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Cinema Chat: 'Amy', 'The Overnight', 'Magic Mike XXL', 'Terminator Genysis' And More

Michigan Theater
/
www.michtheater.org

Michigan Theater Program Director Amanda Bynum fills in for Russ Collins to discuss all of your movie option for holiday weekend. 

Opening Downtown

The Overnight

In “The Overnight,” Alex, Emily, and their son have recently moved to Los Angeles’ Eastside from Seattle. Feeling lost in a new city, they are desperate to find their first new friends. After a chance meeting with Kurt at the neighborhood park, they gladly agree to join family pizza night at this home. But as it gets later and the kids go to bed, the family “playdate” becomes increasingly more revealing and bizarre as the couples begin to open up.  Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times says “The delivery is unorthodox. You might think you know what's coming, but then comes another curveball that catches you by surprise. You're kept guessing throughout - and it's a real kick when you're wrong yet again.”  Starring Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman and Taylor Schilling, “The Overnight” opens Friday at the Michigan.

Amy

“Amy” is the documentary film chronicling the life of British music icon Amy Winehouse.  With a voice described as a combination of Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan, Amy Winehouse was a pop star with soul whose appeal crossed cultural and demographic boundaries. But while her music made her a star, her chaotic personal life stole headlines.  Stephen Dalton of the Hollywood Reporter writes “’Amy’ is an emotionally stirring and technically polished tribute, its sprawling mass of diverse source material elegantly cleaned up, color-corrected and shaped into a satisfying narrative.”  “Amy” opens Thursday July 9 at the Michigan.

Special Screenings Downtown

The Great Escape

Originally released on the Fourth of July in 1963, “The Great Escape” is based on a true story of Allied prisoners of war who managed to escape from an allegedly impenetrable Nazi prison camp during World War II. The prisoners develop a scheme in which they will leave the camp by building three separate escape tunnels.  Starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson and Richard Attenborough, “The Great Escape” plays Saturday July 4 at 1:30 PM as part of the Michigan Theater’s Summer Classic Film Series.

The Producers

The Summer Classic Film Series continues with “The Producers.” Down-on-his-luck theatrical producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel), once the toast of Broadway, is forced to romance rich old ladies to finance his efforts.  When timid accountant Leo Bloom reviews Max's accounting books, the two hit upon a way to make a fortune by producing a sure-fire flop. The play which is to be their gold mine? "Springtime for Hitler."  The first directorial effort of Mel Brooks, “The Producers” didn’t do so well on its first release, but since that time it has taken its place as one of the all-time great movie comedies.  “The Producers” plays Sunday July 5 at 1:30 PM and Tuesday July 7 at 7 PM.

About Elly

“About Elly,” directed by Academy Award-winner AsgharFarhadi (“A Separation”), is a gripping mystery set among a group of old friends on a holiday retreat. With the return of their close friend Ahmad from Germany, the fun starts right away as they quickly catch on to the plan of lively Sepideh, who has brought along Elly, her daughter's kindergarten teacher, in hopes of setting her up with recently divorced Ahmad. But seemingly trivial lies, which start accumulating from the moment the group arrives at the seashore, suddenly swing round and come back full force when one afternoon Elly suddenly vanishes. “About Elly” plays July 6, 8 and 9 at the Michigan.

Boulevard

In “Boulevard,” Nolan (Robin Williams) has worked at the same bank for almost 26 years in a life of monotony. He and his wife Joy (Kathy Baker) have embraced their marriage as a convenient distraction from facing reality. However one day, what starts as an aimless drive down an unfamiliar street turns into a life-altering decision for Nolan. When he meets a troubled young man on his drive home, Nolan finds himself breaking from the confines of his old life and coming to terms with who he really is.  “Boulevard” plays as part of the New York Film Critics Series Wednesday July 8 at 7:30 PM at the Michigan.

Opening at the Multiplex

Magic Mike XXL

Picking up the story three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life, "Magic Mike XXL" finds the remaining Kings of Tampa likewise ready to throw in the towel. But they want to do it their way: burning down the house in one last blow-out performance in Myrtle Beach, and with legendary headliner Magic Mike sharing the spotlight with them. On the road to their final show, Mike and the guys learn some new moves and shake off the past in surprising ways.  “Magic Mike XXL” opened Wednesday.

Terminator Genysis

In “Terminator Genisys,” James Cameron's sci-fi classic gets rebooted in this production designed as the first installment in a new trilogy.  John Connor sends Kyle Reese back in time to protect Sarah Connor, but when he arrives in 1984, nothing is as he expected it to be.  “Terminator Genisys” opened Wednesday.

Contact David: dfair@emich.edu