Sleepaway Camp, July 3, Michigan Theater
The original is the best of the Sleepaway Camp series which become a 1980s slasher classic! “Bunks and showers are a mad stabber’s beat at a summer camp strictly for teens,” reads the tagline. So bad it’s good. Sleepaway Camp has a certain charm that’s hard to define. Decidedly un-PC (expect to be offended) with kills that feel intense for the ages of some of the younger cast, and a legendary twisted ending. Felicia Rose plays the traumatized Angela and Jonathan Tiersten, who recently passed away, plays her cousin Ricky. A summer essential.
Bad News Bears, July 5, Michigan Theater
Walter Matthau plays hard-drinking, former minor-league baseball player, Morris Buttermaker, who gets bamboozled into coaching the worst little league team ever. The most accurate depiction of childhood sports, circa 1976, ever committed to film, it spawned two sequels and a few remakes that never topped the original. Hilarious and at times raunchy, keep your eye on Vic Marrow (father of Jennifer Jason-Leigh) as the winning obsessed coach, Turner. With Tatum O’Neal and Jackie Earle Haley.
History of the World, Part 1, July 23, Michigan Theater
A spectacular cast traces human history through time with comical vignettes. From Cavemen to the French revolution, it’s a crime that we never got part two! See more Brooks film in Michigan Theater’s Happy Birthday Mel Brooks series in honor of his 100th birthday. With Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, and Gregory Hines.
The Descent, July 17 Michigan Theater
A group of female friends go deep cave exploring in North Carolina and find they’re not alone. This highly effective, very claustrophobic horror classic was directed by Neil Marshall whose previous effort was indie horror favorite, Dog Soldiers.
New York, New York, July 21 Michigan Theater
Martin Scorsese’s 1977 underrated film about a singer (Liza Minnelli) and a sax player (Robert De Niro) who meet on VJ day (in the 1940s) and embark on a rocky romance and marriage, as both their careers in the music industry take off. The film is rumored to have been inspired by Doris Day’s first, highly abusive, marriage to trombone player Al Jordan at age 19.
The Great Muppet Caper, FREE Event, July 19 Michigan Theater
Kermit, Fozzie, Ms. Piggy and the gang are involved in a British jewel heist in their second big screen outing. A free event. Sign up for tickets on Michigan Theater’s website to get your seats.
The Drunken Master, July 11, Michigan Theater
Part of Michigan Theater’s Martial Arts Matinee series, this early Jackie Chan movie helped solidify him as a star. Legendary martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill) directs. Chan plays Wong Fei-Hung, a mischievous, yet righteous young man, but after a series of incidents, his frustrated father has him disciplined by a master of drunken martial arts.
More special screenings
There are many special screenings this month at Michigan Theater including, the annual Summer or Ghibli series, more Summer Classics, Late Night Favorites, and another Cozy Crafting event with Charlie’s Angels 2000. Check their website for more listings!
