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.

Jeff Daniels/James Franco week downtown

This Saturday, see Jeff Daniels and friends live in concert at the Michigan Theater as he performs his always fun and wonderful annual concert celebrating Michigan’s roots music talent. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.

Today and throughout the next couple weeks you can see James Franco in “127 Hours.” Be sure to catch this Oscar caliber performance and film — unless you are squeamish by nature. Based on a true story, Franco plays Aron Ralston, who, while on a hike in Utah, becomes trapped in an isolated canyon because a fallen boulder crushes his arm. Tom Long of the Detroit News says, “Directed and co-written by Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”) in a style that travels from ecstatic to nerve-wracking and back, this is a film about perseverance, strength and the importance of always letting people know where you're going.”

Jeff Daniels AND James Franco star in “Howl,” which opens a week from today on Thursday, December 2. James Franco plays the iconoclast Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in this creatively mounted biopic, which I saw at Sundance and loved! The film is organized around Ginsberg's seminal poem "Howl" and the widely publicized obscenity trial that followed its publication in 1957. Jeff Daniels plays a college English professor who testifies about the merits of the poem during the trial. Documentary filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (“The Times of Harvey Milk”) direct, with an A-list ensemble cast that includes Jon Hamm, David Strathairn, and Mary-Louise Parker. Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post says, “What could have been a trivial exercise in nostalgia instead becomes a powerful case for the cathartic power of art.”

“White Christmas” fun for the holidays

“White Christmas” will play one time only, Sunday, Nov. 28 at 4 p.m., in a special screening that will feature holiday goodie bags, a costume parade and more. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye play war buddies turned entertainers who fall for a pair of sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen). The plot is predictable, but the musical numbers are spectacular!

Opening at the multiplex

“Tangled” is the 50th animated feature film from the folks at Disney. When the kingdom's most wanted-and most charming-bandit Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi) hides out in a mysterious tower, he's taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore), a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Todd McCarthy of the Hollywood Reporter says, “An old-fashioned Disney fairy tale gussied up in 3D for the holidays.” “Tangled” opens Friday in good old 2D and in Disney Digital 3D.

“Faster” finds Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) back in action movies after a few turns in some family fare. Don’t dismiss it quite yet, however. Drew McWeeny of the great movie geek site Ain’t It Cool News says that “(Faster) is one of those better-than-it-needs-to-be examples of a genre that could easily cross over to a larger audience as well.”

“Burlesque” stars Christina Aguilera as a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to LA. She stumbles upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue. Hollywood Report says, “A refreshing throwback to movie musicals that celebrates its stars while indulging in sexy fun.”

Special film events

The day-after-Thanksgiving tradition continues at the Michigan with a collection of Warner Bros. cartoons. Bring the family and watch Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the whole gang on the big screen. Friday, November 26 at 11:30 a.m.

“Last Train Home” is a look at an exodus that occurs every spring when China's cities are plunged into chaos as 130 million migrant workers journey to their home villages for the New Year's holiday. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times says, “An expert, unobtrusive observer, (filmmaker Lixan) Fan disappears inside his own film and allows us to get completely inside his subjects' lives.” Opens Friday, November 26 at the Michigan Theater.

The Michigan’s Interior Visions series continues with “Barton Fink.” This Coen Brothers film stars John Turturro as a writer with writer's block who falls victim to a strange sequence of events. Playing Monday, November 29 at 7 p.m.

Don't-miss movies

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

Notable and premiering: • “127 Hours” — Oscar buzz surrounds this film. A meditation on the art of will power. • “Howl” — A fascinating look at Freedom of Speech. • “Tangled” — It’s Disney, it’s the holidays, it’s 3-D and the charming bandit character looks like my son Alan! • “Last Train Home” — A look at the crossroads of rural culture and capitalism.

Continuing and not to be missed: • “Fair Game” — A dramatic look at one of the biggest news stories in recent years. • “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” — The high fantasy series for teens and adults gets ready to end. • “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” — A satisfying wrap-up to the film series that started with “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”

Happy Thanksgiving and 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.