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Top Picks

Into the Abyss

Directed by Werner Herzog Produced by Erik Nelson Released by Sundance Selects USA. 106 min. Not rated With Into the Abyss, director Werner Herzog takes a startlingly clear-eyed look at crime and capital punishment in Texas. His subtitle, “A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life,” emphasizes how he edits a series of frank interviews […]

The Other F Word

Written & Directed by Andrea Blaugrund NevinsProduced by Cristan ReillyReleased by Oscilloscope LaboratoriesUSA. 99 min. Not ratedWith Jim Lindberg, Flea, Tony Adolescent, Fat Mike, Tony Hawk, Mark Mothersbaugh, Ron Reyes, Tim Mcllrath, Joe Escalante, Mark Hoppus & Lars Fredericksen Fat Mike of the band NOFX sprays fake butter on his daughter’s toast, Mark Hoppus of […]

Margin Call

Written and Directed by J. C. Chandor Produced by Michael Benaroya, Neal Dodson, Zachary Quinto, Robert Ogden Barnum, Corey Moosa & Joe Jenckes Released by Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions USA. 105 min. Rated R With: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore & Stanley Tucci Debut writer/director J.C. […]

Le Havre

Written, Produced & Directed by Aki Kaurismaki Released by Janus Films French with English subtitles Finland/France/Germany. 93 min. Not rated With André Wilms, Kati Outinen, Jean-Pierre Darroussin & Blondin Miguel Aki Kaurismaki does a remarkable job as a formalist here. His new film takes place in the French port town of Le Havre in what […]

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Written & Directed by Sean Durkin Produced by Josh Mond, Antonio Campos, Chris Maybach & Patrick Cunningham Released by Fox Searchlight USA. 101 min. Rated R With Elizabeth Olsen, Brady Corbet, Hugh Dancy, John Hawkes & Sarah Paulson A creepy Luddite zealot, Patrick (John Hawkes), leads a small rural community in upstate New York. His […]

American Teacher

Directed by Vanessa Roth Produced by Nínive Calegari, Dave Eggers, & Roth Based on the book Teachers Have It Easy: The Big Sacrifices and Small Salaries of America’s Teachers by Calegari, Eggers & Daniel Moulthrop Released by First Run Features USA. 81 min. Not Rated American Teacher aims to improve the image of those who […]

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Directed by Eli Craig Produced by Morgan Jurgenson, Albert Klychak, Rosanne Milliken & Deepak Nayar Written by Craig & Jurgenson Released by Magnet Releasing USA. 89 min. Rated R With Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden, Jesse Moss & Philip Granger You can tell by its deliberately corny name that Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, […]

Take Shelter

Written & Directed by Jeff Nichols Produced by Tyler Davidson & Sophia Lin Released by Sony Pictures Classics USA. 120 min. Rated R With Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Shea Whigham, Tova Stewart, Katy Mixon, Ray McKinnon & Kathy Baker   Take Shelter is about as American a film as you’ll see—its hero, an Ohio working-class […]

Drive

Written & Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn Produced by Marc Platt, John Palermo, Gigi Pritzker, Michael Litvak & Adam Siegel Released by FilmDistrict USA. 100 min. Rated R With Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Oscar Isaac, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman & Albert Brooks It shouldn’t have surprised me that the new thriller Drive, for which director […]