Teaching audiences to view films actively
By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.25 cats
Director: Anh Hung Tran
Starring: Le Khanh | Nhu Quynh Nguyen | Tran Nu Yên-Khê
Diane says: “A lovely film. I really sank into it. Three sisters in Hanoi conduct their delicate relationships with each other, their husbands, and their lovers during the month between the memorial meal for their mother and the one for
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.75 cats
Director: Francois Ozon
Starring: Bruno Cremer | Charlotte Rampling | Jocques Nolot
Diane says: “Rampling will get a best actress nom from me. A contemplative film about a middle-aged woman dealing with the death of her husband. Rampling really is superb.” 4 cats Esme says: “UNDER THE SAND was verrrrryyyy French–which
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.6
Director: Allan Miller
Diane says: “5 cats for this docu about the production of Puccini’s opera ‘Turandot,’ which is set in ancient China. It’s the kind of docu I love: filmmaker Allen Miller doesn’t insert himself, but uses editing to highlight the conflict
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.75
Director: Silvio Soldini
Starring: Bruno Ganz | Licia Maglietta | Marina Massironi
Laura says: “As amusing as Costantino and his travails are, co-screenwriter (with Doriana Leondeff)/director Silvio Soldini spends way too much time following the hapless lug so that we almost forget about Rosalba. Fernando’s ‘mystery’ family (his daughter-in-law and grandson) are
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Sandi Simcha Dubowski
Diane says: “This is a docu by Sandi Simcha Dubowski about gay and lesbian Jews trying to remain in the fold of Orthodox and Hasidic Judaism. The director succeeds by focussing on the line of tension within both the gay
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.75 cats
Director: Lukas Moodysson
Starring: Emma Samuelsson | Lisa Lindgren | Michael Nyqvist | Sam Kessel
Stephen says: “While the communal life doesn’t work for everyone in this story, the thrust of the narrative comes out mostly positive, and most of the lives we see have improved because of the loosening of restraints and expectations this
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.25
Director: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Clifton Collins | Colin Farrell | Jr. | Matthew Davis | Tom Guiry
Kevin says: “Colin Farrell gave one of my favorite performances in a really long time. Did you notice how bad Matthew Davis was as his side-kick; absolutely terrible! Apparently if you have a pretty face you can do whatever you
Read the review...Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her (USA; 109min.) directed by: Rodrigo Garcíastarring: Glen Close; Cameron Diaz; Calista Flockhart; Kathy Baker; Holly Hunter Ellen says: “Unfortunately this film apparently suffered from lack of release. Thank God for
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Rating: 3 cats
Director: Joel Coen
Starring: Adam Alexi-Malle | Billy Bob Thornton | Frances McDormand | Scarlett Johnansson
Bob says: “I think it’s fair to say that the Coens are brilliant, and they have a great understanding of the cinema. The problem is that they know it, and they have a tendency to be intellectual snobs. Their films
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.125 cats
Director: Agnès Jaoui
Starring: Agnès Jaoui | Alain Chabat | Anne Alvaro | Brigitte Catillon | Gérard Lanvin | Jean-Pierre Bacri
Diane says: “This French film is one of those goodies about real people, like YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. It was written by Agnès Jaoui and her husband Jean-Pierre Bacri, was directed by Jaoui who plays a supporting role, and
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Ethan Hawke | Robert Sean Leonard | Uma Thurman
Laura says: “Ethan Hawke, an actor who recently has delivered moribund performances, is charged as Vince, at once an overactive adolescent and pothead philosopher. Linklater should remain Hawke’s director of choice as he hasn’t been this good since BEFORE SUNRISE.
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Nagisa Oshima
Starring: Ryuhei Matsuda | Shinji Takeda | Tadanobu Asano | Takeshi Kitano
Marc says: “I would strongly suggest missing TABOO. Saw it yesterday and it lacked intellectual challenge, stunning visuals, and narrative coherence. I imagine that culture differences play some part to not understanding this film. Impenetrable may be the best discretion
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.75
Director: Joe Roth
Starring: Billy Crystal | Catherine Zeta-Jones | John Cusack | Julia Roberts
Robin says: “I had high hopes for AMERICA’S SWEETHEARTS what with its stellar ensemble cast and all. Julia Roberts is actually developing into an actor and does a good job as the self-deprecating, loyal sister to the star. She maintains
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Ye Lou
Starring: Hua Zhongkai | Jia Hongshen | Zhou Xun
Laura says: “SUZHOU RIVER questions identity and reality within the confines of a harsh environment. It’s tough, edgy, jaded and romantic. Lou Ye’s accomplished a lot with very little.” 3 1/2 cats For Laura’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/suzhouriver.htm” Michael says:
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 1.75
Director: Allison Anders
Starring: Don Cheadle | Gabriel Mann | Kim Dickens | Rosanna Arquette
Michael says: “I’m going to have to file this latest film by Allison Anders (SUGARTOWN; GAS, FOOD, LODGING) under intriguing disappointment. I’m a big fan of Anders’ films, but this one just didn’t work. Sherry (Kim Dickens) is a burgeoning
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Chris Hegedus | Jehane Noujaim
Ellen says: “I enjoyed this documentary and thought the filmmakers did a great job of showing the story of two high school friends who start an internet company. The filmmakers probably had to film a lot of events over a
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Tom Gilroy
Starring: Campbell Scott | Liev Schreiber | Ned Beatty | Peri Gilpin
Laura says: “Gilroy’s playwright background is stamped all over his film debut to its detriment, however. Gilroy’s decision to film over the course of a year was a plus for the actors, allowing them to form their bond gradually. Yet,
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.8 cats
Director: Maggie Greenwald
Starring: Aidan Quinn | Emmy Rossum | Jane Adams | Janet McTeer | Pat Carroll
Diane says: “This story of an early twentieth-century musicologist (Janet McTeer) experiencing music that speaks to her heart instead of her mind–in the North Carolina mountains–was just as hackneyed as the trailer threatened. Sets and blocking (and how often do
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Rating: 4 cats
Director: Ann Hu
Starring: Jared Harris | Liu Peiqui | Xia Yu | Xing Yufei
Jeffrey says: “I was a little distracted at the beginning of the movie by the transition from what appeared to be historical footage to what appeared to be artificially aged contemporary footage. I thought it should have been either one
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Starring: Amanda Redman | Ben Kingsley | Cavan Kendall | Ian McShane | Julianne White | Ray Winstone
Michael says: “I found this film to be lots of fun, with some really terrific performances and visuals. Basically a caper film with Gal (a terrific Ray Winstone) retired from the business and enjoying the life of leisure in Spain
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