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amarcord.jpg

Amarcord (1973)

Directed by: Federico Fellini

Starring: Magali Noel, Bruno Zanin, Pupella Maggio

Rated: R

Running Time: 2 h 3 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Nostalgia

WEAKNESSES: Pacing Towards the End

Amarcord (1973)

July 17, 2018

A series of vignettes about the people living in a small town in Italy during the 1930s.

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In Biographical, Comedy, Drama, Foreign Film, Fantasy, Romance
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Sorry To Bother You (2018)

Directed by: Boots Riley

Starring: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omarie Hardwick, Terry Crews, Danny Glover, Steven Yeun, Armie Hammer, David Cross, Patton Oswalt, Forest Whitaker

Rated: R

Running Time: 1h 45m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directorial Vision, Acting, Production Design

WEAKNESSES: None

Sorry To Bother You (2018)

July 17, 2018

When Cassius Green adopts an unusual sales technique his employer at RegalView telemarketing puts him on the Power Caller roll, landing him a raise and swanky benefits, but how will his old friends and girlfriend/artist/activist Detroit, take it when he abandons their fledgling efforts to unionize and how will Cash live with himself as he discovers what Power Callers are really selling?

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In Comedy, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller Tags Boots Riley, Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omarie Hardwick, Terry Crews, Danny Glover, Steven Yeun, Armie Hammer, David Cross, Patton Oswalt, Forest Whitaker, Trippy, absurdist, satire, allegory, Dark Comedy, Fantasy, Sci fi, 2018, R Rated, 5 Stars
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La Dolce Vita (1960)

Directed by: Federico Fellini

Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Annita Ekberg, Anouk Aimee, Yvonne Furneaux

Rated: NR (Suggested: PG-13 for Some Sexual and Disturbing Material)

Running Time: 2 h 54 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Pacing, Cinematography, Writing, Directing

WEAKNESSES: -

La Dolce Vita (1960)

July 16, 2018

La Dolce Vita follows Marcello Rubini, a journalist living in Rome, through a week of his life.

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In Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Epic, Foreign Film
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The Visit (2015)

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie

Rated: PG-13 for Disturbing Thematic Material Including Terror, Violence and Some Nudity, and Brief Language

Running Time: 1 h 34 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Meta-Humor, Creepy Imagery

WEAKNESSES: Annoying Protagonists

The Visit (2015)

July 13, 2018

While their mother goes on a cruise, two children go to stay with their Grandparents, whom they’ve never met, only to find their Grandparents have strange habits.

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In Comedy, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
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The Great Beauty (2013)

Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino

Starring: Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferilli

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Some Sexual Material Including Nudity, Mild Language, and Drug References)

Running Time: 2 h 21 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Cinematography, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Pretentiousness(?)

The Great Beauty (2013)

July 12, 2018

Sixty-five-year-old Jep Gambardella takes stock of his party lifestyle after his recent birthday. 

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In Comedy, Drama, Epic, Foreign Film, Romance
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The Happening (2008)

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo

Rated: R for Violent and Disturbing Content

Running Time: 1 h 31 m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Unintentional Hilarity

WEAKNESSES: Writing, Directing, Acting

The Happening (2008)

July 12, 2018

While strange event causes people to inexplicably kill themselves, a high school science teacher runs around.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Sci Fi, Thriller
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The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)

Directed by: Kenji Misumi

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Masayo Banri, Shigeru Amachi

Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Samurai Violence)

Running Time: 1 h 36 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Characters, Charm, Story

WEAKNESSES: Pacing

The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)

July 10, 2018

Zatoichi, a blind, gambling, masseuse who is also a swordsman, gets wrapped up in a squabble with the yakuza and has to find a way to make peace.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Foreign Film, Thriller, Crime
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Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Directed by: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena.

Rated: PG13

Running Time: 1h 58m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Humor, Enjoyable Action, No Bad Guy That Wants To Take Over The World

WEAKNESSES: One Too Many Plot Lines

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

July 9, 2018

With the revelation that people can return from the quantum zone, Hope's eyes turn to Scott to help her rescue her mother. If only Scott wasn't under house arrest.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Superhero Tags Paul Rudd, Michael Pena, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Pfeiffer, Peyton Reed, Marvel, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ant-Man and the Wasp, 2018, PG-13, 3 Stars
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Ant-Man (2015)

Directed by: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Evangeline Lilly

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1h 57m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Some Humorous Moments

WEAKNESSES: Uninteresting, Not Heisty Enough

Ant-Man (2015)

July 6, 2018

Ex-Con, Scott Lang can't find work, pay his child support, or get his own apartment. When a rich inventor approaches him with the opportunity to restore his life and family, Scott dons the inventor's advanced battle suit to become Ant-Man and safeguard the world from another guy, bad guy, in another battle suit, bad battle suit.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Superhero Tags Paul Rudd, Edgar Wright, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Marvel, Adventure, Heist, Comedy, Corey Stoll, Ant-Man, 2015, 2 Stars, PG-13
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Living in Oblivion (1995)

Directed by: Tom Dicillo

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Catherine Keener, Dermot Mulroney, Peter Dinklage

Rated: R for Strong Language

Running Time: 1 h 30 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting, Realism

WEAKNESSES: Feels Like An Inside Joke

Living in Oblivion (1995)

July 5, 2018

The comical story of a group of independent filmmakers trying to shoot a film.

