India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) lives with her mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) in their giant gothic mansion and even though she has everything at her disposal (a vast library of literary classics and texts, servants/maids, et al.), she’s still a quiet, introverted girl who keeps to herself at all hours of the day. And Evelyn drinks like a fish and lack all motherly skills.

Stoker opens with India hearing that her father Richard (Dermot Mulroney) had just died in a car crash. At the funeral, an uncle that she didn’t know existed comes into the picture. His name is Charlie (Matthew Goode) and he’s even more mysterious than India.

Charlie is steely-eyed, handsome, dresses well, is well spoken, and his composure is always loose. It’s actually creepy just how quiet and loose he is. But there’s something exotic and alluring about the way in which he walks and stares at others when he converses with them. He moves in with the two ladies and begins separate relationships with them. He learns more about India, the niece that he’s only heard of, and also seduces Evelyn when India’s not around. His relationship with India grows creepier by the minute, seeing that they’re related, that she’s still in high school, and that we don’t know what his intentions are. But with Evelyn it’s right up front and frankly sexual. This is not a horror film; it’s a psychological thriller and a slow burn at that.

From early in the film, viewers develop the notion that Charlie is a killer. We also note just how much he has in common with India, who’s slowly transforming into a sociopath. The fact that we think that Charlie is a killer is also mostly subliminal- a really neat trick on behalf of the director and his DP (director of photography). But the film is thoroughly creepy, frightening even, and we sense that many portions of it take place within India’s mind. The entire film is presented through her point of view, in the guise of a coming of age film. Eventually reality and fantasy overlap and we really don’t know what’s what. At one point, I even wondered whether Charlie existed! But it’s silly to think that way… or is it? Yes. Yes, it is.

Stoker is South Korean director Chan-wook Park’s (Oldboy, Thirst) first American and English-dialogue film and even though it’s not nearly as visceral as his previous films (like Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, one of the saddest films I’ve ever seen), it’s quite an awesome experience. There’s a huge emphasis on sound design and also plenty of visual flair that’s difficult to best, in terms of being gorgeous and creepy simultaneously. This is an expertly shot, gorgeous looking film. Because the story is told through a subjective point of view, and the film is a slow burn, Park exercises his artistic side to its fullest and delivers carefully composed, meaningful shots. Not a single one is out of place. His approach to storytelling here is rather masterful.

Then there are the performances. Wasikowska is turning into a big thing, delivering terrific performances in almost every film that she plays in. She’s serviceable in Alice in Wonderland (2010), she’s excellent in Jane Eyre (2011), and she’s terrific in Stoker. Nicole Kidman reminds us that she used to be a famous actor back in the day for a reason, and here she delivers one of her best, more memorable performances; and she plays a great, repulsive character too. And Goode is really, really good. The last time I saw him deliver a good performance while simultaneously playing in a good film was in The Lookout (2007) alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Here he embodies the creepy uncle character like he was born into the role, but he’s just so handsome and subtle that even I fell for him on several occasions. It’s an excellent performance.

Lastly, Stoker is very, very, very loosely based on Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film Shadow of a Doubt (1943). One can easily see the similarities between the two films, but in concept alone because after twenty minutes or so, Hitchcock’s film diminishes from our thoughts as this film traps us in its snare, hypnotizes us with its atmosphere and terrific performances, and shakes us up, delivering a unique take on the serial killer genre. Some refer to this as a vampire film without the vampires and I agree with that statement.

The special features include An Exclusive Look: A Filmmaker’s Journey; Red Carpet Premiere: Emily Welles’ performance of “Becomes the Color”; a free song download; deleted scenes, theatrical behind the Scenes, and image galleries.

NEW RELEASES FOR JUNE 18

Jack the Giant Slayer

The Last Exorcism Part 2

Movie 43

Quartet

This month on Photo Play: 007 among the statuary

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Last Week: The Living Daylights (1987)
Coming Next: tba Monday

In what I believe to be a first the AMC Hobart 12 in Merrillville appears in this column. That’s thanks to Before Midnight, which opens on a surprisingly large number of screens around the state. All the “outside the multiplex” news after the break.

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

Before Midnight- “Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) first met in their twenties in Before Sunrise, reunited in their thirties in Before Sunset, and now, in director/co-writer Richard Linklater’s Before Midnight, they face the past, present and future.” It’s playing at the Carmike Jefferson Pointe 18 in Fort Wayne, Carmike Metropolis 18 in Plainfield, Regal Shiloh Crossing 18 in Avon, AMC Muncie 12, AMC Evansville 16, AMC Bloomington 11, AMC Honey Creek 8 in Terre Haute, AMC South Bend 16, AMC Schererville 16, AMC Hobart 12, and AMC Indianapolis 17 and Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

The East- Hysterical anti-corporate thriller The East opens at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis. The good cast includes Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page, Julia Ormond, and Patricia Clarkson.

Renoir- “Set on the French Riviera in the summer of 1915, Gilles Bourdos’ lushly atmospheric drama RENOIR tells the story of celebrated Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, in declining health at age 74, and his middle son Jean, who returns home to convalesce after being wounded in World War I.” Renoir opens at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne.

THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)

Frances Ha- Frances Ha is the new collaboration between writer-director Noah Baumbach and star and co-writer Greta Gerwig. Going by the trailer, it’s a sort-of comedy shot in black and white that claims the French New Wave as one of its inspirations. Frances Ha is playing this week, in some cases at reduced showtimes, at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, AMC Evansville 16, AMC Bloomington 11, and AMC Honey Creek 8 in Terre Haute.

The Kings of Summer- This indie coming-of-age tale was a hit at Sundance (or so I read on the Landmark’s website): “The Kings of Summer is a unique coming-of-age comedy about three teenage friends who, in the ultimate act of independence, decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land. Free from their parents’ rules, their idyllic summer quickly becomes a test of friendship as each boy learns to appreciate the fact that family—whether it is the one you’re born into or the one you create—is something you can’t run away from.” It holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

Mud- Two boys form a bond with a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) hiding out on an island in the Mississippi in this indie drama written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), and which also features Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, and Michael Shannon in the adult cast. The Southern Gothic element doesn’t really come off but most of the film is excellent, starting with the core story of two boys who are suddenly confronted with the complexities of adult relationships. Mud holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis and Yes Cinema in Columbus. Highly Recommended.

The Place Beyond the Pines- This high-profile indie drama stars Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper as two men on opposite sides of a series of bank robberies. Ray Liotta, Ben Mendolsohn, and Eva Mendes lead the supporting cast. The Place Beyond the Pines holds over at the Starplex Fort Wayne Coventry 13 at partial showtimes. Recommended.

Quartet- Dustin Hoffman makes his cinematic directorial debut with this comedy/drama starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins, Billy Connolly and Michael Gambon. Smith is the newest arrival at a retirement home for musicians. Her presence there reopens several old wounds, since her fellow residents include the other members of a quartet which broke apart when she left to pursue a solo career- a move that also eventually ended her marriage to another member of the group (Courtenay). Quartet is playing this week at the Starplex Fort Wayne Coventry 13.

The Sapphires- “Inspired by a true story, the dramatic comedy The Sapphires follows four vivacious, young and talented Australian Aboriginal girls from a remote mission as they learn about love, friendship and war when their all-girl group The Sapphires entertains the U.S. troops in Vietnam in 1968.” This comedy-drama-musical from Australia holds over at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne.

Stories We Tell- Sarah Polley’s best effort to destroy her family holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis for two shows a day.

FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

The movie this weekend at the historic Artcraft Theatre on Franklin’s main street is the incomparable The Court Jester. Showtimes 2 and 8 Friday and Saturday; the evening shows come with pre-show entertainment starting at 7:30.

The IMA’s annual Summer Nights series is every Friday in June through August. Location is the terrace amphitheater, doors open at 7 and the movie starts at dusk (around 9:30), and tickets are $10/$6 for members. Tonight’s movie is Jurassic Park.

