Sweat gets a bad rap. We use “sweaty” to imply desperation or anxiety—a lack of composure. But sweat is also a sign of life. We sweat to stay cool, to adapt to our surroundings. Sweating means we are working. We are in the fight. We haven’t given up.
Perspiration also catches light in a way that makes people glow like nothing else, which is why filmmakers love to make their characters drip with sweat. Beads of moisture on a face instantly add atmosphere to a scene and emphasize emotion without a single word spoken.
As we head into the hazy dog days of summer, we are celebrating sweat on screen with “Sweaty Cinema,” a showcase of films that turn up the heat. The series features five classic movies where characters are pushed to the brink: the incensed jurors of Sidney Lumet’s “12 Angry Men”; the steely-eyed gunslingers of Sergio Leone’s “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”; the rebellious chain gang in Stuart Rosenberg’s “Cool Hand Luke”; the risk-it-all truck drivers of William Friedkin’s “Sorcerer”; and The Talking Heads, delivering one of the greatest concerts ever filmed in Jonathan Demme’s “Stop Making Sense.”
The sweat in these movies radiates an energy that pulses off the screen, connecting us with these characters in a visceral way. It reveals the facets of humanity that emerge under pressure—and asks whether we see ourselves in these shimmering faces, even while we sit comfortably in an air-conditioned theater.
“Sweaty Cinema” plays Thursday nights from August 21 to September 18. Visit The Triplex’s website for showtimes and tickets.
Now Playing
“Freakier Friday”
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back for another round of body swapping!
Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis see lightning strike twice in “Freakier Friday”! A follow-up to the beloved early aughts comedy sees mother and daughter swap bodies with a new generation right before Anna (Lohan) is set to be married, giving her daughter (Julia Butters) and stepdaughter-to-be (Sophia Hammons) the chance to stop the wedding from happening.
Starts Friday.
“The Naked Gun”
A deeply silly sequel to crime-spoof comedy.
Liam Neeson brings his certain set of skills to one of comedy’s most iconic franchises in “The Naked Gun”! Neeson takes the lead from the legendary Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin Jr., the no-nonsense head of the Police Squad, in this legacy sequel that sees director Akiva Schaffer (“The Lonely Island”) bring a modern spin on Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker’s beloved crime-spoof comedies.
Ends Thursday!
“The Bad Guys 2”
A family-friendly heist film from Dreamworks Animation.
A family-friendly spin on the heist movie, Mr. Wolf and his crew are back for one last job in “The Bad Guys 2”! Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, and Maria Bakalova join Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Awkwafina in this new adventure that sees the titular team pulled back into a life of crime by an all-female squad of thieves.
Ends Thursday!
Coming Soon
“Highest 2 Lowest”
A music mogul on the verge of a massive merger has his cool demeanor put to the test when a kidnapping threatens everything he has built in “Highest 2 Lowest,” the fifth collaboration between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington. A modern adaptation of Kurosawa’s crime classic “High and Low” that transports the tension to modern day New York, “Highest 2 Lowest” is an expertly crafted thriller that sees director and star firing on all cylinders.
Starts August 15.
“The Life of Chuck”
Director Mike Flanagan continues his streak of winning Stephen King adaptations with “The Life Of Chuck,” a story of how one life contains a universe of meaning. Starring Tom Hiddelston, Jacob Tremblay, and Benjamin Pajak as the titular everyman, “The Life Of Chuck” winds back the clock to show how Chuck’s seemingly simple story ripples through the lives of others.
Part of Limited Engagement series, “The Life of Chuck” plays for one week starting on August 15.
“The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg”
Hank Greenberg, the first major Jewish baseball star in the Major Leagues, set records during the Golden Age of Baseball that rivaled those of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. As a first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg transcended religious prejudice to become an American icon and a beacon of hope to American Jews who faced bigotry during the Depression and World War II.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Peabody Award-winning documentary “The Life and Time of Hank Greenberg” tells his story through archival film footage and interviews with his fans, former teammates, friends, family, and “Hammerin’ Hank” himself.
Director Aviva Kempner in person for both shows! Hank Greenberg’s niece Lou-Ellen Barkan joins Aviva for the Sunday show!
August 17, at 4 p.m., and August 18, at 7 p.m.
“Mishmash presents: A Dirty Shame”
Host of the long-running freeform radio show “Mishmash,” Michelle Kaplan brings her singular sense of cultural exploration to The Triplex on August 19! Join Michelle for “Mishmash presents: A Dirty Shame,” a screening of the obscenely out-there late John Waters classic starring Tracey Ullman, Johnny Knoxville, and Selma Blair.
In a small town split between the puritanical neuters and the horn-dog perverts, prudish Sylvia Stickles (Ullman) has her life turned upside down after an accident transforms her into a sex-crazed lunatic. As she goes on a rampage through town, Sylvia attracts the attention of Ray Ray (Knoxville), a sexual healer and tow truck driver in search of the world’s greatest orgasm, igniting a sexual revolution that threatens to tear their town apart.
August 19, at 8 p.m.
Queer Cinema Club: “But I’m a Cheerleader”
Join programmer Champika Fernando for the inaugural installment of Queer Cinema Club! A meetup for queer folks in the Berkshires, Hudson Valley, and beyond, Queer Cinema Club is a showcase of some of the best films in the queer canon. First up: Jamie Babbit’s “But I’m a Cheerleader,” the early ’00s conversion-camp, coming-of-age story starring Natasha Lyonne, Clea Duvall, and RuPaul Charles. Pulling inspiration from John Waters, “Edward Scissorhands,” and “Barbie,” don’t miss your chance to see this cult classic on the big screen!
August 20, at 8 p.m.
“Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers”
Rediscover a lo-fi queer cult classic when we screen “Scarecrow In A Garden Of Cucumbers” on August 23! Starring Warhol factory muse and pioneering trans actress Holly Woodlawn, “Scarecrow” follows Eve Harrington (Woodlawn), an aspiring actress from Kansas who comes to New York and meets a host of zany characters, in this musical comedy that includes appearances from Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin.
Long thought lost and never released on home media, don’t miss your chance to see this landmark film on the big screen with a special video introduction from writer Sandra Scoppettone!
August 23, at 8 p.m.
“Dog Day Afternoon”
Our “1975 at 50” series continues this month with “Dog Day Afternoon,” director Sydney Lumet’s deeply human bank-robbery tale that is based on a so-wild-it-has-to-be-true story. Starring Al Pacino and John Cazale as two Brooklyn bank robbers who get in way over their heads on one hot summer afternoon, this searingly funny drama still feels current 50 years after its release.
Free for Triplex Premium members!
August 24, at 5 p.m.
