A scene from “Oh Willy…” by Marc James Roels and Emma De Swaef. Image Courtesy via New York Times.com
Looking for thought-provoking animation that goes beyond Bob’s Burgers and Adult Swim? The Sundance Animated Shorts program is a “diverse compendium of eight short films culled from past festival lineups” (Jeanette Catsoulis of nytimes.com). The films vary in style, ranging from handmade drawing and painting to puppetry. But don’t assume that animation is substance-less juvenility. Many of the films explore heavy topics, such as death, bodily and psychological decline, as well as apocalyptic themes. It is sure to be a conversation starter and an eye dazzler of a night.
What: Sundance Animated Short Films
When: Two nights only – Sunday, February 1 at 4:30 and Tuesday, February 3 at 7
Where: Michigan Theater
How Much?: $12.80
And while you wait, watch the Sundance Animated Shorts trailer for a preview!
As the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is coming up, Selma is a very suitable movie to watch. This award-winning movie features a story about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s march from Selma to Montgomery, in the hopes to gain equal voting rights. This march ended up with President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which is considered to be one of the biggest victories in the civil rights movements. Directed by Ava DuVernay, Selma stars many fantastic actors, such as David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Wilkinson, and Carmen Ejogo.
Showtimes for Selma at the State Theater can be found here. As always, students are eligible for discounted price of $8 with their student ID.
What: The Theory of Everything
Where: Michigan Theater
When: Various times until 12/11 (click here for showtimes)
Price: $8 for students with a valid MCard, $10 for adults
The Theory of everything is about the love story of Jane and Stephen hawking. If the nature of this movie doesn’t already entice you to watch it, then the indie-classic quality of the movie should. The film stars Eddie Redmayne (Marius from Les Miserables) as Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones as Jane Hawking. Under the direction of James Marsh, The Theory of everything delves into an interesting world of philosophy, science, and love, all while being set in beautiful locations such as the University of Cambridge.
What does a tissue, a feather, a bottle of bubbles, a party popper, a plastic horse, a glow stick, and a hand clapper have in common? They could all be found in the goodie bag I received, as I entered the Michigan Theater last Friday night, ready to belt out the classic songs of Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”
Image Courtesy of WikipediaImage Courtesy of orientaltrading.comImage Courtesy of galleryhip.com
Donning the Santa Hat handed to me along with the goodie bag, I felt like an elf from the Polar Express. I followed the hordes into the theater, where the antique Barton organ was humming old classic favorites like ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and the ‘Chipmunk Song.’
The theater was packed with mostly families starting new traditions, and old friends remembering the past – a glorious mash-up of the new and classic, the young and old, coming together to celebrate the holidays. And if anyone could turn “White Christmas” into a “Rocky Horror” style experience, it is the Michigan Theater.
The red curtain lifted and the eponymous title song, “White Christmas” came on. In case you didn’t know the lyrics (????), the words were digitally projected onto the screen and looked just like the subtitles of those Disney Sing Along tapes we all watched so long ago. Throughout the movie, the subtitles prompted us to retrieve certain items from our goodie bag. Every time Emma the hotel clerk takes out her hankie, we shook our napkins (very lady-like, of course) at the screen and cried, ‘Boo-hoo.’
Image Courtesy of hookedonhouses.net
Grab your bubbles! It’s starting to snow!
The movie is centered around performances, and so, to imitate our role as an audience member for both the fictional performances as well as the movie itself, we were encouraged to flap our hand clappers when Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye finish their big dance number, or when Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen take their final curtsy. But, basically, we could “hand clap” whenever we wanted (very much like in a poetry slam when you snap for anything that you find especially smooth). Among this particular audience, the hand-claps seemed to be synchronized with the kissing scenes. It was like we were all back in seventh grade when we had to say something at the sight of kissing. Except, instead of “eww,” we let out a collective, “ooh!!!”
At the final scene when the General (who owns the hotel which has been financially saved) blows out the candles on his cake, we were prompted to get out the poppers. We all waited, hands at the ready. Anticipation bubbled throughout the theater, as we waited for him to signal the celebration. It was as if we, the audience, were part of the movie! Suddenly, POP!!!! Streamers flew every which way throughout the theater and the smoky smell of gunpowder filled the air.
If you ever get the chance to take part in a communal sing along experience, do it! Even if you don’t like to sing. Because it isn’t all about the singing. The community of movie watchers and you become one. Together, you bond over the 5D experience of the movie. The smells, the sounds, the tangibility of the fictional movie become real with your help! You help bring it alive, which is an amazing thing to experience. The Michigan Theater is unique in that they put on events like this: events that you the audience member bring to life; events that will become an annual tradition time and time again. Someday, when I’m 89 years old, I hope to bring my friends, my kids, and grandkids back there to the ole’ Michigan Theater and sing along to “White Christmas” tunes, just like I did in 2014.
For those of you who have practiced such discipline and have restrained from listening to holiday music before Thanksgiving, congratulations! (I can’t say I’ve been as strong…darn that Vince Guaraldi). Once the feasting has subsided this Thursday, it is officially appropriate to rock out to festive music! And what could be more fun than ringing in the holiday spirit than with a sing-a-long of the beloved holiday movie, White Christmas?
The 1954 classic film, featuring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, tells the story of two war buddies turned entertainers who fall for a pair of sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen). The boys follow the girls to a resort, conveniently owned by their former commanding officer. But the resort is in jeopardy of getting shut down. What better excuse to stage a show than to help save the resort?
Do you remember in “Peter and the Wolf” where different instruments represented different animals? The Michigan Pops Orchestra invites you to explore the musicality of the animal kingdom with them this coming weekend! Featuring songs from the Lion King, the Aristocats, and King Kong that we are all so fond of, the concert will be a great way to shake off the stress before Thanksgiving. Sing, bark, and whinny your heart out-whatever your choice of vocal communication, come along and enjoy the show! Special guests by Groove, Amazin Blue, and the Michigan Pops Jazz Band! It’s going to be a wild night, indeed!
