UPDATED 4/14/2014: Banff Mountain Film Festival screenings added to Tuesday and Wednesday’s programming
UPDATED 4/16/2014: Heaven is for Real added to Wednesday’s programming
After I (and really, the city) took a week off for the film festival, which wraps its 2014 run today, “What’s Playing, Madison?” is back and more self-serving than ever:
Thursday
Race to Execution (6:30p — Central Madison Library, Rm 302)
This Independent Lens documentary pokes holes in the American death penalty system. FREE.
Tutta la vita davanti (7:00p — L196, UW Education Building)
In Your Whole Life Ahead of You, Isabella Ragonese’s young graduate begrudgingly takes a job at a call center. La Cineteca presents this Italian language comedy FREE.
The Great Beauty (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
All screenings are FREE.
Philomena (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
All screenings are FREE.
Friday
The Great Beauty (6:00p — Union South Marquee)
Model Shop (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
Gary Lockwood plays an American draftee who meets Anouk Aimée’s enthralling model in the first of Cinematheque’s four-film series. And you suckers thought Jacques Demy ended with the festival. FREE.
All is Lost (7:00p — Alicia Ashman Branch Library)
All is FREE.
Nebraska (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
There’s no silver lining to suffering from Alzheimer’s but Bruce Dern’s quest to (mistakenly) claim a million dollar prize will be presented by director Alexander Payne himself. That’s got to count for something. FREE.
The Big Lebowski (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
FREE at midnight.
All freakin’ weekend
Enemy (Sundance)
In addition to having a fantastic poster, Prisoners director Denis Villeneuve’s latest sounds like a gripping story of one man’s search for his look-a-like. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jake Gyllenhaal’s look-a-like.
The Raid 2 (Sundance)
Gareth Evans and Iko Uwais are back for more action with bigger stunts, harder hits, and a slightly shorter title.
The Lunchbox (Sundance)
Call me sentimental but Ritesh Batra’s romantic comedy, where a widower (Irfan Khan) befriends a neglected wife (Nimrat Kaur) over India’s lunch delivery service, looks downright charming for a first-time feature.
Rio 2 (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate, Stoughton Cinema Cafe)
Talking macaws Blu and Jewel are back for more action with bigger stunts, harder hits, and a slightly longer title.
Draft Day (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
At work yesterday, I caught a glimpse of Kevin Costner’s appearance on SportsCenter to promote his new movie about a GM’s efforts to rebuild a struggling NFL franchise. Look for this to be only a little less bombastic than your average NFL promo. Co-starring Jennifer Garner.
Oculus (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
A brother and sister investigate the mystery surrounding the deaths of their parents ten years ago. I’m still trying to figure out why Facebook would want to buy a movie about a haunted mirror.
Race Gurram (AMC Star)
The story of two brothers and what happens when one crosses the line.
Saturday
Why Worry? (2:00p, 7:00p — Overture Center, Capitol Theater)
The Overture Center’s silent film club screens Harold Lloyd’s comedy wherein his hypochondriac stumbles in the middle of a country’s revolution. Tickets are $7.
Philomena (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
Richard Fleischer’s love triangle is based on the true story of showgirl Evelyn Nesbit Shaw (Joan Collins) whose lover was famously murdered at the hands of her husband in 1906. FREE.
Nebraska (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
The Big Lebowski (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
Sunday
Psycho (2:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
Because we all go a little mad sometimes without FREE Hitchcock on tap.
Philomena (3:00p — Union South Marquee)
Cheap Thrills (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
A personal favorite from last year’s Wisconsin Film Festival, Cheap Thrills has finally started making the distribution rounds. It comes back to Madison for FREE with director E.L. Katz and actor Pat Healy in tow.
Caddyshack (7:30p — Odana Hills Golf Course)
Madison Parks’ Moonlight Movie Series is back with (an edited version of) the late Harold Ramis’ Caddyshack. For the kids. FREE.
Monday
The Shawshank Redemption (12:00p, 3:10p, 6:20p, 9:30p — Point; 12:10p, 3:20p, 6:30p, 9:35p — Eastgate)
In March, Marcus Theatres’ Entertainment Network ran a month-long series for $5 musicals. This month is, well, a little different as last week’s The Notebook is followed with Shawshank, The Neverending Story, and then Blazing Saddles, respectively. Marcus will think of some way to tie them all in. Maybe.
Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject (2:00p — Alicia Ashman Branch Library)
This short documentary considers end-of-life questions while asking the audience “How do you want to live?” FREE.
The Right to Heal (6:15p — Union South Marquee)
A panel discussion will follow this documentary advocating universal access to surgical care. Just hold on to your Junior Mints. FREE. Presented by the UW Global Health Institute.
Tuesday
Banff Mountain Film Festival (7:00p — Barrymore Theatre)
Another year, another mountain climbing-themed film festival courtesy of Canada’s Banff Centre. If a return to cold temps doesn’t do it for ya, two evenings worth of programs selected for Madison audiences should be enough to recreate the mountaineering experience. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 on the day of the show, and $20 for a two-day pass.
Not My Life (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Rounding out Madison’s apparent “Downer Documentary” series this week is a continent-spanning production on the perils and impact of human trafficking. Co-presented FREE by WUD Film and UNICEF UW-Madison.
Burn the Money (7:00p — Inferno Nightclub)
Produced here in Madison, Burn the Money features its protagonist rising up against capitalist lies, presumably (judging from the trailer) while wearing lots of clown makeup. Tickets are $10 at the door and $10 with clown makeup.
Wednesday
And The Oscar Goes To… (Sundance, Eastgate)
On their home page, Sundance Cinemas Madison has this Academy Awards documentary as their “Classic” selection this week. Forget that it’s also playing at Eastgate; TCM’s documentary is a 2014 release. A “Classic” about classics then? I’ll allow it.
Heaven is for Real (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Starring Greg Kinnear, this adaptation finds a young boy convincing his loved ones he saw heaven during a near-death experience. Afterlife or otherwise, I’m betting there wasn’t any snow there.
The Shawshank Redemption (12:00p, 3:10p, 6:20p, 9:30p — Point; 12:10p, 3:20p, 9:35p — Eastgate)
Starship Troopers (5:30p — Alicia Ashman Branch Library)
Alicia Ashman’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club meets for a discussion of Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers as well as Robert Heinlein’s original book. Admission is FREE because to fight the bug, you’ve got to understand the bug.
Banff Mountain Film Festival (7:00p — Barrymore Theatre)
The State of Arizona (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Having played last year at the Central Madison Library, this documentary looks at Arizona’s controversial Senate Bill 1070. FREE. Co-presented by WUD Film and the Havens Center.