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“Singalong Frozen” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — Your kids are walking around the house singing “Let It Go” anyway, so you might as well taken the back to the theater to see this new “Singalong” version, with full lyrics on the screen. Just follow the bouncing snowflake! Although, youngsters, I would like to solo on “In Summer,” okay?
If you want a measurement of how strong and vibrant Madison’s movie scene is getting, just look at the websites and programs that have arrived in January alone to talk about, highlight and in some cases, screen, movies in the city.
“I’m like a Spanish conquistador,” Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) says at one point in “Kumiko the Treasure Hunter.” “Looking for treasure deep in the Americas.”
Only Kumiko’s quest doesn’t take her to South America, but to wintry Minneapolis in the quirky and lovely new comedy from Austin’s David and Nathan Zellner. And no, the treasure isn’t at the Mall of America.
Aaron Paul is really growing as an actor. Having played an emotionally anguished young man in “Breaking Bad” and an emotionally anguished young husband in “Smashed,” he now plays an emotionally anguished father in “Hellion.”
I kid, but Paul is actually very good as a blue-collar widower, Hollis Wilson, trying to raise his two young sons in Kat Candler’s familiar but well-acted drama. His blue eyes haunted behind a forest of beard, Paul effectively conveys the confusion and pain of a guy who thought he’d spend his life working all day and drinking beer in front of the TV all night, instead finding himself forced to clean up his act, get past his grief and be a single parent.
But “Hellion” really belongs to young Josh Wiggins, who plays Hollis’ 13-year-old son Jacob. A delinquent who is one more arrest away from juvie, Jacob hides his grief at his mother’s death (and, more subtly, his father’s emotional absence) behind a storm of heavy metal music and the whine of his dirt bike. Jacob often acts as kind of a second father to his sweet-natured younger brother, Wes, although he’s imperfect, as in a rare amusing scene where he makes whipped cream-and-sugar sandwiches for lunch.
The family’s troubles have caught the attention of both social workers and Hollis’ sister-in-law (Juliette Lewis), who gradually starts making moves to take custody of Wes herself. Lewis is good – she could be the villain of the piece, but she effectively projects good intentions, even as she is fulfilling a motherhood need in her own heart with Wes. Her actions force Jacob and Hollis both (each equally deserving of the title “Hellion”) to clean themselves up and start taking responsibility for their actions.
“Hellion” is a little slow-moving at times, moving like those dirt bikes in the same tight circles of despair, rage and tentative hope. But the performances are good, and Chandler definitely captures the feel of life in south Texas. A half-finished beach house in Galveston serves as a promise of a good life that never quite comes.
“Cutie and the Boxer” has its only Madison theatrical screening at 7 p.m. Friday at the UW-Cinematheque, 4070 Vilas Hall. R, 1:22, three and a half stars out of four.
UPDATE: “Cutie and the Boxer” was just nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary on Thursday morning!
Ushio Shinohara is a wiry 80-year-old Japanese-American painter who strips to his waist, dips boxing gloves in paint cans and pummels away at the canvas to create abstract art. And yet, by the end of the charming documentary “Cutie and the Boxer,” you’ll probably find him the less interesting half of the couple. Watching Zachary Heinzerling’s film is like being at a house party hosted by the couple, where we’re initially dazzled by the larger-than-life Ushio in the center of the room, but eventually find ourselves drawn to a quiet corner for a long, fascinating talk with Noriko.
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“August: Osage County” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema, Sundance) — Audiences expecting a sassy but lovable “Steel Magnolias” kind of film will be mighty shocked by this all-star adaptation of Tracy Letts’ play, in which Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis and others get positively vicious as a dysfunctional Southern clan brought back together.
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“Out of the Furnace” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — Writer-director Scott Cooper follows up “Crazy Heart” with a much darker film, as an ex-con (Christian Bale) tries to free his brother (Casey Affleck) from the clutches of his hometown’s meth kingpin (Woody Harrelson).
All week
“Ender’s Game” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema, Cinema Cafe) — My full review is here. Audiences who expect a sci-fi action movie might be surprised to be served up a thought-provoking morality play instead, as a gifted boy is trained to lead Earth forces against an alien threat.
All week
“Carrie” (Point, Eastgate, Star Cinema) — “Boys Don’t Cry” director Kimberly Peirce takes a swing at a remake of the Stephen King classic, but they’re all going to laugh at her. Or at least dismiss her film as a by-the-numbers cash grab.
“I Used to Be Darker” opens Friday at Sundance Cinemas. Not rated, 1:30, three and a half stars out of four.
In musicals, people sing when mere dialogue isn’t enough to express the emotions that they’re feeling. In that sense, Matthew Porterfield’s “I Used to Be Darker” follows those same rules. For the most part, the characters are closed off from each other, mumbling pleasantries or veiled insults instead of saying what they mean. It’s only within the safe confines of a song that they feel comfortable revealing themselves.
Madison Movie 