Movies - The Daily Cardinal

ARTS

'Hunger Games' finale leaves fans feeling bittersweet

By Samantha Marz | Dec. 7, 2015

The release of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2” on Nov. 20 marked the end of another popular series of film adaptations—and that was evident in the theater. As I sat in my plush Marcus Theatres movie chair, I could practically feel the anticipation and bittersweet emotions floating through the air as friends and families alike shuffled into the already-crowded theater to see Katniss, Peeta and Gale in action one last time. Although “Part 2” may not live up to some of its predecessors, it is undeniably the emotional, unsettling and suspenseful conclusion that this series deserves.

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Madison's weekend entertainment

By Allison Garcia | Nov. 11, 2015

This weekend has so much to offer Madison in the form of arts and entertainment.

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The Marquee hosts variety at upcoming film festival

By Zach Druckrey | Nov. 10, 2015

This Friday marks the beginning of the Marquee Film Festival, and the main connection between the movies on display will be their unbelievable high quality. The genre and tone of these films range from the deadpan and quiet artfulness brought by “Amour Fou” to the utterly insane gorefest that is “Dude Bro Party Massacre III,” and everything in-between.

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Characters spring to life on screen in book-to-movie adaptations

By Samantha Marz | Nov. 4, 2015

“Harry Potter.” “Twilight.” “The Hunger Games.” “The Martian.” What do all of these have in common? The obvious answer is that they are all wildly popular young-adult books, but there is much more to it than that—they are also movie adaptations. They have also hit the big screen in the last two decades.

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Madison's weekend entertainment

By Allison Garcia | Oct. 7, 2015

It’s the weekend, so get your dancing shoes on; this week’s options includes ballroom, swing and even “Magic Mike.”

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Madison's weekend entertainment

By Allison Garcia | Sep. 17, 2015

It’s the weekend and that means dancing, singing and entertainment galore.

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Madison’s weekend entertainment

By Allison Garcia | Sep. 10, 2015

Cheers to the weekend and all of its entertainment glory.Catch a flickThe Marquee is hosting three free movies including “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “The Lanthanide Series” and “Wild Tales.”Show your Badger prideBefore Saturday’s game Union South holds a Badger Bash with the Wisconsin Marching Band. Also, the band holds a fifth quarter with singing and dancing after the game concludes.Enjoy a festivalThe Sett is hosting the Snake on the Lake Festival Friday featuring Burial Hex, Samantha Glass, Mr. Jackson, Myrmidons, Proud Parents, and DJ Evan Woodward. The Edgewater & Isthmus Concert Series Friday will host Simon Balto, Anna Vogelzang, Solid Gold and Field Report.Get your hands dirtyWheelhouse Studios is hosting Free Art Friday as well as a Habitat Souper Bowl Saturday with free clay to make bowls.Want to bango?Be?la Fleck and Abigail Washburn are bringing bluegrass to Memorial Union Saturday.If you feel like payingAll weekend the Comedy Club on State shows Owen Benjamin. Thursday Granger Smith performs at the Majestic and Probcause performs at the Frequency. Friday Ratatat performs at the Orpheum.Check The Daily Cardinal each Thursday to find out what to do for entertainment in Madison each weekend. Hint: We like things that are free.

COLUMNS

Stop studying and put in a good movie before finals

By Austin Wellens | Apr. 28, 2015

So as finals dawn on us once again, many of you will be looking for ways to less productively divert your time and eradicate stress (while preserving brain cells). And while, as a film student, watching films “technically” counts as studying for me, it remains the absolute perfect way to kill a couple of hours. So without further ado, I humbly present a list of films, from old favorites to new friends, with which to amuse, thrill, reflect on and altogether distract yourself this, or any, exam’s eve (and for bonus points, most of them are on Netflix).

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The 2015 Academy Awards: A review of the nominated Best Pictures

By Arts Staff Writers | Feb. 18, 2015

'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

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‘Interstellar’ inspires awe and tears

By Austin Wellens | Nov. 5, 2014

So here’s the thing. My original plan was to run out tonight, catch the first screening of Christopher Nolan’s newest work, “Interstellar,” collect my thoughts and calmly put down some words about the movie. However when I made these plans, I wasn’t expecting the film to be the full body spiritual gut punch experience that I just had (and am still kind of shaking from).

COLUMNS

‘Cheap Thrills’ does not skimp on delights

By Austin Wellens | Apr. 16, 2014

So, over the weekend I got to spend some time with E.L. Katz and Pat Healy, who respectively directed and starred in the new film “Cheap Thrills,” and I learned a thing or two. I learned about Danish people. I learned about what really matters when you’re making a movie. I found out that some men can just rock a mustache. And I learned that sometimes light and dark can blend together beautifully.

COLUMNS

Different films offer different relations

By Austin Wellens | Feb. 12, 2014

So, lately I’ve been trying to gain an understanding of avant-garde films, seeing that I know basically nothing about them. And in my meandering through these new experiences, I’ve developed a new analogy I guess—a new way of thinking about film, which I will now present for your consideration and entertainment, in honor of the upcoming holiday.

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A filmgoer’s guide to Madison theaters

By Kailee Andrews | Oct. 7, 2013

No one who has lived in the city of Madison would deny that we reside in a vibrant place, brimming with activities for students. Madison is home to restaurants featuring food from more countries than the average American is probably aware of, scenic lakes and parks, a state of the art arts center, a thriving farmer’s market and more indie bookstores and coffee shops than you can shake a scarf at.

COLUMNS

There’s no spoilin’ SXSW

By Molly Reppen and David Cottrell | Mar. 14, 2012

I still vividly remember going to see “Super Bad” back in my senior year of high school with my friends who were kind enough to chauffeur me to an opening-night screening in the wake of my wisdom-teeth removal. For weeks leading up to the release, I must have watched the unrated “redband” trailer on YouTube over a dozen times and was bombarded with the abbreviated television-ad even more frequently. When I finally got to see the flick, I obviously laughed my ass off (the pain killers from my surgery the day before made sure of that). However, I couldn’t help but feel like I would have enjoyed the movie significantly more if I had gone into it without seeing its best jokes excerpted and played out of context, over and over. I knew what to expect. I was perpetually waiting for the punch lines and the memorable plot points I knew were coming, trying to place them into the narrative still unfolding.

COLUMNS

How to replace your resident film nerd

By By David Cottrell | Feb. 26, 2012

Awards season for movie releases has come and gone, along with the Oscars themselves. After catching up on the last few intriguing winners that you’ve yet to see, there won’t be much left playing in the theaters with any real draw for awhile. We’ve officially entered that barren cinematic tundra that comes around at the start of every year, that miserable period of arctic chill after all the winter magic has come and gone, leaving us with nothing but dirty snow and foul movies.

COLUMNS

It's a pirate life for me

By By David Cottrell | Feb. 5, 2012

Blockbuster, Hollywood Videos, and other such brick-and-mortar video rental providers have been closing up shop in droves across the country over the past few years, simply out-competed by newer, more convenient entertainment providers like Netflix and Redbox. But the transition from these fading entertainment elites to the new generation has gone anything but smoothly thanks to meddling movie studios.