UPDATED 5/4/2014: The Decline of Western Civilization, Part 1 has been added to Tuesday’s programming.
Thursday
Paths of Glory (6:30p — Madison Central Library, Rm 302)
Have you seen Paths of Glory? It’s a great Kubrick film that doesn’t just earn its place in the Criterion Collection; it also deserves a cheesy Pepsi commercial more than Spartacus. FREE.
Madison 48 Hour Film Festival (7:00p, 9:00p — Sundance)
The 48 Hour Film Project assigns teams with three criteria and a specific genre to make a short film over a single weekend. Sounds fun, right? Just wait until you see the final products. Madison filmmaking at its very fastest comes to Sundance Cinemas Madison via 29 films and two separate screenings.
Farmland (7:00p — Point, Eastgate)
Screened in advance for Wisconsin farmers back in March, this documentary follows six young farmers to show audiences the everyday lives — and struggles — of the modern American farmhand.
Her (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
When talking about Spike Jonze’s excellent sci-fi romance, save your Arrested Development jokes. Chances are I’ve already ruined them for everyone. FREE.
Bellissima (7:00p — UW Education Building, L196)
A lower-class mother does her best to make her daughter a movie star in Luchino Visconti’s Italian language dramedy. FREE.
Mud (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
The best part of Jeff Nichols’ followup to Take Shelter isn’t Matthew McConaughey’s performance; it’s that if you replace McConaughey with Christopher Kennedy Masterson, you’ve got an elongated version of a really great Malcolm in the Middle episode. FREE.
Friday
12 Years a Slave (6:00p — Union South Marquee)
Friday’s screening of this Best Picture winner will also feature a discussion lead by UW History Department’s Jim Sweet. Hopefully it includes the status of John Ridley and Steve McQueen’s beef. FREE.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (6:30p — Pinney Branch Library)
FREE.
The Young Girls of Rochefort (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
As they so coldly reminded me in their newsletter Thursday morning, Cinematheque is on its last full weekend of spring programming. Their Jacques Demy series concludes with this song and dance spectacular, adding American talents like Gene Kelly alongside the everpresent Catherine Deneuve. FREE.
Mud (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
Earlier this week, someone on Twitter remarked that Crouching Tiger just doesn’t hold up when compared to The Raid films. I’ll let that one slide if you see Ang Lee’s poetic film at midnight. FREE.
All freakin’ weekend
Honey (Sundance)
At one point, Fandango confused this Italian drama — where a caring young woman must figure out how to treat a man with no apparent sickness — with that one Jessica Alba movie from 2003 or whatever. Don’t make that mistake. Be don’t Fandango.
Blue Ruin (Sundance)
Jeremy Saulnier received heaps of praise when this thriller about a man’s return home for vengeance debuted at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. More importantly, it looks like Buzz MacAllister is making a comeback.
Anaamika (AMC Star)
A kindhearted cop helps a woman find her husband on the streets of Hyderabad.
The Amazing Spider-man 2 (Sundance, AMC Star, Point, Eastgate)
Why is this playing at Sundance? Who’s to blame here? Distributors? Madison’s status as a movie market? Is this the work of the Sinister Six? I need answers.
Saturday
12 Years a Slave (6:00p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
SCMG Film Festival (6:30p — Barrymore Theatre)
A special showing of The Bonneville Project will accompany the fifth annual “Slimy Crud Motorcycle Gang” festival, a cinematic celebration for motorcycle enthusiasts. This year’s selection is The Best Bar in America, although if you ask me, it seems pretty silly to make a whole movie about Maduro. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 day of the show.
A Hot Summer Chill (7:00p — Badger Bowl)
What if Haley Joel Osment’s Sixth Sense character grew up to be an alcoholic? Shot entirely in Madison, this paranormal thriller’s premiere party will feature live music and DVDs for sale. $10 at the door.
Violent Saturday (7:00p — 4070 Vilas Hall)
I bet you’re a big Lee Marvin fan aren’t ya. Yeah, Richard Fleischer is, too. He stuck him in this bank robbing picture to land a big score with a cast of colorful eccentrics. FREE.
Her (9:30p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (11:59p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
Sunday
Frenzy (2:00p — Chazen Art Museum)
A London serial killer murders women with neckties in Alfred Hitchcock’s second-to-last feature — and the Chazen’s final one this spring. All the sads. FREE.
12 Years a Slave (3:00p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
Her (6:00p — Union South Marquee)
FREE.
Monday
The Most Dangerous Man in America (2:00p — Alicia Ashman Branch Library)
Daniel Ellsberg, the man who would leak 7,000 pages of classified Vietnam War documents in 1971, is the subject of this documentary. UW Emeritus Professor of American Institutions Stanley Kutler will lead a discussion afterward. FREE.
Tuesday
Vegucated (7:00p — Union South Marquee)
This documentary follows three New Yorkers who take up a six week-long vegan diet to learn about its benefits. Good luck getting Wisconsinites to try this outside of Madison. Co-presented FREE by WUD Film and the UW Animal Rights Society.
Irreplaceable (7:30p — Point, Eastgate)
Tim Sisarich’s Twitter bio says he’s a “maker of mind-affecting media.” No mention of his hosting this documentary on the role of family in modern society.
The Decline of Western Civilization, Part 1 (9:00p — Genna’s Lounge)
Support the dawn of Four Star Video Heaven’s “Coop Era” by seeing Penelope Spheeris’ rare documentary gem on the early subculture of punk rock. Tickets are $5.
Wednesday
Ben-Hur (1:00p, 7:10p — Sundance)
Doesn’t Sundance know that Paramount and MGM just gave the thumbs up on a remake of this? This move is going to look real dumb when Jon Turteltaub’s Ben-Hur becomes an instant classic in 2016.