Thinking Outside the Multiplex in Indiana (November 4, 2011)
by HELEN GEIB
Martha Marcy May Marlene starts at the Keystone Art Cinema and the holdover and repertory screening sections have enough in them to keep anyone busy. What’s your movie agenda this week?
TOTM aspires to completeness! If you know of a limited release film, special screening, festival, or other movie-related event coming up, or something happening this week that isn’t listed here, please leave a comment or send me an email using the “contact us” form.
Note: Title links lead to the movie’s official website.
OPENING THIS WEEK IN LIMITED RELEASE
The Genesis Code- From the film’s official site: “Kerry Wells (Kelsey Sanders), a college journalist and committed Christian with an effervescent personality, has been assigned to do a story on Blake Truman (Logan Bartholomew) the college’s newest and very popular hockey superstar. …Blake rebuffs Kerry’s suggestion that prayer might help ease his burden; he is convinced that modern science completely disproves the Bible, especially the opening verses of Genesis. Kerry… sets out to prove that science and Genesis are not in conflict and her quest leads to a startling revelation. Could it be that what science teaches us about creation and the Story as told in Genesis are both true and in perfect accord!” The Genesis Code starts today at the AMC Showplace Marion 12 and Showplace Richmond 11 of all places (meaning, theaters not known for regular appearances in TOTM), in addition to the more to be expected in these pages AMC Showplace Washington Square 12 in Indianapolis, AMC Showplace Schererville 16, and AMC Showplace South Bend 16.
Martha Marcy May Marlene- From the Landmark’s website: “A powerful psychological thriller starring Elizabeth Olsen as Martha, a young woman rapidly unraveling amidst her attempt to reclaim a normal life after fleeing from a cult and its charismatic leader (John Hawkes). Seeking help from her estranged older sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson) and brother-in-law (Hugh Dancy), Martha is unable and unwilling to reveal the truth about her disappearance. When her memories trigger a chilling paranoia that her former cult could still be pursuing her, the line between Martha’s reality and delusion begins to blur.” Martha Marcy May Marlene starts today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.
THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)
7Aum Arivu- I don’t know what it’s about, but according to the Manoranjan site this Tamil-language Indian film has English subtitles (rare if not unprecedented, and something I’m happy to see for Tamil cinema in Indy) and is holding over for at least one more show this weekend at the Republic Theaters Georgetown 14 in Indianapolis.
Anonymous- Who’d have thought a Roland Emmerich movie would show up in TOTM? Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow, 10,000 BC, 2012… we’re talking big studio, big budget productions here. It’s not as if this particular effort is some career outlier, made-for-a-shoestring indie either; the costumes alone must have cost a bundle. The story is another of those conspiracy theories about Shakespeare not really writing the plays of Shakespeare. Anonymous, which Mike gave a good review to, holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis (still on two screens) and the Regal Village Park Stadium 17 in Carmel and expands to the Rave Motion Pictures Jefferson Pointe 18, Cinemark Movies 14 in Mishawaka, AMC Showplace Bloomington 11, AMC Showplace Schererville 16, and AMC Showplace Traders Point 12 in Indianapolis.
The Future- From the Landmark’s website: “In her follow-up to Me and You and Everyone We Know, internationally acclaimed artist, author and filmmaker Miranda July returns with her moving and fearless drama The Future. When thirty-something couple Sophie (writer/director July) and Jason (Hamish Linklater) decide to adopt a stray cat, their perspective on life changes radically, literally altering the course of time and space and testing their faith in each other and themselves.” The Future opens today at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne for two shows a day through Wednesday.
The Guard- An eccentric local cop (Brendan Gleeson) and a straight-arrow FBI agent (Don Cheadle) become reluctant allies in this thriller/dark comedy set in rural Ireland. The Guard, which features caustic humor and a fantastic performance by Gleeson, opens at the Yes Cinema in Columbus.
Ra.One- This Bollywood super-production is a sci-fi superhero story starring Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Arjun Rampal. Why “super-production”? It’s the most expensive Indian film yet made, is this year’s big Diwali (the “festival of lights”) release, and will have a 2D version, 3D version, and dubbed versions in Tamil and Telugu- all of which will be playing at the Republic Theaters Georgetown 14 in Indianapolis; check the Manoranjan site for showtimes. The original language Hindi versions will be subtitled. In another mark of its bigness, Ra.One has expanded beyond the G14 for an engagement at the Rave Motion Pictures Jefferson Pointe 18, where it will have 2D (matinee times) and 3D (evening times) showings.
Sarah’s Key- Kristin Scott Thomas stars in this Holocaust drama as a modern-day journalist investigating the tragic history of two Jewish children in occupied Paris. The film is based on the novel by Tatiana De Rosnay. After a brief absence, Sarah’s Key returns to Indiana at- verging on being too big for TOTM- the Landmark Glendale 12 in Indianapolis, Regal Shiloh Crossing Stadium 18 in Avon and Regal Village Park Stadium 17 in Carmel, Carmike 20 in Fort Wayne, Showplace Cinemas East 18 in Evansville, and these AMC theaters around the state: Showplace Indianapolis 17, Evansville 16, Honey Creek 8 in Terre Haute, Showplace Bloomington 11, Showplace Muncie 7.
