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Alucarda (1977)

Directed by: Juan Lopez Moctezuma

Starring: Tina Romero, Susana Kamnini, Claudio Brook, Birgitta Segerskog

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 18 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Atmosphere, Production Design, Cinematography, Pacing, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Acting

Alucarda (1977)

October 13, 2020

A young girl arrives at a convent where she and her new best friend awaken an evil presence.  

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In Art House, Coming of Age, Drama, Exploitation, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller, Foreign Film Tags Juan Lopez Moctezuma, Tina Romero, Susana Kamnini, Claudio Brook, Birgitta Segerskog, R
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Hagazussa (2017)

Directed by: Lukas Feigelfeld

Starring: Aleksandra Cwen, Celina Peter, Claudia Martini, Tanja Petrovsky

Rated: NR (Suggest R for Disturbing Violent Content)

Running Time: 1 h 42 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Cinematography, Story, Sound Design

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Small Target Audience

Hagazussa (2017)

October 5, 2020

A woman living in isolation faces judgement and persecution from a group of nearby villagers, who believe the woman to be a witch. 

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In Art House, Crime, Drama, Foreign Film, Horror, Historical, Mystery, Thriller Tags Aleksandra Cwen, Celina Peter, Claudia Martini, Tanja Petrovsky, Lukas Feigelfeld, 2017, 4.5 Stars
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Andrei Rublev (1966)

Directed By: Andrei Tarkovsky

Starring: Anatoliy Solonitsyn, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolay Grinko

Rated: R

Run Time: 3h 25m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Cinematography, Thematic Coherence, Acting

Weakness: Length Maybe?

Andrei Rublev (1966)

April 13, 2020

The life of the great Icon Writer, Andrei Rublev, is the backdrop for this exploration of Russia, its people, history, faith, atrocities, and glory, as only a true seeker of enlightenment can.

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In Art House, Biographical, Christian Film, Drama, Epic, Foreign Film, Historical, Political Tags Michael McDonald, Andrei Rublev, 1966, Andrei Tarkovsky, Anatoliy Solonitsyn, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolay Grinko, R Rated, 5 Stars
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The Sacrifice (1986)

Directed By: Andrei Tarkovsky

Starring: Erland Josephson, Susan Fleetwood, Allan Edwall

Rated: PG

Run Time: 2h 29m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Understated Tone, Long Takes, Thematic Integrity, Cinematography

Weakness: Maybe Pacing

The Sacrifice (1986)

March 31, 2020

When WWIII threatens to annihilate his family and who knows how much of the rest of humanity, a retired aesthetics journalist and lecturer contemplates what he may be able to do to avoid cataclysm.

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In Art House, Drama, Foreign Film Tags Michael McDonald, The Sacrifice, 1986, Andrei Tarkovsky, Erland Josephson, Susan Fleetwood, Allan Edwall, 5 Stars, PG
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The Mirror (1975)

Directed By: Andrei Tarkovsky

Starring: Margarita Terekhova, Filipp Yankovskiy, Ignat Daniltsev

Rated: G

Run Time: 1h 47m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Cinematography, High Concept, Lyrical Quality

Weakness: Confusing

The Mirror (1975)

March 19, 2020

An aging poet remembers his life and the events which shaped Russia during it.

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In Art House, Foreign Film, Drama, Coming of Age, Historical Tags Michael McDonald, Margarita Terekhova, Filipp Yankovskiy, Ignat Daniltsev, Andrei Tarkovsky, The Mirror, 1975, G, Rated G, 5 Stars
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Nostalgia (1983)

Directed By: Andrei Tarkovsky

Starring: Oleg Yankovskiy, Erland Josephson, Domiziana Giordano

Rated: NR

Run Time: 2h 5m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Production Design, Meditative, Acting

Weakness: Pacing

Nostalgia (1983)

March 13, 2020

A Russian writer, doing research in Italy, suffers an extreme bout of homesickness for Russia.

