Kym’s Picks: 05/24/2011 and 05/29/2011

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Biutiful — Diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, Uxbal (Javier Bardem) — a divorced father raising two children — is determined to atone for his life as a black marketeer in this engrossing character study that unfolds in the slums of Barcelona, Spain. Co-starring Maricel Álvarez as Uxbal’s estranged wife, director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s haunting tale received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Foreign Language Film.

The Waiting City — Radha Mitchell and Joel Edgerton star as adoptive parents-to-be, en route from Australia to Calcutta to pick up their new baby, in this unconventional love story infused with the exotic charms of India from director Claire McCarthy. To foreigners who have never been on Indian soil, the city is at once intoxicating and overwhelming. But it also has the power to pull the couple’s already fragile marriage apart at the seams.

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Even the Rain — In this provocative film-within-a-film, director Sebastián (Gael García Bernal) heads to Bolivia to shoot a film about Christopher Columbus’s trespasses in the New World, only to find the locals protesting present-day exploitation of the poor. Sebastián is sympathetic to the cause, but realities collide when lead actor Daniel (Juan Carlos Aduviri), cast as a rebel against the Spanish, becomes a key figure in the demonstrations.

Kaboom — Lovelorn college student Smith (Thomas Dekker) spends his days hanging with his friend Stella (Haley Bennett) and his nights lusting after his straight roommate Thor (Chris Zylka), until one wild party shatters his world in this comic thriller from edgy director Gregg Araki. After eating drug-laced cookies, Smith witnesses the murder of an enigmatic woman who has haunted his dreams, and he begins a bizarre journey that will determine his future.

Passion Play — Restrained by a ruthless gangster (Bill Murray), gorgeous Lily (Megan Fox), a circus freak whose incredible wings make her look like an angel, yearns for freedom. After crossing paths with the trapped beauty, down-on-his-luck musician Nate (Mickey Rourke) commits himself to rescuing her. The directorial debut of established screenwriter Mitch Glazer, this unconventional love story also stars Rhys Ifans, Kelly Lynch and Bud Cort.

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Rizzoli and Isles: S1 — One comes from a blue collar family and the other from a background of privilege, yet tough-as-nails detective Jane Rizzoli and über-intellectual medical examiner Maura Isles are a match made in crimefighting heaven as they combat Boston’s baddest.

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The Planets — Take a thrilling guided tour of our solar system in this documentary series, which examines cutting-edge scientific discoveries about the planets, explores the origin and fate of the sun, considers the possibility of life on other worlds and more.

Picasso and Braque Go to the Movies — Director Arne Glimcher (The Mambo Kings) and narrator-producer Martin Scorsese present this documentary that explores the connection between cinema and the Cubist paintings of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Film clips from Georges Méliès and others offer a cinephile’s delight, as interviews with filmmakers, artists and historians, including Scorsese, Chuck Close, and Julian Schnabel, give insightful commentary.

Transcendent Man — Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil is the subject of this documentary that follows him on a world speaking tour in which he expounds on his ideas about the merging of man and machine, which he predicts will occur in the not-so-distant future. The visionary who invented the first text-to-speech synthesizer and much more raises eyebrows here with his wildly optimistic views of a technology-enhanced future.

Mao’s Last Dancer — A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.

Kym’s Picks: 04/19/2011 and 04/26/2011

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Britain’s King George VI (Colin Firth) struggles with an embarrassing stutter for years until he seeks help from unorthodox Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) in this biographical drama that chalked up multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Logue’s pioneering treatment and unlikely friendship give the royal leader a sense of confidence that serves him and his country well during the dark days of World War II.

In director Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller, ambitious New York City ballet dancer Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) lands the lead in “Swan Lake” but soon thinks her dreams of stardom are threatened by a rival ballerina (Mila Kunis). As opening night nears and the pressure to be perfect builds, Nina’s obsession descends into paranoia and delusion. Portman won an Academy Award for the film, which also nabbed an Oscar nod for Best Picture.

In this raw drama based on David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) grapple with the realities of life eight months after the death of their 4-year-old son, Danny. Even with Becca’s well-meaning mother (Dianne Wiest) offering comfort and weekly group therapy always available, the couple go about their own secret ways of coping. John Cameron Mitchell directs.

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In this pair of sequels to his 2006 children’s fantasy, writer-director Luc Besson tells the continuing story of Arthur (Freddie Highmore), an adventurous 10-year-old who returns to the land of the elfin Minimoys to help them defeat the evil Emperor Maltazard. Blending elements of live action and animation, the films also star Mia Farrow as Arthur’s grandmother and feature the vocal talents of Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed and other high-profile artists.

Billy Casper (David Bradley) is a puny kid from the poor end of Barnsley. He’s struggling in school, bullied by his older brother and basically dismissed by everyone else. But when he finds an injured fledgling kestrel, he begins to train the bird. In the process, he learns a lot about himself. This award-winning coming-of-age drama from director Ken Loach is based on the novel by Barry Hines and co-stars Freddie Fletcher and Brian Glover.

After narrowly escaping from a wretched World War II Siberian labor camp, a small band of multinational soldiers desperately undertakes a harrowing journey to traverse Siberia, the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas on foot. Directed by Peter Weir, this exciting drama about courage and endurance — based on a true story — stars Colin Farrell, Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong and Gustaf Skarsgård.

After a wild night of partying with friends, Terry (Donald Faison) awakens to discover that he’s one of the few remaining people on Earth. Banding together with a small group of survivors (Eric Balfour, Scottie Thompson, David Zayas, Brittany Daniel and Crystal Reed), Terry sets out to solve the mystery of what happened to the human race. Greg and Colin Strause (whose work includes the visual effects for Avatar and 300) direct.

Watery Venice, Italy, provides the setting as Johnny Depp, playing an American tourist seeking solace for his shattered heart, instead finds it in danger again after encountering a beautiful Interpol agent (Angelina Jolie). Little does the Yank know that the artful lady has gone to great lengths to arrange their “chance” meeting and is using him to trap a thief who happens to be her ex-lover. The film earned Golden Globe nods for Depp and Jolie.

Nothing can separate Linus and his beloved blue blanket, but with the news that disapproving Grandma is coming to visit, the Peanuts gang tries everything in their power to persuade the independent-minded boy to let go. In this adaptation of Charles Schulz’s original comic strips, Linus holds on for dear life as big sister Lucy applies her psychiatric techniques, Charlie Brown lends a sympathetic hand and Snoopy simply snatches the blanket.

Stephen Turnbull (Edward Hogg) hasn’t left his flat in months. With so much time to think, his mind wanders back to a road trip he and his friend Bunny (Simon Farnaby) once took across Europe. As he revisits the journey, a psychedelic swirl of memories invades his living room. And since most of the trip was an utter disaster, Stephen’s apartment is in for a makeover. Paul King, the mad genius behind “The Mighty Boosh,” helms this comedy.

While searching for an ancient relic on the stunning Greek island of Patmos, uptight American archaeologist Eric (Matthew Modine) falls for vivacious local Katerina (Agni Scott). But when his career clashes with his burgeoning romance, Eric must decide what matters most in life. Director Udayan Prasad’s feel-good romantic comedy about letting go of your fears also stars Richard Griffiths and Alki David.

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Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, this multifaceted drama follows the challenges facing the devastated city’s frustrated yet determined residents, including trombonist Antoine (Wendell Pierce), Mardi Gras Indian Chief Albert (Clarke Peters) and restaurant owner Janette (Kim Dickens). Created by David Simon (“The Wire”) and Eric Overmyer (“Homicide: Life on the Street”), the HBO series also stars Steve Zahn, John Goodman and Melissa Leo.

