HOP (DVD)
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HOP (DVD)
Shot in striking black and white with a digital 24p Panasonic video camera, HOP marks the feature film directorial debut of Dominique Standaert. Set in Brussels, the film follows an African teenager named Justin and his father as they struggle to overcome racism in their predominantly white surroundings and the hassles of being illegal immigrants. When Justin`s father is caught by authorities and in danger of being deported, Justin must think of a way to save him so that they can be together again. He finds an unlikely ally in Frans, a reclusive communisit activist who spends his time building bombs in his home.
Drama
The Greatest Game Ever Played (DVD)
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The Greatest Game Ever Played (DVD)
IN THEATERS SEPTEMBER 30, 2005The second film directed by actor Bill Paxton is a marked departure--in both form and content--from his debut, 2001`s FRAILTY, a shadowy, gothic tale of murder. THE GREATEST GAME EVER
PLAYED is a sports movie slash Horatio Alger rags-to-riches tale with undertones of class consciousness and social critique. The story is based on a real-life event--the 1913 U.S. Open golf championship--at which two equally sympathetic young men, both of whom grew up economically and socially disadvantaged, go club to club in one of the most exciting and dramatic athletic events of the early 20th century. The film focuses on the competition between the British star Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane) and the young American prodigy Francis Ouimet (HOLES star Shia LaBoeuf). Though they hail from opposite sides of the Atlantic, the struggles that the two young golfers have had to overcome are markedly similar; both grew up in hard-scrabble, working-class homes that happened to be adjacent to golf courses, and both were preternaturally disposed to the game. In addition, both must defy the disdain of the golfing gentry. Vardon is already a reigning champion and international darling when Ouimet makes it to his first tournament to battle him. Though enough backstory is provided to connect the viewers to the characters, the meat of the film is the dramatic unfolding of the tournament. With expert editing and fluid camera work, Paxton films close-up views of the golfing action in a manner that recalls the kinetic pool shots in Martin Scorsese s THE COLOR OF MONEY. With each stroke, the competition becomes closer and the mood more tense, culminating in an explosive outcome that, while not unexpected, pulls at the heartstrings as do all good tales of triumph over adversity.
Drama
My Summer of Love (DVD)
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My Summer of Love (DVD)
IN THEATRES: JUNE 17, 2005 (LIMITED)Acclaimed director Pawel Pawlikowski`s MY SUMMER OF LOVE is a dreamy, poetic ode to adolescent infatuation and the dangerous feelings it ignites. Mona (Natalie Press) lives upstairs from a pub in a small Yorkshire town with her brother Phil (Paddy Considine), an ex-convict turned religious freak. When she befriends the beautiful Tamsin (Emily Blunt), her formerly bland days are suddenly filled with purpose. Though they are from different social classes, Mona and Tamsin still make an immediate connection. The teenagers wander around the lush countryside and lounge in Tamsin`s enormous mansion. Soon, they find that they share a deep attraction with one another, sparking a romance that is as unexpected as it is electrifying. Of course, Phil disapproves of Mona`s actions, yet that isn`t the only force that is conspiring to keep them apart. Pawlikowski`s (LAST RESORT) adaptation of Helen Cross`s novel is a gem of a film, an intimate drama that captures the burst of first love with remarkable clarity. Featuring assured performances from newcomers Press and Blunt, and gorgeous photography by Ryszard Lenczewski, MY SUMMER OF LOVE confirms Pawlikowski`s status as one of world cinema`s most engaging auteurs.
Drama
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (DVD)
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The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (DVD)
Julianne Moore returns to FAR FROM HEAVEN territory in THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO, which springs from the pages of Terry Ryan`s memoir of the same name. Playing 1950s housewife Evelyn Ryan, who struggles to raise 10 kids while dealing with an alcoholic husband, Moore brings director Jane Anderson`s film to life with another moving performance to add to her risumi. Evelyn`s husband, Kelly (Woody Harrelson), works at the local factory but has sunk the family into financial trouble with his dangerously boozy habits. Struggling with her husband`s drinking and the stress of raising so many children, Evelyn tries her luck in some jingle-writing contests. Writing rhyming couplets for companies like Dr. Pepper and Maidenform bras, the beleaguered housewife is surprisingly successful, and manages to tip the family`s finances back into good health. Anderson peppers the action with short direct-to-camera monologues from Evelyn, which help to explain the idiosyncrasies of the competitions and also highlight her steely determination to pull her family through the hard times. But Kelly can`t accept his wife`s position as the major breadwinner of the family, and his violent, alcohol-fueled outbursts put an enormous strain on their relationship. Moore shines throughout the movie, giving a convincing performance as a strong woman who always puts her family`s happiness before her own. As a first feature film, THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO, is a strong debut from Jane Anderson, who gained Emmy nominations for her HBO show NORMAL, which she wrote and directed; she also wrote the screenplay for this movie, faithfully molding Terry Ryan`s words into a film that tugs heavily at the heart strings.
