Teaching audiences to view films actively
By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Ben Lewin
Starring: Annika Marks | Helen Hunt | John Hawkes | Moon Bloodgood | Robin Weigart | William H. Macy
Bruce says: “So many things could have gone wrong with bringing THE SESSIONS to the screen. The script could have made the story cheap and tawdry. The direction could have taken the story to a sensationalistic plateau. The actors could
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Rating: 5 cats
Director: Malik Bendjelloul
Thom says: “Yes, I’d read all the raves but somehow I had my doubts but 10 minutes into this charmer I was hooked. Rodriguez was an early-70s rock/folk singer from Detroit who released two albums that were monumental bombs and
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Rating: 4 cats
Director: John Cairns
Starring: Higarino | Mai Tsujimoto | Max MacKenzie
Jason says: “Believe it or not, SCHOOLGIRL APOCALYPSE is not the third Nobboru Iguchi film on the festival’s program, or a similarly cheery exploitation picture from a filmmaker of like sensibilities. No, it’s an often-impressive bit of stripped-down sci-fi/horror that
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Rating: 3 cats
Director: Gianni Di Grigorio
Starring: Alfonso Santagata | Elisabetta Piccolomini | Gianni De Grigorio | Valeria Cavalli | Valeria De Franciscis
Jason says: “THE SALT OF LIFE is the title given to this movie for it’s American release; the actual title translates to GIANNI AND THE WOMEN, which is kind of literal but less pretentious, which might have been preferable. THE
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Ron Fricke
Jason says: “Especially early on, SAMSARA certainly looks like a movie that instills the same reaction as its trailer – ‘ooooohhh, pretty!’ – only for longer. And, yes, it’s certainly the kind of pretty that justifies the cost of a
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Rating: 2 cats
Director: Lasse Hallström
Starring: Amr Waked | Catherine Steadman | Emily Blunt | Ewan MacGregor | Kristin Scott Thomas
Chris says: “Even with a novel premise (the title is all you need to know), a sturdy (if unexceptional) anchor in Ewan McGregor and sound support from Emily Blunt and a tart Kristin Scott Thomas, it all sinks under the
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Rating: 3.9
Director: Colin Treverrow
Starring: Aubrey Plaza | Basil Harris | Jake M. Johnson | KaranSoni | Mary Lynn Rajskub
Jason says: “The title of SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED comes from a classified ad that one character places, inspired by a real-life posting along the same lines; I’m pretty sure I recall seeing it as the hook to a science fiction
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Rating: 4.25 cats
Director: Jacques Audiard
Starring: Armand Verdure | Bouli Lanners | Corrine Masiero | Marion Cotillard | Matthias Schoenaerts
Bruce says: “I was a huge fan of Jacques Audiard’s THE BEAT THAT MY HEART SKIPPED (2005) and READ MY LIPS (2001). His most acclaimed film A PROPHET (2009) did not score as high with me as with other viewers
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Rating: 2.9 cats
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Alec Baldwin | Allison Pill | Ellen Page | Jesse Eisenberg | Judy Davis | Roberto Begnini | Woody Allen
Michael says: “Woody Allen keeps tricking me. I really haven’t seen a Woody Allen film that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed in the new millennium. Arguably, the last film of his that worked for me was CELEBRITY back in 1998 (and many
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Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Andrew Bush
Starring: Christopher Shore | George William Basil | Kayla Lorette | Mark Little | Path Thornton | Scott Vrooman
Jason says: “Because any fad that makes anybody some money will attract some movie producer’s attention, there was a brief period where Hollywood put out roller disco movies. Because every sub-genre that ever existed will eventually resurface, some guys in
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