JUNE 24, 2021
<Click film’s poster to see info/trailer>
F9: THE FAST SAGA
Directed By: Justin Lin
Studio: Universal Pictures
Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over their peaceful horizon. This time, that threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he’s going to save those he loves most. His crew joins together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom’s forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena, the upcoming The Suicide Squad).
Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Michael Rooker, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell, and Charlize Theron
Genre: Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller
Country: USA (English)
Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of violence and action, and language)
Runtime: 145 minutes
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Werewolves Within
Directed By: Josh Ruben
Studio: IFC Films
After a proposed pipeline creates divisions within the small town of Beaverfield, and a snowstorm traps its residents together inside the local inn, newly arrived forest ranger FINN (Sam Richardson) and postal worker CECILY (Milana Vayntrub) must try to keep the peace and uncover the truth behind a mysterious creature that has begun terrorizing the community.
Starring: Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, George Basil, Sarah Burns, and Michael Chernus
Genre: Comedy | Horror
Country: USA (English)
Rating: R (for some bloody violence, sexual references and language throughout)
Runtime: 97 minutes
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False Positive
Directed By: John Lee
Studio: Hulu
After months of trying and failing to get pregnant, Lucy (Ilana Glazer) and Adrian (Justin Theroux) finally find their dream fertility doctor in the illustrious Dr. Hindle (Pierce Brosnan). But after becoming pregnant with a healthy baby girl, Lucy begins to notice something sinister through Hindle’s gleaming charm, and she sets out to uncover the unsettling truth about him, and her own “birth story.” As if getting pregnant weren’t complicated enough…
Starring: Ilana Glazer, Justin Theroux, Pierce Brosnan, and Sophia Bush
Genre: Horror | Mystery | Thriller
Country: USA (English)
Rating: R (for disturbing/bloody images, sexual content, graphic nudity and language)
Runtime: 92 minutes
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Too Late
Directed By: D.W. Thomas
Studio: Gravitas Ventures
This cozy horror comedy set in the Los Angeles indie comedy scene features Violet Fields who works a thankless job as the assistant to Bob Devore, famed comedian and host of the live variety show, Too Late. But what only Violet knows is that Bob is a monster both literally and figuratively. Resigned to her fate, Violet is caught by surprise when she meets aspiring comedian Jimmy Rhodes and sparks fly. But as her feelings for Jimmy grow and Bob starts to doubt her loyalty, she and Jimmy could end up as Bob’s next meal.
Starring: Mary Lynn Rajskub, Fred Armisen, Jack De Sena, and Ron Lynch
Genre: Comedy | Horror
Country: USA (English)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 80 minutes
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FATHOM
Directed By: Drew Xanthopoulos
Studio: Apple Original Films
Directed and photographed by Drew Xanthopoulos (“The Sensitives”), “Fathom” follows Dr. Ellen Garland and Dr. Michelle Fournet, two scientists focused on the study of humpback whale songs and social communication. As they embark on parallel research journeys on opposite sides of the world, they seek to better understand whale culture and communication. The documentary film uniquely reveals a deep commitment and reverence to the scientific process and the universal human need to seek answers about the world around us. From hypothesis to groundbreaking experiences in the field, “Fathom” showcases the passion, curiosity, collaboration, perseverance and work it takes for leading scientists to make scientific discoveries.
Starring: Michelle Fournet and Ellen Garland
Genre: Documentary
Country: USA (English)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 86 minutes
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LANSKY
Directed By: Eytan Rockaway
Studio: Vertical Entertainment
David Stone (Sam Worthington), a renowned but down-on-his-luck writer, has the opportunity of a lifetime when he receives a surprise call from Meyer Lansky (Academy Award nominee Harvey Keitel). For decades, authorities have been trying to locate Lansky’s alleged nine-figure fortune and this is their last chance to capture the aging gangster before he dies. With the FBI close behind, the Godfather of organized crime reveals the untold truth about his life as the notorious boss of Murder Inc. and the National Crime Syndicate.
