We love it when a plan comes together—or falls apart.
Those are really the only two options when it comes to heist movies. Either a group of thieves pulls off a clever, complex robbery where everything snaps into place (“Inside Man,” the “Ocean’s” films), or they put together a clever, complex plan that goes wrong and gets a lot of people killed (“Heat,” “The Town”).
Two films coming to The Triplex this week illustrate the full range of the genre: Ruben Fleischer’s “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” follows a band of illusionists who set out to take down a corrupt billionaire with sleight of hand, while Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind” tells the story of a suburban dad who risks his comfortable life by robbing his local art museum.
Both films find their own kind of joy in watching their protagonists put their plans into action. “Now You See Me” stretches the magic-trick-like reveal of successful heist movies to the extreme by making its heroes actual magicians, creating a breezy, fun-filled caper. Meanwhile, “The Mastermind” mines its humor from exploring the kind of ego it takes to believe you could pull something like this off in the first place—and the very real consequences when the plan falls apart.
It is a double feature that shows just how diverse films within a genre can be. Whether building delightfully silly spectacle or introspective character study, both are delicately constructed houses of cards—holding us in suspense as we wait to see if they will finally collapse.
Now Playing
“Nuremberg”
As the Nuremberg trials are set to begin, a U.S. Army psychiatrist (Rami Malek) gets locked in a dramatic psychological showdown with accused Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring (Russel Crowe). Driven by commanding performances from Malek and Crowe, “Nuremberg” explores a crucial moment in history as the world began to fathom how something as unspeakable as the Holocaust could come to be—and how crucial it was to hold its perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Starts Friday.
The New Hard-Boiled: “Chinatown”
Set in the 1940s but filled with the cynicism of the ’70s, Chinatown continues our series “The New Hard-Boiled: The Birth of American Neo-Noir.” When Los Angeles private eye J.J. Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is hired by Evelyn Mulwray to investigate her husband’s activities, he believes it is a routine infidelity case. Jake’s investigation soon becomes anything but when he meets the real Mrs. Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), setting him on a tangled trail of corruption, deceit, and sinister family secrets that leads to Evelyn’s father (John Huston).
Saturday, November 15, at 5 p.m.
“Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely”
For over 50 years, First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams took on landmark cases—from the Pentagon Papers to Citizens United to Clearview AI—that helped define free speech as it is known today. The new documentary “Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely” explores how Abrams’ career has shaped major changes in law, public discourse, and civic action since the 1960s.
Following the screening, join Fred Rutberg, president of The Berkshire Eagle, as he leads a video interview with Abrams and takes questions from the audience.
November 16, at 11 a.m.
BIFF presents: “Slay”
From the makers of award-winning films “Cowspiracy” and “What The Health,” “Slay” follows filmmaker Rebecca Cappelli’s journey around the world to uncover the dark side of the fashion industry. Rebecca’s investigation into the animal-skins trade unravels a harrowing story of greenwashing, mislabeling, animal cruelty, and cover-ups from some of the world’s major luxury fashion brands.
Part of BIFF’s Environmental Film Focus series, join Festival Programmer Lillian Lennox and Joshua Katcher, the North America Hub strategist at Canopy, an award-winning environmental nonprofit working to protect the world’s forests, species, and climate, for a discussion about his efforts to keep ancient and endangered forests out of fashion and packaging supply chains.
Have any gently used clothing you are looking to get rid of? Bring them to the clothing swap ahead of the movie, with all leftover items donated to area shelters!
November 16, at 3 p.m.
The New Hard-Boiled: “Night Moves”
Our series “The New Hard-Boiled” concludes with a special screening of Arthur Penn’s “Night Moves” on November 19!
Join Penn’s son, filmmaker and Triplex board member Matthew Penn, for a post-screening discussion about his father’s tale of hard-nosed private investigator Harry Moseby (Gene Hackman), who is hired by a B-movie actress (Janet Ward) to find her missing daughter (Melanie Griffith). As his investigation takes him to the Florida Keys, Harry dives deeper into the complicated family dynamics and learns the case is not as simple as it seems.
November 19, at 7 p.m.
Queer Cinema Club: “The Watermelon Woman”
“Queer Cinema Club” returns to The Triplex on November 20 with “The Watermelon Woman,” Cheryl Dunyes’ indie classic about a young lesbian navigating romances and her career as a video store clerk while working on a movie about a forgotten Black film actress from the 1930s.
Join us before the movie as we welcome Queer Soup Night Western Mass for their first southern Berkshire event as local chefs serve special soups to raise money for The People’s Pantry!
November 20, Queer Soup Night begins at 6 p.m.; film begins at 7:30 p.m.
“Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere”
After his breakthrough success with albums “Born to Run,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” and “The River,” Bruce Springsteen found himself disconnected from his roots and questioning his place as an artist. What he did next—crafting the stripped-down, intimate album “Nebraska” in his bedroom in New Jersey—is the focus of Director Scott Cooper’s “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere,” which sees Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”) playing the Boss during this pivotal moment in his career.
Ends Thursday!
Coming Soon
“Wicked: For Good”
We return to Oz on November 21 with “Wicked: For Good,” the conclusion to last year’s cultural phenomenon! While Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, Glinda (Ariana Grande) has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard. As Glinda’s stardom expands and she prepares to marry Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), she attempts to broker a reconciliation between Elphaba and The Wizard, but everything changes when a girl from Kansas comes crashing into their lives.
Starts November 21.
Triplex Movie Trivia!
Movie trivia returns to The Triplex just in time for Thanksgiving! Join us in the lobby on Tuesday, November 25, at 8:30 p.m., for some wicked good multimedia movie trivia where you can win free tickets to The Triplex! Limit six members per team, seating is limited so come early and grab a drink!
November 25, at 8:30 p.m.
“Sentimental Value”
Writer-director Joachim Trier reunites with his “The Worst Person in the World” star Renate Reinsive in “Sentimental Value,” coming to The Triplex on November 26. After sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic director Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård), he offers Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star (Elle Fanning), who suddenly finds herself in the middle of their complex family dynamics.
Starts November 26.
“Zootopia 2”
Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are back on the case in “Zootopia 2,” Disney Animation’s follow-up to 2016’s smash hit family film! Following the twisting trail of a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia and turns the mammal metropolis upside down, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.
Starts November 26.
