Category: Newsletters

“The transformation of American life in the aftermath of 9/11 and the assassination of the U.S. President is the subject of this mock TV documentary broadcast in 2008. It is a type of journalism we have grown extremely accustomed to: a combination of archival footage and carefully composed interviews, presented in a respectful and dignified manner. Taking a page from Hitchcock’s playbook, however, director/co-writer Gabriel Range ratchets up the tension. History tells us that the President will be shot—we just don’t know when it will happen in the film. At this point, the documentary turns its attention to the search for the assassin, and traces the efforts of the FBI agent, the forensic expert and others, to find the truth.”

“From the time that they first met as young magicians on the rise, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) were competitors. However, their friendly competition evolves into a bitter rivalry making them fierce enemies-for-life and consequently jeopardizing the lives of everyone around them. Full of twists and turns, The Prestige is set against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century London. The cast includes two-time Oscar® winner Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie.”

“In an incredible twist of fate, Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) becomes irreversibly entangled with one of the world’s most barbaric figures: self-appointed Ugandan President Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker). Impressed by Dr. Garrigan, Amin picks him as his personal physician and confidant. Though Garrigan is fascinated by his new position, he soon awakens to Amin’s savagery—and his own complicity in it. Horror and betrayal ensue as he tries to right his wrongs and escape Uganda alive. Co-starring Gillian Anderson and Kerry Washington. Directed by Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void) and based on the novel by Giles Foden.”

“Years ago, a powerful Irish mafia figure placed a small selection of his youngest, brightest men into the Massachusetts Police Academy as cadets. Their purpose is to eventually rise within the prestigious ranks of the city’s police department, to serve as the eyes and ears of their boss. While somewhere else, a young cadet was assigned with an equally dangerous task: infiltrate the Irish syndicate headed by the man sending in his own to the Boston Police. Now, one cadet is an up and coming police official with a torn allegiance to his job and to the criminal mastermind that put him there. While the other cadet is the trusted number two of that man, only finding his professional duties are becoming blurred with his current state. But new clues have lead to unfortunate discoveries, when both sides realize they’re being watched by the enemy. It’s now all just a matter of time before the men assigned to find out whose the infiltrator, could come to a bloody end when someone’s identity may be revealed.”

“The Science of Sleep is a playful fantasy set inside the topsy-turvy brain of Stephane Miroux (Gael Garcia Bernal), an eccentric young man whose dreams constantly invade his waking life. While slumbering, he is the charismatic host of “Stephane TV,” expounding on The Science of Sleep in front of cardboard cameras. In “real life,” he has a boring job at a Parisian calendar publisher and pines for Stephanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg), the girl in the apartment across the hall. While Stephanie is initially charmed by Stephane, she is confused by his childishness and shaky connection to reality. Stephane’s co-worker, Guy (Alain Chabat) a vulgar but practical man, offers advice on the opposite sex, but Stephane is too far in the clouds to listen. Unable to find the secret to Stephanie’s heart while awake, Stephane searches for the answer in his dreams.”

“Director Kirby Dick (Twist of Faith) takes an unprecedented look into the Motion Picture Association of America’s (MPAA) film ratings system and its profound effect on American culture. By examining controversial ratings decisions, Dick asks whether Hollywood movies and independent films are rated equally for comparable content, and whether keeping the raters and the rating process secret leaves the MPAA entirely unaccountable for its decisions. Features candid interviews with critics, attorneys, authors, educators and filmmakers, including John Waters (A Dirty Shame), Kevin Smith (Clerks), Matt Stone (South Park), Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry), Atom Egoyan (Where the Truth Lies), Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) and Mary Harron (American Psycho).”

“Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) is an idealistic inner-city junior high school teacher who inspires his students to challenge the status quo. Though he keeps it together in the classroom, Dan has a serious drug habit. He keeps his lives precariously separated, until one of his troubled students, Drey (Shareeka Epps), catches him getting high after school. From this awkward beginning, Dan and Drey stumble into an unexpected friendship that threatens to undo them or provide the vital change they both need to move forward with their lives. Directed and co-written by Ryan Fleck.”

“By intercepting a package and following instructions meant for a deceased gangster, aimless 20-year-old Sébastien (George Babluani, the director’s brother), thinks he’s going to make a quick buck and help his poor immigrant family. Instead, things take a turn for the absolute worse when the trail he is following leads him into the heart of the French countryside and face to face with a clandestine ring of gangsters who bet on human lives. A surreal, neo-noir thriller from debut writer/director Géla Babluani. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. (Fully subtitled)”