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A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

Directed by: Edward Yang

Starring: Chen Chang, Lisa Yang, Hung-Ming Lin

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Some Brutal Violence Involving Teens and Language)

Running Time: 3 h 57 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Cinematography, Staging

WEAKNESSES: Length Will Deter Viewers

A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

August 22, 2018

Based on a true story of rival youth gangs in 1960s Taiwan. 

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In Action, Art House, Biographical, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Epic, Foreign Film, Mystery, Romance, Thriller Tags Edward Yang, Chen Chang, Lisa Yang, Hung-Ming Lin, Not Rated, 5 Stars
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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

Directed by: Terry Gilliam

Starring: Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Heath Ledger, Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Andrew Garfield, Verne Troyer

Rated: PG13

Running Time: 2h 3m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Story Concept

WEAKNESSES: Visual Effects, Uneven Story Structure

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

August 22, 2018

An Ancient Storyteller and his band of entertainers, travel the world, opening people’s imaginations and competing with The Devil to enthrall their souls. Now, a new wager, threatens the life of his daughter who may be falling for a mysterious, dashing, and shady new member of their troupe.

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In Comedy, Art House, Drama, Fantasy Tags mjamesmcdonald, 2009, PG13, 3 Stars, Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Heath Ledger, Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Andrew Garfield, Verne Troyer, Terry
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Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Directed by: John Schlesinger

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 53 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Writing, Creative Dream/Fantasy Sequences

WEAKNESSES: Failed to Engage Me Emotionally

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

August 21, 2018

A naïve self-proclaimed hustler from Texas travels to New York, but finds he’s unable to do so. Instead he teams up with a streetwise lowlife, and the two form an unlikely friendship.

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In Comedy, Crime, Drama Tags R, Dustin Hoffman, John Voight, John Schlesinger, 3.5 Stars
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Topsy-Turvy (1999)

Directed by: Mike Leigh

Starring: Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Timothy Spall, Lesley Mansville

Rated: R for a Scene of Risque Nudity

Running Time: 2 h 34 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Mise-En-Scene, Direction, Acting, Production Design, Characters

WEAKNESSES: Length, Cultural Appropriation (?)

Topsy-Turvy (1999)

August 20, 2018

The two leaders of a Victorian era theatre troupe struggle to come up with any good new material, straining their relationship, until inspiration for something new strikes.

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In Comedy, Drama, Biographical, Epic, Musical Tags R, 4 Stars, Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Timothy Spall, Lesley Mansville, Mike Leigh
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Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Directed by: Brian Henson

Starring: Tim Curry, Billy Connolly, Kevin Bishop

Rated: G

Running Time: 1 h 39 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Humor, Innocence, Fun, Music, Story

WEAKNESSES: Not As Tight As Other Muppet Movies

Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

August 17, 2018

The Muppets embark on a quest to Treasure Island. 

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In Adventure, Action, Children's Movies, Comedy, Fantasy Tags 1996, Brian Henson, Tim Curry, Billy Conolly, Kevin Bishop, G Rated, Seth Steele, 4 Stars, Muppets
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Barfly (1987)

Directed by: Barbet Schroeder

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway, Alice Krige

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 40 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Subject Matter

Barfly (1987)

August 16, 2018

A semi-autobiographical film about the alcoholic author and poet, Charles Bukowski.

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In Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller Tags 1987, Barbet Schroeder, Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway, Alice Krieg, R Rated, 4 Stars, Seth Steele
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8 1/2 (1963)

Directed by: Federico Fellini

Starring: Marcello Mastoianni, Anouk Aimee, Claudia Cardinale

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

Running Time: 2 h 18 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Acting, Cinematography, Ingenuity, Set Design

WEAKNESSES: -

8 1/2 (1963)

August 15, 2018

A director scrambles to come up with an idea for his next picture.

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In Comedy, Drama, Epic, Fantasy, Foreign Film Tags 1963, Federico Fellini, Marcello Mastoianni, Anouk Aimee, Claudio Cardinale, NR, 5 Stars, Seth Steele
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Directed by: Terry Gilliam

Starring: Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro

Rated: R

Running Time: 1h 58m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Originality, Acting, Effects

WEAKNESSES: Sound Mix

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

August 15, 2018

A sports writer detours to Las Vegas while on assignment and struggles to pull his drug riddled brain and body out of the city that seems to always pull him back in.

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In Comedy, Drama, Fantasy Tags mjamesmcdonald, Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Terry Gilliam, Hunter S. Thompson, R Rated, 4 Stars, 1988
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Election (1999)

Directed by: Alexander Payne

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein

Rated: R for Strong Sexuality, Sex-Related Dialogue and Language, and a Scene of Drug Use

Running Time: 1 h 43 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Rough Subject Matter

Election (1999)

August 7, 2018

A high school teacher’s life begins to unravel as student council elections draw near.

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In Comedy, Crime, Drama Tags Alexander Payne, Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, R, 4 Stars
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Blindspotting (2018)

Directed by:Carlos Lopez Estrada

Starring: Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar

Rated: R for Language Throughout, Some Brutal Violence, Sexual References and Drug Use

Running Time: 1 h 35 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting, Humor, Gritty Feel

WEAKNESSES: -

Blindspotting (2018)

August 6, 2018

A social commentary comedy about two best friends- one black, one white- navigate the streets of Oakland, trying to stay out of trouble for three more days, until the black man gets off probation. 

