The Scent of Green Papaya — Little things mean a lot in the world of 10-year-old Mui, a girl who’s trained to be a house servant in 1950s Vietnam. This film follows Mui as she grows up in pre-war Saigon, and finds quiet love with a family friend. Dialogue seems almost tertiary in this film that celebrates the senses, as the young girl discovers the world around her and marvels at every new sight, sound and scent she experiences while going about her workday life.
Passionada — Though she’s not ready to begin dating, beautiful widow Celia Amonte (Sofia Milos) finds herself drawn into a relationship with charming Brit Charlie Beck (Jason Isaacs) … who’s harboring a big secret in this savory romantic comedy. It seems the smitten Charlie — a nomadic professional gambler passing himself off as a tycoon — has agreed to teach Celia’s daughter (Emmy Rossum) the tricks of the trade in return for help wooing her mother.
Your Friends & Neighbors — Writer-director Neil LaBute’s misanthropic black comedy stars Amy Brenneman, Aaron Eckhart, Catherine Keener, Jason Patric, Ben Stiller and Nastassja Kinski as a web of friends, acquaintances and lovers intertwined in complex, shifting relationships. A theater instructor’s lack of prowess frustrates his wife, who in turn has an affair with a lesbian art gallery worker. Meanwhile, a sadistic doctor tries to persuade his married friend to ditch monogamy.
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within — Filmmaker Yony Leyser offers this fascinating portrait of Beat-era writer William S. Burroughs, a man whose sexuality, enthusiasm for guns and public struggle with opiate addiction made him a singular figure in American counterculture. Rare archival footage of Burroughs’s odd antics and candid reflections from friends — including John Waters, Iggy Pop, Amiri Baraka and members of Sonic Youth — reveal the twisted genius of a literary icon.
Watchers — In a chilling tale based on Dean Koontz’s novel of the same name, an unsuspecting teenager takes a stray dog into his home, never knowing that the animal escaped from a top-secret government genetics lab.
Ulzana’s Raid — An idealistic lieutenant and an aging scout lock horns as they try to stop the attacks of a brutal Apache chief. While a violent battle with the insurgents brews, the unlikely pair attempt to agree long enough to defeat their common enemy.
Trees Lounge — Shiftless barfly Tommy Basilio (Steve Buscemi, in his writing and directing debut) spends virtually all his time at the neighborhood watering hole, Trees Lounge. As a result of his ambiguous ethical choices, he’s alienated his family and lost both his job and his girlfriend, Theresa (Elizabeth Bracco). Still, the underachieving Tommy would rather deaden the pain than try to turn his life around, and in Trees Lounge, he’s in good company.
Topsy-Turvy — After their production of “Princess Ida” tanks, Arthur Gilbert (Allan Corduner) and William Sullivan (Jim Broadbent) start a cold war that threatens to end their long-lasting partnership — but friends and associates work overtime to bring them back together. The result is their classic play “The Mikado.” Mike Leigh’s thoughtful musical comedy-drama garnered four Academy Award nominations and won for costume design and makeup.
Sid & Nancy — This gritty biopic portrays the relationship and downward spiral of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious (Gary Oldman) and his junkie girlfriend, Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb), from their first meeting soon after Vicious joined the iconic punk band to the tragic end of their story. Hole front woman Courtney Love plays Nancy’s friend, Gretchen, and music from the Clash’s Joe Strummer, the Pogues, the Circle Jerks and others is included on the soundtrack.
Safe Men — When lounge singers Sam (Sam Rockwell) and Eddie (Steve Zahn) are mistaken for ace safecrackers, they reluctantly enter the criminal underworld in this madcap farce from writer-director John Hamburg (I Love You, Man, Along Came Polly). Jewish gangster Big Fat Bernie Gayle (Michael Lerner) sends Veal Chop (Paul Giamatti) to con real safecrackers (Mark Ruffalo and Josh Pais) into service, but the henchman mistakes the singers for the crooks.
Raging Bull — Robert De Niro won an Oscar for his portrayal of self-destructive boxer Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese’s widely acclaimed biopic, which paints a raw portrait of a tormented soul unable to control his violent outbursts. Marked by De Niro’s powerful performance and Scorsese’s gritty, black-and-white realism, the film also launched the Hollywood careers of Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty, who each received an Oscar nomination.