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In Comedy, Drama
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The Lure (2015)

Directed by: Agnieszka Smoczynska

Starring: Marta Mazurek, Michalina Olszanska, Jakub Gierszal

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Sexual Content Including Nudity and Dialogue, and Some Violence)

Running Time: 1 h 32 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Originality, Music, Production Design, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Some Objectionable Material

The Lure (2015)

July 4, 2018

A musical about two mermaid sisters who are hired to work at a nightclub; when one of them falls in love with a bassist in the band, threatening their very way of life.

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In Fantasy, Foreign Film, Musical, Thriller, Horror, Comedy
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Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

Directed by: Morgan Neville

Starring: Fred Rogers, Joanne Rogers, Francois Scarborough Clemmons

Rated: PG-13 for Some Thematic Elements and Language

Running Time: 1 h 34 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Pacing, Editing, Story, Morals

WEAKNESSES: -

Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

July 2, 2018

A documentary about the children’s show, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, and its host, Fred Rogers.

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In Biographical, Christian Film, Comedy, Drama, Documentary
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The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)

Directed by: Blake Edwards

Starring: Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk

Rated: Running Time: 1 h 43 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Peter Sellers, Humor, Pacing

WEAKNESSES: Farfetched Premise

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)

July 2, 2018

Charles Dreyfus escapes a mental institution and threatens the world with destruction unless someone can kill Inspector Clouseau.

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In Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery
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Dumbo (1941)

Directed by: Samuel Armstrong

Starring: Sterling Holloway, Edward Brophy

Rated: G

Running Time: 1h 4m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5 (didn't like it)

STRENGTHS: Good for its day

WEAKNESSES: It's not 1941 anymore

Dumbo (1941)

June 29, 2018

A newborn circus elephant is separated from its mother and must find its own way under the big top.

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In Adventure, Animated, Children's Movies, Comedy, Fantasy Tags Disney, Dumbo, 1941, Samuel Armstrong, Sterling Holloway, Edward Brophy, G, 2 Stars, Michael McDonald
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The Trip to Spain (2017)

Directed by: Michael Winterbottom

Starring: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon

Rated: Running Time: 1 h 48 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Humor, Cinematography, 'Writing'

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Some Jokes/Gags

The Trip to Spain (2017)

June 25, 2018

Two old friends embark on a vacation across Spain, stopping for delectable cuisine, discussing culture and history, while telling jokes and doing impressions.​​​​​​​ 

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In Adventure, Biographical, Comedy, Documentary, Drama
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American Animals (2018)

Directed by: Bart Layton

Starring: Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, Jared Abrahamson, Ann Dowd

Rated: R for Language Throughout, Some Drug Use and Brief Crude/ Sexual Material

Running Time: 1 h 56 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Style, Acting, Innovation

WEAKNESSES: Some Pacing

American Animals (2018)

June 25, 2018

Four college students plan a heist to steal rare books worth over twelve million dollars from their college library.

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In Action, Adventure, Biographical, Comedy, Crime, Documentary, Drama, Thriller
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Ocean's 8 (2018)

Directed by: Gary Ross

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1h 50m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Star Power?

WEAKNESSES: Boring, Character Development

Ocean's 8 (2018)

June 22, 2018

When Debbie Ocean gets released from the slammer she gathers a gang of thieves to steal a 150 million dollar diamond necklace from round a debutante’s neck at the Met Gala. Maybe she can even get back at an old flame along the way.

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In Action, Adventure, Drama, Comedy, Crime Tags Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Gary Ross, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Sarah Paulson, Heist, Comedy, Ocean's 8, 2018, PG-13, 2 Stars
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Tag (2018)

Directed by: Jeff Tomsic

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress, Jon Hamm

Rated: R for Language Throughout, Crude Sexual Content, Drug Use and Brief Nudity

Running Time: 1 h 40 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Hannibal Buress, Some Jokes/Gags, Real Footage

WEAKNESSES: Predictable Storyline and Jokes

Tag (2018)

June 21, 2018

Based on a true story of a group of friends that have been playing the same game of tag for almost thirty years.

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In Comedy, Biographical
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Pom Poko (1994)

Directed by:Isao Takahata

Starring:Shincho Kokontei, Makoto Nonomura, Yuriko Ishida

Rated: PG for Violence, Scary Images and Thematic Elements

Running Time: 1 h 59 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Originality, Humor, Animation Style

WEAKNESSES: Length, Finding Target Audience

Pom Poko (1994)

June 20, 2018

A group of shape-shifting “raccoon dogs” fight against the humans who plan on turning their forest into a development.

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In Action, Adventure, Anime, Children's Movies, Comedy, Fantasy, Foreign Film
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Falling Down (1993)

Directed by: Joel Schumacher

Starring: Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, Barbara Hershey

Rated: R for Violence and Strong Language

Running Time: 1 h 53 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Acting, Concept, Message, Characters

WEAKNESSES: -

Falling Down (1993)

June 19, 2018

A disgruntled man becomes fed up with the world around him and decides to take matters into his own hands.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Thriller
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