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In Buddy Movies, Comedy, Crime, Drama Tags Carlos Lopez Estrada, 2018, 5 Stars, Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, R
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Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)

Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron

Starring: Maribel Verdu, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna

Rated: R for Strong Sexual Content Involving Teens, Drug Use and Language

Running Time: 1 h 46 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Acting, Cinematography, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Subject Matter Will Turn Away Some Viewers

Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)

August 6, 2018

Two teenage boys take an older woman on a road trip to the beach, and along the way they learn things about themselves and their lives.

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In Art House, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Foreign Film, Romance Tags Alfonso Cuaron, Maribel Verdu, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, R, 4.5 Stars
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Popeye (1980)

Directed by: Robert Altman

Starring: Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1h 54m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS:When the movie is a cartoon.

WEAKNESSES: When the movie is a movie

Popeye (1980)

August 3, 2018

A strange sailor, in search of his father, drifts into a ramshackle town. He’ll find more family than he bargains for as the town of Sweet Haven finds a hero. 

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In Comedy, Fantasy, Musical, Drama Tags mjamesmcdonald, Popeye, 1980, Robert Altman, Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, PG, 4 Stars
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Spring Breakers (2012)

Directed by: Harmony Korine

Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, James Franco, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine

Rated: R

Running Time: 1h 34m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Editing, Lighting, Energy

WEAKNESSES: Extreme Content

Spring Breakers (2012)

August 1, 2018

When four high schoolers run away from their conservative homes to live it up over spring break, the idea of returning to their him drum lives pushes them to party harder and harder, rather than go home. 

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In Crime, Drama, Art House, Buddy Movies, Comedy, Coming of Age, Fantasy Tags mjamesmcdonald, Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, James Franco, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, Harmony Korine, Rated R, 5 Stars, Action, Crime, Drama, Coming of Age, Dark Comedy, Spring Breakers, 2012
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Repo Man (1984)

Directed by: Alex Cox

Starring: Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Estevez, Tracey Walter

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 31 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Bizarre Uniqueness, Punk Rock Attitude, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Pacing in first act, Dated Visuals (?)

Repo Man (1984)

July 31, 2018

In an alternate version of LA, a young punk named Otto gets wrapped up in the world of repo men. When there’s a large reward put out for a certain Chevy Malibu his world gets even crazier.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci Fi, Thriller, Mystery
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Yi Yi (2000)

Directed by: Edward Yang

Starring: Nien-Jen Wu, Kelly Lee, Jonathan Chang

Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Thematic Elements and Brief Nudity)

Running Time: 2 h 53 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Cinematography, Acting, Aesthetic

WEAKNESSES: -

Yi Yi (2000)

July 27, 2018

The members of the Taipei family experience life in all its various stages, reconciling old relationship, starting new romances, and shaping their view or the world.

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In Adventure, Art House, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Epic, Foreign Film, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
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Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)

Directed by: Oliver Assayas

Starring: Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloe Grace Moretz

Rated: R for Language and Brief Graphic Nudity

Running Time: 2 h 4 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Some Pacing (?)

Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)

July 25, 2018

Twenty years after starring in a play that launched her career, a film star returns to the play to act in a different role, which forces her to face certain truths about herself.

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In Adventure, Art House, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
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Uncle Drew (2018)

Directed by: Charles Stone III

Starring: Kyrie Irving, Lil Rel Howery, Shaquille O'Neal

Rated: PG-13 for Suggestive Material, Language and Brief Nudity

Running Time: 1 h 43 m

TMM Score: 1.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: It Knows It's Stupid

WEAKNESSES: It's Stupid, One-Note Joke, Predictable Script

Uncle Drew (2018)

July 24, 2018

After loosing his star player for the upcoming Rucker Classic tournament, Coach Dax recruits a bunch of washed up players to play ball. 

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In Adventure, Comedy
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Good Morning (1959)

Directed by: Yasujiro Ozu

Starring: Keji Sada, Yoshiko Kuga, Chishu Ryu

Rated: NR (Suggested PG for Some Rude Humor)

Running Time: 1 h 34 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Aesthetic, Charm, Writing, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Pacing

Good Morning (1959)

July 24, 2018

In a small village in Japan, two boys start a silence strike to convince their parents to buy them a television.

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In Comedy, Art House, Drama, Foreign Film
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Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

Directed by: John Cameron Mitchell

Starring: John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor, Michael Pitt

Rated: R for Sexual Content and Language

Running Time: 1 h 35 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Soundtrack, Writing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Subject Matter Will Turn Away Some Viewers

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

July 23, 2018

The story of Hedwig, a transgender punk/glam rock girl, as she goes on tour. 

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In Adventure, Art House, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Musical, Romance
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Battle of the Sexes (2017)

Directed by: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris

Starring: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough

Rated: PG-13 for Some Sexual Content and Partial Nudity

Running Time: 2 h 1 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Writing, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Heavy-Handed Themes

The Battle of the Sexes (2017)

July 20, 2018

Based on the true story of the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. While King comes to terms with her sexuality, Riggs comes to terms with the changing times and truths about himself. 

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In Biographical, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sports
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