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Documentarian Billy Corben shines a spotlight on three unusual and interrelated stories about drug trafficking in Florida during the 1970s and 1980s, when marijuana smuggling was big business practiced by everyone from ordinary folks to pirates. Interviews and archival footage examine the practices of the incendiary Ethiopian Coptic Church, the jobless fishermen who grew pot in Everglades City and the enterprising members of the Black Tuna Gang.

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Directed by longtime star of independent German cinema Margarethe von Trotta, this reverent biopic chronicles the fascinating story of 12th-century Christian mystic and scientist Hildegard von Bingen (Barbara Sukowa). Despite living in an era when women are proscribed from preaching and interpreting scripture, Hildegard believes that the visions she experiences are a gift from God that she must reveal — even at the risk of condemnation.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio narrates this awe-inspiring documentary that takes viewers on a visually stunning IMAX 3-D journey to explore the faraway galaxies viewed by the Hubble Space Telescope in its travels throughout the cosmos. During the mission, astronauts walk in space, contend with successes and setbacks, view nebulae and galaxies, observe the birth of a star, witness a powerful supernova and much more.

Jeffrey Blitz (Spellbound) directs this documentary that tells the stories of lottery players whose lives have been changed — or not — by their wins, and also of those who obsessively keep trying even though they know the odds are slim. Although Blitz remains skeptical about gambling itself, he objectively illustrates each player’s poignant account in this engrossing film, an official selection of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

Kym’s Picks: 04/05/2011 and 04/12/2011

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Tron Legacy — While investigating the mysterious disappearance of his father, Kevin (Jeff Bridges), techie Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) lands in a beguiling computerized world of enslaved gladiators, where his dad has been living for more than 20 years. Joined by Kevin’s trusted friend (Olivia Wilde), the father and son must journey across a breathtaking — and perilous — cyberscape in this 21st-century update to the beloved 1982 sci-fi classic.

I Love You Phillip Morris — When upstanding Texas cop Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) realizes he’s gay, he changes his entire life and pulls a series of bold con jobs that lands him jail — where he meets his one true love, cellmate Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). When Morris is transferred to another prison, lovesick Russell mounts a series of jailbreaks just to be with his beloved soul mate. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa direct this comedy based on a true story.

Hereafter — Clint Eastwood directs this supernatural thriller about three very different people and their responses to death, including a hesitant American psychic named George (Matt Damon) who may be able to help the others find answers and peace. Marie (Cécile De France) is a French journalist caught up in the aftereffects of the devastating 2004 tsunami, while in London, young Marcus (Frankie and George McLaren) seeks to contact his deceased twin brother.

White Material — Writer-director Claire Denis returns to Africa — her childhood home and the site of her 1988 film, Chocolate — to spin this tale of a country torn apart by civil war, as African soldiers force French nationals to abandon their land. At the center of the story is Maria (Isabelle Huppert), a white woman who ignores her family’s fears and steadfastly refuses to leave her coffee plantation. Isaach De Bankolé and Christopher Lambert also star.

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A Summer in Genoa — After his wife’s tragic death, Joe (Colin Firth) moves his two daughters to Genoa for a fresh start. The romantic Italian town has its effects on the girls, as teenager Kelly (Willa Holland) begins to test her sexuality and young Mary (Perla Haney-Jardine) believes she’s seen her mother’s ghost. Director Michael Winterbottom’s poignant tale of love, family and forgiveness co-stars Hope Davis and Catherine Keener.

Heartless — Reclusive Londoner Jamie Morgan (Jim Sturgess), who bears a prominent, heart-shaped birthmark on his face yet can’t seem to find love anywhere, makes a deal with a devil-like figure to get a girl — but there’s a deadly price to pay. After his mother is murdered, the newspapers say thugs wearing devil masks committed the crime. But Jamie soon begins to suspect that they weren’t wearing masks at all.

Ricky — Katie (Alexandra Lamy) and Paco (Sergi López) are astonished when their seemingly normal newborn son, Ricky (Arthur Peyret), develops a functional pair of wings and begins to flit around the house, in this fantastical family drama from French director François Ozon. As the couple learns to adapt to Ricky’s amazing skills, they also begin to appreciate the magic that goes into creating and sustaining a content family.

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Masterpiece Classic: Any Human Heart — Riding the waves of the 20th century to two continents, Logan Mountstuart tries his hand at writing, the art trade and espionage, brushing shoulders along the way with a stunning assortment of iconic personalities. Jim Broadbent, Matthew Macfadyen and Sam Claflin pool their acting talents to portray one multifaceted man through three different seasons of his life in this sweeping British drama based on William Boyd’s best-selling novel.

Lark Rise to Candleford S4 — The fourth season of this lushly adapted British drama (based on a series of semiautobiographical novels by Flora Thompson) finds the residents of Candleford courting a newcomer when grieving widower Gabriel Cochrane (Richard Harrington) arrives in town. Later on, Daniel Parish (Ben Aldridge) announces that the newspaper is having a poetry contest, which pushes some residents to extreme measures in pursuit of the prize.

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Marwencol — After a terrible beating left Mark Hogancamp brain damaged, he began creating models of a fictional town, Marwencol, to process the trauma. Jeff Malmberg’s documentary explains how Hogancamp uses the elaborate dioramas as stand-ins for real life. When Hogancamp’s work attracts the attention of a prestigious New York art gallery, however, he’s forced to leave the safety of his make-believe world and reconnect with the real one.

Kym’s Picks: March 15, 22 and 29: 2011

 

The Fighter — After a string of defeats, Mickey Ward rediscovers his fighting will with help from trainer and half-brother Dicky (Oscar winner Christian Bale) — a once-talented pugilist and small-town hero now battling drug addiction.

127 Hours — From director Danny Boyle comes this harrowing tale of real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco), who literally cuts himself loose from danger — and lives to tell about it when sliding rock pins his forearm under a boulder during a climb in Utah. To stay alive, Ralston resorts to his basest survival instincts. The film scored Academy Award nominations in the Best Picture and Best Actor (Franco) categories.

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.

 

 

 

Unstoppable— It’s a nail-biting race against time as an unmanned train carrying a load of lethal chemicals speeds out of control, and a conductor and engineer do everything in their power to keep it from derailing and killing tens of thousands of people. Denzel Washington leads the cast in Tony Scott’s tough-minded action thriller, in which a terrible circumstance forces a couple of ordinary men to become extraordinary heroes.

No One Knows About Persian Cats — What do you do when you can’t play music in your homeland, but you can’t leave your country to play it abroad either? This is the dilemma faced by an Iranian guy and gal who, fresh on the heels of their prison release, decide to form a rock band. Despite having drive and ambition to spare, the wannabe rockers are stymied by lack of passports, lack of funds and lack of musicians who’re willing to leave Iran in this drama from Bahman Ghobadi.

Meskada — While investigating a juvenile homicide case in an affluent area of the Catskills, Det. Noah Cordin (Nick Stahl) follows the trail back to his economically stagnant hometown, where old friends step up to help — and test his loyalties. But tensions soon rise between the well-off town where the murder took place and the struggling community that seems to be harboring the killer.

All Good Things — After restless real-estate scion David Marks (Ryan Gosling) weds middle-class beauty Katie McCarthy (Kirsten Dunst) against the wishes of his disapproving father (Frank Langella), suspicions of murder fall on the unmoored heir when his wife mysteriously vanishes. Though he’s not indicted in her disappearance, people with ties to the case begin turning up dead when it’s reopened two decades later — and the unhinged David is the prime suspect.

