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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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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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The Contender (2000)

Directed by: Rod Lurie

Starring: Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, Sam Elliot, William Petersen, Philip Bakker Hall, Robin Thomas

Rated: R for Strong Sexual Content and Language

Running Time: 2 h 6 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Acting, Directing, Themes, Relevance

WEAKNESSES: Slightly Heavy-Handed

The Contender (2000)

March 2, 2020

The Vice President is dead and the President seeks to place Senator Laine Hanson in the open spot. Meanwhile, Senator Shelly Runyon opposes the nomination, and seeks to make his own moves. 

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In Crime, Drama, Political, Thriller Tags Rod Lurie, Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater, Sam Elliot, William Petersen, Philip Bakker Hall, Robin Thomas, 4.5 Stars, 2000
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Okja (2017)

Directed By: Bong Joon-ho

Starring: Seo-hyun Ahn, Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Giancarlo Esposito, Jake Gyllenhaal, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Shirley Henderson

Rated: TV-MA

Run Time: 2h

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Characters, Themes, World Building

Weakness: Pacing, Wildly Uneven Tone

Okja (2017)

February 27, 2020

When international food conglomerate, Mirando, genetically engineers a food source called Super Pigs, one little peasant girl is given one as part of a publicity stunt. Ten years later Mirando wants it back but Mija isn’t giving up on her friend, without a fight.

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In Adventure, Epic, Fantasy, Political, Sci Fi Tags Michael McDonald, Okja, 2017, Bong Joon-ho, Seo-hyun Ahn, Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Giancarlo Esposito, Jake Gyllenhaal, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Shirley Henderson, TV-MA, 4 Stars
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A Boy and His Dog (1975)

Directed by: L.Q. Jones

Starring: Don Johnson, Susanne Benton, Jason Robards, Tim McIntire (Voice)

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 31 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Unique Story, Characters, Bizarre World, Some Style

WEAKNESSES: Rough Themes, Some Dated Scenes

A Boy and His Dog (1975)

February 21, 2020

In the post-apocalyptic year of 2024, a boy and his telepathic dog travel across a wasteland in search of food, shelter, and sex. 

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In Adventure, Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Political, Thriller Tags L.Q. Jones, Don Johnson, Susanne Benton, Jason Robards, Tim McIntire, R, 3.5 Stars
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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre

Rated: NR

Run Time: 1h 15m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Clever Plot, Brevity

Weakness: Slight

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

January 31, 2020

When an American Family, vacationing abroad, gets mixed up in an assassination plot, the couple must choose between stopping an international coup or saving their kidnapped daughter.

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In Crime, Foreign Film, Mystery, Political, Thriller Tags Michael McDonald, Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Peter Lorre, NR, The Man Who Knew To Much, 1934, Alfred Hitchcock, 3 Stars
1 Comment
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Foreign Correspondent (1940)

Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall

Rated: NR

Run Time: 2h

TMM Score: 3 Stars

Strengths: Cinematography, Execution of Some Sequences.

Weakness: Seems Slight, Dated Sentimentality, Weak Love Story

Foreign Correspondent (1940)

January 31, 2020

John Jones is tasked with drumming up the news of what is going on in Europe during the lead up to WW2. As he probes for information he witnesses an assassination, falls in love with the daughter of a peace broker, and even avoids assassination himself. Whatever it takes to get the scoop.

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In Adventure, Drama, Political, Romance, Thriller, War Tags Michael McDonald, Alfred Hitchcock, Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, NR, 3 Stars, 1940, Foreign Correspondent
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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Directed By: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie , Bernard Miles

Rated: PG

Run Time: 2h

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Sense of Impending Tragedy, Tension

Weakness: Child Acting, Annoying Song

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

January 29, 2020

When American family, travelling abroad, the McKenna’s, meet a friendly but mysterious Frenchman, they are caught up in an international assassination plot with more than just the life of the Prime Minister at stake.

