Mixed bag of unique films & series am glad I didn't miss.
Current. New. Old. No rankings so list order implies nothing. Creative works worth sharing for those tired of remakes (don't think the new Lost In Space really counts as a remake--but if so, then well, exceptions to the rules and all that), super heroes and formulas. Hopefully enjoyable entertainment. As long as dark things qualify . . ..
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- DirectorJean-Pierre JeunetStarsDany BoonAndré DussollierNicolas MariéA man and his friends come up with an intricate and original plan to destroy two big weapons manufacturers.If you love creative film-making then, HELL YEAH, you want to see it!
- CreatorJoseph KayStarsHamza HaqLaurence LeboeufJohn HannahAn ER doctor, who fled his native Syria to come to Canada, must overcome numerous obstacles to resume a career in the high stakes world of emergency medicine.A very revealing serious drama which raises a lot of questions about doctor training--everywhere--and human nature. Best use of a drill ever in first episode.
- CreatorEric Ellis OvermyerDavid SimonStarsKhandi AlexanderRob BrownKim DickensLife after Hurricane Katrina as the residents of New Orleans try to rebuild their lives, their homes, and their unique culture in the aftermath of one of the worst natural disasters in the USA.New Orleans ---sigh. Oh the music.
- DirectorMarc CaroJean-Pierre JeunetStarsMarie-Laure DougnacDominique PinonPascal BenezechPost-apocalyptic surrealist black comedy about the landlord of an apartment building who occasionally prepares a delicacy for his odd tenants.Old but timeless. hehehehehehehe
- DirectorJohn WooStarsTony Leung Chiu-waiTakeshi KaneshiroFengyi ZhangThe first chapter of a two-part story centered on a battle fought in China's Three Kingdoms period (220-280 A.D.).Awesome Action.
- CreatorAlex GregoryPeter HuyckStarsWoody HarrelsonJustin TherouxLena HeadeyA five-part series that tells the true story of how Nixon's own political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds, E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy, accidentally toppled the presidency they were trying to protect.It's often darkly funny and rather disturbingly so because--well, they really did this shit.
- DirectorTim RobbinsStarsHank AzariaRubén BladesJoan CusackA true story of politics and art in the 1930s U.S., focusing on a leftist musical drama and attempts to stop its production.So many cool elements brought together for an impact.
- DirectorCeyda TorunStarsYaman BarlasSariArzu GölA profile of an ancient city and its unique people, seen through the eyes of the most mysterious and beloved animal humans have ever known, the Cat.For Cat Lovers everywhere. Lovely film with lively Felines and some of their human friends.
- CreatorMoira BuffiniAlison NewmanStarsLesley ManvilleKate FleetwoodHolli DempseyBrothel owner Margaret Wells struggles to raise her daughters in London during the 18th century.Yep, that's exactly what it's about.
- StarsMin Nam-koongAhn Eun-jinKim Tae-hoonA love-story between a noble woman and a mysterious man set in Joseon during the Qing invasionWatch for the love story. Watch for Min Namkoong utterly shinning as an actor with a wonderful Ahn Eun-jin as leading Lady Yoo and great supporting cast. Watch for the lovely camera craft art. Watch for the historical/cultural concepts. Just watch. Don't worry, the "happy" silly flirty opening won't last long. More forthcoming in Oct. Update:Oct has come and wow, off to a brutal boil and heartbreak. Incredible film art on all levels. At this point the pre-invasion early episodes would be a relief from the tension. They're also a reminder of all that is lost in a war/invasion/occupation. Note-- watch with subtitles not dubbing as far too much verbal quality is lost with dubbing. Update post airing: In an award acceptance speech Min Namkoong thanked writer Hwang Jin-yeong for the wonderful script/story she worked on for five years. View on KOCOWA tv.
- CreatorDave BoyleStarsKento KakuYôsuke EguchiTae KimuraThe Tawara family, the last shinobi clan. It had abandoned its roots after an incident in the past, but now the family must take on the greatest crisis in Japanese history, one that threatens to shake the nation to its core.Ninjas--what more is there to say? hmm? Oh there must be MORE forthcoming. Please!!!
- DirectorBeth GageGeorge GageStarsTim DeChristopherTim DeChristopher is Bidder 70, a young man who derailed an illegal BLM oil and gas auction in a courageous act of civil disobedience.How far one man was willing to go for--everything. And the system that punished him for going the distance.
