Sid Boyum restorations, Sausage Party, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Thursday
“A Celebration of Sid Boyum: Film, Art & Stories” (6:00p — Pinney Library)
Following Sid Boyum’s death in 1991, a conservation effort resulted in the artist’s sculptures popping up throughout the Schenk-Atwood neighborhood. A massive preservation of his home (and even more artwork) gathered steam just last year, and leading the charge are the Friends of Sid Boyum, who are branching out their fundraising efforts with a celebration of the Madison artist’s filmmaking. The restored footage, co-presented by the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research, includes a silent visit to the Gisholt Machine Company building now occupied by ShopBop and a lengthy camping trip. Studebakers with canoes affixed to their tops zip along country roads and barefoot adventurers wade out into lakes, and it’s all shot on 16mm. It’s a fascinating look at Boyum’s interest in cinema and makes for an amazing series of personalized, historical records. Friends of Sid Boyum’s Karen Bassler and Brian Standing will be on hand to provide context and moderate any stories that will surely be welcome. (FREE admission.)
All freakin’ weekend
Sausage Party (AMC Star, Marcus Point)
Adorable anthropomorphic food items search for their place in the universe when a journey from the grocery store ends in a hellish apocalypse of potato skinning and baby (carrot) eating . If Sausage Party‘s talking Twinkie is to be believed, “the Blazing Saddles of our generation” sounds like a supremely messed up spin on a Pixar movie, with at least a few Saving Private Ryan references thrown in. This may be a takedown of our belief in an afterlife or simply a Tyler Durden-esque prank by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to expose kids to dick jokes. Either way, God bless Megan Ellison for this.
Gleason (Sundance)
It’s more than a stretch to mark Steve Gleason’s blocked punt against the 2006 Atlanta Falcons as the turning point for a post-Katrina New Orleans. Besides, the former Saints safety has a far more moving story to tell. From Finders Keepers director Clay Tweel, Gleason looks at a life ravaged by ALS, from the literal highs of skydiving to the debilitating lows Lou Gehrig’s Disease has visited on Gleason, his wife and his son.
Friday
Don’t Breathe (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Three small-time crooks (Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto) are in over their heads after they botch the burglary of a blind war vet. (Stephen Lang.) Two weeks ahead of release, WUD Film has a sneak peek of Fede Alvarez’s response to his Evil Dead critics. (FREE admission.)
The Big Lebowski (8:30p — Breese Stevens Field)
(FREE admission.)
Saturday
Aladdin (8:00p — Arbor Hills Park)
It may have taken three months, but Madison Parks’ Moonlight Movies are back, and although there are two other companion screenings this week, neither comes close to Disney’s classic if slightly culturally retrograde Robin Williams vehicle. (FREE admission.)
“Off the Wall” (9:00p — Arts + Lit Laboratory)
(FREE admission. Doors at 8:30p.)
Tuesday
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (8:30p — Edgewater Hotel Plaza)
Like Aladdin, nostalgia colors over the not-so-subtle racism here, but Temple of Doom earns its PG-13 reputation with more than monkey brains, human sacrifice and “magical brown men.” Raiders of the Lost Ark openly referenced pulp stories and adventure serials. Spielberg’s first (and best) of his three follow-ups peels off the layers of Nazi intrigue and pre-war geopolitics, moving backwards in Indy’s biography for a fundamental story about death — and all because of some silly, little rock. Leave your haughty Egyptian headpieces at home. (FREE admission.)