The Panic in Needle Park — Al Pacino plays Bobby, a young heroin addict who introduces his drug-free girlfriend (Kitty Winn) to New York’s “Needle Park.” But in this sordid world peopled with addicts who lie, cheat and steal their way to their next fix, will Bobby feel any guilt for corrupting a pure soul? With its gritty documentary style, Jerry Schatzberg’s drama proved a star-making turn for a young Pacino, who went on to earn an Oscar nomination for The Godfather.
The Prisoner of Zenda — Swashbuckler meets slapstick in this hilarious take on Anthony Hope’s classic tale, which stars the inimitable Peter Sellers in the dual roles of the would-be king of Ruritania and the cockney cabbie who impersonates him and falls for his fiancée.
The Nude Bomb — The 1960s spy spoof “Get Smart” hits the big screen in this hilarious feature film. Bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart (Don Adams), now retired, returns to duty when enemy spies threaten to detonate a bomb that will remove everyone’s clothing. Aided by fellow agents 34 (Sylvia Kristel), 22 (Andrea Howard) and 35 (Pamela Hensley), Smart sets out to keep the world clothed. Dana Elcar replaces the late Edward Platt as the Chief.
Moon Over Parador — While toiling on a film in the tiny Caribbean country of Parador, Broadway actor Jack Noah (Richard Dreyfuss) is offered a role he can’t turn down: impersonating the nation’s deceased dictator, to whom he bears an uncanny resemblance. But Jack soon gets into trouble when he runs afoul of the Parador police chief (Raul Julia), who wants to keep the despot’s demise a secret until he can maneuver his own takeover of the country.
Nighthawks — Two New York City street cops (Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams) may be out of their depth when they get embroiled in a fight against international terrorists led by the merciless Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer, in his American film debut). Also starring Lindsay Wagner, this film is notable for the suspenseful scene that takes place in the tram car high above the East River.
Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn — After rescuing the beautiful Dhyana (Kelly Preston), whose father was brutally murdered, space ranger Dogen (Jeffrey Byron) sets out for revenge against her father’s attacker: villainous warlord Jared-Syn (Michael Preston). But finding his hidden lair means soliciting help from a has-been seeker (Tim Thomerson). Richard Moll and Larry Pennell also star in this epic sci-fi Western from director Charles Band.
Maverick — Director Richard Donner pumps new life into this big-screen remake of the classic Western television series, with Mel Gibson assuming the role of poker-playing grifter Bret Maverick. Maverick needs a wad of cash to enter a big tournament. So he targets a couple of small-timers, like the lovely Annabelle (Jodie Foster), but ends up getting caught in a variety of comedic conundrums as he’s being pursued by a marshal (original Maverick James Garner).
Mary, Queen of Scots — In an Oscar-nominated performance, Vanessa Redgrave shines as Mary Stuart, queen of Scotland. Returning from France to assume the throne, Mary finds her ascension challenged by her brother, her husband and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I (Glenda Jackson). Timothy Dalton, Patrick McGoohan and Ian Holm co-star in this lavish production from director Charles Jarrott and producer Hal B. Wallis, creators of Anne of the Thousand Days.
Leaves of Grass — Edward Norton stars in this quirky tale centered on a respected Ivy League professor who’s lured back to Oklahoma to help his equally brilliant twin brother — who grows the world’s finest hydroponic marijuana — best a big-time pot pusher (Richard Dreyfuss). Writer-director Tim Blake Nelson co-stars in this oddball crime comedy alongside Keri Russell, Lucy DeVito, Susan Sarandon, Steve Earle and Ty Burrell.
Illusion — With his deceased former editor as his projectionist, dying filmmaker Donald Baines (Kirk Douglas) spends a fantastical night watching movies that depict various stages in his estranged son’s life. Haunted by his father’s abandonment, Donald’s son Christopher (Michael A. Goorjian) goes through life crippled with self-doubt. Can the ailing director work movie magic to make things right and give Christopher the happy ending he deserves?