- DirectorAlan ParkerStarsRobert ArkinsMichael AherneAngeline BallJimmy Rabbitte, an unemployed Dublin boy, decides to put together a soul band made up entirely of the Irish working class.The music alone makes this very worth watching.
- DirectorYôjirô TakitaStarsMasahiro MotokiRyôko HirosueTsutomu YamazakiSoon after buying an expensive cello, Daigo learns that his orchestra is disbanding. He moves back to his hometown with his wife, where he answers an ad for what Daigo thinks is a travel agency but is, in actuality, a mortuary.Unique and lovely.
- DirectorNimród AntalStarsSándor CsányiEszter BallaZoltán MucsiA tale about a strange young man, Bulcsú, the fellow inspectors on his team, all without exception likable characters, a rival ticket inspection team and racing along the tracks - and a tale about love.Aka Kontroll. Fantastic joy ride under ground.
- DirectorElie WajemanStarsVincent MacaignePio MarmaïSara GiraudeauA doctor tries to extricate himself from the stressful work of treating drug addicts, the homeless and the destitute in difficult neighborhoods at night.Intense. Brilliant. Dark. Compassionate. Insanely well crafted. And a tad unhinged depending on your perspective of events.
- CreatorDavid O'LearyStarsAidan GillenMichael MalarkeyLaura MennellA tough US Air Force officer and a skeptical scientist investigate UFO and alien conspiracies as Cold War paranoia spreads.O come on, what's not to love about UFO paranoia done very well?
- StarsKim Nam-gilSeohyunYoo Jae-myungThe Koreans who gathered in Gando, Manchuria, for their own reasons and band together to protect their homes during 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule.Kind of like a western but Korean Style. Very feisty females. Violence. Ethical issues/choices galore. Great action.
- CreatorMikko PölläAleksi SalmenperäRoope LehtinenStarsAksel HennieVera VitaliMattias NordkvistA mysterious white wall made of unknown material is found deep underground at the mining site of the world's largest nuclear waste depository.Thought provoking in so very many important ways.
- StarsDominic CooperRomane PortailLeonie BeneschAn English spy is sent to Berlin in 1961 to sift out a traitor in the UK Embassy or among the Allies, shortly before the construction of the Berlin Wall.Interesting in part for the glimpse it offers of life in Berlin prior to the Berlin Wall-and that slice of hell thus created. The spy game is a cruel and nasty business where everyone is expendable everywhere all the time. Thus, dress well in case of sudden death.
- CreatorLucas TaylorStarsTravis FimmelJemmason PowerTalijah Blackman-CorowaIn 1994, seventeen-year-old Isabel Baker was murdered. The crime shocked the small town of Ashford and devastated the Australian South Sea Islander community of Elizabeth.A very different time and place.
- DirectorHark TsuiStarsNicholas TseWu BaiCandy LoA streetwise young man becomes a bodyguard to score quick cash. He befriends a disillusioned mercenary determined to begin life anew. They find themselves working together to foil an assassination attempt, but their partnership can't last.Terrific action visuals.
- StarsGong YooKim Go-eunLee Dong-wookIn his quest for a bride to break his immortal curse, Dokkaebi, a 939-year-old guardian of souls, meets a grim reaper and a sprightly student with a tragic past.Great escape from reality fantasy/romance/drama/mystery/comedy. Searching for a huge binge watching fix? This is it. Each episode basically a movie. High quality performances, script, film craft---snow can flow UP--entirely engaging. Aka Goblin. The Goblin's bride is a total scene thief. And the Goblin is very
HOT. Grim Reaper vs Goblin flatware wars a plus. An unexpected delight to discover. And then there's Sunny and the Woman in red. Koreans in Quebec--go figure. Gorgeous soundtrack/music. Watch on Viki. See trailer. - CreatorCyrill BossPhilipp StennertStarsMatthias HackJulia JentschNicholas OfczarekEllie Stocker and Gedeon Winter have become bitter enemies. A ritual murder leads to the formation of a German-Austrian Soko and forces the two opponents to investigate together.A rather intense mystery/thriller with a decidedly creepy edge.
