Bayside resident Mark Metcalf is an actor who has worked in movies, TV and on the stage. He is best known for his work in "Animal House," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Seinfeld."
In addition to his work on screen, Metcalf is involved with Milwaukee Film, First Stage Children's Theater and a number of other projects, including comicwonder.com. He recently filmed an episode of the popular AMC series "Mad Men."
He also finds time to write about movies for OnMilwaukee.com. This week, Metcalf weighs in on a handful of movies from the Milwaukee Film Festival. The first two, "Theatre of War" and "Rumba" showed on Friday and repeat during the weekend.
"Theater of War"
12:15 p.m. Sunday, North Shore Cinema
Produced by Jack Turner from Whitefish Bay, "Theater of War" chronicles the production of a new adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's great play "Mother Courage." Tony Kushner, whose play "Angels In America" changed the way we experience plays, did the adaptation and Meryl Streep plays the title role. Brecht constantly questioned the humanity of capitalism and the tyranny of greed and this documentary raises those questions again and highlights the inextricable bond between war and capitalism. A great actress in a great role in a great play in a fine and high-minded documentary about war and the world we live in.
"Rumba"
2:45 p.m. Sunday, Oriental Theatre
This comedy from Belgium is in the wonderful slapstick tradition of Jacques Tati. An impossibly happy couple, who teach for a living but dance for their life, suffer a tragic automobile accident but their irrepressible spirit brings them back to the dance floor. Dark and funny, it is almost completely silent, so you won't have to read to many subtitles.
"Waterlife"
7 p.m. Saturday, Oriental Theatre
"Waterlife" is a visually stunning and aurally riveting documentary about our Great Lakes. We live on the Third Coast, the last and greatest source of fresh water on the planet. We often take it for granted. It is not only a source for life, but also a spiritual resource for the soul. This film brings our environment to us in all its natural beauty and it's peril.
"The Horse Boy"
3 p.m. Saturday at North Shore Cinema
Rowan Issacson was diagnosed with autism at age two. His parents sought every kind of treatment available. Sensing Rowan's connection with animals, they travel on horseback to the ends of Mongolia to seek the healing of the nomadic shaman. It is a visually astonishing journey and an emotionally uplifting one to see Rowan's transformation and the depth of his family's love.
"Azur & Asmar"
11:30 a.m. Sunday at Oriental Theatre
This is the most striking and unique animation that I have seen. And I love Pixar. "Azur & Asmar" tells of story two friends bound together by fantasy and imagination who are separated by a grown-up's inability to feel compassion beyond racial differences. Children will love the fairy tale nature of this film and adults will be enchanted by the stunning visuals and by the story that looks plainly and honestly at the difficult questions of race, class and family.
Here is the remaining schedule for the festival:
Saturday, Sept. 26
Landmark Oriental Theatre 1
Noon -- Unmistaken Child (102 min.)
2:15 p.m. -- Before Tomorrow (93 min.)
5 p.m. -- Outrage (87 min.)
7 p.m. -- Waterlife (90 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- Humpday (94 min.)
Midnight -- The Chaser (123 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 2 (Video)
12:15 p.m. -- World's Best Commercials (90 min.
2:30 p.m. -- Burma VJ (85 min.)
5:15 p.m. -- An Animated World (78 min.)
7:30 p.m. -- Kisses (86 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- Afghan Star (87 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
11:30 a.m. -- Somers Town (89 min.)
2:30 p.m. -- The Beaches of Agnѐs (110 min.)
5 p.m. -- Lake Tahoe (89 min.)
6:45 p.m. -- Cherry Blossoms (127 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- $9.99 (78 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
11:00 a.m. --Azur & Asmar (106 min.)
3:00 p.m. -- The Horse Boy (93 min.)
5:15 p.m. -- Art & Copy (100 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- Crude (100 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- Favela on Blast (80 min.)
Sunday, Sept. 27
Landmark Oriental Theatre 1 (Video)
11:30 a.m. -- Azur & Asmar (106 min.)
2:45 p.m. -- Rumba (77 min.)
5 p.m. -- Changing the Conversation (83 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- All Tomorrow's Parties (85 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- Revanche (121 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 2
Noon -- Somers Town (89 min.)
2:30 p.m. -- Reporter (100 min.)
4:45 p.m. -- Lemon Tree (106 min.)
7 p.m. -- Amarcord (123 min.)
9 p.m. -- Skin (107 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
Noon -- Storm (110 min.)
2:30 p.m. -- For My Father (100 min.)
4:45 p.m. -- The English Surgeon (93 min.)
7 p.m. -- The Yes Men Fix The World (96 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- Chef's Special (111 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
12:15 p.m. -- Theater of War (95 min.)
2:15 p.m. -- Séraphine (125 min.)
5 p.m. -- The Best of Shorts (85 min.)
7:45 p.m. -- Everlasting Moments (132 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 1 (Video)
5 p.m. -- Herb and Dorothy (87 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- No Impact Man (93 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- We Live In Public (90 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 2
5:15 p.m. -- Il Divo (110 min.)
7:45 p.m. -- $9.99 (78 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- Lake Tahoe (89 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
5 p.m. -- Before Tomorrow (93 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- Shall We Kiss? (100 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- The Chaser (123 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
5:30 p.m. -- The Glass House ( 92 min.)
