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Polytechnique (2009)

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve 

Starring: Maxim Gaudette, Sebastien Huberdeau, Karine Vanasse, Evelyn Brouchu

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Extended Sequences of Realistic and Disturbing Violence) 

Running Time: 1 h 17 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Some Acting, Cinematography, Pacing, Structure, Relevance

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Respect for Victims 

Polytechnique (2009)

December 15, 2020

A dramatization of the Montreal Massacre of 1989.

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In Action, Drama, Crime, Horror, Thriller, Biographical Tags Denis Villeneuve, Maxim Gaudette, Sebastien Huberdeau, Karine Vanasse, Evelyn Brouchu, 2009, NR
1 Comment
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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
1 Comment
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The Straight Story (1999)

Directed by: David Lynch

Starring: Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Harry Dean Stanton, Dan Flannery

Rated: G

Running Time: 1 h 52 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Sissy Spacek

The Straight Story (1999)

February 28, 2020

An elderly man decides to drive across several states on a lawnmower to see his estranged brother who has just had a stroke.

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In Adventure, Drama, Biographical, Comedy Tags Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Harry Dean Stanton, Dan Flannery, David Lynch, G, 4.5 Stars
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Harriet (2019)

Directed By: Kasi Lemmons

Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, Clarke Peters, Janelle Monáe

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 2h 5m

TMM Score: 2 Stars

Strengths: Star Power, High Production Value

Weakness: Simplistic, Writing

Harriet (2019)

February 4, 2020

Minty is a married slave who runs away when she suspects her master is going to sell her down south from where slaves don’t ever return. When she manages to make her escape to the Free North she changes her name to Harriet Tubman and dedicates herself to freeing as many slaves as possible.

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In Biographical, Drama, Historical Tags Michael McDonald, Harriet, 2019, 2 Stars, PG-13, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, Clarke Peters, Janelle Monáe, Kasi Lemmons
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Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Directed by: James Mangold

Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Tracy Letts

Rated: PG-13 for Some Language and Peril

Running Time: 2 h 32 m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Acting, Writing, Technicality, Extremely Entertaining

WEAKNESSES: -

Ford v Ferrari (2019)

January 23, 2020

Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles attempt to build a car that can outrace Ferrari at the La Mons race.

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In Action, Biographical, Sports Tags Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Tracy Letts, James Mangold, 2019, 5 Stars
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Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Directed By: Franco Zeffirelli

Starring: Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Anne Bancroft, Ernest Borgnine, James Farentino, Ian McShane, Christopher Plummer, Michael York, Anthony Quinn, Rod Steiger, Ian Holm, James Earl Jones, Stacy Keach, Donald Pleasence, Peter Ustinov

Rated: TV-G

Run Time: 6h 22m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Epic Scale, Respectful Treatment of Material

Weakness: Length, Certain Performances, Racial Representation

Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

January 16, 2020

The story of the life of Jesus Christ.

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In Biographical, Biblical, Christian Film, Classic Literature, Drama, Epic Tags Michael McDonald, Jesus of Nazareth, 1977, Franco Zeffirelli, Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Anne Bancroft, Ernest Borgnine, James Farentino, Ian McShane, Christopher Plummer, Michael York, Anthony Quinn, Rod Steiger, Ian Holm, James Earl Jones, Stacy Keach, Donald Pleasence, Peter Ustinov, TV-G, 5 Stars
1 Comment
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Che: Part One (2008)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Demian Bichir, Julia Ormond, Oscar Isaac, Edgar Ramirez

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Violence and Language)

Running Time: 2 h 14 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Directing, Acting, Perspective

WEAKNESSES: Depiction of a Controversial Figure

Che: Part One (2008)

January 2, 2020

Ernesto Che Guevara and a band of Fidel Castro-led Cubans mobilize to topple the regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista. 

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In Action, Biographical, Crime, Coming of Age, Drama, Epic, Historical, Foreign Film, Political, War, Thriller Tags Steven Soderbergh, Benicio Del Toro, Demian Bichir, Julia Ormond, Oscar Isaac, Edgar Ramirez, 2008
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Honey Boy (2019)

Directed By: Alma Har’el

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe, Byron Bowers, Laura San Giacomo, FKA Twigs, Natasha Lyonne, Martin Starr

Rated: R

Run Time: 1h 34m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Personal Meaning

Weakness: Certain Connections are Weak

Honey Boy (2019)

December 12, 2019

A child actor struggles with his relationship with his father and the pressures that fame, money, and a dad who hasn’t figured out his own life yet can bring to a child before he is ready to cope.

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In Biographical, Coming of Age, Drama Tags Michael McDonald, R Rated, 3 Stars, Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe, Byron Bowers, Laura San Giacomo, FKA Twigs, Natasha Lyonne, Martin Starr, Alma Har’el, 2019, Honey Boy
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The Report (2019)

Directed by: Scott Z. Burns

Starring: Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Corey Stoll, Maura Tierney, Michael C Hall, Tim Blake Nelson

Rated: R for Some Scenes of Inhumane Treatment and Torture, and Language

Running Time: 1 h 59 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Acting, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Length

The Report (2019)

December 11, 2019

A senate staffer is tasked to lead an investigation into the CIA’s ‘Enhanced Interrogation Techniques.” 

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In Crime, Drama, Historical, Biographical, Mystery, Political, Thriller Tags Scott Z. Burns, Adam Driver, Annette Bening, Jon Hamm, Corey Stoll, Maura Tierney, Michael C Hall, Tim Blake Nelson, R
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The Honeymoon Killers (1970)

Directed by: Leonard Kastle

Starring: Shirley Stoler, Tony Lo Bianco, Dortha Duckworth, Doris Roberts

Rated: R

Running Time:1 h 47 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Direction, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Pacing in First Act

The Honeymoon Killers (1970)

December 9, 2019

The true story of con artists turned serial killers, Martha Beck and Ray Fernandez.

