Win free movie tickets Editor's note: Comment on today's "Cinema Chat" for a chance to win free movie tickets to the Michigan Theater. Some time between now and 9 a.m. Monday, leave a comment on this column, written by the Michigan Theater's Russ Collins. Offer your opinion on a recent movie you've seen, or on anything Russ mentions. A winner will be randomly selected, and we’ll notify that person via the email address they signed up with. They will get two passes to a movie of their choice, courtesy of The Michigan Theater. Full rules here.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Oscar hopefuls opening downtown

“The King’s Speech” is a historical look at an era of the British monarchy after the death of King George V and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII.

Bertie (played by Colin Firth) has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life. He is suddenly crowned King George VI of England with his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of an inspiring leader. His wife, Elizabeth (played by Helena Bonham Carter) arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).

The film has already won numerous critic awards and recently received seven Golden Globe nominations. Peter Howell of the Toronto Star says, “It's the odds-on favorite to win Best Picture at the next Academy Awards in February, and deservedly so.” “The King’s Speech” opens Christmas Day at the Michigan Theater and elsewhere.

“The Social Network,” the story of the founding of the social networking site Facebook, opens on December 24 at the State Theatre — for those who missed it the first time out. The film, directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, was nominated for six Golden Globes recently, and also has more than 100 four-star reviews. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says, “The Social Network is the movie of the year. But Fincher and Sorkin triumph by taking it further. Lacing their scathing wit with an aching sadness, they define the dark irony of the past decade.”

A couple new films that opened yesterday

“True Grit,” the latest film from auteurs the Coen Brothers, finds them once again working in a genre where they’ve had a lot of recent success, the western. This is the second adaptation of the novel by Charles Portis, which was also adapted in 1969 and starred John Wayne (in a role for which he won his only Academy Award). This time Jeff Bridges straps the eye patch on as U.S. Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn along with Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld. Peter Debruge of Variety says, “It's hard to imagine bigger boots to fill than the ones that earned John Wayne his Oscar in True Grit, and yet Jeff Bridges handily reinvents the iconic role of Rooster Cogburn in the Coen brothers' back-to-the-book remake."

“Little Fockers” is the third and final installment of the “Meet the Parents” franchise. This film finds Greg and Pam (played by Ben Stiller and Teri Polo) raising their mischievous son who makes their lives a wreck. The film also stars Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand, but with all that talent the early reviews haven’t been so nice. Drew McWeeny of Hitfix.com says, “I would imagine no one involved feels genuinely good about the outcome. It is a startlingly gross and dirty film considering it is ostensibly about the kids this time around, and a PG-13.”

Opening at the cineplex on Christmas

“Gulliver's Travels” is a 21st century 3-D retelling of the classic Jonathan Swift novel starring Jack Black and also featuring Jason Segel, Billy Connolly and Emily Blunt. This version finds Black as travel writer Lemuel Gulliver, who when on way to an assignment in Bermuda, ends up on the island of Liliput, where he towers over its tiny citizens. There are currently no reviews available. ““Gulliver's Travels” opens Friday.

A late holiday treat!

The Michigan Theater is proud to present the final free screening in the Holiday Classic series with “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” playing Sunday, Dec. 26 at 1:30 p.m. Elia Kazan's first film centers on a poor Brooklyn family struggling not only to survive, but to improve their meager existence.

“Cedar Rapids” premieres January 28

“Cedar Rapids,” which was filmed in Ann Arbor, will premiere as part of the Sundance Film Festival USA program at the Michigan Theater on Friday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. The film stars Ed Helms, John C Reilly, Anne Heche and Sigourney Weaver. It joins a Sundance program that includes “Win Win,” starring Paul Giamatti and directed by Tom McCarthy (“The Station Agent” and “The Visitor”) on Jan. 27 at 7:30 and “Shorts from the Sundance Film Festival” playing Jan. 23-26 at various times, to create a Sundance in Ann Arbor mini-festival. For more information and to get tickets go to www.michtheater.org.

What to See

The following is Russ’ list of the newest and the best to help you prioritize what to see this week.

Notable and premiering: • “Black Swan” - A hypnotic thriller that examines the psychological breakdown of a ballet dancer. • “The King’s Speech” - Historical British cinema! It must be Oscar season! • “True Grit”- The Coen Brothers return to the genre they revitalized! • “The Social Network”- Greed for the digital age.

Continuing and not to be missed: • “127 Hours” - Oscar buzz surrounds this film. A meditation on the art of will power. • “Tron: Legacy” - The 3-D event of the year. Stylish and slick sci-fi. • “The Fighter” - Is it a movie about boxing or family? David O. Russell delivers a knock out.

Russ Collins is executive director of the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. Tune in to the audio version of “Cinema Chat” on WEMU radio (89.1-FM) each Thursday at 7:40 a.m. and 5:40 p.m., or listen to it online at WEMU's web site.