EMILIA PEREZ (2024)

 

Directed By: Jacques Audiard

Written By: Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Lea Mysius and Nicole Livecchi 

Based on the novel “ECOUTE” By: Boris Razon

Cinematography: Paul Guilhaume

Editor: Juliette Welfing 

Cast: Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramirez, Mark Ivanir, Eduardo Aladro, Emilio Edmundo Hasan Jalil

follows four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness. Cartel leader Emilia enlists Rita, an unappreciated lawyer, to help fake her death so that she can finally live authentically as her true self.

ONE SINGS, THE OTHER DOESN’T (1977)

 

Written & Directed By: Agnes Varda 

Cinematography: Charlie Van Damme 

Editor: Joele Van Effenterre

Cast: Therese Liotard, Valerie Mairesse, Robert Dadies, Ali Rafie, Gisele Halimi, Nicole Clement

The intertwined lives of two women in 1970s France, set against the progress of the women's movement in which Agnes Varda was involved. Pomme and Suzanne meet when Pomme helps Suzanne obtain an abortion after a third pregnancy which she cannot afford. They lose contact but meet again ten years later. Pomme has become an unconventional singer, Suzanne a serious community worker - despite the contrast they remain friends and share in the various dramas of each others' lives, in the process affirming their different female identities.

UNSTOPPABLE (2025)

 

Directed By: William Goldenberg 

Written By: Eric Champnella, Alex Harris And John Hindman 

Based On The Book: Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy 

Cinematography: Salvatore Tontino 

Editor: Brett M. Reed 

Cast: Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle, Michael Pena, Bobby Cannavale, Mykelti Williamson, Neon Perez, Johnni Di Julius, Peter Sack 

THE FRONT ROOM (2024)

 

Written & Directed By: Max Eggers & Sam Eggers 

Based on a short story by: Susan Hill

Cinematography: Ava Berkofsky 

Editor: Eric Kissack and Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. 

Cast: Brandy Norwood, Kathryn Hunter, Neal Huff, Andrew Burnap, Mary Testa, Kerry Flanagan

It tells the story of a newly pregnant couple who are forced to take in an ailing, estranged stepmother.

THE ANGRY BLACK GIRL AND HER MONSTER (2023)

 

Written & Directed By: Bomani J. Story 

Cinematography: Daphne Qin Wu

Editor: Annie DeBrock

Cast: Laya Deleon Hayes, Denzel Whitaker, Chad L. Coleman, Reilly Brooke Stith, Keith Holliday, Amani Summer, Eden Atsu-Swanzy, Ellis Hobbs IV

Vicaria's a brilliant teenager. After the brutal murder of her brother, she embarks on a dangerous journey to resurrect him.

HIS HOUSE (2020)

 

Written & Directed By: Remi Weekes 

Story By: Felicity Evans and Tony Venables

Cinematography: Jo Willems

Editor: Julia Bloch 

Cast: Sope Dirisu, Wummi Mosaku, Matt Smith, Javier Botet, Maraika Wakoli-Abigaba, Yvonne Campbell, Vivienne Soan, Lola May 

A refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new life in an English town that has an evil lurking beneath the surface.

LA RONDE (1950)

 

Directed By: Max Ophuls

Written By: Max Ophuls and Jacques Natenson

Based on the play “Reigen” By: Arthur Schnitzler

Cinematography: Christian Matras

Editor: Azar

Cast: Anton Walbrook, Simone Signoret, Serge Reggiani, Simone Simon, Daniel Gelin, Danielle Darrieux, Fernard Gravey, Odette Joyeux

Soldiers, chambermaids, poets, prostitutes, aristocrats are on equal footing in this multi-character merry-go-round of love and infidelity.

