Teaching audiences to view films actively
By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Nanni Moretti
Starring: Giuseppe Sanfelice | Jasmine Trinca | Laura Morante | Nanni Moretti
Ellen says: “It is tempting to compare THE SON’S ROOM to IN THE BEDROOM since the theme is a family dealing with the death of their teenage son, however, the way that this film elicits your emotions is very different.
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.75 cats
Director: Christopher Munch
Starring: Amy Madigan | Jacqueline Bisset | Martha Plimpton | Nick Stahl
Scot says: “I was blown away by this quiet little ‘family piece.’ “Middle-aged Frances (Jacqueline Bisset) is an out-of-work writer/reporter who once consoled lonely men in 1950s Florida both with her overnight radio show and her company. When she learns
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Sarah Polley
Starring: Julian Richings | Kristen Thomson | Matthew Ferguson
Michael says: “I wanted to just say a few words about Sarah’s short film, I SHOUT LOVE. I felt it was quite an accomplished, entertaining, and effective effort from a novice director. Sarah did a terrific job merging the very
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.25 cats
Director: Steven Shainberg
Starring: James Spader | Jeremy Davies | Maggie Gyllenhaal
Clinton says: “A charming and quirky comedy about dominant/submissive relationships, and how they can lead to profound emotional connections. Gyllenhaal completely steals the film as Lee Holloway, a young woman just released from a mental institution, where she was hospitalized
Read the review...By Michael Colford
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Babak Payami
Starring: Cyrus Abidi | Nassim Abdi
Michael says: “Babak Payami’s SECRET BALLOT is an interesting Iranian film dealing with a nation’s population and its ability to change the way things work. A box is dropped from a helicopter to an army guard post where two soldiers
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Rosanna Arquette
Michael says: “Rosanna Arquette interviews international actresses about growing older in the business and trying to have it all: career, love, family. At first I thought there would be too much about Arquette, and although the film is as much
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Jessie Nelson
Starring: Dakota Fanning | Dianne Weist | Michelle Pfeiffer | Sean Penn
Robin says: “Acting ranges from dependable to first-class, especially Penn and the adorable Dakota Fanning. There is bound to be comparison made to Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of the mentally challenged Raymond in RAIN MAN and there is, sometimes during I
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Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Billy Morissette
Starring: Christopher Walken | James LeGros | Kevin Corrigan | Maura Tierney
Hilary says: “I commented a bit about this film a couple of weeks ago. I agree that it never quite comes together, despite some decent performances. I particularly enjoyed Maura Tierney as the bitter ‘Lady’ to James LeGros’ Macbeth. Her
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.3 cats
Director: Benoît Jacquot
Starring: Daniel Auteuil; Isild de Besco | Grégoire Colin | Jeanne Balibar | Marianne Denicourt
Bob says: “SADE didn’t do much for me, and I’m not sure why. Maybe I was putting too much energy into comparing it with QUILLS and MARAT/SADE (which is one of my faves). It seemed to be more about the
Read the review...By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Dylan Kidd
Starring: Campbell Scott | Elizabeth Berkley | Isabella Rossellini | Jesse Eisenberg
Laura says: “Ad exec Roger (Campbell Scott) delights his coworkers and boss and secret lover Joyce (Isabella Rossellini) with his witty rationale on why women will take over the world during a boozy bistro session, but a later visit to
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