Teaching audiences to view films actively
By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Gillian Armstrong
Starring: Billy Crudup | Cate Blanchett | James Fleet | Michael Gambon | Rupert Penry-Jones
Laura says: “While CHARLOTTE GRAY can be an infuriating film at times, with its heroine who not once, but twice, travels a great distance on behalf of a man who may not be committed to her or even alive, it
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Rating: 3 cats
Director: Sara Sugarman
Starring: Ioan Gruffud | Jonathan Pryce | Matthew Rhys | Rachel Griffiths
Michael says: “The first film we caught at the High Falls Film Festival was a British entry, the recipient of The Sundance Film Maker’s Award for Best International Script for Sara Sugarman’s VERY ANNIE-MARY. Rachel Griffiths and Jonathan Pryce star
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
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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
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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 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,
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Rating: 3 cats
Director: Éva Gárdos
Starring: Nastassja Kinski | Scarlett Johansson | Tony Goldwyn
Hilary says: “I am continually impressed by Scarlett Johansson’s performances. GHOST WORLD is definitely on my Top Ten for the year and MANNY & LO is still a favorite, many years later. “Here, however, I just felt sorry for her.
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Rating: 3 cats
Director: Henry Bromell
Starring: Donald Sutherland | John Ritter | Neve Campbell | William H. Macy
Diane says: “PANIC stars William H. Macy as a hit-man who wants to get out of that line of work. (Hey, I’m reminded that ‘Those the River Keeps’ [prequel to ‘Hurlyburly,’ stage version only] did a grand job with that
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Rating: 3 cats
Director: Stephen Soderbergh
Starring: Andy Garcia | Brad Pitt | Carl Reiner | Elliot Gould | George Clooney | Julia Roberts | Matt Damon
Hilary says: “OCEAN’S ELEVEN is a fun diversion. Clearly, Stephen Soderburgh can make great films in his sleep — this one looks great, and the cast includes several actors who’ve appeared in his films previously and had a hell of
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