We weren’t kidding when we said there’s something for everyone in the Minneapolis – St. Paul film scene, from action flicks and artsy retrospectives to doggie docs and loud concert cinema. Some of these screenings are more than just sitting for a showing, they’re whole evenings of entertainment! If there’s nothing in this list that you like, you don’t like movies—just move on to the rest of our event selections.
Choice Cinema Series: In the Footsteps of Gordon Parks
Landmark Center, 75 W 5th St, St Paul – Various dates – Free
All May long, SoulTouch Productions and Landmark Center, in partnership with the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, present three films—Half Past Autumn, The Learning Tree, Leadbelly—from legendary artist, photographer, director and St. Paul native Gordon Parks. Each of the screenings will be followed by conversations with special guests from the community of Black filmmakers about the films’ legacies and continued relevance.
Prince & The Revolution: LIVE
Alamo Drafthouse, 9060 Hudson Rd, Woodbury – Weds, May 4th – 6:30 PM – $13.50
Remixed and remastered for the first time, see Prince and his band at the top of their game (which is saying something) on the big screen with professional sound performing on the Purple Rain Tour in a concert film that was later nominated for a Grammy.
True Romance
Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis – Thurs, May 5th – 7:30 PM – $9 adv, $12 door
The Parkway kicks off an action-packed May with this Tarantino-penned love letter to action romances with a scene-stealing Val Kilmer as The King.
A Night of Knowing Nothing
Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis – May 6th-7th – 7 PM – $12
The winner of the best documentary at Cannes last year, Payal Kapadia’s debut works through a box of found love letters belonging to a former student at the Film and Television Institute of India to capture contemporary India and a generation of young people fighting the injustices of their time.
I Know This Much to Be True
Lagoon Cinema, 1320 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis – Weds, May 11th – 7 PM – $15
A new feature documentary that looks at Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ exceptional creative relationship in their last two studio albums, Ghosteen (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds) and Carnage (Nick Cave & Warren Ellis). I Know This Much to Be True also features the duo’s first-ever performances of the albums.
Trash Film Debauchery: Cherry Falls
Trylon Cinema, 2820 E 33rd St, Minneapolis – Weds, May 18th – 8 PM – $5
It’s a good thing the long-running Trash Film Debauchery pops up only once a month—schlock fans are still recovering from last month’s The Incredible Bulk. See what all the cinematic hijinx is about with Cherry Falls, Geoffrey Wright’s funny sexy slasher film with Brittany Murphy.
SOLO: Six Dance Films—A Repeat Showing
Silverwood Park, 2500 County Road E, St. Anthony – Thurs, May 12th – 8 PM – Free
The McKnight Fellowships for Dancers’ biannual showcase event, SOLO, pairs six Minnesota dancers with renowned local, national, and international choreographers. This filmed version of the showcase is free, open to the public, and will take place outdoors like a movie in the park, so bring a chair or blanket.
To Sir With Love
The Heights Theater, 3951 NE Central Ave, Columbia Heights – Thurs, May 19th – 7:30 PM – $12
A part of the celebratory They Call Me Mr. Poitier series all May, To Sir With Love isn’t the most recognizable of the lineup, but it’s one of the most fun with Sidney taking a hip turn as a teacher in London’s East End.
Hard Boiled (1992) 35mm Presentation with pre-movie trivia
Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, Thurs, May 19th – 7:30 PM – $9 adv, $12 door
An action masterpiece that launched acclaimed director John Woo into global fame—and Hollywood big budget pictures—Chow Yun Fat shines as a detective that won’t quit, even if surrounded by screaming babies in a hospital that’s exploding.
Casket Cinema: Backyard Trailer Explosion
Casket Arts Building, 681 17th Ave NE, Minneapolis, Fri, May 20th – 8 PM – $8 suggested donation.
The MN curator and collector Mark Har spins some 16mm film reels with a special program of weird and wacky dDrive-in movie trailers and commercials that will shock and delight with the 70’s gems flicker on the Casket Arts Building walls!
Songs for Drella
Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis – May 20-21st – 7 PM – $12
Cinematographer Ed Lachman (a frequent collaborator of Todd Haynes) filmed Lou Reed and John Cale performing live their entire Songs for Drella—a song cycle dedicated to Andy Warhol—without an audience to produce an incredibly intimate concert film of the musical masters. See and hear the new restoration that will take your breath away.
Blue Velvet
Alamo Drafthouse, 9060 Hudson Rd, Woodbury – Sun, May 22nd – 7 PM – $10
David Lynch’s quintessential throwback movie, Blue Velvet, launched the director’s bromance with Kyle MacLachlan and showed that Lynch’s tense, strangle style belonged on big screens everywhere. PBR!
6th Annual Bow Wow Film Festival
Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis – Sun, May 22nd – 1 PM – $8-30
Back for another year, this family-friendly traveling film festival celebrates, educates and inspires all things doggy through the art of short film. Even better, it supports Wags & Whiskers Animal Rescue of Minnesota.
Djouhra Abouda and Alain Bonnamy Retrospective
Trylon Cinema, 2820 E 33rd St, Minneapolis – Weds, May 25th – 7 PM – $10
Pushing the boundaries of experimental cinema in a combination of avant-garde aesthetics and political activism, the two experimental short films and one feature film of Djouhra Abouda and Alain Bonnamy showcase both an appreciation for aesthetics and design, and a militant approach to filmmaking against exploitation and racism, capitalism and colonization.
Point Break (1991) With Pre-Movie Act Like Keanu Competition
Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis – Thurs, May 26th – 7:30 PM – $9 adv, $12 door
“This was never about the money, this was about us against the system. That system that kills the human spirit. We stand for something. We are here to show those guys that are inching their way on the freeways in their metal coffins that the human spirit is still alive.”
Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.
Alamo Drafthouse, 9060 Hudson Rd, Woodbury – Tues, May 31st – 6:30 PM – $13.50
MSP loves them some Dinosaur Jr., so grab tickets early to see this emotional, tragically funny and sometimes noisy homage to one of the most influential bands of the grunge movement.
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