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.

Opening downtown

“Inside Job” is a must-see documentary that provides a comprehensive look at the global financial crisis. To date, the crisis has cost over $20 trillion and caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression. The film traces the rise of a rogue industry that has corrupted politics, regulation, and academia. “Inside Job” is directed by Charles Ferguson, a Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize winner. Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune says, “Ferguson takes the time to be clear about what he's arguing, and whom he's blaming for what.” The film opens Friday at the State Theatre.

“Animal Kingdom” was the recipient of the World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. This crime drama, about a vicious underworld Melbourne family with tensions on the brink of exploding between felons and renegade cops, is played out on the city's streets in broad daylight. It is loosely inspired by the real life Pettingill family and the Walsh Street police shootings that occurred in Melbourne in 1988. Christy Lemire of the Associated Press says, “Watching this small-time Melbourne crime family unravel under the weight of their overconfidence is riveting.” Animal Kingdom opens Sunday at the Michigan Theater.

Opening at the cineplex “Unstoppable” is the fifth collaboration between director Tony Scott and Denzel Washington. The plot, based on a true story, finds a railroad company frantically working to prevent an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train carrying combustible liquids and poisonous gas from wiping out a city. A veteran locomotive engineer (Washington) and a young train conductor (Chris Pine) chase the runaway train in a different locomotive in order to bring the runaway under control before it is too late. Peter Debruge of Variety says, “Without sacrificing an ounce of energy, Scott's approach in 'Unstoppable' is actually more restrained than in recent Washington collaborations.” "Unstoppable" opens Friday.

“Skyline” is an alien invasion film in the vein of “Independence Day” directed by the special effects wizards, the Brothers Strause. When strange lights descend on Los Angeles, people are drawn outside like moths to a flame where an extraterrestrial force threatens to swallow the entire human population off the face of the Earth. What makes this movie interesting is that the physical production only cost about $500,000, but with all the visual effects the total budget was as high as $20 million. I’d like to tell you more, but as of right now there are no reviews currently available. "Skyline" opens Friday.

Special screenings “Cherry” is a wonderful Michigan-made film about a brilliant but naïve Ivy League freshman played by Kyle Gallner who becomes enchanted by a free-spirited older student. When she invites him for dinner, he meets her spunky 14-year-old daughter. Aaron finds himself in the middle of an unusual emotional triangle. The Michigan Theater is very pleased to present special screenings of this film on Thursday, November 18 at 7:15 and 9:30 p.m.

The U of M’s Center for Korean Studies presents “Like A Virgin.” The film follows Dong-gu, a short, pudgy high school boy whose one dream in life is to become a woman. He joins his school's wrestling team in the hopes of winning prize money for his sex change. The film plays at the Michigan on Saturday, November 13 at 2 p.m. and is free to the public.

The Interior Visions series continues at the Michigan Theater on Monday, November 15 at 7 p.m. with “Brazil.” Terry Gilliam's black comedy is darkly hilarious, wildly inventive and a visually arresting Oscar-nominated satire.

What to see this week

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

Notable and premiering this week:

• “Animal Kingdom” — Australia has quickly and quietly turned out a series of great crime thrillers, and "Animal Kingdom" is no exception. • “Inside Job” — Try not to get bummed out, but this documentary on the financial woes might be the scariest film you see all year. • “Unstoppable” — Get over how cheesy the plot sounds; Washington can act and Tony Scott has an eye for action. • “Cherry” — Playing one night only, next week, Thursday, November 18.

Continuing and not to be missed:

• “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest” — The final installment of what could very well be the movie event of the year. • “Waiting For ‘Superman’” — The educational system in America is seemingly off-track and this doc explores how to start fixing it. • “Due Date” — Robert Downey, Jr. and Zach Galifianakis deliver a knockout comedy from the guys who brought you "The Hangover." • “The Social Network” — “Greed” for the digital age. • “Secretariat” — Everyone seems to like this inspiring horse racing film.

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.