'Hunger Games' feasts, 'Napoleon' conquers but 'Wish' doesn't come true at Thanksgiving box office
The Walt Disney Co.โs โWishโ had been expected to rule the Thanksgiving weekend box office, but moviegoers instead feasted on leftovers, as โThe Hunger Games: Songbirds and Snakesโ led ticket sales for the second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.
This popular franchise returns to the big screen
This film takes viewers back to Pandora, and reintroduces some familiar faces, as well as some new ones. Cast members Jack Champion, Bailey Bliss, Trinity jo-Li Bliss, and Jamie Flatters from โAvatar: The Way of Waterโ joined Michelle Oliver on โLive in the Dโ to discuss the new film.
Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Jackman, Michael Keaton, and more hit the big screen this weekend
Maggie Q will be joining Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Keaton on the big screen for the newest action/thriller film, The Protรฉgรฉ. The film follows Maggie QโS character, an orphan adopted by Samuel L. Jackson, who is the top hitman. Her mission is to find out what happened to him after he is murdered.
Ann Arbor chefs join Michigan Theater to discuss culinary industry, answer questions Monday
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ At 7 p.m. on Monday, Michigan Theater audiences can learn more about four inspiring Ann Arbor chefs. As part of its Womenโs Voices series presented by Toyota, Michigan Theater will begin virtual screenings of Her Name is Chef on Friday. The documentary explores the changing culture of the culinary industry through the stories of six female chefs. Virtual screenings cost $12 to rent, $10 for Michigan Theater members and is free for gold members. If rented through the MTF AgileLink streaming platform, 50 percent of proceeds from the film benefit the independent Ann Arbor theater.
Ann Arborโs Michigan Theater to launch series of films centered around womenโs stories Friday
ANN ARBOR โ The Michigan Theater has partnered with Toyota to add a Diversity Film Series kicking off this month in its Virtual Movie Palace. In celebration of Womenโs History Month, the series will start with four films centered around womenโs stories during the month of March. AdBelow are the four feature films in the series, with synopses by the Michigan Theater. The film opens virtually on March 12. AdThe film opens virtually on March 26.
Tickets now on sale for 59th Ann Arbor Film Festival
ANN ARBOR โ For the second year, the Ann Arbor Film Festival will take place online due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Now in its 59th year, the Ann Arbor Film Festival is the oldest experimental film festival in North America. This year, the festival will run from March 23-28 and will feature over 100 films in competition. Tickets for individual events start at $2, but the suggested price is $12 to help support the festival. AdThree levels of festival passes give viewers varying access to programming.
Ann Arborโs Michigan Theater showcases award-winning documentary
โThe history of the Michigan Theater is the history of Buffalo; they tell the story of how a communityโs perseverance, vision, and loyalty, even in the face of decline, can bring hope and change. At 7 p.m. on Monday, March 1, the independent Ann Arbor theater will host Wall and producer Eric Wojtanik for a Q&A session. Tickets cost $12, $10 for Michigan Theater members and are free for gold members. Fifty percent of film proceeds made through the MTF AgileLink will go to the Ann Arbor independent theater, according to the Michigan Theater website. In 2019, the documentary won an Audience Award at the Buffalo Film Festival and was an official selection of the 2019 Film Festival of Columbus and 2020 Maryland International Film Festival.
Bundle up this weekend with a Nomadland movie night
It looks like a lot of us will be spending the weekend bundled up indoors, and movie reviewer Greg Russell has a brand new movie recommendation to help get us through the cold weather. Nomadland is the latest film from actress Frances McDormand and director Chloรฉ Zhao. McDormand plays a woman whose life changes direction when she loses most of her savings in a recession. The story follows her and a culture of other older American workers as they travel the country picking up odd jobs and living as modern nomads . Got the chance to talk with director, writer, and editor Chloรฉ Zhao, who says she couldnโt imagine anyone other than McDormand in the lead role.
Documentary on Black male experiences in Washtenaw County premieres virtually on Sunday
ANN ARBOR โ A new documentary by Washtenaw My Brotherโs Keeper will premiere virtually on Sunday through a screening hosted by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation at 4 p.m. Directed by Fred Culpepper, the film documents the experience of Black men in Washtenaw County, from hopes to conflicts to thoughts and worries. Viewers will get a rare glimpse of openness and vulnerability -- and an open space where young Black men speak freely about their views and experiences, and share with mentors and peers in the community. Reminder that Washtenaw My Brother's Keeper (WMBK) documentary premieres this Sunday virtually at AAACF! AdThe partnership with WMBK has helped to guide AAACFโs EmpowerMENt Fund, which focuses on educational success and the uplifting of young Black men in Washtenaw County.
