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 season of releasing films positioned to win Oscars, Golden Globes and Best of the Year awards is upon us . . . and that’s a good thing!

“The Concert,” a heartwarming film-festival hit, opens Friday at the Michigan Theater. The winner of two César Awards (French Oscars), this uplifting comedy focuses on Andrei Filipov (Aleksei Guskov), a Russian conductor whose music career was cut short by politics. Now an alcoholic janitor, Filipov seizes a chance to reunite his orchestra and reclaim his life. Using a stolen invitation to a Parisian music festival as incentive, Filipov gathers his ragtag musicians and a French violinist (Mélanie Laurent) to realize his long-cherished dream.

“Soul Kitchen” also opens Friday at the Michigan. My favorite critic these days, Kenneth Turan of the LA Times and NPR, calls it “a lively, easygoing farce filled with high-energy music and amusing complications.” A young restaurant owner, Zinos (Adam Bousdoukos), decides to revamp Soul Kitchen, his dumpy diner. However, the customer response isn't what he was hoping for and to make matters worse, the tax collector comes knocking and his girlfriend (Anna Bederke) flies off to Shanghai. Hope arrives in the form of an inspired new chef (Birol Ãœnel), giving Zinos a chance at redemption.

“Jack Goes Boating” started as a play written for Philip Seymour Hoffman. It is about Hoffman’s quirky character’s odd blind date, which sparks a tale of love, betrayal, friendship, and grace centered on two working-class New York City couples. I enjoyed this film at the Sundance Film Festival, but more importantly I have savored it ever since and look forward to seeing it again — the best endorsement I can give. Hoffman stars in and directs the film, and actors John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega reprise their roles from the New York stage production. Opens Friday for a short run at the State Theater. “Catfish” is by acclaimed filmmaker Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. Curious events cause a New York City photographer to head to Michigan to meet Abby, the 8-year-old girl he befriended on MySpace. “Catfish” was one of the big buzz films at Sundance and after its successful festival debut, Brett Ratner, of all people, encouraged Rogue Pictures to distibute the film. Do yourself a favor and read as little about this story as possible before going into the theater. Also opens Friday at the State Theater.

Special screenings at the Michigan and State

Tonight, for one night only, come see films that might win a best short film Academy Award. The “Manhattan Short Film Festival” will play at 7:30 at the Michigan Theater. Come to the theater get your voting card and an official program and register your opinion about the best short film you saw. Your vote will be tallied and sent to the festival’s NYC headquarters. For more information visit the Manhattan Short Film Festival website.

“Suspiria” plays at the Michigan Saturday, October 2 at 10 p.m. It has been called by many, including Entertainment Weekly, “One of the scariest movies of all time.” This 1977 Dario Argento film, known globally as a masterpiece of Italian horror cinema, is about a young American ballet dancer (Jessica Harper) who is plagued by a series of bizarre incidents and horrific crimes. It turns her ballet school into a waking nightmare of the damned full of unspeakable secrets of supernatural evil.

“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” begins the Michigan Theater’s Family Friendly Film Series on Sunday, October 3 at 1:30 p.m. Dick Van Dyke stars as quirky inventor Caractacus Potts, whose magical flying car transports his family and lovely lady friend on wacky musical adventures.

“Wild Strawberries” continues the Interior Visions film series on Monday, October 4 at 7 p.m. with a contemplative Ingmar Bergman film that explores the disillusionment of an aging physician.

Opening at the multiplex

“The Social Network” is highly anticipated David Fincher film about Facebook. Harvard undergraduate Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) recruits some of his classmates to develop the social networking website. The endeavor, however, leads to a messy fallout with friend and co-founder Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield).

“Let Me In” is a remake of the hit Swedish vampire film “Let The Right One In.” I'm not convinced that it needed a remake, but if “Cloverfield” director Matt Reeves can translate the themes, tones, and aesthetic of the original to a mainstream audience, it might be worth it.

“Case 39” is about a social worker, Emily Jenkins (Renee Zellweger), who takes 10-year-old Lily (Jodelle Ferland) out of her apparently abusive home. While she shelters the little girl and searches for a foster family, Emily realizes that her new case is protected by dark, threatening forces. Shot in 2006, its release has been long delayed; Ian McShane also stars.

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.