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In Biographical, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller Tags Shirley Stoler, Tony Lo Bianco, Dortha Duckworth, Doris Roberts, Leonard Kastle, 1970, R, 4 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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The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal, Jon Favrea, Jean Dujardin, Shea Whigham, Cristin Milioti

Rated: R for Sequences of Strong Sexual Content, Graphic Nudity, Drug Use and Language Throughout, and For Some Violence

Running Time: 3 h

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting, General Insanity, Themes

WEAKNESSES:

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

November 25, 2019

The rise and fall of Jordan Belfort, a criminal Wall Street stocker broker.

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In Biographical, Crime, Drama, Comedy, Thriller Tags Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal, Jon Favrea, Jean Dujardin, Shea Whigham, Cristin Milioti, Martin Scorsese, 2013
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The Professor and the Madman (2019)

Directed by: Farhad Safinia

Starring: Mel Gibson, Sean Penn, Eddie Marsan, Natalie Dormer, Steve Coogan, Ioan Gruffud

Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Some Violence and Thematic Elements)

Running Time: 2 h 4 m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Melodrama, Length, Undeveloped Themes

The Professor and the Madman (2019)

November 22, 2019

A Professor at Oxford University starts to compile a dictionary and finds enormous help from a man who has been imprisoned at a madhouse for murder. 

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In Biographical, Crime, Drama, Historical Tags Mel Gibson, Sean Penn, Eddie Marsan, Natalie Dormer, Steve Coogan, Ioan Gruffud, 2019, 2 Stars, Farhad Safinia
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Casino (1995)

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Don Rickles

Rated: R for Strong Brutal Violence, Pervasive Strong Language, Drug Use and Some Sexuality

Running Time: 2 h 58 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Length

Casino (1995)

November 18, 2019

Adapted from the true story of Las Vegas mobsters Lefty Rosenthal and Tony Spilotro.

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In Crime, Drama, Epic, Biographical, Romance, Thriller Tags Robert DeNiro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Don Rickles, Martin Scorsese, 1995, 3.5 Stars, R
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Lizzie (2018)

Directed by: Craig William Macneill

Starring: Chloe Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Fiona Shaw, Jamey Sheridan, Denis O’Hare

Rated: R for Violence and Grisly Images, Nudity, a Scene of Sexuality, and Some Language

Running Time: 1 h 45 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Writing, Directing

WEAKNESSES: A Few Shaky Scenes

Lizzie (2018)

October 2, 2019

A retelling of the infamous Borden murders of 1892. 

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In Art House, Biographical, Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Thriller Tags Chloe Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Fiona Shaw, Jamey Sheridan, Denis O’Hare, Craig William Macneill, R, 3.5 Stars, 2018
1 Comment
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Rob Roy (1995)

Directed by: Michael Caton-Jones

Starring: Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Brian Cox

Rated: R for Violence and Sexuality

Running Time: 2 h 19 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Cinematography, Production Design, Some Acting, Some Writing

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Pacing, Length, Some Writing

Rob Roy (1995)

August 23, 2019

A Scottish man seeks a loan from a British nobleman, and after his honor is wronged he seeks vengeance.

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In Action, Adventure, Biographical, Drama, Crime, Epic, Romance, War, Thriller Tags Michael Caton-Jones, Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Brian Cox, R, 3 Stars
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Army of One (2016)

Directed By: Larry Charles

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Russell Brand, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Paul Scheer, Will Sasso, Rainn Wilson

Rated: R

Run Time: 1h 32m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Nic Cage

Weakness: Uninspired Directing, Pacing

Army of One (2016)

August 22, 2019

When Gary Faulkner is told by God to go get Osama Bin Laden he struggles with his Holy Quest/Life balance.

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In Biographical, Comedy, Fantasy Tags Michael McDonald, Nicolas Cage, Russell Brand, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Paul Scheer, Will Sasso, Rainn Wilson, Larry Charles, Army of One, 2016, R, 3 Stars
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Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Directed by: Mel Gibson

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington

Rated: R for Intense Prolonged Realistically Graphic Sequences of War Violence Including Grisly Bloody Images

Running Time: 2 h 19 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Story, Themes, Acting, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Pacing in First Half

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

August 12, 2019

The true story of Desmond Doss, a soldier who helped to save wounded at the Battle of Okinawa without ever firing a shot at the enemy. 

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In Action, Adventure, Biographical, Christian Film, Coming of Age, Drama, Epic, Romance, Thriller, War Tags Mel Gibson, Andrew Garfield, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Teresa Palmer, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, 4 Stars, 2016
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Meeting Gorbachev (2018)

Directed By: Werner Herzog

Starring: Mikhail Gorbachev, Werner Herzog, Yuri Andropov, James Baker, Leonid Brezhnev

Rated: NR

Run Time: 1h 30m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Human Insight

Weakness: The Drone Footage

Meeting Gorbachev (2018)

August 7, 2019

A personal conversational interview between German director Werner Herzog and Russian politician Mikhail Gorbachev serves as the point of entry into the politician’s personal recollections of his career, the Soviet Union, Russia, and the political climate of the world. 

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In Documentary, Political, Biographical Tags Michael McDonald, Werner Herzog, 2018, Meeting Gorbachev, Mikhail Gorbachev, Yuri Andropov, James Baker, Leonid Brezhnev, 5 Stars, NR
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