We Live in Time
An up-and-coming chef and a divorcee’s lives are changed through a random encounter that brings them together in a decade-spanning romance. What could be a paint-by- numbers romantic drama is elevated by its unconventional storytelling style comprised of vignettes from various points in time. Andrew Garfield has gotten some of the best reviews of his career as Tobias, with Florence Pugh as Almut. John Crowley (Brooklyn, The Goldfinch) directs. Starring Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield and Aoife Hinds.
Now playing at the Michigan & State Theaters.
Conclave
Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Robert Harris, “Conclave” is a tightly wound thriller straight out of the gate. Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, dean of the College of Cardinals who is faced with the news of the death of the pope — meaning he will be thrust into the web of a massive transition of power. As the College of Cardinals descend on the Vatican, we meet the candidates— all flawed men who are devoted to serving God in their own ways and with differing rational and views on how they will do so. Most of the film takes place in the conclave where all the Cardinals are confined from the outside world throughout the process. The confined space sets the stage for a tense, claustrophobic thriller. The film is directed by Edward Berger whose “All Quiet on the Western Front” won the best International Feature Film prize at the 2023 Academy Awards. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow.
Now playing at the State Theater.
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Anora
There’s a lot of positive buzz about Sean Baker’s latest film, “Anora”— his first since “Red Rocket” and “The Florida Project.” Anora is the titular character — a stripper and sometime sex worker from Brooklyn who impulsively marries the spoiled son of a Russian oligarch. The film starts as a riff on “Pretty Woman,” but as the film progresses, we find the set-up is there in order to smash the rules of Cinderella films in a dark and spectacular way. Mikey Madison gives an outstanding performance as Anora/Ani. Winner of this year’s Palme d’Or, it’s sure to win some major prizes and this year’s Academy Awards. Starring Mickey Madison and Mark Eidelshtein.
Opens Nov. 8 at the State Theatre.
Blitz
Academy Award winning Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) wrote, produced, and directed this work of historical fiction that some have compared to John Boorman’s 1987 film, Hope and Glory— a memoir of that director’s childhood during World War II. The film is told from the perspective of a 9-year-old black son of a white mother (Saoirse Ronan) who tries to send him away to the countryside. The boy runs away, back to London, with both good and bad experiences in the process. Paul Weller (frontman of 80s bands The Jam and Style Council) turns in a strong performance. It’s a tender and beautifully photographed film starring Saoirse Ronan, Paul Weller and Elliot Heffernan.
Playing Nov. 8 at the State Theatre.
Memoir of a Snail
While Memoir of a Snail is a Claymation film, it’s much in the style of Adam Elliot’s wonderful but adult-themed, Mary & Max, the story of a misfit Australian girl who, through happenstance becomes the pen pal of an autistic New Yorker named Max. Memoir of a Snail follows a similar friendship. A melancholic woman named Grace Pudel who hordes snails, romance novels and guinea pigs recounts her life starting from the 1970s when Grace and her twin brother, Gilbert, are separated when their father dies and sent to live with separate families on opposite ends of the country. The two keep in touch by writing letters. Elliot’s films don’t shy away from themes of loneliness, alcoholism, and even Alzheimer’s. His characters are relatable misfits who find moments of happiness and levity despite their circumstances. This is Elliot’s first feature since Mary & Max, which is also highly recommended. Starring Sarah Snook and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
Playing Nov. 8 at the Michigan Theater.
Nocturnes
FREE and open to the public (must reserve free tickets/RSVP in advance)!
In the dense forests of the eastern Himalayas, moths are whispering something to us. In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe. Together, they are on an expedition to decode these nocturnal creatures in a remote ecological “hot spot” on the border of India and Bhutan. The result is a deeply immersive film that transports audiences to a rarely seen place and urges us all to look more closely at the hidden interconnections of the natural world. From directors Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan.
Playing Nov. 13 at the State Theatre.
