Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Quick Flicks for the Week of 9/23/07




As You Like It by Kenneth Branagh
Rosalind is the daughter of banished Duke Senior and is being raised at the court of Duke Frederick, with her cousin Celia. She falls in love with a young man named Orlando, but she is banished by Duke Frederick, who threatens death if she comes near the court again. Celia goes with Rosalind. Disguised as the boy Ganymede, Rosalind enters the forest of Arden. Upon their arrival in the forest, they happen upon Orlando and his manservant, who are fleeing the wrath of Orlando's eldest brother. What follows is an elaborate scheme devised by the cross-dressing Rosalind to find out the verity of Orlando's supposed passion for her, and to further capture his heart, through the witty and mischievous façade of Ganymede.


The Crown Witness by Jaroslaw Sypniewski, et al.
A gangster testifies in trial as a state witness against his former mafia contacts. He does this as a display of love for a certain woman. In addition, the gangster and an investigative journalist cross paths. The journalist maintains an eerie secret and seeking justice meets the gangster for an interview In Polish with optional English subtitles.


Evening by Lajos Koltai
Overcome by the power of memory, Ann Lord reveals a long-held secret to her concerned daughters. Constance is a content wife and mother. Nina is a restless single woman. Both are bedside when Ann calls out for the man she loved more than any other. But her daughters wonder who is Harris and what is his relation to their mother? Constance and Nina try to take stock of Ann's life as their mother is tended to by a night nurse as she journeys into her mind back to a summer weekend some fifty years before, before she was married, going from New York City to be maid of honor at the high-society Newport wedding of her dearest friend from college, Lila Wittenborn. The bride-to-be is jittery, and turns to her maid of honor rather than her own mother for support. Ann stays close to her friend, yet is even closer to Lila's irrepressible brother Buddy. Unexpected feelings surge forth once Ann meets wedding guest Harris Arden, a lifelong friend and intimate of the Wittenborn family. Ann's love for Harris will change her life, and those of her daughters, forever.


Hurricane on the Bayou by Greg MacGillivray.
Shows Louisiana before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. Follows four musicians as they explore the culture of New Orleans. Focuses on the rapidly disappearing wetlands that are New Orleans' first line of defense against deadly storms.


A one-night stand results in an unexpected pregnancy for entertainment reporter Alison in Judd Apatow's romantic comedy. Determined to be a good mom and keep her career on track, Alison decides to try to make things work with the baby's father, slacker Ben. It's anything but smooth sailing as the odd couple gets acquainted, but Alison finds there's more to Ben than she originally thought.


Strike by Judd Apatow
A simple worker causes a strike on the Gdansk shipyard which leads to the creation of the first free unions and ultimately the downfall of the Soviet system. English, German or Polish dialogue with English subtitles.