UPDATED 2/18/2014: WUD Film’s Fuego screening added to Wednesday’s programming.
Thursday
Cutie and the Boxer (12:10p, 2:20p, 4:30p — Point; 12:00p, 2:05p, 4:10p, 10:25p — Eastgate)
The Trials of Muhammad Ali (6:30p — Central Madison Library, Rm 302)
UW-Madison alum and co-director of 2002’s Oscar-nominated The Weather Underground, Bill Siegel presents his latest documentary at the Central Madison Library. Detailing the tumultuous decade of Ali’s politics and activism throughout the 1960s, the film will be followed by a panel discussion with Siegel and various guests including Ibrahim Saeed of the Islamic Center of Madison and WXXM host Stu Levitan. Earlier this week, Bill discussed his experience making the film. FREE.
Short Term 12 (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Not just one of the year’s best indies, Short Term 12 was also one of 2013’s best films period. Brie Larson stars as the head supervisor in a short-term foster home working alongside her co-worker and boyfriend (John Gallagher, Jr.). FREE.
Inequality for All (7:00p — Barrymore Theater)
Jacob Kornbluth directs this documentary on income equality as filtered through the ideas of American political economist Robert Reich. Followed by a panel discussion. While the event is FREE, a $5 donation at the door would be highly appropriate due to, you know, the whole equality thing.
L’uomo perfetto (7:00p — L196 Education Building)
UW’s La Cineteca program presents this Italian-language romantic comedy. FREE.
Before Midnight (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Friday
Barry Lyndon (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
Stanley Kubrick’s follow-up to A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon presents the life of William Thackeray’s title character via a series of extended episodes. Do the exploits of an Irish adventurer really make for a good date movie, though? Arts Extract’s Scott Gordon has some thoughts on the matter. FREE.
Moonrise Kingdom (7:00 — Alicia Ashman Branch Library)
The familiar twee of Wes Anderson’s mise-en-scène is tailor-made for this adorable story of young love between two rebellious teens. The Alicia Ashman Branch’s staff just has one question: “What kind of bird are you?“ FREE.
Before Midnight (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Short Term 12 (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Miss Congeniality (11:59 — Union South Marquee)
Before her days as a medical engineer-turned-astronaut, Sandra Bullock was busy busting heads as an FBI agent. Her greatest mission? That one time she went undercover in a beauty pageant. I hear bomb defusing makes for a top-notch talent. FREE.
All freakin’ weekend
The Armstrong Lie (Sundance)
Hot off his excellent We Steal Secrets, documentary machine Alex Gibney is back with an incisive look at seven-time Tour de France winning cyclist Lance Armstrong and the extreme lengths to which he concealed his elaborate doping ring. Undoubtedly riveting, the film might be less interesting than how it was made; here’s Gibney and producer Frank Marshall on how they were forced to rethink their initially uplifting film when news of Armstrong broke.
Oscar-nominated documentary short films (Sundance)
Among this year’s crop of documentary shorts that grabbed the attention of AMPAS is “Facing Fear” by UW grad Jason Cohen. The film follows a reformed neo-Nazi and the victim of his hate crime as their lives intersect 25 years later. Rob Thomas has all the details at Madison Movie Blog.
Digital Ubiquitous Film Festival 2014
From Sightseers to Shut Up and Play the Hits, Madison journalist and streaming video connoisseur Jason Dean’s “DUFF” has a solid lineup this year. You should know, since you voted for it. Like always, the real appeal is the convenience as every title is available for streaming on Netflix Instant. The party starts Friday at 6:00p and runs through Sunday evening. Arrive early to ensure you find a spot on your couch to engage with other “festival-goers” via Facebook and Twitter.
About Last Night (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Kevin Hart and Regina Hall star in the remake of Edward Zwick’s 80s rom-com where two couples sort out their lives among a pair of budding romances.
Winter’s Tale (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
This adaptation of Mark Helprin’s fantastical romance novel features Colin Farrell as a burglar who sets out across time to save the dead woman of his dreams (Jessica Brown Findlay) when he learns he has the power of reincarnation. You could say there’s a lot going on here. Or Jennifer Connelly and Russell Crowe could say it.
Endless Love (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Gabriella Wilde and Magic Mike’s Alex Pettyfer star in Endless Love redux because when there’s love, there’s probably a remake.
Saturday
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (10:00a — Point, Eastgate)
Only $2.00 to catch 2013’s Percy Jackson sequel? You bet. Marcus Theatres’ Kids Dream Winter Film series continues.
Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight (6:00p, 8:00p, 9:30p — Union South Marquee)
The half of me that’s on board with this is in danger of being thrown over a bateau mouche by my film snob side. Ideally, Richard Linklater’s masterful trilogy with Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke ought to be experienced with some time in between titles. That said, it’s hard to hate on the WUD Film Committee’s Saturday and Sunday marathons. FREE.
The Summer of Flying Fish and Thursday Till Sunday (7:00p, 8:45p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
It’s another double-bill from the Cinematheque and UW LACIS’ “New Chilean Cinema” series. At 7:00p is documentarian Marcela Said’s fictional debut The Summer of Flying Fish, the story of a land war between a young girl’s father and a local native community, and 8:45p features Dominga Sotomayor Castillo’s Chilean-styled road movie. FREE.
Supercop (11:59 — Union South Marquee)
Robo-who? Supercop marks the third film in the massively successful Police Story action movies, where Jackie Chan takes his amazing stunt work to new extremes alongside Michelle Yeoh. To spoil very little, one particular scene involves Chan, a helicopter, and me soiling myself. FREE.
Sunday
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (11:00a — Point, Eastgate)
Shadow of a Doubt (2:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
Wash the lovey dovey Valentine’s Day taste out of your mouth this Sunday with Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt. Yeah, that should do the trick. FREE.
Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight (2:00p, 4:00p, 5:30p — Union South Marquee)
Monday
The Hunt (1:30p, 4:15p, 6:50p, 9:30p — Point; 12:00p, 2:40p, 7:40p, 10:10p — Eastgate)
Hannibal Lecter takes a break from enjoying his patients when Mads Mikkelsen stars as a teacher falsely accused of molesting a child. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars.
Travel Adventure Film Series: Majestic Montana (7:30p — Union South Marquee)
Host Steve Gonser takes audiences on a cinematic tour through the picturesque state. See the Union Theater’s website for complete ticket details.
Tuesday
The Hunt (1:30p, 4:10p, 10:00p — Point; 11:00a, 1:40p, 10:10p — Eastgate)
Travel Adventure Film Series: Majestic Montana (7:30p — Union South Marquee)
Wednesday
The Hunt (4:10p, 6:50p, 9:30p — Point; 4:20p, 7:20p, 10:10p — Eastgate)
Fuego (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
A voluptuous young woman (Isabel Sarli) fails to contain her amorous desires — even after marriage. Sex, nudity, and suicide pervade Argentine director Armando Bo’s sexploitation film, a noted favorite in John Water’s estimation; you decide whether that’s a good thing. Co-presented FREE by WUD Film and the Center for the Humanities Research Workshop on “New Media and Mass/Popular Culture.”