Thursday
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (6:30p — Central Library, Rm 302)
The new kid on the block must sort out his feelings for the cute neighbor girl and the sweaty, macho bro in his gym class all while resisting the urge to unleash the dark secret inside him. FREE. Awesome gay subtext will be provided.
Videodrome (7:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
James Woods’ hotshot TV executive finds his views on scintillating entertainment challenged when he discovers the truth behind a disturbing television station. Long live the FREE flesh.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
Picking up after the events of Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, Alison Klayman’s followup documentary on the Chinese artist-activist-eccentric details the Ai Weiwei’s time spent under house arrest on trumped up charges from the Chinese government. FREE.
All freakin’ weekend
Listen Up, Philip (Sundance)
From indie darling and comedy weirdo Alex Ross Perry. Jason Schwartzmann’s talented novelist sets himself aflame and takes a sabbatical at the summer home of his literary hero (Jonathan Pryce). Even if Sundance’s digital projectors can’t help us, the fact that Listen Up, Philip was shot on 16mm is worth the price of admission on its own. The best part? Unlike Perry’s previous two efforts, we don’t have to wait around for a distribution deal. 77 Square Editor Rob Thomas will host a post-screening chat following next Tuesday’s show, and it doubles as a Madfilm Meetup. Now that’s just downright efficient.
Dear White People (Sundance)
Four black college students show their white peers what’s what after invitations to a poorly-conceived and very racist party are sent out.
St. Vincent (Sundance, AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Bill Murray’s gambling war vet chain-smokes and teaches the 12-year-old neighbor boy how to fight — which doesn’t exactly go over well with his mom (Melissa McCarthy).
John Wick (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Theon Greyjoy pays a visit to Neo’s house, trashes the place, steals his Mustang, and kills his dog. Neo really liked that dog.
Happy New Year (AMC Star)
“King of Bollywood” Shah Rukh Khan heads up a cast of thieves who fake their way through a dance competition to make off with a ton of diamonds.
Ouija (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
The poster for this should read “Keep telling yourself it’s just a movie based on a Hasbro game.”
23 Blast (AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
iMDb’s plot summary, presented without comment (or science):
In the prime of his youth, up and coming football star, Travis Freeman, lost his sight due to a sinus infection caused by a rare disease. Overnight, he became irreversibly blind, and had to cope with all the new trials and changes awaiting him. With the love and support of his family and closest friends he learned to push himself to extraordinary heights. Relying on his other senses and his instincts, he did the unthinkable! Displaying unconditional determination he proved nothing could dampen the spirit of a champion!
Friday
Hotel Transylvania (10:00a — Point, Eastgate)
$2.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (6:00p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
GriGris (7:00p — Alicia Ashman Branch Library)
A paralyzed man who dreams of becoming a professional dancer gets in deep with some smugglers. FREE.
The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
HĂ©lène Cattet and Bruno Forzani’s avant-garde mystery chiller defies classification, from its giallo styled visuals to an opaque narrative. Over at the Cinematheque’s blog, Mike King pins down one of this 2013 film’s few tangible elements: its musical references:
“In an interview with Electric Sheep, Cattet reveals that ‘music inspires the way a sequence develops. It gives us a rhythm, and ideas too… all of a sudden, there’s one track that strikes us, so we play it again and again.’ For Cattet and Forzani, old giallo scores become muses for the film itself: crate-digging is symbiotic with screenwriting.”
FREE.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (8:30p, 11:00p — Union South Marquee)
Co-presented FREE by WUD Film and Sex Out Loud.
Saturday
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (10:00a — Point, Eastgate)
$5.
Hotel Transylvania (10:00a — Point, Eastgate)
$2.
Young Frankenstein (2:00p — Pinney Branch Library)
FREE.
Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case (6:00p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
Up to His Ears (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
FREE.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (8:30p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (11:00p — Union South Marquee)
Co-presented FREE by WUD Film and Sex Out Loud.
Sunday
Hotel Transylvania (10:00a — Point, Eastgate)
$2.
Saboteur (2:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
FREE.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (3:00p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
Monday
Color of Noise (8:00p — High Noon Saloon)
Tone Madison has an interview with director Eric Robel on his new documentary about Minneapolis-based record label Amphetamine Reptile. An accompanying show featuring label founder Tom Hazelmyer’s artwork begins at 6:00p. The film plays at 8:00p. $10.
The Visitor (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
The Lord Almighty and Satan himself wage war over the soul of one little girl in Giulio Paradisi’s insane sci-fi homage-ripoff. FREE.
Tuesday
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (4:00p, 7:00p — Point, Eastgate)
$5.
Twillerama (7:00p — High Noon Saloon)
An animated house painter and his construction worker friend “host” this anthology of short films with subjects ranging from gender identity to penis pontification. $5.
Wednesday
Psycho (1:15p, 6:50p — Sundance)
Unlike last week’s Good Will Hunting, this one’s not directed by Gus Van Sant. Whew.
Pi (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
Darren Aronofsky’s first is co-presented FREE by WUD Film and the UW Lubar Institute as part of an eight-film series on religion and faith.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (7:00p — Point, Eastgate)
$5.
Le conseguenze dell’amore (7:10p — UW Education Building, L196)
From the director of last year’s Oscar-winning The Great Beauty, Paolo Sorrentino unravels the strange, mysterious life of an Italian businessman. FREE.