Win free movie tickets

Editor's note: Comment on today's "Cinema Chat" for a chance to win free movie tickets to the Michigan Theater. Some time between now and 9 a.m. Monday, leave a comment on this column, written by the Michigan Theater's Russ Collins. Offer your opinion on a recent movie you've seen, or on anything Russ mentions. A winner will be randomly selected, and we’ll notify that person via the email address they signed up with. They will get two passes to a movie of their choice, courtesy of The Michigan Theater. Full rules here.

Opening Downtown

The Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, best known for “Super Size Me,” explores the world of product placement, marketing and advertising in “POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold.” Cleverly this film was fully financed through product placement from various brands, all of which are integrated transparently into the film. “POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” uses humor and Ralph Nader to unmask the marketing process and to bring audiences behind closed doors directly into the pitch meetings and marketing presentations which ultimately inform our everyday entertainment decisions. The Associated Press says, “Spurlock's folksy affability creates the sensation that he's truly going on a journey, that he doesn't necessarily know all the answers to the questions he's posing, and he'd like nothing more for us than to go along for the ride.” “POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” opens Friday at the State Theatre.

“The Beaver,” directed by two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster and starring two-time Oscar winner Mel Gibson is a controversial film simply because Mel Gibson is involved. Plagued by his own demons, Walter Black (Gibson) was once a successful toy executive and family man who suffers from depression. No matter what he tries, Walter can't seem to get himself back on track . . . until he discovers a beaver hand puppet in the garbage. The film also stars Anton Yelchin and Jennifer Lawrence, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her debut role in “Winter's Bone.” Carrie Rickey of the Philadelphia Inquirer says, “That this ambitious, if deeply odd, film is so compulsively watchable is a credit to Gibson's compelling performances, both as spiritless Walter and the Cockney-accented voice of the tireless title character.” “The Beaver” opens Friday at the Michigan Theater.

Opening at the Cineplex

In “Kung Fu Panda 2,” the star of the 2008 animated hit Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new way of life is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins — and only then will he be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed. Todd McCarthy of the Hollywood Reporter says, “It all moves along briskly, with a degree of visual grace and a solid feel for 3D.” “Kung Fu Panda 2” opens today just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

In “The Hangover Part II”, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) travel to Thailand for Stu's wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don't always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can't even be imagined, unless you’ve seen the first movie, and then you might know things will probably be getting a little out of hand. “The Hangover Part II” opens today!

Special Screenings

The Tony nominated production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” will be beamed live from Broadway on Thursday, June 2, at 7 p.m. to the Michigan Theater. New York’s acclaimed Roundabout Theatre Company delivers a brilliant production starring Stratford Theatre favorite and the Tony-nominated Brian Bedford as Lady Bracknell. Tickets available at www.ums.org.

Summer Film Series

Summer Classic and Summer Documentaries at the Michigan Theater. Summer Classics run every Sunday and Tuesday. Summer Documentaries run every Monday at 7 p.m.

Summer Classics

June 5 & 7 - Breathless — Restored 35mm print!

June 12 & 14 - Cinema Paradiso

June 19 & 21 - Godfather & Godfather: Part II — Restored 35mm prints!

June 26 & 28 - The Grapes of Wrath-New 35mm print!

July 3 & 5 - Goldfinger — New 35mm print!

July 10 & 12 - West Side Story

July 17 & 19 - La Dolce Vita — Restored 35mm print!

July 24 & 26 - Beauty and the Beast (1946) — Restored 35mm print!

July 31 & August 2 - Alien —New 35mm print!

August 7 & 9 - Battleship Potemkin —New 35mm print! With Live Organ accompaniment.

August 14 & 16 - Sound of Music sing-along

August 21 & 23 - The African Queen

August 28 & 30 - National Velvet

September 5 - Psycho

September 4 & 6 - Amelie

September 11 & 13 - Breakfast at Tiffany’s —Restored 35mm print!

Summer Docs.

June 6 - Winnebago Man

June 13 - Prodigal Sons

June 20 - Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

June 27 - Grey Gardens

July 4 - Marwencol

July 11 - Nenette

July 18 - Waste Land

July 25 - Blood Into Wine

August 1 -Beijing Taxi

August 8 - Elephant In The Living Room

August 15 - The Last Waltz

August 22 - Sweetgrass

August 29 - A Film Unfinished

See you at the movies!

Russ Collins is executive director of the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. Tune in to the audio version of “Cinema Chat” on WEMU radio (89.1-FM) each Thursday at 7:40 a.m. and 5:40 p.m., or listen to it online at WEMU's web site.