FILM

A pair of Michigan State University professors said the new film “Don’t Look Up” gets much better than just passing grades for both sound science and climate crisis messaging – they agreed it was rather spot on. The film is a star-studded end-of-the-world satire on streaming platform Netflix which features actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence. The Oscar winners portray MSU astronomy researchers who discover an extinction level comet heading for Earth and nobody cares, despite their fervent and science-based warnings.

An annual NBC tradition is airing “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve -- but there’s something you might not know.

Youngsters almost four times more likely than older viewers to watch subtitled TV, research suggests.

The foundation operating the two historic theaters announced free admission for veterans and active duty military members in observation of Veteran’s Day.

"No Time to Die" tallied an estimated $56 million during its domestic opening weekend, the fourth-best debut of any James Bond film.

Start October off with a prequel, sequel or a new movie out on Netflix. Movie reviewer Greg Russell joined Tati Amare today to give us the scoop on the movies and to share his interviews with the stars.

Filmmakers now have two extra weeks to submit their work to the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

Opening day takings were 13% higher than Spectre but 26% below Skyfall, distributor Universal says.

Movie reviewer Gregg Russell shares interviews with the cast of some of Hollywood's latest films.

As fall approaches, the temperatures shift and we find ourselves looking for new and fun things to do.

Shang-Chi, played by Simu Liu, could lead the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Sean Penn and his daughter Dylan Penn sat down for an interview with movie reviewer Greg Russell to talk about their first appearance on the big screen together in the movie <i>Flag Day</i>.

Maggie Q will be joining Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Keaton on the big screen for the newest action/thriller film, <i>The Protégé. </i>The film follows Maggie Q’S 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.

Film fans headed to the Michigan Theater and State Theatre in downtown Ann Arbor will have to mask up again.

“Detroit ‘67,” “The Blackest Battle” and “Side-Walks” come to a laptop near you.

“It was an amazing movie and I’m still trying to figure out my emotions from the movie,” said Vivian Pickard. “I cried a little bit. I laughed a little bit.”

Jennifer Hudson, the star of the Aretha Franklin biopic, paid a visit to Metro Detroit.

The game is expected to be released in 2023 for PC and consoles.

A new film set in 1950s Detroit, starring Don Cheadle and Jon Hamm, is now streaming on HBO Max.

The Ann Arbor Film Festival will kick off preparations for its 60th season on Thursday when it opens its call for entries.

But some reviewers take issue with how the Marvel superhero film handles the exploitation of women.

Starting in July, the historical Ann Arbor theater will show screenings of select films on Sundays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through August.

It’s one of the biggest summer movies coming out this year as Vin Diesel and the Fast and Furious crew will return with <i>F9 </i>to battle John Cena character Jakob Toretto, the brother of Dominic Toretto.

By sifting and analysing huge amounts of data, market researchers say they can find out what's on your mind.

The Michigan and State theaters are honoring vets and active duty military personnel with free admission this weekend.

John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place Part II” finally opened in theaters Friday (May 28) after being delayed due to the COVID pandemic.

It’s like “Knives Out” but with a werewolf.

A new trailer for “RESPECT” was released this week, giving us another taste of the long-anticipated biopic on Aretha Franklin’s life and career starring Jennifer Hudson.

The annual Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival will run through August 24.

The trailer for the Venom sequel is finally here.

The big-screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” will kick off the Tribeca Film Festival on June 9, two days before the film opens in theaters and begins streaming.

Critically acclaimed film "Minari" has been nominated for six Academy Awards. Vladimir Duthiers introduces viewers to the film's scene-stealing duo.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – At 7 p.m. on Monday, Michigan Theater audiences can learn more about four inspiring Ann Arbor chefs. As part of its Women’s 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 ARBOR – 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 Women’s History Month, the series will start with four films centered around women’s 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.

ANN ARBOR – 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.

“The history of the Michigan Theater is the history of Buffalo; they tell the story of how a community’s 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.

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 Chloé 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 Chloé Zhao, who says she couldn’t imagine anyone other than McDormand in the lead role.

