Movies to see this week: 'Batman Forever,' 'Ghost Dog,' 'Mermaids'
Here's what you can catch at Twin Cities area theaters this week.
Thursday, May 15, at Emagine Willow Creek
The third entry in a run of four '90s-ish Batman movies, Batman Forever has gotten a lot of flak for its absurdity. Decades later, it deserves a little love. It was deeply over-the-top, leaning into its comic book source material in ways that the Tim Burton-directed movies didn't. The late Val Kilmer's Batman was not a gritty version of the hero. Instead, he plays Bruce Wayne as the straight man to the hammy antics of Tommy Lee Jones' Two-Face and Jim Carrey's Riddler. Enjoy it for the camp, delightful sets, and producing one of Hollywood's best behind-the-scenes stories. 9900 Shelard Pkwy., Plymouth ($11.60)
Friday, May 16–Sunday, May 18, at The Trylon Cinema
One of the delights — I'd argue there are many — of watching Jim Jarmusch movies is that they're usually recognizable as one of his despite his tendency to jump between genres. They're uniformly packed with patient cinematography, idiosyncratic dialogue, and a reverence for film history, whether he's making a western (Dead Man), zombie movie (The Dead Don't Die), vampire movie (Only Lovers Left Alive), or following an assassin (The Limits of Control).
Ghost Dog is one of his most successful in that regard. It stars Forest Whitaker as an assassin who thinks of himself as a modern samurai, reading from the Hagakure and deeming himself a retainer of his mod employer. It mashes up conventions of mob and samurai movies. Though, like any of Jarmusch's films, it's more interested in small moments than big action sequences. 2820 E 33rd St., Minneapolis ($8)
Friday, May 16—Thursday, May 22, at The Main Cinema
This one might not quite fit into how we're typically listing repertory fare, but we're rolling with it since Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted has played in town during Sound Unseen and MSPIFF, where it won an audience award.
The week-long run at The Main Cinema includes an MN Made screening on May 15 that will have local directors Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson in attendance. (You may recognize their names as MN-based musicians in bands such as Marijuana Death Squads and Poliça.) The documentary focuses on the titular musician, often described as a cult R&B musician since the '70s, and his tumultuous history, unique home with Moogstar and Guitar Shorty, and, of course, his musical legacy. 115 SE Main St., Minneapolis ($13)
Monday, May 19, at Alamo Drafthouse
Mermaids is a tender family drama that gets into the subtleties of family dynamics. There's no saccharine finale, but the complex, messy reality of family. Cher stars as Mrs. Flax, a mother of two who moves from city to city, dragging her kids, played by Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci, through her ordeals and discarding their struggles in favor of her own. Bob Hoskins plays Cher's flawed and charming suitor. 9060 Hudson Rd., Woodbury ($15.18)
Times and theaters vary (see below)
It's a big week for fans of L. Frank Baum's Oz. The Wizard of Oz (1939) is playing at a few Emagine theaters. Emagine White Bear is also bringing Wicked (2024) back to the big screen. (It's currently streaming on Peacock, too.) Then, The Wiz (1978) is playing on Sunday and Tuesday at AMC's Rosedale and Southdale outposts, as well as Emagine Eagan, Oakdale Cinema, and West End Cinema.More movies screening this week:
May 14: The Wizard of Oz (1939) at Emagine Eagan, Emagine Lakeville, and Emagine White Bear (Wicked is also playing)
May 14: Fight Club (1999) at The Parkway Theater
May 14: Before Sunrise (1995) at Edina Mann Theatres
May 14: Kingdom of Heaven (2005) director's cut at AMC Eden Prairie, AMC Rosedale, AMC Southdale, Emagine Eagan, and Oakdale Cinema
May 14: We Are Fugazi From Washington D.C. (2023) at The Trylon Cinema
May 14: Una Noche con los Rolling Stones (A Night with the Rolling Stones) (2023) at The Main Cinema, part of the Minnesota Cuban Film Festival
May 14: Ma (2019) at AMC Rosedale, AMC Southdale, Oakdale Cinema, and West End Cinema
May 14, 16, and 18–19: Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train (2021) at Alamo Drafthouse, AMC Coon Rapids, AMC Rosedale, AMC Southdale, Emagine Willow Creek, Oakdale Cinema (also May 17), and West End Cinema
May 14–21: Pride and Prejudice (2005) at St. Michael Cinema
May 15: Ratatouille (2007) at Taste the Movies
May 15: True Romance (1993) at Grandview Theatre
May 15: It Should Happen to You (1954) at Heights Theater
May 15: 'Bone Saw Is Ready' (2025) at The Trylon Cinema
May 15: Batman Forever (1995) at Emagine Willow Creek
May 16: Toy Story (1995) at Taste the Movies
May 16–18: Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999) at The Trylon Cinema
May 16: Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted (2024) at the Main Cinema
May 16–17: Bitterroot (2024) at Walker Art Center
May 17: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) at The Parkway Theater
May 17 and 20: Dog Day Afternoon (1975) at Alamo Drafthouse
May 16–17 and 21: "Tall Tales" (2025) at The Main Cinema
May 17–21: Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) at AMC Eden Prairie, AMC Coon Rapids, AMC Inver Grove Heights, AMC Rosedale, Emagine Eagan (not May 21), Emagine Lakeville (not May 21), Emagine White Bear, Emagine Willow Creek (not May 21), Oakdale Cinema, Parkwood Cinema, Southbridge Crossing Cinema (not May 21), St. Michael Cinema, and West End Cinema
May 17–18 and 21: Labyrinth (1986) at Emagine Eagan (not May 17), Emagine Lakeville, and Emagine White Bear
May 18–19: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) at Oakdale Cinema, Parkwood Cinema, and West End Cinema
May 18 and 20: The Apartment (1960) at Grandview Theatre
May 18: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) at Audrey Rose Vintage
May 18: Cooley High (1975) at Alamo Drafthouse
May 18–20: The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) at The Trylon Cinema
May 18 and 20: The Wiz (1978) at AMC Rosedale, AMC Southdale, Emagine Eagan, Oakdale Cinema, and West End Cinema
May 19: Talk to Me (2023) at Alamo Drafthouse
May 19: Mermaids (1990) at Alamo Drafthouse
May 19: Anchors Aweigh (1945) at Heights Theater
May 19: Alone in the Dark (1982) at Emagine Willow Creek
May 20: Constantine (2005) at Alamo Drafthouse
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