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Sam Worthington, AnnaSophia Robb, Minka Kelly, and John Magaro
Genre: Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Country: USA (English)
Rating: R (for strong bloody violence, language and some sexual references)
Runtime: 119 minutes
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Wolfgang
Directed By: David Gelb
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
As a teenager in Austria, Wolfgang Puck harnessed his love of cooking to escape the harsh rule of his stepfather. A local apprenticeship forged his path to train at a revered French restaurant before landing in America at age 24. In 70s Hollywood, Puck began working at Ma Maison, crafting an original menu around fresh ingredients, making the once-tacky eatery a popular, acclaimed darling. Still, the lack of acknowledgement from Ma Maison’s owner pushed Puck to take the biggest risk of his career and open his first restaurant, Spago, an instant hit where famous clientele dote equally on Puck’s new American cuisine and personality. Almost by accident, Puck created the concept of a “celebrity chef” with his decades-spanning television appearances, building a staggering global empire of restaurants, cafes and products for home cooks. But at home, the frenetic professional demands disrupted his family life. From director David Gelb (Jiro Dreams of Sushi), and the creators of Chef’s Table, WOLFGANG is a candid, inspiring and emotional documentary that follows a legend as he reckons with the price of his dreams.
Starring: Wolfgang Puck and Christine Puck
Genre: Documentary | Biography
Country: USA (English & German)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 78 minutes
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The Evil Next Door
Directed By: Oskar Mellander & Tord Danielsson
Studio: Magnet Releasing
New to her stepmom role Shirin moves into a duplex with her partner, Fredrik, and his son, Lucas. The new home feels like the right place to start becoming a family. But when Fredrik leaves for work, strange things are heard from the other, uninhabited side. Also, who is Lucas’ new friend?
Starring: Jakob Fahlstedt, Janna Granström, Dilan Gwyn, and Karin Holmberg
Genre: Horror | International | Mystery | Thriller
Country: Sweden (Swedish)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 87 minutes
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Kenny Scharf: When Worlds Collide
Directed By: Max Basch & Malia Scharf
Studio: Greenwich Entertainment
Kenny Scharf: When Worlds Collide was made over 11 years and features interviews and rare archival footage with Kenny Scharf, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Ed Ruscha, Dennis Hopper, Yoko Ono, Kaws, Marilyn Minter, and Jeffrey Deitch. The documentary shows Scharf’s New York City arrival in the early 1980s where he quickly befriended Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. This trio, amongst the fervent creative bustle of a depressed downtown scene, would soon take the art world by storm. While Basquiat and Haring both died tragically young, Scharf lived through cataclysmic shifts in New York City and the art world. Despite setbacks along the way, Scharf continues to follow his particular high-tone, technicolor artistic vision while growing public and critical appreciation for his earlier work has cemented his place as a pop art icon.
Starring: Kenny Scharf, Jean Michel Basquiat, Jeffrey Deitch, and Steven Hager
Genre: Documentary
Country: Brazil | USA (English)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 77 minutes
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Against The Current
Directed By: Peter Callahan
Studio: Zeitgeist Films
How far do you have to travel to find yourself? And what sacrifices are you willing to make to get there? Veiga Grétarsdóttir is the first person in the world to attempt to kayak over 2,000 kilometers around Iceland, counter-clockwise and “against the current.” This achievement has been said to be comparable to climbing the mountain K2. Veiga’s personal journey is no less remarkable. She was born 44 years ago as a boy in a fishing village on the far west coast of Iceland. Veigar had a wife and family but decided that she could no longer live as a man, and at the age of 38, decided to undergo gender reassignment. The inner struggle for Veigar to become Veiga was a journey as difficult if not more so than the solo kayak expedition she undertakes. These two stories of conflict and struggle are intertwined as the film follows her amazing 103 day journey around Iceland, with the magical, rugged coastline of the country a backdrop to the story of Veiga’s transition.
Starring: Veiga Grétarsdóttir
Genre: Documentary | International
Country: Iceland (Icelandic)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 87 minutes
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Felix and the Hidden Treasure
Directed By: Nicola Lemay
Studio: Viva Pictures
Convinced that his father, who disappeared at sea two years ago, is still alive, 12-year-old Felix embarks on a search for him in the company of Old Tom, a retired fisherman; Squawk, a one-legged parrot; and Rover, a cat who acts like a dog. Their journey takes them to Darkshadow Island, where a secret community inhabits an underground city, ruled by the megalomaniacal Morgäa, possessor of a priceless treasure.
