Thinking Outside the Multiplex in Indiana (February 24, 2012)

by HELEN GEIB

Welcome to the (temporary) abridged incarnation of TOTM in IN. The listings are (hopefully) still complete; pictures and coming soon will return in April. As for this week, the only new releases are two Bollywood romantic comedies at the G14 in Indianapolis. However, as usual there’s a good lineup of holdovers and repertory programming to fill out the schedule.

Note: For trailers, cast and crew info, and suchlike follow the title link to the movie’s official website.

OPENING THIS WEEK IN LIMITED RELEASE

Jodi Breakers- The premise of this Bollywood romantic-comedy is suspiciously similar to the delightful French film Heartbreaker. Madhavan and Bipasha Basu star. Jodi Breakers starts today at the Republic Theaters Georgetown 14 in Indianapolis.

Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya- The week’s other new release is a second Bollywood rom-com opening at the G14. This one stars Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza.

THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)

The Artist- The movie of the year for cineastes, The Artist is a charming valentine to the movies. Set in a Hollywood transitioning to the sound film era, Jean Dujardin stars as a matinee idol of the silent screen who falls in love with a rising star made for the talkies. “Writer/director Michel Hazanavicius daringly shot the film completely in the style of a silent feature, in black and white and without sound (with a few striking exceptions), filmed on location in Hollywood, set to a wonderful original score by Ludovic Bource.” The Artist has expanded beyond the scope of what I’m willing to type out in the way of theater listings, which makes me happy because it’s a tremendously entertaining movie, and I hope everyone who’s enough of a movie lover to be reading this column will see it soon- if they haven’t already.

A Dangerous Method- Viggo Mortenson plays Sigmund Freud and Michael Fassbender plays Carl Jung in David Cronenberg’s drama, inspired by their turbulent professional and personal relationship in pre-WWI Vienna. A Dangerous Method holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema for two shows a day.

My Week With Marilyn- That’s Marilyn Monroe, and she’s played by Michelle Williams in this dramatization of an interlude in the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl. My Week With Marilyn returns to the AMC Bloomington 11, AMC Showplace Schererville 16, Regal Shiloh Crossing Stadium 18 in Avon, and Regal Village Park Stadium 17 for one show a day at all locations.

“The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2012: Animated” and “The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2012: Live Action”- The two shorts programs share a screen this week at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE

For additional information on venues and showtimes, follow the links under “Outside the Multiplex” in the sidebar.

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

the Indy Film Fest will show a selection of past Oscar-winning shorts at the Earth House downtown over the lunch hour; admission is free. (This is the start of a new monthly series.) On Sunday, the Fest is throwing an Oscar viewing party, complete with a silent auction and door prizes, from 6-11:30 at 45 Degrees on Mass Ave.

The classic MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis has a matinee and evening showing today and tomorrow at the Artcraft in Franklin.

Tonight at the IMA The Godfather: Part II will be shown as the final film in the Winter Nights Technicolor series. Tomorrow the IMA will be showing three nominated film that haven’t yet screened in Indianapolis- and likely won’t. The triple feature is Saturday, February 25 starting at 3 in the Toby with the documentary Hell and Back Again, followed by the animated Chico & Rita, and finishing up with one of the foreign nominees, Bullhead, at 7.

You can also watch the Oscars on a big screen with a party atmosphere at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema; the evening comes with prizes and a chance to win the predictions contest.

Southern Indiana

The showing of Grease tomorrow at 7 at the Strand is a fundraiser for the Shelby County Cancer Association. There will be prizes for best ’50s outfits.

The IU Cinema’s Brazilian film series continues today with The Red Light Bandit and Romance. Tomorrow is a big day for silent film and Dickens lovers, starting with a double feature of The Kid and Sherlock Jr. at 3 and the 1922 Hollywood version of Oliver Twist at 7. All films will have live piano accompaniment. The eerie Japanese existential horror film Pulse is Monday night. Next weekend is Whit Stillman weekend and the programming starts Thursday with his new film Damsels in Distress followed by Barcelona.

This weekend in the Ryder series in Bloomington, a few more shows of the Oscar nominated animated and live action shorts programs, plus one show today and tomorrow of The Way.

Northern Indiana

At the DeBartolo this week, a double feature tonight of the Irish musical Once and the documentary about the band it created/launched, The Swell Season. Saturday and Sunday are showings of the Oscar nominated animated and live action (Saturday only) shorts programs.

The Cinema Center is throwing an Oscar party tonight from 6-9. There will be live music, a silent auction, and of course, food. At 9 there will be a screening of Midnight in Paris, one of this year’s best picture nominees. Later in the weekend there will be free showings of The Healthcare Movie and Waiting for Superman on Sunday, plus a second free showing of the latter on Monday.

A Dangerous Method and The Artist are the weekend (today through Monday) movies at the Cinema Center @ Indiana Tech.

Postponed from last week, the Danish drama The Celebration will be shown in the Cinematheque for All repertory series in West Lafayette (Wednesdays at 7 on the Purdue campus).