The Landmark Keystone Art Cinema is having another of its midnight movie series through June and July; shows Friday and Saturday nights. The movie this weekend is The Room.

The monthly Vintage Movie Night at Garfield Park Arts Center is tomorrow at 8. The movie is the sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.

The Irving’s sometime monthly showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is tomorrow night at- of course- midnight.

Later in the week, the Indy Film Fest is throwing a “Preview Party” for the festival, which goes on in July. It’s Thursday evening at Big Car’s Service Center in Lafayette Square; admission is free.

Southern Indiana

The IU Cinema has a reduced schedule during the summer. A new film in the “International Arthouse” series screens Friday and Saturday nights at 7. This week’s title is Frances Ha. Also at the Cinema this week: indie experimental drama Upstream Color on Thursday evening.

Documentary/musician profile Levon Helm: Ain’t in It for My Health, French historical drama Augustine, and activist documentary A Place at the Table are the movies on offer this weekend in the Ryder repertory series; showings Friday thru Sunday at IU and Bear’s Place in Bloomington (Ryder film series page for showtimes and venues).

Northern Indiana

The Cinema Center this summer is hosting a six week free, open attendance IPFW (Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne) summer film class on film noir and horror. This week is two modern titles, Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs on Tuesday and Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark on Thursday. The class portion starts at 7 and the movie at 7:30.

In West Lafayette, Cinematheque for All’s summer season continues with French period drama The Well-Digger’s Daughter, starring Daniel Auteuil. This page has the full lineup; all screenings are Wednesdays at 7 on the Purdue campus.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Films and events scheduled for next Friday:

Pulp Fiction at the KAC

Dirty Dancing at the IMA

Blancanieves at the IU Cinema

The Princess Bride at the Paramount

A Place at the Table, Something in the Air, Augustine at the Ryder

They say that alcohol is a powerful truth serum, that people tend to speak the truth when inebriated. Well, for the most part that’s accurate. But nothing brings out the truth in people like the end of the world.

Four couples meet for a monthly “Couples Brunch”. The hosts, Emma and Pete, have been married for eight years; same for Lexi and Buck; Shane and Hedy (America Ferrera) havw been engaged for six years; and the fourth couple, Glenn (David Cross) and Tracy (Julia Stiles), are currently on their third date. Right from the start, the characters exist in a recognizable universe that most people can relate to. They speak like normal people and not caricatures; dialogue sometimes overlap and once in a while, someone cuts off someone else mid-conversation.

As they catch up on each other’s progress in life and Glenn gets to know the rest of the group, something strange happens. Cell phones no longer have reception and the TV and landline phone (for faxing purposes- it’s an inside joke) don’t work, either. Pete insinuates that Emma forgot to pay the internet/TV/phone bill and just as he cracks a [harmful] joke about her forgetting to pay the electricity bill, the electricity in the house shuts off as well.

It doesn’t take long until they discover that several dirty bombs were exploded in the downtown regions of many major American cities. There’s the looming threat of radioactive clouds that float toward their neighborhood; however, that awful news subsides and worsens as they hear that that it’s not radiation that they need to be worried about but deadly VX nerve gas. They decide to seal up the house and remain indoors.

Contextually, this is a dark film that deals with how relationships fall apart during a crisis. But this film is also a comedy, plain and simple. When one is faced with a devastating situation, the truth pours out whether one likes it or not. This film delivers the “honest truths” that follow in a convincing yet comedic manner. While scavenging for supplies, one person finds out that someone else at that party had slept with their husband, and there’s also the situation of a possible threesome that develops in another bedroom. It’s a dark film, but it’s terrifically humorous.

The performances are relatively sincere and feed off the looming situation really well. When a situation dealing with survival is afoot, it’s almost immediately shut down by an argument that’s entirely unrelated but is appropriately character based. As a result, all of the characters are fully developed by the end of the film. The situation outside only worsens and so there’s no need to “develop” what is happening elsewhere in the world. Meanwhile these characters get into the dumbest arguments and most awkward situations that are typical and, as a result, hilarious.

A tremendous effort went into making sure that the theme of cause and consequence is ever present throughout the runtime and that it always makes sense. When one character is looking for a radio in the garage she finds a bowling ball and is excited. A few scenes later she’s seen bowling with bowling trophies that she’d also found. Another character tries to listen to the car radio for information about the terrifying situation outside but finds that the satellite radio subscription had expired months back. The situation sucks, but it makes sense within the context of said character that’d let the subscription run out. Again it’s all cause and consequence and in correlation to characters staying within character in a recognizable manner.

It’s a Disaster is about what we do in life and what we have, and at the end it’s about what we’re left with. Is what we currently have useful? Well, that’s what hindsight is all about. We can’t think about the future in a past tense so we concentrate on the present. We make do with what we have. We reminisce, we joke, and then we are frustrated. I can only hope that if I were stuck in that situation that I’d be stuck with those people because as silly and annoying as they can be, their earlier decisions in life and their consequences are disastrously hilarious.

Special features are an audio commentary by writer-director Todd Berger and stars David Cross, Kevin Brennan, and Jeff Grace; one making-of short feature; three viral videos of a comedy group some of the actors belong to; a taped Comic-Con panel discussion; and the trailer.

NEW RELEASES FOR JUNE 11, 2013

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Oz the Great and Powerful

Snitch

This month on Photo Play: 007 among the statuary

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Last Week: From Russia with Love (1963)
Coming Next: GoldenEye (1995)

Again this week three new movies open at Indianapolis’ Keystone Art Cinema (pushing one of last week’s new titles out altogether and another into limited showtimes). The capital city gets the state’s fourth and final new release as well, a Bollywood action-comedy vehicle for Dharmendra and his sons. Details, the list of holdovers, and the repertory lineup after the break.

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

At Any Price- This drama about a farm family under pressure from the realities of modern agri-business as well as its own internal conflicts is on my to-see list for Dennis Quaid’s highly-praised performance as the father. It was directed and co-written by acclaimed indie filmmaker Ramin Bahrani (Goodbye Solo). At Any Price starts today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, although only for two shows a day.

The Kings of Summer- This indie coming-of-age tale was a hit at Sundance (or so I read on the Landmark’s website): “The Kings of Summer is a unique coming-of-age comedy about three teenage friends who, in the ultimate act of independence, decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land. Free from their parents’ rules, their idyllic summer quickly becomes a test of friendship as each boy learns to appreciate the fact that family—whether it is the one you’re born into or the one you create—is something you can’t run away from.” It starts today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

Stories We Tell- Sarah Polley’s best effort to destroy her family starts today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

Yamla Pagla Deewana 2- Bollywood action comedy starring the father and sons team of Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, and Bobby Deol. Surprisingly it’s playing at the AMC Washington Square 12 in Indianapolis.

THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)

Frances Ha- Frances Ha is the new collaboration between writer-director Noah Baumbach and star and co-writer Greta Gerwig. Going by the trailer, it’s a sort-of comedy shot in black and white that claims the French New Wave as one of its inspirations. Frances Ha holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis and opens at the AMC Evansville 16, AMC Schererville 16, and AMC South Bend 16.

Kon-Tiki- Many years ago I read Thor Heyerdahl’s best-selling account of his 1947 trip across the Pacific Ocean in the eponymous raft, undertaken to prove the viability of his theory that Polynesia was settled by pre-Columbian South Americans. I do not recall the inter-personal conflict abundantly in evidence in the trailer, but I wouldn’t swear by my memory. Then again maybe he cut that part out- or the screenwriter thought the journey by itself wasn’t exciting enough. Whatever its historical accuracy, Kon-Tiki holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, where it’s sharing a screen with At Any Price.

