May 4, 2016 - "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" (2015)

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, 2015
Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Stanley Coulter Hall, Room 239

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 105 min

Cruising through his senior year, high schooler Greg Gaines spends his free time making parody versions of famous films with his pal Earl. But when Greg's mother asks him to befriend Rachel, a leukemia patient, his blithe outlook begins to change. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated PG - 13 for sexual content, drug material, language and some thematic elements
U.S. box office: $6,743,776
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

March 23, 2016 - "Tangerine" (2015)

Tangerine, 2015

7 p.m., Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Stanley Coulter Hall, Room 239

Director: Sean Baker
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 88 min

Back on the streets on Christmas Eve after serving a month in jail, transgender prostitute Sin-Dee Rella launches a vengeful search across Los Angeles for her unfaithful pimp boyfriend, Chester, and his new squeeze. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for strong and disturbing sexual content, graphic nudity, language throughout, and drug use
U.S. box office: $701,837
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("7 Boxes", 4.5 stars)
Steven says: Several of us made a connection between this film and those from America's Coen brothers. It is a black comedy with serious side notes about relationships, trust and capitalism. Check it out!

March 2, 2016 - "Runoff" (2015)

Runoff, 2015

Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Stanley Coulter Hall, Room 239

Director: Kimberly Levin
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 90 min

With her husband's health and business failing, Betty Freeman is forced to take on a host of burdens -- including preventing foreclosure of the family's rural Kentucky home. Before long, she learns that desperate times require desperate measures. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for some drug use
U.S. box office: $29,227
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Cirkus Columbia", 3.5 stars)
Steven says: Where is home? How do you fit in to society? Small questions with big implications when a war is looming in a country divided by ethnic backgrounds. In the calm before the storm, see one family's story of upheaval, as well as their road to reconciliation.

January 27, 2016 - "The Standford Prison Experiment" (2015)

The Stanford Prison Experiment, 2015
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
7 p.m., Stanley Coulter Hall, Room 239

Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 122 min

Conducting a study on the psychology of incarceration, a Stanford professor assigns prisoner and guard roles to 24 male test subjects in a mock jail. Authority quickly escalates to abuse of power, which is allowed to continue in the name of research. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language including abusive behavior and some sexual references
U.S. box office: $643,557
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("About Elly", 4 stars)Steven says: Lies, lies and more lies keep the viewer guessing (and frustrated) as this mystery unfolds.Try to watch it with someone from Iran (or at least discuss it afterward with that person) to gain a fuller understanding of why certain things happen. Artfully created.

July 8, 2015 - "Dear White People" (2014)

Dear White People, 2014
Director: Justin Simien
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 108 min

A satire that follows the stories of four black students at an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over a popular 'African American' themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in 'post-racial' America while weaving a universal story of forging one's unique path in the world. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language, sexual content and drug use
U.S. box office: $4,404,154
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Lilting", 3.5 stars)
Steven says: A first-time director/screenwriter does a fine job navigating two disparate lives affected by the death of a man they both love. While the characters turn to translation to complete their verbal communication, we learn how much emotion and non-verbal cues are even more important.

June 17, 2015 - "The Retrieval" (2013)

The Retrieval, 2013
Director: Chris Eska
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 92 min

1864: As war ravages the nation, on the outskirts of the Civil War, it is business as usual for slave-owners and traders. The Retrieval follows Will (Ashton Sanders), a fatherless thirteen-year-old boy who survives by working with a white bounty hunter gang. They send him to earn the trust of runaway slaves in order to lure them back to the south. On a dangerous mission into the free north to find Nate (Tishuan Scott), a fugitive freedman, things go wrong and Will and Nate find themselves on the run. As the bond between them unexpectedly grows, Will becomes consumed by conflicting emotions. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for some violence
U.S. box office: $50,257
Watch the trailer on IMDB.
See "The Retrieval"'s many festival awards
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Review of last week's film ("Girlhood", 3.5 stars) 
Steven says: While the script and female bonding seemed to resonate more with the women in the audience, the story highlights, once again, the challenges and systemic roadblocks that exist for families stuck in a poverty-stricken neighborhood. Fresh talent and perspective make this worthy of your time.

April 29, 2015 - "Land Ho!" (2014)

Land Ho!, 2014
Directors: Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens
Origin: Iceland | USA
Language: English
Running time: 95 minutes

In a bid to gain life perspective, retired Mitch persuades his ex-brother-in-law to join him on a journey through the frigid landscapes of Iceland. This freewheeling road comedy follows the pair through a series of encounters that changes them both. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for some language, sexual references and drug use
U.S. box office: $727,430
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Siddarth", 3.5 stars)
Steve says: As a father begins a quest to find his missing son, we see him change from slightly concerned to near obsessive. His story is told over the backdrop of poverty and child labor in India.