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In Art House, Drama, Foreign Film Tags Michael McDonald, Nostalgia, 1983, Andrei Tarkovsky, Oleg Yankovskiy, Erland Josephson, Domiziana Giordano, NR, 3 Stars
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Hunger (2008)

Directed By: Steve McQueen

Starring: Stuart Graham, Brian Milligan, Liam McMahon, Michael Fassbender

Rated: NR

Run Time: 1h 36m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Acting, Cinematography, Themes

Weakness: NA

Hunger (2008)

March 5, 2020

A group of young Irish freedom fighters/terrorists commit to not washing until their demands for political status are met. After some appeasement, but not all, are made, one man commits to a hunger strike that will most likely cost him his life

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In Art House, Foreign Film, Drama, Historical, Political Tags Michael McDonald, Steve McQueen, Hunger, 2008, Stuart Graham, Brian Milligan, Liam McMahon, Michael Fassbender, 5 Stars
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Shame (2011)

Directed By: Steve McQueen

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale

Rated: NC-17

Run Time: 1h 41m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Acting, Cinematography, Brevity

Weakness: NA

Shame (2011)

March 3, 2020

Sex addict and successful New Businessman, Brandon, has his life upended when his sister comes to stay with him and breaks his reserved and solitary lifestyle.

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In Art House, Drama, Foreign Film Tags Michael McDonald, Steve McQueen, Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale, NC-17, 4 Stars, Shame, 2011
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Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)

Directed by: David Lynch

Starring: Sheryl Lee, Ray Wise, Madchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, David Bowie, Heather Graham, David Lynch, Peggy Lipton, Kyle Maclachan

Rated: R for Strong Violence, Sex, and Drug Content, and for Language

Running Time: 2 h 14 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Good Companion Piece to Frist Two Seasons of Twin Peaks

WEAKNESSES: No Reason to Watch Unless You’ve Seen Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)

February 25, 2020

As FBI agents investigate strange murders that might be connected, Laura Palmer goes about her daily routine, unaware that tragedy will soon befall her.

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In Coming of Age, Crime, Drama, Art House Tags David Lynch, Sheryl Lee, Ray Wise, Madchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, David Bowie, Heather Graham, Peggy Lipton, 3 Stars, R, Kyle MacLachlan
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Inland Empire (2006)

Directed by: David Lynch

Starring: Laura Dern, Jeremy Irons, Justin Theroux, Harry Dean Stanton, Karolina Gruszka, William H. Macy, Mary Steenburgen, Terry Crews, Nastassja Kinski, Laura Harring, Naomi Watts

Rated: R for Language, Some Violence and Sexuality/Nudity

Running Time: 3 h

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Surreal Sequences, Unusual Acting

WEAKNESSES: Length

Inland Empire (2006)

February 24, 2020

An actress is cast to play the lead in a reputedly cursed script, and as she sets out to make the film, she finds it difficult to separate the film from reality, and reality from her dreams.

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In Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Epic, Art House, Mystery, Noir, Romance, Thriller Tags Laura Dern, Jeremy Irons, Justin Theroux, Harry Dean Stanton, Karolina Gruszka, William H. Macy, Mary Steenburgen, Terry Crews, Nastassja Kinski, Laura Harring, Naomi Watts, David Lynch
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Dogtooth (2009)

Directed By: Yorgos Lanthimos

Starring: Christos Stergioglou, Michele Valley, Angeliki Papoulia

Rated: NR

Run Time: 1h 37m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Tone, Creativity, Acting

Weakness: Slow

Dogtooth (2009)

February 20, 2020

An insular family’s strange yet serene life is upset as the children come of age and want more than their sheltered existence.

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In Art House, Coming of Age, Drama, Foreign Film Tags Michael McDonald, Christos Stergioglou, Michele Valley, Angeliki Papoulia, Yorgos Lanthimos, Dogtooth, 2009, Not Rated, 3 Stars
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The Fall (2006)

Directed By: Tarsem Singh

Starring: Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru, Justine Waddell

Rated: R

Run Time: 1h 57m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Acting, Production Design and Costuming, Emotional Connection

Weakness: Brief CGI Moments

The Fall (2006)

February 13, 2020

In a hospital, an injured stuntman weaves an epic tale for a young girl with a broken arm in order to convince her to help him obtain the Morphine he needs to numb his inner anguish.

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In Adventure, Art House, Coming of Age, Epic, Fantasy Tags Michael McDonald, The Fall, 2006, Tarsem Singh, Tarsem, Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru, Justine Waddell, R Rated, 5 Stars
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Waves (2019)

Directed By: Trey Edward Shults

Starring: Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Alexa Demie, Sterling K. Brown, Lucas Hedges

Rated: R

Run Time: 2h 15m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Acting, Cinematography, Characters, Scope of Subject Matter

Weakness: Too Long for Some

Waves (2019)

February 7, 2020

A well off family struggling for love, meaning, hope, happiness, and wealth are met with a devastating tragedy which leaves them reeling.