Burlesque –After leaving Iowa with stars in her eyes, Ali (Christina Aguilera) arrives in Los Angeles and at a burlesque lounge, where she dreams of taking the stage with her soaring voice. Club owner Tess (Cher) is about to lose the place and thinks Ali may help business. Meanwhile, Ali’s roommate (Cam Gigandet) starts to fall for her in this snappy, Golden Globe-nominated comedy co-starring Stanley Tucci as Tess’s sidekick and Kristen Bell as Ali’s rival.

Fair Game — After her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson (Sean Penn), writes op-ed columns accusing the Bush administration of misleading the public to justify invading Iraq, Valerie Plame Wilson’s (Naomi Watts) status as a covert CIA agent is leaked by administration officials. Based on events described in Plame Wilson’s memoir, this drama explores the political scandal that led to the conviction of Lewis “Scooter” Libby.

Made in Dagenham — Sally Hawkins stars in this cheeky dramatization of the landmark 1968 labor strike initiated by hundreds of women who rebelled against discrimination and demanded the same pay as men for their work in a London automobile manufacturing plant. During one march, a banner that reads “We Want Sexual Equality” inadvertently becomes shortened to “We Want Sex.” Nigel Cole directs this film that co-stars Miranda Richardson and Bob Hoskins.

Mesrine Part 2: Public Enemy #1 — Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel) finds his star rising throughout the 1970s as both a gangster and a publicity-hungry celebrity. But while his criminal plans are as grandiose as ever, the Paris police are redoubling their efforts with a special anti-Mesrine unit. The conclusion to Jean-François Richet’s epic crime biopic also stars the luminous Ludivine Sagnier as Mesrine’s glamorous Italian lover, Sylvia Jeanjacquot.

Tangled — Disney animators take on the classic Grimm Brothers story of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), a long-locked beauty imprisoned in a secluded tower by evil hag Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), who needs the rejuvenating powers of Rapunzel’s tresses to remain young. When a bandit on the lam (Zachary Levi) helps Rapunzel escape, the old crone plots to recapture her and end her budding romance with the thief in this Golden Globe nominee for Best Animated Feature.

Love and Other Drugs — Pharmaceutical representative Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) becomes a player in the big game of male-performance-enhancement-drug sales and, along the way, finds unexpected romance with a woman (Anne Hathaway) suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Based on the real-life Jamie Reidy’s memoir, Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman, this satirical look inside the culture of Big Pharm is directed by Edward Zwick.

 

 

In Plain Sight: S3 — In the third season of USA Network’s hit series about Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack), a marshal in the Albuquerque branch of the Witness Protection Program, Mary copes with the effects of getting shot and continues to protect witnesses, whether criminals or innocents. Mary’s partner, Marshall (Frederick Weller), is determined to find her assailant, while her fiancé (Cristián de la Fuente) and wacky mother (Lesley Ann Warren) beg her to retire.

Mad Men: S4 — In the fourth season of this smash-hit, critically acclaimed drama, debonair adversting exec Don Draper (Jon Hamm) continues to build his own fledgeling agency even as his personal life slides deeper into excessive boozing and other destructive habits. Meanwhile, Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) expands her personal and professional horizons, and Betty (January Jones) has trouble adjusting to life with Henry (Christopher Stanley).

 

 

The Parking Lot Movie — Over the course of three years, filmmaker Meghan Eckman tracked the comings and goings of a solitary parking lot in Charlottesville, Va., chronicling the lives of the attendants who were working there. This inspiring documentary is the result. Hanging tough as they navigate the range of human emotion — from hope to frustration, from a sense of limitless possibilities to stagnation — the film’s subjects embody the pursuit of the American Dream.

The Wildest Dream — When Conrad Anker finds the body of George Mallory on Mount Everest 75 years after Mallory’s death, Anker becomes obsessed with learning whether the man determined to become the first to reach the mountain’s summit actually met his goal before dying. Narrated by Liam Neeson, this visually spectacular documentary also features the voices of Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson and Hugh Dancy.

Waste Land — Renowned artist Vik Muniz embarks on one of the most inspired collaborations of his career, joining creative forces with Brazilian catadores — garbage pickers who mine treasure from the trash heaps of Rio de Janeiro’s Jardim Gramacho landfill. In this Oscar-nominated documentary, the catadores prove to be unique and surprising individuals in their own right, waxing philosophic as they impart a valuable lesson about what society discards.

The Human Experience — In a world fraught with hostility and violence, an altruistic group of young men endeavor to understand the true essence of the human spirit by visiting forgotten souls such as homeless New Yorkers, Peruvian orphans and isolated Ghanian lepers. By spotlighting heartwarming stories from around the world, this uplifting documentary shows viewers that every single person, no matter his or her lot in life, is beautiful.

Kym’s Picks: 03/01/2011 and 03/08/2011

The Next 3 Days — When his wife (Elizabeth Banks) is sent to jail on murder charges she fervidly denies, college professor John Brennan (Russell Crowe) comes up with a plan to break her out by meticulously plotting the ultimate escape — despite the fact that he’s never committed a crime in his life. Writer-producer Paul Haggis (Crash) also directs this remake of the French film Pour Elle by Fred Cavayé. Liam Neeson and Brian Dennehy co-star.

Tales from Earthsea — Based on Ursula K. Le Guin’s best-selling Earthsea novels and produced by the studio responsible for Spirited Away, this animated adventure tells the magical tale of Arren (Matt Levin), a teenage prince who must solve the riddle of his realm’s decay. Arren runs away from home after killing his father, and during his journey, meets powerful wizard Sparrowhawk (Timothy Dalton), young sorceress Therru and deadly warlock Lord Cob (Willem Dafoe).

Inside Job — From filmmaker Charles Ferguson comes this sobering, Oscar-winning documentary that presents in comprehensive yet cogent detail the pervasive and deep-rooted corruption that led to the global economic meltdown of 2008. Through unflinching interviews with key financial insiders, politicos, journalists and academics, Ferguson paints a galling portrait of an unfettered financial system run amok — without accountability. Actor Matt Damon narrates.

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Faster — On the very day he’s released from a 10-year prison sentence, convicted bank robber Driver (Dwayne Johnson) hits the streets to take revenge on the men who bungled the job that got him busted and his beloved brother killed. But close on Driver’s tail are a driven cop (Billy Bob Thornton) on the one hand and a flamboyant contract killer (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) on the other. George Tillman Jr. directs this thriller that also stars Carla Gugino.

Conviction — Convinced that her brother, Kenneth (Sam Rockwell), has been unjustly convicted of murder and incompetently defended by court-ordered attorneys, high school dropout Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank) puts herself through law school in order to represent him in his appeal. Inspired by a true story, director Tony Goldwyn’s stirring drama also stars Melissa Leo, Minnie Driver, Peter Gallagher and Clea DuVall.

Never Let Me Go — Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s acclaimed novel, this sci-fi drama from director Mark Romanek is centered on thirtysomething Kathy (Carey Mulligan), who reflects on her time spent at Hailsham, an English boarding school, alongside classmates Ruth (Keira Knightley) and Tommy (Andrew Garfield). Born for an unusual reason, the three struggle with their destiny and their love triangle. Charlotte Rampling plays headmistress Miss Emily.

