Reminder: No screening on Nov. 27 -- Happy Thanksgiving!
Lore, 2012
Director: Cate Shortland
Origin: Germany
Languages: German | English
Running time: 109 min
After her Nazi parents are imprisoned, Lore leads her younger siblings across a war-torn Germany in 1945. Amid the chaos, she encounters a mysterious refugee named Thomas, who shatters her fragile reality with hatred and desire. (from Netflix.com)
U.S. box office: $968,879
Watch the trailer on IMDB.
---
Review of last week's film ("Mud", 3 stars)
Steven says: You can't miss the theme of this movie. Love. It's the reason for everything that happens, messy and not so messy. It also provides several perspectives on relationships (of all kinds) where the main character can pick and choose the lessons he'll to take into adulthood. The ultimate lesson? Life and love are messy, but you can't let that stop you from living.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
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.
---
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.
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.
---
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.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
November 13, 2013 - "The Edge" (2010)
Because of availability of some titles, we shuffled the movies for the remainder of the season.
The Fall 2013 season blog post has been updated.
The Edge, 2010
Director: Aleksei Uchitel
Origin: Russian | German
Languages: Russian | German
Running time: 124 min
Tensions escalate in a post-World War II Siberian labor camp when a mysterious newcomer named Ignat arrives with a hidden agenda. Ignat's mysterious presence threatens to topple the patchwork society's existing power structure. (from Netflix.com)
Watch the trailer online.
---
Review of last week's film (Reality, 3 stars)
Steven says: Billed as a comedy, it is really anything but. The main character's obsession with making it on Reality TV starts a downward spiral that destroys his mostly stable life. He gives up his own reality in an attempt to achieve broader recognition and fame, but he loses both realities in the process.
The Fall 2013 season blog post has been updated.
The Edge, 2010
Director: Aleksei Uchitel
Origin: Russian | German
Languages: Russian | German
Running time: 124 min
Tensions escalate in a post-World War II Siberian labor camp when a mysterious newcomer named Ignat arrives with a hidden agenda. Ignat's mysterious presence threatens to topple the patchwork society's existing power structure. (from Netflix.com)
Watch the trailer online.
---
Review of last week's film (Reality, 3 stars)
Steven says: Billed as a comedy, it is really anything but. The main character's obsession with making it on Reality TV starts a downward spiral that destroys his mostly stable life. He gives up his own reality in an attempt to achieve broader recognition and fame, but he loses both realities in the process.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
November 6, 2013 - "Reality" (2012)
Reality, 2012
Director: Matteo Garrone
Origin: Italy
Languages: Italian | Neapolitan | English | Latin
Running time: 116 min
Jovial fishmonger and small-time con artist Luciano hopes to enrich his humble family by participating in the Italian version of "Big Brother," but his obsession with appearing to be an ideal contestant soon has his family doubting his sanity. (from Netflix.com)
U.S. box office: $55,261
Watch the trailer on IMDB.
--
Review of last week's film (Pieta, 3 stars)
Steven says: Steel yourself for intense visuals and visceral reactions throughout this film, described by the director as "delving into the discord of human relations within an extreme capitalist system." It is heavy on the discord with only one character who has redeeming qualities, which speaks volumes about the director's vision of money and greed. It is definitely not for everyone, and it's hard to determine who will find the film worthwhile.
Director: Matteo Garrone
Origin: Italy
Languages: Italian | Neapolitan | English | Latin
Running time: 116 min
Jovial fishmonger and small-time con artist Luciano hopes to enrich his humble family by participating in the Italian version of "Big Brother," but his obsession with appearing to be an ideal contestant soon has his family doubting his sanity. (from Netflix.com)
U.S. box office: $55,261
Watch the trailer on IMDB.
--
Review of last week's film (Pieta, 3 stars)
Steven says: Steel yourself for intense visuals and visceral reactions throughout this film, described by the director as "delving into the discord of human relations within an extreme capitalist system." It is heavy on the discord with only one character who has redeeming qualities, which speaks volumes about the director's vision of money and greed. It is definitely not for everyone, and it's hard to determine who will find the film worthwhile.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
October 30, 2013 - "Pieta" (2012)
Pieta, 2012
Director: Kim Ki-Duk
Origin: South Korea
Languages: Italian | French | English
Running time: 105 min
Kang-do, an enforcer for a loan shark in a destitute area of Seoul, is unrelentingly brutal in his collection of debts. But when a mysterious woman appears and claims that she is his mother, Kang-do finds himself developing a hunger for human warmth. (from Netflix.com)
U.S. box office: $10,060
Watch the trailer on IMDB.
---
Review of last weeks' film (A Late Quartet, 4.5 stars)
Steven says: The string quartet -- what will it take to break it up OR keep it together? There are great philosophical musical discussions throughout, Philip Seymour Hoffman is terrific, and the music makes you want to explore it more. Dreams and passions are tweaked and refined as these four musicians continue to search for the harmonies that keep the quartet working and their personal lives intact.
Director: Kim Ki-Duk
Origin: South Korea
Languages: Italian | French | English
Running time: 105 min
Kang-do, an enforcer for a loan shark in a destitute area of Seoul, is unrelentingly brutal in his collection of debts. But when a mysterious woman appears and claims that she is his mother, Kang-do finds himself developing a hunger for human warmth. (from Netflix.com)
U.S. box office: $10,060
Watch the trailer on IMDB.
---
Review of last weeks' film (A Late Quartet, 4.5 stars)
Steven says: The string quartet -- what will it take to break it up OR keep it together? There are great philosophical musical discussions throughout, Philip Seymour Hoffman is terrific, and the music makes you want to explore it more. Dreams and passions are tweaked and refined as these four musicians continue to search for the harmonies that keep the quartet working and their personal lives intact.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
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.
---
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.
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.
---
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.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
October 16, 2013 - "A Royal Affair" (2012)
A Royal Affair, 2012
Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Origin: Denmark | Sweden | Czech Republic
Language: Danish | English | German | French
Running time: 137 min
In 18th-century Denmark, the unstable King Christian IV neglects his young queen, Mathilde, who falls in love with his German physician, Struensee, an intellectual whose advocation of reform transforms the country but brings about his own downfall. (from Netflix.com)
MPAA rating: Rated R for sexual content and some violent images
U.S. box office: $1,545,726
Watch the trailer at IMDB.
--
Review of last week's film (Safety Not Guaranteed, 3.5 stars)
Steven says: What would you change in your past if you had the chance to time travel? This movie provides three perspectives of characters wanting to relive or change the past. Regrets are inevitable -- that you did something you shouldn't have, or that you should have done something you didn't. Sometimes quirky, sometimes insightful, this film uses the time travel plot device to help advance the story, not as the center of the story, and it works.
Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Origin: Denmark | Sweden | Czech Republic
Language: Danish | English | German | French
Running time: 137 min
In 18th-century Denmark, the unstable King Christian IV neglects his young queen, Mathilde, who falls in love with his German physician, Struensee, an intellectual whose advocation of reform transforms the country but brings about his own downfall. (from Netflix.com)
MPAA rating: Rated R for sexual content and some violent images
U.S. box office: $1,545,726
Watch the trailer at IMDB.
--
Review of last week's film (Safety Not Guaranteed, 3.5 stars)
Steven says: What would you change in your past if you had the chance to time travel? This movie provides three perspectives of characters wanting to relive or change the past. Regrets are inevitable -- that you did something you shouldn't have, or that you should have done something you didn't. Sometimes quirky, sometimes insightful, this film uses the time travel plot device to help advance the story, not as the center of the story, and it works.
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