Eat, Shop Til You Drop, Then Hit The Movie Theater!
DETROIT (WWJ) – Looking for something to do over the long Thanksgiving weekend and already shopped til you dropped? Or maybe you're in the mood for something a little different than hitting the malls or perusing the cyberspace sales. Well, you're in luck, because there's a slew of new movies in theaters this weekend. Check out the list:
A LATE QUARTET: (now playing in Ann Arbor) When the beloved cellist of a world-renowned string quartet receives a life-changing diagnosis, the group's future suddenly hangs in the balance: suppressed emotions, competing egos, and uncontrollable passions threaten to derail years of friendship and collaboration. As they are about to play their 25th anniversary concert, quite possibly their last, only their intimate bond and the power of music can preserve their legacy. Inspired by and structured around Beethoven's Opus 131 String Quartet in C-sharp minor, A LATE QUARTET pays homage to chamber music and the cultural world of New York. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener and Christopher Walken. Directed by Yaron Zilberman. Rated R.
THE FLAT: (Exclusively at the Main Art) At age 98, director Goldfinger's grandmother passed away, leaving him the task of clearing out the Tel Aviv flat that she and her husband shared for decades since immigrating from Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Sifting through a dense mountain of photos, letters, files, and objects, Goldfinger begins to uncover clues that seem to point to a greater mystery and soon a complicated family history unfolds before his camera. What starts to take shape reflects nothing less than the troubled and taboo story of three generations of Germans - both Jewish and non-Jewish - trying to piece together the puzzle of their lives in the aftermath of the terrible events of World War II. (IFC Films) Not rated.
LIFE OF PI: (In RealD and Digital 3D and 2D) Director Ang Lee creates an all-audience movie event about a young man on a fateful voyage who, after a spectacular disaster, is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. He becomes marooned on a lifeboat he must share with the ship's only other survivor, a fearsome Bengal tiger with whom he makes an amazing and unexpected connection. Starring Suraj Sharma, Gerard Depardieu, Irrfan Khan, and Tabu. (20TH CENTURY FOX) Rated PG.
RED DAWN: (Open Road ) A group of teenagers look to save their town from an invasion of North Korean soldiers. Filmed in Detroit and starring Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck and Connor Cruise (Tom Cruise's son).This film is rated PG-13.
RISE OF THE GUARDIANS: (In Digital 3D and 2D) An epic and magical adventure that tells the story of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, and Jack Frost – legendary characters with previously unknown extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children everywhere. Starring the voices of Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackson, Isla Fisher and Jude Law. Directed by Peter Ramsey. (DREAMWORKS ANIMATION) Rated PG.
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK: After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own. This film stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro.
One side note:
Before or after taking in a flick, be sure to spend some time in the local community patronizing small businesses. Saturday, November 24th, is Small Business Saturday.
Opening next week:
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION: (In select metro Detroit theaters) On Thursday, November 29th Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Celebration of Season 2 will beam into U.S. movie theaters. The special event will precede the Blu-ray debut of "Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Second Season" on December 4.
Looking even further ahead (opening Friday, November 30th):
A LATE QUARTET: (Expanding to Grand Rapids & Lansing)
ANNA KARENINA: The third collaboration of Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley with director Joe Wright, following the award-winning box office successes "Pride & Prejudice" and "Atonement," is the epic love story "Anna Karenina," adapted from Leo Tolstoy's classic novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard ("Shakespeare in Love"). The story unfolds in its original late-19th-century Russia high-society setting and powerfully explores the capacity for love that surges through the human heart, from the passion between adulterers to the bond between a mother and her children. As Anna (Ms. Knightley) questions her happiness, change comes to her family, friends, and community (FOCUS FEATURES) This film is not yet rated.
THE COLLECTION: When Elena's (Emma Fitzpatrick) friends take her to a secret party at an undisclosed location, she never imagined she would become the latest victim of The Collector, a psychopathic killer. The Collector kidnaps and transports her to an abandoned hotel he's transformed into his own private maze of torture and death. Upon learning of his daughter's disappearance, Elena's wealthy father (Christopher McDonald) hires a group of mercenaries to retrieve her from the vicious grips of The Collector. These mercenaries coerce Arkin (Josh Stewart), the only man to have escaped the wrath of this heinous monster, to lead them through the gruesome labyrinth. Now, Arkin finds himself fighting for his own life in order to save Elena. "The Collection," directed by Marcus Dunstan and written by Dunstan and Patrick Melton, is a suspense horror film with nonstop thrills at every turn, starring Josh Stewart (The Dark Knight Rises), Emma Fitzpatrick (The Social Network), and Christopher McDonald (Requiem for a Dream). (LD ENTERTAINMENT) www.thecollectionmovie.com This film is rated R.
HITCHCOCK: (Exclusively at the Birmingham 8) This is a love story about one of the most influential filmmakers of the last century, Alfred Hitchcock and his wife and partner Alma Reville. The film takes place during the making of Hitchcock's seminal movie Psycho. (FOX SEARCHLIGHT) www.HitchcockTheMovie.com This film is rated PG 13.
KILLING THEM SOFTLY: Jackie Cogan is a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game. This film stars Brad Pitt. (THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY) Rated R.
Take your pick and I'll see you at the movies!
Follow Terri on Twitter @TerriJLee