Heroes — Troubled Vietnam vet Jack Dunne escapes from the mental asylum he’s inhabited on and off since the war. After boarding a California-bound bus, Jack meets Carol Bell, and love’s transformative power works its magic on their cross-country odyssey.
Harsh Times — Geared up for some carousing around town, an ex-soldier (Christian Bale) who’s just accepted a job with the DEA cajoles his pal (Freddy Rodriguez) into joining him for a little hell-raising. But when their good times turn to tragedy, the buddies are in for a rude awakening. First-time director David Ayer also penned the script for this gritty drama about the consequences of friendship, set in South Central Los Angeles.
HR Pufnstuf –“H.R. Pufnstuf” was the first in a long line of Saturday morning children’s live-action puppet television shows created and produced by the kings of 1970’s Saturday morning television, Sid and Marty Krofft. Also includes four favorite episodes: “The Birthday Party,” “The Golden Key,” “The Stand-In” and “The Box Kite Kaper.”
The Gingerbread Man — Successful Georgia attorney Rick Magruder (Kenneth Branagh) becomes absolutely obsessed with his sultry new client, caterer Mallory Doss (Embeth Davidtz), in this atmospheric thriller penned by John Grisham and directed by Robert Altman. When Magruder attempts to protect Doss from her religious fanatic father (Robert Duvall), the barrister soon finds his career and his children under threat. Robert Downey Jr. and Daryl Hannah co-star.
The Fury — Two years after the debut of Carrie, director Brian De Palma delivers another bloody tale of psychic teenagers. When telekinetic teens Robin (Andrew Stevens, son of Stella) and Gillian (Amy Irving) become the target of a government baddie (John Cassavetes, who wants to exploit their powers for weapons of mass destruction), the boy’s father (Kirk Douglas) is determined to stop him. Watch for Daryl Hannah and Laura Innes in their film debuts.
The Front Page — Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattthau play battling newspapermen in 1920s Chicago in this fast-paced version of the comedy classic from director Billy Wilder. Lemmon is ace reporter Hildy Johnson and Matthau his irascible editor, Walter Burns. Hildy wants to quit and marry Peggy Grant (Susan Sarandon), but Walter will do anything to stop him, and an escaped killer (Austin Pendleton) gives him just the scoop he needs to lure Hildy back to work.
Fellini’s Casanova — Donald Sutherland plays the legendary lover in Federico Fellini’s visually stunning version of the Casanova story, which won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. After Casanova is imprisoned for practicing black magic, he escapes and wanders through Europe, mixing in the royal courts and having affairs with noblewomen as well as entertainers. But he’s unable to find the answers he seeks on his quest for the meaning of life.
Cookie’s Fortune — “Cookie” Orcutt (Patricia Neal) — salt of the earth and cornerstone of her small Southern town — leaves a terrible void as well as a huge fortune when she dies. So her two estranged, greedy nieces (Glenn Close and Julianne Moore) angle for the estate. Meanwhile, Cookie’s man Friday (Charles Dutton) and grandniece (Liv Tyler) attempt to unravel the intrigue surrounding Cookie’s fortune. Legendary director Robert Altman helms this ensemble dramedy.
Cecil B. Demented — Only the twisted mind of writer-director John Waters could conceive a plot that chronicles a crew of guerrilla filmmakers who kidnap a movie goddess (Melanie Griffith) and force her to star in their underground movie. Cecil (Stephen Dorff) leads a group of auteurs called the Sprocket Holes, but they aren’t entirely satisfied with their normal leading lady, porn actress Cherish Oh Lordy (Alicia Witt).
The Burning Bed — In 1977, after suffering years of abuse at the hands of her brutal husband, Mickey (Paul Le Mat), Michigan housewife Francine Hughes (Farrah Fawcett) killed him one night by setting fire to him as he slept. Prosecuted with the vigor of the law, Hughes’s case made legal history. Fawcett received an Emmy nomination (and proved herself a serious actress for the first time) for her role in this acclaimed television adaptation of a true story.
The Brink’s Job — A small-time criminal concocts a big-time heist — and inadvertently the crime of the century — in this spirited comedy based on the infamous Brink’s robbery in Boston, which netted the crew of amateur crooks nearly $3 million.
