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Find out what films, events and series are currently on the slate at the Michigan Theater. Also check out our other series and programs:
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Crazy Heart
Playing through Thursday, February 4 and moves to the State Friday, February 5. For times, view our Schedule
“It's a juicy, career-crowning role, and Bridges - a master of subtle brilliance - plays the hell out of it.” - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
2010 Oscar Nominee Jeff Bridges stars as the richly comic, semi-tragic romantic anti-hero Bad Blake. He’s a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who’s had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean (2010 Oscar Nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal), a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician. As he struggles down the road of redemption, Bad learns the hard way just how tough life can be on one man’s crazy heart. 111 minutes. Rated R.
Official Website
Trailer
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Skin
Playing through Wednesday, February 3. For times, view our Schedule
“Skin is a tragic, enraging, and uplifting tale” –Entertainment Weekly
Both her father (Sam Neill) and mother (Alice Krige) are white, but Sandra Laing (Sophie Okonedo) is born with dark skin - a complex problem in the era of South African apartheid that soon drives a wedge into the family in this poignant drama based on a true story. Though her parents fight to have the government classify her as white, Sandra grows up in a divided world, and experiences her parents can't understand make her question her identity. 107 minutes. Rated PG-13.
Official Website
Trailer
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“The Damned United is a thoughtful and entertaining study on the perils of ambition that has little to do with soccer and a lot to do with being human. Well-played.” –Detroit News
Arrogant Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) coaches England's soccer champs Leeds United in 1974 alongside confidant and assistant manager Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall), but he manages to bungle the deal in a mere 44 days, winding up fired. Written for the screen by Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) and based on David Peace's critically acclaimed novel, this fictionalized account of the notorious sports legend co-stars Jim Broadbent. 97 minutes. Rated R.
Official Website
Trailer
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“This is a wonderful movie.” – A.O. Scott, At the Movies
This stream-of-consciousness, 1960s-era drama centers on a day in the life of George Falconer (2010 Oscar Nominee Colin Firth), an English-born, Los Angeles college professor who is struggling to find meaning in his life after the death of his long time partner. The story is a romantic tale of love interrupted, the isolation that is an inherent part of the human condition, and ultimately the importance of the seemingly smaller moments in life. Fashion designer Tom Ford makes his directoral debut, which is based on Christopher Isherwood's novel. Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode and Ginnifer Goodwin co-star. 101 minutes. Rated R.
To read a letter from the director, Tom Ford, click here
Official Website
Trailer
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“Nicolas Cage is out of his mind in The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans. And it's wonderful to see.” - Tom Long, Detroit News
In Werner Herzog’s new film, Nicolas Cage plays a rogue detective who is as devoted to his job as he is at scoring drugs -- while playing fast and loose with the law. He wields his badge as often as he wields his gun in order to get his way. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he becomes a high-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the beautiful ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon. Complicating his tumultuous life is the prostitute he loves (played by Eva Mendes). Together they descend into their own world marked by desire, compulsion, and conscience. The result is a singular masterpiece of filmmaking: equally sad and manically humorous. 122 minutes. Rated R.
Official Website
Trailer
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Z
Part of the World Cinema Film Series
Playing Monday, February 8 at 7:00 PM.
Based on true events, director Costa-Gavras's Oscar-winning film closely parallels the real-life assassination of a Greek doctor and humanist whose 1963 murder led to public scandal and eventual overthrow of the democratic government in Greece. Part mystery and part thriller, the film made its mark as a groundbreaking political roman à clef, and its edge-of-your-seat plot, vérité photography and driving score resonate even today. Algeria: 1969. French with subtitles. 127 minutes.
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Chops
Playing Friday, February 12 at 7:00 PM. Advance tickets are available at ticketweb.com
Directed by UM Alumni Bruce Broder, Chops tells the story of a group of kids with extraordinary musical ability who learn to make the most of their gifts in an acclaimed public school jazz program in Jacksonville, FL.
From their early, squeaky scales to soaring, improvisational solos, we have a front row seat for their fascinating transformation. We’re with them as they stick together and as they fall apart. And we see up close how the events of their daily lives are expressed in their music. We follow their musical journey from Florida to New York City, where they compete against the top high school jazz bands in the nation at the prestigious Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival.
Win or lose, the Essentially Ellington experience puts them at the threshold of their dream, and reveals the incredible growth they’ve experienced personally and musically. 88 minutes. Not Rated.
