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Posted on Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 5:07 a.m.

'Rock of Ages,' new Adam Sandler, Summer Classics at the Michigan, and more

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 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.

Opening at the cineplex

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“Rock of Ages,” based on the 2006 Chris D'Arienzo Broadway musical of the same name and directed by Adam Shankman ("Hairspray"), tells the story of small-town girl Sherrie and city boy Drew, who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams. Their rock 'n' roll romance is told through hits of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake and more. The movie musical stars Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta- Jones, Alec Baldwin, and Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx. “Rock of Ages” opens Friday.

“That’s My Boy” follows Donny (Adam Sandler) a teenager who fathered a son, Todd (Andy Samberg), and raised him as a single parent up until Todd's 18th birthday. Now, after not seeing each other for years, Todd's world comes crashing down on the eve of his wedding when an uninvited Donny suddenly shows up. Trying desperately to reconnect with his son, Donny is now forced to deal with the repercussions of his bad parenting skills. “That’s My Boy” opens Friday.

Opening downtown

“Hysteria,” a mischievously inspired romantic comedy set in the late 19th century, is based on the surprising truth of how Mortimer Granville came up with the world’s first electromechanical vibrator in the name of medical science. The film stars Academy Award nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy, alongside Jonathan Pryce, Rupert Everett and Felicity Jones. Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly says, “(Director Tanya) Wexler makes a happy, sexually robust history lesson. And whenever Rupert Everett appears as a rich fellow who distinctly does not fancy ladies, it's a hysterical history lesson of the hilarious variety.” “Hysteria” opens Friday at the Michigan Theater.

Special screenings

In “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” the last of Sergio Leone’s "Dollars" trilogy, Clint Eastwood reprises the role of a taciturn, enigmatic loner. Here he searches for a cache of stolen gold against rivals the Bad (Lee Van Cleef), a ruthless bounty hunter, and the Ugly (Eli Wallach), a Mexican bandit. Immensely entertaining and beautifully shot in Techniscope by Tonino Delli Colli, the movie can be seen as the definitive spaghetti western. John Monaghan of the Detroit News says, “Of all the great films of the 1960s, 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' is one of a fistful that can be truly appreciated only on the big screen.” “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” plays Sunday, June 17 at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, June 19 at 7 p.m. at the Michigan Theater.

“Love Free or Die,” the documentary special jury prize winner at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, is about a man whose two defining passions are in direct conflict: his love for God and for his partner Mark. Gene Robinson is the first openly gay person to become a bishop in the historic traditions of Christendom. His consecration in 2003, to which he wore a bullet-proof vest, caused an international stir, and he has lived with death threats every day since. The film follows Robinson’s personal story as American churches debate whether or not lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are equal to heterosexuals in the eyes of God, while our nation debates whether LGBT people are equal to heterosexuals in the eyes of the law. “Love Free or Die” plays June 21 at 7 p.m. at the Michigan Theater.

Summer Classics: A look ahead

This summer, the 2012 Bell’s Summer Classic Film Series at the Michigan Theater will bring the best classic films to downtown Ann Arbor. Each of the 15 films in the summer-long series will be shown twice—on Sunday afternoon at 1:30, and again the following Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.—with the exception of "Casablanca," shown only on Labor Day (and free for all students)! With a mix of newly restored prints of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “Bringing Up Baby,” “M*A*S*H,” the Beatles classic “Yellow Submarine,” and a stunning new restoration of “Children of Paradise,” as well as summer treats like a Sing-Along “Mary Poppins, “Jaws” and the beautiful "Pan's Labyrinth,” there is sure to be something for everyone this summer at the Michigan Theater.

The complete 2012 Classic Film series is:

6/17 & 19 - "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (1962)
6/24 & 26 - "Bringing Up Baby" (1938)
7/1 & 3 - "M*A*S*H" (1970) (free admission for veterans)
7/8 & 10 - "Yellow Submarine" (1968)
7/15 & 17 - "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)
7/22 & 24 - "Sunrise" (1927)
7/29 & 31 - "Mary Poppins" (1964) Audience sing-along
8/5 & 7 - "Jaws" (1975)
8/12 & 14 - "Children of Paradise" (1945)
8/19 & 21 - "The Jerk" (1979)
8/26 & 28 - "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953)
9/2 & 4 - "Pan's Labyrinth" (2006)
9/3 - "Casablanca" (1942) (free admission for students)

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

Erich Jensen

Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 4:02 p.m.

Great line-up for summer classic series!