The Big Fix — Private eye Moses Wine gets mixed up in murder when a former college flame from Berkeley hires him to investigate a political scandal involving a gubernatorial candidate and an antiwar radical on the run.
Being Michael Madsen — Michael Madsen’s played a lot of unsavory characters on screen, but could he possibly be a murderer in real life? That’s the starting point for this deliciously “meta” mockumentary, in which a paparazzi (Jason Alan Smith) starts the vicious rumor. Madsen seeks his own brand of justice against the creep, inspired by the roles he’s played. Daryl Hannah, David Carradine, Harry Dean Stanton, and Madsen’s sister, Virginia, appear as themselves.
Bagdad Cafe — Bavarian tourist Jasmin (Marianne Sägebrecht) fights with her husband in the Mojave Desert and storms off to a nearby café-motel, where she develops a prickly friendship with the owner, Brenda (CCH Pounder). In time, they turn the decrepit cafe into a local hot spot, and Jasmin becomes a popular entertainer. The characters who collect at the café, including Hollywood-set painter Rudi (Jack Palance), form an odd sort of family in this quirky film.
Babe: Pig in the City — After winning the sheepherding contest, Babe (voiced by Elizabeth Daily) comes home to the reality that Farmer and Mrs. Hoggett (James Cromwell and Magda Szubanski) may lose their land. The prize porker and Mrs. Hoggett go to the big city in a desperate attempt to save the farm but become separated. On his own, Babe performs with the circus, is chased by stray dogs and becomes a leader among animals in director George Miller’s Oscar-nominated sequel.
White Palace — This movie equivalent of a romance novel sees uptight yuppie Max (James Spader) become involved with older, blue-collar waitress Nora (Susan Sarandon). They meet by chance, fall into bed on a whim, then try to make their improbable relationship work in the outside world. Many recognizable faces — including Jason Alexander and Kathy Bates — add to the fun. Luis Mandoki directs.
Harrison’s Flowers — Andie MacDowell stars as Sarah, a happily married photo editor for Newsweek whose Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist husband, Harrison Lloyd (David Strathairn), is having second thoughts about covering the world’s “hot spots.” But he accepts one final assignment. Informed that Harrison is believed to have been killed on a combat assignment in Croatia, Sarah refuses to accept her husband’s death and travels to Europe on a quest to find him.
Harold and Maude — Death-obsessed teen Harold Chasen (Bud Cort) is being hassled by his domineering mother (Vivian Pickles) to play the dating game, but he’d much rather attend funerals, which is where he meets the feisty Maude (Ruth Gordon), a geriatric widow who’s high on life. The seemingly mismatched pair forms a bond that turns into a highly unconventional — but ultimately satisfying – romance in this comical cult favorite from director Hal Ashby.
Ghost Story — In this modern ghost story, four New England octogenarians — the self-styled “Chowder Society” (Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and John Houseman) — have harbored a terrible secret for half a century, but the lid on their Pandora’s box of subterfuge is about to blow. The ghost of a young woman (Alice Krige) haunts the men, each of whom played a part in her horrific death.
Gorky Park — Honest Moscow police inspector Arkady Renko (William Hurt) persistently investigates a mysterious triple homicide in which the mutilated bodies have been wiped clean of identification, despite his superiors’ warnings that the case is linked to the KGB. The labyrinthine trail leads Renko to New York to question corrupt fur magnate Jack Osborne (Lee Marvin) and William Kirwill (Brian Dennehy), a take-no-prisoners cop with his own agenda. (expires 06/01)
The Thomas Crown Affair — Megarich, bored playboy Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen) has a new hobby: pulling off the perfect crime! When he masterminds a bank robbery from behind the scenes, insurance investigator Faye Dunaway sets out to catch him, but ends up seduced by her quarry’s charms! Is their courtship part of the cat-and-mouse game, or is love pulling the strings? Norman Jewison directed. (expires 06/01)
A Somewhat Gentle Man — With revenge on his mind, a gangster (Stellan Skarsgård) who spent 12 years in prison for murder sets out to kill the man (Henrik Mestad) who put him there. But the promise of a normal life — and news that he’s on the brink of becoming a grandfather — proves a tempting distraction. Suddenly, seeking vengeance doesn’t seem nearly as important. Hans Petter Moland directs this Norwegian drama about sons and second chances.