Mud- Two boys form a bond with a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) hiding out on an island in the Mississippi in this indie drama written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), and which also features Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, and Michael Shannon in the adult cast. The Southern Gothic element doesn’t really come off but most of the film is excellent, starting with the core story of two boys who are suddenly confronted with the complexities of adult relationships. Mud holds over- in some cases at partial showtimes- at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, Yes Cinema in Columbus, Showplace Cinemas East in Evansville, AMC Honey Creek 8 in Terre Haute, and AMC South Bend 16. Highly Recommended.

The Place Beyond the Pines- This high-profile indie drama stars Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper as two men on opposite sides of a series of bank robberies. Ray Liotta, Ben Mendolsohn, and Eva Mendes lead the supporting cast. The Place Beyond the Pines holds over at the Starplex Fort Wayne Coventry 13 at partial showtimes. Recommended.

Quartet- Dustin Hoffman makes his cinematic directorial debut with this comedy/drama starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins, Billy Connolly and Michael Gambon. Smith is the newest arrival at a retirement home for musicians. Her presence there reopens several old wounds, since her fellow residents include the other members of a quartet which broke apart when she left to pursue a solo career- a move that also eventually ended her marriage to another member of the group (Courtenay). Quartet is playing this week at the Starplex Fort Wayne Coventry 13 and the Cinemark Movies 8 in Greenwood.

The Sapphires- “Inspired by a true story, the dramatic comedy The Sapphires follows four vivacious, young and talented Australian Aboriginal girls from a remote mission as they learn about love, friendship and war when their all-girl group The Sapphires entertains the U.S. troops in Vietnam in 1968.” This comedy-drama-musical from Australia returns to the state for an engagement at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne.

FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE

State Wide

There’s a Fathom Event screening of Spirit of the Marathon 2 on Wednesday at 7: “From the producers of the award-winning documentary Spirit of the Marathon (2008), this highly-anticipated sequel follows seven runners from around the world as they journey to the starting line of the 2012 Rome Marathon.” Check the Fathom website for a list of participating theaters.

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

It’s First Friday in Indianapolis which means the Heartland will be screening a short film at 15 minute intervals through the evening in its Fountain Square theater; from 7-10.

The IMA’s annual Summer Nights series is every Friday in June through August. Location is the terrace amphitheater, doors open at 7 and the movie starts at dusk (around 9:30), and tickets are $10/$6 for members. Tonight’s movie is 1960s Doris Day/Rock Hudson vehicle Pillow Talk.

The Landmark Keystone Art Cinema is having another of its midnight movie series through June and July; shows Friday and Saturday nights. The movie this weekend is Willow. On Monday at 7, the KAC will have (another) one-night-only show of Bill W., a documentary about one of the founders of AA.

Also at the IMA this week but inside in the Toby, on Thursday night at 7 is a showing of Trashed, a documentary on the global impact of, per the title, trash. Tickets are $9/$5 for members.

Southern Indiana

The IU Cinema has a reduced schedule during the summer. This weekend is the “Indie Film Con 2013″ convention. This page has the lineup and ticket info; starts Friday evening at 5 and Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10. Also at the Cinema this week: Frances Ha on Thursday night.

Documentary/musician profile Levon Helm: Ain’t in It for My Health, French historical drama Augustine about Freud’s famous patient, and documentary/personality profile Andre Gregory: Before and After Dinner are the movies on offer this weekend in the Ryder repertory series; showings Friday thru Sunday at IU and Bear’s Place in Bloomington (Ryder film series page for showtimes and venues).

Northern Indiana

Tonight at 9 at the Cinema Center is a showing of The Room: “An American black comedy about love and passion, betrayal and lies. It depicts the depths of friendship and relationships in one’s life and raises life’s real and most asked question: ‘Can you ever really trust anyone?…Are you ready to see reflections of your life?’ A successful banker, Johnny, is madly in love with his fiancee, Lisa, and plans to be married next month. His plans take a horrid turn when he finds the truth about Lisa and the people surrounding him.”

The Cinema Center this summer is hosting a six week free, open attendance IPFW (Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne) summer film class on film noir and horror. This week is Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce on Tuesday, followed by horror classic Dawn of the Dead on Thursday. The class portion starts at 7 and the movie at 7:30.

In West Lafayette, Cinematheque for All’s summer season continues with The Pool, an indie set in India. This page has the full lineup; all screenings are Wednesdays at 7 on the Purdue campus.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Films and events scheduled for next Friday:

The Court Jester at the Artcraft

Jurassic Park at the IMA

Levon Helm: Ain’t in It for My Health, Augustine, A Place at the Table at the Ryder

“Romeo and Juliet and Zombies”. The best movie of the year so far is unexpectedly a representative of that most dreaded of contemporary cultural phenomena, the literary mash-up. High school educators and Hollywood alike persist in thinking that the target audience for the Shakespearean romance is the age of its doomed lovers. That’s still not true of Warm Bodies even with several years added to the characters’ ages and tragedy (mostly) replaced by comedy. The film’s older-skewing allegory is clearly established in the introductory scenes. It’s implied by the setting of an airport terminal inhabited by zombies imprisoned by their own non-lives, the walled enclave of the besieged remnant of human civilization, and the no man’s land that lies between. It’s made explicit by one of the movie’s typically smart, blink and you’ll miss it jokes: R ruminating on how wonderful it must have been in the old, pre-zombiefied days when people really connected with each other, his voiceover playing over a shot of a crowded public space populated by people isolated inside the bubbles emanating from their mobile devices*. Like last year’s polished indie gem Safety Not Guaranteed, Hollywood paragon Warm Bodies refuses to be categorized. Following the lead of its against-the-odds couple the story seamlessly blends genres that aren’t normally on speaking term. Lightly worn ironic commentary on modern alienation is the accompaniment to an entirely and patently sincere love story. Love in its infinite variety brings them all to life.

Extras are an audio commentary by director Jonathan Levine and stars Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer, deleted scenes, a large number of behind-the-scenes short features, and a gag reel.

*Did the two teenage girls in the row in front of me share my ironic self-awareness as I asked them to stop texting close on the heels of this scene? I wondered, could they be texting each other while pretending to share the communal experience of watching a movie or was the act a tacit rebuke of the insufficiency of her friend’s silent companionship? It’s a shame we couldn’t laugh at the joke together. At least they put their phones away.

NEW RELEASES FOR JUNE 4

Escape from Planet Earth

A Good Day to Die Hard

Identity Thief

NEW RELEASES FOR MAY 28

Dark Skies

Lore

This month on Photo Play: 007 among the statuary

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Last Week: Enchanted April (1992)
Coming Next: The Living Daylights (1987)

This is one of those weeks where Indianapolis is the place to be, as we get three new movies at the KAC- Frances Ha, Kon-Tiki, What Maisie Knew- and a varied selection of repertory choices.

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

Frances Ha- Frances Ha is the new collaboration between writer-director Noah Baumbach and star and co-writer Greta Gerwig. Going by the trailer, it’s a sort-of comedy shot in black and white that claims the French New Wave as one of its inspirations. Frances Ha starts today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

Kon-Tiki- Many years ago I read Thor Heyerdahl’s best-selling account of his 1947 trip across the Pacific Ocean in the eponymous raft, undertaken to prove the viability of his theory that Polynesia was settled by pre-Columbian South Americans. I do not recall the inter-personal conflict abundantly in evidence in the trailer, but I wouldn’t swear by my memory. Then again maybe he cut that part out- or the screenwriter thought the journey by itself wasn’t exciting enough. Whatever its historical accuracy, Kon-Tiki opens today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

What Maisie Knew- Henry James’ typically exquisite and unsparing novella about the toll divorce takes on children is given a contemporary staging in this indie drama. Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan play the neglectful parents. It also starts today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)

The Company You Keep- Director/star Robert Redford’s apologia for 1970s violent anti-war radicalism holds over at Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis (for one show a day).

