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Cinema Chat: Cinetopia In Ann Arbor, 'My Golden Days,' 'The Lobster,' 'Warcraft,' And More

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The Cinetopia Internatonal Film Festivalis underway! In this week's "Cinema Chat," WEMU's David Fair talks to Michigan Theater executive director Russ Collins about the festival and all the movies coming to the big screen this weekend.

The Cinetopia International Film Festival:  

Black Mountain Poets: Friday June 10 at 7 PM at the Michigan Theater: executive producer Jon Rennie

Holy Hell:Friday June 10 at 9:30 PM at the Michigan Theater: director and on-screen subject Will Allen and producer Tracey Harnish

Hunky Dory: Saturday June 11 at 6:45 PM at the State Theatre, and Sunday June 12 at 4:30 PM at the State Theatre: director/screenwriter/producer (and EMU alum) Michael Curtis Johnson and screenwriter/producer/lead actor Tomas Pais

Little Men: Saturday June 11 at 7 PM at the Michigan Theater and Sunday June 12 at 1 PM at the State Theatre: lead actor Theo Taplitz

Leonard Maltin and the Wonderful World of Disney - renowned film critic, historian, and creator of the Walt Disney Treasure series Leonard Maltin joins us onstage to talk about the iconic works of Walt Disney and his talented company of illustrators, artists, and animators following THREE screenings!:

     Classic Disney Shorts: Saturday June 11 at 2 PM at the Redford Theatre;

     TyrusSunday June 12 at 1 PM at the Michigan Theater;

      BambiSunday June 12 at 4 PM at the Michigan Theater.

Operator: Thursday June 9 at 7:15 at the Michigan Theater, Saturday June 11 at 7:15 at the Michigan Theater, and Sunday June 12 at 7:30 PM at the Henry Ford Giant Film Experience: director/screenwriter Logan Kibens, screenwriter/producer Sharon Greene, and lead actor Martin Starr

Sembene!: Friday June 10 at 3:45 PM at the Michigan Theater - director (and UM alum) Jason Silverman

Suited: Wednesday June 8 at 7 PM at the Maple Theatre, and Thursday June 9 at 7 PM at the Michigan Theater: co-founder of Bindle & Keep Clothiers and on-screen subject Daniel Friedman

PLUS:  American Premiere of Iggy Pop Basel Concert film. There’s a reason why many consider Iggy Pop the godfather of punk — every single punk band of the past and present has either knowingly or unknowingly borrowed a thing or two from Pop and his band, the Stooges. This fantastic performance features all of Iggy Pop’s top hits, including “I Wanna Be Your Dog”, “The Passenger”, “Lust for Life” and many more.

And the above is just a sample of the festival’s impressive program. Cinetopia will feature more than 100 screenings of 50+ films, in an expanded array of venues throughout Detroit and Ann Arbor.  Cinetopia’s full schedule of films and events, as well at the opportunity to buy festival passes and tickets is at cinetopiafestival.org.

Opening Downtown  

"My Golden Days"

This film centers on Paul, an anthropologist, who has a series of flashbacks that include his childhood, his mother's attacks of madness, and his father's alienating depression. He remembers his trip to the USSR, where a clandestine mission led him to offer up his own identity for a young Russian, whom he considered a phantom twin for the remainder of his life as well as remembering Esther, the beautiful, rude love of his life.  “My Golden Days” opens Monday at the Michigan.  

Now Playing Downtown  

"The Man Who Knew Infinity"

This film charts the incredible life of SrinivasaRamanujan (“Slumdog Millionaire’s” DevPatel), whose genius for mathematics takes him from the slums of India to Cambridge University in the early 20th-century. Spurred on by his mentor G. H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons), Ramanujan overcomes racism and the rigidity of academia to revolutionize the field with his startlingly original theorems, which he attributes to divine inspiration.  “The Man Who Knew Infinity” plays at the State.  

"Love & Friendship"

Based on the Jane Austen novella “Lady Susan,” it tells the story of beautiful young widow Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), who visits the estate of her in-laws to wait out the rumors about her dalliances circulating through polite society. Whilst ensconced there, she decides to secure a husband for herself and a future for her eligible but reluctant daughter. In doing so she attracts the simultaneous attentions of three men, complicating matters severely.  “Love and Friendship” plays at the Michigan.  

"A Bigger Splash"

Rock legend Marianne Lane (TildaSwinton) is recuperating on the volcanic island of Pantelleria with her partner Paul (MatthiasSchoenaerts) when iconoclast record producer and old flame Harry (RalphFiennes) unexpectedly arrives with his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson) and interrupts their holiday, bringing with him an A-bomb blast of nostalgia from which there can be no rescue. “A Bigger Splash” is a sensuous portrait of desire, jealousy and rock and roll, under the Mediterranean sun.  “A Bigger Splash” will be at the State. 

"The Lobster"

In the absurdist comedy, every adult must be part of a couple. Recently dumped by his wife, David (Colin Farrell) is assigned to a countryside “hotel” where he must find a suitable mate or be turned into the animal of his choice (part of the absurdist nature of this movie). David attends group meetings and mixers designed to foster compatible pairings. David’s search ultimately leads him to escape from the “hotel” to join a group of militant outcasts who live in the woods. “The Lobster” won the Jury Prize at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, as well as the controversial Direct from Sundance screening at the Michigan in February. “The Lobster” is at the State.  

Opening at the Multiplex  

"The Conjuring 2"

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprise their roles as Lorraine and Ed Warren, who, in one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.  “The Conjuring 2” opens Friday.  

"Now You See Me 2"

One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public's adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, “THE FOUR HORSEMEN” (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Lizzy Caplan) resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate.  The man behind their vanishing act is none other than Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe), a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet.  Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.  “Now You See Me 2” opens Friday.  

"Warcraft"

The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: Orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another.  As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction.  From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people and their home.  “Warcraft” opens Friday.

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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU.  You can contact David at734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu

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