was going on with General Hummel’s escape plan.
Sabotage (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Training Day scribe and End of Watch director David Ayer broadens his cop movie filmography, this time with DEA agents whose ranks are whittled down by a drug cartel. More importantly: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s back. Again.
Cesar Chavez (Eastgate)
Michael Peña stars as the American labor activist in this biopic directed by Diego Luna. Yes, this Diego Luna.
God’s Not Dead (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Hercules’ Kevin Sorbo continues his grand tradition of challenging any and all who stand in his way when his college philosophy professor instructs his class to disavow God. God isn’t dead, but I’m not so sure about subtlety.
Saturday
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (5:00p, 8:00p — Union South Marquee)
Dispatched (7:00p — Market Square Theatre)
Wausau’s action guru Jarrod Crooks debuts his new feature-length film, Dispatched, where a cop is reduced to protecting his police chief’s frisky daughter for a weekend. Tickets are $10 with the film’s cast and crew set to attend.
Trouble Every Day (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
The last in the Cinematheque’s “3 X Claire Denis” series, Trouble Every Day features two people who cannibalize their sexual partners. Remember: no food or drink in 4070 Vilas. FREE.
Inglourious Basterds (11:00p — Union South Marquee)
Sunday
North by Northwest (2:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
This paranoid Cary Grant thriller is your last chance to see one Hitchcock film per week for a while before the Wisconsin Film Festival — where you’ll get three chances per week. Sounds dreadful. FREE.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (3:00p — Union South Marquee)
MMXIII (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
Micro-Wave Cinema screens Ian Clark’s MMXIII, an “intermedia project encompassing cinema, performance, and visual art” that’s apparently quite a sumptuous visual experience. Clark to appear via Skype and admission is FREE.
Monday
Singin’ in the Rain (12:00p, 2:20p, 4:50p, 7:20p — Point; 11:10a, 1:40p, 4:10p, 6:30p — Eastgate)
You might be singin’ in the snow when Gene Kelly’s all-time classic comes to Point and Eastgate, but tickets are still just $5.
Tuesday
Brave Miss World (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Cecilia Peck’s documentary charts the humanitarian efforts of Linor Abargil, a former Miss Israel and Miss World winner who was brutally assaulted and raped mere weeks before competition. FREE.
Wednesday
Singin’ in the Rain (12:00p, 2:20p, 4:50p, 7:20p — Point; 11:10a, 1:40p, 4:10p, 6:30p, 9:00p — Eastgate)
The Silence of the Lambs (1:40p, 6:50p — Sundance)
No word yet on whether Sundance’s high-tier concessions staff are planning a “Fava Beans ‘n Chianti” tie-in with Jonathan Demme’s classic.
Videodrome (6:30p — Central Madison Library)
Central Cinema’s “Classic and Contemporary Cinema” series arrives a day early with David Cronenberg’s Videodrome, one of Cronenberg’s more Cronenbergian features. FREE.
GMO OMG (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Given the amount of weird crap we eat on a daily basis, people have become unwilling guinea pigs to genetically modified foods argues this documentary/palindrome. FREE.