Thinking Outside the Multiplex in Indiana (July 13, 2012)

by HELEN GEIB

There is a lot, and I mean a lot going on in Indianapolis this week: two festivals, a bunch of special screenings, and six movies opening or holding over in limited release. Far fewer options elsewhere in the state, but week’s top pick is one of them.

My Top Pick for the Week

A man in a small town in Washington places a classified ad for a time traveling companion: bring your own weapons, safety not guaranteed. A Seattle lifestyle magazine dispatches a writer in mid-life crisis and two interns to get a story out of it. I absolutely adored the unexpected, funny, truthful, and 100% delightful Safety Not Guaranteed, so it makes me very happy to see it expanding this week beyond Indianapolis. It’s opening at six AMCs around the state and both Raves; although down to sharing a screen, it also holds over at the Keystone Art Cinema.

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

Cocktail- This Bollywood movie about a romantic triangle may be a comedy, a drama, or an amalgam- I can’t tell from what I’ve read online which direction the story leans. I am sure that it stars Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty, and that it starts today at the Republic Theaters Georgetown 14 in Indianapolis.

Lola Versus- Lola (Greta Gerwig) is on the cusp of 30 and has just been dumped by her long-term boyfriend. With her friends for support, she tries to figure out what comes next. Debra Winger and Bill Pullman are in the supporting cast of Lola Versus, which starts today at the Landmark Theatres Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

The Obama Effect- The title sounds like a documentary on the 2008 election, but in fact this is a drama starring Charles Dutton (who also directed). “A serious health scare ignites John Thomas, an insurance salesman in his 50’s to take a closer look at his life. Motivated by a misguided obsession with getting Barack Obama elected, John takes an overwhelming involvement in the Presidential campaign. While John becomes obsessed with the ideal of change that Obama represents for Americans, he has in turn neglected to create positive change in his own life.” The Obama Effect starts at the AMC Showplace Schererville 12.

Take This Waltz- Also opening today at the Keystone Art Cinema is Sarah Polley’s indie romantic drama Take This Waltz. Michelle Williams stars as a woman contemplating leaving her husband (Seth Rogen) for the man she’s fallen suddenly, passionately in love with.

THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)

Bernie- In director Richard Linklater’s black comedy-docudrama, 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 Yes Cinema in Columbus (the Yes is closed Monday and Tuesday).

Bol Bachchan- Abhishek Bachchan stars as a man who gets in under his head when a friend persuades him to create an alter ego in this Bollywood comedy. It holds over at the Republic Theaters Georgetown 14 in Indianapolis.

Safety Not Guaranteed- My top pick for the week, the quirky indie Safety Not Guaranteed holds over at the Landmark Theatres Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, where it is sharing a screen this week with Your Sister’s Sister, and expands to the Rave Cinemas Jefferson Pointe 18 in Fort Wayne and Metropolis 18 in Plainfield and the following AMC theaters: Evansville 16, Columbus 12, Muncie 12, South Bend 16, Terre Haute 12, and Washington Square 12 in Indianapolis.

Your Sister’s Sister- This indie relationship drama, “a twisted tale of ever-complicated relationships”, stars Mark Duplass, Emily Blunt, and Rosemary DeWitt. It holds over for two shows a day at the Landmark Theatres Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

Don Knotts in The Shakiest Gun in the West is the weekend attraction at the Artcraft Theatre in Franklin; shows today and tomorrow at 2 and 7:30.

The Summer Nights series of movies on the terrace continues tonight with the modern horror classic Alien; full lineup and screening details.

Also at the IMA, the Indiana Black Expo Film Festival runs this Saturday and Sunday in the afternoon: “Screen a selection of independent films produced and written by African American and African filmmakers, including films with a distinct cultural message to share, and those with stories highlighting challenges and triumphs of the human spirit.” Admission is free.

Cult movie Repo! The Genetic Opera now qualifies as a semi-regular event at the Irving Theater (in Irvington on the old east side). The next show is Saturday night at midnight; doors open at 11.

The Keystone Art Cinema’s midnight movie series continues with Fight Club; shows on Friday and Saturday nights through June and July (the full lineup here- jump to the end of the page). Music documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits, on LCD Soundgarden’s farewell concert, will have a one-night-only showing at the theater on Wednesday, July 18.

Also on Wednesday, the Jewish Community Center will screen the drama Mulberry Child, about a Chinese immigrant’s attempts to re-connect with her Americanized daughter; $5/$3 members. It’s co-sponsored by Heartland Film Festival (plot summary at the Heartland website).

The Indy Film Fest (a/k/a Indianapolis International Film Festival) starts Thursday and runs through July 29 with screenings at the IMA and Earth House. The opening night film is the indie infidelity comedy The Oranges. Visit the fest’s website for tickets, logistics info, and the full schedule of films.

Southern Indiana

Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Elles, and Gerhard Richter Painting in the Ryder repertory film series; IU campus Friday and Saturday. There is a third show of Gerhard Richter Painting Sunday at Bear’s Place.

A new made-in-Indiana indie horror movie, Found, will have its premiere at the Buskirk-Chumley on Saturday at 8: “Shot throughout Indiana, Found features an all-Hoosier cast and crew, including special makeup effects by Bloomington’s Clockwerk Creature Company. This premiere screening at the historic Buskirk-Chumley Theater will be followed by an on-stage Q&A panel with members of the production.” More details at the Buskirk’s event page.

Northern Indiana

Czech coming-of-age drama Something Like Happiness is this week’s film in the Cinematheque for All repertory series in West Lafayette; Wednesdays at 7 on the Purdue campus.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

In Indianapolis, the Landmark has added Beasts of the Southern Wild to the Keystone Art Cinema’s coming soon list for next Friday.

The annual ANDkids World Film Festival starts Wednesday, July 25 and runs through the 28th at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center in South Bend. The opening film is Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey; the lineup includes a mix of features, documentaries, and programs of shorts.

The IU Cinema returns from its one-month summer break on Thursday, August 2 with Michael Winterbottom’s Trishna, an adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles with the setting transplanted to contemporary India.

The IMA will show a collection of Lumiere Brothers films in the Toby on Thursday, August 9; tickets are $5/$3 members.

RiffTrax fans can look forward to, as the Fathom Events page puts it, “all-new riffing” on “Manos” The Hands of Fate on Thursday, August 16. I can testify from personal experience gained at a long ago yet vividly remembered party that this “movie” is so bad that it is nearly unendurable even with professional riffing.

Films and events scheduled for next Friday:

Indy Film Fest continues at the IMA

Coming to America at the IMA

Ghostbusters at the KAC

Gerhard Richter Painting, Elles, Oslo August 31st at the Ryder