In this week's "Cinema Chat," WEMU's David Fair talks to Michigan Theater executive director Russ Collins about the movie business and all of the new films you check out on the big screen this weekend.
Opening Downtown
This is the world’s first fully oil painted feature film which explores the troubled life of artist Vincent van Gogh through his artwork and the events that led up to his mysterious death. The film was written and directed by Dorota Kobiela & HughWelchman and features SaoirseRonan and ChrisO'Dowd. "Loving Vincent" opens Saturday, November 4th and plays with select showtimes.
Continuing Downtown
This is the follow up from director Sean Bakerto his acclaimed 2015 indie feature "Tangerine," which gained notoriety for being shot entirely on an iPhone. It tells the story of a mother and daughter living in a budget hotel on the on the outskirts of Disney World and introduces breakout stars Brooklynn Prince and Bria Vinaite as a mother and daughter who live week-to-week while trying to maintain a normal lifestyle. The film also features veteran actor Willem Dafoe, whose role is being described by critics as a “career best.”
Director Simon Curtis offers a glimpse into the life of author A.A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) and his son Christopher Robin, who inspired Milne to create the lovable children’s books of Winnie the Pooh. The film also stars Margot Robbie and Kelly Macdonald.
Special Screenings Downtown
We enter November with our new film series, "1967", beginning with the psychedelic drama directed by Roger Corman and written by Jack Nicholson. In this film, Peter Fonda plays Paul, a television director whose marriage has failed and seeks the help of his friend John (played by BruceDern), a counterculture guru and advocate of LSD. After attending a “freak-out” and obtaining the drug from John’s friend Max (played by Dennis Hopper), Paul takes his first “trip” and falls into a psychedelic panic. "The Trip" plays tonight (Thursday, November 2) at 9:30 PM.
Next Monday, "The Graduate" and "Bonnie and Clyde" continue 1967 in a back-to-back presentation. This film stars Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock, a recent college grad who moves back into his parents’ house while deciding what to do with the rest of his life. However, Benjamin soon falls under the seductive lure of Mrs. Robinson (played by Anne Bancroft), a bored housewife and family-friend. Things gets even more complicated when Benjamin falls in love with Mrs. Robinson’s daughter Elaine (played by Katharine Ross). This iconic romantic/comedy features one of the most memorable closing images in cinema history and also features a soundtrack from Simon and Garfunkel, including their indelible hit “Mrs. Robinson.” "The Graduate" plays Monday, November 6 at 7:00 PM.
Warren Beatty and FayeDunaway star as the title couple in the “true story” of their murderous crime spree during the Great Depression. After a chance meeting, Bonnie and Clyde form a criminal gang with Clyde’s older brother Buck (played by Gene Hackman) and his wife Blanche (played by Estelle Parsons), and their dim-witted driver C.W Moss (played by Michael J. Pollard). Though their exploits begin with petty crimes and small-time heists, tensions quickly escalate when Clyde shoots a bank teller after a robbery in escape. The film's conclusion has been called “one of the bloodiest death scenes in cinematic history” and also features the first on-screen role of Gene Wilder. "Bonnie and Clyde" plays Monday, November 6 at 9:30 PM.
Three women in New York City navigate the successes and failures of show business. Anne Welles (played by BarbaraParkins) is hired as a secretary for a theatrical law firm where she meets and befriends up-and-coming singer Neely (played by Patty Duke) and beautiful but talentless actress Jennifer (played by Sharon Tate). In their experiences they come to understand heartbreak, tragedy, and addiction. "The Valley of the Dolls" plays Thursday, November 9 at 9:30 PM.
Opening at the Multiplex
Opening Thursday, November 2nd: “Imprisoned, the mighty Thor finds himself in a lethal gladiatorial contest against the Hulk, his former ally. Thor must fight for survival and race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home and the Asgardian civilization.” (IMDB)
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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