#STUCK (AKA THE MORNING AFTER) (2014)

 

Written, Directed & Edited By: Stuart Acher

Story By: Dana Waxman and Neil Pollner 

Cinematography: John Matysiak 

Cast: Joel David Moore, Madeline Zima, Abraham Benrubi, Jayson Blair, Joanna Canton, Joel Michaely 

A hot one-night stand turns into an awkward morning after when GUY and HOLLY get STUCK in a dead-stopped traffic jam. As they begrudgingly get to know each other, we learn of their sexually raucous evening and then they're led to their surprising destiny.

HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS (2023)

 

Written & Directed By: Vicky Wright 

Based on the novel by: Katherine Center

Cinematography: Daniel Vecchione 

Editor: Suzanne Spangler 

Cast: Ellie Kemper, Luke Grimes, Nico Santos, Blythe Danner, Julia Shiplett, Ben Cook, Shayvawn Webster, Gus Birney 

A year after getting divorced, Helen Carpenter, thirty-two, lets her annoying, ten years younger brother talk her into signing up for a wilderness survival course. It's supposed to be a chance for her to pull herself together again, but when she discovers that her brother's even more annoying best friend is also coming on the trip, she can't imagine how it will be anything other than a disaster.

WE GROWN NOW (2023)

 

Written & Directed By: Minhal Baig 

Cinematography: Patrick Scola

Editor: Stephanie Filo

Cast: Blake Cameron Jones, Gian Knight Ramirez, Jurnee Smollett S. Epatha Merkerson, Lil Rel Howery, Avery Holliday, Ora Jones 

Two young boys, best friends Malik and Eric, discover the joys and hardships of growing up in the sprawling Cabrini-Green public housing complex in 1992 Chicago.

THE PIANO LESSON (2024)

 

Directed By: Malcolm Washington 

Written By: Virgil Williams and Malcolm Washington 

Based on the play by: August Wilson 

Cinematography: Michael Gioulakis 

Editor: Leslie Jones 

Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins, Stephen James, Erykah Badu, Michael Potts, Pauletta Washington, Skylar Aleece Smith 

Follows the lives of the Charles family as they deal with themes of family legacy and more, in deciding what to do with an heirloom, the family piano.

THE BIKERIDERS (2024)

 

Written & Directed By: Jeff Nichols

Based on the book by: Danny Lyon

Cinematography: Adam Stone

Editor: Julie Monroe

Cast: Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Michael Shannon, Norman Reedus, Emory Cohen, Mike Faist, Boyd Holbrook, Beau Knapp, Karl Glusman, Damon Herriman, Toby Wallace, Will Oldham 

After a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy is drawn to Benny, a member of the Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals. As the club transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.

OUR DAY WILL COME (2010)

Directed by: Romain Gavras

Written By: Romain Gavras and Karim Boukercha

Cinematography: Andre Chemetoff 

Editor: Benjamin Weill 

Cast: Vincent Cassel, Olivier Barthelemy, Justine Lerooy, Vanessa Decat, Boris Gamthety, Randolphe Blanchet, Camille Rowe, Josephine De La Baume, Jacques Herlin, Pierre Boulanger 

The outcast red-haired teenager Rémy is bullied at school and lives with his estranged mother and sister in France. The also red-haired psychiatrist Patrick befriends Rémy and helps him to release his repressed hatred and sexuality. When Rémy sees a picture of red-haired people in Ireland, he forces Patrick to travel with him to his dreamland.

FAVORITE FILMS OF 2024

 

FAVORITE FILMS OF 2024

MOVIES WATCHED IN DECEMBER (2024)/JANUARY (2025)

 MOVIES WATCHED IN DECEMBER (2024)/ JANUARY (2025) 

QUEER (2024)

 

Directed by: Luca Guadagnino

Written By: Justin Kuritzkes

Based On The Novel By: William S. Burroughs 

Cinematography: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom 

Editor: Marco Costa 

Cast: Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, Ariel Schulman, Andra Ursata, Omar Apollo, David Lowery

In 1950s Mexico City, an American immigrant in his late forties leads a solitary life amidst a small American community. However, the arrival of a young student stirs the man into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone.