Yes/No Detroit

It's been another busy week, and I'm glad for a three-day weekend to hopefully do some relaxing, although I have a bridal shower in Marshall, MI (about a 1.5-hour drive) to go tomorrow, so it'll still be a bit busy. Engagement dinner at Royal Park Hotel, Rochester, MI What I've been up to this week: Engagement dinner at the Royal Park Hotel, Rochester. Last night I attended an engagement dinner for my friend Margarita—I believe we met in line for movie screenings, so probably around 2009-10 or so, and we've been in touch since then. It was a beautiful party—I had never been to the Royal Park Hotel, but I had seen it before, because I have another friend who lives very close by, and it ended up being gorgeous. My friend is hosting a bridal shower tomorrow too, which I'm also attending—I'm glad she's having these events because her wedding is over Labor Day weekend, in Saugatuck, when, ironically, I might *be* in labor (my due date is late August), so unfo...

I'm in a Cinetopia Film Festival hangover today, meaning I watched six movies this weekend (really like 5.5; you'll see why below) and missing both that and Ann Arbor. I've been attending the festival since 2014 —it was on hiatus from 2020-2023, then came back last year and this year. This was the first year that the festival was only five days, though, from Wednesday through this Sunday. I was in Indianapolis for work through Thursday, and needed a "recovery day" (plus had to work) on Friday, so I went in Saturday morning for it and left yesterday around 5:30pm.  I would say that you will be able to find some of the below on streaming at some point—with festival movies, some I see everywhere afterwards, and some of them I never see again on streaming/etc., which is always interesting. What I watched, and my reviews: The Spin : This was a great movie to start off the festival with—it was an Irish comedy about two friends who own a records store together (and are a...

This week has seemed busy, so I'm glad it's Friday. I have a few things lined up for the weekend too, though—Walled Lake fireworks, wedding dress alterations, etc. What I've been up to this week: Cinetopia Film Festival, Ann Arbor . This was my SEVENTH (!) time attending this festival, as I started attending it in 2014 and my last time was in 2019, which was the last time it was held; it took a five-year hiatus due to COVID. The film festival goes on for about a week and a half, and this Sunday is the last day, but I only had Saturday and Sunday to experience it, so I stayed overnight in Ann Arbor this past Saturday—my Delta credit card gives me a $150 statement credit if I book through them, so I found a hotel for $175 (aka $25!) which was nice—and saw five films total. You can read my reviews of the films I saw here . Seeing movies . Obviously the film fest ones, but last Friday I saw Tuesday , at my local AMC—it was actually a part of the film fest too, and looked good b...

This was technically my 7th time at the Cinetopia Film Festival —I attended it every year from 2014 through 2019, and then of course in summer 2020 it was not held, due to the pandemic. Fast-forward to four years later, and it's now BACK, and will continue until this Sunday, June 23rd . I unfortunately was only able to attend this weekend, due to prior commitments, but I was able to see five films this weekend. Most people purchase passes for the festival, but you can also purchase individual tickets; see the Cinetopia website for more information. Janet Planet. All photos courtesy of Cinetopia Movies I saw this year: 1. Janet Planet . This was a rather slow coming of age film, with probably more of the most-recognizable actresses at the festival—Julianne Nicholson plays the mother in the movie, with a fantastic performance by Zoe Zigler as the daughter. Sophie Okonedo and Will Patton also have supporting roles. Although the movie didn't specify the year, we could tell it was ...

How is already mid-June? Time is going by super fast. I am headed (back; see below) to Ann Arbor this weekend for the Cinetopia Film Festival , which I'm pretty excited about; I used to go every summer from 2014-19, and this is the first time it's back since the pandemic.  Yo-Yo Ma at Hill Auditorium, Ann Abor (2nd from left) What I've been up to this week: Going to Ann Arbor to see Yo-Yo Ma in concert. This is maybe the 3rd or 4th time I have seen him in concert (or maybe 5th; I've lost track). I didn't know he was playing with a full orchestra, and only playing 1 of the 4 songs, which was a little disappointing, but he's always an amazing performer—the most memorable time I saw him was actually when I was a student at UM, and he did a week-long residency there with the School of Music kids. He had a paid concert, which I attended, but also a workshop with them which was free to the public, and it was really cool to watch. For this week's concert, he played...