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In Art House, Coming of Age, Drama, Romance Tags Michael McDonald, Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Alexa Demie, Sterling K. Brown, Lucas Hedges, Waves, 2019, Trey Edward Shults, R Rated, 5 Stars
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Let the Corpses Tan (2017)

Directed by: Helene Cattet, Bruno Forzani

Starring: Elina Lowensohn, Stephane Ferrara, Bernie Bonvoisin, Michelangelo Marchese, Marc Barbe, Pierre Nisse

Rated: Unrated (Suggested R for Graphic Nudity and Strong Violence)

Running Time: 1 h 32 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Style, Cinematography, Pacing, Editing, Ennio Morricone, Sound Design

WEAKNESSES: Style Over Substance, Sometimes Difficult to Tell What’s Going On, Also Editing

Let the Corpses Tan (2017)

January 22, 2020

Thieves with a trunkful of gold bullion hide out at an old mission where they encounter a bohemian artist and his muse. As cops arrive at the mission, bullets begin to fly. 

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In Action, Art House, Adventure, Crime, Thriller, Western, Foreign Film Tags Helene Cattet, Bruno Forzani, Elina Lowensohn, Stephane Ferrara, Bernie Bonvoisin, Michelangelo Marchese, Marc Barbe, Pierre Nisse, 4 Stars
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The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)

Directed by: Takashi Miike

Starring: Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, Tesuro Tanba, Tamaki Miyazaki

Rated: R for Violent Images and Some Sexual Content

Running Time: 1 h 53 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Absurdity, Themes, Story, Fun, Innovation

WEAKNESSES: Also Absurdity

The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)

January 15, 2020

A dark comedy concerning a family that opens an inn in a remote mountain region, only to have the arriving customers die in mysterious ways. 

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In Adventure, Art House, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Foreign Film, Musical, Mystery Tags Takashi Miike, Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, Tesuro Tanba, Tamaki Miyazakii
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A Hidden Life (2019)

Directed By: Terrence Malick

Starring: August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, Maria Simon

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 2h 54m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Acting, Themes

Weakness: Length, Pacing

A Hidden Life (2019)

January 14, 2020

An Austrian who refuses to swear allegiance to Adolf Hitler during WW2 has his faith, his wife, his family, and his community put through the ultimate crucible as he faces the death penalty for treason.

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In Art House, Christian Film, Drama, Epic, Historical Tags Michael McDonald, August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, Maria Simon, Terrence Malick, 2019, A Hidden Life, PG-13, 5 Stars
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Light of My Life (2019)

Directed by: Casey Affleck

Starring: Casey Affleck, Anna Pniowsky, Elisabeth Moss, Tom Bower

Rated: R for Some Violence

Running Time: 1 h 59 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Mild Pacing, Predictable

Light of My Life (2019)

January 1, 2020

After a plague wipes out most of the female population, a father must fight to keep his immune eleven-year-old daughter safe from the men who might wish her harm. 

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In Adventure, Art House, Coming of Age, Drama, Fantasy, Thriller Tags Casey Affleck, Anna Pniowsky, Elisabeth Moss, Tom Bower, 4 Stars, 2019
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Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)

Directed by: Russ Meyer

Starring: Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John Lazar, Michael Blodgett, David Gurian

Rated: NC-17

Running Time: 1 h 49 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Characters, Themes, Story, Soundtrack, Editing, Overall Insanity

WEAKNESSES: Monologue at the End

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)

December 5, 2019

Three girls in a band travel to Hollywood to make it big, but instead only find drugs, promiscuity, and a procession of insane characters. 

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In Adventure, Art House, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller Tags Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John Lazar, Michael Blodgett, David Gurian, 1970, Russ Meyer, NC-17, 5 Stars
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Kundun (1997)

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Gyurme Tethong, Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin

Rated: R

Run Time: 2h 14m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Production Design, Direction

Weaknesses: NA

Kundun (1997)

November 28, 2019

The story of the Dalai Lama’s discovery, search for enlightenment, and eventual exile from Tibet.

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In Biographical, Art House, Drama, Epic, Historical Tags Michael McDonald, Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Gyurme Tethong, Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin, Martin Scorsese, 1997, Kundun, R Rated, 4 Stars
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Raging Bull (1980)

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci

Rated: R

Run Time: 2h 9m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Acting, Cinematography

Weakness: A Little Slow, Requires Some Prior Knowledge

Raging Bull (1980)

November 27, 2019

Jake LaMotta rises through the ranks of the middleweight boxing world but is less adept at navigating through life with his own family and community.

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In Art House, Biographical, Drama, Sports Tags Michael McDonald, Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Martin Scorsese, R Rated, 4 Stars, Raging Bull, 1980
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