This Netflix film shows a new, complicated kind of love story
Today on Reel Talk, movie reviewer Greg Russell got the chance to watch Netflixโs latest flick, Malcolm & Marie, which is available to watch now. The film stars John David Washington and Zendaya as they play a couple going through the dramatic highs and lows of an intense, unconventional love story. Greg was able to sit down and talk with John David Washington about his role in the film. โIt definitely breaks the traditional love story genre,โ Washington said. He said the film gets into the more serious sides of love and the struggle it can take to maintain a relationship.
Christopher Plummer, iconic โSound of Musicโ actor, dies at 91
HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 04: Christopher Plummer attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)Christopher Plummer, best known for his role as Captain Von Trapp in โThe Sound of Music,โ died Friday at his home in Connecticut at the age of 91. Variety reports Plummer passed peacefully with his wife of 53 years by his side. Plummer won an Oscar in 2012 for his supporting role in โBeginners,โ becoming the oldest actor to ever win for the category. Check back for updates.
Ann Arbor Jewish Federationโs benefit goes virtual this year
ANN ARBOR โ The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor will be moving its annual benefit The Main Event online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The virtual cabaret will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 and will feature performances from Broadway, film and TV star Tovah Feldshuh and Ann Arbor native Ari Axelrod. โThis will be an evening of Broadway-caliber entertainment with the goal of supporting Jewish life locally and around the world,โ reads the event website. 7-8 p.m. Cabaret with Tovah Feldshuh and Ari Axelrod on YouTube LiveAdDuring the performance, you may choose to enjoy a dinner catered by Amandaโs Kitchen, available for purchase. Beth Israel Congregation is at 2000 Washtenaw Ave.For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Where to watch two new star-studded films this weekend
Movie critic Greg Russell is back with his thoughts on Supernova and The Little Things, the latest two movies from a cast of Academy Award-winning actors. First Russell took a look at Supernova, a drama that follows Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth after many years of living together as a couple. Russell got to speak with Tucci, who said he prepared for the role by watching documentaries and learning from real people. In the film, Washington plays a cop who winds up investigating a crime in the heart of LA, but as he uncovers pieces of the case, they start to hit close to home. To see Gregโs full reviews, watch the video above.
Film fans can play to win with Michigan Theaterโs virtual movie trivia
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ Get the gang together and win fun prizes at weekly virtual trivia hosted on Zoom by the Michigan Theater. Players can participate on their own or communicate with teammates (outside of the Zoom call) to coordinate answers. Movie buffs and cinema smartypants can win prizes for first and second place, including a Michigan Theater Foundation book or vinyl record and a free film rental through Agile Link. Michigan Theater members can play for free by sending an email to feedback@michtheater.org and asking for a special promo code. Hereโs the current schedule:Thursday, Jan 28 - 7 p.m.Friday, Feb. 5 - 7 p.m. - Black Filmmakers EditionFriday, Feb. 12 - 7 p.m. - Romantic Movies EditionFriday, Feb. 19 - 7 p.m.Friday, Feb. 26 - 7 p.m.Sign up through the trivia schedule or learn more about the events and prizes at michtheater.org/trivia/
Independent theaters in Ann Arbor announce decision to delay full opening until April
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ The historic Michigan Theater and State Theatre are taking it slow when it comes to reopening. On Thursday, the Michigan Theater Foundation (MTF), which operates both of the downtown Ann Arbor independent theaters, announced that neither theater would fully reopen until April. According to the Michigan Theaterโs reopening plan:โThe MTF received permission from the State of Michigan to reopen the historic Michigan and State theaters in downtown Ann Arbor on December 21, 2020. For reasons of safety, the MTF team made the conscious decision to delay a full public reopening for three reasons:The rise in the infection rate after the Christmas/New Year holiday. Virtual events and Michigan Theater concessions are also available.
Looking for the latest Sci-Fi thriller?
