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Posted on Thu, Jan 14, 2010 : 5:46 a.m.

Another Sundance treat, and the week's new releases

By Russ Collins

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 6 a.m. Wednesday, 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. We'll randomly select a winner and notify that person via the email address they signed up with. They will get two passes to a movie of their choice.

Breaking news! Sultan Sharrief is a talented young man. This Michigan native and University of Michigan grad made the film “Bilal’s Stand,” which was selected to be showcased at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Local audiences will have a chance to see the film at the Michigan Theater on January 31 at 6 p.m.

“Bilal’s Stand” was chosen by Sundance for its “Next” film category. This new competitive category features 8 American films picked for their innovative and original work in low or no-budget filmmaking. “Bilal’s Stand” is about a Muslim high-school senior who juggles his dysfunctional family, their taxi stand and an ice carving contest in his secret attempt to land a college scholarship.

I spoke with screenwriter and director Sharrief in California as he was tweaking the film in preparation for its Sundance premiere. He is understandably excited and very overwhelmed — with work as well as from calls of congratulations from film industry folks and his long list of acquaintances. His work to get the film ready for Sundance is intense, but he was very pleased that Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper encouraged him to show the film at the Michigan Theater on January 31 — which is actually the day of the awards ceremony and closing day of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Tickets for this special Sundance Film Festival USA screening of “Bilal’s Stand” at the Michigan Theater are available at Ticketweb. Midnight fun

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At last year’s Sundance Film Festival, the most fun I had was at the screening of a spoof on 1970s era Blaxploitation films. The film “Black Dynamite” will be shown on Saturday, January 16 at 11:59 p.m. at the State Theatre. “Black Dynamite” is a tall tale about an African-American action legend called Black Dynamite. The evil protagonist, “The Man,” killed Black Dynamite’s brother, pumped heroin into the local orphanages and flooded the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Black Dynamite was the one hero willing to fight “The Man” all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. This silly film is laugh-out-loud fun; stay up late and see it! Films opening this weekend

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“The Maid” opens at the Michigan on Friday. NPR and Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan raves, “‘The Maid’ has that particular gift of leaving you off balance in the best possible way, and whenever something like that comes around you owe it to yourself to check it out.” This Spanish-language film by the young director Sebastián Silva is about Raquel, a dedicated but dour — and, as it turns out, manipulative — maid for the Valdes family. She has worked for the family for 23 years, but feels threatened when they hire another maid to help her. She does not like the help and decides to antagonizes the new employee with juvenile tricks. Funny and odd, “The Maid” is a humorous examination of loyalty, family dynamics and duty.

“The Spy Next Door” stars Jackie Chan as a former CIA spy who takes on his toughest assignment: looking after his girlfriend's three kids. When one of the youngsters accidentally downloads a top-secret formula, this retired agent’s longtime nemesis, a Russian terrorist, pays a visit to the family. Critics are not amused: “It's a sad day for Jackie Chan fans when the action-comedy star is reduced to a vehicle as lame as The Spy Next Door,” wrote Lael Loewenstein of Variety.

“The Book of Eli” stars the amazing Denzel Washington as a lone man in a post-apocalyptic United States, who fights his way across the country in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. The Hughes Brothers (Albert and Allen) are the writing/directing team on this film and although post-apocalypse themed films seem a bit too numerous this year, the Hughes brothers have the talent to create a winning film on the subject. However, the critics are divided: “A well-made post-apocalyptic action drama with simple themes and archetypal characters that strains a little too much at seriousness,” says Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter.

“The Lovely Bones” has some Oscar buzz, but the critical reception has been a bit chilly. “Jackson undermines solid work from a good cast with show-offy celestial evocations that severely disrupt the emotional connections with the characters,” writes Todd McCarthy in Variety. “The Lovely Bones” is directed by Oscar winner Peter Jackson, adapted from the Alice Sebold novel. After she is killed, young Susie Salmon (played by Saoirse Ronan, the young actress featured in “Atonement”) looks down from heaven on both her parents (played by Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz) and her murderer. Critical consensus indicates that it is stuffed full of Peter Jackson's typically dazzling imagery, but it suffers from abrupt shifts between horrific violence and cloying sentimentality.

See you at the movies!

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.

Comments

lisasimpson

Fri, Jan 15, 2010 : 12:45 p.m.

Oooh a chance to win movie tickets, eh? Maybe winning would steer my car back in the direction of the Michigan Theater. As much as I love the building and the movie selections, I can't seem to get over the fact that their movie times on their website tend to be inaccurate, and I have to call the theater to double-check before I drive into town. In a theater that will host one-time screenings, movie times are especially important, and I find their lack of attention to detail very unprofessional. That being said, Russ Collins is loads of fun to listen to on Cinema Chat. His insight has never steered me wrong on a flick, and his knowledge and expertise combined with his easy-going nature make for an enjoyable learning and listening experience!!

Rosie

Fri, Jan 15, 2010 : 12:48 a.m.

I so glad that Bilal's Stand is going to play here. Do you happen to have an update on how Sharrief was doing with his fundraising for the film? I also think The Maid sounds interesting. Speaking Spanish, it is nice to be able to watch a film originally created in that language. Switching the language on a DVD just isn't the same as an original foreign language film. It reminds me of the old martial arts films where the soundtrack never matched the film.

ArgoC

Thu, Jan 14, 2010 : 11:10 p.m.

Oh no, not another movie about a mystical secret saving humanity. And post-apocalyptic on top of that. It'll probably gross big.

Ninny C.

Thu, Jan 14, 2010 : 1:35 p.m.

So excited for Bilal's Stand; it's great to have such a unique yet representative story be selected for Sundance. :)

brad

Thu, Jan 14, 2010 : 1:04 p.m.

Bilal is appropriate for Ann Arbor. Many of us had a similar choice...stay with friends and family in our hometown or take the opportunity to come here...wonder how the director sees it. Everyone should go to "Cyrus". Did I read correctly about a Q&A with the director?

Lisa D

Thu, Jan 14, 2010 : 11:14 a.m.

HI Russ, Thanks for brining your thoughtful and thought provoking experiences and opinions to the written page in your well crafted regular column! Your articles are fantastic - they keep local movie viewers much better informed about the wondrous,important and cutting edge films you and your historic community gem of a Theater present to the community. Your polished pen and experienced, unique voice also provide juicy details and back stories of the film industry and helps to highlight the work of local artists, writers, directors and filmmakers who are making significant contributions to the film world. And Special Kudos to YOU for getting Sundance to host a world premiere here in Ann Arbor! That speaks volumes of you and the bright, engaged film loving community you've helped create.

hattrix

Thu, Jan 14, 2010 : 9:50 a.m.

Looking forward to checking out "The Maid". We saw a preview for it when we were at the Michigan Theater, and it looks funny!