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Mon Oncle (1958)

Directed by: Jaques Tati

Starring: Jacques Tati, Jean-Pierre Zola, Adrienne Servantie, Alain Becourt

Rated: NR (Suggested G)

Running Time: 1 h 56 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Subtle Satire, Fun, Mis-En-Scene, Soundtrack

WEAKNESSES: Length

Mon Oncle (1958)

December 3, 2018

Monsieur Hulot visits his wealthy sister, brother-in-law, and nephew but can’t quite fit into their modern home. 

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In Art House, Cinema World Tour, Comedy, Drama, Foreign Film Tags Jacques Tati, Jean-Pierre Zola, Adrienne Servantie, Alain Becourt, 4.5 Stars, France, NR, 1958, Mon Oncle
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Black Moon (1975)

Directed by: Luis Malle

Starring: Cathryn Harrison, Theresa Giehse, Alexandra Stewart

Rated: R

Running Time: 1h 35m

TMM Score: 2 Stars

STRENGTHS: Strong Opening, Cinematography, Mystery

WEAKNESSES: Opaque and Boring

Black Moon (1975)

December 3, 2018

Lily is an adolescent girl on the run through the French countryside torn apart by a mysterious war. When she finds a strange unicorn and weird family living in a cottage with animals for friends, she attempts to insert herself into and understand their lives.

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In Art House, Cinema World Tour, Drama, Fantasy Tags mjamesmcdonald, 1975, Black Moon, Luis Malle, Cathryn Harrison, Theresa Giehse, Alexandra Stewart, R Rated, 2 Stars
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Some Like It Hot (1959)

Directed by: Billy Wilder

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon

Rated: Nr (Suggested PG-13 for Risque Humor)

Running Time: 2 h 1 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting, Soundtrack

WEAKNESSES: -

Some Like It Hot (1959)

November 30, 2018

Two down on their luck male musicians must fleet Chicago after witnessing a mob hit, disguising themselves as two females for an all girls band playing in Florida. 

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Musical, Mystery Tags Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Some Like It Hot, 1959, Billy Wilder, NR
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Hour of the Wolf (1968)

Directed by: Ingmar Bergman

Starring: Max Von Sydow, Liv Ullman, Ingrid Thulin

Rated: NR (Suggested PG-13 for Some Disturbing Themes and Brief Violence)

Running Time: 1 h 30 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Acting, Directing, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Pacing (Maybe? I mean, it’s Bergman, what do you expect?)

Hour of the Wolf (1968)

November 29, 2018

An artist and his younger pregnant wife retreat to an island, where the husband can paint. While there, the artist confronts secrets from his past that slowly drive him mad.

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In Art House, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Foreign Film Tags Hour of the Wolf, 1968, Ingmar Bergman, Max Von Sydow, Liv Ullman, Ingrid Thulin, 4 Stars, NR, Sweden
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Westworld (1973)

Directed by: Michael Crichton

Starring: Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Yul Brynner

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 h 28 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Influence, Meta-Aesthetic

WEAKNESSES: Some Drawn Out Moments

Westworld (1973)

November 28, 2018

Two wealthy friends take a vacation at Westworld, an adult theme park where visitors can live out their fantasies by interacting with robots. Once there, the machines begin to malfunction, and the friends struggle to stay alive. 

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Sci Fi, Thriller, Western Tags Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Yul Brynner, Michael Crichton, PG, 4 Stars
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Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

Directed by: Mike Leigh

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Alexis Zergman, Andrea Riseborough, Eddie Marsan

Rated: R for Language

Running Time: 1 h 58 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Acting, Directing, Themes

WEAKNESSES: -

Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

November 27, 2018

An optimistic schoolteacher living in London navigates her life trying to make the best of everything.

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In Art House, Comedy, Drama Tags Sally Hawkins, Alexis Zergman, Andrea Riseborough, Eddie Marsan, 2008, Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky, R, 5 Stars
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Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Directed by: Kevin Reynolds

Starring: Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Alan Rickman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Christian Slater, Brian Blessed, Nick Brimble, Sean Connery

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 2 h 35 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Fun, Story, Cinematography, Alan Rickman

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Some Cheesy/ Farfetched Moments

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

November 26, 2018

A retelling of the legend of Robin Hood. 