January 14, 2015 - "Restless City" (2011)

Restless City, 2011
Director: Andrew Dosunmu
Origin: USA
Languages: English | French | Wolof | Yoruba
Running time: 80 min

An aspiring musician's life takes a turn toward more meaning when he meets a prostitute controlled by a loan shark. Together they do all they can to escape the lure of the street in order to achieve the American dream. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for some drug use and brief sexuality
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of previous film ("In the House", 3.5 stars)
Steven says: While the plot may be a little preposterous at points, the approach to storytelling and acting make it an interesting piece that keeps you guessing.

November 19, 2014 - "In a World . . ." (2013)

In a World . . ., 2013
Director: Lake Bell
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 93 min

Vocal coach Carol Solomon lives in the shadow of her father Sam, Hollywood's go-to movie trailer voice, as she tries to break into the field herself. Aided by her sister and a sound whiz friend, Carol jumps into an unexpectedly strange new career. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language including some sexual references
U.S. box office: $2,962,542

Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Half of a Yellow Sun", 3 stars)
Steven says: The best thing about this film is that it brings to light Nigeria's history, which so many Americans may be unaware of. The film also makes me want to read the book it's based on, because I could feel like there was more to the story.

November 5, 2014 - "Take Out" (2004)

Take Out, 2004
Directors: Sean Baker, Shih-Ching Tsou
Origin: USA
Languages: English | Mandarin | Spanish
Running time: 87 min

When an illegal immigrant finds himself behind on a large debt due to crooks who smuggled him into the country, he must come up with the payment in one day by hustling tips as he delivers Chinese food around New York City. (from Netflix.com)

U.S. box office: $66,892
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("When Father Was Away on Business", 3.5 stars)
Steven says: The Cannes winner in 1985, this film tackles the toll a war takes on one family that has its own dysfunctions. A working knowledge of 20th century Yugolav history would help with comprehension, but it's still an effective story.

September 17, 2014 - "The Forgiveness of Blood" (2011)

The Forgiveness of Blood, 2011
Director: Joshua Marston
Origin: USA | Albania | Denmark | Italy
Language: Albanian
Running time: 109 min

When an archaic code of justice confines 17-year-old Nik and the male members of his family to their home, his younger sister becomes the breadwinner. But the housebound Nik is so miserable that he's willing to risk his life to end the confinement. (from Netflix.com)

U.S. box office: $119,683
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("The Missing Picture", 3.5 stars)
Steven says: How does a director make a film about his life without archival footage? Rithy Panh creates a world from memory, populating it with miniature (and often haunting) figurines, while telling of his oppressed life under the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in the mid-1970s. It's a mostly effective technique that pairs well with poetic observations of the director.

May 7, 2014 - "What Maisie Knew" (2013)

What Maisie Knew, 2013
Directors: Scott McGehee, David Siegel
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 93 min

In this updated rendering of the timeless Henry James novel, a perceptive 6-year-old girl becomes a bargaining tool when she gets caught in the midst of a toxic custody fight between her self-seeking, childish parents.(from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for some language
U.S. box office: $1,065,000
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

April 23, 2013 - "Computer Chess" (2013)

Computer Chess, 2013
Director: Andrew Bujalski
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 92 min

This comedic period piece set before PCs became commonplace centers on a 1980s chess tournament in which human competitors get their first crack at testing their skills against a machine. (from Netflix.com)

U.S. box office: $101,218
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Applause", three stars)
Steven says: Paprika Steen does a nice job of handling the character of Thea, from onstage "Martha" to rock-bottom alcoholic to manipulative ex-wife. Recovery is never easy, and family estrangement can only make it harder.I wanted Thea to redeem herself, but by the end I realized it may not be possible.

April 2, 2014 - "The Kings of Summer" (2013)

The Kings of Summer, 2013
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 95 min

Chafing under his widowed father's control, Joe Toy invites a friend and an offbeat new kid to help him build his own house in the nearby woods. Now that the trio is finally free from parents and responsibility, what's next? (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language and some teen drinking
U.S. box office: $1,290,312
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

January 15, 2014 - "Frances Ha" (2012)

Frances Ha, 2012
Director: Noah Baumbach
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 86 min

Determined to make it as a modern dancer in New York, Frances pursues her unlikely goal with more enthusiasm than natural talent. The rest of the time, she and her sardonic best friend, Sophie, put off growing up for as long as they can. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for sexual references and language
U.S. box office: $4,063,238
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("Kon-Tiki", 3.5 stars)
Steven says: With faith, science, and sheer will, the Kon-Tiki team floated 5,000 miles to prove it was possible for Peruvians to settle Polynesia. The story set-up is fast and so is the viewer's heart rate after several close calls. The film serves as a great reminder of the historic voyage and should help others investigate the full story for the first time. The film maker tried to pack so much into the film that there are some lose ends, suggesting small story lines could have been deleted without hurting the film.

