Monthly Archives: March 2014

Wisconsin Film Festival Spotlight: “Coherence”

coherence

Tickets for the 2014 Wisconsin Film Festival went on sale last Saturday, and each day between now and the start of the festival on April 3, I’ll be zooming in on one of the more than 140 films playing at the festival. If you have suggestions about films you’d like to know more about as you’re planning your festival experience, let me know in comments.

“Coherence” (Sunday, April 6,, 1 p.m., Sundance Cinemas)

If you’re into indie sci-fi in the vein of “Primer” or “Another Earth,” where the thrills up the spine come from ideas rather than visual effects, get a ticket now to see James Byrkit’s mindbender “Coherence.” (Rush tickets remain on sale for a second show at 9 p.m. Saturday at Sundance).

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What’s playing in Madison theaters: March 14-20, 2014

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All week

“Need for Speed” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — Reviews have been all over the map for this action movie — most critics think it’s a loud, dumb videogame adaptation, but some think it’s a genuinely good film, with real (not CGI) stunts and Aaron Paul in an effective lead role.

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“Tim’s Vermeer”: Penn & Teller’s fascinating trick of the light

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“Tim’s Vermeer” opens Friday at Sundance. PG-13, 1:20, three and a half stars out of four.

About a decade ago, I was lucky enough to do phone interviews with both Penn Jillette and his partner Teller ahead of an appearance at the old Madison Civic Center. I asked Jillette, after years of doing the same illusions over and over again before audiences, what kept him interested?

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“Better Living Through Chemistry”: Take two different films and call me in the morning

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“Better Living Through Chemistry” opens Friday at Sundance Cinemas. R, 1:31, two stars out of four.

“Better Living Through Chemistry” opens with a clever credits sequence, as the camera glides over a HO-scale model town with every tree, every citizen lovingly reproduced in miniature — right down to the tiny plastic couple having sex by an open window.

Unfortunately, it quickly becomes clear that the characters in the movie aren’t much more realistic than the plastic figurines.

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Wisconsin Film Festival Spotlight: “Le Week-End”

Le Weekend Directed by Roger Michell Starring Lindsay Duncan and Jim Broadbent

Tickets for the 2014 Wisconsin Film Festival went on sale Saturday, and each day between now and the start of the festival on April 3, I’ll be zooming in on one of the more than 140 films playing at the festival. If you have suggestions about films you’d like to know more about as you’re planning your festival experience, let me know in comments.

“Le Week-End” (Sunday, April 6, 3:45 p.m., Capitol Theater)

“No one can make my blood boil like you do.” “That’s the sign of a deep connection.”

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Wisconsin Film Festival Spotlight: “Village at the End of the World”

villageattheend

Tickets for the 2014 Wisconsin Film Festival went on sale Saturday, and each day between now and the start of the festival on April 3, I’ll be zooming in on one of the more than 140 films playing at the festival. If you have suggestions about films you’d like to know more about as you’re planning your festival experience, let me know in comments.

“Village at the End of the World” (Sunday, April 6, 1:45 p.m., Capitol Theater)

Ever wanted to get away from it all? Sarah Gavron’s documentary “Village at the End of the World” takes the viewer to one of the most remote places on the planet — the tiny Greenland fishing village of Niaqornat. The remote location has a stark and eerie beauty, but it’s still very much on this planet. Even out there, in a village with 60 people, there is drama to be found.

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Wisconsin Film Festival Spotlight: “The Auction”

Le DŽmantelement

Tickets for the 2014 Wisconsin Film Festival went on sale Saturday, and each day between now and the start of the festival on April 3, I’ll be zooming in on one of the more than 140 films playing at the festival. If you have suggestions about films you’d like to know more about as you’re planning your festival experience, let me know in comments.

“The Auction” (Sunday, April 6, 11:30 a.m, UW Cinematheque, and Wednesday, April 9, 1:45 p.m., Sundance Cinemas)

The official English-language translation of French-Canadian filmmaker Sebastien Pilote’s new film seems fairly benign, if accurate. But the literal translation gets more deeply at the emotionally wrenching heart of the film. “Le Demantelement”; “The Dismantling.”

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Wisconsin Film Festival Spotlight: “Happy Christmas”

HAPPYCHRISTMAS

Tickets for the 2014 Wisconsin Film Festival went on sale Saturday, and each day between now and the start of the festival on April 3, I’ll be zooming in on one of the more than 140 films playing at the festival. If you have suggestions about films you’d like to know more about as you’re planning your festival experience, let me know in comments.

“Happy Christmas” (6:45 p.m. Friday, April 4 and 2:45 p.m. Saturday, April 5, Sundance Cinemas)

In the time it takes me to write this blog post, Joe Swanberg will have made another movie.

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