Official Website
Trailer
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“Miller has created a witty satire about society and relationships that is both funny and heartbreaking, delivered by a first-rate cast.” - Toronto Star
When her husband (Alan Arkin), who's 30 years her senior, relocates the family to a retirement community, flawless wife and mother Pippa Lee (Robin Wright Penn) slides toward a nervous breakdown as she reflects on her tumultuous past and befriends her neighbor's enigmatic son (Keanu Reeves). With a powerful cast that also includes Julianne Moore and Winona Ryder, this pensive drama is adapted from director Rebecca Miller's novel of the same name. 98 minutes. Rated R.
Official Website
Trailer
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Entitled ‘A State of Mind’, the film provides a rare glimpse into what is one of the world’s least known societies. North Korea is sealed off from outside influences. It borders China and Russia to the north, and to the south there is a 4km wide impenetrable border with South Korea. The country follows its own communist ideals, a strict philosophy known as the Juche Idea wrapped around the worship of the Kim dynasty – Kim II Sung, their Eternal President who died in 1994 but remains Head of State, and his son and successor, Kim Jong II, known as the General. 2004. 93 minutes.
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E.T.
Part of the Benard L. Maas Family Friendly Film Series
Presented by Toyota
Sponsored by Schakolad
FREE! for kids 12 & under!
Playing Sunday, February 14 at 1:30 PM
Elliot is your normal boy, until one day, when he meets a little lost alien. He decides to keep the alien, in which he gives the name E.T. Elliot works with E.T. in trying to find him a way to get back home, but must make the difficult sacrifice. Should he help his new friend and lose him? Whatever the decision is, Elliot must keep him hidden, as someone else is out to look for him. 1982. Rated PG. 115 minutes.
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Womanizing songwriter Brad Allen (Rock Hudson) spends hours on the phone wooing his many women. Problem is, he shares a party line with prim interior decorator Jan Morrow (Doris Day), who's miffed because she can't get any calls. Then Brad gets a gander at Jan - and it's lust at first sight. Realizing he's a goner if Jan learns his true identity, Brad concocts a Texas persona to seduce her. 1959. 102 minutes.
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La Danse
Playing Sunday, February 14 and Thursday, February 18. For times, view our Schedule
“Bodies in motion tend to remain in motion, but almost never with the heart-stirring beauty and grace on view in Frederick Wiseman's exceptional portrait of the Paris Opera Ballet, La Danse.” - Kenneth Turan, LA Times
Captured by renowned documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, the lives of the men and women that comprise world-famous Opéra National de Paris reveal an unending devotion to their craft and a passion for the dance that is unequaled. Wiseman provides an intimate behind-the-scenes view of rehearsals, performances and ephemeral moments of the dancers, choreographers and others that make up the creative troupe inside the Palais Garnier. 159 minutes. Not Rated.
Trailer
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Seven Samurai
Part of the World Cinema Film Series
Playing Monday, February 15 at 7:00 PM.
Akira Kurosawa's heroic tale of honor and duty begins with master samurai Kambei (Takashi Shimura) posing as a monk to save a kidnapped child. Impressed by his bravery, a group of farmers begs him to defend their village from encroaching bandits. Kambei agrees and assembles a group of six other samurai, and together they build a militia with the villagers while the bandits loom nearby. Soon the raids begin, culminating in a bloody battle. Japan: 1954. Japanese with subtitles. 207 minutes.
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“A swank and pleasurable diversion” - Michael Phillips, At the Movies
Aging filmmaker Mateo Blanco, (Lluís Homar) also known as the screenwriter Harry Caine, tells his assistant about life before the accident that left him blind, when he became embroiled in a torrid affair with aspiring actress Lena (Penélope Cruz). Harry's story involves his agent, Judit, and deceitful financier Ernesto Martel. This colorful, romantic and tragic film is directed and written by Pedro Almodovar. Spanish with subtitles. 127 minutes. Rated R.
Official Website
Trailer
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“A swank and pleasurable diversion” - Michael Phillips, At the Movies
A series of this year’s Academy Award® nominated
animated and live action short films.
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Black Orpheus
Part of the World Cinema Film Series
Playing Monday, February 22 at 7:00 PM.