- DirectorGeorge ClooneyStarsDavid StrathairnGeorge ClooneyPatricia ClarksonBroadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow looks to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy.Current news media need some of these "lessons".
- DirectorGraeme CliffordStarsJessica LangeJonathan BanksBonnie BartlettThe story of Frances Farmer's meteoric rise to fame in Hollywood and the tragic turn her life took when she was blacklisted.Hollywood showed it literally had no integrity when it snubbed Jessica Lange for her absolutely incredible performance in "Frances" then insulted her with an Oscar for her supporting role in the bs film "Tootsie". Those weren't happy tears Lange cried when accepting that Oscar. Those were hurt to the core tears. It was also another kick in the head to Frances Farmer by the film industry. A must watch for all free thinkers and free spirits--a sort of cautionary tale of the times if you will.
- DirectorKevin WillmottStarsWes StudiJ. Kenneth CampbellWinter Fox FrankSet in Kansas during the early 1900s, a teen-aged Native American boy (newcomer Winter Fox Frank) is taken from his family and forced to attend a distant Indian "training" school to assimilate into White society. When he escapes to return to his family, Sam Franklin (Wes Studi), a bounty hunter of Cherokee descent, is hired to find and return him to the institution. Franklin, a former Indian scout for the U.S. Army, has renounced his Native heritage and has adopted the White Man's way of life, believing it's the only way for Indians to survive. Along the way, a tragic incident spurs Franklin's longtime nemesis, the famous "Indian Fighter" Sheriff Henry McCoy (J. Kenneth Campbell), to pursue both Franklin and the boy.Take note that this film could NOT get released into mainstream American theaters. Why? Because of its depiction of the reality of the theft of Indigenous children from their parents and the genocide of the boarding school context. Winter Fox Frank is OUTSTANDING. The film is worth watching for his performance alone. He is the heart of this story line. The ten is for it going where few films dare to go into America's dark dark history. Viewed at its showing at a KCMO film festival.
- CreatorJenna BansStarsJonathan CastellanosValerie CruzCaroline DhavernasA group of doctors from the U.S. travel to work at a remote clinic in the South American tropics in an attempt to discover the true reasons they became doctors.Goes where few American shows ever care to dare venturing. Has little to do with the description. See how many episodes it takes before you realize why this most excellent drama "ended".
- CreatorJonathan TropperStarsAndrew KojiOlivia ChengJason TobinDuring the Tong Wars in the late 1800s, Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy from China, immigrates to San Francisco and becomes a hatchet man for the most powerful tong in Chinatown.Yes the action/fight scenes are something, but it's the social issues that give this drama real BITE.
- DirectorCharles Martin SmithStarsBarry PepperAnnabella PiugattukJames CromwellA pilot and his passenger struggle for survival after crashing in the Arctic tundra.Don't let the trailer narration turn you off. Sure, this is about the pilot--BUT there's NO damn film without HER. Great story about totally opposing cultures / values. How often does a character truly grow in any film?
- DirectorChris EyreStarsJames McDanielIrene BedardDelanna StudiBased on a true story, a black educator takes a job teaching high-school English at the Three Nations Reservation, and is coaxed into coaching the girls basketball team.Yes, it takes place way outside the American mainstreams--with girls' basketball as the connection. It's a toughie at times.
- StarsKim Soo-hyunSeo Ye-jiOh Jung-seAn extraordinary road to emotional healing opens up for an selfish antisocial children's-book writer and a selfless psych-ward caretaker when they cross paths.Just deal with the Korean fixation on "pretty" - it's just a standard culture notion- and pay attention to all the interesting elements this engaging drama has to offer such as: caregiver burnout, abusive relationships, the nature of autism, mental health, impacts of tragic events, healing, unrequited love, creating families not based on blood relatives, love, strong women-different sorts--compassion and caring for oneself and others. Yeah, there's a lot to unpack--plus the beautiful visuals, feisty as all get out leading lady and a very interesting director of OK psyche hospital. Excellent performances across the board. When "Little Brother" smiles he might knock your socks off--seriously, it's that huge of a transformation. Yes, there's a very dark side too complete with a Cursed Castle, grim tales, and murder.
- CreatorKevin MurphyRockne S. O'BannonMichael TaylorStarsGrant BowlerStephanie LeonidasJulie BenzLife in the city of Defiance, in a near future after the arrival of different alien lifeforms to Earth.Seriously underrated --not surprisingly so all the very interesting conceptual elements considered.
