“Neighbors” opens Friday at Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema and Sundance. R, 1:36, three stars out of four.
The marketing department at Universal Pictures must have flipped out when they heard about the premise of “Neighbors.” A fraternity house living next to a house with new parents? They’d be able to get both college students and twentysomething couples on date night in the theater on date night!
“It Felt Like Love” screens for FREE at the UW-Cinematheque, 4070 Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave. at 7 p.m. Friday, and writer-director Eliza Hittman will take part in a post-show Q&A via Skype. Not rated, 1:22, two and a half stars out of four.
The dread that parents might feel about what their “little girl” is up to at night gets full flower in Eliza Hittman’s disturbing feature “It Felt Like Love.” Lila, at 14, is bombarded by imagery that sexualizes young women, from the lyrics on the rap songs she listens to to the suggestive dance routine her classmates rehearse. And then there are the boys, teenagers who are relentlessly charming in their quest to coax their girlfriends into bed.
“Le Week-End” opens Friday in Madison at Sundance Cinemas. I’ll host a post-show discussion after the 6:50 p.m. show on Tuesday, May 13. R, 1:43, three stars out of four.
Beware the trailer for “Le Week-End,” which sells the film as a fizzy romantic comedy for the older set, its stars romancing their way through Paris. In fact, Roger Michell’s acidic and poignant film is less “Before Sunrise” and more “Before Midnight.”
“Honey” opens Friday at Sundance Cinemas. Not rated, 1:36, three stars out of four.
American movie audiences may know Valeria Golino primarily for having Charlie Sheen fry an egg on her belly in 1990’s “Hot Shots.” After a career in Hollywood, she went back to Italy for more serious roles, and now is making a strong debut as a director with “Honey.”
“Blue Ruin” opens Friday at Sundance Cinemas. R, 1:32, four stars out of four.
Dwight is nobody’s idea of an assassin. A vagrant with a dirty, sweaty beard, scared-puppy eyes, and a slight frame, Dwight (Macon Blair) looks like he would have to work hard to make it as an innocent bystander, let alone a killer.
“Who is Dayani Cristal?” has its Wisconsin premiere on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Union South Marquee Theatre, 1308 W. Dayton St. Not rated, 1:25, three stars out of four. FREE!
Talk about illegal immigration, and you’re debating an issue. Talk about an immigrant — a person — and the discussion changes.
Sunday is the final day of the UW Mini Indie Film Festival at the Union South Marquee, and the festival is finishing off with a modest pair of screenings at Union South, 1308 W. Dayton St. Both screenings are free and open to the public; visit union.wisc.edu/film for details.
“Finding Vivian Maier” opens Friday at Sundance Cinemas. Not rated, 1:24, three stars out of four.
Who was Vivian Maier? At the end of this lovely documentary, after hearing from the people who knew the suburban Chicago nanny best, we’re still not sure. And she likely would have wanted it that way.
“The Invisible Woman” opens Friday at Sundance Cinemas. I’ll be hosting a post-show chat after the 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, April 29 show at the theater. R, 1:51, three stars out of four.
Charles Dickens was a man of the people. In addition to writing stories that changed literature, he was an enthusiastic playwright and orator, championing the plight of the downtrodden in England. In one scene in “The Invisible Woman,” we see Dickens (Ralph Fiennes, who also directs) springing to action after a horrific train accident, quickly taking charge to tend to the wounded.
Sean Weitner saw “Dom Hemingway” at the Wisconsin Film Festival, and it’s already back in town for an engagement at Sundance Cinemas. Here’s his review:
Are we far enough past the mid-’90s scourge of having every grim, violent, often dull moviemaker being hailed as “the next Tarantino” for me to pay that compliment to Richard Shepard? The label is an oversell, but Shepard picks up the best part of Tarantino-ism: Polishing and electrifying his personal cinema history to make one from the heart that pinballs through a playfield of references.
Madison Movie 