The Iceman- “Appearing to be living the American Dream as a devoted husband and father, in reality Kuklinski is a ruthless killer-for-hire. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters have any clue about his real profession.” The Iceman- starring Michael Shannon, Ray Liotta, James Franco, Chris Evans, and Winona Ryder- is sinking like a stone, holding over in its second week only at the AMC South Bend 16. It’s a shame it’s disappearing so quickly because it’s very good. Highly Recommended.

Mud- Two boys form a bond with a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) hiding out on an island in the Mississippi in this indie drama written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), and which also features Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, and Michael Shannon in the adult cast. The Southern Gothic element doesn’t really come off but most of the film is excellent, starting with the core story of two boys who are suddenly confronted with the complexities of adult relationships. Mud is still doing well, playing this week- in some cases at partial showtimes- at the Yes Cinema in Columbus, Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, Showplace Cinemas East in Evansville, and these AMCs: Kokomo 12, Honey Creek 8 in Terre Haute, Bloomington 11, Evansville 16, and South Bend 16. Highly Recommended.

The Place Beyond the Pines- This high-profile indie drama stars Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper as two men on opposite sides of a series of bank robberies. Ray Liotta, Ben Mendolsohn, and Eva Mendes lead the supporting cast. The Place Beyond the Pines holds over at the Starplex Fort Wayne Coventry 13 at partial showtimes. Recommended.

Trance- Danny Boyle’s new movie is a thriller revolving around an art heist gone wrong. James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, and Rosario Dawson are the stars. Their charismatic performances and Boyle’s characteristically dynamic filmmaking power through the “gotcha” plotting. Trance holds over in Fort Wayne at the Cinema Center. Recommended (with qualifications).

FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

Tonight at 7 at the IMA’s Toby: “Documenting hip hop culture in 1980s New York, Style Wars focuses on the struggle for young graffiti artists to express themselves in the face of those who called their work vandalism. Introduction by graffiti artist and painter, Samuel E Vazquez.” Tickets are $9/$5 for members.

The Landmark Keystone Art Cinema is having another of its midnight movie series through June and July; shows Friday and Saturday nights. The movie this weekend is Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

Tomorrow afternoon at 1 there will be a screening of the hit Taiwanese comedy Cape No. 7 on the IUPUI campus. More info here.

Indy Film Fest’s next Roving Cinema screening is Wednesday at 6:30 at Sun King Brewing Company. The movie is Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Bring your own chair.

Southern Indiana

The IU Cinema has a reduced schedule during the summer. A new film in the “International Arthouse” series screens Friday and Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday at 3. This week’s title is Something in the Air, a French drama set in the 1970s from Olivier Assayas. Also at the Cinema this week: Upstream Color on Thursday evening.

Documentary/musician profile Levon Helm: Ain’t in It for My Health, indie NY-set comedy Gimme the Loot, and documentary/personality profile Andre Gregory: Before and After Dinner are the movies on offer this weekend in the Ryder repertory series; showings Friday thru Sunday at IU and Bear’s Place in Bloomington (Ryder film series page for showtimes and venues).

The Strand Theatre in Shelbyville is showing The Spirit of St. Louis, the biopic of Charles Lindbergh starring James Stewart, on Sunday at 2; tickets $6.

Northern Indiana

Today at 4:30 is a showing of I Do at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne.

The Cinema Center this summer is hosting a six week free, open attendance IPFW (Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne) summer film class on film noir and horror. This week is the highly Expressionistic Frankenstein on Tuesday, followed by the Coens’ neo-noir Blood Simple on Thursday. The class portion starts at 7 and the movie at 7:30.

In West Lafayette, Cinematheque for All’s summer season continues with The Pope’s Toilet. This page has the full lineup; all screenings are Wednesdays at 7 on the Purdue campus.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Films and events scheduled for next Friday:

Willow at the KAC

The Room at the Cinema Center

Pillow Talk at the IMA

Levon Helm: Ain’t in It for My Health and Andre Gregory: Before and After Dinner at the Ryder

This month on Photo Play: fair English flowers

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Last Week: The Winslow Boy (2000)
Coming Next: From Russia with Love (1963)

Pickings are slim this week due to the big Memorial Day weekend movies pushing most of the limited release titles out of theaters. What there is, is listed after the break.

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

The Iceman- “Appearing to be living the American Dream as a devoted husband and father, in reality Kuklinski is a ruthless killer-for-hire. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters have any clue about his real profession.” Iceman- starring Michael Shannon, Ray Liotta, James Franco, Chris Evans, and Winona Ryder- opens at the Carmike 20 in Fort Wayne, AMC Muncie 7 (at partial showtimes), AMC Evansville 16, AMC Honey Creek 8, AMC South Bend 16, and the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)

The Company You Keep- Director/star Robert Redford’s apologia for 1970s violent anti-war radicalism holds over at Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis (for one show a day).

Mud- Two boys form a bond with a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) hiding out on an island in the Mississippi in this indie drama written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), and which also features Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, and Michael Shannon in the adult cast. The Southern Gothic element doesn’t really come off but most of the film is excellent, starting with the core story of two boys who are suddenly confronted with the complexities of adult relationships. Mud is still doing well this week, holding over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, Showplace Cinemas East in Evansville, and these AMCs: Kokomo 12, Evansville 16, Bloomington 11, Terre Haute 12, South Bend 16, and Schererville 12. Highly Recommended.

The Place Beyond the Pines- This high-profile indie drama stars Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper as two men on opposite sides of a series of bank robberies. Ray Liotta, Ben Mendolsohn, and Eva Mendes lead the supporting cast. The Place Beyond the Pines moves to the Starplex Fort Wayne Coventry 13. Recommended.

Trance- Danny Boyle’s new movie is a thriller revolving around an art heist gone wrong. James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, and Rosario Dawson are the stars. Their charismatic performances and Boyle’s characteristically dynamic filmmaking power through the “gotcha” plotting. Trance opens in Fort Wayne at the Cinema Center. Recommended (with qualifications).

FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE

State Wide

Fathom Events returns to this space after a length absence with a documentary called First, about 12 first-time Olympians who competed in the London Games. Thursday at 7:30; check the Fathom website for a list of participating theaters.

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

The IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum is showing Spaceballs twice this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday nights at 7.

The movie this weekend at the historic Artcraft Theatre on Franklin’s main street is the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Showtimes 2 and 8 Friday and Saturday; the evening shows come with pre-show entertainment starting at 7:30.

Southern Indiana

The (sometime) monthly Friday Night Frights at the Strand Theatre in Shelbyville returns tonight at 8 to bring you the double feature of Spider Baby and They Live, the latter of more recent vintage than is usual for the series.

The IU Cinema has a reduced schedule during the summer. A new film in the “International Arthouse” series screens Friday and Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday at 3. This week’s title is The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Also at the Cinema this week: true crime documentary Bayou Blue, about a serial killer in Louisiana, on Thursday evening.

British comedy-drama The Angels’ Share, indie NY-set comedy Gimme the Loot, and documentary/personality profile Andre Gregory: Before and After Dinner are the movies on offer this weekend in the Ryder repertory series; showings Friday thru Sunday at IU and Bear’s Place in Bloomington (Ryder film series page for showtimes and venues).

Northern Indiana

Tonight at 6:30 you can see perennial Hoosier favorite Breaking Away (apparently May is bike month) at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne. The Center also offers a midnight show of Fight Club on Saturday and a movie I know nothing about called The Last Mile on Sunday at 6:30.

The Cinema Center this summer is hosting a six week free, open attendance IPFW (Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne) summer film class on film noir and horror. This week is one of the contenders for ultimate noir, Out of the Past on Tuesday, followed by classic atmospheric horror from the original Cat People on Thursday. The class portion starts at 7 and the movie at 7:30.