The past two weekends, I was able to attend the Cinetopia Film Festival , in both Ann Arbor and Royal Oak. This was my 6th year attending the festival, and it continues to be one of my favorite movie events to attend. Originally I planned on attending 23 movies, but that number got cut down to 21 because of illness (I've been sick with a cough/cold for the past 9 days or so). Still more than I saw in previous years, because I tended to always be out of town the second weekend of the festival. I'm breaking this up into three sections: favorites, least favorites, and overall ratings. Alice Englert, in Them That Follow Favorites of the fest: The Farewell . I saw this my second day of the fest, and Awkwafina was great in it. It should be out in theaters mid-July sometime.  Wild Rose . This should be out mid-June. Fun story about a Glasgow country singer who wants to move to Nashville and be a famous singer. Killing God (Matar a Dios). Weird screwball comedy with a cr...

My favorite time of year will soon be afoot: the Cinetopia Film Festival is back! I've been attending the festival since 2014, and there are always a slew of films shown that are great. This year, they've expanded their theater lineup, too, so I'm pleased that Emagine Royal Oak will be a part of the festival, as I live about ten minutes away from that theater. Other venues include the Michigan Theater and the State Theater (Ann Arbor), Arab American National Museum (Dearborn), The Maple Theater (Bloomfield Hills), The Wright Museum, Cinema Detroit, and Senate Theater (Detroit), and Angell Hall (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor). You can check out the 2019 lineup here . Some of the films I am most looking forward to seeing include: Before You Know It  (opening night film) Styx Well Groomed The Farewell Wild Rose Killing God Midnight in Paris To Dust 93Queen Welcome to Commie High Gaza Complicity Bite Me Amateurs Them That Follow Midnight Traveler The...

Ray Meets Helen Q&A with director Alan Rudolph and stars, including Sondra Locke Year 5 of Cinetopia is in the books! At least for me - Cinetopia technically goes until this Sunday, June 10th, but since I'm leaving Saturday night for NY (and then Sunday morning for Israel), I will not be able to see any more movies this week. I saw 12 movies this year, but technically 11.5: I saw the first 45 minutes of White Rabbit , but wasn't a fan, so I left and went to see Never Goin' Back  instead. Thursday, May 31st: Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor Eighth Grade. This was on my top 10 list so I was excited to see it, and they did a Q&A with the director, Bo Burnham, as well. It reminded me of Ingrid Goes West  in some parts, because the protagonist (an 8th grade girl) is obsessed with social media, and was very good. 4 stars out of 5. Scheduled to be released on July 13th. Friday, June 1st: Ann Arbor Nico, 1988. This was my first introduction to the State...

*Disclosure: I will be receiving media passes for the festival. All opinions expressed here, however, are my own. This will be my 5th year attending the Cinetopia Film Festival , and the line-up of movies looks fantastic. Per usual, the festival will mostly be taking place in Ann Arbor during the first weekend and later week, and then will head to Detroit for the second weekend. There are some Dearborn options as well, on the Henry Ford Giant Screen Experience, but the Maple Theater (Bloomfield Hills) is no longer participating, it seems.  Tickets range from $15 (1 ticket for 1 movie) to $175 (festival pass). Students are able to buy an all-movie pass for only $50. The best way to determine what pass is best for you can be found here  at Cinetopia's website: Without further ado, here are the top ten movies I'm looking forward to seeing at Cinetopia this year: (all images courtesy of Cinetopia's website) 1. Eighth Grade MIDWEST PREMIERE!...

This was year 4 for me of the Cinetopia Film Festival , and every year I find movies that I really enjoy, that I probably would not have seen / been able to see otherwise. Although I was at Cedar Point one of the weekend days, I was still able to see about 13 to 14 movies - I saw half of one movie, only because we were rushing to get to another, and I walked out of one movie too (which I rarely do, by the way) because 3 of the 4 people in our group fell asleep during it ... it was very slow and not very funny, even though it was supposed to be a comedy. So let's say 13 movies, then! Thursday, June 1st: Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor The Hero .   This movie, like most of the movies on this list, was on my " Top 10 Picks for Cinetopia " list that I published back in May, and it did not disappoint. It followed an actor who is getting older (Sam Elliott) and showed how he was struggling to book good acting jobs; he also was recently diagnosed with cancer, and must tel...