Miyazaki's 'Boy and the Heron,' 'Eileen,' 'The Oath' are among the new movies in Milwaukee
Chris ForanNote: This story is updated for the week starting Dec. 8.
The rush of big year-end movies slows to a trickle this week — except for the debut of the first movie in a decade by one of cinema’s true masters.
Here’s what’s new in Milwaukee-area theaters starting Friday, as well as some of the new movies available on streaming and on demand this week.
‘The Boy and the Heron’
Short version: Anime master Hayao Miyazaki’s first movie in 10 years chronicles a boy who, during World War II, is searching for meaning after his mother dies, and is led into a fantasy world that features a talking gray heron. The much-anticipated movie is showing in subtitled and dubbed versions; the latter features a voice cast including Christian Bale, Gemma Chan, Mark Hamill, Florence Pugh and, as “Noble Pelican,” Appleton native Willem Dafoe.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Oriental Theatre.
'Eileen'
Short version: A young woman (Thomasin McKenzie) in 1960s Boston sees the possible of escape from her dreary life when a dynamic psychologist (Anne Hathaway, nominated for best supporting performance at the Film Independent Spirit Awards) joins the staff of the prison where she works, but things get complicated. Shea Whigham co-stars in this thriller directed by William Oldroyd ("Lady Macbeth").
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres' Majestic Cinema.
'The Disappearance of Shere Hite'
Short version: In 1976, Shere Hite's book "The Hite Report" revealed the truth about women's sexual experiences (with info drawn from thousands of survey participants) — rocking the culture and triggering conversations about sexuality and gender continuing today. This acclaimed documentary explores Hite's impact — and why she disappeared from the landscape.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall.
‘The Oath’
Short version: In America in 400 A.D., a lone warrior sets out to preserve the history of his fallen nation even while he’s being hunted by a tyrant in a faith-fueled, “Ancient America” epic drawing from the Book of Mormon.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres' Hillside, Ridge cinemas.
Opening Dec. 12: ‘Christmas With The Chosen: Holy Night’
Short version: The story of the birth of Jesus is retold in this blend of two installments from “The Chosen” series — “The Messengers” and “The Shepherd” — in theaters for a limited run, from Dec. 12-17.
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; Silverspot Cinema.
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‘Immediate Family’ at Marcus Theatres
A lot of great songs from the 1970s and early ‘80s feature one or more of a quartet of musicians — Waddy Wachtel, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel and Milwaukee native Leland Sklar. “Immediate Family” charts their careers, lives and music, with historic and present-day performances as well as interviews with the people they played with, including James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt and more. It's screening at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Marcus Theatres’ Menomonee Falls and Ridge cinemas. Tickets are $14. Info: marcustheatres.com.
‘Love Actually’ and ‘Die Hard’ in anniversary rereleases
Two Christmas (well, set during Christmastime) movies marking big anniversaries are getting a full week’s run, which multiple showings daily, in theaters starting Dec. 8. 1988’s “Die Hard” is showing at AMC Mayfair Mall and Marcus Theatres’ Menomonee Falls, Ridge and South Shore cinemas; “Love Actually,” released in 2003, will be at AMC Mayfair Mall and Marcus’ Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge and South Shore cinemas. Info: amctheatres.com and marcustheatres.com.
Christmas movies at Cedarburg’s Rivoli Theatre
The Holiday Film Festival at the Rivoli Theatre, W62-N567 Washington Ave. in Cedarburg, features Christmas movies and favorites through Dec. 23. This week: 7 p.m. Dec. 8, "White Christmas" (singalong version); 3:30 p.m. Dec. 9, "The Polar Express"; 7 p.m. Dec. 9, "Elf"; 3:30 p.m. Dec. 10, "The Star"; 7 p.m. Dec. 10, "The Bishop's Wife"; 7 p.m. Dec. 11, "Last Christmas"; 7 p.m. Dec. 12, "It Happened on Fifth Avenue"; 7 p.m. Dec. 13, "White Christmas"; 7 p.m. Dec. 14, "The Holiday." Tickets are $4. Info: rivoliofcedarburg.com.
RELATED:Milwaukee movie theaters get holiday spirit with Christmas classics: What's showing where
Christmas movies at Avalon Theater
The Avalon Theater, 2473 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., put together a creative mix of recent and classic Christmas movies for its holiday lineup this year. This week: noon Dec. 9, "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey" (showing with special Pizza With Santa event, $24, $22 for kids); noon Dec. 10, "Batman Returns" ($10). Info: avalonmke.com.