In West Lafayette, Cinematheque for All’s summer season continues with We Have a Pope, which has no connection with any actual papal conclave, recent or otherwise. This page has the full lineup; all screenings are Wednesdays at 7 on the Purdue campus.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Films and events scheduled for next Friday:

Style Wars at the IMA

Something in the Air at the IU Cinema

Several months back director Steven Soderbergh announced his plans to retire from the film industry. If that is true then Side Effects is a fitting swan song because it’s one of his best films.

We first meet Emily (Rooney Mara) and her husband Martin (Channing Tatum). Emily suffers from a chronic depression and the film’s depiction of it is remarkably spot on. It portrays it just as accurately and disturbingly as Lars von Trier did in his film Melancholia (2010). Emily goes through a plethora of prescribed medications. As she reads about different medications she keeps trying to change to a better one, or a stronger one.

The film’s first act is mostly comprised of psychiatrists and other doctors who converse about different drugs, how they relate to one another, and how the pharmaceutical world acts philosophically and financially. It is utterly fascinating and, mysteriously, gripping.

Emily makes a new friend out of Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law). He eventually prescribes a drug that not only causes her to sleepwalk, but also adds a bout of psychosis.

The film then propels itself into its second act, making Dr. Banks its protagonist and shifting gears and genres from “talking heads” to “film noir”. Dr. Banks travels to and from several different cities trying to unlock the mysteries of the drug that caused Emily terrible side effects. This second act is continually fascinating and travels in seriously twisted directions. Many viewers might be put off by the sudden change in tone and shift between the first and second acts, but on the other hand some people might just be bored by the talking heads aspect of the first part. You win some you lose some.

There are several other players in the story that come and go, some more important than others, but not a single aspect of the story in this film is superfluous. Some call it Hitchcockian, but that’s definitely the wrong term to use; Side Effects is a film noir down to its core. And it’s a terrific one, at that. All of the performances are convincing and naturalistic, the cinematography is really good, and it’s a truly gripping and rather chilling experience.

Soderbergh’s supposed leave from filmmaking is both a pleasant thing and a bad thing. It’s pleasant because his annoying orange hue won’t be visible anymore (seriously, who shoots their films in orange?), and it’s bad because we won’t see films like Side Effects and Traffic (2000) anymore. His excellent filmography includes Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989), Out of Sight (1998), The Limey (1999), Erin Brockovich (2000), Bubble (2005), Che: Parts 1 and 2 (2008), and The Informant! (2009).

Soderbergh was a hit and miss kind of director, but then again who isn’t? When he delivered a hit he struck it right out of the ball park. However, he still has to answer for Ocean’s Twelve/Thirteen.

The special features include Behind the Scenes; Ablixa Website Experience; Ablixa Commercial; and Intenin Commercial.

NEW RELEASES FOR MAY 21, 2013

Beautiful Creatures

The Last Stand

Parker

Stand Up Guys

This month on Photo Play: fair English flowers

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Last Week: Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Coming Next: Enchanted April (1992)

Just one new release this week- an indie up in Fort Wayne- but Mud is still going strong around the state and there are a few other titles playing here and there. Tonight I’ll be seeing the documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry at the IMA’s Toby with the Indy Film Buffs.

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

Gimme the Loot- “Malcolm and Sofia, two determined teens from the Bronx, are the ultimate graffiti-writers. When a rival gang buffs their latest masterpiece, they must hatch a plan to get revenge by tagging an iconic NYC landmark, but they need to raise $500 to pull off their spectacular scheme.” Indie comedy Gimme the Loot opens at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne.

THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)

The Angels’ Share- Ken Loach’s new movie is a very appealing comedy-drama about a Glasgow small-time loser who discovers an unknown talent for rating whiskey. Will he stick to the straight and narrow or try for the rare spirits heist of the century? It holds over at partial showtimes at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis. Highly Recommended.

The Company You Keep- Director/star Robert Redford’s apologia for 1970s violent anti-war radicalism holds over at Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, Yes Cinema in Columbus, and AMC Evansville 16.

Disconnect- “A hard-working lawyer, attached to his cell phone, can’t find the time to communicate with his family. A couple is drawn into a dangerous situation when their secrets are exposed online. A widowed ex-cop struggles to raise a mischievous son who cyber-bullies a classmate. An ambitious journalist sees a career-making story in a teen that performs on an adult-only site. They are strangers, neighbors and colleagues and their stories collide in this riveting dramatic thriller about ordinary people struggling to connect in today’s wired world.” The ensemble cast features Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Paula Patton, and Alexander Skarsgard, among other familiar names. Disconnect, the first narrative feature by documentarian Henry-Alex Rubin (Murderball) holds over at the AMC South Bend 16, for one show a day, and the AMC Schererville 12.

Home Run- “Baseball all-star Cory Brand knows what it takes to win in the big leagues but with memories of his past haunting him, his life quickly spirals out of control. Faced with a second chance he never expected, Cory embarks on a journey of faith, transformation and redemption, and along the way, he discovers a powerful truth: no one is beyond the healing of God.” Indie drama Home Run holds over at the Legacy Cinema in Greenfield.

Mud- Two boys form a bond with a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) hiding out on an island in the Mississippi in this indie drama written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), and which also features Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, and Michael Shannon in the adult cast. The Southern Gothic element doesn’t really come off, but most of the film is excellent, starting with the core story of two boys who are suddenly confronted with the complexities of adult relationships. Mud is doing quite well with engagements this week at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, Regal Village Park 17 in Carmel, Carmike Jefferson Pointe 18 in Fort Wayne, Carmike Metropolis 18 in Plainfield, Showplace Cinemas East in Evansville, and these AMC theaters: Indianapolis 17, Kokomo 12, Terre Haute 12, Bloomington 11, Evansville 16, and South Bend 16. Highly Recommended.

No- This nuanced and thoughtful historical drama from Chile was one of the Oscar nominees for best foreign language film. Gael García Bernal stars as a hotshot adman who helps devise the opposition’s marketing campaign before the 1988 plebiscite on Pinochet’s presidency. I saw it on the last day of its one week run in Indy, so I’m glad to have the opportunity to recommend No upon its move north to the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne. Highly Recommended.

The Place Beyond the Pines- This high-profile indie drama stars Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper as two men on opposite sides of a series of bank robberies. Ray Liotta, Ben Mendolsohn, and Eva Mendes lead the supporting cast. The Place Beyond the Pines is playing this week at the AMC Muncie 7 and AMC Bloomington 11. Recommended.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist- Mira Nair directed this adaptation of the novel by Mohsin Hamid. It’s to be hoped the movie is more persuasive than its trailer, which identifies police profiling as the proximate cause of Islamic terrorism. It holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, where it’s sharing a screen with The Angels’ Share.

FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

The IMA has two showings of the recent documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry in the Toby. Tickets are $9/$5 for members; Friday evening at 6:30 and Saturday afternoon at 2. The screenings are in connection with the “Ai Weiwei: According to What?” exhibit, which runs through July 21. I recommend the visit- the work inspired by the tragedy of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake is especially powerful.

The monthly Vintage Movie Nights at Garfield Park Arts Center is tomorrow night at 8; tickets are $4. The movie is House of Mystery (1934), from Poverty Row studio Monogram Pictures. There’s a gorilla on the poster.

Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes are touring with their latest production: Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie is Monday night at 8 at Clowes Hall on the Butler University campus. Tickets are $55 floor/$40 balcony plus Ticketmaster fees- which are positively outrageous. Speaking for myself, if I was interested in this show I’d take my chances on buying a ticket at the door. Clowes is a big place.

Note: Special screenings at the Goodrich Theaters are listed in the Northern Indiana section.

Southern Indiana

The IU Cinema screens the documentary Room 237 today and tomorrow at 7. It’s about all things The Shining (Kubrick’s, not King’s). Speaking of, The Shining will be shown tomorrow at 3. The documentary The Source Family is Thursday at 7.