7:30 p.m. -- An Animated World (78 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- Burma VJ (85 min.)
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Landmark Oriental Theatre 1 (Video)
5:30 p.m. -- Art & Copy (100 min.)
7:30 p.m. -- Storm (110 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- All Tomorrow's Parties (85 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 2
4:45 p.m. -- Everlasting Moments (132 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- Terribly Happy (110 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- The English Surgeon (93 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
5 p.m. -- Waterlife (90 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- Bronson (92 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- The House of the Devil (93 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
5:30 p.m. -- Afghan Star (87 min.)
7:30 p.m. -- World's Best Commercials (90 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- The Best of Shorts (85 min)
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Landmark Oriental Theatre 1 (Video)
5 p.m. -- The Horse Boy (93 min.)
7 p.m. -- Unmade Beds (92 min)
9:15 p.m. -- The Making of "The Pool" (80 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 2
4:30 p.m. -- Cherry Blossoms (127 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- Filmbank Shorts (81 min.)
9 p.m. -- North Face (126 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
5 p.m. -- Unmistaken Child (102 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- Rashomon (88 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- Youssou N'dour: I Bring What I Love (102 min)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
5:15 p.m. -- An Animated World (78 min.)
7:30 p.m. -- Changing the Conversation (83 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- Madison (90 min.)
Thursday, Oct. 1
Landmark Oriental Theatre 1 (Video)
4:45 p.m. -- Sorry, Thanks (92 min.)
6:30 p.m. -- The Milwaukee Showcase (95 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- Four Boxes (84 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 2
4:30 p.m. -- Everlasting Moments (132 min.)
7 p.m. -- Entre Nos (80 min.)
9 p.m. -- The Yes Men Fix The World (96 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
5 p.m. -- Shall We Kiss? (100 min.)
7 p.m. -- Bliss (105 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- Il Divo (110 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
4:45 p.m. -- Azur & Asmar (99 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- Big Fan (110 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- Humpday (94 min.)
Friday, Oct. 2
Landmark Oriental Theatre 1 (Video)
2:30 p.m. -- Revanche (121 min)
5 p.m. -- Prince of Broadway (100 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- The Best of Shorts (77 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- Medicine For Melancholy (90 min.)
Midnight -- At Midnight (75 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 2
4:30 p.m. -- Munyurangabo (97 min.)
6:45 p.m. -- Tokyo Sonata (119 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- FILM IST. a girl & a gun (93 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
5:15 p.m. -- Gigante (92 min.)
7 p.m. -- The Song of Sparrows (96 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- Skin (107 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
5 p.m. -- Outrage (87 min.)
6:45 p.m. North Face (126 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- The Beaches of Agnѐs (110 min.)
Saturday, Oct. 3
Landmark Oriental Theatre 1 (Video)
12:15 p.m. -- Crude (100 min.)
2:15 p.m. -- The Life Over There (110 min.)
5 p.m. -- The Milwaukee Show (81 min.)
7 p.m. -- William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet (52 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle (97 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 2
Noon -- Rashomon (88 min.)
2 p.m. -- 5:30 p.m. -- You Wont Miss Me (81 min.)
5:30 p.m. -- Big Fan (110 min.)
7:30 p.m. -- Favela On Blast (80 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- Youssou N'dour: I Bring What I Love (102 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
12:15 p.m. -- Lemon Tree (106 min.)
2:30 p.m. -- Cherry Blossoms (127 min.)
5:15 p.m. -- All Tomorrow's Parties (85 min.)
7 p.m. -- Lovely, Still (90 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- The Chaser (123 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
Noon -- Kimjongilia (74 min.)
2:15 p.m. -- Tokyo Sonata (119 min.)
5 p.m. -- Entre Nos (80 min.)
7:30 p.m. -- Unmade Beds (92 min)
9:15 p.m. -- Sorry, Thanks (92 min.)
Sunday, Oct. 4
Landmark Oriental Theatre 1 (Video)
11:30 a.m. -- The Glass House (92 min.)
1:30 p.m. -- Madison (90 min.)
3:30 p.m. -- Kimjongilia (74 min.)
5:30 p.m. -- The Messenger (107 min.)
7:30 p.m. -- Precious (105 min.)
Landmark Oriental Theatre 2
11 a.m. -- Bliss (105 min.)
1:15 p.m. -- Lovely, Still (90 min.)
3:15 p.m. -- The Song of Sparrows (96 min.)
5:15 p.m. -- Gigante (92 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
1:45 p.m. -- Munyurangabo (97 min.)
4 p.m. -- Revanche (121 min.)
6:30 p.m. -- Precious (105 min.)
Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
Noon -- The Making of "The Pool" (80 min.)
2:30 p.m. -- Modus Operandi (77 min.)
4:45 p.m. -- William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet (52 min.)
Mark Metcalf is an actor and owner of Libby Montana restaurant in Mequon. Still active in Milwaukee theater, he's best known for his roles as Neidermeyer in "Animal House" and as The Maestro on "Seinfeld."
Originally from New Jersey, Metcalf now lives in Bayside.