Four Lions — Comedy writer Christopher Morris makes his feature directorial debut with this outrageous comedy about a group of young Islamic Brits who fancy themselves bloodthirsty jihadis of the first order. The film showcases Morris’s satirical talents at their vicious best in a scathingly hilarious indictment of true believers and the social systems that create them. Viewers took note and bestowed it the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the L.A. Film Festival.

Wild Target — When veteran hit man Victor Maynard (Bill Nighy) finds himself unable to kill his latest target, Rose (Emily Blunt), he winds up with an unexpected sidekick, Tony (Rupert Grint), who thinks Victor is a detective in this action-packed comedy from Britain. Now, with Rose and Tony tagging along, Victor tries to deal with the dual forces of his overbearing mother (Eileen Atkins) and a very angry client (Rupert Everett) who wants Rose dead.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story — Being a teenager is too much for 16-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist), who shocks his parents (Lauren Graham and Jim Gaffigan) by checking himself into a mental health clinic for a little R & R. But when the youth ward is unexpectedly closed, he’s forced to live among the adult patients. Zach Galifianakis, Viola Davis, Emma Roberts and Aasif Mandvi co-star in this quirky drama written and directed by the screenwriters of Half Nelson.

Around a Small Mountain — Kate (Jane Birkin) moved on from her life as the daughter of a small circus owner many years ago, but when her father dies the day before the troupe’s tour opens, Kate agrees to abandon her current life and re-embrace the show for what may be its final season. Sergio Castellitto (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) stars as Vittorio, who is strongly attracted to Kate and is the one person willing to probe into her decision to return.

Letters to Father Jacob — With nowhere else to turn to after her unexpected release from prison, cold-blooded murderer Leila (Kaarina Hazard) reluctantly accepts a job composing letters for blind pastor Jacob (Heikki Nousiainen), whom she deeply resents at first but gradually grows to admire. A heartwarming tale of personal redemption, Finnish director and writer Klaus Härö’s subtle drama also features Jukka Keinonen and Esko Roine.

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The Walking Dead: S1 — After awakening from a coma, police officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) learns that a plague has transformed most of mankind into ravenous zombies. Against all odds, he desperately searches for his family and sets out to deliver them and other survivors to safety. Based on the comic books by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, the series co-stars Steven Yeun as an expert scavenger and Sarah Wayne Callies as Rick’s wife.

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Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould — Pianist Glenn Gould was known as a unique and enigmatic personality, and his brief life has long fascinated both biographers and filmmakers. But behind Gould’s carefully cultivated image lurked a number of shadowy issues, including drug use. Through interviews and never-before-seen footage, the film carefully sifts through and examines the seemingly contradictory influences and motivations that shaped the legendary musician.

Kym’s Picks: 02/15/2011 and 02/22/2011

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Get Low — Oscar winners Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of irascible Felix Bush, a backwoods Tennessee loner who planned his funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Director Aaron Schneider’s deft blend of dark humor and poignancy also stars Bill Murray as Frank Quinn, the huckster owner of a failing funeral home, and Lucas Black as his dubious assistant.

Megamind — When a cunning supervillain (voiced by Will Ferrell) accidently kills his crime-fighting nemesis, the rogue suddenly finds life boring and uninspired. So, he creates a new enemy (Jonah Hill) who seeks to destroy the world, forcing Megamind to play the hero role for once in his life. This hilarious 3D animated feature from director Tom McGrath (Madagascar) also features the voices of Brad Pitt and Tina Fey.

Mesrine Part 1: Killer Instinct — This blistering biopic stars Vincent Cassel as notorious French gangster Jacques Mesrine. The first in a duology, the film details the genesis of Mesrine’s career, including an incident in the army that gave him his first taste of violent power. Gerard Depardieu co-stars in this commanding, stylish film (based on the autobiography Mesrine wrote shortly before breaking out of prison), which has been favorably compared to Brian DePalma’s Scarface.

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The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulu — When average-guy Jeff (Kyle Davis) learns he’s related to world-famous “weird fiction” writer H.P. Lovecraft — and that he’s the very last leaf on the Lovecraft family tree — he gets drawn into a plot to keep an ancient artifact out of alien hands. If he fails, the nefarious Starspawn (Ethan Wilde) could harness the relic’s power to summon the alien god Cthulhu. And if that happens, the whole universe is at risk.

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger — After her husband’s (Anthony Hopkins) midlife crisis drives him into the arms of a younger woman (Lucy Punch), Helena (Gemma Jones) consults a psychic (Pauline Collins) to learn what fate has in store for her and is told that she’ll soon meet a tall, dark stranger who will become the love of her life. Meanwhile, the pair’s daughter (Naomi Watts) and her husband (Josh Brolin) grapple with their own extramarital attractions.

Glorious 39 — Oblivious to the looming shadow of World War II, the wealthy Keyes maintain a confident façade in the British countryside until daughter Anne (Romola Garai) becomes an unexpected pawn. Her accidental discovery of secret recordings forms a rift in the Keyes family. Torn between her love for a government agent (Charlie Cox) and her obsession with a dark family truth, Anne could ultimately be branded a traitor. Julie Christie co-stars.

Summer Wars — Though math whiz Kenji Koiso is a social zero, his avatar flourishes in the online space of Oz — until he accepts an e-mail request to solve a thorny equation, creating a conduit between the real and virtual worlds that may destroy both. Set in the not-too-distant future, this sci-fi anime thriller finds the shy Kenji coming out of his shell as he defends innocent citizens, and his honor, against a viral cyberspace menace.

Fish Tank — The life of hot-tempered teen outcast Mia (Katie Jarvis) takes an unexpected turn when her mother, Joanne (Kierston Wareing), brings home a handsome and mysterious boyfriend named Connor (Michael Fassbender), who pledges to bring sweeping positive changes to the household. British writer-director Andrea Arnold’s sophomore feature won Best British Film at the 2010 BAFTAs.

Leaving — Bored with her life of leisure, Suzanne (Kristin Scott Thomas) decides to reestablish her career as a physiotherapist. But first, she’ll need an office … and that’s where her troubles begin in this drama from Catherine Corsini. As soon as Suzanne meets the man her husband hired to construct her backyard office, she falls hard — and the attraction is mutual … and dangerous. Sergi López and Yvan Attal co-star.

Like Dandelion Dust — Jack (Cole Hauser) and Molly Campbell (Kate Levering) are horrified to learn that the biological father (Barry Pepper) of their adopted son, Joey (Maxwell Perry Cotton), has been released from prison and wants custody of the boy. As the legal case builds against the Campbells, the couple hatches a risky plan to save their family. Mira Sorvino also stars in this gripping drama as Pepper’s girlfriend, Wendy.

Road, Movie — Reluctant to take over his father’s flailing hair-oil business, young Vishnu (Abhay Deol) becomes the sole proprietor of a traveling cinema after he happens upon an abandoned truck containing a library of film reels and a film projector. During his odyssey across small-town India, he befriends a young runaway, a gorgeous gypsy, a wandering minstrel and others in this funny and romantic adventure, a hit at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

Sword of War — During the 12th century, German Emperor Federico Barbarossa (Rutger Hauer) triumphs over enemy lands to revitalize a once-great empire. But he must contend with Italian Alberto da Giussana (Raz Degan) and his “Company of Death,” which is comprised of 900 angry men. They are all willing to fight to the death at the epic Battle of Legnano. Renzo Martinelli (The Stone Merchant) directs and co-writes this history-rich drama.

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Top Gear: S14 — Join goofy gearheads James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond as they hit the track to push the limits of a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, a Corvette ZR1 and other high-performance cars in another season of this hit UK automotive-review series. Also this year, the boys journey to Romania and other foreign locales, attempt to build their own electric car, and host celebrity drivers Michael Sheen, Chris Evans and Eric Bana.

