We're mere days away from getting our hands on this year's official Milwaukee Film Festival program book – essentially the bible for Cream City cinema lovers – and beginning to map out how many movies we can pack into two weeks and how many meals one can sacrifice in the name of film (answer: all of them). Before then, however, Milwaukee Film has a few more selections to announce, including today's Spotlight Presentations – sponsored by OnMilwaukee and 88Nine Radio Milwaukee.
The selections – which include the festival's opening night, closing night and centerpiece picks – range from fiction to documentary, new Sundance darlings to ageless classics, Disney magic to real-life drama, Hollywood gems to an impressive amount of locally-made and Milwaukee-connected marvels. The one commonality: They're all some of the biggest names at the festival this year.
Here's the whole Spotlight Presentations lineup – and be sure to snag your program book on Saturday, Sept. 3 from noon until 4 p.m. at Good City Brewing and Cafe Centraal:
Opening night: "Life, Animated"
For their three major spotlight picks, Milwaukee Film tends to try to pick at least one that speaks to the power of the movies. The acclaimed documentary "Life, Animated" would more than qualify, telling the story of Owen Suskind, a young autistic boy whose love of classic animated Disney movies helped him learn to overcome his challenges and communicate to his family and the world.
Centerpiece: "Almost Sunrise"
A moving, Milwaukee-based documentary, "Almost Sunrise" tells the story of two Milwaukee Iraq veterans, Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson, hoping to overcome their battles with depression and anxiety after returning home by taking a 2,700-mile trek from Cream City to California by foot across the country to help heal their emotional scars – and bring much-needed attention to others'.
Closing night: "Morris From America"
Life's hard enough as a teen, growing up with those classic day-to-day coming-of-age dramas. It's even rougher for Morris, the only African American student in his new home of Heidelberg, Germany. However, with the help of his family (played by Craig Robinson, "The Office), lone friend/German instructor and hip-hop music, things start to look up for young Morris in this Sundance-approved crowdpleaser.
"All the President's Men"
"All the President's Men" may be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, but in many ways, the Oscar-winning film hasn't aged a day. Chronicling Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, arguably at their best) as the attempt to break the story on one of the biggest conspiracies in U.S. history, Alan Pakula's iconic film still provides thrills and important commentary for today's political world. And in case you somehow needed more convincing, the film will be showing in glorious 35mm.
"Five Nights in Maine"
In this chamber drama, two souls – mourning widower Sherwin (David Oyelowo, "Selma") and his cancer-stricken mother-in-law (Dianne Wiest) – are reconnected in the Maine woods by painful loss, hurt and, eventually, companionship.
"Halfway"
Filmed on location in Wisconsin's own town of Montfort, "Halfway" tells the story of a parolee – played by Quinton Aaron of "The Blind Side" fame – sent off to rural Wisconsin to work on his relative's struggling farm. There, he must not only deal with being the only black resident in the Midwest town, but also with a past – namely some drug dealers – that won't quite let him go so easily.
"Jim: The James Foley Story"
It’ll take some work to emotionally prepare for "Jim," the Sundance and HBO-approved documentary about journalist and Marquette grad James Foley. Obviously, we all know how his life horrifically came to an end; however, the tender and personal documentary focuses its attention on Foley’s life and professional calling – who he was, what he believed in and why he did the work he did – rather than how it came to a brutal, abrupt and cruel halt. "Jim" serves as a tribute to a beautiful and complex life that no act of brutality could erase.
"Metropolis"
Did you miss when Milwaukee Film brought Fritz Lang's 1927 silent era masterpiece "Metropolis" to the 2010 festival – complete with a live score from the renowned Alloy Orchestra? How embarrassing ... but also how lucky, because they're bringing both the mesmerizing cinematic landmark and the Alloy Orchestra back to the Oriental this year. Don't miss it again. And if you saw it already before ... well, you know better than anyone to not miss it this time too.
"Milwaukee 53206: A Community Serves Time"
Back in June, Milwaukee Film hosted the world premiere of "Milwaukee 53206: A Community Serves Time." Just a few months later, the documentary about the effects of mass incarceration in Milwaukee seems as relevant and resonant as ever. In addition to the screening, Milwaukee Film will also host an onstage, moderated panel discussion about the big, pressing issues "Milwaukee 53206" presents about the city and the nation.
"Motley's Law"
In this documentary, Kimberley Motley heads off to Afghanistan to become the only American lawyer licensed to practice in the country. However, as she seeks justice amongst the corruption and daily chaos on the ground, the UWM and Marquette grad finds herself stuck choosing between returning home to her husband and three kids or staying in Afghanistan with her important work.
"Queen of Katwe"
The Milwaukee Film Festival delivers some Disney magic this year with "Queen of Katwe." Based on a true story, director Mira Nair ("Monsoon Wedding") shares the tale of a young Ugandan girl (newcomer Madina Nalwanga) who becomes a chess superstar with the help of a local teacher (David Oyelowo of "Five Nights in Maine") and her mother, played by Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o ("12 Years a Slave"). Prepare to be inspired – and to want to play some chess.
The Milwaukee Film Festival begins Sept. 22 and runs through Oct. 6.
As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.
When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.