Marvel star Anthony Mackie is back in a new sci-fi action flick called Outside The Wire. Film critic Greg Russell got the chance to sit down and talk with Mackie and his co-star Damson Idris about what it took to make the movie. Outside the Wire follows Lt. Thomas Harp, a drone pilot who gets into trouble and is reassigned to be partnered with Anthony Mackieโs character, Leo. Harp soon finds out that thereโs more to Leo than he first thought, and discovers he is actually an extremely life-like robot. The film then follows their struggle to work together in a war zone to prevent a nuclear attack.
Pop-up drive-in theater coming to Downtown Detroit
DETROIT โ A piece of Downtown Detroit real estate is getting a new temporary tenant. Bedrock and Emagine Entertainment are partnering up to launch the Monroe Street Drive-In Powered by Emagine. The theater opens on Jan. 22 with the opening night screening of the 1993 film Jurassic Park. Tickets will cost $20 per vehicle and will be available in the coming days at emagine-entertainment.com. Additionally, tickets can be purchased in-person at the Monroe Street Drive-In Powered By Emagine when gates open at 6 pm starting Jan. 22, 2021.
Bedrock, Emagine partner for drive-in movies in Downtown Detroit
DETROIT โ A new drive-in movie theater experience is coming to Downtown Detroit. Bedrock and Emagine have partnered for the Monroe Street Drive-In Powered by Emagine, which will offer drive-in films for $20 per vehicle starting this month. Monroe Street Drive-In will operate in partnership with Emagine Entertainment, with showtimes every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7 pm, starting Jan. 22. Initially, Bedrock has reserved January 22, 2021 as a complimentary special pre-screening for local Detroiters at the Monroe Street Drive-In. SHOWTIMES & THEATER INFORMATIONMonroe Street Drive-In Powered By Emagine will feature a 60x32 ft digital projection screen on the site of the future Monroe Blocks development at 32 Monroe Street, Detroit, MI 48226.
Whatโs new on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ in January 2021
FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2020 file photo, the logos for Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and Sling TV are pictured on a remote control in Portland, Ore. As movie theaters closed and lockdowns descended across the country, people turned to the ever-growing number of video streaming services for entertainment. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
A wonderful science angle (or is that โAngel?โ) to โItโs a Wonderful Lifeโ
DETROIT โ As you probably know, an annual NBC tradition is airing โItโs a Wonderful Lifeโ on Christmas Eve -- and this year, more than any other year, we need that movie. There is a way cool science angle to the movie that nobody knows about: Near the beginning, remember the scene where the angels in heaven choose an angel named Clarence to head to Earth to save George Bailey? Well, thereโs an ultra-cool science angle to that scene. Check out my explanation in the short video above -- itโll make your Christmas even more special! RELATED: Best Christmas movie?
Christmas Movie Bracket: After 75,000 votes, winner is crowned
Itโs been a long (two week) journey to the end of our Christmas Movie Bracket -- but only one movie could earn the title of champion. After defeating classics, like โA Christmas Story,โ โTrading Places,โ โHome Alone,โ and in the final matchup, โRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,โ the winner of the Christmas Movie Bracket is:National Lampoonโs Christmas Vacation. The top four finished as: 1) Christmas Vacation, 2) Rudolph, 3) A Charlie Brown Christmas and 4) Home Alone. โChristmas Vacationโ was released in 1989 as the third installment of the National Lampoon vacation series. Insider only: Best Christmas movie?
Best Christmas movie? Vote in the final round of our bracket challenge
Thereโs nothing like enjoying your favorite holiday movie while the snow is falling and the fireplace is crackling. But itโs time to decide -- which movie is the best? With the holiday season upon us, we decided to have a little fun: Weโve launched a Christmas Movie Bracket, with five rounds of voting, to decide the best of the best. Insider only: Best Christmas movie? Christmas Movie Bracket - Final Round Voting
Ann Arbor Film Festival to start paying filmmakers who show work at competitions
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ Filmmakers showing their films at this yearโs 59th Ann Arbor Film Festival can now expect to be paid for their art. On Tuesday, the film festival organization announced it will begin paying artists to show their films at competitions, starting with its upcoming festival in March. โArtists pour money, time, energy, heart, and soul into their work, and are usually the last to see compensation. Hereโs hoping my contribution spurs others to join this movement, recognizing and rewarding the work of artists who enhance our lives in immeasurable ways.โThe 59th Ann Arbor Film Festival will run from March 23-28, 2021. The festival was founded in 1963 and has since become the oldest independent and avant-garde film festival in North America.