Christmas movies at Marcus Theatres
Marcus Theatres’ Season's Screenings features different holiday-themed movies each week. Showing at all eight area Marcus cinemas Dec. 8-14: . "The Polar Express," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," "Rise of the Guardians," "White Christmas" and "A Christmas Story." Tickets are $6 ($14 for the 2000 “A Christmas Story”); a Season's Screenings passport gets you four admissions for $20. Info: marcustheatres.com.
Christmas movies at Times Cinema
The Times Cinema goes all-in for Christmas in December. This week’s offerings: “Holiday Inn,” 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8-10 and Dec. 13; "Frozen," 3:30 p.m. Dec. 9-10 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14. Tickets are $11. Info: timescinema.com.
RELATED:Times Cinema switches to a repertory-style programming format
Movies at UWM Union Cinema
This week's screenings at the UWM Union Cinema, in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Union at 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., include “In Water,” a new movie by Korean director Hong Sang-soo (showing with the short “The Daughters of Fire”), 6 p.m. Dec. 8 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9; and a restored version of Shinji Sômai’s 1985 coming-of-age drama “Typhoon Club,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 5 p.m. Dec. 9. Tickets are $5. Info: cinema.uwm.edu.
New movies on demand
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour”: If you missed Ms. Swift’s concert movie in theaters, it’s finally going to be available on demand, with three bonus songs added to the mix. Available Dec. 13 (Swift’s birthday, in case you didn’t know).
"Lords of Misrule”: A woman (Tuppence Middleton) takes over as priest in a small town, but when her daughter disappears during a local harvest festival, she discovers the town’s dark secret — and what she will have to do to rescue her daughter from it. Available Dec. 8.
“Santa Isn’t Real”: A young woman has trouble convincing her friends that the person who brutally attacked her on Christmas Eve was Santa Claus — until he comes back to terrorize them all the next Christmas in this holiday horror movie. Available Dec. 8.
“All Souls”: In this crime thriller, a young confidential informant is sent on a dangerous undercover operation. Available Dec. 8.
“Craig Before the Creek”: The new kid in town leads his new friends on an adventure when he discovers that a nearby creek may have buried treasure in this animated family movie. Available Dec. 11.
New movies on streaming services
“Leave the World Behind”: A family checks into a luxury rental getaway but, while there, a cyberattack knocks out systems everywhere, leaving them to figure out what’s going on — including the identity of the people who show up at what they say is their house. Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha'la Herrold and Kevin Bacon co-stars in this thriller based on a bestseller. On Netflix Dec. 8.
“Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie”: Green Bay native Tony Shalhoub is back as obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk, who comes out of retirement to solve a case involving his journalist daughter before her wedding. On Peacock Dec. 8.
“The Mission”: This documentary recounts the story of a young American missionary who set out to contact an isolated Indigenous group off the coast of India and was killed in the process. On Hulu and Disney+ Dec. 8.
“Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only”: This documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at comedians Hart and Rock’s co-headlining stand-up tour, along with their lives and their friendship. On Netflix Dec. 12.
“Favorite Son Christmas”: Rapper-actor and Milwaukee native Tank plays a man who takes over a struggling church as pastor at Christmastime and, to save the church, stages a reunion of his family singing group. Darrel Walls, Loren Lott, Serayah and MC Lyte co-star in this holiday musical. On BET+ Dec. 14.
“Merry Little Batman”: In this animated holiday special, young Damian Wayne finds himself home alone in Wayne Manor on Christmas Eve, and he must become “Little Batman” to defend his home and Gotham City when supervillains set to out destroy the holidays. On Prime Video Dec. 8.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever”: What’s worse for the title kid in this animated special than getting stuck with his family during a snowstorm over winter vacation? How about sweating out whether he’ll get the new game console he wants for Christmas? On Disney+ Dec. 8.
"Meet Me Under the Mistletoe": Rival Realtors (Sarah Fisher, Simon Arblaster) are forced to work together when they make and receive the same wish during the first snow of winter — to land the biggest home listing in town. On Hulu Dec. 9.
Recent releases newly available on streaming services: "Mob Land," on Hulu Dec. 8; “Asteroid City,” on Prime Video Dec. 12; “Blue Jean,” on Hulu Dec. 14.
