‘Tom & Jerry’ and Billie Holiday (not together)
Do we need another reboot of “Tom and Jerry”? We’re about to find out.
The live-action/animation hybrid is the “biggest” new movie in theaters this weekend. Family-centric movies have been most of the hits of the coronavirus pandemic, so this one will get lots of screen space, even though it’s also available on HBO Max for 31 days starting Friday.
It’ll be in all of the first-run Milwaukee-area theaters that have reopened during the coronavirus pandemic, with safety protocols like reduced seating capacity in place.
But more than a third of the area’s movie theaters are still closed: the Oriental Theatre, the Times and Rosebud cinemas, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill, and Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Saukville, Showtime and Southgate cinemas.
Here’s what’s new in Milwaukeearea theaters starting Friday, and which new movies are available on streaming and on demand this week.
‘Tom & Jerry’
Short version: The old foes face off again when Jerry the mouse, now living in a luxury hotel in New York City, poses a dilemma for a young wedding planner (Chloe Grace Moretz). Her solution: Hire a cat (Tom) to get rid of the pesky rodent. Tim Story (“Barbershop”) directed this latest look at the MGM characters. (Note: “Tom & Jerry” will stream on HBO Max starting Feb. 26, but only for 31 days.)
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Avalon Theater; Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Silverspot Cinema.
‘My Zoe’
Short version: When tragedy strikes, a divorced mother will do anything to reunite with her young daughter. Julie Delpy wrote, directed and stars in this domestic drama/thriller; Richard Armitage, Daniel Brühl and Gemma Arterton co-star.
Critics’ reaction: Shifting between semi-sci-fi and domestic thriller, “My Zoe” has received some decent reviews. “Delpy’s ability to believe in both her audience and her wild story remains compelling throughout the film, even as it careens through tropes and tricks and genres with increasingly off-kilter speed,” IndieWire’s Kate Erbland wrote in her review, giving the movie a B.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Ridge Cinema.
‘Check’
Short version: Wrongfully convicted, a calculating chess player has to work out the moves to get out of prison in this action thriller, in Telugu with English subtitles.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Ridge Cinema.
Stephan James stars as Jesse Owens in “Race.”
Off-the-grid picks
Rivoli Theatre: The Cedarburg community theater is showing “Race,” the 2016 drama recounting Jesse Owens’ historic victories in the face of Nazi tyranny at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, at 7 p.m. Feb. 26-March 4. Admission is $4, $2.50 on March 2. Info:
New movies on demand
“Minari”: A Korean American family pursues the American dream by moving to rural Arkansas, only to find it more challenging than they’d expected in this drama, expected to collect several nominations for this year’s Academy Awards. Available on demand Feb. 26.
“The Obituary of Tunde Johnson”: A wealthy, gay, Nigerian-American teenager is pulled over by police, shot to death — and immediately wakes up, and has to relive the day over and over again. Available on demand Feb. 26.
“The Vigil”: In Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood, a man agrees to watch over the body of a deceased member of the community, only to find out the house where the vigil is held is harboring something sinister in this horror movie. Available on demand Feb. 26.
“The War and Peace of Tim O’Brien”: Three decades after his groundbreaking book about the Vietnam War, “The Things They Carried,” O’Brien, nearing the end of his life, sets out to write another book on Vietnam, as chronicled in this new documentary. Available on demand March 2.
“Stealing School”: Just before she’s to graduate from college and land a prized job in Silicon Valley, a ChineseCanadian tech prodigy is accused of plagiarism and must defend herself at a corrupt academic tribunal. Available on demand Feb. 26.
“Tyger Tyger”: A woman joins forces with a drug dealer to distribute stolen, life-saving medication during a pandemic. Dylan Sprouse and Sam Quartin star. Available on demand Feb. 26.
“WWII: The Long Road Home”: A British POW escapes his captors in Italy during World War II. Elliott Hasler wrote, produced and directed this movie when he was 16, from a story based on his great-grandfather’s experiences. Available on demand March 2.
Recent releases newly available on demand: “Fatale,” March 2; “Vanguard,” March 2; “The World to Come,” March 2.
Sofa Cinema
With the Oriental Theatre closed for
renovations during the pandemic, Sofa Cinema, Milwaukee Film’s virtual theater, adds new titles regularly, available for online rental at
Milwaukee Film and Black Lens’ Black History month programming streams on the site through Feb. 28. Picks worth catching before the month ends include the documentaries “Growing Up Milwaukee,” “Nationtime” and “Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back.” Tickets for individual films are $3.99, $1.99 for Milwaukee Film members. See for details.
Starting March 1, Milwaukee Film is launching monthlong programming to mark Women’s History Month. The 31film lineup includes the drama “Once Upon a River” and the documentaries
“Coded Bias” and “End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock.” Passes are $24.99, $19.99 for Milwaukee Film members; tickets for individual films are available starting March. 1. See
for details.
mkefilm.org/womenshistory More local online film events
UWM Union Cinema: The Union Cinema is closed for the pandemic for the semester, but it’s still showing movies online — for free, with links posted at Available Feb. 26-28: Wong Kar Wai’s 1994 romance “Chungking Express.”
New films on streaming services
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”: Adored by fans, singer Billie Holiday finds herself under attack by federal agents, partly for her drug use but mostly for her refusal to stop singing the antilynching classic “Strange Fruit.” Andra
Day is in the Oscar-nomination mix for best actress for her performance in this drama directed by Lee Daniels and written by Suzan-Lori Parks; the movie had been headed for theaters before the pandemic ruined everything for everybody. On Hulu starting Feb. 26.
“Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry”: A behind-the-scenes documentary following the pop phenomenon Eilish en route to making her hit debut album, directed by award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler. On Apple TV+ starting Feb. 26.
“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run”: When pet snail Gary disappears, SpongeBob and friends set out to rescue him from the Lost City of Atlantic City in this new animated feature. The “SpongeBob” sequel had been headed to theaters, but, well, you know. Now it’s launching the new Paramount+ streaming service starting March 4.
“Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell”: This new inside look at the life and legacy of
Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. rap legend The Notorious B.I.G., relies on footage shot by Wallace’s best friend, Damion “D-Roc” Butler, including interviews with his friends and family. On Netflix starting March 1.
“Moxie”: Inspired by her mother’s rebellious past, a shy teenager (Hadley Robinson) targets her high school’s toxic and sexist atmosphere with, of all things, a zine. Amy Poehler directed and co-stars (as the teen’s other) in this new comedy. On Netflix starting March 3.
“The Walrus and the Whistleblower”: This documentary follows a former animal trainer who accuses a Canadian marine theme park of animal abuse. On discovery+ starting March 4.
Recent releases debuting on streaming services:“The Informer,” Feb. 26 on Amazon Prime.