'Ballerina' and 'The Phoenician Scheme' are among the new movies in Milwaukee this week
Assassins and Wes Anderson should keep you on your, well, toes at the movies this weekend.
Here's what's new in Milwaukee-area theaters starting June 6, as well as some of the new movies available on streaming and on demand this week.
Short version: Ana de Armas plays a dancer who sets out to become a master assassin to get revenge for her father's death in this violent 'John Wick' spinoff, set between the third and fourth movies in the franchise. Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston and the late Lance Reddick (in his final movie) return from the 'John Wick' realm, and are joined by a supporting cast including Norman Reedus, Gabriel Byrne and Catalina Sandino Moreno.
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; Times Cinema.
Short version: In Wes Anderson's latest confection, a wealthy tycoon (Benicio Del Toro) appoints his only daughter, a nun (Mia Threapleton), as his sole heir — making both of them the target of terrorists, assassins and plotting business rivals. Anderson has lined up his usual stellar supporting cast — including Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hanks, Bill Murray, Michael Cera and Appleton native Willem Dafoe — as well as frequent collaborator and Brookfield native Adam Stockhausen, the director's go-to production designer who won an Oscar for his work on 'The Grand Budapest Hotel.'
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Avalon Theater; Marcus Theatres' Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Oriental Theatre.
Short version: A surfer (Hassie Harrison) must figure out how to free herself from the boat of a shark-obsessed serial killer (Jai Courtney), who plans to feed her to the sharks as part of a ritual in this horror thriller.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres' Hillside, Menomonee Falls, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
Short version: Dan Stevens and Al Pacino play priests called on to perform a series of exorcisms to save a young woman's soul in this horror thriller. It's based on the true story of Emma Schmidt, the Milwaukee native who survived a series of exorcisms in the 1920s — and whose story inspired 'The Exorcist.'
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres' Menomonee Falls, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
Short version: A couple (Nick Kroll, Andrew Rannells) about to adopt their first child take a pre-adoption trip to Italy, but their disastrous journey could ruin everything in this dark comedy.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres' South Shore Cinema.
Short version: A pair of friends — one believes in ghosts but not aliens, and the other believes the opposite — have more adventures in the first three episodes of the second season of the popular anime series, shown as a feature film.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres' Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
Pop star Miley Cyrus co-wrote and directed 'Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful,' a pop-opera version of her latest album. It's showing in theaters, including Marcus Theatres' Majestic and South Shore cinemas, at 6:30 p.m. June 12. Tickets are $18. Info: marcustheatres.com.
Two music documentaries from past Milwaukee Film Festivals return to the Oriental Theatre.
"Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted," which recounts cult R&B star Swamp Dogg's efforts to turn his suburban home into an artistic playground, comes back after showing at the 2024 film festival. It's screening at 10 p.m. June 6, 6 p.m. June 8, 7:30 p.m. June 10 and 7 p.m. June 10. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre.
'Pavements,' the mashup documentary about the popular alt-rock band Pavement, returns to the Oriental after screening at the 2025 film fest. It's showing at 3:30 p.m. June 6, 9:15 p.m. June 7, noon June 8, and 7:30 p.m. June 9 and 11. Tickets are $11. Info: mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre.
Milwaukee Film celebrates the returns of both summer and Pride Month with a series of movies that (mostly) embrace the spirit of camp. Showing this week: John Waters' 'Polyester,' 7:30 p.m. June 6; 'Xanadu,' 3 p.m. June 7-8; and 'Grease 2,' 9:30 p.m. June 12. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org.
The Milky Way Drive-In — the outdoor theater in the parking lot at Franklin's Ballpark Commons, 7035 S. Ballpark Drive — is showing a double feature of 'Herbie: Fully Loaded' and 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby' at 6:30 p.m. June 12. Admission is $35 per carload. Info: milkywaydrivein.com.
RELATED: Milky Way Drive-In in Franklin is returning for the 2025 season. Here's what to know
Elm Grove: The village's Friday Flicks series is showing 'Lady and the Tramp' at 8:30 p.m. June 6 at the Elm Grove Village Park Pavilion, 13600 Juneau Blvd. Info: elmgrovewi.org.