Starring: Karine Vanasse, Gabriel Lessard, Guy Nadon, and Marc Labrèche
Genre: Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Internationnal
Country: Canada (English)
Rating: PG (for some cartoon violence and thematic elements)
Runtime: 85 minutes
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Angel (2021)
Directed By: Koen Mortier
Studio: Anonymes Films
Angel is the fateful love story between Thierry, a world famous cyclist, who meets Fae, a sex worker, on his holiday in Senegal. Unlike many of the western men on holiday there, Thierry has no intention of exploring the sex-trade. But he and Fae encounter each other with the force of a coup de foudre: these two whose bodies are their work find in each other the redemptive love they seek. But the complications of Thierry’s past as a disgraced athlete and Fae’s refusal to register with the authorities so as not to define her life, may not allow the dream they enter to be realized. Angel explores this story with intoxicating sensuality taking us into the present and past of these fated characters.
Starring: Vincent Rottiers, Fatou N’Diaye, Paul Bartel, and Aïcha Cissé
Genre: Drama | International | Romance
Country: Belgium | Netherlands | Senegal (French & Wolof)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 105 minutes
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Mary J. Blige’s My Life
Directed By: Vanessa Roth
Studio: Amazon Studios
Nine-time Grammy®-winning recording artist and Academy Award nominated singer and actress Mary J. Blige set the music world on fire with her trailblazing 1994 LP “My Life,” a collection of powerful confessionals about her battles with abuse, depression and addiction that forged a profound and enduring connection with millions of fans around the globe. In Oscar®-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth’s documentary Mary J. Blige’s My Life, the singer, producer and actress reveals the demons and blessings that inspired the record and propelled her from the soul-crushing world of New York’s housing projects to international stardom. In the process, she celebrates the 25th anniversary of her most influential work by performing the album live for the first time.
Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Genre: Documentary
Country: USA (English)
Rating: R (for language)
Runtime: 82 minutes
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My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To
Directed By: Jonathan Cuartas
Studio: Dark Sky Films
Dwight (Patrick Fugit) prowls the streets after dark. He searches each night for the lonely and forlorn, looking for people who won’t be missed. Dwight takes no joy in this, but he needs their blood. Without fresh human blood, his fragile young brother Thomas cannot survive. Each death takes a larger toll, the burden of his crimes weighing heavier each time, threatening to crack his spirit. But Thomas (Owen Campbell) and his sister Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) are all the family Dwight has left, and as a fiercely private and close-knit family unit, they depend on him and the rituals they’ve learned in order to keep their secret. But while Dwight yearns for another life, Jessie needs them to stay together. And always the boy must feed.
Starring: Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram, and Owen Campbell
Genre: Drama | Horror
Country: USA (English & Spanish)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 90 minutes
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God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya
Directed By: Teona Strugar Mitevska
Studio: Pyramide International
In Stip, a small town in Macedonia, every January the local priest throws a wooden cross into the river and hundreds of men dive after it. Good fortune and prosperity are guaranteed to the man who retrieves it. This time, Petrunya dives into the water on a whim and manages to grab the cross before the others. Her competitors are furious — how dare a woman take part in their ritual? All hell breaks loose, but Petrunya holds her ground. She won her cross and will not give it up.
Starring: Zorica Nusheva, Labina Mitevska, Stefan Vujisic, and Suad Begovski
Genre: Drama | Internationnal
Country: Republic of North Macedonia | Belgium | France | Croatia | Slovenia (Macedonian)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 100 minutes
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A Soldier’s Story 2: RETURN FROM THE DEAD
Directed By: Frankie Ogar
Studio: Blue Pictures Entertainment
Regina (Linda Ejiofor, Knockout Blessing) asks her friend, Zaya (Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama, “The Expanse”), to look after her younger brother in Watz Republic, while she travels with her fiancée, Major Egan (Tope Tedela, King Invincible), to Nigeria. Still affected by the recent war, Zaya and the other villagers try to begin the process of healing when an American company unexpectedly takes over following the discovery of crude oil in the Watz Republic. While traveling through Nigeria, Regina and Major Egan escape an assassination attempt and try to return home to rescue their friends and family before war, once again, consumes them all. When conspiracies run deeper than expected, they find themselves in a complicated mission to survive. This is a soldier’s story.
