Dazzling, rich, and violent, Jia Zhangke’s “A Touch of Sin” plays Friday at 4070 Vilas in its only Madison screening of 2013. FREE.
Thursday
I’m Not Scared (6:00p — Mosse Humanities Building, Rm 1101)
A boy (Giuseppe Cristiano) findsa young man imprisoned in the ground in this Italian language thriller. FREE.
Inside Llewyn Davis (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
Well ain’t this a dandy. UW Cinematheque is offering an encore presentation of the Coens’ new film, Inside Llewyn Davis. In addition to a terrific lead performance from Oscar Isaac, it has some superb folk arrangements. Oh, and it’s FREE. Doors open at 6:15p.
Anchorman Brew ‘n View (7:30p — Majestic Theatre)
The legend continues next week with the release of Anchorman 2, and the Majestic Theatre thinks it’s kind of a big deal. Tickets are $5 for their latest Brew ‘n View, and doors open at 6:30p.
The Hobbit Double Feature (8:30p — AMC Star; 8:00p — Point, Eastgate)
Experience The Hobbit the way Tolkien intended with er, back-to-back screenings of An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug.
Turn Me on, Dammit! (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
On the brink of a sexual coming-of-age, 15-year-old Alma (Helene Bergsholm) wrestles with raging hormones in her boring Norwegian town. One of two FREE screenings.
Friday
A Touch of Sin (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
Jia Zhangke is often regarded as one of the foremost masters of modern cinema, from critics to President Xi Jinping. The director’s latest, A Touch of Sin combines four distinctstories of violence into a cinematic “state of the nation” address. It plays FREE courtesy of the UW Cinematheque in what may very well be its only theatrical screening in Madison.
Turn Me on Dammit! (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Elf (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
WUD Film gets into the holiday spirit with Will Ferrell’s 2003 Christmas comedy. One of two FREE screenings.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (11:59p — Point, Eastgate)
After witnessing a crazed man in a Santa suit butcher his parents, a man’s traumatic childhood turns him into a raging holiday killer in this controversial cult favorite.
Withnail & I (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
Two unemployed actors drown their sorrows in alcohol, drugs and lighter fluid while on holiday at a flamboyant uncle’s cottage. Bruce Robinson’s black comedy was famously produced by George Harrison. One of two FREE midnight screenings.
All freakin’ weekend
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Sundance, AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
After a three-hour walk to the Anduin River, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, and their company of 13 dwarves can finally get down to business: killin’ dragons. Wait, dragons? What dragons? There hasn’t been a dragon in these parts for over a thousand years!
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Convinced by a friend to pay her daughter a visit during the holidays, Tyler Perry’s Madea brings outsized hilarity and insanity to the country in wholly expected fashion.
The Christmas Candle (Eastgate)
Set in the village of Gladbury, this drama tells the story of an angel who comes down from heaven every quarter century and blesses a single candle with the power to grant a miracle.
Saturday
Communication Arts Showcase (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
A semester’s worth of special presentations at the Cinematheque culminates in a 90-minute showcase of student and faculty projects from film to video to animation. And it’s all FREE, of course.
Elf (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Die Hard (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Is Die Hard the best action movie of all-time? Or simply the best Christmas action movie of all-time? Either way, Bruce Willis’ one-man war against a ruthless terrorist plays twice this weekend for FREE. Yippy kay yay.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (11:59p — Point, Eastgate)
Withnail & I (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
Sunday
Trapeze (2:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
After suffering a devastating injury, Burt Lancaster’s trapeze artist finds his relationship with a young protege (Tony Curtis) tested when they fall for the same woman (Gina Lollobrigida). It’s the final “Cinemascope at 60” screening, and it’s FREE!
Die Hard (3:00p — Union South Marquee)
Monday
Mariinsky Ballet: Nutcracker 2D (2:00p, 4:30p — Point, Eastgate)
Russian artist Mikhail Shemiakin returns Tchaikovsky’s timeless Christmas suite to St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, the home of its debut over 120 years ago.
Bad Santa (7:00p, 9:30p — Point, Eastgate)
Terry Zwigoff’s darkly comic Bad Santa stars Billy Bob Thornton as a depressed alcoholic who moonlights as a mall Santa while ripping off department stores during the holidays. It’s rude. It’s crude. It’s hilarious.
Tuesday
Mariinsky Ballet: Nutcracker 2D (2:00p, 4:30p — Point; 11:30a — Eastgate)
Bad Santa (7:00p, 9:30p — Point; 2:00p, 4:30p — Eastgate
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Ron Burgundy, Brick Tamlin and the rest of the Channel 4 News Team are recruited to join the first ever 24-hour news channel. What could go wrong? Oh, and Point and Eastgate are also offering an Anchorman mini-marathon at 7:00p, screening both films back-to-back. Don’t act like you’re not impressed.
Wednesday
Mariinsky Ballet: Nutcracker 2D (1:00p — Point, Eastgate
Bad Santa (3:40 PM — Point, Eastgate)
It’s a Wonderful Life (1:55p, 6:45p — Sundance)
Frank Capra’s timeless story of a man who’s shown what life would be like without him is Sundance Cinemas Madison’s latest Holiday Classics selection.