After the Oscars, the deluge
Another sign things are getting closer to normal-ish at the movies: The weekend after the Academy Awards brings more than 10 new movies to Milwaukee theaters — a typical post-Oscars weekend in The Before.
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.
‘Arthur the King’
Short version: A middle-aged adventure racer (Mark Wahlberg) forms an unlikely bond with a street dog during a 435-mile endurance race, and he learns about loyalty and friendship. Simu Liu, Nathalie Emmanuel and Ali Suliman co-star in this inspirational, based-on-a-true-story drama.
Where you can see it: ACX Cinema/ Bayshore; AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Silverspot Cinema.
‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’
Short version: A young Black man (Justice Smith) is recruited into a secret society whose cause is making white people’s lives easier. David Alan Grier, Michaela Watkins, Rupert Friend and Nicole Byer co-star in this satire, written and directed by Kobi Libii.
Where you can see it: ACX Cinema/ Bayshore; AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
‘Love Lies Bleeding’
Short version: A gym manager (Kristen Stewart) falls for a bodybuilder (Katy O’Brian), complicating things in her crime-addled family. Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov and Dave Franco co-star in this festival-circuit hit.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Oriental Theatre; Silverspot Cinema.
‘One Life’
Short version: Fifty years after he helped rescue hundreds of predominantly Jewish children from Prague during the Nazi occupation, a London broker (Anthony Hopkins) is haunted by those he wasn’t able to bring to safety. A national TV show reveals what he was able to achieve in this true-story drama.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Majestic, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Silverspot Cinema.
‘Knox Goes Away’
Short version: Michael Keaton directed and stars in this drama about a contract killer trying to save the life of his estranged son while battling a rapidly developing form of dementia.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Menomonee Falls Cinema.
‘Bad River’
Short version: This documentary depicts the Bad River Band of Lake Chippewa’s legal fight with Enbridge Energy over the Line 5 oil pipeline, which runs through the band’s land.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall.
‘The Crime Is Mine’
Short version: In 1930s Paris, an actress becomes famous after she’s acquitted of the murder of a famous producer — until the truth complicates matters in this comedy by French
director Francois Ozon.
Where you can see it: Oriental Theatre.
‘French Girl’
Short version: When his girlfriend is called home to Quebec with a job offer from her ex — now a celebrity chef — a nerdy romantic does his best to charm her family. Zach Braff, Vanessa Hudgens and Evelyne Brochu star in this rom-com.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Menomonee Falls cinemas.
‘The Prank’
Short version: In this dark comedy, two high school students (Connor Kalopsis, Ramona Young) take revenge against a too-strict teacher (Rita Moreno) by using social media to frame her for a missing student’s murder.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Menomonee Falls, Ridge cinemas.
‘Snack Shack’
Short version: A pair of friends take over the snack shack at the local swimming pool in this early-1990sset, R-rated, coming-of-age comedy.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
‘ Thorns’
Short version: In this horror gore-fest, a radio signal from space, picked up at a remote NASA laboratory, could set in motion the biblical apocalypse.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Menomonee Falls Cinema.
‘Airplane!’ with David Zucker
David Zucker, who with brother Jerry Zucker and fellow Shorewoodian Jim Abrahams remade the comedy landscape with the 1980 spoof “Airplane!”, will take part in a Q&A before a screening of the movie at 7 p.m. March 16 at the Oriental Theatre. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre.
‘Utama’ at Oriental Theatre with filmmaker panel
Bolivian filmmaker Alejandro Loayza Grisi will be on hand to talk about “Utama,” about a couple trying to maintain their traditions in the Bolivian highlands, after a screening of the award-winning movie at 6 p.m. March 21 at the Oriental Theatre. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre.
‘GoodFellas’ at Times Cinema
Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed 1990 mob drama “GoodFellas” reopens the Times Cinema at 7:30 p.m. March 15. Tickets are $11. Info: timescinema.com.
‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy at Marcus Theatres
Marcus Theatres’ is bringing back the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy for a string of screenings of the extended versions of the Oscar-winning movies, followed by “LOTR” marathons, at its Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge and South Shore cinemas. “The Fellowship of the Ring” is showing March 15, 18 and 21; “The Two Towers,” March 16, 19 and 22; and “The Return of the King,” on March 17, 20 and 23. Individual tickets are $6; an “LOTR” passport, which gets you into any of the movies as well as the threemovie marathons showing March 24-25, are $12. Info: marcustheatres.com.
Women’s History Month movies
To mark Women’s History Month in March, Milwaukee Film is showing directorial debuts by women filmmakers on Mondays this month at the Oriental Theatre. This week’s offering: Oscar winner Chloe Zhao’s 2015 drama “Songs My Brother Taught Me.” Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre.
Alfred Hitchcock retrospective
The Master of Suspense gets his due with a twomonth retrospective at the Oriental Theatre. The last
movie in the series: Hitchcock’s 1964 psychological thriller “Marnie,” at 7 p.m. March 15. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org.
Showing at UWM Union Cinema
UWM Union Cinema, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., is showing: “Here,” a Milwaukee premiere about a Romanian construction worker living in Brussels who’s torn between returning home and his interest in a Belgian-Chinese scholar, at 6 p.m. March 15 and 7 p.m. March 16; and “Taste of Cherry,” Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami’s classic 1997 drama showing in a 35-millimeter print, 8 p.m. March 15 and 5 p.m. March 16. Tickets are $5. Info: uwm.edu/studentinvolvement.
New movies on demand
“The Animal Kingdom”: In this horror thriller, a father and son make their way in a world where some humans mutate into other species. Available March 15.
“The Throwback”: An overstressed “supermom” breaks down during the holidays and reverts to the party girl she was in college in this comedy. Available March 15.
Recent releases newly available on demand: “Land of Bad,” March 19.
New movies on streaming services
“Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)”: Taylor Swift’s megahit concert movie finally comes to streaming, with four bonus acoustic song performances. On Disney+ March 15.
“Road House”: Jake Gyllenhaal (one of Taylor Swift’s exes) plays a former UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida roadhouse in this remake of the Patrick Swayze action movie. On Prime Video March 21.
“The Bloody Hundredth”: A companion to the series “Masters of the Air,” this documentary focuses on the stories of the real-life members of the U.S. Army Air Corps’ 100th Bomb Group, several of whom were from Wisconsin, including Manitowoc native John Egan. On Apple TV+ March 15.
“Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told”: This documentary tells the story of Freaknik, which started as a small spring break picnic for students of historically Black colleges and universities and mushroomed into a huge street party that helped turn Atlanta into a cultural center. On Hulu March 21.
“Irish Wish”: In this seasonal rom-com, Lindsay Lohan plays a woman who, after the love of her life gets engaged to her best friend, agrees to be a bridesmaid at their destination wedding in Ireland. On Netflix March 15.
Recent releases newly available on streaming services: “Dream Scenario,” Max March 15; “Trolls Band Together,” Peacock March 15; “Beyond Utopia,” Hulu March 15; “The Royal Hotel,” Hulu March 15; “Children of the Corn” (2023), Hulu March 15; “Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain,” Prime Video March 17.