ANN ARBOR – A new documentary by Washtenaw My Brother’s 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 AAACF’s EmpowerMENt Fund, which focuses on educational success and the uplifting of young Black men in Washtenaw County.

Today on Reel Talk, movie reviewer Greg Russell got the chance to watch Netflix’s 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. “It definitely breaks the traditional love story genre,” Washington said. He said the film gets into the more serious sides of love and the struggle it can take to maintain a relationship.

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 “The Sound of Music,” 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 “Beginners,” becoming the oldest actor to ever win for the category. Check back for updates.

ANN ARBOR – 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. “This will be an evening of Broadway-caliber entertainment with the goal of supporting Jewish life locally and around the world,” 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 Amanda’s Kitchen, available for purchase. Beth Israel Congregation is at 2000 Washtenaw Ave.For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

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 Greg’s full reviews, watch the video above.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – 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. Here’s 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/

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – 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 Theater’s reopening plan:“The 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.

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 Mackie’s character, Leo. Harp soon finds out that there’s 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.

DETROIT – 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.

DETROIT – 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.

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.)

"Wonder Woman 1984" soared into theaters on Christmas day and secured the highest box office opening of any film released domestically since the coronavirus pandemic crippled the entertainment industry in mid-March. "Wonder Woman 1984" was one of the first major Hollywood blockbusters to be released in theaters and on streaming on the same day. Warner Bros.-parent AT&T said Sunday that nearly half of its HBO Max retail subscribers viewed "Wonder Woman 1984" on Christmas day. For comparison, the first "Wonder Woman" film, released in 2017, earned a 93% score, the highest of any film in the DC Extended Universe. Correction: Warner Bros.-parent AT&T said Sunday that nearly half of its HBO Max retail subscribers viewed "Wonder Woman 1984" on Christmas day.

DETROIT – As you probably know, an annual NBC tradition is airing “It’s a Wonderful Life” 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, there’s an ultra-cool science angle to that scene. Check out my explanation in the short video above -- it’ll make your Christmas even more special! RELATED: Best Christmas movie?

It’s 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 “A Christmas Story,” “Trading Places,” “Home Alone,” and in the final matchup, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the winner of the Christmas Movie Bracket is:National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The top four finished as: 1) Christmas Vacation, 2) Rudolph, 3) A Charlie Brown Christmas and 4) Home Alone. “Christmas Vacation” was released in 1989 as the third installment of the National Lampoon vacation series. Insider only: Best Christmas movie?

There’s nothing like enjoying your favorite holiday movie while the snow is falling and the fireplace is crackling. But it’s time to decide -- which movie is the best? With the holiday season upon us, we decided to have a little fun: We’ve 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, Mich. – Filmmakers showing their films at this year’s 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. “Artists pour money, time, energy, heart, and soul into their work, and are usually the last to see compensation. Here’s hoping my contribution spurs others to join this movement, recognizing and rewarding the work of artists who enhance our lives in immeasurable ways.”The 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.

There’s nothing like enjoying your favorite holiday movie while the snow is falling and the fireplace is crackling. But it’s time to decide -- which movie is the best? With the holiday season upon us, we decided to have a little fun: We’ve 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

There’s 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: We’ve launched a Christmas Movie Bracket, with five rounds of voting, to decide the best of the best. We’re including movies that are debated as Christmas movies, like “Die Hard,” “Lethal Weapon,” and “Trading Places,” because they are indeed Christmas movies. Insider only: Best Christmas movie? Christmas Movie Bracket - Round 3 Voting

There’s 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: We’ve launched a Christmas Movie Bracket, with five rounds of voting, to decide the best of the best. We’re including movies that are debated as Christmas movies, like “Die Hard,” “Lethal Weapon,” and “Trading Places,” 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

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. “We all stayed in a hotel in Downtown Detroit...and, by the way, Detroit: If you get the chance, go visit. “But 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.

