Here at Marquee, we take pride in making sure you know about cool events coming to Milwaukee, and there aren’t many cooler than the city’s very own annual film festival. Stretching across 11 days, from tonight until Sunday, Oct. 3, the Milwaukee Film Festival is one of the highlights of the city’s art season, and we want to make sure you get the best they have to offer.
To that end, we’ve picked one movie each night of the festival to give our Hitting the Marq seal of approval. Obviously these aren’t the only good movies of the night, but due to space constraints we can’t list all the best movies each night. The festival’s website, milwaukee-film.org, on the other hand, can, so you should definitely check that if you don’t like our picks or want to see if you can catch them on a different night.
Tickets for films can be bought both online at the above website or at 414-727-8468, and the festival suggests buying in advance because many films do sell out. Tickets are $10 unless otherwise noted here or online, although you can save a dollar if you’re willing to risk buying at the door.
Films can all be found at one of three locations: the Oriental Theatre, North Shore Cinema, and Ridge Cinema.
Thursday, Sept. 23
“Blue Valentine”
Our pick for Thursday isn’t your average romance. It’s an intimate, easy-to-relate-to story about the emotional journey of couple Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) falling in and out of love.
“Blue Valentine” runs at 7 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre and at 6 p.m. at North Shore Cinema.
Friday, Sept. 24
“Looking for Eric”
We picked this film for both its comedic and feel-good elements. The story follows depressed postman Eric Bishop, who decides to get his life back on track only when the star player of his beloved Manchester United soccer team spontaneously appears one night to give him some much-needed advice.
“Looking for Eric” runs at 7:45 p.m. at North Shore Cinema.
Saturday, Sept. 25
“Jack Goes Boating”
This dramatic romance is Philip Seymour Hoffman’s first project as a director. A film showing the slow budding of a middle-aged romance juxtaposed with an established marriage falling apart, it gives an honest take on adult relationships.
“Jack Goes Boating” runs at 7 p.m. at North Shore Cinema.
Sunday, Sept. 26
“Waiting For ‘Superman’”
Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim (“An Inconvenient Truth”) follows promising children through an American education system that hinders rather than helps their academic progress. There is light at the end of his documentary tunnel though, when Guggenheim highlights educational reform that many feel is just what America needs.
“Waiting For ‘Superman’” runs at 2 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
Monday, Sept. 27
“No One Knows About Persian Cats”
A Persian film with English subtitles, this intriguing selection features two young, Iranian musicians trying to make a name for themselves in Tehran’s underground music scene. In a nation where even mainstream music can be censored, this proves to be a difficult task.
“No One Knows About Persian Cats” runs at 7 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
Tuesday, Sept. 28
“Metropolis”
There is nothing else out there quite like this 1927 German silent film, a futuristic sci-fi production. We recommend that you see attend the special presentation with Alloy Orchestra, which will be providing live musical accompaniment to the film. Tickets for this performance will cost you a little extra though, with prices starting at $15.
“Metropolis” runs at 7 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
Wednesday, Sept. 29
“October”
For tonight, we recommend seeing this dark comedy about a man whose entire life is run as a business transaction. Will he ever find happiness? Stop by and see.
“October” is a Spanish film with English subtitles and runs at 5:15 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
Thursday, Sept. 30
“Hipsters”
Disclaimer: This film is not about flannel-wearing, American Spirits-smoking, Pabst Blue Ribbon-drinking adolescents. It’s actually a musical about a teen movement in 1950s Russia that combined American rockabilly sounds with jazz and dancing. American hipsters do love their music, so go check it out.
“Hipsters” runs at 6:30 p.m. at North Shore Cinema.
Friday, Oct. 1
“A Somewhat Gentle Man”
This film tells the story of Ulrik, a recently-released inmate previously doing time for murder. Try as he might to assimilate into a world that refuses to see him as a changed man, Ulrik can’t seem to keep out of trouble.
“A Somewhat Gentle Man” is a Norwegian film with English subtitles and runs at 7 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre.
Saturday, Oct. 2
“Best Worst Movie” and “Troll 2”
This truly entertaining documentary follows the evolution of underground cult film “Troll 2,” an awful story about vegetarian goblins. To get the full experience, stay after the feature for a free showing of “Troll 2.”
“Best Worst Movie” runs at 10:15 p.m. at Ridge Cinema.
Sunday, Oct. 3
“Buried”
This thriller tells the terrifying story of Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds), an average working American and family man, who finds himself buried in a coffin six feet underground with only a lighter and a cell phone. He does not have any idea why he is there, but he does know that he doesn’t have long before he runs out of oxygen.
“Buried” runs at 7 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre, North Shore Cinema and Ridge Cinema.
