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.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Quick Flicks for the week of 9/16/07








Begins powerfully with the Sioux triumph over General Custer at Little Big Horn and goes on to center around three powerful men. Charles Eastman is a young, Dartmouth-educated Sioux doctor. Sitting Bull is the proud Lakota chief who refuses to submit to U.S. government policies designed to strip his people of thier identity, dignity and sacred land. Senator Henry Dawes is one of the men responsible for the government policy on Indian affairs. While Eastman and schoolteacher Elaine Goodale work to imporve live for the Sioux on the reservation, Senator Dawes lobbies President Grant for kinder Indian treatment.



The Condemned by Wiper, Scott.

Jack Conrad is awaiting the death penalty in a corrupt Central American prison. He is 'purchased' by a TV producer and taken to a desolate island for a fight to the death against nine other condemned killers, with freedom to the sole survivor.



Death Proof by Tarantino, Quentin.

A deranged stuntman stalks his victims from the safety of his killer car, but when he picks on the wrong group of babes, all bets are off. He becomes involved in an automotive duel of epic proportions.



Gracie by Guggenheim, Davis.


After a tragedy, 16-year-old Gracie channels her grief by fighting to get girls onto the varsity soccer field in this inspiring drama set in the 1970s. Passionate and strong-willed, Gracie is blocked from all sides as she argues for the rights of women to play competitive soccer. The film is based on the real-life story of actress Elisabeth Shue, who championed the cause of women's sports as a teenager.




Lucky You by Hason, Curtis.


Huck meets irresistible Bille and learns to treat love the way he treats cards - trusting his heart instead of his head. Meanwhile he scrambles to raise the entry fee for a high-roller poker game even though the tournament may pit his against his father.



Provoked: A True Story by Mundhra, Jag.

Unable to bear the brutality and repeated rapes by her alcoholic husband, Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a Punjabi housewife and mother of two in London, sets him on fire and kills him. Charged with first-degree murder, she is sentenced to life imprisonment, where she befriends her cell mate. Moved by her story, the cell mate asks her step-brother, a highly respected queen's counsel, to file her appeal. In English with some Panjabi; English subtitles.



The Starter Wife by Anvet, Jon.

Molly Kagan is your archetypal "Hollywood wife," who for ten years enjoyed the perks and privileges of being married to powerful studio executive Kenny Kagan. Kenny decides to dump Molly for a much-younger pop singer named Shoshanna. Adding insult to injury, Kenny informs Molly that their marriage was through via cell-phone. Having carefully timed the breakup to coincide with the expiration of the couple's pre-nuptual agreement, Kenny is able to escape without providing Molly with a huge monetary settlement. Molly is now "persona non grata" in her Brentwood community, with many old doors being literally closed in her face, and such fair-weather friends as Cricket and Joan conspicuously unavailable. Vowing to start life anew for the sake of herself and her teenaged daughter, Molly relocated to Malibu. There is she finds a new best friend in the form of airheaded Malibu gate guard Lavender Caraway. She also enters into a tempestuous relationships with aging, moody movie producer Lou Manahan and handsome but untrustworthy beachcomber Sam.


We Are Marshall by McGinty Nichol, Joseph.


After a plane crash takes the lives of most of Marshall University's football team, new coach Jack Lengyel must rally the surviving players and a grieving community to victory. Based on true events, this inspiring drama follows Lengyel and his assistant coach as they try to renew Marshall's football program and help the close-knit West Virginia town find new hope.




Thursday, September 13, 2007

Quick Flicks for the week of 9/9/2007



Away From Her By Polley, Sarah
View Windows Media-formatted PreviewFiona and Grant are an Ontario couple who have been married for over 40 years. During the twilight of their years, Grant is forced to face the fact that Fiona's 'forgetfulness' actually is Alzheimer's. After Fiona wanders away and is found, the decision is made for her to go into a nursing home. For the first time in their relationship, they are forced to undergo a separation since this is the nursing home 'no-vistors,' first 30 days policy of a patient's stay. When Grant visits Fiona after the orientation period, he is devastated to find out that not only has she seemingly forgotten him, but she has transferred her affections to another man. As the distance between husband and wife grows, Grant must draw upon his love for Fiona to perform an act of self-sacrifice in order to ensure her happiness.

Jam by Serling, Jan. On a rural mountain highway, a group of strangers have an accident that will change each of their lives. Each group of travelers confront their fears while exploring family, friends, and their futures. Love, death, sex, and other truths are revealed when lives collide.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Quick Flicks for the week of 9/2/07

Cash by Anubhan Sinha.
Karan brings together a group of criminals to carryout the robbery of a priceless diamond in South Africa. His girlfriend, Shania, however is a government security officer entrusted with guarding the diamond. In Hindi with subtitles.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley by Ken Loach.
Driven by a deep sense of duty and a love for his country, Damien abandons his burgeoning career as a doctor and joins his brother, Teddy in a dangerous and violent fight for freedom. As the Irish freedom fighters bold tactics bring the British to a breaking point, both sides finally agree to a treaty to end the bloodshed. But, despite the apparent victory, civil war erupts and families who fought side by side, find themselves pitted against one another, putting their loyalties to the ultimate test.
Awards : Cannes Film Festival, 2006: Golden Palm - Best Film

Yatra by by Goutam Ghose
In this art film, a writer draws inspiration for an award winning novel from a courtesan. In Hindi with optional English subtitles.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Quick Flicks for the week of 8/26/07



Blades of Glory By Speck, Will
View Windows Media-formatted PreviewWhen a scandal strips them of their gold medals, two world-class skaters skirt their way back onto the ice via a loophole that allows them to compete together as a pairs team.


Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny By Lynch, Liam
View Windows Media-formatted PreviewWitness the birth of Tenacious D, the self-proclaimed greatest rock band of all time. On a fateful day on Venice beach, JB and KG meet and realize that they were destined to make history by combining their musical genius. But when overnight success eludes them, they set out to find the legendary "Pick of Destiny" - a special guitar pick believed to possess magical powers that can turn any open-mike wannabe into a rock legend.


Year of the Dog By White, Mike
Peggy is a happy-go-lucky secretary who is a great friend, employee, and sister. She lives alone with her beloved dog Pencil. But when Pencil unexpectedly dies, Peggy must find meaning in her life.