- CreatorChad HodgeStarsSiobhan Fallon HoganToby JonesShannyn SossamonA Secret Service agent goes to Wayward Pines, Idaho in search of two federal agents who have gone missing in the bucolic town. He soon learns that he might never get out of Wayward Pines alive.Ooops--smells of reality checks.
- CreatorSterlin HarjoTaika WaititiStarsD'Pharaoh Woon-A-TaiDevery JacobsPaulina AlexisComedy series about four Native American teenagers growing up on a reservation in eastern Oklahoma.O humor of the best kind, imo.
- StarsPark Bo-youngYeon Woo-jinJang Dong-yoonDetermined to provide a ray of light for those under her care, a young nurse navigates the world of mental health and the diverse stories surrounding it.Engaging drama abut Mental Health. Some wonderful visual aides employed to convey how people's states of mind/feeling. Very informative and educational. And there's humor. Share it widely for everyone's benefit.
- StarsMin Nam-koongKim Ji-eunChoi Dae-hoonA story of a lawyer with unusual style who only charges 1,000 won (roughly 1 dollar) for his service to fight for clients that are up against the richest and most privileged.Fine acting across the board. Drama, comedy, tragedy, love story, mystery. Ahh that wonderful tank full of fish....hmmm.
- StarsTakehiro HiraKelly MacdonaldYôsuke KubozukaA detective from Tokyo scours London for his missing brother, who's been involved with the Yakuza and accused of murder.Great performances. Great script. Great camera craft. O the breathtaking roof dance in B&W. Imagine three women and a baby on the run from gangsters.
- DirectorStefan RuzowitzkyStarsKarl MarkovicsAugust DiehlDevid StriesowThe story of the Operation Bernhard, the largest counterfeiting operation in history, carried out by Germany during World War II.Money does keep the war machines moving...
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsChristian BaleNi NiXinyi ZhangAn American finds refuge during the 1937 Japanese invasion of Nanking in a church with a group of women. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.History many prefer to avoid, ignore, evade. Incredible women characters.
- DirectorRobin WrightStarsRobin WrightDemián BichirSarah Dawn PledgeEdee, in the aftermath of an unfathomable event, finds herself unable to stay connected to the world and retreats to the wilds of the Rockies. After a local hunter brings her back from the brink of death, she must find a way to live again.Robin Wright takes on dealing with immense grief in the wilderness with unexpected "help" from Demian Bichir.
- DirectorPhilipp StölzlStarsBenno FürmannFlorian LukasJohanna WokalekA secretary at a Berlin newspaper in 1936 gets to write about two Alpinists, as she knows them well. She later gets to report on and photograph her friends' and other Alpinists' climbs of the dangerous Swiss Eiger north face."Baby, it's COLD outside..."
- CreatorJoe MurtaghStarsRuth WilsonDaryl McCormackSimon DelaneyLorna Brady wakes one morning to find a corpse in her house with no idea who the dead woman is. She doubts herself, because she has long suffered from extreme bouts of sleepwalking.Ruth Wilson playing with axes and fires and trying hard to NOT sleep because then she does very bad things. Hmm, no spoilers forthcoming. Mum's the word.
- CreatorPaul RutmanStarsHenry Lloyd-HughesJemima WestJulie WaltersDrama set in 1932 during the final years of British colonial rule in India.Colonial racism, greed, and human nastiness running amok. At times this can be a painful viewing experience.
- CreatorJohn Sacret YoungWilliam Broyles Jr.StarsDana DelanyMarg HelgenbergerBrian WimmerThe trials of a weary nurse, her friends and colleagues in a Vietnam War field hospital.Only way to view at this time is probably the DVD collection. See Wikipedia for more info. Perhaps Dana Delany's best performance ever. Nurses. Vietnam War. Music. One of the very few tv series personally viewed while on air in this time period. Unforgettable.
- DirectorBarry SamsonStarsEdward AlbertOlga KaboVictor WongUS-agent West travels to Moscow for the CIA in order to buy Russian weapons and to send them to the rebels in Afghanistan. When West gets caught he hides his identity and receives 15 years in a working camp in Siberia as penalty. This is supposed to be equal to the capital punishment...An old and rather "unappreciated" film starring Edward Albert which I literally stumbled up by chance when a video store was closing out and selling its stock insanely cheap. The story line probably accounts for the lack of love. Its setting was what originally hooked me. This is a film which, probably due to the visuals and Albert's performance, has stuck with me for a very long time.
