Thinking Outside the Multiplex in Indiana (June 1, 2012)
by HELEN GEIB
First, a quick mention: For Greater Glory and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel are in too many theaters to qualify for TOTM but less than wide release; look for them at the multiplexes that semi-regularly appear in these listings. Second, remember last week when I said summer had come to the multiplex and crowded out everything else? Turns out it was just a Memorial Day blip.
My Top Pick for the Week
I really wish I could make it down to Bloomington this weekend to see Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du Paradis) at the IU Cinema. Directed by Marcel Carne and filmed during the German occupation, it’s set in 1830s Paris. Arletty stars as a courtesan pursued by four men: a mime, an actor, a thief, and an aristocrat. This is one of those titles that regularly show up on “greatest films of all time” lists. The Cinema will be showing a newly restored print distributed by Janus Films.
Note: For trailers, cast and crew, and suchlike follow the title link to the movie’s official website. For showtimes and directions for the non-multiplex venues, follow the links under “Outside the Multiplex” in the sidebar.
OPENING THIS WEEK IN LIMITED RELEASE
Crooked Arrows- This indie sports drama tells a familiar story in a unique setting, following the rising fortunes of a high school lacrosse team from an Indian Reservation. Brandon Routh plays the coach. Crooked Arrows starts today at the AMC Castleton Square 14 and Indianapolis 17 in Indianapolis, AMC Bloomington 11, AMC South Bend 16, and Rave Cinemas Metropolis 18 in Plainfield.
Darling Companion- A married couple (Kevin Kline, Diane Keaton) rediscover each other as they look for their lost dog, helped by a quirky group of friends and strangers. Lawrence Kasdan’s dramedy starts today at the Yes Cinema in Columbus (closed Monday and Tuesday) and the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.
High School- Stoner comedy set in, you guessed it, high school. Naturally, it’s their senior year. The adults in the cast are Adrien Brody and Michael Chiklis and it starts today at the AMC Schererville 12.
Rowdy Rathore- Akshay Kumar’s new movie starts today at the Republic Theaters Georgetown 14 in Indianapolis. It’s reputed to be a return to the action-thriller genre for Kumar after a long string of comedies.
THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)
Bernie- In director Richard Linklater’s black comedy, Jack Black stars as a funeral home director and pillar of his community who may also be the murderer of a very unpopular old lady (Shirley MacLaine). Bernie, which I really enjoyed and which features a really good seriocomic performance by Black, holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis and (at reduced showtimes) the Rave Cinemas Metropolis 18 in Plainfield, and expands to the Cinemark Movies 14 in Mishawaka and the Cinemark at Valparaiso.
Blue Like Jazz- A coming of age story based on Donald Miller’s semi-autobiographical novel, Blue Like Jazz is better known as a movie funded through the Kickstarter website. It holds over at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne (no shows Tuesday or Thursday this week).
Bully- This documentary about school bullying is playing this week at reduced showtimes at the AMC Michigan City 14.
The Deep Blue Sea- Terence Davies (The Long Day Closes, The House of Mirth) directed this adaptation of Terence Rattigan’s play, a romantic drama set in post-war England. Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston star. It starts today at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne.
First Position- “Bess Kargman’s award-winning documentary and feature film debut, First Position, follows six young dancers as they prepare for a chance to enter the world of professional ballet, struggling through bloodied feet, near exhaustion and debilitating injuries, all while navigating the drama of adolescence.” First Position holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.
FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE
Indianapolis and Central Indiana
The monthly First Friday free program in the screening room at the Heartland’s Fountain Square office is tonight. The short Slow will be shown every 15 minutes starting at 6.
The Summer Nights series of movies on the terrace starts tonight with What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. Also starting this week at the IMA is a series of documentaries on contemporary art and artists; it kicks off Sunday, June 3 at 2 with a showing of Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters; admission is free.
The Keystone Art Cinema’s midnight movie series starts tonight with Se7en; shows on Friday and Saturday nights through June and July (the full lineup here- jump to the end of the page).
The Indiana Film Society hosts a free screening of the documentary Desperate Man Blues on Tuesday at the Indianapolis Senior Center. This is the last film in the Society’s Spring Film Series.
The Heartland festival presents The Hammer, a sports drama about a deaf wrestler, at Franklin’s Artcraft on Thursday at 7:30.
Southern Indiana
The Strand has preview showings today through Sunday of a new biopic of Hank Williams called The Last Ride.
The IU Cinema’s weekend movie, with shows today and tomorrow at 7, is Marcel Carne’s Children of Paradise (1945), hailed as one of the greatest French films. The Deep Blue Sea starts its next weekend run on Thursday.
Monsieur Lazhar, Bonsai, and We Have a Pope are this week’s movies in the Ryder film series; screenings today and tomorrow are on the IU campus and Sunday’s shows are at Bear’s Place.
Northern Indiana
Indie drama Waterwalk, based on a true story of a father-son canoe trip retracing the Marquette and Joliet route from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, will be shown Tuesday at 7 at two Goodrich Quality Theaters, the Wabash Landing 9 in West Lafayette and the Hamilton 16 in Noblesville.
The Cinema Center’s free series showcasing great Hollywood leading ladies (scroll to the end of the page for the full lineup) continues with Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot on Tuesday at 7:30 and Jane Fonda in Klute on Thursday at 7:30.
Israeli drama The Human Resources Manager is this week’s movie in the Cinematheque for All repertory series (screenings on Wednesdays at 7 on the Purdue campus; summer season lineup).
NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND
The IU Cinema’s “International Arthouse” series continues through June with Terence Davies’ romantic drama The Deep Blue Sea; I Wish, Hirokazu Kore-Eda’s comedy-drama about young boys separated by their parents divorce; and Norwegian comedy of adolescence Turn Me On, Dammit!.
The Landmark has added three films with a French connection to the coming soon list for the KAC for next week: French inspirational drama The Intouchables; French drama Polisse, following the professional and personal lives of the officers of the Paris child protection unit; and English-language but Paris-set Bel Ami, based on a Maupassant novel.
Films and events scheduled for next Friday:
East of Eden at the Artcraft
Rear Window at the IMA
The Deep Blue Sea at the IU Cinema
Rushmore at the KAC
I love Les Enfants du Paradis. It’s one of my fave French films and one of my fave Criterion Collection titles. :O)
You’ll want to check out the DVD/Blu-ray re-issue that I feel sure is coming next. The restoration is said to be wonderful.
I will definitely pick that up. I picked up (on eBay, of course) The Rules of the Game (1939) Blu-ray a few months back. It’s my #3 film of all time, right behind Sunrise and Citizen Kane :O)
Battlefield America also started on Friday at the Showplace Cinemas East in Evansville. I thought the title sounded promising, but then I saw the official site; it’s a dance competition movie “From the team that brought you You Got Served”, and the slogan is “Where Kids Rule”:
http://www.battlefieldamericamovie.com/
At one point, this was supposed to go fairly wide; the Early Report for May 28 on the Filmjerk site gives the screen count as 1250+, and I’m fairly certain I saw the same number on Boxofficemojo’s site a week or so ago as well. As of today, Moviefone says BA is on only 193 screens.