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Titus (1999)

Directed by: Julie Taymor

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Osheen Jones, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Matthew Rhys

Rated: R for Strong Violent and Sexual Images

Running Time: 2 h 42 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Production Design

WEAKNESSES: Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Matthew Rhys

Titus (1999)

March 13, 2020

Titus returns from war victorious, only to offend enemies that will cause him greater turmoil. 

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In Adventure, Action, Crime, Drama, Epic, Fantasy, War, Thriller Tags Julie Taymor, Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Osheen Jones, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Matthew Rhys
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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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Emma. (2020)

Directed by: Autumn de Wilde

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, Bill Nighy, Johnny Flynn, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, Amber Anderson

Rated: PG for Brief Partial Nudity

Running Time: 2 h 4 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Acting, Production Design

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, A Few Awkwardly Directed Scenes

Emma. (2020)

March 11, 2020

A young woman in high society 1800s England meddles in the lives of her friends and relatives with the best of intentions, but not always the best results.

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In Drama, Comedy, Coming of Age Tags Autumn de Wilde, Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, Bill Nighy, Johnny Flynn, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, Amber Anderson, 4 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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Mother (2009)

Directed by: Bong Joon Ho

Starring: Hey-Ja Kim, Won Bin, Goo Jin

Rated: R for Language, Some Sexual Content, Violence and Drug Use

Running Time: 2 h 9 m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Story, Characters, Twists

WEAKNESSES: -

Mother (2009)

March 5, 2020

A mother desperately searches for a killer so that she can free her mentally-handicapped son, who has been accused of murder.

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In Crime, Drama, Mystery, Foreign Film, Thriller Tags Bong Joon Ho, Hey-Ja Kim, Won Bin, Goo Jin
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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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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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The Invisible Man (2020)

Directed by: Leigh Whannell

Starring: Elizabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Harriet Dyer, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Storm Reid

Rated: R for Some Strong Bloody Violence, and Language

Running Time: 2 h 4 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Some Great Scenes, Acting, Some Themes, Fun

WEAKNESSES: Lots of Tiny Plot Holes, Uneven Quality 

The Invisible Man (2020)

February 28, 2020

After Cecilia’s abusive ex Adrian takes his own life and leaves her a fortune, she begins to experience strange phenomena and suspects Adrian might be behind it.

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In Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci Fi, Slasher, Thriller Tags Leigh Whannell, Elizabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Harriet Dyer, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Storm Reid, R, 3.5 Stars
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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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Wild at Heart (1990)

Directed by: David Lynch

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, Crispin Glover, Isabella Rossellini, Harry Dean Stanton, Dianne Ladd, Jack Nance, Sherilyn Fenn

Rated: R

Running Time: 2 h 5 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Style, Story, Weirdness, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Lynch-lite, Somewhat Silly at Times

Wild at Heart (1990)

February 27, 2020

Young lovers Sailor and Lula go on the run after Lula’s mother tries to keep them apart by any means necessary.

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Coming of Age, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller Tags Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, Crispin Glover, Isabella Rossellini, Harry Dean Stanton, Dianne Ladd, Jack Nance, Sherilyn Fenn, David Lynch, 1990, 3.5 Stars, R
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Trainwreck (2015)

Directed By: Judd Apatow

Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, John Cena, Lebron James, Colin Quinn, Tilda Swinton

Rated: R

Run Time: 2h 5m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Humor, Use of Cameos, Strong Supporting Cast

Weakness: Length, a Couple Over Drawn Scenes

Trainwreck (2015)

February 25, 2020

Amy is a writer for a New York magazine who doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after but when she begins to have feelings for the subject of an article she is writing, she is confronted with her ideas about relationships and individualism.

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In Drama, Romance, Comedy, Sports Tags Michael McDonald, 4 Stars, R Rated, Trainwreck, 2015, Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, John Cena, Lebron James, Colin Quinn, Tilda Swinton, Judd Apatow
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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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The Lodge (2019)

Directed by: Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz

Starring: Riley Keough, Richard Armitage, Alicia Silverstone, Jaeden Martel, Lia McHugh

Rated: R for Disturbing Violence, Some Bloody Images and Brief Nudity

Running Time: 1 h 48 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Some Atmosphere, Acting, Final Act

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Predictable 

The Lodge (2019)

February 21, 2020

A soon-to-be stepmother takes her fiancé’s children to a remote lodge to get to know them, but soon unusual events start to plague them.

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In Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller Tags Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz, Riley Keough, Richard Armitage, Alicia Silverstone, Jaeden Martel, Lia McHugh, R, 3 Stars
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Clemency (2019)

Directed By: Chinonye Chukwu

Starring: Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Richard Schiff, Wendell Pierce

Rated: R

Run Time: 1h 52m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

Strengths: Acting, Themes, Atmosphere

Weakness: None

Clemency (2019)

February 21, 2020

Bernadine, a Warden at a death row penitentiary, finds herself searching her mind and heart for meaning as she prepares for another condemned man’s final sentence.

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In Crime, Drama Tags Michael McDonald, Clemency, 2019, R Rated, 4 Stars, Chinonye Chukwu, Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Richard Schiff, Wendell Pierce
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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 Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

Directed by: Jacques Demy

Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon, Marc Michel, Ellen Farner

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

Running Time: 1 h 31 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Catherine Deneuve, Music, Direction, Cinematography, Unconventional Story, Themes

WEAKNESSES: -

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

February 14, 2020

Lovers separated by war face life-altering decisions.

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In Drama, Coming of Age, Foreign Film, Musical, Romance Tags Jacques Demy, 1964, Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon, Marc Michel, Ellen Farner
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November (2017)

Directed by: Rainer Sarnet

Starring: Rea Lest, Jorgen Liik, Jette Loona Hermanis, Jaan Tooming, Arvo Kukumagi

Rated: NR (Suggested R for Some Nudity)

Running Time: 1 h 55 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, World Building, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: -

November (2017)

February 12, 2020

A poor village in Estonia tries to survive the winter by using magic, and a young girl among the villagers attempts to woo a young man. 

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In Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Foreign Film, Horror, Romance, Thriller Tags Rainer Sarnet, 2017, Rea Lest, Jorgen Liik, Jette Loona Hermanis, Jaan Tooming, Arvo Kukumagi, NR
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Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)

Directed by: Pedro Almodovar

Starring: Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas, Loles Leon

Rated: NC-17 for a Scene of Strong Adult Sensuality and Nudity

Running Time: 1 h 41 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Characters, Humor, Mis-En-Scene

WEAKNESSES: Almodovar-lite

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)

February 10, 2020

A former mental patient takes a former porn star prisoner in an attempt to convince her to marry him.

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In Comedy, Crime, Drama, Foreign Film, Romance, Thriller Tags Pedro Almodóvar, Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas, Loles Leon, NC-17, 4 Stars, 1989
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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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