- CreatorHolden MillerStarsSissy SpacekJ.K. SimmonsChai HansenFollows Franklin and Irene York, a couple who years ago discovered a chamber buried in their backyard which inexplicably leads to a strange, deserted planet.And what are your grandparents up to?
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsYou GeGong LiBen NiuAfter Fugui and Jiazhen lose their personal fortunes, they raise a family and survive difficult cultural changes during 1940s to 1970s China.No comfort zones here. Serious "Must Watch" film.
- CreatorBryan FullerStarsLee PaceAnna FrielChi McBrideA pastry chef with the power to bring dead people back to life solves murder mysteries with his resurrected childhood sweetheart, a cynical private investigator, and a lovesick waitress.Don't think there's been anything quite like it before or after airing. If so, I'd very much like to know. A bit of sweet, especially since there's so much dark here. Who doesn't like pies? Hmm?
- CreatorSusin NielsenStarsJewel StaiteZach SmaduGenelle WilliamsThis 10-episode, one-hour drama follows a group of flawed family members who reluctantly work together at their father's law firm in downtown Vancouver.Unexpected things happen in this complex series--children and adults are shown reading real books and playing chess, backgammon and other board games--instead of living face to face with their smarty phones. Issues, issues, issues--and nothing is easily resolved. Plus, there's a pug in the supporting cast. O--yeah, there's dysfunctional families and alcoholism taken very seriously. Cast makes the most of very fine scripts.
- CreatorAdam KayStarsBen WhishawAmbika ModRory Fleck ByrneSet on Labour Ward with all its hilarity and heart-lifting highs but also its gut-wrenching lows, the show delivers a brutally honest depiction of life as a junior doctor on the wards, and the toll the job can take back home.The "humor" is very dark so don't expect comic farce from the trailer. A brutal head on glimpse of the nasty realities of a doctor's daily life in the so called public /private health care systems in the UK. It can't be any better in the states where people are still in denial that what exists is a For Profit Industry controlled by a nefarious insurance business. Why are doctors in training literally tortured by lack of sleep, staff shortages and lack of funds?
- CreatorJames GriffinMaxine FlemingStarsErik ThomsonMelina VidlerBenson Jack AnthonyA recently-widowed father quits his job as a popular 800-word columnist for a top-selling Sydney newspaper.Lighter fare but with emotional depths. Great cast of diverse women. And the widowed father figuring out teenage children is a plus. Weld is certainly a different sort of location.
- DirectorWisit SasanatiengStarsChartchai NgamsanStella MalucchiSupakorn KitsuwonWith its loud acting style, exuberant sets and stunning shots in pastel colours, this Thai cult film is as much a parody as an homage to the Western and the romantic tearjerker.O the incredible visuals!
- DirectorStephen FrearsStarsChiwetel EjioforAudrey TautouSophie OkonedoIrregular migrants Okwe and Senay work at a posh London hotel and live in constant fear of deportation. One night Okwe stumbles across evidence of a bizarre murder, setting off a series of events that could lead to disaster or freedom.The darker sides of the human species.
- DirectorWim WendersStarsWilliam HurtSolveig DommartinPietro FalconeIn 1999, Claire Tourneur's life is forever changed after she survives a car crash. She rescues Sam and travels the world with him. Writer Eugene Fitzpatrick follows and writes their story as a method of recording dreams is being developed.Absolutely insanely great soundtrack! It might be far more timely for today.
- DirectorChristophe GansStarsSamuel Le BihanMark DacascosJérémie RenierIn 18th-century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his Native American friend Mani are sent to the Gevaudan province at the king's behest to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast.At a test screening in USA when the film ended it received a standing ovation from the entire jam packed theater. I don't expect that to happen ever again. Visually incredible on a large screen.For 2001 it was in a class all its own, imo.
