Return to Narnia, Johnny Depp thriller, SXSW winner, and more at the movies this week
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. 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.
2+2+1+1=6 good films opening this week
But first: A special screening
Tonight, Thursday, December 9 at 8 p.m., the Michigan Theater presents the documentary “Boxing Gym,” directed by acclaimed documentary director Frederick Wiseman. Wiseman's signature style relies little on interviews and instead focuses on the rituals of training and the disciplined, determined approach of students and coaches to mastering the precise, brutal art of gloved combat.
Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal praised the film, saying, “Some documentaries have a way of sneaking into your brain and becoming reference points for larger subjects. Frederick Wiseman's 'Boxing Gym' is one of them.”
Opening at the multiplex
“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” is the third cinematic installment of the C.S. Lewis series. This film finds Lucy and Edmund Pevensie returning to Narnia with their cousin Eustace, where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Sacha Molitorisz of the Sydney Morning Herald says, “’The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ may not reinvent the fantasy genre, it may not transcend the medium, but it is an impressive feat of imagination.” “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” opens Friday.
“The Tourist” stars Johnny Depp as an American tourist in Europe whose playful dalliance with the mysterious Elise, played by Angelina Jolie, leads to a web of intrigue and romance that quickly evolves into a deadly game of cat and mouse. “The Tourist” opens Friday.
Opening downtown
“Tiny Furniture” is a hilarious and endearing film that explores the depths of romantic humiliation and the heights of post-college confusion. Winner of the best narrative feature at the SXSW Film Festival, “Tiny Furniture”’s writer/director Lena Dunham is being called one of the most exciting new voices in American independent cinema. Aura returns home from college with a useless film theory degree, 357 hits on her Youtube page, a boyfriend who's left her to find himself at Burning Man, a dying hamster, and her tail between her legs. Luckily, ill-advised romantic possibilities lurk around every corner. Dana Stevens of Slate says, “For a DIY second feature from a very young director, ‘Tiny Furniture’ feels surprisingly assured, even elegant.” “Tiny Furniture” opens Friday at the Michigan Theater.
Opening on a limited run this week at the Michigan is Gareth Edwards’ “Monsters." This little film has the potential to be this year’s “District 9”. Edwards sets the film "years after most other monster movies end, when people aren't running and screaming, but life is going on." “Monsters” plays Dec. 12 and 14 at the Michigan Theater.
“The Tillman Story” is a look at the tragic death of Pat Tillman, a former NFL star who left a multimillion-dollar football contract to join the military for no other reason other than he felt it was the right thing to do. This film is a very honest look not at corruption but at the coping mechanisms and resiliency of a family that just wants the truth. “The Tillman Story” plays December 15 and 16 at the Michigan Theater.
“Tamara Drewe” is based on Posy Simmonds' graphic novel of the same name — which was itself inspired by Thomas Hardy's classic “Far From the Madding Crowd.” When Tamara Drewe sashays back to the bucolic village of her youth, life for the locals is thrown into chaos as infatuations, jealousies, love affairs and career ambitions collide. Tamara — once an ugly duckling — has been transformed into a devastating beauty. Shawn Levy of the Oregonian says, “The décor is sumptuous, and the whole thing just screams out 'grownup,' 'clever' and ‘fun’.” “Tamara Drewe” opens Friday at the State Theatre.
Also playing downtown
“Miracle on 34th Street” returns to the Michigan Theater as part of the FREE Holiday Classic Film Series, Sunday, December 12 at 4 p.m.
The Interior Visions series wraps up with Christopher Nolan’s “Memento,” Monday, December 13 at 7 p.m.
“Harmonium in My Memory” continues the UM Center for Korean Studies series. The film explores the intricacies of a May-December romance when a student falls for her teacher. It plays Saturday, December 11 at 2 p.m. and admission is FREE!
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:
• “Tiny Furniture” - A true charmer of an independent film. • “The Tillman Story” - A documentary that finds its subject and then walks the fine line between truth and fiction. • “Boxing Gym” - A beautiful and thought provoking look at the sweet science.
Continuing and not to be missed:
• “127 Hours” - Oscar buzz surrounds this film. A meditation on the art of will power. • “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” - The high fantasy series for teens and adults gets ready to end.
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
Veronica
Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 12:59 p.m.
Blockbuster or not, I think Johnny Depp films are always worth watching. So many movies, so little time!
Erich Jensen
Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 9:26 a.m.
We always enjoy coming to Michigan Theater on the 1st Mondays and Thursdays each month. For December this meant a James Franco double feature. Results: 2 thumbs up for 127 Hours and 2 thumbs down for Howl. The former was amazing; the latter tedious. Thank you nonetheless.
Guy
Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 8:45 a.m.
"The Tillman Story" is well-worth seeing and has a bit more humor than you might expect (if you can take some f-bombs being dropped by the family). In his The Fog of War interview with Jason Guerrasio, Amir Bar-Lev, the director of The Tillman Story, said: theres been no culpability on the second half of this tragedy, which is the higher ups trying to cover it up. to borrow a football metaphor, they [the Tillman family] ran the ball 99 yards over four years time, they handed it off at the one-yard line to Congress and they fumbled it...." Shortly after Sundance, Bar-Lev emailed me that he was pretty hard on the Democratic Congress in his film. True, his film does portray Congressman Waxmans Oversight Committee as ineptly failing to get answers from the top military leadership during their hearing. However, Bar-Levs film missed the untold story that both the Democratic Congress and the Obama Presidency protected General Stanley McChrystal from public scrutiny of his central role in the cover-up of Pat Tillmans friendly-fire death. This cover-up was a thoroughly bi-partisan affair. It wasnt just a case of the Bush administration and the Army stonewalling the Democratic Congress. Congress didnt just fumble the ball, they threw the game. Its not surprising that after their initial cover-up of Pat Tillmans friendly-fire death fell apart, Army officers and the Bush administration lied to protect their careers. But after they took control of both Houses of Congress in 2006, the Democrats (including Congressman Henry Waxman, Senator Carl Levin, and Senator Jim Webb) and Republicans such as Senator John McCain could have gone after those responsible. Or at least not promoted them! Just before the 2006 mid-term elections, Kevin Tillman published his eloquent letter, After Pats Birthday. Kevin had hoped a Democratic Congress would bring accountability back to our country. But, just as with warrantless wiretapping and torture, those responsible for the cover-up of his brothers friendly-fire death have never been held accountable for their actions. For more details, see The [Untold] Tillman Story posted at http://www.feralfirefighter.blogspot.com Or try Mary Tillman's "Boots on the Ground by Dusk" (at blurb.com)or Jon Krakauer's "Where Men Win Glory" (paperback edition with 50 revised pages).
irishlaced
Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 8:02 a.m.
I have never seen the original "Miracle on 34th Street" and am looking forward to seeing it at the Michigan Theater this Sunday afternoon. And the best part is that it's free! You can't beat that. :) "The Tourist" could be interesting. I'm a pretty big fan of Johnny Depp, but don't really care for Angelina Jolie. So we'll have to see how that one turns out.