Glendale/Bayshore: The Glendale retail complex at 5800 N. Bayshore Drive kicks off its Family Flicks series with 'Wicked,' showing at 5:30 p.m. June 11 in The Yard, the center's outdoor expanse. Info: thebayshorelife.com/events.
Greendale: The village's movie series, organized by Gift of Wings, is screening 'Inside Out 2' at dusk on June 7 in Greendale Gazebo Park, 5710 Broad St. Info: giftofwingslanding.com.
Milwaukee/Deer District: The plaza outside Fiserv Forum at 1111 N. Phillips Ave. is joining forces with Milwaukee Film for a series of family-friendly movies in the plaza's Beer Garden. The first movie: 'Moana 2' at 7:30 p.m. June 12. Info: deerdistrict.com/events.
Oconomowoc/Moonlit Movies: The Moonlit Movies series starts its 2025 run with 'Moana 2' at dusk on June 12 in Fowler Park. Info: moonlitmovies.org.
West Milwaukee/West Allis: The West Allis/West Milwaukee Recreation & Community Services Department starts its Summer Movie Nights with a screening (movie to be announced) at 6:30 p.m. June 12 in West Milwaukee Park, 5000 W. Burnham St. Info: West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation & Community Services Facebook page.
RELATED: Where you can find free outdoor movies in the Milwaukee area this summer
Once a month, Neighborhood Theater Group's theaters go 'classic' with a perennial favorite. Showing this week: 'Spaceballs,' 7 p.m. June 12 at the Avalon Theater; 'Caddyshack,' 7 p.m. June 12 at the Rosebud Cinema; and 'Twister,' 7 p.m. June 11 at the Times Cinema. Tickets are $10. Info: ntg-wi.com.
Marcus Theatres starts its Kids Dream summer series — $3 screenings of family-friendly movies at all eight area Marcus theaters — June 8-12 with 'Despicable Me 4.' Info: marcustheatres.com.
Let's Dig In, a series of movies on environmental issues, continues with '32 Sounds' at noon June 7. Screenings in the series include post-movie discussions and even a farmers market in the lobby of the Oriental Theatre, where it's taking place. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org.
'Sew Torn': A struggling seamstress stumbles on a drug deal gone bad has three options — and we see them play out, one at a time, in this dark, 'Run Lola Run'-style caper comedy. Available June 13.
Recent releases newly available on demand: "Hurry Up Tomorrow," June 6; "The Amateur," June 10; 'When Fall Is Coming,' June 10; "Things Like This," June 10.
'Tyler Perry's Straw': Taraji P. Henson plays a single mother who, after a series of personal disasters, takes an unexpected way out — holding up a bank — in this drama written and directed by Tyler Perry. Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, Rockmond Dunbar and Sinbad co-star. On Netflix June 6.
'Predator: Killer of Killers': Three ultimate human warriors find the tables turned when one of those master hunter-killer monsters begins pursuing them in this animated installment in the 'Predator' series. On Hulu June 6.
'Deep Cover': A police detective (Sean Bean) recruits a trio of hapless improv actors (Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed) to infiltrate London's criminal underworld in this crime comedy. On Prime Video June 12.
'Titan: The OceanGate Disaster': This new documentary explores the doomed underwater voyage of the submersible vessel Titan, which imploded on its first trip killing all five on board. On Netflix June 11.