- CreatorCharlie HigsonStarsTom BatemanDonald SumpterStephanie Hyam10-part drama set in 1930s London focusing on Robert Jekyll, the grandson of the original doctor. The show will follow Robert Jekyll's quest to discover his real identity and the true nature of his family's cursed history.Apparently too evil and violent for some "sensitive" Brits- who apparently didn't get worked up about the likes of "Touching Evil" which is far far darker--go figure. Shhh, it's really good. Great backstory, crazy cast of strange characters, and some impressive film craft which highlights some wonderful performances.
- DirectorFrançois TruffautStarsCatherine DeneuveGérard DepardieuJean PoiretIn occupied Paris, an actress married to a Jewish theater owner must keep him hidden from the Germans while doing both of their jobs.A great oldie.
- DirectorLuc BessonStarsRie RasmussenJamel DebbouzeGilbert MelkiA beautiful woman helps an inept scam artist get his game together.Absolutely gorgeous b&w film.
- DirectorKar-Wai WongStarsTony Leung Chiu-waiZiyi ZhangJin ZhangThe story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee.Outstanding visuals and action.
- StarsRyan EggoldJanet MontgomeryJocko SimsA new medical director breaks the rules to heal the system at America's oldest public hospital."How can I help?" Not the typical doctor/hospital show.
- CreatorDeclan LawnAdam PattersonLouise GallagherStarsNathan BraniffSian BrookeKatherine DevlinFollows rookie police officers working in Belfast, a city in which being a frontline response cop comes with unique pressures and dangers.New cops in Belfast. Belfast. Curiosity piqued by the location and history. Belfast. Nuff said.
- StarsTakuya EguchiAtsumi TanezakiAlex OrganA spy on an undercover mission gets married and adopts a child as part of his cover. His wife and daughter have secrets of their own, and all three must strive to keep together.Oh hell, must be seen to be appreciated.
- CreatorBryan FullerMichael GreenStarsRicky WhittleEmily BrowningYetide BadakiA recently released ex-convict named Shadow meets a mysterious man who calls himself "Wednesday" and who knows more than he first seems to about Shadow's life and past.What keeps a god alive? Myths for everyone.
- DirectorDrew PearceStarsJodie FosterSofia BoutellaDave BautistaSet in riot-torn, near-future Los Angeles, 'Hotel Artemis' follows the Nurse, who runs a secret, members-only emergency room for criminals.Jodie Foster as a literal fixer/physician for bad bad people. Weird crazy violent "fun". No cops allowed in this hotel.
- DirectorCary Joji FukunagaStarsPaulina GaitanMarco Antonio AguirreLeonardo AlonsoA young Honduran girl and a Mexican gangster are united in a journey across the U.S. border.Cruel realities drive desperate moves.
- CreatorMichael BennettHarriet CramptonStarsCian Elyse WhiteEds EramihaKatie WolfeVegas is set in a fictional world very like modern-day Aotearoa, but in truth it could be a thousand-year tale of warring Norsemen.A New Zealand twisted take on illegal drug doings --with a few other issues mucking up some lives.
- CreatorMatthew GrahamTony JordanAshley PharoahStarsJohn SimmPhilip GlenisterLiz WhiteAfter a near-fatal car accident, smart, savvy, sharp-suited detective Sam is mysteriously transported back to 1973. Confused by his new surroundings, Sam tries to return to the present, but the police force of long ago needs his help.Oh this is a total crazy hoot on some levels and deadly serious mental landscape drama on others. A fine slice of time and place drama.
- CreatorGillian FlynnStarsJohn CusackAshleigh LaThropDan ByrdA group of young adults, who meet online, get a hold of a cult underground graphic novel, which not only pins them as a target of a shadowy deep state organization, but also burdens them with the dangerous task of saving the world.O the connective power of the world wide web...
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsNicolas CagePatricia ArquetteJohn GoodmanHaunted by the patients he failed to save, a monumentally burned-out Manhattan ambulance paramedic fights to maintain his sanity over three increasingly turbulent nights.Perhaps Cage's finest performance--ever. IMO.
- CreatorEd SolomonStarsZazie BeetzClaire DanesJim GaffiganAn investigation into a botched kidnapping uncovers long-held secrets connecting multiple characters and cultures in present day New York City.Natalia, played by Adia (whom I HOPE has an incredible career forthcoming), is the very active moral force in this series overflowing with names and talent. Even if you can't stand the very annoying older characters, stick around for all that Natalia pulls off.
