Southpaw
Milwaukee’s Diamonds in the Rough
Not Rated
Comparing baseball with the perpetual motion of hockey and the triple-digit scores of basketball, some people conclude that America’s pastime is “boring.” More charitably, baseball is a thinking person’s game, which, with the cultivation of patience, proves rich in tense moments of high drama. As Milwaukee’s Diamonds in the Rough shows, baseball also has a positive social impact on the youth who play in Little Leagues. (Tyler Friedman)
6 p.m., July 22, Jewish Museum Milwaukee. Admission is free. Advance reservations can be made by emailing mptbrsvp@matc.edu or calling 414-297-7514.
Paper Towns
PG-13
Adapted from the best-selling novel by John Green (The Fault in Our Stars), this coming-of-age drama unfolds from the perspective of Quentin (Nat Wolff), a teen fixated on his popular neighbor, Margo (Cara Delevingne). After spending a bizarre night helping Margo take revenge on her cheating boyfriend, Quentin is upset when she disappears from school and their hometown. Accompanied by his best buds, borderline nerds Ben (Austin Abrams) and Radar (Justice Smith), Quentin orchestrates a road trip to New York City, where he hopes to find Margo and persuade her she is destined to become his girl. (Lisa Miller)
Pixels
PG-13
Eighties’ video game champ Brenner (Adam Sandler) joins his old pal Cooper (Kevin James), now president of the United States, to fight off an extraterrestrial invasion. After viewing footage from a gamers competition for Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Centipede, the aliens mistake the footage for a threat to annihilate their race. To protect themselves, the aliens bring gigantic versions of Pac-Man and Donkey Kong to attack New York City. Rival gamer Eddie (Peter Dinklage) joins Brenner and Cooper as the three attempt to overcome the gigantic game pieces in this film that hopes to cash in on video arcade nostalgia. (L.M.)
Southpaw
R
The life of middleweight boxing champ Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) spins out of control after his wife (Rachel McAdams) dies suddenly and tragically. Soon, Billy’s guilty drinking and bad judgment cost him custody of his only child, chipper 11-year-old Leila (Oona Laurence). Banned from boxing for a year, Billy takes a job cleaning toilets at a rundown boxing gym owned by Tick Willis (Forest Whitaker). In time, Billy persuades Tick to train him for an upcoming bout in Las Vegas. Made a good watch by Gyllenhaal’s thoughtful performance, the film features tight fight action as a respite from all the angsty drama. (L.M.)