This superb retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice Greek legend is set against Rio de Janeiro's madness during Carnival. Orpheus (Breno Mello), a trolley car conductor, is engaged to Mira (Lourdes de Oliveira) but in love with Eurydice (Marpessa Dawn). A vengeful Mira and Eurydice's ex-lover, costumed as Death, pursue Orpheus and his new paramour through the feverish Carnival night. Black Orpheus earned an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Brazil: 1959. Portugese with subtitles. 100 minutes. Rated PG
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“William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe is indeed about the radical-leftist attorney. But this engrossing and provocative documentary is also about a tragic kind of liberal guilt.” - Boston Globe
Filmmakers Sarah and Emily Kunstler delve into the life of their father, William Kunstler, whose controversial career and high-profile clients solidified his place in history as one of the most famous - and reviled - 20th-century lawyers. The documentary captures a deeply personal journey as the sisters trace their father's shift from representing civil rights activists to defending accused rapists, Mafia bosses and terrorists. 85 minutes. Not Rated.
Official Website
Trailer
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“It’s the most emotionally naked work of Mirren’s movie career; she gives poetic form to the madness and the violence of commonplace jealousy.” - The New Yorker
Set during the final year of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy's life, writer-director Michael Hoffman's period biopic explores the fractious relationship between Tolstoy (2010 Oscar Nominated Supporting Actor Christopher Plummer) and his wife, Sofya (2010 Oscar Nominated Actress Helen Mirren), as he embraces a life of asceticism. Paul Giamatti co-stars as impassioned Tolstoy devotee Vladimir Chertkov, with James McAvoy playing the aging writer's assistant, Valentin, who is caught in the middle of various struggles. 112 minutes. Rated R.
Official Website
Trailer
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Sing-A-Long My Fair Lady
Presented by Potbellys Sandwich Works and Paramount Home Entertainment
Playing Sunday, February 28 at 1:30 PM.
Tickets are $12 adults, $9.50 students/seniors/veterans, $7 Michigan Theater members.
Advance tickets are available at ticketweb.com
Sing along to this gloriously witty adaptation of the Broadway musical about Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison), who takes a bet from Colonel Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White) that he can transform unrefined, dirty Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) into a lady, and fool everyone into thinking she really is one, too! He does, and thus young aristocrat Freddy Eynsford-Hill falls madly in love with her. But when Higgins takes all the credit and forgets to acknowledge her efforts, Eliza angrily leaves him for Freddy, and suddenly Higgins realizes he's grown accustomed to her face and can't really live without it. With onscreen lyrics, goodie bags, a costume parade and more! 1964. 170 minutes. Rated G.
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"Bridging the Gap" is the story of a failing educational system and the life of an extremely unique man named Joseph Dulin, who has devoted his life to successfully educating kids whom under normal circumstances, would have fallen through the cracks of the urban educational system. St. Martin DePorres Catholic High School was on the verge of bankruptcy after the Riots in 1967, as Dulin took on the unenviable task of transforming the faltering school into an educational success story by using his unique blend of charisma, discipline and unconditional love for his students, who amazingly achieved a 78% College enrollment in a city where the dropout rate is at 79% (in 2006). Outside of traveling for months as a Special Advisor directly to Al Gore during the 2000 election, Dulin has been featured in Time magazine, on The Phil Donahue and highlighted in countless areas of local a national press documenting his fight to educate, and be educated on equal terms, regardless of race or socioeconomic status.
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An American Tail
Part of the Benard L. Maas Family Friendly Film Series
Presented by Toyota
FREE! for kids 12 & under!
Playing Sunday, March 7 at 1:30 PM
Fievel is a young Russian mouse separated from his parents on the way to America, a land they think is without cats. When he arrives alone in the New World, he keeps up hope, searching for his family, making new friends, and running and dodging the cats he thought he'd be rid off. 1986. Rated G. 80 minutes.
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With a star-studded cast that includes Julia Ormond and Stanley Tucci, this Depression-era drama inspired by the American Girl line of dolls follows aspiring young journalist Kit Kittredge (Abigail Breslin), whose ingenuity and courage help save her family's house. While Kit's father (Chris O'Donnell) is away looking for a job, the family savings are stolen during a series of robberies - and young Kit sets about finding the thief. 2008. Rated G. 101 minutes.
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Coraline 3D
Part of the Benard L. Maas Family Friendly Film Series
Presented by Toyota
FREE! for kids 12 & under!
Playing Sunday, May 9 at 1:30 PM
2010 Oscar Nominated Animated Film. A young girl (voiced by Dakota Fanning) walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life - only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents (including Other Mother) try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home - and save her family. 2009. Rated PG. 100 minutes.
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