In 2006, director Richard Kelly followed up his beloved cult classic Donnie Darko with the wildly ambitious, wildly bizarre, and just plain wild Southland Tales. The film…well…it was about…um, er…we’ll let this synopsis do the talking:

Los Angeles, 2008: The city stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Southland Tales is an epic story set over the course of three days that culminate in a massive 4th of July celebration. A large ensemble cast of characters includes Boxer Santaros [The Rock], an action star stricken with amnesia, Krysta Now [Sarah Michelle Gellar], an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and Roland Taverner [Justin Timberlake], a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy.

Also, the musical number where Timberlake lip-syncs to that Killers song is iconic:

Anyway, Milwaukee Film will screen Southland Tales (in 35mm!) at the Oriental Theatre on Saturday, June 17, at 7 p.m. And it won’t be just any screening. Not only will Kelly be on hand for a post-film Q&A, singer Rebekah Del Rio (who appears in the film, as well as in Mulholland Drive and the third season of Twin Peaks) will perform before the film. Wow! General admission tickets are $20. And yes, Milwaukee Record is a proud media sponsor of the event.

Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the 8,000 other things happening in Milwaukee on June 17. Not only will the Summer Soulstice Music Festival be doing its thing outside the Oriental on Saturday, the day/night will also include: Lakefront Festival of Art, Brady Street Art Walk, Wisconsin Beer Lovers Festival, Milwaukee Hardcore Summer Jam, Milwaukee Taco Fest, and the Kind Oasis 3-Year Anniversary Festival. Hahahaha. Have a nice apocalypse, Milwaukee!

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