There’s nothing like enjoying your favorite holiday movie while the snow is falling and the fireplace is crackling. But it’s time to decide -- which movie is the best? With the holiday season upon us, we decided to have a little fun: We’ve launched a Christmas Movie Bracket, with five rounds of voting, to decide the best of the best. We’re including movies that are debated as Christmas movies, like “Die Hard,” “Lethal Weapon,” and “Trading Places,” because they are indeed Christmas movies. Christmas Movie Bracket - Round 1 Voting

LOS ANGELES – Natalie Desselle Reid, who starred alongside Halle Berry in the 1997 film “B.A.P.S.” and on the sitcom “Eve,” has died. Reid’s death on Monday was confirmed by Je’Caryous Johnson, the CEO of Je’Caryous Entertainment, which was planning a stage adaption of “B.A.P.S.” A rep for the actor's family said she died after a battle with colon cancer. In the film “B.A.P.S,” 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 “Black American Princesses” 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.

DETROIT – 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. “This is about Michigan jobs,” 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 Association’s official website here.

"The Croods: A New Age" stunned at the box office this weekend, hauling in the biggest opening of any film released during the pandemic. There was some skepticism about how well "The Croods: A New Age" could perform over the Thanksgiving weekend. Instead, the film drew the biggest box office opening since Disney's "Onward" was released in March prior to nationwide lockdowns. As it stands, despite a strong showing from "The Croods" sequel, it is very likely that the 2020 Thanksgiving box office will be the worst in decades. The furthest recorded Thanksgiving box office in Comscore's database is in 1984 when the five-day weekend garnered $46.8 million.

"No Time to Die," the James Bond film that was the first Hollywood feature to move on the theatrical calendar due to the coronavirus outbreak, is moving again. On Friday, MGM Studios announced that Daniel Craig's latest turn as British spy James Bond would no longer arrive in theaters on Nov. 20. Some had predicted that the James Bond film may stick around because of its reliance on international ticket sales. This delay is yet another blow to the movie theaters, which have struggled after being shuttered for months due to the pandemic. With "No Time to Die" pushed to 2021, Disney's "Soul," an animated Pixar film, is now the next big movie set for theatrical release.

The new film is based on the real-life rescue of 33 Chilean miners who endured 69 days trapped underground after a mine collapse in 2010. The film focuses on the miners' ordeal underground and the struggles of their families above.

Remarkable time-lapse film shines a new light on 23 of the most famous cities in America. Video courtesy of professional videographer and timelapse photographer Mitchell Hadden. Contact Mitchell directly via email at <a href="mailto:mitchell.hadden@gmail.com">mitchell.hadden@gmail.com</a>. See more of his work on <a href="https://vimeo.com/user17321065" target="new">Vimeo</a>. And, be sure to follow him on <a href="https://instagram.com/mhadden/" target="new">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/MHaddenCLE" target="new">Twitter</a>.

Incredible time-lapse film takes a look at beautiful wildflowers found on a journey through Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California. Video courtesy of <a href="http://www.caseykiernanphoto.com/" target="new">Casey Kiernan Photography</a>. See more work on <a href="https://vimeo.com/joshuatreeworkshops" target="new">Vimeo</a>. And, check out his <a href="http://www.joshuatreeworkshops.com" target="new">time-lapse and astrophotography workshops</a>.

Fantastic time-lapse film examines the ever-changing light and beauty in nature, shot in Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks in northern England`. Video courtesy of <a href="http://www.awhelinphotography.com/" target="new">Alex William Helin</a>. Like him on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AwhelinPhotography" target="new">Facebook</a>. And, see more of his work on <a href="https://vimeo.com/awhelin" target="new">Vimeo</a>.

Iron Man, Captain America and the Avengers reunite on screen for the newest Marvel release "Avengers: Age of Ultron," opening Friday. The film's stars, including Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johnasson, sat down with Suzanne Marques for a preview of the blockbuster sequel.

Remarkable time-lapse film captures the relaxing and breathtaking experience of spending a few days in Yosemite National Park. Video courtesy of Casey Kiernan Photography . See more work on Vimeo

Does the film "Selma" portray LBJ unfairly? Director of Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library says new movie doesn't accurately capture LBJ's record on voting rights

Script for new James Bond film stolen in Sony hack A massive cyberattack on Sony Pictures may affect one of Hollywood’s most beloved franchises. Producers said the hackers got their hands on a script for the forthcoming James Bond film “Spectre.” Allen Pizzey reports.