Bogart and Bacall classic To Have and Have Not is tomorrow at 7 at the Yes Cinema in Columbus; tickets $10. The showing is part of the Yes’ tribute to Hoagy Carmichael (this was his first credited appearance) and will be preceded by a concert by Tom Pickett and friends.

The Angels’ Share, Abbas Kiarostami’s Like Someone in Love, and indie comedy Gimme the Loot are the movies on offer this weekend in the Ryder repertory series; showings Friday thru Sunday at IU and Bear’s Place in Bloomington (Ryder film series page for showtimes and venues).

Northern Indiana

The Michiana Jewish Film Festival starts Monday and runs through Thursday at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the Notre Dame campus. There are two films each evening; the lineup is a mix of features and documentaries, all recent. Included are Oscar-nominated documentary The Gatekeepers and Israeli romantic drama Fill the Void. Visit the DeBartolo’s site for more info.

In West Lafayette, Cinematheque for All’s summer season continues with Duck Season, a 2006 black-and-white film from Mexico. This page has the full lineup; all screenings are Wednesdays at 7 on the Purdue campus.

The Cinema Center this summer is hosting a six week free, open attendance IPFW (Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne) summer film class on film noir and horror. The first movie is the great Double Indemnity this Tuesday, followed by Chinatown on Thursday. The class portion starts at 7 and the movie at 7:30.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Films and events scheduled for next Friday:

the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at the Artcraft

Breaking Away at the Cinema Center

The Reluctant Fundamentalist at the IU Cinema

US Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William L. Petersen) is on the hunt for painter/professional money counterfeiter Eric Masters (a young Willem Dafoe) because Masters had Chance’s partner brutally murdered. But the cliché of “the cop that wants to avenge his partner’s death” is quickly subsumed once we realize the type of world that this film inhabits. It’s a counterfeit world, filled with counterfeit relationships, counterfeit jobs, and a superficial materialistic world.

Chance is given a second partner, a much younger and far more straight-laced, inexperienced one; John Vukovich (John Pankow). Together they follow clues and perform stakeouts, while Chance, on occasion, visits his beautiful blonde CI (confidential Informant) for information that she gathers from the streets. All seems well and good until the audience really gets a chance to understand Chance. He’s some piece of work: he’s abusive to everyone around him, most especially his CI, whom he threatens to never pay and possibly throw back into the slammer; he’s an adrenaline junkie; he thinks with his guts rather than his brains; and he’s a terrible risk taking thrill seeker. But at the end of the day he gets the job done.

Petersen delivers a dark, brave performance here and we don’t entirely like the character of Chance. We’re not even supposed to. Still he’s the hero of the story and we follow him everywhere that he goes so we can watch as he abuses, frightens, and beats people, and even commits greatly illegal acts just to get the job done.

The film’s first act is a procedural. Through Masters’ point of view it showcases how money is counterfeited and laundered, how he’s connected, and how he makes real money back. It also showcases how he deals with rotten situations. He’s cool, suave, and collected. He also kills when necessary. The film pits him as a worthy adversary to Chance. And through Chance’s point of view, the film showcases how a US Secret Service Agent (under the thumb of the US Treasury Department) foils criminals’ plans and apprehends them.

The film’s second and third acts further develop the individual, daily procedures of the agents and the criminals, with striking, realistic detail, and also draw Masters and Chance closer together. There’s also one of the greatest car chases in cinema history to hurl our fearless heroes towards the third and final act.

To Live and Die in L.A. is a film that tackles many themes, most especially those of cause and consequences, and that blurry line that lies between being a good guy and a bad guy. That line is so thin and out of focus here that Chance doesn’t seem to see it, and we are presented with a detailed study of the similarities between the jobs of cops and criminals. This is a character and plot driven thriller that holds nothing back. Even though it is a visually colorful film, all of the happenings in it are dark in nature and violent. This is a bloody film, filled with terrific twists and an amazingly shocking third act. It presents writer/director William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist, Killer Joe) as a force to be reckoned with.

Friedkin definitely had plenty of great moments in the sun during the 1970s and 1980s. TLADILA is a smaller, lesser known film that truly demands resurgence. We see federal agents steal real money in order to buy fake money and bust a counterfeiter; we see several relationships that are also counterfeit in nature, as presented by the third act that wraps everything up; and we see a superficial, materialistic world that preaches that whatever’s on the surface should not be taken at face value.

This is a small masterpiece that came out of and still exists, in one way or another, in the ‘80s, and that should have made a star out of William Petersen. I believe that personal reasons have benched Petersen’s will to become a Hollywood star but films like this and Michael Mann’s terrific Manhunter (1986) are proof that he definitely was and still is an excellent actor.

Watch TLADILA and witness a thriller unlike any you’ve ever seen, necessary cliches aside. You’ll love the look of it, you’ll love its soundtrack (designed by Wang Chung), and you’ll love its story. All of the loose ends are wrapped up and all of the characters are developed. What more could one want from a good thriller?

The special features include an Audio Commentary by William Friedkin; Counterfeit World: The Making of To Live and Die in L.A.; Alternate Ending Featurette; Delete Scene Featurette; Stills Gallery; and Theatrical Trailers.

NEW RELEASES FOR MAY 14, 2013

Cloud Atlas

Texas Chainsaw 3D

This month on Photo Play: fair English flowers

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Last Week: Cold Comfort Farm (1995)
Coming Next: The Winslow Boy (2000)

The repertory scene is a trifle slow south and north due to finals/summer break, while Indianapolis has options to spare. On the limited release front, Mud is still going strong and No migrates north to Fort Wayne. All the details for that and more after the break.

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

No One Lives- This reputedly extremely violent low-budget horror movie is getting a very limited national release. Unless I missed a theater the only place it’s playing in Indiana is the AMC Indianapolis 17. There doesn’t seem to be an official page so here’s the Wikipedia page for the gory details.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist- Mira Nair directed this adaptation of the novel by Mohsin Hamid. It’s to be hoped the movie is more persuasive than its trailer, which identifies police profiling as the proximate cause of Islamic terrorism. It starts today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)

The Angels’ Share- Ken Loach’s new movie is a very appealing comedy-drama about a Glasgow small-time loser who discovers an unknown talent for rating whiskey. Will he stick to the straight and narrow or try for the rare spirits heist of the century? It holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis. If you don’t have Mother’s Day plans, come out for the 1:50 show on Sunday and meet up with me and the Indy Film Buffs. Highly Recommended

The Company You Keep- Director/star Robert Redford’s apologia for 1970s violent anti-war radicalism holds over at Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, AMC Evansville 16, and AMC South Bend 16.

Disconnect- “A hard-working lawyer, attached to his cell phone, can’t find the time to communicate with his family. A couple is drawn into a dangerous situation when their secrets are exposed online. A widowed ex-cop struggles to raise a mischievous son who cyber-bullies a classmate. An ambitious journalist sees a career-making story in a teen that performs on an adult-only site. They are strangers, neighbors and colleagues and their stories collide in this riveting dramatic thriller about ordinary people struggling to connect in today’s wired world.” The ensemble cast features Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Paula Patton, and Alexander Skarsgard, among other familiar names. Disconnect, the first narrative feature by documentarian Henry-Alex Rubin (Murderball) holds over at the AMC Indianapolis 17 and AMC Bloomington 11, for one show a day at each, AMC Schererville 12, AMC South Bend 16, and the the Carmike 20 in Fort Wayne.

Home Run- “Baseball all-star Cory Brand knows what it takes to win in the big leagues but with memories of his past haunting him, his life quickly spirals out of control. Faced with a second chance he never expected, Cory embarks on a journey of faith, transformation and redemption, and along the way, he discovers a powerful truth: no one is beyond the healing of God.” Indie drama Home Run holds over at the Regal Shiloh Crossing 18 in Avon.

