[ad_1]
We are officially in the summer and a wide range of films are hitting theaters! WEMU’s David Fair spoke with Michigan Theater Foundation Executive Director Russ Collins, find out everything you need to know for the weekend of July 4th.
“F9” MARKS A POST-PANDEMIC TRIUMPH IN AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS RECOVERY
First of all. At $ 70 million for its first weekend, “F9” (Universal) got off to a great start. Not only is it the best opening for any movie in 18 months, but it beat “A Quiet Place Part II†(Paramount) by almost 50% for best gross since the pandemic. While it didn’t hit the previous two main series entries (“Furious 7†opened at $ 147 million, “Fate of the Furious†most recently in 2017 at Easter was $ 99 million). However, even under normal conditions, it might not have been considered a horrific fall.
Last weekend’s gross total will be just under $ 100 million. It will break the previous record after the close of $ 81 million (when opening “Quiet”) for the three days leading up to Memorial Day. Better yet, since the same weekend in 2019 only grossed $ 152 million, that’s 65% of that total. Among other vestiges, “In the Heights” (Warner Bros.) still does very well at the Michigan Theater, but not as well as hoped nationally – perhaps because it also opened. on HBO Max.
The pace of specialized / independent outings is accelerating. This week, Farmington Hills, Mich., Heidi Ewing premiered at Sundance in 2020 at four New York / Los Angeles theaters, similar to what a typical platform release would do. He will play at the State Theater in mid-July.
“Le Cercle Rouge” (Rialto), a reissue of Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1970 detective film starring Alain Delon, grossed $ 9,000 at the Film Forum in New York. This venue has been open for over a month and its progress (this is their best gross yet) shows that audiences for cinephile films are also increasing. “Summer of Soul” (Searchlight) quietly opened in a theater in Manhattan (the AMC Magic Johnson in Harlem) and Hollywood (the El Capitan). This highly anticipated musical film opens at the State Theater this weekend.
OPENING DOWNTOWN
“Summer of Soul (Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” – OPEN FRIDAY, JULY 2 AT THE STATE
In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and moving documentary, part a musical film, part a historical record created around an epic event that celebrated history, culture and history. black fashion. For six weeks in the summer of 1969, just 160 km south of Woodstock, the Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The images have never been seen and largely forgotten until now. The film highlights the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and testifies to the healing power of music in times of turmoil, past and present. The feature includes unreleased concerts by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Staples Singers, Mahalia Jackson, BB King, The 5th Dimension, and more.
“Black Widow” – OPEN FRIDAY, JULY 9, STATE
In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller, Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) takes on the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy linked to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must face her spy story and the broken relationships left in its wake long before she becomes an Avenger. Also with Florence Pugh, David Harbor and Rachel Weisz.
CITY CENTER SPECIAL SCREENINGS
SPIKE LEE RETROSPECTIVE – Saturdays
JAPANESE ANIME – Sunday
WES ANDERSON RETROSPECTIVE – Fridays
CINEMA CLASSICS – Sundays and Tuesdays
CONTINUE DOWNTOWN
“In the heights”
This is an American musical drama directed by Jon M. Chu from a screenplay by Quiara AlegrÃa Hudes. It is based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s stage musical. The film stars Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV and Jimmy Smits.
Lights up over Washington Heights … The scent of a caliente cafecito hangs in the air just outside the 181st Street subway station, where a kaleidoscope of dreams brings this vibrant, tight-knit community together. At the intersection of it all is the likeable magnetic bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), who saves every penny of his daily grind as he hopes, imagines and sings for a better life.
“The truffle hunters”
Deep in the forests of Piedmont, Italy, a handful of men, young in their seventies or eighties, hunt the rare and expensive Alba white truffle, which to this day has withstood all the efforts of modern science culture. They are guided by a secret culture and training passed down from generation to generation, as well as the noses of their cherished and skillfully trained dogs. They live a simpler, slower way of life, in tune with their loyal animals and their perfect land, seemingly straight out of a fairy tale. They are not connected to cellphone screens or the internet, choosing instead to prepare their food and drinks by hand and prioritize in-person and community connections.
The demand for white truffles is increasing year by year, even as the supply is decreasing. As a result of climate change, deforestation and the lack of young people taking up the torch, the secrets of truffle growers are more coveted than ever. However, as it quickly becomes clear, these aging men may well hold something far more precious than even that prized delicacy: the secret to a rich and meaningful life.
“The Sparks Brothers”
This is a 2021 documentary film directed by Edgar Wright. The film is about Ron and Russell Mael, members of the pop and rock duo Sparks. The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. The cast includes: Ron Mael & Russell Mael, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Beck, Flea, Jonathan Ross, Patton Oswalt, Scott Aukerman, Jason Schwartzman, Tony Visconti , Mike Myers, Giorgio Moroder, Fred Armisen, Neil Gaiman, Earle Mankey, Harvey Feinstein, Todd Rundgren, Björk, Simon Pegg as voice of John Lennon, Nick Frost as voice of Ringo Starr. In addition, many other collaborators and fans of the group were interviewed; more than 80 people are interviewed.
Principal photography began in May 2018, with Jake Polonsky as cinematographer, starting by covering the band’s concert at the O2 Forum Kentish Town. In April 2020, Wright announced that the film was “nearing completion.”
“Rita Moreno: Just a girl who decided to go”
It is a 2021 American documentary film, directed, produced and edited by Mariem Pérez Riera. The film follows Rita Moreno, focusing on her youth and career. Norman Lear, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Michael Kantor are the executive producers.
The film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2021.
For over 70 years, Rita Moreno has inspired audiences with her performances, the film follows her journey from childhood to stardom. In July 2019, it was announced that PBS would produce and distribute a documentary film around Rita Moreno with Norman Lear and Lin-Manuel Miranda in executive production.
“A Quiet Place, Part II”
A 2020 American horror film and the sequel to the 2018 film, both of which follow a family forced to navigate and survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind monsters with a keen sense of hearing. The sequel was written and directed by John Krasinski under the Paramount Pictures studio. Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe reprise their roles from the first film, and Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou have joined the cast. Krasinski also returns from the first film in a small role, seen in flashback footage set before the first film.
Fact-based non-commercial reporting is made possible with your financial support. Donate to WEMU Today to keep your community NPR station booming.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
– David Fair is the news director of UEMO and the host of Morning Edition on UEMO You can contact David at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or send him an e-mail at [email protected]
[ad_2]
