At the movies: ‘One Night in Miami’; what’s new on demand, streaming
It turns out the after-Christmas hangover happens at the movies during a pandemic, too.
After the Christmas rush, you normally don’t expect to see much in the way of new movies coming to Milwaukee-area theaters — unless they’re Oscar contenders, making their way to theaters in limited release. That’s true this week, too, with just one new movie making its way to local screens.
Per usual since COVID-19 turned everything upside down, there are fewer options to see them, too. Eight Milwaukee-area theaters remain closed: the Oriental Theatre, the Times and Rosebud cinemas, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill and Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Saukville, Showtime and Southgate cinemas. The Milwaukee-area theaters that reopened have instituted safety protocols including reduced seating capacity, and are open fewer days of the week (check theater websites for details and updates).
Here’s what’s new in theaters starting Friday, and which new movies are available on streaming and on demand this week.
‘One Night in Miami’
Short version: In 1964 Miami, heavyweight champ Cassius Clay (who soon would change his name to Muhammad Ali), football star Jim Brown, civil rights leader Malcolm X and pop star Sam Cooke get together to celebrate Clay’s victory and talk about what it means to be successful and Black in their time. Eli Goree plays Clay, Aldis Hodge is Brown, Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Malcolm X and Leslie Odom Jr. is Cooke. Oscar-winning actor Regina King made her directorial debut with this adaptation of Kemp Powers’ stage play. (The movie is also streaming on Amazon Prime starting Jan. 15.)
Critics’ reaction: “One Night in Miami” is getting nearly universal raves, especially for King’s deft hand and for everyone in the cast. In her 3-star review, Washington Post critic Ann Hornaday lauded the movie’s ability to give “viewers the sense that they’re eavesdropping on a conversation taking place both amid and beyond the reach of societal oppression.”
Where you can see it: Landmark Downer Theatre; Marcus Theatres’ Majestic, Menomonee Falls and South Shore cinemas.
Off-the-grid picks
“Skyfall”: We have three more months till Daniel Craig’s final James Bond movie comes to theaters, but maybe this 2012 entry in the canon, considered by some the best of the Craig era, will do for now. 7 p.m. Jan. 8-14 at the Rivoli Theatre in Cedarburg. Tickets are $4, $2.50 on Jan. 12. Info:
Tom Hanks, times 2: If there’s anyone who can bring America together, it’s Tom Hanks. That might be why Marcus Theatres is bringing back two favorites starring Hanks, “Forrest Gump” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” showing at multiple times Jan. 8-10 and Jan. 12 at Marcus’ Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge and South Shore cinemas. Tickets are $5, $1 on Jan. 10. Info:
New movies on demand
“Once Upon a River”: Fleeing tragedy and trauma, a teenager sets out to find her estranged mother, traveling along a Midwestern river. Kenadi DelaCerna, John Ashton and Ajuawak Kapashesit star in this festival-circuitaward-winning drama, adapted from Bonnie Jo Campbell’s acclaimed novel by writer-director Haroula Rose. Available on demand starting Jan. 12.
“If Not Now, When?”: Four former high school friends, who share a special bond, come back together when one of them is in trouble. Meagan Holder, Mekia Cox, Tamara Bass and Meagan Good star; Bass and Good also co-directed this drama, written by Bass. Available on demand starting Jan. 8.
“Skyfire”: A resort built into an island in the Pacific Rim’s “Ring of Fire” — what could go wrong? For starters, there’s a volcano about to erupt. Jason Isaacs, Xuegi Wang, Hannah Quinlivan and Shayn Dou star in this international disaster drama directed by Simon West (“Con Air”). Available on demand starting Jan. 12.
“Queen of Hearts: Audrey Flack”:
This documentary follows the life, work and spirit of artist Audrey Flack, who, after a 40-year career in everything from abstract expressionism to photorealism, is taking her work in a new direction at age 88. Available on demand starting Jan. 12.
“Stars Fell on Alabama”: An actress pretends to be a Hollywood agent’s girlfriend to impress his friends at his high school reunion in this new romance. Available on demand starting Jan. 8.
“Average Joe”: Superheroes join forces with a regular guy to take on a supervillain out for revenge. Available on demand starting Jan. 12.
“The Bid”: A pair of Philadelphia rappers (real-life rappers Maurquis Boone and Richard Harris, who also co-wrote the screenplay, with Boone directing) are framed and sent to prison, where they continue to fight the power in this new comedy. Available on demand starting Jan. 12.
“Lena & Snowball”: A girl rescues a white lion cub, then has to protect it from poachers in this family drama. Available on demand starting Jan. 12.
“Beautiful Darling: The Life and Times of Candy Darling, Andy Warhol Superstar”: Documentary celebrating the life of Warhol collaborator and transgender pioneer Candy Darling. Available on demand starting Jan. 12.
Movies that were in theaters, now available on demand : “The Dissident,” starting Jan. 8; “Showbiz Kids,” starting Jan. 10; “Ammonite,” starting Jan.12; “Come Play,” starting Jan. 12; “The Empty Man,” starting Jan. 12; “Synchronic,” starting Jan. 12.
Sofa Cinema
With the Oriental Theatre closed for renovations during the pandemic, Sofa Cinema, Milwaukee Film’s virtual theater, adds new titles each Friday, available for online rental at New this week: “The Reason I Jump,” a Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary about living with autism spectrum disorder; “Whirlybird,” on the adventures of the young couple who pioneered the use of helicopters in L.A. news coverage; and “I Am Not Alone,” a documentary about the 2018 Armenian revolution. (The latter two films are being presented in partnership with No Studios’ Critical Content: Stories That Matter series; see nostudios.com for details.)
New films on streaming services
“Herself ”: A woman with two young daughters escapes her abusive partner but fears losing her kids when she has trouble finding a permanent home — so she sets out to build one herself. Clare Dunne plays the single mother and Harriet Walter is her employer offering a hand, in this drama directed by Phyllida Lloyd (”The Iron Lady,” “Mamma Mia!”). On Amazon Prime starting Jan. 8.
“Locked Down”: A London couple on the verge of separating (Anne Hathaway, Chiwetel Ejiofor) are forced to stay together at home during a mandatory lockdown, and they come up with a diversion — a high-stakes jewelry heist at Harrods. Ben Kingsley and Mindy Kaling co-star in this comedy, directed by Doug Liman “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”). On HBO Max starting Jan. 14.
“Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy”: This new documentary by Stanley Nelson (“Freedom Riders,” “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution”) looks at the crack explosion of the 1980s. On Netflix starting Jan. 11.
“Charming”: A prince must find his soulmate before his 21st birthday or a spell will take all love away from his kingdom in this animated drama, with a voice cast including Wilmer Valderrama, Demi Lovato and Sia. On Netflix starting Jan. 8.
Streaming debuts for recent releases: “The Silencing,” Jan. 8, on Amazon Prime; “The Rhythm Section,” Jan. 11, on Amazon Prime; “Mighty Oak,” Jan. 11, on Hulu; “Alone,” Jan. 14, on Hulu; “The Secrets We Keep,” Jan. 14, on Hulu.