Whatโs the best Christmas movie? Vote in semifinal of our bracket challenge
Thereโs nothing like enjoying your favorite holiday movie while the snow is falling and the fireplace is crackling. But itโs time to decide -- which movie is the best? With the holiday season upon us, we decided to have a little fun: Weโve launched a Christmas Movie Bracket, with five rounds of voting, to decide the best of the best. Insider only: Best Christmas movie? Christmas Movie Bracket - Round 4 (semifinal) Voting
Whatโs the best Christmas movie? Vote in Round 3 of our bracket challenge
Thereโs nothing like enjoying your favorite holiday movie while the snow is falling and the fireplace is crackling. With the holiday season upon us, we decided to have a little fun: Weโve launched a Christmas Movie Bracket, with five rounds of voting, to decide the best of the best. Weโre including movies that are debated as Christmas movies, like โDie Hard,โ โLethal Weapon,โ and โTrading Places,โ because they are indeed Christmas movies. Insider only: Best Christmas movie? Christmas Movie Bracket - Round 3 Voting
Whatโs the best Christmas movie? Vote in Round 2 of our bracket challenge
Thereโs nothing like enjoying your favorite holiday movie while the snow is falling and the fireplace is crackling. With the holiday season upon us, we decided to have a little fun: Weโve launched a Christmas Movie Bracket, with five rounds of voting, to decide the best of the best. Weโre including movies that are debated as Christmas movies, like โDie Hard,โ โLethal Weapon,โ and โTrading Places,โ because they are indeed Christmas movies. We had some upsets, including the TV movies, Frosty and Rudolph, advancing to the second round. Christmas Movie Bracket - Round 2 Voting
Detroit is โvery coolโ: Actor Jon Hamm implores people to visit city after filming new movie
Enter: No Sudden Move, a feature film set in Detroit in the 1950s that has brought a star-studded cast to Metro Detroit for filming this fall. Beginning in September, stars like Jon Hamm, Don Cheadle and Benicio del Toro began production in Downtown Detroit and surrounding neighborhoods. โWe all stayed in a hotel in Downtown Detroit...and, by the way, Detroit: If you get the chance, go visit. โBut also strange making a movie where everybody has to be in masks until three seconds before they start rolling the cameras. The movie is slated to release on HBO Max, but no official release date has been set at this time.
Whatโs the best Christmas movie? Vote in Round 1 of our bracket challenge
Thereโs nothing like enjoying your favorite holiday movie while the snow is falling and the fireplace is crackling. But itโs time to decide -- which movie is the best? With the holiday season upon us, we decided to have a little fun: Weโve launched a Christmas Movie Bracket, with five rounds of voting, to decide the best of the best. Weโre including movies that are debated as Christmas movies, like โDie Hard,โ โLethal Weapon,โ and โTrading Places,โ because they are indeed Christmas movies. Christmas Movie Bracket - Round 1 Voting
โB.A.P.S.โ star Natalie Desselle Reid dies at 53
LOS ANGELES โ Natalie Desselle Reid, who starred alongside Halle Berry in the 1997 film โB.A.P.S.โ and on the sitcom โEve,โ has died. Reidโs death on Monday was confirmed by JeโCaryous Johnson, the CEO of JeโCaryous Entertainment, which was planning a stage adaption of โB.A.P.S.โ A rep for the actor's family said she died after a battle with colon cancer. In the film โB.A.P.S,โ Reid and Berry played the roles of two waitresses at a Georgia food diner who decide to fly to Los Angeles for a music video audition. The tandem ended up living a luxury lifestyle as โBlack American Princessesโ while caring for an elderly Beverly Hills millionaire. Johnson said Reid was looking forward to bringing her role as Mickey in the film back to life.
New House Bills aim to bring back tax credits for film, television, digital media production in Michigan
DETROIT โ State Rep. Robert Wittenberg, introduced Thursday two House Bills that would create new tax credits for media production in Michigan. House Bills 6504 and 6505 would create a two-tiered tax credit that provides incentives for Michigan-produced commercials as well as film, television and streaming productions. โThis is about Michigan jobs,โ Wittenberg said. The House Bills would create similar incentives to the Michigan Film and Digital Media Incentive, which was signed into law in 2008 by then-Gov. More information on the potential benefits of a new Michigan film tax credit can be found on the Michigan Film Industry Associationโs official website here.