Mud- Two boys form a bond with a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) hiding out on an island in the Mississippi in this indie drama written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), and which also features Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, and Michael Shannon in the adult cast. The Southern Gothic element doesn’t really come off, but most of the film is excellent, starting with the core story of two boys who are suddenly confronted with the complexities of adult relationships. Mud is doing quite well with engagements this week at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema and AMC Indianapolis 17 in Indianapolis, AMC Bloomington 11, Regal Village Park 17 in Carmel, Carmike Jefferson Pointe 18 in Fort Wayne, Carmike Metropolis 18 in Plainfield, AMC Kokomo 12, AMC Terre Haute 12, AMC Schererville 12, AMC South Bend 16, and AMC Evansville 16 and Showplace Cinemas East in Evansville. Highly Recommended

No- This nuanced and thoughtful historical drama from Chile was one of the Oscar nominees for best foreign language film. Gael García Bernal stars as a hotshot adman who helps devise the opposition’s marketing campaign before the 1988 plebiscite on Pinochet’s presidency. I saw it on the last day of its one week run in Indy, so I’m glad to have the opportunity to recommend No upon its move north to the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne. Highly Recommended

Not Today- “Traveling with his friends to Hyderabad, India on a whim, Caden’s expectations of a never-ending party crash hard. But not as hard as his conscience when he refuses to help a starving man and his little girl. NOT TODAY challenges moviegoers with a purpose that goes beyond its gripping story. The movie was produced by Friends Church Yorba Linda, a congregation committed to educating the Dalits and ending human trafficking in India. NOT TODAY is a powerful reminder that change is possible if we’re willing to open our eyes… today.” It holds over at the Carmike Jefferson Pointe 18 in Fort Wayne.

The Place Beyond the Pines- This high-profile indie drama stars Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper as two men on opposite sides of a series of bank robberies. Ray Liotta, Ben Mendolsohn, and Eva Mendes lead the supporting cast. The Place Beyond the Pines is on its way out but holds on at the Goodrich Portage 16, Cinemark Movies 14 in Mishawaka, Yes Cinema in Columbus, AMC Bloomington 11, AMC Schererville 12, and Showplace Cinemas East in Evansville. Recommended

To the Wonder- Love him or hate him, Terrence Malick’s latest movie is here. Specifically, at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne. Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Javier Bardem, and Rachel McAdams star.

FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

The movie this weekend at Franklin’s Artcraft Theatre is the marvelous musical The Music Man; showtimes 2 and 8 Friday and Saturday, with pre-show entertainment at 7:30 before the evening shows.

Indy Film Fest and Big Car Service Center present “The Bigger Picture Show” tonight; from 7-11 at Big Car. This is the annual art show of posters designed by local artists and inspired by movies. The theme for the exhibition is 50 Greg Kinnear movies. Beer and wine will be served, there will be food trucks outside, and all the posters will be sold in silent auction.

In conjunction with the official opening of the Cultural Trail, the Heartland will show a selection of short films in its Fountain Square screening room from 10-2 on Saturday.

The Indy Film Fest is also joining the Cultural Trail festivities with a screening in White River Park of Tiny: A Film About Living Small. Gates open at 6:30 and the movie starts at dusk; admission is free.

The Irving’s sometime monthly showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is tomorrow night at- of course- midnight.

On Thursday, the IMA offers the first of three showings of the recent documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry in the Toby. Tickets are $9/$5 for members and showtime is 6:30; the other shows are Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. The screenings are in connection with the “Ai Weiwei: According to What?” exhibit, which runs through July 21. I recommend the visit- the work inspired by the tragedy of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake is especially powerful.

It is in fact a very busy week for the Indy Film Fest as the Roving Cinema series returns on Thursday with Fight Club. The venue is the Catacombs Under City Market (for the faint of heart: it’s really just the basement). This is a popular series and this event is already sold out; to those interested I recommend keeping tabs on the Fest’s Facebook page for event announcements.

Note: Special screenings at the Goodrich Theaters are listed in the Northern Indiana section.

Southern Indiana

The Yes Cinema’s “dinner and a classic movie” series continues tomorrow night with The Godfather. You can see the movie- no meal attached- again on Sunday at 3.

The IU Cinema is currently on finals break, but programming starts up again on Thursday night with the documentary Room 237, which has a couple more showings next weekend. It’s about all things The Shining (Kubrick’s, not King’s).

The Angels’ Share, Abbas Kiarostami’s Like Someone in Love, and Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of Wonder, a documentary about the Beat poet, are the movies on offer this weekend in the Ryder repertory series; showings Friday thru Sunday at IU and Bear’s Place in Bloomington (Ryder film series page for showtimes and venues).

Northern Indiana

The Goodrich Theaters’ “Documentary Days” bi-monthly series continues Monday with The Waiting Room. Shows are at 5 and 7; visit the series page on the Goodrich website for more info, including the list of participating theaters.

In West Lafayette, Cinematheque for All’s summer season starts this week; however, at press time the first title hadn’t been announced. All screenings are Wednesdays at 7 on the Purdue campus.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Films and events scheduled for next Friday:

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry at the IMA

Room 237 at the IU Cinema

The Angels’ Share, Like Someone in Love, and Gimme the Loot at the Ryder

The film opens with a sniper who takes position inside a public parking garage and fires at five seemingly random people across the street. Then he disappears leaving little clues for the police to find. Within the day, the police have a suspect in custody and he has only one thing to say: “Get Jack Reacher”.

Enter Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise), previously a major in the US Military, Reacher is now a drifter. He owns nothing except the clothes on his back and an ATM card, and travels the country by hitchhiking or riding the bus. Reacher hears of the story regarding the sniper and tries to piece together the reason behind it. It also takes a while before he realizes that the sniper in custody is a patsy; that only drives him further to uncover the truth.

Reacher doesn’t work for anyone and had been living under the radar and off the grid for many years, by choice alone. He helps the FBI uncover the truth and ends up getting into several fist fights with seemingly random strangers and a car chase where he chases the bad guys while avoiding the police. He eventually tracks down the real bad guys while uncovering why they did what they did.

The story here is good. It’s not rocket science and it’s not entirely original but the way in which it is portrayed, peeling layer after layer back, is well done. Reacher utilizes good ol’ detective work while taking no guff from anyone. He can handle himself in any situation, he turns himself into a formidable foe from early on, and he consistently proves to others why they shouldn’t mess with him.

The film was written and directed by Academy Award winner* Christopher McQuarrie, whose previous work was The Way of the Gun (2000), a tough, relatively flawless telling of a kidnapping gone wrong. It’s a raw, no holds barred thriller, and has terrific dialogue. Jack Reacher isn’t as raw and tough a film, but its protagonist certainly is and watching him uncover the truth while delivering beat-downs is terrific entertainment.

Jack Reacher is a thriller, not an action film, and a very good one. The supporting cast includes Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, Robert Duvall, Jai Courtney, and Werner Herzog, who plays a crazy villain.

The special features include two Audio Commentaries and several short features: When the Man Comes Around; You Do Not Mess with Jack Reacher: Combat and Weapons; and The Reacher Phenomenon.

*Best Original Screenplay- The Usual Suspects (1995)

NEW RELEASES FOR MAY 7, 2013

Mama

The Oranges

Safe Haven

This month on Photo Play: fair English flowers

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Last Week: Ninotchka, Take 2
Coming Next: Sense and Sensibility (1995)

The university-aligned repertory cinemas are starting to dial back their programming for the off-season. Fortunately there’s still a good number of interesting titles in limited release around the state. Most notably, Mud expands considerably while Ken Loach’s new film The Angel’s Share opens in Indy and indie thriller Disconnect opens in Indy, Bloomington, and Fort Wayne.

