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Cinema Chat: 'Wild', 'The Imitation Game', 'The Hobbit', 'Night At The Museum', 'Annie' And More

michtheater.org

Once again, there is plenty of Hollywood news to cover! David Fair and Russ Collins have that and previews of this week's movie offerings in 'Cinema Chat'. 

  

Opening Downtown

Wild

In “Wild,” with the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) has lost all hope. After years of reckless behavior, she makes a rash decision: with absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. 

The film captures the terrors and pleasures of one woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her. Geoff Pevere of the Globe and Mail says, “It's a movie in which you can feel the spirit of the material infusing the filmmaker both as an artist and as a human being, and what results is that thing that occurs when even the simplest of songs sends sparks to the soul.” “Wild” opens Friday at the Michigan Theater.

The Imitation Game

“The Imitation Game” begins during the winter of 1952, when British authorities entered the home of mathematician and war hero Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) to investigate a reported burglary. They instead ended up arresting Turing himself on charges of 'gross indecency', an accusation that would lead to his devastating conviction for the criminal offense of homosexuality - little did officials know, they were actually incriminating the pioneer of modern-day computing.

Famously leading a motley group of scholars, linguists, chess champions and intelligence officers, Turing was credited with cracking the so-called unbreakable codes of Germany's World War II Enigma machine. Dave Calhoun from Time Out says, “Hidden codes, secret meanings and mixed messages pulse through the reliable, old-fashioned, buzzing copper wires of this true-life British period drama.” “The Imitation Game” opens December 25th at the Michigan Theater.

Opening at the Multiplex

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. 

Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo's attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a dangerous choice. Scott Foundas of Variety says, “The result is at once the trilogy's most engrossing episode, its most expeditious (at a comparatively lean 144 minutes) and also its darkest - both visually and in terms of the forces that stir in the hearts of men, dwarves and orcs alike.” "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” opened yesterday.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Dick Van Dyke, Ricky Gervais, Ben Kingsley, Rebel Wilson, and Mickey Rooney, brings more after-hours mayhem in this third outing of the successful Night at the Museum series. When the magic that brings the exhibits to life begins to fade, Larry (Stiller) rallies his historical friends for a trip to London and the adventure of a lifetime. “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” opens Friday.

Annie

Based on the Broadway classic, “Annie” comes to the big screen with a new, contemporary vision that captures the magic of the classic characters and original show that won seven Tony Awards. Academy Award (R) nominee Quvenzhané Wallis (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) stars as Annie, a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. 

Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes Annie in. “Annie” opensFriday.

Special Screenings Downtown

It's a Wonderful Life

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is an inverted version of “A Christmas Carol” -- the great Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, a good man who deferred his own dreams for the benefit of his small town. The film also features Lionel Barrymore as the misanthropic banker, Donna Reed as George Bailey’s devoted wife, and Virginia Patton, better known locally as Ginny Moss, as George’s beautiful sister-in-law. Ginny was a contract player in Hollywood’s heyday and appeared in over a dozen studio pictures. “It’s A Wonderful Life” plays Sunday, December 21 at 1:30PM. Free admission!  Presented as part of the Michigan Theater’s Holiday Classics Film Series.

Mary Poppins

Temple Beth Emeth presents “Mary Poppins,” starring Julie Andrews (in her film debut) in the titular role of a magical nanny who visits a dysfunctional family in London and employs her unique brand of lifestyle to improve the family’s dynamic. Also starring Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, and Glynis Johns. “Mary Poppins” plays Thursday, December 25 at 10:30 AM.