- DirectorRyu Seung-wanStarsKim Hye-suYum Jung-ahZo In-sungAn action crime film set in the 1970s in a small, peaceful village by the sea where two women get unexpectedly caught up in a high-stakes smuggling scheme.Why the hell this great film isn't getting a ton of LOVE is beyond me!
- CreatorIrwin AllenMatt SazamaBurk SharplessStarsToby StephensMolly ParkerMaxwell JenkinsAfter crash-landing on an alien planet, the Robinson family fight against all odds to survive and escape, but they're surrounded by hidden dangers.Wonderful exploration of the original's potential.
- DirectorShaka KingStarsLaKeith StanfieldDaniel KaluuyaJesse PlemonsOffered a plea deal by the FBI, William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton.Excellent performances across the board.
- DirectorJean-Paul RappeneauStarsOlivier MartinezJuliette BinochePierre ArditiIn a time of war and disease, a young officer gallantly tries to help a young woman find her husband.It's a little different than the usual modern film fare.
- DirectorAndrzej WajdaStarsZbigniew CybulskiEwa KrzyzewskaWaclaw ZastrzezynskiAs World War II and the German occupation ends, the Polish resistance and the Soviet forces turn on each other in an attempt to take over leadership in Communist Poland.As one reviewer noted--it helps A LOT to have some understanding of the historical context of this Polish film. Wonderful black & white cinematography.
- DirectorEmanuele CrialeseStarsCharlotte GainsbourgVincenzo AmatoVincent SchiavelliA Sicilian peasant begins the journey to the promised land and meets a beautiful Englishwoman. But neither is prepared for the harsh realities of Ellis Island. Can they make it through the golden door to the America of their dreams?Migrating is a rough ride.
- DirectorAndrzej WajdaStarsAndrzej ChyraMaja OstaszewskaArtur ZmijewskiAn examination of the Soviet slaughter of thousands of Polish officers and citizens in the Katyn forest in 1940.Important history regarding the Soviet effort to clear out carefully individually selected resistance--one bullet to the head at a time, at least 20,000 of them. Scary evil that humans do to each other for dominance and control. Also visually satisfying.
- CreatorMichelle KingRobert KingStarsMary Elizabeth WinsteadDanny PinoAaron TveitA government employee discovers that the cause of the tensions between the two political parties is a race of extraterrestrial insects eating the brains of the politicians.Damn, this explains so much of american politics that's it's downright SCARY!!!
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsRachel WeiszAdrien BrodyMark RuffaloThe Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Now they've decided to take on one last job - showing a beautiful and eccentric heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that takes them around the world.Shhhhhh...they're moving to their own off beat agenda.
- CreatorHugh DillonTaylor SheridanStarsJeremy RennerHugh DillonTobi BamtefaThe McLusky family are power brokers tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality in Kingstown, Michigan, where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry.A horrifying look at prisons, criminals, families, and un-official politics--among other things.
- DirectorOlivier DahanStarsMarion CotillardSylvie TestudPascal GreggoryBiopic of the iconic French singer Édith Piaf. Raised by her grandmother in a brothel, she was discovered while singing on a street corner at the age of 19. Despite her success, Piaf's life was filled with tragedy.For music lovers.
- DirectorTaylor SheridanStarsElizabeth OlsenJeremy RennerGraham GreeneA wildlife officer, who is haunted by a tragedy that happened because of him, teams up with an FBI agent in solving a murder of a young woman on a Wyoming Native American reservation and hopes to get redemption from his past regrets.Unique in that it deals with the death of a young Indigenous woman-- #MMIW #MMIWG--an ongoing epidemic of violence against Indigenous which seldom garners any attention by press and police across the North American continent. Not perfect but it is a 'start'.
- DirectorCraig GillespieStarsChris PineCasey AffleckBen FosterThe Coast Guard makes a daring rescue attempt off the coast of Cape Cod after a pair of oil tankers are destroyed during a blizzard in 1952.Don't forget your life jacket! One man's intelligence buys precious time while another's determination and compassion offers an unexpected illogical resolution. It's great drama based on actual events. The sea is fierce!
- DirectorJean-Pierre JeunetStarsHelena Bonham CarterJudy DavisCallum Keith RennieA ten-year-old scientist secretly leaves his family's ranch in Montana where he lives with his cowboy father and scientist mother, escapes home, and travels across the country aboard a freight train to receive an award at the Smithsonian Institute.It's really good story telling.