Top Gear: S15 — Everybody’s favorite trio of gearheads — Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May — get their motors running as they return to host yet another round of the top-rated British automotive program. In this series, James tests a Toyota pickup by driving it up an active volcano in Iceland, and a Volkswagen Touareg is pitted against a pair of young snowmobilers. Celebrity guests include Rupert Grint, Andy Garcia and Jeff Goldblum.

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Midsomer Murders: Secrets and Spies — The Beast of Midsomer strikes again, mortally mauling visitor Geoffrey Larkin (Clive Wood), but when coolheaded Insp. Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) learns that the former agent and ex-spymaster Sir Malcolm Frazer (Benjamin Whitrow) fought the night before, he suspects the work of human hands. In this episode of the mystery series, the prickly Frazer’s country estate doubles as a safe house for spies, and Barnaby’s espionage past comes into play.

Midsomer Murders: The Black Book — With Midsomer County’s placid villages serving as the setting for a multitude of brutal and often tangled crimes, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) has become an expert at uncovering buried truths in this long-running mystery series. In “The Black Book,” the murder of an art collector preceding the sale of one of his prize holdings sends Barnaby into an investigation of art history and society for clues.

<strong>Midsomer Murders: The Dogleg Murders — When Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) is assigned to investigate the horrific bludgeoning death of a man on the 13th hole of the exclusive Whiteoaks golf course, he encounters a hidden nest of criminal doings connected to gambling and loan sharking. The pressure on Barnaby to solve the case increases sharply when another body is found at the golf club; he also becomes aware of the hostility of local residents to the snooty Whiteoaks set.

Midsomer Murders: The Glitch — When a science professor at Midsomer University discovers a serious flaw in his design for an advanced air traffic control system, the head of the firm selling the system fears any disclosure will bring financial disaster. Soon thereafter, a local schoolteacher is killed, and Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles) suspects a fatal case of mistaken identity. In short order, more sinister secrets emerge and the body count rises.

Nurse Jackie: S2 — Showtime’s critically acclaimed series returns for a second season as abrasive, assertive Jackie Peyton (Edie Falco) continues to juggle her high-pressure job as an ER nurse, her volatile relationships with the hospital’s staff and her addiction to painkillers. As she brushes off advances by Dr. Cooper (Peter Facinelli) and keeps her lover (Paul Schulze) from befriending her husband, Jackie also struggles with motherhood in this dark comedy.

The Guild: S4 — In the wake of the third season’s cliffhanger, Codex (Felicia Day) struggles to rationalize her impulsive one-night stand with her archrival, the manipulative Fawkes (Wil Wheaton) — not only to her guild mates but also to herself. Meanwhile, Vork (Jeff Lewis) and Zaboo (Sandeep Parikh) attempt to cope with an unexpected houseguest, and Clara (Robin Thorsen) and Tinkerballa (Amy Okuda) join forces to earn a fast bundle.

Weeds: S6 — For savvy single mom Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker), what began as a small-time pot-brownie venture has bloomed into a full-tilt drug-running operation, with death threats and turf wars the high price of doing business. The sixth round of Showtime’s hit series finds Nancy keeping house with Tijuana top brass Esteban Reyes (Demián Bichir), while youngest son Shane (Alexander Gould) faces blowback after last season’s bizarre act of self-defense.

New Tricks: S3 — Three semiretired police investigators make up a crotchety trio assigned to work on unsolved and cold cases for London’s Metropolitan Police, supervised by Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman). In the show’s third season, the veteran sleuths tackle crimes ranging from murder by witchcraft to a robber who targets the trucks of two competing ice cream companies, touching off a feud between the firms.

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Williams 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.

Two in the Wave — Emmanuel Laurent appeals directly to fellow film buffs with this absorbing portrait of French New Wave icons François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, capturing their relationship through rare interviews and archival footage. Laurent’s documentary premiered at Cannes Film Festival exactly 50 years after the Cannes debut of Truffaut’s first feature, The 400 Blows — a film that signaled the New Wave’s cinematic arrival to much fanfare.

Kym’s Picks: 02/01/2011 and 02/08/2011

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Monsters — Six years after aliens invaded Earth, a security force maintains tenuous control in the Infected Zone straddling the U.S.-Mexican border. Andrew (Scoot McNairy), a photographer, is documenting this war-torn area when he’s interrupted by an unexpected rescue mission. Samantha (Whitney Able), daughter of a media mogul who just happens to be his boss, needs an escort home, and Andrew reluctantly takes on the job.

Catfish — Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman document the strange series of events that unfolds when a gifted 8-year-old artist named Abby contacts Nev, a 24-year-old photographer (and Schulman’s brother), through Facebook. After Abby sends Nev a remarkable painting based on one of his photos, Nev begins corresponding with her family — including her seductive 19-year-old sister. Realizing that something’s not quite right, Nev sets out to uncover the truth.

The Social Network — Director David Fincher’s biographical drama chronicles the meteoric rise of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) from Harvard sophomore to Internet superstar, examining his relationships with co-founder Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) and Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake). Winning Golden Globes for Best Picture and Best Director, the film also racked up Oscar nods in the same categories and for lead actor Eisenberg.

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Machete — Hired to assassinate a politician, vigilante and ex-Federale Machete (Danny Trejo) nearly dies when a sniper shoots him during the job. Out for revenge, he’s joined by a reluctant old buddy (Cheech Marin) who’s become a pacifist priest. Written and co-directed by Robert Rodriguez, this homage to exploitation films based on his fake trailer in Grindhouse co-stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Rodriguez, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Alba and Steven Seagal.

Skin — Both her father (Sam Neill) and mother (Alice Krige) are white, but Sandra Laing (Sophie Okonedo) is born with dark skin — a complex problem in the era of South African apartheid that soon drives a wedge into the family in this poignant drama based on a true story. Though her parents fight to have the government classify her as white, Sandra grows up in a divided world, and experiences her parents can’t understand make her question her identity.

Welcome to the Rileys — Devastated by their daughter’s death eight years ago, Doug (James Gandolfini) and his guilt-ridden wife, Lois (Melissa Leo), lead depressing lives without much meaning. But by forming an unconventional relationship with teen call girl Mallory (Kristen Stewart), the couple begins to rediscover hope. Directed by Jake Scott, this compelling family drama also stars David Jensen, Kathy Lamkin and Lance E. Nichols.

Let Me In — When 12-year-old Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) befriends his mysterious next-door neighbor, Abby (Chloe Moretz), the two outcasts form a tight-knit bond that gives Owen the courage to stand up to school bullies. But he slowly begins to suspect his new friend has a secret. Matt Reeves directs this uncommon coming-of-age thriller based on the award-winning Swedish film Let the Right One In. Richard Jenkins co-stars.

A Woman, a Gun, and a Noodle Shop — Master director Yimou Zhang tackles an adaptation of the Coen brothers’ classic Blood Simple in this period dramedy full of slapstick and plot twists. When the owner of a Chinese noodle shop attempts to kill his adulterous wife, the fireworks fly. The proprietor also hopes to eliminate his wife’s woebegone lover, but complications and high-flying action arise courtesy of a rampaging band of feudal soldiers and the shop’s wacky employees.

Giulia Doesn’t Date at Night — Italian director Giuseppe Piccioni weaves a tender story about the unlikely romance that develops between Guido (Valerio Mastandrea), a young writer, and Giulia (Valeria Golino), a woman who’s teaching his daughter how to swim in this affecting drama. Guido soon starts taking swimming lessons himself, but when he finally asks Giulia for a date, he learns that she can’t go out at night because she’s out on a day pass from prison.