Kalifornia — While researching a book on serial killings, writer Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) and his girlfriend, Carrie Laughlin (Michelle Forbes), travel cross-country to the murder sites and unwittingly stumble upon strangers who know the subject firsthand. A pair of hitchhikers (Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis) offer to share expenses for the trip, but Kessler doesn’t realize just how close he is to his subject — even as bodies pile up behind them.
Contact — When Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) hears a signal being broadcast from outer space, the race is on to interpret humanity’s first contact with alien intelligence in this adaptation of Carl Sagan’s thoughtful novel about the divide between science and religion. Matthew McConaughey co-stars as Palmer Joss, a Christian philosopher who is Ellie’s friend as well as her lover. Robert Zemeckis directs.
The Shadow — In the 1930s, a Tibetan mystic imparts his ancient mind-control techniques to reformed criminal Lamont Cranston (Alec Baldwin). By day, Cranston masquerades as a decadent playboy; by night he becomes single-minded crime-fighting hero the Shadow. Aided by his cabbie sidekick (Peter Boyle), the Shadow squares off against Genghis Khan’s last living descendent, Shiwan Khan (John Lone) — with the safety of planet Earth hanging in the balance.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes — Two American showgirls in the mood for love board a luxury liner to Paris. Engaged to be married, fair-haired Lorelei (Marilyn Monroe) is unknowingly tracked by a private investigator who was hired by her future father-in-law. But the detective only has eyes for her brunette friend, Dorothy (Jane Russell). Based on the Broadway musical starring Carol Channing, the film features the memorable tune “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.”
My Best Friend’s Wedding — Food writer Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) panics when she receives word that her longtime platonic pal, Michael (Dermot Mulroney), is finally getting hitched, to a debutante named Kimberly (Cameron Diaz). Realizing her true feelings for Michael, Julianne enlists assistance from her gay companion (Rupert Everett) and sets out to sabotage the wedding, making a last-minute play for her man — to the rhythm of Burt Bacharach tunes.
Old Gringo — When schoolteacher Harriet Winslow (Jane Fonda) goes to Mexico to work as a governess, she’s caught up in the Mexican revolution and kidnapped by Gen. Tomas Arroyo (Jimmy Smits), with whom she’s quickly smitten. But then she meets and falls for renowned author Ambrose Bierce (Gregory Peck). The sardonic Ambrose, known as “Old Gringo,” is dying and wishes to spend his final days in anonymity, and Harriet sets out to fulfill that wish.
The Emperor’s Club — Based on Ethan Canin’s short story The Palace Thief, the Emperor’s Club traces the 30-year teacher-student mentor relationship between dedicated prep school teacher William (Kevin Kline) and troubled young Sedgewick (Emile Hirsch; Joel Gretsch plays him as an adult) who lives in the shadow of his senator father. When Sedgewick rebels, William sticks with him and helps him achieve great things, but the relationship is later tested. Rob Morrow co-stars.
Kick-Ass — Inspired by his love of comic books, high school student Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides to transform himself into a masked crime fighter — a decision that eventually thrusts the teenager into Internet stardom. Soon, Dave’s antics inspire a wave of would-be heroes to don costumes and live out their superhero fantasies. Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz also star in this comic book adaptation from director Matthew Vaughn.
eXistenZ — Allegra Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh), the world’s leading designer of virtual reality games, is testing a new prototype when an assassin wielding a daunting organic weapon attacks her. She survives the assault with help from her marketing assistant turned bodyguard (Jude Law). But she’ll need to “portal” into her own game to get to the bottom of the intrigue. David Cronenberg directs this mind-bending action-adventure.
Last Man Standing — John Smith (Bruce Willis) is a mysterious stranger who is drawn into a vicious war between two Prohibition-era gangs. In a dangerous game, he switches allegiances from one to another, offering his services to the highest bidder. As the death toll mounts, Smith takes the law into his own hands in a deadly race to stay alive. Bruce Dern and Christopher Walken co-star in this American reinterpretation of the 1961 Japanese film Yojimbo.
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