This week's Cinema Chat with David Fair and Russ Collins:
Opening at the Multiplex
“Prisoners” poses the question: How far would you go to protect your child? Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is facing every parent's worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) arrests its driver, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), but a lack of evidence forces the only suspect's release. Knowing his child's life is at stake, the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. “Prisoners,” a hit at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, opens Friday.
The MGM classic film “The Wizard of Oz” is being exhibited in a computer generated IMAX 3D version starting Friday for a limited run. Dorothy's well known journey to Oz will take her through emerald forests, yellow brick roads, and creepy castles now rendered in 3D. This is being done in advance of a re-release of this classic for home video. “The Wizard of Oz in IMAX” opens Friday at select IMAX screens.
“Battle of the Year” is fiction film based on director Benson Lee’s own documentary about a hip hop dance competition. It stars Josh Holloway, Chris Brown, Laz Alonso, Caity Lotz, and Josh Peck. Shot in 3D, it follows an international dance competition that an American hip hop mogul endeavors to win. The mogul assembles a Dream Team of all the best dancers across the country to take into the dance battle. “Battle of the Year 3D” opens Friday.
Opening Downtown
“Salinger” features interviews with 150 subjects including friends, colleagues and members of author J. D. Salinger's (“Catcher In the Rye”) inner circle who have never spoken on the record before as well as film footage, photographs and other material that has never been seen. Additionally, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Norton, John Cusack, Danny DeVito, John Guare, Martin Sheen, David Milch, Robert Towne, Tom Wolfe, E.L. Doctorow, Gore Vidal and Pulitzer Prize winners A. Scott Berg and Elizabeth Frank talk about Salinger's influence on their lives, their work and the broader culture. “Salinger” opens Friday at the Michigan Theater.
In “Thanks For Sharing” Adam (Mark Ruffalo), an over-achieving environmental consultant, Mike, a long-married small-business owner, and Neil, a wisecracking emergency-room doctor, have little in common. But all are in different stages of dealing with addiction. Confident and successful in his career, Adam is afraid to allow love back into his life, even if that means losing a chance to start over with smart, beautiful and accomplished Phoebe. “Thanks For Sharing” opens Friday at the State Theatre.
In “The Hunt” Mads Mikkelsen won the Best Actor Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival for his penetrating portrayal of Lucas, a former school teacher who has been forced to start over having overcome a tough divorce and the loss of his job. Just as things are starting to go his way, his life is shattered when an untruthful remark throws his small community into a collective state of hysteria. “The Hunt” plays September 24 through the 27 at the Michigan Theater.
“Dirty Wars” is a documentary based on the work of investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill (author of “Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Mercenary Army”). It traces the rise of the Joint Special Operations Command, the most secret fighting force in U.S. history, exposing operations carried out by men who do not exist on paper and will never appear before Congress. No target is off-limits for the JSOC “kill list,” even a U.S. citizen. Director Richard Rowley takes us on a chilling ride with whistle-blower Scahill. Dirty Wars is a battle cry for the soul and conscience of an America few of us know exists. “Dirty Wars” plays September 22 through the 24 at the Michigan Theater.
In his first lead role after decades of playing supporting characters, James Cromwell gives a tour de force performance in “Still Mine,” an exquisitely crafted and deeply affecting love story about a couple in their twilight years. Based on true events and laced with wry humor, “Still Mine” tells the heartfelt tale of Craig Morrison (Academy Award nominee Cromwell), who comes up against the system when he sets out to build a more suitable house for his ailing wife Irene (Academy Award nominee Geneviève Bujold). “Still Mine” opens Wednesday, September 25 at the Michigan Theater.
Special Screenings Downtown
The State Theatre pays tribute to one of the greatest actors of any generation with Cage Match! You pick which Nic Cage film you want to see: “Face/Off” or “Raising Arizona” both start at 11:59PM at the State Theatre on Saturday night. Which will you be seeing?
The Monday Funnies Film Series continues with “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.” Staring Will Ferrell “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” plays Monday, September 23 at 7PM at the Michigan Theater.