Recent releases newly available on streaming services: 'The Alto Knights,' Max June 6; 'Parthenope,' Max June 6; 'Piece by Piece,' Netflix June 7; 'Drive-Away Dolls,' Peacock June 12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New movies in Milwaukee: 'Ballerina,' 'The Phoenician Scheme,' more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Tyrant
an hour ago
- Geek Tyrant
Wes Anderson on Gene Hackman Being Furious While Shooting THE ROYAL TENANBAUMS: 'He Left Without Saying Goodbye' — GeekTyrant
Wes Anderson is known for his meticulously crafted worlds, but the behind-the-scenes reality of The Royal Tenenbaums wasn't nearly as whimsical as what ended up on screen, especially when it came to working with the late Gene Hackman. In a new interview with The Sunday Times, Anderson reflected on the tension with Hackman during the making of the 2001 film. The director explained: 'Gene was very annoyed about the money. He was furious. Also, he didn't want to do the film anyway. I talked him into it — I just didn't go away. And everybody else said yes to the salary, so Gene just went with it — and that just became our way.' Hackman played the deeply flawed but oddly endearing Royal Tenenbaum, a role that would become one of his most memorable late-career performances. But despite how awesom he was in the role, Hackman never quite connected with the process or the people around it. Anderson, who was only 32 at the time and directing his third feature, admitted things never really improved between them, even after the cameras stopped rolling. When asked if they stayed in touch after the film's release, Anderson said: 'Not a word. In fact he left without saying goodbye. He was grumpy — we had friction. He didn't enjoy it. I was probably too young and it was annoying to him.' The last conversation Anderson had with Hackman was just as the movie was opening. The filmmaker said: 'And he liked it, but he told me he didn't understand it when we were shooting. I wish I'd shown him 10 minutes, early on. Then, maybe, he would have said, 'OK, I get it.'' Hackman, who passed away in April, was famously selective with his roles late in his career. Bill Murray, who was also part of Tenenbaums, shared his own perspective after Hackman's passing, saying: 'I sympathize with Gene because to him, Wes Anderson was just a punk kid and Gene's made some of the greatest American movies. So he was a little irritable. But he had to work with children, dogs, Kumar [Pallana, who played valet Pagoda], who was like an absolute mystery to all of us anyway. 'They put him in very challenging positions to work, and so he just felt a lot of responsibility and kept thinking, 'What am I doing here with these people?' But the performance he gives is brilliant. And I watched him, and I suffered with him because I saw what he was going through.' Despite the clash, there's no denying that Hackman's work on The Royal Tenenbaums was a masterclass in acting. His performance remains a cornerstone of the film's legacy, even if the experience behind the scenes was far less harmonious.
Time Magazine
2 hours ago
- Time Magazine
Ballerina Is a Worthy Addition to the John Wick Franchise
Don't be misled by the title Ballerina: there's very little traditional ballet in this John Wick spinoff, and frankly, it could use more. But this fifth installment in the Wick franchise does feature plenty of balletic violence, perhaps the next best thing to actual dancing. You begin to wonder how any fight choreographer could come up with so many variations on the classic roundhouse kick, so many ruthlessly clever chokeholds, such a kaleidoscopic menu of eye gouging, arm-breaking, and flamethrowing. The pleasures of Ballerina are both blunt and fleeting; you're not going to remember the plot—or any of the performances, perhaps save one—five minutes after the end credits role. But the picture's cartoonish brutality is cathartic. Feeling angry enough to bust some balls, literally, but don't want to cause undue harm and/or get arrested? Ballerina is your movie. Let Ana de Armas crack those nuts for you. The movie opens, classically and predicatably, with backstory: we see a young girl with a bloodied face clutching a dome-shaped music box with a twirling ballerina figure inside, its surface smeared with bloody fingerprints. We learn that her father gave her this little trinket, not long before he was killed by a mini-army of highly skilled thugs. Somehow, this newly minted orphan manages to escape their vengeance. Thanks to the intervention of Ian McShane's scary but principled Winston, she'll be raised by a chilly mother figure and ballet instructor known only as The Director, played, in a fetching array of gold-embossed shawls and velvety kimonos, by Angelica Huston. The Director also happens to be the bloody mama of the secret crime syndicate the Ruska Roma—the very organization whose clutches John Wick is seeking to escape. (If you're keeping track, the events of Ballerina take place between John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4.) The heartbroken little girl with the ballerina music box will grow up to be Ana de Armas' Eve Macarro, a young woman bent on—what else?