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In Crime, Drama, Mystery, Political, Thriller Tags Michael McDonald, James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie, Bernard Miles, Alfred Hitchcock, 1956, The Man Who Knew To Much, Rated PG, 4 Stars
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1900 (1976)

Directed by: Bernardo Bertolucci

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Gerard Depardieu, Dominique Sandra, Donald Sutherland

Rated: NR (Suggested NC-17 for Explicit Sexual Content, and Violence Including Animal Cruelty)

Running Time: 5 h 17 m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Cinematography, Acting, Some Amazing Sequences, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Animal Cruelty, Length, Themes, Also Directing

1900 (1976)

January 17, 2020

An epic tale of class struggle in Italy, as seen through the eyes of two childhood friends- one wealthy, one poor. 

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In Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Coming of Age, Drama, Epic, Historical, Political, War Tags Bernardo Bertolucci, 1976, 2 Stars, Robert DeNiro, Gerard Depardieu, Dominique Sandra, Donald Sutherland
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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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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 Irishman (2019)

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jesse Plemons

Rated: R for Pervasive Language and Strong Violence

Running Time: 3 h 29 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Production Design, Scope, World Building

WEAKNESSES: -

The Irishman (2019)

December 2, 2019

A mob hitman recounts his possible involvement with the killing of Jimmy Hoffa.

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In Crime, Drama, Epic, Historical, Mystery, Political, Thriller Tags Martin Scorsese, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jesse Plemons, 2019, 5 Stars
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Parasite (2019)

Directed By: Bong Joon-ho

Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Jo Yeo-jeong

Rated: R

Run Time: 2h 12m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Humor, Characters, Plot, Cinematography

Weakness: NA

Parasite (2019)

November 13, 2019

A family of unemployed con-artists and thieves find the perfect mark in a trusting and unsuspecting wealthy woman and her family whose casual indifference create unexpected and violent problems.

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In Art House, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Foreign Film, Horror, Political, Thriller Tags Michael McDonald, 4 Stars, R Rated, Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo, Joon-ho Bong, Parasite, 2019
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Danton (1983)

Directed By: Andrzej Wajda

Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Wojciech Pszoniak, Anne Alvaro

Rated: PG

Run Time: 2h 16m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Acting, Production Design

Weakness: Length

Danton (1983)

August 28, 2019

In France, under the reign of Terror, one of the most prominent leaders of the revolution, Georges Danton, attempts to lay bare the corruption of the Committee for Public Safety and its chair, Maximillian Robespierre.

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In Anthology, Cinema World Tour, Drama, Epic, Foreign Film, Political, Historical Tags Michael McDonald, Gérard Depardieu, Wojciech Pszoniak, Anne Alvaro, PG, Danton, 1983, Andrzej Wajda
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Casablanca (1942)

Directed By: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre

Rated: PG

Run Time: 1h 42m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

Strengths: Cinematography, Acting, Lighting

Weakness: Nothing

Casablanca (1942)

August 15, 2019

When Rick, the owner of a club in Casablanca, is given travel papers for safe keeping, he is unwittingly placed at the center of a love triangle, refugee escape plan, and Nazi manhunt.

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In Thriller, Spy Film, Political, Noir, Drama, Romance Tags Michael McDonald, Casablanca, 1942, Michael Curtiz, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre, 5 Stars, PG
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Official Secrets (2019)

Directed by: Gavin Hood

Starring: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode

Rated: R

Running Time: 1h 52m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

STRENGTHS: Performances, Story, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Heavy Handed

Official Secrets (2019)

August 8, 2019

The story of British whistleblower Katharine Gun.

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In Drama, Foreign Film, Political, Spy Film, Thriller Tags Karl Nagurski, Official Secrets, 2019, 4 stars, rated r, Gavin Hood, Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode
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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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Knock Down the House (2019)

Directed By: Rachel Lears

Starring: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush, Joe Crowley

Rated: PG

Run Time: 1h 26m

TMM Score: 2 Stars

Strengths: Name Recognition

Weakness: Simple, Uninspired

Knock Down the House (2019)

August 3, 2019

Motivated by feelings of frustration, tragic personal loss, and community outcry, 4 women across the United States challenge entrenched and secure incumbent federal legislative seats during the 2018 midterm primary elections.

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In Documentary, Political Tags Michael McDonald, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush, Joe Crowley, Rachel Lears, Knocking Down The House, 2019, PG, 2 Stars
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