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Cinema Chat: 'Youth', 'Joy', 'Carol', 'The Danish Girl', 'Concussion' 'The Hateful Eight' And More

Michigan Theater
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www.michtheater.org

The award season buzz is picking up in Hollywood! Michigan Theater Executive Director and CEO Russ Collins and WEMU's David Fair  cover the industry news and preview the movies in our area of the holiday weekend. It's 'Cinema Chat!'

CINEMA CHAT – December 24, 2015

Hollywood News

“Carol” was top nominee for the Hollywood Foreign Press Corp’sGolden Globes. “Carol,” a period drama starring CateBlanchett, received two acting nods for Blanchett and co-star Rooney Mara and five total nominations.

Other nomination for the Golden Globes are:

Best motion picture, drama:

1.) “Spotlight (currently playing at the State Theatre),”

2.) “Carol,” “The Revenant,”

3.) “Mad Max: Fury Road” and

4.) “Room (previously played the Michigan Theater).”

Best motion picture comedy/musical:

1.) “Joy (opens today at the State Theatre),”

2.) “The Martian,”

3.) “Trainwreck,”

4.) “The Big Short”

5.) “Spy.” 

TOP 25 FILM FOR 2015 ACCORDING TO METACRITIC

1. Anomalisa     

2. Carol                                

3. Sherpa

4. Inside Out     

5. 45 Years          

6. Spotlight        

7. Timbuktu

8. The Look of Silence   

9. Jafar Panahi's Taxi      

10. Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem  

11. Hard to Be a God      

12. Son of Saul  

13. Of Men and War      

14. Gangs of Wasseypur

15. Phoenix       

16. Western      

17. Mad Max: Fury Road              

18. Democrats  

19. Brooklyn      

20. Listen to Me Marlon               

21. The Duke of Burgundy

22. The Diary of a Teenage Girl  

23. Dreamcatcher           

24. Room

25. Tangerine    

Opening Downtown

Youth

In “Youth,” two longtime friends – Fred (Michael Caine), an acclaimed composer and conductor, and Mick (Harvey Keitel), a renowned filmmaker - vacation in the Swiss Alps. While Mick scrambles to finish the screenplay for what he imagines will be his last important film, Fred has no intention of resuming his musical career. The two men reflect on their past, each finding that some of the most important experiences can come later in life.  “Youth” opens Friday at the Michigan.

Joy

“Joy” is from writer/director David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Hustle”). He directs his dream team - Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper - in this story based on the life of American inventor and entrepreneur Joy Mangano. Betrayal, treachery, the loss of innocence and the scars of love pave the road in this intense emotional and human comedy about becoming a true boss of family and enterprise facing a world of unforgiving commerce. “Joy” opens Friday at the State.

Carol

The award worthy “Carol” follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change.  A young woman in her 20s, Therese (Rooney Mara) is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage. As an immediate connection sparks between them, the innocence of their first encounter dims and their connection deepens.  “Carol” opens today at the Michigan and continues next week.

The Danish Girl

“The Danish Girl” tells the true love story of Danish artist Einar Wegener (Eddie Redmayne) and his wife Gerda (Alicia Vikander) as he makes the pioneering journey to becoming a woman, Lili Elbe, in the 1920s. Lili and Gerda’s marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili’s groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.  “The Danish Girl” opens today December 24 at the State and continues next week.

Special Screenings Downtown

Big

Temple Beth Emeth presents “Big,” starring Tom Hanks as Josh, a 13-year-old who finds himself grown to manhood overnight!  Josh rises to the top-but of the toy business, but he's still a kid, and he'd like to go back to his own world and own body.  “Big“ plays Friday at 10:30 AM.

Opening at the Multiplex

Concussion

Will Smith stars in “Concussion,” a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu’s emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.  “Concussion” opens Friday.

Daddy's Home

In “Daddy’s Home,” Brad (Will Ferrell) is a kindhearted guy who wants to be the best possible stepfather to his wife's (Linda Cardellini) two children. When her impossibly cool ex-husband Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) breezes back into town, Brad's feeling of insecurity quickly develops into an inferiority complex. As Dusty demonstrates his flair for athletics, home repair and bad-boy charisma, Taggart finds himself in a no-holds-barred battle to one-up his rival and win the approval of his family.  “Daddy’s Home” opens Friday.

Point Break

In “Point Break,” based on the 1991 hit starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves, thrill-seeking criminals perform a series of daredevil stunts to steal money and gems, only to give it away to the poor and less fortunate. Training for a job with the FBI, young recruit Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) suspects that only extreme athletes could pull off these heists. Utilizing his own special skills, Utah infiltrates the gang of thieves after befriending their charismatic leader, Bodhi (Edgar Ramirez). “Point Break” opens Friday.

The Big Short

In “The Big Short,” when four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to – the impending 2008 global collapse of the economy - they had an idea: The Big Short.  Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball), and starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt, “The Big Short” opens Wednesday December 23. 

The Hateful Eight

In “The Hateful Eight,” a stagecoach hurtles through the wintry Wyoming landscape. The passengers, bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his fugitive Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), race towards the town of Red Rock where Ruth will bring Domergue to justice. Along the road, they encounter two strangers (Samuel L. Jackson and Walton Goggins); as they lose their lead on the blizzard, the four seek refuge at a stagecoach stopover on a mountain pass - where they are greeted not by the proprietor but by four unfamiliar faces (Demian Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern).  As the storm overtakes the mountainside, our eight travelers realize they may not make it to Red Rock after all. “The Hateful Eight” opens in limited release on Friday December 25 and expands wide on Thursday December 31.

Contact David: dfair@emich.edu