At last, a hero for the movies
The movies’ last really big box-office hit starred Timothée Chalamet. Theaters — including all of the Milwaukee area’s first-run movie houses — are really counting on the next one to do the same.
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.
‘Dune: Part Two’
Short version: In the second part of Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi epic, Timothée Chalamet goes from being the heir apparent of the Atreides dynasty to one of the leaders of an uprising on the desert planet where his family was murdered — and, possibly, the messiah-like character foretold in local legend. Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgard, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Charlotte Rampling return from the first installment, with newcomers including Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and, in the role played by Sting in David Lynch’s 1984 version, Austin Butler (aka last year’s “Elvis” and this year’s “Master of the Air”).
Where you can see it: ACX Cinema/ Bayshore; AMC Mayfair Mall; Avalon Theater; Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Oriental Theatre (showing in a 70-millimeter print); Rosebud Cinema; Silverspot Cinema.
‘Outlaw Posse’
Short version: In the old West of the early 20th century, an outlaw (Mario Van Peebles) returns to Montana to claim a cache of stolen reparations gold, if a ruthless rival (William Mapother) doesn’t get to it first. Van Peebles wrote and directed this Western with a cast including M. Emmet Walsh, Edward James Olmos, Whoopi Goldberg, Neal McDonough and Cedric the Entertainer.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Menomonee Falls, South Shore cinemas.
Oscars’ best-picture roundups at Marcus Theatres, AMC
Day One of Marcus’ Best Picture Festival is playing at 10 a.m. March 2 at the Majestic, Ridge and South Shore cinemas. Showing that day: “Past Lives,” 10 a.m.; “The Holdovers,” 12:15 p.m.; “The Zone of Interest,” 2:55 p.m.; “Oppenheimer,” 5:10 p.m.; and “Barbie,” 8:30 p.m. Day One passes covering all five movies cost $36. Info: marcustheatres.
Meanwhile, AMC Theatres’ 18-plex at
Mayfair is showing several of this year’s best picture nominees for just $5 each. Among them, screening once daily: “American Fiction,” March 2 and 5; “Anatomy of a Fall,” March 3 and 6; “Barbie,” March 1 and 7; “The Holdovers,” March 1 and 4; “Killers of the Flower Moon,” March 2 and 4; “Oppenheimer,” March 1 and 5; “Past Lives,” March 3; “Poor Things,” March 2 and 7; and “The Zone of Interest,” March 3 and 6. Info: amctheatres.com.
Women’s History Month movies
To mark Women’s History Month,
Milwaukee Film is showing directorial debuts by women filmmakers on Mondays throughout March at the Oriental Theatre. It starts off with “Dryslongo,” Cauleen Smith’s 1998 drama about a photography student who begins taking pictures of Black men because she’s worried they’ll soon become extinct. It’s showing at 7 p.m. March 4. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre.
Return to Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil’
A good choice for a crazy political year, Terry Gilliam’s surreal 1984-ish classic “Brazil” gets a rare big-screen showing at 7 p.m. March 2 at the Oriental Theatre. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.
Hitchcock retrospective
The Master of Suspense gets his due with a two-month retrospective at the Oriental Theatre. This week: he 1943 Hitchcock gem “Shadow of a Doubt” with Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright, at 7 p.m. March 1. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org.
New movies on demand
“Lord of Misrule”: After a woman moves to a small town as its new priest, her daughter disappears at a local harvest festival, revealing the sinister side of her new community. Tuppence Middleton stars in this horror thriller. Available March 5.
Recent release newly available on demand: “Scrambled,” March 1.
New movies on streaming services
“Spaceman”: While on a long solo space flight, an astronaut (Adam Sandler) struggles with the problems he’s left behind on Earth and gets help from a mysterious creature that’s turned up in his spaceship. Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano and Isabella Rossellini co-star in this drama from Johan Renck (“Chernobyl”).
“Ricky Stanicky”: When they were kids, three buddies made up an imaginary friend to take the blame for a prank gone wrong — and, since it worked so well, they kept using him as cover for 20 years. So when their spouses call them out on the scam, they hire an actor to “play” their friend, and he has trouble getting out of character. Zac Efron and John Cena star in this new Peter Farrelly comedy. On Prime Video March 7.
Recent releases newly available on streaming services: “Napoleon,” Apple TV+ March 1; “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” Prime Video March 5; “The Marsh King’s Daughter,” Hulu March 5; “Premonition,” Peacock March 6; “Poor Things,” Hulu March 7; “Marlowe” (2023), Prime Video March 7.