What: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Where: Michigan Theater
When: Monday 30th September, 7pm
How Much: $8 Student Tickets
Released in 1986, Directed by John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club) starring Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck. A fun-filled movie about ditching High School in the 80’s. Takes place in Chicago, contains many splendid moments of hijinx, not to mention a spontaneous dance number to the Beatles’ “Twist and Shout”
If you haven’t seen this film, there is something seriously wrong with what you were doing in Middle School.
“Harold and Maude” is a quirky yet wonderful story about an unlikely friendship between a misanthropic young man Harold and a geriatric widow Maude. Amidst re-planting trees which deserve better lives, riding motor cycles, sunflower appreciation, tea time and singing Harold and Maude fall in love.
Although I have seen it many times before, seeing it on the big screen was a unique experience.
What: Film – Harold and Maude
When: Monday the 15th of September 7pm
Where: The Michigan Theater
Cost: $8 for students $10 general
A wonderful film about friendship. Harold is a melancholic college graduate with a pushy mother. Maude is an 80 year old who has a lust for life, fun and sunflowers.
After meeting at a funeral they proceed to develop a wonderful and touching friendship.
With a soundtrack written and performed by Cat Stephens, this film about music, friendship and love is a classic to be enjoyed.
Sunday the 8th September brought a live recording of London’s award winning production “The Audience” to Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor. Starring Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II, written by Peter Morgan (The Last King of Scotland, The Queen, Frost/Nixon).
The play took place in the private audience room in Buckingham Palace, London, where the Queen meets with her Prime Minister every Tuesday evening to be brought up to speed on current issues. These audiences take place under strict confidence of secrecy and the actual course of events and conversations have not been recorded. Peter Morgan wrote this production to investigate what might have transpired behind closed doors between the Queen and her twelve different PM’s over the years. He based his writing off of known information; historical events, political conflicts, state issues etc.
The Audience is Morgan’s second script featuring Queen Elizabeth II. He admits he can be somewhat generous and kind to her as a historical figure, the Queen written in this production was very likable, human, silently opinionated and, naturally, refined and polite. There is little, if any, criticism written into this representation of Queen Elizabeth, she always comes out on top in each meeting, dispute, conflict or sarcastic interaction.
Helen Mirren won London’s Oliver Award (the equivalent of a Tony) for Best Actress in a Play, for her role in The Audience. She has mastered the nuances of Queen Elizabeth’s movements, speech, facial expressions and general carriage. It is amazing to watch her act in this production. There is always a different atmosphere surrounding live performances, recorded or otherwise, in comparison with feature films. The videographer of this National Theater production did a wonderful job of capturing essential physical movements without making these details obtuse or allowing these specific focal points to detract from the plot, or the other actors.
As someone who is interested in, but has little understanding or knowledge of, British history and the Royal family, I was captivated by the historical relevance of this play. I praise the Michigan Theater for bringing this production to Ann Arbor, Peter Morgan for his wit and intelligence, Helen Mirren for her skills as an actress and grace as a woman, as well as the other actors for creating such a wonderful story and executing it with such pride.
Michigan Theater will hold more screenings of National Theater Live productions through out the fall, the next performance will be Shakespeare’s “Othello” Sunday, October 13 at 7:00 PM.
A wonderful, sweet and heart warming film about the awkwardness of life and relationships, Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall” remains my favorite of his many films. Originally this film was intended to focus on Allen’s quirky, relationally challenged, comedian character Alvie Singer. However, after shooting all the footage, the decision was made to focus the narrative attentions of the film on Dianne Keaton’s relatably human persona, Annie Hall.
Not only is this story wonderful to experience, the film its self is masterfully shot, with some scenes and sequences done in one take, balance in the frame, color sequences, set design, costuming, it all comes together to create a vivid image of real life.
The writing is witty and quick, written in the 1970’s some of the jokes may go over the heads of younger generations, however there is enough content to keep all entertained.
The Michigan Theater will be screening previously released comedies every Monday night at 7pm until the middle of December. Seeing Annie Hall on the silver screen allowed for a completely new experience of this film, which I have seen many times before. I suggest you take some time out of your busy life to sit for a couple of hours and enjoy some laughs on the silver screen. Next Monday will be Harold and Maude.
While many people were cheering on the Victorious Wolverines on Saturday night (Go Blue!) a crowd of music enthusiasts traipsed across Ann Arbor to flail and bounce to El Ten Eleven’s masterful instrumental compositions.
El Ten Eleven have been creating music since 2002. An LA based “indi or post – rock” group with Kristian Dunn on a fretless bass or 1977 Carvin guitar/bass doubleneck with loop pedals and various methods of sound modulation and Tim Fogarty keeping the beat on electric drums, acoustic drums and drum pads.
This duo are, in my personal opinion, some of the most talented musicians and composers working in music today. Their songs are heavily layered with contrasting melody, harmony and rhythm. singular pieces can range from 5-15 minutes in length and time seems to slide right on by as Dunn and Fogarty weave their way from melody to melody.
The Blind Pig is a perfect venue for this group. The small space, intimate proximity to the artist and one’s fellow audience members, creates a relaxing yet thrilling experience of the brilliance these musicians bring to the stage. El Ten Eleven performed at the Pig last fall as well. There were many returning fans as well as some who had only explored BandCamp and SoundCloud (https://soundcloud.com/elteneleven) to experience a taste of what these musicians are capable. Each walked away from this event in awe of the talent, dedication and musicianship of El Ten Eleven.