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Epic Tags Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Alan Rickman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Christian Slater, Brian Blessed, Nick Brimble, Sean Connery, 1991, PG-13, 3 Stars
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The Princess Bride (1988)

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Starring: Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Cary Elwes, Andre The Giant, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Chris Sarandon, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Billy Crystal

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 h 38 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Pretty Much Everything

WEAKNESSES: -

The Princess Bride (1988)

November 23, 2018

While home sick from school, a young boy’s grandfather reads him a book titled, The Princess Bride.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance Tags Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Cary Elwes, Andre The Giant, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Chris Sarandon, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner, 1988, The Princess Bride, 5 Stars
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Ikiru (1952)

Directed by: Akira Kurosawa

Starring: Takashi Shimura, Shin’ichi Himori, Minoru Chiaki

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

Running Time: 2 h 23 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting, Structure

WEAKNESSES: -

Ikiru (1952)

November 22, 2018

An aging bureaucrat reexamines his life after discovering he has terminal stomach cancer. 

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In Art House, Drama, Foreign Film Tags 1952, 5 Stars, Akira Kurosawa, Takashi Shimura, Shin’ichi Himori, Minoru Chiaki, Japan
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It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

Directed by: Stanley Kramer

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar. Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, Phil Silvers. Edie Adams

Rated: G

Running Time: 3 h 17 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Crazy Excess, Writing, Cast and Cameos

WEAKNESSES: Some Pacing, Some Drawn Out Gags

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

November 21, 2018

A dying thief reveals where he hid a stolen fortune to a group of passing travelers only to set off a chain of crazy events as everyone races towards the riches. 

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In Comedy, Crime, Drama, Epic Tags Stanley Kramer, Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar. Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, Phil Silvers. Edie Adams, G, 4 Stars
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Kin(2018)

Directed by: Jonathan Baker, Josh Baker

Starring: Myles Truit, Jack Reynor, Zoe Kravitz, Dennis Quaid

Rated: PG13

Running Time: 1h 42m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

STRENGTHS: Acting, Style, and Themes

WEAKNESSES: A Terrible Ending

Kin (2018)

November 20, 2018

When his older brother gets out of jail with a heavy debt on his head, Eli hits the road with him, not knowing that Jimmy has some huge secrets he’s keeping. Eli has his own secret though; a devastating high tech weapon of mysterious origin.

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In Drama, Action, Adventure, Crime, Sci Fi Tags mjamesmcdonald, kin, 2018, Josh Baker, Jonathan Baker, Myles Truitt, Jack Reynor, Zoe Kravitz, PG13, 3 Stars, Dennis Quaid, James Franco
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The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Starring: Tim Blake Nelson, Clancy Brown, James Franco, Liam Neeson, Zoe Kazan, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Waits

Rated: R for Some Strong Violence

Running Time: 2 h 12 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Coen Bros Flair, Irreverence and Poignancy, Clever Writing

WEAKNESSES: Some CGI and Sets Look A Little Cheap

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

November 20, 2018

Six stories set in the Coen Brothers’ Wild West. 

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In Action, Adventure, Anthology, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Musical, Western, Romance Tags Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Tim Blake Nelson, Clancy Brown, James Franco, Liam Neeson, Zoe Kazan, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Waits, R, 4.5 Stars
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Overlord (2018)

Directed by: Julius Avery

Starring: Wyatt Russell, Jovan Adepo, Mathilde Ollivier

Rated: R for Strong Bloody Violence, Disturbing Images, and Brief Sexual Content

Running Time: 1 h 50 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Action, Story, Fun, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Somewhat Predictable Third Act, Some Plotholes, Some CGI

Overlord (2018)

November 19, 2018

A group of American soldiers stumble upon a Nazi experiment after being dropped behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day. 