Middle Men — After spotting a big financial opportunity in the future of Internet pornography, straightlaced entrepreneur Jack Harris (Luke Wilson) enlists his pals Buck (Gabriel Macht) and Wayne (Giovanni Ribisi) to help him develop an online billing company specializing in adult entertainment. But as the firm takes off, Jack finds some unexpected kinks in the business of kink — including mobsters, the FBI, con men and terrorists.

Tamara Drewe — After undergoing plastic surgery and a complete fashion makeover, suddenly sexy journalist Tamara (Gemma Arterton) triumphantly returns to her tiny hometown, where she exploits her irresistible appeal by recklessly toying with others' emotions and breaking hearts. Adapted from a comic strip by Posy Simmonds, this Stephen Frears-directed comedy explores themes such as unrequited loved, envy and lust.

Year of the Fish — Wide-eyed Ye Xian (An Nguyen), a servant at a massage parlor, falls for a musician (Ken Leung) and transcends her oppressive reality with a magic koi in director David Kaplan’s digitally painted retelling of the Cinderella story. Set in New York City’s Chinatown, the film — a ninth-century Chinese variant of the fairy tale — also stars Tsai Chin as cruel madam Mrs. Su and Randall Duk Kim as the fortune teller who comes to Ye Xian’s rescue.

Hideaway — When Louis (Melvil Poupaud) dies of a drug overdose in Paris, his wealthy mother instructs his strung-out but pregnant girlfriend, Mousse (Isabelle Carré), to get an abortion. Determined to keep her child, Mousse flees Paris for a country home. Louis’s brother (Louis-Ronan Choisy) visits, and she develops a fascination with him that is both erotic and angry. François Ozon crafts an intimate portrait of an enigmatic woman seeking a purpose.

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Big Love: S4 — In the fourth season of HBO’s hit drama, Bill Paxton returns as Bill Henrickson: owner of a hardware store, former member of a fundamentalist religious sect and husband to three wives (Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin) who live next door to each other in a Utah suburb. As Bill confronts a host of business and family troubles, he must also deal with his responsibilities as the spiritual leader of a new congregation.

SNL: The Best of John Belushi — As an original cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” legendary comedian John Belushi created some of the most memorable characters — such as one of the Blues Brothers as well as King Bee — in the history of television. This program highlights many of his “SNL” contributions. From classic impressions of people like Joe Cocker and Marlon Brando to wild improved antics, Belushi was always talked about on Sunday mornings.

Doctor Who: The Movie — On a trip back to Gallifrey, celebrated time traveler Doctor Who (Sylvester McCoy) has his spaceship diverted to San Francisco on the eve of the year 2000. There, he’s fatally wounded but then regenerates in a new form (Paul McGann). The Doctor’s California adventures include a romance with the surgeon who operated on him and the struggle to prevent his nemesis, the Master (also operating in a new body), from obliterating the world.

The Guardian: S3 — High-powered attorney Nick Fallin (Simon Baker) continues his court-ordered stint at Legal Services of Pittsburgh in the final season of this drama series, taking up the cases of a patient who can’t pay for cancer treatment and two children who may have AIDS. Fallin must balance business and pleasure when Lulu (Wendy Moniz) moves into his apartment, and faces a heavy workload when his father (Dabney Coleman) is scheduled for heart surgery.

Kym’s Picks: 01/04/2011 and 01/11/2011

The Town — Career bank robber Doug (Ben Affleck) and his volatile partner, Jim (Jeremy Renner), hit a roadblock when Doug falls for bank manager Claire (Rebecca Hall), whom he kidnapped during their last heist. Worse, an FBI agent (Jon Hamm) is now trailing the thieves around their Charlestown, Mass., territory. Affleck directs and co-writes this smart, intricate actioner that co-stars Blake Lively as Krista, Jim’s sister and Doug’s troubled former flame.

Inception —  Nominated for two Golden Globes, this unnerving sci-fi thriller stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, who earns a tidy sum infiltrating the dreams of corporate titans to steal their most closely held secrets. Tapped by a rich industrialist (Ken Watanabe) for a job involving a rival’s heir, Cobb marshals a team of specialists that includes his right-hand man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an architecture student (Ellen Page) and a chemist (Dileep Rao).

A Dog Year —  When Jon (Jeff Bridges, in an Emmy-nominated role) moves to the country to escape the world, he brings along his troublesome border collie and seeks help from a seasoned dog trainer (Lois Smith). But in the process, he discovers he’s the one who might need rehabilitation. Bridges earned an Emmy nod for his portrayal of a real-life writer in the midst of a midlife crisis in this sentimental story based on best-selling author Jon Katz’s memoir of the same name.

Howl — James Franco steps into the shoes of famed Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in this star-studded biopic centered around Ginsberg’s poem “Howl” — and the widely publicized obscenity trial that followed its publication in 1957. Documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (The Times of Harvey Milk) direct, with an A-list ensemble cast that includes Jon Hamm, David Strathairn, Jeff Daniels and Mary-Louise Parker.

The A-Team — This updated feature-film take on the hit 1980s television show follows a group of Iraq War veterans on the run from U.S. military forces while they try to clear their names after being framed for a crime they didn’t commit. Along the way, Col. Hannibal Smith, Capt. H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock , Sgt. Bosco “B.A.” Baracus and Lt. Templeton “Faceman” Peck help out various people they encounter. Joe Carnahan directs this high-octane actioner.

Despicable Me — Villainous Gru (Steve Carell) lives up to his reputation as a despicable, deplorable and downright unlikable guy when he hatches a plan to steal the moon from the sky. But he has a tough time staying on task after three orphans land in his care. Julie Andrews voices the role of Gru’s malevolent mom, and Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig and Will Arnett round out the ensemble cast in this comic tale that earned a Golden Globe nod for Best Animated Feature.

Nanny McPhee — When Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) arrives at the Green farm, she uses her blend of magic and discipline to help frazzled Mrs. Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal) run things while her husband’s off fighting in World War II — and to help the Green kids deal with their nasty cousins. Soon motorcycles start flying and statues come alive as everyone learns important lessons. Maggie Smith and Rhys Ifans co-star in this sequel to the 2005 film.

Love Hurts — After his wife, Amanda (Carrie-Anne Moss), leaves him, Ben (Richard E. Grant) is coaxed out of depression and transformed into his hometown’s most eligible bachelor by his teen son, Justin (Johnny Pacar). But when Justin falls in love for the first time, Ben’s makeover starts to seem too extreme. Camryn Manheim, Rita Rudner, Janeane Garofalo and Jenna Elfman co-star in writer-director Barra Grant’s bighearted dramedy.

Heartbreaker — Alex (Romain Duris) and his sister, Mélanie (Julie Ferrier), and her husband, Marc (François Damiens), earn money by breaking up relationships. But when Alex falls for a client’s (Jacques Frantz) daughter, Juliette (Vanessa Paradis), he has to decide if he’ll bust up her wedding to Jonathon (Andrew Lincoln), who’s truly perfect for her. Pascal Chaumeil directs this romantic comedy filmed in Monaco.

Alamar — Before his young son, Natan (Natan Machado Palombini), returns to Rome with his mother, Jorge (Jorge Machado) takes the boy on an extended journey to a tiny fishing village, where Natan learns to fish and snorkel amid the natural splendor of the Mexican Caribbean. Filmmaker Pedro González-Rubio’s delicate family drama also stars Nestor Marin as veteran angler Matraca, as well as a colorful cast of crocodiles, tropical birds and iguanas.