Starring: Eric Roberts, John J. Vogel, Daniel K. Daniel, and Linda Ejiofor
Genre: Action | International
Country: Nigeria (English)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 105 minutes
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Rebel Hearts
Directed By: Pedro Kos
Studio: Discovery Plus Originals
In 1960s Los Angeles a trailblazing group of nuns, The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, bravely stood up to the patriarchy of the Catholic Church, fighting for equality, their livelihoods, and their own freedom against an all-powerful Cardinal who sought to keep them in their place. Their bold acts of faith, defiance and activism turned the Church upside down, helping to reshape our society in ways that continue to resonate today. From marching in Selma in 1965 to the Women’s March in 2018, they challenged the notion of what a nun and a woman were supposed to be. These unlikely resistance fighters, including Anita Caspary, Helen Kelley, Pat Reif and iconic pop artist Corita Kent, were devoted to a life of service, not only to others but to themselves — forming a community that empowered each sister to live up to her fullest potential. Their desire to bring the church into modern life was met with forceful opposition at every turn. As each of them discovered their own talents and voices, they fully stepped into their roles as leaders in a movement that is still making waves.
Starring: Anita Caspary, Helen Kelley, Corita Kent, and Pat Reif
Genre: Documentary
Country: USA (English)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 99 minutes
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Sun Children
Directed By: Majid Majidi
Studio: Madman Films
SUN CHILDREN is the story of 12-year-old ALI and his three friends. Together they work hard to survive and support their families, doing small jobs in a garage and committing petty crimes to make fast money. In a turn of events that seems miraculous, Ali is entrusted to find a hidden treasure underground. He recruits his gang, but first, to gain access to the tunnel, the children must enroll at the Sun School, a charitable institution that tries to educate street kids and child laborers, close to where the treasure is located.
Starring: Ali Nassirian, Javad Ezati, Tannaz Tabatabaei, and Roohollah Zamani
Genre: Drama | International
Country: Iran (Persian)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 99 minutes
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Echoes of the Invisible
Directed By: Steve Elkins
Studio: Utopia
ECHOES OF THE INVISIBLE turns its lens onto explorers who are pushing the human body and technology beyond known limits in the most extreme environments on Earth. It follows Al Arnold, a blind man running through the deadly deserts of Death Valley; Rachel Sussman, a photographer capturing photographs of the oldest living organisms; Paul Salopek, a journalist walking across the world in the footsteps of the earliest human migrations; and scientists building machines to look back nearly to the beginning of time. These individuals are linked by their search for the fabric of our interconnectedness before it is lost in the noise of our distracted and divided world.
Starring: Al Arnold, Rachel Sussman, Paul Salopek, and Anil Ananthaswamy
Genre: Documentary
Country: Poland | USA (Russian, Arabic, English, & Tuvinian)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 106 minutes
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Lourdes
Directed By: Thierry Demaizière & Alban Teurlai
Studio: Distrib Films
Lourdes: A stunningly beautiful mountainous village in the Southwest foothills of the Pyrenees went from a sleepy scenic town to a sacred wonder after 1858, when a 14-year-old peasant girl claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary in a remote grotto. Today, the town is second only to Paris in the number of annual visitors (6 million), part venerated shrine, part Disneyland (shops selling bottled holy water and Virgin Mary-related tchotchkes). Vast processions of people seeking a miracle fuel a small army of care-givers who accompany them. These pilgrims are a surprising cross-section of humanity: accident victims, the terminally ill, an overweight and bullied teenager, a contingent of aging Paris prostitutes, et alia. LOURDES is an insightful meditation on the human capacity for empathy and hope, and the mystery of religious faith in the face of profound tribulation.
Starring: —
Genre: Documentary | International
Country: France (French)
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 95 minutes
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