The Way- Martin Sheen stars as a father whose son dies while hiking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, and decides to complete the journey in his stead. The movie was filmed on location and was directed by Sheen’s real-life son Emilio Estevez. The Way holds over at following AMC theaters: Castleton Square 14 and Showplace Indianapolis 17 in Indianapolis, Evansville 16, Honey Creek 8 in Terre Haute, Showplace Bloomington 11, Showplace Marion 12, Showplace Muncie 7, Showplace Richmond 11, and Showplace South Bend 16.
FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE
For additional information on venues and showtimes, follow the links under “Outside the Multiplex” in the sidebar.
State Wide
West Side Story gets the Fathom Events treatment on November 9 for the film’s 50th Anniversary; the showing will be preceded by a TCM “original production” (whatever that may mean). Last week there was a note on the event page reading, “This event presentation has been modified from its original 1961 release to fit the screen.” That note has been replaced by, “This event is being presented in widescreen format as was the original 1961 release in order to best fit theatre screens.” If it hasn’t been modified, why say anything at all? Hm. If anyone has additional details on the image format, please post a comment.
Indianapolis and Central Indiana
There will be a free showing of The Best Years of Our Lives, the drama about three WWII veterans readjusting to civilian life that is one of the best films of the 1940s, at the Artcraft Theatre in Franklin on Saturday, November 5 at 7 (musical pre-show starts at 6:30).
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has a multimedia event of interest to musical fans: “The ISO toasts Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the songwriting pair that forever changed the face of Broadway and Hollywood! Memorable on-screen moments from Oklahoma!, The King and I, South Pacific, Carousel and The Sound of Music play on the big screen while Jack Everly conducts the ISO present selections form these timeless soundtracks.” Performances are today at 11 AM and 8 and Saturday at 8.
Local film historian and collector Eric Grayson will be at the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library in Plainfield on Thursday at 6:30 to present a program of WWII film shorts, including Frank Capra’s War Comes to America documentary.
The Reel Hope Film Festival is tomorrow at noon at the First Mennonite Church in Indianapolis. The festival “is devoted to promoting the works of socially conscientious filmmakers.” Proceeds benefit the Indy Artists’ Peace Project.
Southern Indiana
The IU Cinema’s “Films of Charles Burnett” retrospective starts today with a program of shorts at 3 and Killer of Sheep at 7. Other of the director’s films showing this weekend: My Brother’s Wedding, To Sleep With Anger, The Glass Shield, Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation.
Also this week at the IU Cinema: Stanley Kubrick’s blackest of comedies Dr. Strangelove on Sunday; Andrey Tarkovsky’s Solaris on Monday; and on Thursday, the documentary The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On, about the Japanese Imperial Army’s New Guinea campaign during WWII, and South African social issues drama Life, Above All.
On Sunday, there will be a screening of new indie drama A Marine Story, about a lesbian Marine officer who tries to become a mentor to a troubled teen, at Bloomington’s Buskirk-Chumley Theater at 7; star and co-producer Dreya Weber will participate in a panel discussion after the movie.
Brighton Rock, Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life, and Moroder’s Metropolis from the Ryder this week; showings at the IU Fine Arts building, Bear’s Place and FARM (check the Ryder’s website for details).
And leaving Bloomington, the Yes Cinema will show Breaking Away at noon tomorrow. Tickets are $2 or free if you ride your bicycle to the Yes for the show (bicyclists will also be entered to win door prizes).
Northern Indiana
This week’s movie in the Cinematheque for All repertory series is the 2009 Italian romantic drama I Am Love, starring Tilda Swinton.
Lead actor William Mapother will be at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center for a screening of indie drama Another Earth tonight. Tomorrow at the DeBartolo you can see Jean-Luc Godard’s latest provocation, Film Socialisme, or in a complete change of pace, a midnight screening of Superbad. Satire on terrorism Four Lions will be shown on Tuesday as part of the “Europe, Beyond Borders” series; director Chris Morris is scheduled to appear. The week finishes out with Kathryn Bigelow’s brilliant and polarizing sci-fi-inflected thriller Strange Days.
The Cinema Center @ Indiana Tech is showing The Guard and Attack the Block today through Monday.
NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND
The annual LGBT Film Festival is November 11-12 at the IMA, with screenings in the Toby and the DeBoest, and November 13 at the IUPUI Campus Center. Follow the link for the schedule of films.
As of this writing, the Landmark’s “coming soon” page lists Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar Hoover biopic J. Edgar for November 11 at both the KAC and Glendale 12. The indie drama Take Shelter, featuring a much-praised performance by Michael Shannon, is also listed for November 11 at the KAC. Lars von Trier’s new film Melancholia and the French thriller Love Crime are slated to open at the KAC on November 18.
The Indy Film Fest’s Roving Cinema returns on November 17 with a showing of Gremlins at Sun King Brewery in downtown Indianapolis. There will be pizza and beer for sale and a special prize-pack for the wearer of the ugliest Christmas sweater. Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door.
The “Classic 100″ series continues at the DeBartolo this month with showings of Diary of a Country Priest and Little Fugitive.
In another vein, the IU Cinema’s Grindhouse series starts November 17 with Deep Red. Other titles are Corpse Eaters and Karate Warriors. Visit the Cinema’s website for the full lineup.
The Buskirk-Chumley on Sunday, November 20 will show the indie drama Paradise Recovered. Several of the performers featured on the film’s soundtrack will appear pre- and post-screening and several of the filmmakers will participate in a Q&A session after the movie.
Films and events scheduled for next Friday:
Titanic- the James Cameron version- at the Artcraft
Life, Above All at the DeBartolo and the IU Cinema
Mysteries of Lisbon at the Ryder