The Ricky Gervais Show — In this animated HBO series, “The Office” co-creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant hit pay cable in cartoon form, sharing their thoughts on a variety of topics with their lovable — if somewhat dim-witted — sidekick, Karl Pilkington. Using audio from edited-down conversations that originally aired as a series of popular podcasts, the show finds the threesome debating the merits of nudist colonies, chimps in space and much more.

The Sarah Jane Adventures: S3 — Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) knows a thing or three about space travel, time traps and humanoid high jinks: She learned the ropes on the “Dr. Who” series, and she’s back to take care of unfinished alien business. This season, Smith joins with adopted son Luke (Tommy Knight) and his mates to combat a reanimated Mona Lisa and disable lethal Erasmus Darkening, and the Doctor (David Tennant) himself pays a rare visit.

Skins: V4 — Season 4 of this provocative teen drama opens with Emily (Kathryn Prescott), Freddie (Luke Pasqualino) and the rest of the gang reeling from a local girl’s drug-induced suicide, which leads to Thomas (Merveille Lukeba) getting tossed out of school and lands Cook (Jack O’Connell) in jail for peddling ecstasy. Meanwhile, Effy (Kaya Scodelario) continues her own struggle with suicidal depression, and JJ (Ollie Barbieri) falls for a co-worker.

Kym’s Picks: 12/21/2010 and 12/28/2010

Archer S1 — Set amid the world of international espionage, this irreverent animated comedy from the FX network revolves around the exploits of smart-mouthed superspy Sterling Archer (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) — code name: “Duchess.” For Archer, taking on top-secret missions around the world is a breeze compared to dealing with his fellow agents, notably his overbearing mother, Malory (Jessica Walter), and his ex-girlfriend Lana (Aisha Tyler).

Angel — In this adaptation of a novel by British author Elizabeth Taylor, Romola Garai plays Angel, a grocer’s daughter who writes her way to the life she’d imagined when her success as a romance novelist enables her to buy the country mansion of her dreams. True paradise, however, remains elusive in this satire of period melodramas directed by François Ozon and co-starring Michael Fassbender, Sam Neill and Charlotte Rampling.

Knight and Day — Perpetually unlucky in love, June (Cameron Diaz) becomes intrigued by a mysterious man (Tom Cruise), who unexpectedly drags her into a whirlwind adventure involving devious enemies, life-threatening confrontations and a major discovery that may alter the future of humankind. Directed by James Mangold, this exhilarating action-comedy also features Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano, Maggie Grace and Viola Davis.

Easy A — High school is the setting for this freewheeling comedic twist on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 19th-century novel The Scarlet Letter.  Ambitious student Olive (Emma Stone) decides to boost her popularity by pretending to be the school slut. As the school’s swirling rumor mill increases both her notoriety and her finances, Olive enjoys her newfound status but eventually must decide which is more important: popularity or self-esteem.

Flipped — From director Rob Reiner comes a multigenerational family saga about the highs and lows of love. Bryce and Juli first meet as second graders, with Juli having a crush on the uncertain Bryce, and as they mature, it appears their love may blossom. As they wrestle with the problems of adolescence, their parents cope with an assortment of issues of their own. Aidan Quinn, Rebecca De Mornay and Anthony Edwards co-star in this poignant romantic comedy.

Turning Green — Sent to live with his aunts in Ireland, sex-obsessed teen James (Donal Gallery) goes to work for a bookie (Alessandro Nivola), trying to raise enough cash to return to the States. But when he discovers nude magazines on a trip to London, James dreams up a better business plan. Back in Ireland, the porn-peddling entrepreneur finds his adult contraband in high demand. Colm Meaney and Timothy Hutton co-star in this film set in 1979.

Beautiful Kate — When his sister, Sally (Rachel Griffiths), invites him to the hardscrabble family farm to make peace with his dying father (Bryan Brown), successful Australian writer Ned (Ben Mendelsohn) must finally face the truth about his twin sister Kate’s (Sophie Lowe) tragic death decades before. But as father and son stumble toward reconciliation, long-hidden secrets threaten to engulf them all once more. Rachel Ward directs this provocative drama.

Eat Pray Love — Julia Roberts stars in this adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir about coping with a depressing divorce. After deciding to reshape her life, Liz (Roberts) travels the world in search of direction. She heads to Italy, India and Bali, indulging in delicious cuisine while seeking the true meaning of self-love, family, friendship and forgiveness. Along the way, she meets a bevy of characters and, possibly, her true love.

Map of the Sounds of Tokyo — When the daughter of prominent Tokyo businessman Mr. Nagara (Takeo Nakahara) commits suicide, Nagara’s heartbroken employee Ishida (Hideo Sakaki) hires part-time hit woman Ryu (Rinko Kikuchi) to kill the man (Sergi López) perceived as responsible for the daughter’s death. Meanwhile, a curious sound engineer becomes obsessed with Ryu and her life in this lyrical and mysterious drama from acclaimed Spanish director Isabel Coixet.

Peepli Live — When indigent farmers Natha (Omkar Das) and Budhia (Raghuvir Yadav) stand to lose their land over a loan they can’t repay, a government official comes up with a modest proposal: Commit suicide and collect a subsidy that’s paid to the relatives of deceased farmers. As Natha weighs his options, a journalist learns of his predicament and the media circus begins. Anusha Rizvi directs this satirical take on a real-life crisis afflicting India’s underclass.

Soul Kitchen — Young restaurant owner Zinos (Adam Bousdoukos) decides to revamp Soul Kitchen, his dumpy diner, but the customer response isn’t what he was hoping for. To make matters worse, his girlfriend (Anna Bederke) flies off to Shanghai, and the tax collector comes knocking. But with the help of an inspired new chef (Birol Ãœnel), Zinos still has a chance at redemption. German director Fatih Akin delivers a riotous modern romantic comedy.

Handsome Harry — For many years, small-town resident Harry Sweeney (Jamey Sheridan) has avoided confronting painful memories from his past. But when his best friend becomes seriously ill, Harry builds up enough courage to explore long-hidden secrets and uncover his true identity. Bette Gordon directs this character-driven drama that boasts a strong ensemble cast featuring Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn, John Savage and Campbell Scott.

The Special Relationship — Screenwriter Peter Morgan (The Deal, The Queen) delivers a third film centered on the career of British Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) with this political drama chronicling Blair’s relationships with two U.S. presidents: Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Dennis Quaid takes on the challenge of portraying President Clinton, with Hope Davis co-starring as then-First Lady Hillary Clinton in this Emmy nominee for Best Made-for-TV Movie.

And Soon the Darkness — Two American friends, Ellie (Odette Yustman) and Stephanie (Amber Heard), set out for a bike trip through Argentina, eager to explore its spectacular beauty. One afternoon, Stephanie disappears, and as darkness encroaches, so does Ellie’s panic and desperation. Virtually alone in a foreign land, she wonders if either of them will get home alive. Karl Urban (Star Trek) and Adriana Barraza (Babel) co-star in this update of the 1970 horror classic.

Legacy — Taking refuge in a shabby Brooklyn motel after narrowly surviving a failed mission in Eastern Europe, Black Ops soldier Malcolm Gray (Idris Elba) begins to disintegrate mentally as he broods over the legacy of his actions in this taut psychological thriller. Haunted by his demons while holed up in his room, Malcolm ponders the ascent of his brother (Eamonn Walker), an ambitious senator with designs on the presidency.