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In Action, Adventure, Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Overlord, 2018, Julius Avery, Wyatt Russell, Jovan Adepo, Mathilde Ollivier, R, 3.5 Stars
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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Directed by: David Yates

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Colin Ferrell, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Samantha Morton, Ezra Miller

Rated: PG-13 for Some Fantasy Action

Running Time: 2 h 13 m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: World-Building, Characters, Production Design, Effects

WEAKNESSES: Scatterbrained Story, Pacing

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

November 16, 2018

A wizard named Newt Scamander journeys to New York in the 1926, only to accidentally become involved with a group of Wizards. Meanwhile, the evil Grindelwald wrecks havoc around the wizarding and muggle worlds alike.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance Tags Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, 2016, 3 Stars, David Yates, Eddie Redmayne, Colin Ferrell, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Samantha Morton, Ezra Miller, PG-13
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Mr. Turner (2014)

Directed by: Mike Leigh

Starring: Timothy Spall, Paul Jesson, Dorothy Atkinson

Rated: R for Some Sexual Content

Running Time: 2 h 30 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Attention to Detail, Acting, Writing, Directing, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Length

Mr. Turner (2014)

November 15, 2018

A look at the last twenty-five years of the great British painter J.M.W. Turner. 

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In Biographical, Drama Tags Timothy Spall, Paul Jesson, Dorothy Atkinson, Mike Leigh, 2014, Mr. Turner, R, 3.5 Stars
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Through A Glass Darkly (1961)

Directed by: Ingmar Bergman

Starring: Harriet Andersson, Gunnar Bjornstrand, Max Von Sydow

Rated: NR

Running Time: 1h 21m

TMM Score: 5 Stars

STRENGTHS: Acting, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Seriously?

Through A Glass Darkly (1961)

November 15, 2018

A young woman, Karin, newly released from a mental institution struggles with relating to her father, a writer, her husband, a doctor, and her brother, a 17 year old who feels estranged from his father. When she begins hearing and seeing things again, the family’s different approaches to the situation leave them all reeling.

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In Drama, Art House, Foreign Film Tags mjamesmcdonald, Through A Glass Darkly, 1961, Gunnar Bjornstrand, Harriet Andersson, Max von Sydow
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Another Year (2010)

Directed by: Mike Leigh

Starring: Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville, Oliver Manville, David Bradley, Karina Fernandez, Imelda Stauton

Rated: PG-13 for Some Language

Running Time: 2 h 9 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Acting, Themes

WEAKNESSES: Pacing (?)

Another Year (2010)

November 14, 2018

A year in the life of a happy couple and their surrounding family and friends.

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In Drama, UK Series Tags Another Year, 2010, Mike Leigh, Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Mansville, Oliver Manville, David Bradley, Karina Fernandez, Imelda Stauton, PG-13, 4 Stars
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Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Directed by: Bryan Singer

Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Joe Mazzello

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 2h 14m

TMM Score: 4 Stars

STRENGTHS: Acting

WEAKNESSES: Standard Story

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

November 14, 2018

When Freddy went looking for the band after a show in London, he didn’t know he was meeting his new family. When the band met Freddy, they didn’t know they were meeting a future legend.

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In Biographical, Drama, Musical Tags mjamesmcdonald, Bohemian Rhapsody, 2018, Rami Malek, Bryan Singer, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, PG-13, 4 Stars
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Life is Sweet (1990)

Directed by: Mike Leigh

Starring: Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent, Claire Skinner, Jane Horrocks, Stephen Rea, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis

Rated: R for Language and a Scene of Sensuality

Running Time: 1 h 43 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Themes, Characters

WEAKNESSES: -

Life is Sweet (1990)

November 13, 2018

A low-income family living in London does their best to navigate life and all its ups and downs. 

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Tags Mike Leigh, 1990, R, 5 Stars, Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent, Claire Skinner, Jane Horrocks, Stephen Rea, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis
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The Meg (2018)

Directed by: Jon Turteltaub

Starring: Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose

Rated: PG-13 for Action/Peril, Bloody Images and Some Language

Running Time: 1 h 53 m

TMM Score: 1.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: The Crazy Beach Scene

WEAKNESSES: Predictability, Dialogue, Acting, Special Effects

The Meg (2018)

November 13, 2018

Jonas Taylor squares off against a Megladon. 

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In Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Jon Turteltaub, 1.5 Stars, 2018, PG-13
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