November 20, 2013 - "Mud" (2012)

Mud, 2012
Director: Jeff Nichols
Origin: US
Language: English
Running time: 130 min

Two Mississippi teens, Ellis and Neckbone, meet a mysterious drifter named Mud hiding on a deserted river island and get caught up in his tangled web of tall tales about bounty hunters, crimes of passion, lost love and a perfect woman named Juniper. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated PG-13 for some violence, sexual references, language, thematic elements and smoking
U.S.box office: $21,538,192
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film (The Edge, 3.5 stars)
Steven says: There might be an allegory in here that resonated with Russian audiences without fully translating to international film-goers. There's a perception of control from the absent Fishman, and there's the chaos of main the character, who has some sort of brain trauma. As new people inhabit this makeshift settlement, they upset the uneasy calm and help expose how awful humanity can be. In addition, trains and their engineers try to outdo each other for power, prowess and some semblance of pride.

October 23, 2013 - "A Late Quartet" (2012)

A Late Quartet, 2012
Director: Yaron Zilberman
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 105 min

Tempers flare, old jealousies reignite and new passions are sparked when the members of a world-renowned string quartet are preparing to celebrate their 25th anniversary and learn that their leader must step down due to a grim medical diagnosis. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language and some sexuality
U.S. box office: $1,561,577
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("A Royal Affair", 4 stars)
Steven says: Even though this film revolves around the Danish monarchy in the 18th century, it really contains political intrigue that fits any era and any country. Those who want power find it easy to bend King Christian VII their way because of his inability to rule on his own. The king's role is perhaps the most developed even though the lead roles belong to Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander.

October 9, 2013 - "Safety Not Guaranteed" (2012)

Safety Not Guaranteed, 2012
Director: Colin Trevorrow
Origin: US
Language: English
Running time: 86 min

A team of journalists are dispatched to find out who's behind a classified advertisement seeking a companion for time travel, with payment on return. After tracking down their oddball prey, the team has to decide how best to approach their subject. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language including some sexual references
U.S. box office: $4,007,792
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film (Amour, 5 stars)
Steven says: Each audience member will react to this film differently, depending on their own experiences with age-related illnesses. It is extremely realistic, personal, intimate, and moving. The director/writer is masterful in his storytelling, and the lead actors seem to feel every emotion deeply. The best and most powerful stories are those that can be applied and understood by the masses. With that understanding, this story is one for all to see and learn from.

September 11, 2013 - "The Loneliest Planet" (2011)

The Loneliest Planet, 2011

This is the second of three movies we will screen starring Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal.
 
Director: Julia Loktev
Origin: USA | Germany
Languages: English | Georgian | Spanish
Running time: 113 min

Alex and Nica, a young engaged couple, are so eager to take a serious walking trek through Georgia's Caucasus Mountains that they hire a local guide. As they travel deep into the wild landscape, however, the emotional atmosphere shifts for the trio. (from Netflix.com)

U.S. box office: $128,519 

Watch the trailer on IMDB.

Read Bernal's entry on Wikipedia.

Read a story about Bernal from 2009 in the Telegraph.




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Review of last week's film ("Mammoth", 4 stars)
Steven says: With themes of "the wrong time" and family priorities, "Mammoth" follows two families and their struggles to create normalcy, better lives for their children, and connections that mean something. While they see points of clarity, we are unsure if it is enough to help them become better parents or better providers. The struggle to survive means something different to each person, and this film shows nicely the continuum of struggles found around the world.

August 7, 2013 - "Starlet" (2012)

Final film of the summer 2013 season . . .
 
Starlet, 2012
Director: Sean Barker
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 103 minutes

Jane, a 21-year-old slacker, finds $10,000 stashed in a thermos she buys at a garage sale. Unsure what to do with the money, she begins spending time with Sadie, the elderly widow who held the garage sale, and an unlikely friendship develops. (from Netflix.com)

U.S. box office: $87,910
Watch the trailer on IMDB.

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Review of last week's film ("I Wish", 3.5 stars) 
Steven says: A great look at life and its problems from the perspective of pre-teens. Groups of friends try to balance their current lives with their wants and desires -- from dreams of stardom to bringing a broken family back together. In the process, they begin to see how the adult world operates and how they can maneuver within that framework.