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.

Oscar nominations announced!

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced this year’s Oscar nominations. Again there are 10 nominees for best picture: “Black Swan,” “The Fighter,” “Inception,” “The Kids Are All Right,” “The King’s Speech,” “127 Hours,” “The Social Network,” “Toy Story 3,” “True Grit,” and “Winter’s Bone.” These 10 are wonderful films - most of them having played extended engagements at the Michigan and State theaters. Current favorites are “The King’s Speech” (won the Producer’s Guild award), “Black Swan” (because actors make up the biggest bloc of Academy voters), or “Toy Story 3,” “Social Network” or “Inception,” three films that came out earlier this year that still have a strong buzz.

Sundance in full swing — in Park City and Ann Arbor

The Sundance Film Festival again selected the Michigan Theater as an official venue of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival USA. Tonight, the Michigan will screen Tom McCarthy's new film “Win Win,” featuring a wonderful performance from Paul Giamatti as struggling attorney Mike Flaherty, who volunteers as a high school wrestling coach and takes on the guardianship of an elderly client in a desperate attempt to keep his law practice afloat. When the client’s teenage grandson runs away from home and shows up on his grandfather’s doorstep, Mike’s life is turned upside-down as his win-win proposition turns into something much more complicated. “Win Win” was one of my favorite films of the festival. There are a limited number of tickets available. Playing tonight at 7:30 p.m.

"Cedar Rapids"

Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 28, the Michigan Theater will screen another Sundance hit: director Miguel Arteta's new film “Cedar Rapids,” which was filmed in and around Ann Arbor. Tim Lippe (played by Ed Helms) has been living in a small town his whole life and gets a rude awakening when he arrives in the "giant" metropolis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a convention. The film also stars the wonderful John C. Reilly, Anne Heche and Sigourney Weaver. Again, there are a limited number of seats available. Reserved tickets for both “Win Win” and “Cedar Rapids” are available at Ticketmaster, and some tickets will be on sale at the door; call 734-668-8397 for at-the-door availability.

Another Sundance film coming soon

Continuing our Sundance theme, the Michigan Theater is proud to announce a very special screening of Kevin Smith’s thriller “Red State.” It premiered at Sundance on Monday and will play the Michigan Theater on Thursday, March 10. You can be one of the first people in the nation outside of Park City to see the film and see Kevin Smith in person. He will be at the Michigan Theater to introduce the film and conduct a live Q&A session. “Red State” begins by following three high-school boys who come across an online ad from an older woman looking for sex. Boys being boys, they hit the road to satisfy their libidinal urges. But what begins as a fantasy takes a dark turn as they come face-to-face with a terrifying "holy" force with a fatal agenda. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster locations.

Opening downtown

“Blue Valentine” stars Oscar nominee Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling. The film depicts a married couple shifting back and forth in time between their courtship and the dissolution of their marriage several years later. Michigan Theater staff member Brian Hunter saw the film last year (Brian also helps me every week to prepare "Cinema Chat") at Sundance and he loved it! The story is great and while the acting and emotions are rather raw, you should not be scared off by the content. And Brian was not the only one to love it; Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times says, “Derek Cianfrance, the film's writer and director, observes with great exactitude the birth and decay of a relationship. This film is alive in its details.” “Blue Valentine” opens Friday at the State Theatre.

"Today's Special"

“Today’s Special” stars Aasif Mandvi as a chef who gets passed over for promotion, and quits to pursue his dream of cooking in Paris, but an emergency forces him to take over his family's shabby Indian restaurant in Queens. Kirk Honeycutt of the Hollywood Reporter says, “The film, like a great meal, leaves you wanting more.” “Today’s Special” opens Friday at the Michigan Theater.

Special screenings

“Our School's E.T.” plays on Saturday, January 29 at 2 p.m. The film, presented by the UM Center for Korean Studies, stars comic actor Kim Soo-ro as a physical education teacher who is forced, with the help of his students, to reinvent itself.

The University Musical Society and the Michigan Theater proudly present, direct from the National Theatre in London, “Fela!,” a new musical directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones about Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. “Fela!” explores Kuti's controversial life as an artist, political activist, and revolutionary musician. Tickets are available at www.ums.org, the Michigan League Box Office or 734-764-2538.

More on Sundance next week - see you at Sundance in Ann Arbor this week!

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.