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

The Angels’ Share- Ken Loach’s new movie is a very appealing-looking comedy about a Glasgow loser who discovers an unknown talent for Scotch whiskey. “For distillers the angels’ share is the whiskey lost to evaporation each year, and that little fact makes a rare cask of whiskey the perfect target for a heist.” It opens today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

Disconnect- “A hard-working lawyer, attached to his cell phone, can’t find the time to communicate with his family. A couple is drawn into a dangerous situation when their secrets are exposed online. A widowed ex-cop struggles to raise a mischievous son who cyber-bullies a classmate. An ambitious journalist sees a career-making story in a teen that performs on an adult-only site. They are strangers, neighbors and colleagues and their stories collide in this riveting dramatic thriller about ordinary people struggling to connect in today’s wired world.” The ensemble cast features Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Paula Patton, and Alexander Skarsgard, among other familiar names. Disconnect, the first narrative feature by documentarian Henry-Alex Rubin (Murderball) starts today at the Carmike 20 in Fort Wayne, AMC Bloomington 11, and AMC Indianapolis 17.

Not Today- “Traveling with his friends to Hyderabad, India on a whim, Caden’s expectations of a never-ending party crash hard. But not as hard as his conscience when he refuses to help a starving man and his little girl. NOT TODAY challenges moviegoers with a purpose that goes beyond its gripping story. The movie was produced by Friends Church Yorba Linda, a congregation committed to educating the Dalits and ending human trafficking in India. NOT TODAY is a powerful reminder that change is possible if we’re willing to open our eyes… today.” It opens today at the Carmike Jefferson Pointe 18 in Fort Wayne.

Starbuck- French-Canadian comedy about a man-child sperm donor with a horrifying number of biological children, many of them wanting to know who their father is. It opens today at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

THEATRICAL HOLDOVERS (AND “RE-OPENINGS”)

Arthur Newman- Despite starring Colin Firth, Emily Blunt, and Anne Heche, the road trip-themed romantic-comedy Arthur Newman is playing on only one screen in the state, the AMC Schererville 12.

The Company You Keep- Director/star Robert Redford’s apologia for 1970s violent anti-war radicalism retracts considerably in its second week, but holds over at Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis, Carmike 20 in Fort Wayne, AMC Evansville 16, AMC Bloomington 12, and AMC South Bend 16.

Filly Brown- “FILLY BROWN is an inspiring and gritty portrait of a young artist striving to find her voice and seize her dreams without compromise. Majo Tonorio, aka, “Filly Brown” is a young, raw hip-hop artist from Los Angeles who spits rhymes from the heart. With a mother in prison and a father struggling to provide for his daughters, Majo knows that a record contract could be her family’s ticket out. But when a record producer offers her a shot at stardom, she is suddenly faced with the prospect of losing who she is as an artist, as well as the friends who helped her reach the cusp of success.” This indie drama is playing this week at the AMC Schererville 16.

Home Run- “Baseball all-star Cory Brand knows what it takes to win in the big leagues but with memories of his past haunting him, his life quickly spirals out of control. Faced with a second chance he never expected, Cory embarks on a journey of faith, transformation and redemption, and along the way, he discovers a powerful truth: no one is beyond the healing of God.” Indie drama Home Run holds over at the Regal Shiloh Crossing 18 in Avon, Cinemark at Valparaiso, Carmike Capri Cinema 8 in Crawfordsville, Carmike Jefferson Pointe 18 in Fort Wayne, and Goodrich Eastside 9 in Lafayette.

The Lords of Salem- Surprisingly, given the high profile of his first four slasher movies, Rob Zombie’s latest genre effort is getting only a token release before its imminent home video debut. If you’re so inclined you can see it at the AMC Indianapolis 17, although only at one late night show a day.

Mud- Two boys form a bond with a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) hiding out on an island in the Mississippi in this indie drama written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), and which also features Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, and Michael Shannon in the adult cast. Mud holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis and expands to the AMC Schererville 12, AMC Evansville 16, AMC Bloomington 11, AMC Indianapolis 17, Showplace Cinemas Evansville East, Regal Village Park 17 in Carmel, and Carmike Metropolis 18 in Plainfield.

The Place Beyond the Pines- This high-profile indie drama stars Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper as two men on opposite sides of a series of bank robberies. Ray Liotta, Ben Mendolsohn, and Eva Mendes lead the supporting cast. The Place Beyond the Pines is still at a number of theaters around the state so check your local listings. Recommended.

The Sapphires- “Inspired by a true story, the dramatic comedy The Sapphires follows four vivacious, young and talented Australian Aboriginal girls from a remote mission as they learn about love, friendship and war when their all-girl group The Sapphires entertains the U.S. troops in Vietnam in 1968.” This comedy-drama-musical from Australia holds over at the Landmark Keystone Art Cinema in Indianapolis.

Stoker- “In director Park Chan-wook’s (Oldboy) thriller Stoker, India’s (Mia Wasikowska) father dies in an auto accident, and her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman). Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him.” It holds over at the Cinema Center in Fort Wayne.

FESTIVALS, REPERTORY SCREENINGS, AND MORE

Indianapolis and Central Indiana

The monthly First Friday event at Fountain Square on Indianapolis’ near south side includes the short film It Ain’t Over, screening at intervals through the evening at Heartland’s office. Refreshments will be available.

Tomorrow night Franklin’s Artcraft Theatre is hosting the premiere of an indie drama called The Challenge, which was filmed in Indiana. From the movie’s website: “Jamison’s competitive fire begins to burn again when he competes in a local golf tournament: The Carlos Diaz Challenge. Winning The Challenge quickly becomes Jamison’s obsession. He endangers his health, his sanity and his marriage trying to become The Challenge champion… all raising the question: What would you sacrifice to realize your dreams?” There’s more than a bit of self promotion involved on the part of writer-director Carlos Diaz…. Showtime is 7:30; tickets are $10 and all proceeds go to charity.

In more Heartland news, the fest is sponsoring a showing of the documentary BESA: The Promise, about Albanian Muslims who sheltered Jews during the Holocaust, at the Jewish Cultural Center on Thursday at 7; tickets are $8/$5 members.

Southern Indiana

The IU Cinema in Bloomington is on break, presumably for finals.

Stephen Fry’s meditation on the composer Wagner and Me, Raul Ruiz’s final film Night Across the Street, and Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of Wonder, a documentary about the Beat poet, are the movies on offer this weekend in the Ryder repertory series; showings Friday thru Sunday at IU and Bear’s Place in Bloomington (Ryder film series page for showtimes and venues).

Northern Indiana

In South Bend, the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center’s Irish film series continues tonight with An tOilean, a fantasy-drama in Irish: “Years after her mother dies, on the small island of Inishbofin, a young girl notices that something strange is happening with the island’s mural. The mural’s images, depicting the island’s culture, are beginning to disappear without a trace.” Lowering the tone of the Center’s programming considerably, there will be three shows of Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers today and tomorrow.

And also this weekend at the DeBartolo is a matinee showing of Yoyo, part of a retrospective of the films of 1960s French director Pierre Etaix. That series continues Wednesday night with As Long As You’re Healthy, preceded by two related short films, and Thursday night with a double feature of Le Grand Amour and Land of Milk and Honey.

Saturday Fort Wayne’s Cinema Center is showing Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy- Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Old Boy, and Lady Vengeance- as a lead-in to the evening screening of the director’s new film Stoker. The marathon starts at 1 and tickets are just $10 for a day pass.

You can see The Bourne Legacy for $2 at Anderson’s Paramount Theater on Sunday at 4:30.

West Lafayette’s Cinematheque for All is also on break this week.

NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND

Films and events scheduled for next Friday:

The Music Man at the Artcraft

“Get Down with Movies!” short film program at the Heartland screening room in Fountain Square, in conjunction with the grand opening of the Cultural Trail

Indy Film Fest’s “Bigger Picture Show” at Big Car Service Center