Ann Arborโs Michigan Theater and State Theatre temporarily close for second time
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ The Michigan Theater and State Theatre are temporarily closing their doors, again. The restrictions will result in the temporary closing of several types of businesses, including theaters, for three weeks between Wednesday, Nov. 18 and Tuesday, Dec. 8. On Monday, The Michigan Theater Foundation informed fans through an email that its two independent theaters would be closing ahead of the mandated dates and that screenings scheduled for Tuesday were canceled. The email states that the theaters will continue with their collective Virtual Movie Palace and virtual events, including Virtual Movie Trivia. The Michigan Theater and State Theatre reopened in early October with limited screenings, reduced seating and concessions restrictions after being closed for over six months.
Michigan, State theaters offering free admission to veterans, active duty personnel in Ann Arbor Tuesday
ANN ARBOR โ Just ahead of Veterans Day, the Michigan and State theaters in downtown Ann Arbor announced they are offering free admission to all U.S. veterans and active duty personnel on Tuesday. Films showing on Tuesday are โShe is the Oceanโ and โCluelessโ at the Michigan Theater and โTenetโ and โRebeccaโ at the State Theatre. In honor of Veteran's Day, U.S. veterans and active personnel will receive FREE admission to all films tomorrow, Nov. 10 at the Michigan & @statetheatrea2! Reserve your seats at our Box Office or online at https://t.co/FNCghWeVYA #veteransday #thankyou pic.twitter.com/OghLWgEPDU โ Michigan Theater (@michigantheater) November 9, 2020Veterans Day this year is on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The Michigan Theater is at 603 E. Liberty St.
โTenetโ to head to home release in Dec. after theatrical run
NEW YORK โ After several months in pandemic-altered theaters, Christopher Nolanโs โTenetโ will head to home release on Dec. 15, Warner Bros. said Thursday. Contending with limited capacity regulations and theaters that remained closed in some states, the Warner Bros. release has so far grossed $53.8 million at the U.S. and Canadian box office. In its ninth week of release in the U.S., โTenetโ grossed $885,000 in 1,601 locations last weekend. But following the release of โTenet," along with rising virus cases in the U.S. and Europe, other big-budget releases moved out of 2020. Warner Bros. didnโt announce on-demand or streaming plans for โTenet.โMore: Entertainment News
Assassinโs Creed to get live action adaptation after Netflix, Ubisoft strike deal
Netflix and Ubisoft made a deal to develop content based on the video game franchise Assassinโs Creed. Netflix has the rights to develop live action, animated and anime entertainment based on the game. The first series in development is slated to be a live action adaptation, according to a press release. โWeโre thrilled to create an Assassinโs Creed series with Netflix and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassinโs Creed universe.โThe search is on for a showrunner. โWeโre excited to partner with Ubisoft and bring to life the rich, multilayered storytelling that Assassinโs Creed is beloved for,โ said Peter Friedlander, Vice President, Original Series, Netflix.
Donโt Miss List: The Haunting of Bly Manor, Spooked and The Last of Us Part II
What weโre watchingThe Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix)This show isnโt THAT scary... but it did give me nightmares. If you watched and enjoyed โThe Haunting of Hill House," then you need to check out this one. Undone (Amazon Prime)Undone is animated dramedy that tells the complicated story of Alma, a 28-year-old living in San Antonio, Texas. Snap Judgment Presents: SpookedSeason five of โSpookedโ was released this month -- and it couldnโt have come at a better time. This is the story contained in the songโs first verse,โ Miller wrote in the essay.
4 Arab American orgs partner for first Arab Film Fest Collab this December
Four Arab American organizations are partnering for the inaugural Arab Film Fest Collab (AFFC) later this year. The Arab American National Museum (AANM), Arab Film and Media Institute (AFMI), ArteEast and Mizna collectively present the Arab Film Fest Collab December 3โ13, 2020. Other featured films include In Vitro (2019) by Palestinian artist and filmmaker Larissa Sansour. Languages represented in the films include Arabic, French, Somali and English, and every non-English offering is subtitled in English. To learn more about the Film Fest, sponsorship opportunities, and to sign up for updates, visit arabfilmfestcollab.org