—avenging her father's murder. The ultra-simple plot mechanics of Ballerina are perhaps one reason de Armas —so delightfully flirty and kick-ass as a Bond accomplice in No Time to Die and so disappointing, through no fault of her own, in Andrew Dominik's Marilyn Monroe exploitation-fest Blonde —doesn't really resonate here as a performer. She's a little like that ballerina under the dome: graceful, tenacious, but ultimately more decorative than interesting. The movie's blunt 'You killed my father'-centric dialogue, characteristically laconic in the John Wick tradition, doesn't help. But de Armas has got the moves, and she's adequately dazzling in a scene where she slinks into a polar-themed nightclub to protect the ditzy daughter of some rich muckety-muck. Nobody can crotch-kick a dude like she can, particularly in a svelte sequined dress. Even if de Armas is the star of this show, there's just enough Keanu Reeves to remind you what franchise you're watching. He appears in just a few scenes, but his somber-funny Zen presence is a welcome relief from Eve's somewhat boring intensity. Gabriel Byrne shows up as a nasty villain known as the Chancellor, who has kidnaped the adorable moppet Ella (Ava Joyce McCarthy) and whisked her off to a bucolic Alpine village where a society of ruthless killers are able to raise, and train, their children in peace. Ballerina also includes a lost-sibling subplot that feels like an afterthought—but again, who's going to remember, or care? Because really, Ballerina is a stunt-person-employment extravaganza. There's no way to count how many tireless individuals get stabbed, stomped, thrown against walls, or blitzed with automatic weapons. From the movie's end credits, it appears that most of these trained professionals were hired locally in the movie's European filming locations, which include Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. Hollywood films, as we know, are increasingly being made pretty much anywhere but Hollywood—but that doesn't detract from the reality that all over the world, there are skilled pros who are eager to let themselves be set on fire, or worse. Ballerina 's director is Len Wiseman, one of the creators of the Underworld franchise, as well as the director of the fourth Die Hard movie, Live Free or Die Hard, from 2007. Here, he fulfills at least one basic filmmaking directive: Ballerina is never boring. And its attention to detail, particularly in its costumes, is admirable. Many of the operatives and assassins wear fantastic costume jewels—masses of chains, chunky heart pendants—though none are more opulent, in that grand, phoney-baloney movie-magic way, than the stacks of enameled bangles and ropes of beads worn by Houston's Ruska Roma matriarch; clearly, she's mastered the art of plugging 'Chico's necklace' into the eBay search engine. Whether we articulate it or not, this is the sort of thing we go to the movies for: larger-than-life faces, don't-try-this-at-home stunts, costumes that signal, in smart visual shorthand, a character's essence. That's what the dance is all about, with hopefully not too many bruised ribs, smashed noses, or broken bones along the way.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Ryan Coogler Confirms Denzel Washington Has a Part in 'Black Panther 3'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Back in March, "Sinners" director Ryan Coogler reacted to Denzel Washington's public statements about appearing in "Black Panther 3" and while it was something Coogler seemed excited about, he stopped just shy of confirming it. Now, Coogler has confirmed not only that he has talked to Washington about showing up in "Black Panther 3", but that he has written a role specifically for the two-time Oscar-winning star. Read More: James Gunn Wants Peacemaker to Fight Batman Appearing on "7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony", Coogler was asked if there had been conversations with Washington or if he was writing a role specifically for the actor. Coogler's answer: "All of that. All of the above, bro." Denzel Washington poses at the opening night after party for "Othello" on Broadway at Tavern on The Green on March 23, 2025 in New York City. Denzel Washington poses at the opening night after party for "Othello" on Broadway at Tavern on The Green on March 23, 2025 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/WireImage He went on to praise Washington, saying, "I think he's the greatest living actor. And in terms of what he means to our culture, forget about it. I've been talking to him about this for a long time." Coogler's confirmation that he's written a part for Washington shouldn't be too much of a surprise. Back in March, Coogler said "Yeah, I've been dying to work with Denzel, man, and I'm hoping we can make that happen." "I have every intention of working with him in ['Black Panther 3']. As long as he itches to do it, it's gonna happen. You know, he's a living legend and a great mentor for so many of us. He's all about looking out for us now." As far as who exactly Denzel Washington would play in "Black Panther 3", Coogler is keeping that to himself. That hasn't stopped fans from speculating, of course, with some even guessing his character might be from another part of Marvel's multiverse and could be a variant of T'Challa's father T'Chaka, or perhaps even T'Challa himself. One popular fan-casting is the villain Achebe, who was created as a kind of eccentric mix between Kaiser Soze of "The Usual Suspects" fame and the Joker. Not possessed of any special abilities, Achebe instead manipulates his ways into political power in Wakanda. Very little is known about "Black Panther 3" including whether or not it has a firm release date. Letitia Wright is expected to reprise the role of Shuri for the film, potentially appearing alongside Denzel Washington. More Comics: James Gunn Teases 'Superman' Cameo in 'Peacemaker' Captain America: Brave New World Finally Has a Disney+ Free Streaming Date
