Summer movies, local ties
The summer movie season starts warming up this weekend, with some Wisconsin connections in the mix.
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.
‘The Fall Guy’
Short version: Ryan Gosling is a workaday stuntman who, recruited to find the movie star he’s doubling for by the director (Emily Blunt) he used to have a thing for (and still does), stumbles into a conspiracy. Winston Duke and Aaron Taylor-Johnson co-star. Kohler native David Leitch directed this action romantic comedy, which has been in development for more than a decade. Leitch is a good choice — before shifting to directing full time, Leitch, who also directed “Deadpool 2,” “Bullet Train” and others, was one of Hollywood’s top stunt coordinators.
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; Silverspot Cinema.
‘Remembering Gene Wilder’
Short version: Milwaukee native Gene Wilder, beloved for performances in movies from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” to “Blazing Saddles,” is remembered in this portrait, which was a hit at the Milwaukee Film Festival in April.
Where you can see it: Oriental Theatre.
‘Jeanne du Barry’
Short version: In this sprawling costume drama, writer-director Maïwenn plays the title mistress to extravagant French King Louis XV (Johnny Depp, in a performance that drew cheers at the
Cannes Film Festival last year).
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Majestic, Menomonee Falls cinemas.
‘ Tarot’
Short version: A group of friends breaks the first rule of Tarot reading — don’t use someone else’s deck — and unleashes an unexpected evil in this new horror entry.
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.
‘Mars Express’
Short version: In this French animated sci-fi thriller, a private eye and her android partner track a hacker to
Mars, where they find a dark world of corruption, robots and other unpleasantness.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Ridge Cinema.
‘Dragonkeeper’
Short version: Years after humans broke their alliance with the dragons, a young slave girl strikes up an unlikely friendship with one of them in this animated fantasy.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Menomonee Falls, Ridge cinemas.
Tommy Wiseau’s ‘The Room’ and ‘Big Shark’ at Oriental Theatre
Cult-movie auteur Tommy Wiseau — who all but revived the midnight movie with his let’s-say-unforgettable 2003 movie “The Room” — is back with “Big Shark,” about killer sharks invading Louisiana. Both movies are showing at the Oriental Theatre May 4. Wiseau’s buddy and partner-in-movie-crime Greg Sistero is on hand for a pre-screening Q&A at 7 p.m. “The Room” shows at 8, “Big Shark” at 10:15 p.m. The double feature costs $30; seeing “Big Shark” solo is $20. Info: mkefilm.org/orientaltheatre.
Sigmund Snopek III movie premiere
An epic life merits an epic documentary. Exhibit A: “The Complete History of Space/Time (Destination Milwaukee),” a new documentary about the life and career of prolific Milwaukee composer and musician Sigmund Snopek III, runs a whopping 61⁄ hours, filled with
2 archival footage and interviews with a number of local legends. The movie will have its premiere at 1 p.m. May 5 at
Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 1001 E. Locust St. It’s showing with two intermissions, and a post-screening Q&A with directors Nick Toti and Bob Mielke, as well as Snopek himself. Tickets are $10. Info: linnemans.com.
‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ with Alan Ruck at Pabst Theater
Long before he was one of the nextgen Roys on “Succession,” Alan Ruck was Cameron, best friend and voice of reason for buddy Ferris in “Ferris Bueller’s
Day Off.” Ruck and the 1986 John Hughes classic are together again for a screening and a Q&A with the actor at 7 p.m. May 5 at the Pabst Theater. Tickets are $25 to $55.50. Info: pabsttheatergroup.com
‘Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace’ 25th anniversary screenings
If you were hoping to catch the ninemovie “Star Wars” marathon at Marcus Theatres’ Majestic Cinema for Star Wars Day, you’re too late — both screenings sold out long ago. But you can see the movie that, narratively, is the start of it all. “Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace” is showing just about everywhere in 25th anniversary screenings starting May 3. It’s screening with multiple showtimes daily at ACX Cinema/Bayshore; AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; and Silverspot Cinema. It’s also showing on May 3 only at the Times Cinema, at 6:30 and 9 p.m.
‘Cool Moms’ movies at Oriental Theatre
In May, Milwaukee Film is paying tribute to mothers great and not so great with a “Cool Moms” movie series at the Oriental Theatre. This week’s entries: 1976’s “Carrie,” 9 p.m. May 3; “Lady Bird,” 1 p.m. May 4; “A Woman Under the Influence,” 1 p.m. May 5; and “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” 9:30 p.m. May 9. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.
Hitchcock Retrospective Part 2 at Oriental Theatre
Milwaukee Film goes deeper into Alfred Hitchcock’s catalog — it’s a pretty deep catalog — for the second part of its retrospective of the master filmmaker’s oeuvre. First up: Hitchcock’s classic 1951 thriller “Strangers on a Train,” at 7 p.m. May 8. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.