- CreatorRob BlackiePeter BlackieStarsJason MomoaLandon LiboironZoe BoyleFollows Declan Harp, a half-Irish/half Cree Native-Canadian outlaw who is campaigning to breach the Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly on the fur trade in Canada.A very harsh cruel rendition of the invasion/occupation/land-theft by the British Empire for greed and power. Forewarning--violence, torture, abuse of women, genocide, and all around evil human behavior rendered. Don't view if these are personal triggers.
- DirectorKen LoachStarsPilar PadillaAdrien BrodyElpidia CarrilloTwo Latina sisters work as cleaners in a downtown office building, and fight for the right to unionize.The ongoing fight for living wages, respect and quality of life.
- DirectorJay RoachStarsBryan CranstonDiane LaneHelen MirrenIn 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.This is rather scary for reasons that will become very clear very quickly. Bryan Cranston delivers big time.
- CreatorBryan CranstonDavid ShoreStarsGiovanni RibisiMarin IrelandShane McRaeA con man on the run from a vicious gangster takes cover by assuming the identity of his prison cellmate Pete, and reuniting with Pete's estranged family, which threatens to drag him into a world just as dangerous as the one he's escaping.There are con men and then there's Pete and pals.
- CreatorRafael CasalDaveed DiggsStarsJasmine Cephas JonesJaylen BarronCandace Nicholas-LippmanAs Miles, Ashley's partner of 12 years and father of their son, is suddenly incarcerated, she is left to navigate a chaotic and humorous existential crisis when she's forced to move in with Miles' mother and half-sister.Had no idea what to expect from this drama which turned out to be something extraordinary for the portrayal of those often deemed invisible by the mainstream flow. Many social justice issues --just for starters. Great cast delivers top tier performances. With the occasional musical number.
- StarsKatherine ParkinsonGemma ChanLucy CarlessIn a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a 'Synth'--a highly-developed robotic servant that's so similar to a real human--is transforming the way we live.Raises all the important questions/issues/ethics.
- DirectorRoland JofféStarsSam WaterstonHaing S. NgorJohn MalkovichA journalist is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody 'Year Zero' cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million 'undesirable' civilians.Perhaps this ought to be required viewing for many reasons. That said, do not view if at all depressed as it is a ruthless heart breaker. The historical cruelty is mind blowing.
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsSarah PolleyJay MohrScott WolfThe aftermath of a drug deal as told from three different points of view.Just run with it.
- DirectorJacques AudiardStarsTahar RahimNiels ArestrupAdel BencherifA delinquent Muslim man struggles to get by in prison until he is taken under the wing of a powerful mob boss. But his gradual rise through the mob's ranks brings him in conflict with his mentor.A story of stunning transformation. Pay close attention. This is absolutely great film-making.
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyJonathan ShapiroStarsBilly Bob ThorntonNina AriandaTania RaymondeA disgraced lawyer, now an ambulance chaser, gets a case that could bring him redemption or at least revenge on the firm which expelled him.Thornton is very good, but I think it's the various women characters who push this legal drama into the more "interesting" waters.
- DirectorCarroll BallardStarsCharles Martin SmithBrian DennehyZachary IttimangnaqA government researcher, sent to research the "menace" of wolves in the north, learns about the true beneficial and positive nature of the species.Worth watching simply for Hiro Narita's outstanding Cinematography.
- DirectorCarlos López EstradaStarsDaveed DiggsRafael CasalJanina GavankarWhile on probation, a man begins to re-evaluate his relationship with his volatile best friend.
- DirectorPedro AlmodóvarStarsPenélope CruzLluís HomarBlanca PortilloHarry Caine, a blind writer, reaches this moment in time when he has to heal his wounds from 14 years back. He was then still known by his real name, Mateo Blanco, and directing his last movie.For those who enjoy all things complicated.
- DirectorWim WendersStarsBruno GanzSolveig DommartinOtto SanderAn angel tires of his purely ethereal life of merely overseeing the human activity of Berlin's residents, and longs for the tangible joys of physical existence when he falls in love with a mortal.Far more compelling than expected. Oh the black & white film!
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsMichael B. JordanMelonie DiazOctavia SpencerThe story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.