Drama
Manito (DVD)
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Manito (DVD)
The Latino population of Manhattan`s Washington Heights comes under the microscope in this fascinating portrayal of urban life from director Eric Eason. Manito (Leo Minaya) is an ambitious student, eager to escape his surroundings. Upon landing a full scholarship at Syracuse, Manito appears ready to realize his dreams. His older brother, Junior Moreno (Franky G), decides to throw his sibling a big party to celebrate, and it is on Junior that the film largely focuses. Trying to balance a job as a painter, keep his indiscretions a secret from his wife, and prevent his father from attending Manito`s celebrations all prove to be a tough task for Junior, and these factors frequently send him into a violent rage. As the film builds to its crescendo, it appears that no member of the family is able to let old habits die easily, revealing some surprising plot twists and an undercurrent of violence that is both shocking and tragic. Director Eason`s digital video images lend an almost documentary-like feel to this moving tale of life in a tough, rundown neighborhood. Minaya and Franky G give compelling performances as the film`s two main protagonists, portraying a slice of life that is sad and disturbing in equal measures.
Drama
Shadows In The Sun (DVD)
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Shadows In The Sun (DVD)
Harvey Keitel (BE COOL) stars as Weldon Parish, a great but blocked writer hiding from the world in Italy, in this comedy-infused drama. He is hunted down by young writer Jeremy (Joshua Jackson, I LOVE YOUR WORK), who follows his mentor to learn about life and art, while Parish`s daughter, Isabella (Claire Forlani, BOBBY JONES: STROKE OF GENIUS) teaches him about love.
Drama
The Bridge on the River Kwai (DVD)
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The Bridge on the River Kwai (DVD)
One of the all-time great war films, THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI is yet another classic from the marvelous David Lean (LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, DR. ZHIVAGO). The film is an outstanding, psychologically complex adaptation of Pierre Boulle's 1952 novel, a classic story of English POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American intelligence officers conspire to blow up the structure, but Col. Nicholson (a fabulous Alec Guinness), the commander who supervised the bridge's construction, has acquired a sense of pride in his creation and tries to foil their plans. Although credited to screenwriter Carl Foreman, the script was actually written by blacklisted writer Michael Wilson. The film garnered seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Guinness). The climax is one of the great finales in film history.DVD Features:Region 1Keep CaseAudio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo - EnglishAdditional Release Material: Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer Bonus Trailers - 1. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
2. THE GUNS OF NAVARONE
3. FAIL-SAFEInteractive Features: Scene Access Interactive MenusText/ Photo Galleries: Biographies - 1. David Lean - Director
2. Alec Guinness - Star
3. William Holden - Star
4. Jack Hawkins - Star
5. Sessue Hayakawa - Star
Drama
Pan Tadeusz (DVD)
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Pan Tadeusz (DVD)
Based around a 19th century poem by Adam Mickiewicz, PAN TADEUSZ is set in Lithuania, and details an epic feud between two families. Directed by Andrzej Wajda (HUNTING FLIES) the two families in question are of Polish descent, but living under stern Russian rule. With Napoleon threatening to invade, the action unfolds in an extremely historic time, while the personal angle to the story proves to be every bit as absorbing as the major events surrounding it.
Drama
No Longer 17 (DVD)
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No Longer 17 (DVD)
The sequel to the classic Israeli drama NOA AT 17, NO LONGER 17 features actress Dalia Shimko repeating her role as Noa, the idealistic teen who is now a middle-aged woman. The kibbutz where Noa grew up has become wracked with financial difficulties, and is contemplating expelling the elderly members who can no longer work their keep. Noa returns to her home to help her mother, who is among those who could be ousted. But when she comes back, it becomes only the first in a series of familial reunions that re-trigger old arguments and problems. NO LONGER 17 follows its predecessor by concentrating on characters in the context of the political and social changes in Israel.
Drama
Werckmeister Harmonies (DVD)
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Werckmeister Harmonies (DVD)
In a nameless, frozen, Eastern European village cloaked in fog, Janos (Lars Rudolph) choreographs three grizzly drunks in a pantomime of the earth circling the sun and the moon circling the earth. He freezes his actors and describes a total eclipse of the sun; the world grinds to a halt in momentary fear until the warmth of the sun again blankets the earth. On his errands in the wintry wee hours, he hears his neighbors worry about the severe coal shortage, the disappearance of entire families, and the impending riot. He watches as a truck lumbers into town, pulling an enormous corrugated shed behind it. Inside is a stuffed whale. The most gigantic ever seen. A sign says that a Prince accompanies the whale. Janos goes to visit Uncle Gyorgy (Peter Fitz), a musicologist determined to prove that the order imposed on sound by the Werckmeister Harmonies is false and only sonic chaos and disorder is truth. Weary and hungry, Janos finally makes it home when Aunt T nde (Hanna Schygulla) arrives, threatening to move back in with Gyorgy if Janos does not convince him to use his influence to help her start her
clean town movement.
It`s simply exquisite.
Drama
