Mark Ruffalo as a polar bear, Straight Outta Compton, two Indian releases, and the only Pirates movie that’s better than the ride.
All freakin’ weekend
Infinitely Polar Bear (Sundance)
Zoe Saldana goes off to college, leaving her two daughters and husband (Mark Ruffalo) behind while she works on that sweet, sweet Columbia degree. Back in Boston, Ruffalo needs to find a way to keep his bipolar disorder at bay as a homemaker and unintentional feminist symbol during the 1970s revolution. If that sounds cheesy, blame me as (Massachusetts native) Maya Forbes plumbs her own childhood experiences in an apparently “warm and wonderful” directorial debut.
Straight Outta Compton (Sundance, AMC Star, Point)
Before he was a movie star and a shill for Coors Light, Ice Cube was at the forefront of G-funk, putting West Coast hip-hop on the map at the head of N.W.A. And if you forgot about Dre, Cube, Eazy-E, DJ Yella, and MC Ren, Straight Outta Compton is here to remind you of N.W.A.’s humble beginnings in the late 80s and their meteoric success with their eponymous 1988 release. Biopics are a dime a dozen, but director F. Gary Gray has legitimate credentials, having directed some of the strongest hip-hop music videos from the 90s — including Ice Cube’s iconic, extremely literal “It Was a Good Day.”
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (AMC Star, Point, Stoughton Cinema Cafe)
Wearing blue tights might be the second strangest role Henry Cavill’s taken now after donning a three-piece and retro shades as Napoleon Solo, a CIA agent working for U.N.C.L.E. (or United Network Command for Law and Enforcement). Solo forges a hasty alliance with the KGB’s Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) as the agents follow a German scientist’s daughter (Alicia Vikander) on an international nuclear conspiracy. And just think: this is the second 60s television show they’ve made a movie of this summer.
Vsop (Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga) (Point)
Two happy-go-lucky pals find their lifelong friendship at odds with the prospect of marriage in this Tamil rom-com.
Brothers: Blood Against Blood (Point)
An this adaptation of Gavin O’Connor’s Warrior, the mixed-martial arts careers of brothers David and Monty Fernandes intersect when they must face each other in India’s largest ever international tournament.
Sunday
Hotel Transylvania (10:00a — Point)
$3.
Grease Sing-A-Long (2:00p, 7:00p — Point)
Don’t worry if you missed out on this traveling sing-a-long promotion when it stopped at the Capitol Theater. It’s been picked up by Marcus and Sundance and “Did she put up a fight?” is still as fucked up a line as you remember.
Monday
Hotel Transylvania (10:00a — Point)
$3.
Rudy (7:00p — Point)
Perennial “That guy” Chelcie Ross makes a gloriously dickish turn in Rudy as Dan Devine, the coach just can’t seem to give Sean Astin’s Notre Dame uber-fan a shot at playing for the football team. In reality, Devine was one of Rudy’s biggest supporters. But hey, it still makes for a good reminder that football’s almost here, right? ($5.)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (9:00p — Union Terrace)
These days, you need a Blu-ray player to see a great Johnny Depp performance. Fortunately, WUD Film’s FREE Lakeside Cinema has you covered. No Disneyland ride-turned-adventure franchise had any business being as good as Gore Verbinski’s first Pirates movie; just ask Tomorrowland. But with Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, a well-paced script, strong supporting performances from Geoffrey Rush and Keira Knightley, special effects that hold up better than the Star Wars prequels, Klaus Badelt’s raucous modern classic of a score and well, you get the idea. Savvy?
Tuesday
Super Troopers Brew ‘n View (8:00p — Majestic Theatre)
Admission is FREE for Majestic’s final summer Brew ‘n View, but you’ll have to bring your own syrup bottle. (Doors at 7:30p.)
Wednesday
Hotel Transylvania (10:00a — Point)
($3.)
Grease Sing-A-Long (2:00p, 7:00p — Point; 2:05p, 7:40p — Sundance)
Rudy (7:00p — Point)
($5.)