Stephen King thriller, French drama
In a week between blockbusters, there's a surprising variety to the newmovie lineup, from a Stephen King adaptation to an acclaimed French drama to a couple of family-centric features.
Here's what's new in Milwaukeearea theaters starting Friday, as well as some of the new movies available on streaming and on demand this week.
‘Firestarter’
Short version: A girl with unexpected pyrotechnic skills tries to protect her family as her parents try to protect her from the mysterious government agency that wants to weaponize her skills — or neutralize them. Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Zac Efron, Sydney Lemmon, Michael Greyeyes and New Lisbon native Kurtwood Smith (”That '70s Show”) star star in this latest reboot of the Stephen King thriller.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres' Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, Southgate, South Shore cinemas; Silverspot Cinema. (Note: “Firestarter” is also streaming on Peacock starting May 13.)
‘Happening’
Short version: In 1960s France, where abortions are still illegal, a working-class student seeks help obtaining the procedure, even though she risks prison in the process. The French drama, which won the Golden Lion at last year's Venice Film Festival, is getting a wider-than-expected release after a huge opening in New York and Los Angeles last weekend.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres' Majestic, South Shore cinemas.
‘Family Camp’
Short version: To get her less-thanperfect family to straighten up, a mom signs them all up for family camp, over the objections of, well, everyone else in the faith-fueled family comedy.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres' Majestic Cinema.
‘Around the World in 80 Days’
Short version: In this animated, allanimal take on Jules Verne's classic tale, Phileas Fogg is a marmoset that's convinced to make that trip around the world.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres' Hillside, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime cinemas.
Best of the Milwaukee Film Festival at Oriental Theatre
The Milwaukee Film Festival's flagship theater keeps the 2022 festival going with a selection of favorites from the 15-day festival. Among the titles being brought back May 13-19: “A Life on the Farm,” a documentary about a quirky English farmer whose home movies are crazy, dark and strangely optimistic; “North by Current,” Michigan filmmaker Angelo Madsen Minax's
look at his family’s challenges with addiction, loss and coming to terms with sexual identity; “Beyond the Infinite 2 Minutes,” a semi-surreal comedy of sorts about a cafe owner who discovers his computer can see into the future, but only for two minutes; “Navalny,” the documentary on the Russian opposition leader; and holdovers “Hatching” and “The Automat.” Info and showtimes:
‘The Graduate’ and ‘Friday the 13th’ at Times Cinema
The Times Cinema, 5906 W. Vliet St., continues with “Mothering May,” a month of movies about mothers. This week, the repertorystyle theater is showing: “Friday the 13th,” the 1980 slasher favorite (there’s a mother angle, trust me), at 9:15 p.m. May 1314 and 6:30 p.m. May 19.
“The Graduate,” Mike Nichols’ 1967 classic with Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, at 6:30 p.m. May 13-15 and May 18.
Info:
Free screening: ‘The Loyola Project’ at Oriental Theatre
Milwaukee Film has a free community screening of “The Loyola Project,” a documentary about the 1963 Loyola Ramblers, who broke the NCAA’s unwritten agreement by playing more than two Black players at a time en route to a national championship. The screening, shown in partnership with Northwestern Mutual, is at 6:30 p.m. May 17. Among those expected at the screening are Lucas Williamson, co-writer, narrator, and current captain of the Loyola men’s basketball team; director Patrick Creadon; and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Athletic Director Amanda Braun. To reserve a free ticket, go to
‘On the Waterfront’ at Avalon Theater
The winner of eight Oscars, including best picture, Elia Kazan’s crackling melodrama about corruption, family and informing gets a rare big-screen outing at 11 a.m. May 14 at the Avalon Theater. Tickets are $10. Info:
CelticMKE Irish Film Fest
CelticMKE is hosting an Irish film festival at its home base, the CelticMKE Center at 1532 Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, with a cinematic spotlight on Irish history. Tickets are $10 at the door. The titles screening include: “Citizen Lane,” which explores the life and impact of Charles Lane, who led the fight in the early 20th century to set up the first public modern art gallery in Ireland, 7 p.m. May 13; and “The Hunger: The Story of the Irish Famine,” a documentary on the 19th tragedy narrated by Liam Neeson, 7 p.m. May 14. Info:
New movies on demand
“On the Count of Three”: A pair of best friends (Jerrod Carmichael, who also directed, and Christopher Abbott), despondent for different reasons, decide to end it all by killing each other, but then have trouble following through in this very dark comedy. Tiffany Haddish, J.B. Smoove and Henry Winkler co-star. Available May 13.
“Monstrous”: In this horror-thriller, Christina Ricci plays a woman who, taking her 7-year-old son and fleeing her abusive ex-husband, finds a remote house for them to hide in – but the house has other ideas. Available May 13.
“Private Property”: A struggling actress gets involved with her new gardener, who turns out to not be what he seems in this thriller. Ashley Benson, Shiloh Fernandez and Frank Whaley star. Available May 13.
“The Innocents”: In this dark supernatural Norwegian thriller, children reveal their dangerous powers when the grownups aren’t looking. Available May 13.
Recent release available on demand: “Morbius,” May 17.
New movies on streaming services
“Senior Year”: Rebel Wilson plays a 17-year-old cheerleader who, after a stunt lands her in a coma for 20 years, is determined to go back to high school and achieve her dream of becoming prom queen. On Netflix May 13.
“Sneakerella”: Lexi Underwood plays the title character in this transposition of the fairy to “New York City’s sneaker culture,” or at least Disney’s version of it. On Disney+ May 13.
“A Perfect Pairing”: An ambitious wine-company executive from Los Angeles goes to a ranch in Australia in a bid to land a major client, and winds up working as a ranch hand and falling for a local. Victoria Justice and Adam Demos star in this romantic comedy. On Netflix May 19.
“The Photographer: Murder in Pinamar”: This Argentine documentary investigates the story of the kidnapping and murder of photojournalist José Luis Cabezas in 1997. On Netflix May 19.
Recent releases debuting on streaming services: “Old,” on HBO Max May 13; “Not Going Quietly,” on Hulu May 13; “Catch the Fair One” on AMC+ May 13; “Sundown,” on Hulu May 17.