Related Content

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.

“The Kids Are All Right,” a much-anticipated Sundance Film Festival, hit opens Friday at the Michigan Theater. It is a heartfelt comedy from acclaimed director Lisa Cholodenko starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo, in a tale of two teenagers (“Alice in Wonderland’s” Mia Wasikowska and “Journey to the Center of the Earth’s” Josh Hutcherson) who get the notion to seek out their biological father and introduce him into the family life that their two mothers have built for them. Once this intimate stranger is introduced into the household family, ties are defined, re-defined, and re-re-defined in ways that are charming, weird, wonderful and funny. The overwhelmingly positive reviews are typified by this excerpt from the Wall Street Journal: “The basic joke here, and it's a rich one, is that the dynamics of gay marriages differ little from those of straight marriages. But that joke also serves as a catalyst for some startlingly beautiful considerations.” “Dinner for Schmucks” features the seemingly always funny Steve Carell as a socially challenged person who is the victim of a vicious-but-hilarious game. An early review in Variety is very upbeat: “An uproarious odd-couple remake of Francis Veber's hit French farce ‘The Dinner Game’.” Tim (Paul Rudd) is a rising executive who “succeeds” in finding the perfect socially clueless guest for his boss’ monthly event, a so-called “dinner for idiots.” This despicable dinner offers certain corporate advancement advantages to the executive who brings with the biggest buffoon. “Dinner for Schmucks” opens Friday at your favorite local multiplex.

Also opening Friday at the multiplex near you

“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” is the kiddy sequel of the week about the ongoing war between canines and felines. However, they put their differences on hold when they join forces to thwart a rogue cat spy with her own sinister plans for conquest.

“Charlie St. Cloud” stars Zac Efron (who, despite the bubble gum haze of “High School Musical” is, in my opinion, a fine actor and performer) as a young man finding his way through grief after his younger brother Sam passes away. Charlie and a ghost/imaginary Sam keep their brotherly bond by having conversations nightly and playing catch. However, when a girl enters Charlie's life, he struggles between remaining with Sam and pursuing a real-world love.

Shelter benefit features rock doc

“The Blank Generation,” a special film presentation at the Michigan Theater, will benefit the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County and celebrate the music created at the legendary New York music club CBGB. Local rock legend Ivan Kral played guitar with Iggy Pop (another local rock legend), Patti Smith, Blondie and other bands that frequented CBGB. In 1976, he bought a 16mm movie camera from a New York City pawn shop and filmed the artists he played with and the other bands that developed their distinctive sound at this famous, now long gone, NYC nightclub — bands like Talking Heads, Ramones and Television. Musician-turned-filmmaker Kral ended up creating a “fly on the wall” documentary of the artists who came to dominate the rock music scene of the 1980s. Each band’s unique style shines through visually as well as musically. Historians and filmmakers rely on “The Blank Generation” as an essential document of this influential musical era. Popularly priced tickets are $10 and available at Ticketweb.com. Benefit tickets for the film and a preshow reception are $50 and available at AnnArborShelter.org. Tickets will also be available at the door starting at 6:30 for the 7:00 show.

Classics — old and new

“The Apartment” continues the Michigan Theater’s Summer Classic Film Series at 1:30 Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday. It was the winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Jack Lemmon plays C.C. Baxter, a go-getting office worker who loans his tiny apartment to his philandering superiors for their romantic trysts. He runs into trouble when he finds himself sharing a girlfriend (Shirley MacLaine) with his callous boss (Fred MacMurray).

“Tyson” is a gritty and intimate portrait of one of boxing’s most polarizing figures. Director James Toback's recounts Mike Tyson's rise to super-stardom and subsequent fall from grace through the eyes of the man himself. Part of the Michigan Theater’s Summer Documentary series it plays on Monday, August 2 at 7:00.

Three great films from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival continue at the State Theatre: “Cyrus,” “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” and “Winter’s Bone.” Continuing at the Michigan is the hottest art house film of the summer, “The Girl Who Played With Fire,” the second film of the Stieg Larsson “Millennium” trilogy that began with “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” 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 AM and 5:40 PM, or listen to it online at WEMU's web site.

Tags:
Comment Now