cinema chat: 'Detropia,' 'Finding Nemo 3D,' midnight 'Breakfast Club,' and more at the movies this week

“Arbitrage” stars Richard Gere as New York hedge-fund magnate Robert Miller, who, behind the gilded walls of his mansion, is in over his head, desperately trying to complete the sale of his trading empire to a major bank before the depths of his fraud are revealed. Just as he's about to unload his troubled empire, an unexpected bloody error forces him to juggle family, business, and crime. Peter Debruge of Variety says, “Between this cast and the conviction (first time director Nicholas) Jarecki brings to the table, the film feels incredibly accomplished."

Special screenings downtown

“I Was Born, But…” tells the story of Yoshii, an office clerk, who moves with his family to his boss’ neighborhood in the Tokyo suburbs. One day, his sons visit their new “friend,” Taro, who also happens to be the son of their father’s boss. There, they chance upon a home movie filmed by Iwasaki, in which their father is playing a fool. The boys are shocked to witness their usually strict and patriarchal father appearing in such subservience to his boss. “I Was Born, But…” is presented by presented by the UM Center for Japanese Studies and plays Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Michigan Theater.

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” introduces Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), the orphaned son of powerful wizards. Harry is offered a place at the prestigious Hogwarts, a boarding school for wizards that exists in a realm of magic and fantasy outside the dreary existence of normal humans or “Muggles.” At Hogwarts, Harry quickly makes new friends and begins piecing together the mystery of his parents’ deaths. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” plays Sunday, Sept. 16 at 1:30 p.m. and is presented as part of the Benard L. Maas Family-Friendly Film Series and is FREE for kids 12 and under!

Acclaimed Polish screenwriter and film director Agnieszka Holland will deliver the 2012 Copernicus Lecture on Oct. 10 at the Michigan Theater. Leading up to this very special lecture is a series of Ms. Holland’s outstanding films. The series continues tonight with “A Woman Alone” at 7:30 and continues next Thursday with “Europa Europa”. This series is sponsored by the Copernicus Endowment at the University of Michigan. Admission is free.

“The Breakfast Club” is the quintessential 1980s high school drama featuring the hottest young stars of the decade. It’s the “midnight” movie at the State Theatre, Saturday, Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m.

Opening at the cineplex

In “Resident Evil: Retribution,” the Umbrella Corporation's deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race's last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella's most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. “Resident Evil: Retribution” opens Friday.

"Finding Nemo 3D" follows the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin and his son Nemo—they become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist's office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory, a friendly-but-forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son. "Finding Nemo 3D" opens Friday.

“Last Ounce of Courage” is the story of a grieving father inspired by his grandson to take a stand for faith and freedom against a tide of apathy and vanishing liberty. Alongside fellow citizens of courage, faith, and integrity, he is a champion for the cherished principles we the people hold dear. A tale of family bonds and free expression, the film seeks to encourage all Americans to take a stand and raise their voices in support of their beliefs. “Last Ounce of Courage” opens Friday.

See you at the movies!