Caprica 1.5 — Caprica is in turmoil, and everyone is scrambling to decipher what’s reality and what’s not. Who will survive the constant clashing between the Cylons and humans? Season 1.5 of this sci-fi saga is centered on more conspiracies and shifts in power. Technology titan Daniel (Eric Stoltz) is left to confront serious questions about losing military contracts, the U-87 and his own company. The future of the world is also at stake.

Family Guy: It’s a Trap! — An outrageous “Family Guy”-style remake of Return of the Jedi, this Star Wars spoof finds Chris Skywalker and Princess Lois attempting to rescue Peter Solo from Jabba the Hutt, defeat the mighty Stewie Vader and blow up the second Death Star. This wacky animated parody features off-the-wall Star Trek: The Next Generation guests including Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf.

Futurama V5 — After an absence of nearly seven years from the airwaves, the critically acclaimed animated sitcom set 1,000 years in the future returned to television for a brand new season. This collection includes 13 episodes with the full original voice cast. In this season, the Planet Express crew takes on subjects as varied as gay marriage, iPhones, creationism and the Da Vinci Code. Billy West, Katey Sagal and John Di Maggio star.

United States of Tara S2 — Emmy winner Toni Collette returns as Tara (and Alice, Buck and T) in this compelling comedy-drama about a homemaker whose dissociative identity disorder causes aspects of her character to manifest as wildly different personalities. As Tara struggles to integrate her alter egos into everyday life, she finds warm support from husband Max (John Corbett) and their kids, but encounters only skepticism from her resentful sister Charmaine (Rosemarie DeWitt).

Kym’s Picks: 12/07/2010 and 12/14/2010

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World — When dreamy delivery girl Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) starts popping up in his life, slacker musician Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) takes notice. But to win the love of this rollerblading goddess, Scott must vanquish all seven of her evil exes in martial arts battles. Based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels, director Edgar Wright’s action-packed romcom also stars Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh and Chris Evans.

Cronos — After an ancient device attaches itself to his body, aging antiques dealer Jesus (Federico Luppi) struggles to cope with an insatiable thirst for human blood, a menacing brute (Ron Perlman) dead set on retrieving the mechanism and the gradual realization that he cannot die. The directorial debut of acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, this thrilling vampire tale co-stars Tamara Shanath as Jesus’s granddaughter, Aurora.

Exit Through the Gift Shop — Filmmaker Thierry Guetta had been casually documenting the underground world of street art for years, but when he encounters Banksy, an elusive British stencil artist, his project takes a fascinating twist. Unimpressed with Guetta’s footage, Banksy takes over filmmaking duties and Guetta reinvents himself as a street artist named Mr. Brainwash — and, much to Banksy’s surprise, immediately becomes a darling of the Los Angeles art scene.

Micmacs — rench filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet takes a satirical look at the global arms trade with this foreign-language comedy starring Dany Boon as Bazil, who rallies his friends to take down weapons manufacturers responsible for his father’s death. Bazil also discovers a dump into an underground haven for cool tools and sculptures crafted from discarded junk. Dominique Pinon, André Dussollier and Jean-Pierre Marielle co-star.

 

 

Shrek Forever After — The fourth chapter of this fractured fairy-tale series finds the lovable green ogre Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) feeling less like a monster and more like a man in the midst of a midlife crisis. But will striking a deal with Rumpelstiltskin make his life better or worse? Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas return as the voices of Princess Fiona, Donkey and Puss in Boots, respectively.

My Own Love Song — Years after a life-changing car accident that left her paralyzed, a wheelchair-bound woman (Renee Zellweger) embarks on a cross-country journey to reconnect with her long-lost son, accompanied by a friend (Forest Whitaker) who won’t let her wallow in self-pity. She used to be a singer, but lately, she’s lost her voice. Maybe facing her emotional demons will bring music back into her life. Olivier Dahan (La Vie en Rose) writes and directs.

Prayers for Bobby — Sigourney Weaver (in an Emmy-nominated role) stars in this heartbreaking TV drama inspired by the true story of gay rights advocate Mary Griffith. At odds with her gay son, Bobby (Ryan Kelley), over his sexuality, Mary finds her once-unshakable faith on rocky ground when he commits suicide. When her pastor is unable to help her make sense of the tragedy, Mary embarks on an amazing journey of self-discovery that teaches her the wisdom of tolerance.

Mademoiselle Chambon — When shy schoolteacher and gifted violinist Véronique Chambon (Sandrine Kiberlain) invites blue-collar construction worker Jean (Vincent Lindon) to speak to her class about his trade, she’s surprised to find herself irresistibly attracted to him — and the feeling is mutual. But the gulf in their social positions and Jean’s marital status complicate matters in this quiet drama, which snagged an Independent Spirit Award nod for Best Foreign Film.

The Milk of Sorrow — Stricken with a pathological fear she contracted from her mother’s breast milk — the “milk of sorrow,” a condition suffered by women who were raped during Peru’s civil wars — Fausta (Magaly Solier) goes to extreme lengths to protect her own sexuality and safety. But when her anguished mother finally dies, Fausta finds herself compelled to embark on a frightening journey that could lead her to freedom and wholeness. Claudia Llosa directs this Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Film.

The Kids Are All Right — Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson), the children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, often with hilarious results. But his arrival complicates the household dynamics, and nobody is sure where or how he fits in — if at all — in this Independent Spirit Award-nominated comedy.

The Trotsky — Seventeen-year-old Leon Bronstein (Jay Baruchel) thinks he is the reincarnation of Russian October Revolution leader Leon Trotsky, thus staging a strike at his father’s (Saul Rubinek) factory and then a student walkout at his new school. Film legend Geneviève Bujold appears as the head of the school board in writer-director Jacob Tierney’s “revolting” comedy. Emily Hampshire, Justin Bradley, Kaniehtiio Horn and Jesse Rath also co-star.

Mother and Child — Fifty-year-old Karen (Annette Bening) regrets giving up her daughter, Elizabeth (Naomi Watts), for adoption; years later, Elizabeth questions her own approach to life. Their stories intersect with that of Lucy (Kerry Washington), who hopes to fulfill her dreams of motherhood through adoption. Rodrigo García writes and directs this drama about parenting, sacrifice, romance and self-fulfillment. Eileen Ryan and Samuel L. Jackson co-star.

 

 

Restrepo — Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm, teamed with photographer Tim Hetherington to spend a year embedded with the Second Platoon in Afghanistan, documenting the hard work, fear and brotherhood that come with repelling a deadly enemy. Hunkered down with the soldiers in one of the region’s most strategic valleys, the filmmakers uncover the dark humor, sleepless surreality and constant anxiety of war in this Best Documentary winner at Sundance.

 

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work — Documentarians Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg provide an uncompromising glimpse into the personal and professional life of comedian and red-carpet mainstay Joan Rivers, a woman clinging stubbornly and steadfastly to the pop-culture bandwagon. Stern and Sundberg (whose previous film, The Devil Came on Horseback, covered the Darfur genocide) take a no-less-intensive approach to their subject here, taking a hard look at fame’s bitter toll.

The Nature of Existence — Roger Nygard travels to the sources of the world’s major philosophies and talks to everyone from physicist Leonard Susskind to Ultimate Christian Wrestling founder Rob Adonis to answer the questions, Why are we here and what are we supposed to do? Spiritual leaders, scholars, scientists, artists, pizza chefs and the guy next door inform this humorously enlightening documentary about the nature and meaning of life.