SEPTEMBER 22, 2023
<Click film’s poster to see info/trailer>
Expend4bles
Directed By: Scott Waugh
Studio: Lionsgate
A new generation of stars join the world’s top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in Expend4bles. Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.
Starring: Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy García
Genre: Action | Adventure | Thriller | War
Rating: R (for strong/bloody violence throughout, language and sexual material)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 103 minutes
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The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Directed By: Wes Anderson
Studio: Netflix
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: A rich man learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes. He sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling. Extremely faithfully adapted from Roald Dahl’s long short story.
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Rupert Friend, and Richard Ayoade.
Genre: Short | Adventure | Comedy | Drama
Rating: PG (for smoking)
Country: USA | UK (English)
Runtime: 37 minutes
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It Lives Inside
Directed By: Bishal Dutta
Studio: Neon
Sam, an Indian-American teen, lives in an idyllic suburb with her conservative mother and her assimilated father. Sam’s cultural insecurities grow due to her estranged friend, Tamira, who mysteriously carries around an empty mason jar all the time. In a moment of anger, Sam breaks Tamira’s jar and unleashes an ancient Indian demonic force that kidnaps Tamira. Sam searches for Tamira, following the trail of a young man who performed a deadly ritual, until the demonic entity starts targeting her, murdering her boyfriend and shattering her reality with terrifying visions. Sam must band together with her parents and a sympathetic teacher to save Tamira and put an end to the terror of the demon.
Starring: Megan Suri, Neeru Bajwa, Mohana Krishnan, Betty Gabriel, Vik Sahay, Gage Marsh, and Jamie Ives
Genre: Drama | Horror | Thriller
Rating: PG-13 (for terror, violent content, bloody images, brief strong language and teen drug use)
Country: USA (English & Hindi)
Runtime: 99 minutes
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Flora and Son
Directed By: John Carney
Studio: Apple TV+
Single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max (Orén Kinlan). Encouraged by the police to find Max a hobby, Flora tries to occupy him with a beat-up acoustic guitar. With the help of a washed-up LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max discover the transformative power of music. From the musical mind of John Carney, “Flora and Son” explores the bond between a mother and son on a journey toward a new harmony.
Starring: Eve Hewson, Jack Reynor, Orén Kinlan, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Genre: Drama | Music
Rating: R (for language throughout, sexual references and brief drug use)
Country: USA | Ireland (English)
Runtime: 97 minutes
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Reptile
Directed By: Grant Singer
Studio: Netflix
Following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, a hardened detective attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems, and by doing so dismantles the illusions in his own life.
Starring: Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone, Eric Bogosian, Ato Essandoh, Domenick Lombardozzi, and Michael Pitt
Genre: Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller
Rating: R (for language, violence and some nude images)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 134 minutes
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No One Will Save You
Directed By: Brian Duffield
Studio: Hulu
“No One Will Save You” introduces Brynn Adams (Kaitlyn Dever), a creative and talented young woman who’s been alienated from her community. Lonely but ever hopeful, Brynn finds solace within the walls of the home where she grew up–until she’s awakened one night by strange noises from decidedly unearthly intruders. What follows is an action-packed face-off between Brynn and a host of extraterrestrial beings who threaten her future while forcing her to deal with her past.
Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Elizabeth Kaluev, Zack Duhame, Lauren L. Murray, Geraldine Singer, and Dane Rhodes
Genre: Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Rating: PG-13 (for violent content and terror)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 93 minutes
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Spy Kids: Armageddon
Directed By: Robert Rodriguez
Studio: Netflix
When the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.
Starring: Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla, and Connor Esterson
Genre: Action | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi
Rating: PG (for sequences of action)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 108 minutes
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Nightsiren
Directed By: Tereza Nvotová
Studio: Breaking Glass Pictures
In a remote mountain village, two sisters grow up at the mercy of their abusive mother. A terrible accident happens when the eldest, Šarlota, escapes into the woods, followed by her sister Tamara. Otyla, a Roma woman living on the outskirts of town, is blamed for the girls’ disappearance and accused of witchcraft. Twenty years later, Šarlota unexpectedly shows up in the village. As she digs into her past, the locals grow suspicious. Only a young and eccentric herbalist, Mira, is willing to befriend her. When the animals in the village start to fall ill, the locals accuse Šarlota of conjuring Otyla’s spirit.
Starring: Natalia Germani, Eva Mores, Juliana Olhová, Iva Bittová, and Jana Olhová
Genre: Drama | Horror | International | Mystery
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Slovakia | Czech Republic (Slovak)
Runtime: 106 minutes
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The Origin Of Evil
Directed By: Sébastien Marnier
Studio: IFC Films
When Stéphane (Laure Calamy of Call My Agent!, Full Time) gets in touch with wealthy Serge (Jacques Weber), announcing that she is his long-abandoned daughter, his immediate family are none too thrilled. As Stéphane embarks on an extended visit in hopes of getting to know Serge, she also becomes entangled with the hostile women who share a tense existence in his beautifully appointed mansion by the sea: the restaurateur’s wife (Dominique Blanc), his other daughter (Doria Tillier), a rebellious granddaughter (Céleste Brunnquell), and a strangely off-putting housemaid, all of whom are clearly unsettled by the arrival of Serge’s newly announced heir. But Stéphane is a confident liar with secrets of her own, which writer-director Sébastien Marnier teases out with cool assurance in this wildly entertaining thriller that will keep you guessing all the way to the end.
Starring: Laure Calamy, Jacques Weber, Dominique Blanc, Suzanne Clément, Doria Tillier, Naidra Ayadi, Clotilde Mollet, Céleste Brunnquell and Véronique Ruggia
Genre: Drama | International | Thriller
Rating: R (for some sexual content, nudity, language, & violence)
Country: France | Canada (French)
Runtime: 125 minutes
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Neither Confirm Nor Deny
Directed By: Philip Carter
Studio: Greenwich Entertainment
During the Cold War, the CIA secretly raised a sunken Soviet nuclear submarine from the depths of the Pacific Ocean. The six-year operation included an intricate cover story by billionaire Howard Hughes. Drawing on declassified documents and never-before-seen interviews, NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY tells one of the highest-stakes, yet least known stories of the Cold War.
Starring: Howard Hughes and Richard Nixon
Genre: Documentary | Drama | International | Thriller
Rating: Not Rated
Country: UK (English)
Runtime: 93 minutes
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Barber
Directed By: Fintan Connolly
Studio: Brainstorm Media
Val Barber, a private investigator, is hired by a wealthy widow to find her missing granddaughter Sara. As initial investigations into her disappearance begin to darken, secrets surface in unexpected ways. Before too long, Barber finds himself entangled with powerful men of shady morals determined to thwart his investigations. Has he bitten off more than he can chew?
Starring: Aidan Gillen, Aisling Kearns, Gary Lydon, Helen Behan, Deirdre Donnelly, and Liam Carney
Genre: Crime | Drama | International | Mystery
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Ireland (English)
Runtime: 90 minutes
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My Sailor, My Love
Directed By: Klaus Härö
Studio: Music Box Films
Howard (James Cosmo), a retired sailor and widower, lives in a house by the sea. His adult daughter Grace (Catherine Walker) hires a caretaker for her father, a lady in her mature years, Annie (Bríd Brennan). Recluse and stubborn, Howard rejects Annie’s company, but eventually opens his heart and gives his final love a chance. Grace has her own crisis to unravel and finds her father’s romance difficult. Her father’s new love reminds her of the affection she missed, as a child and now again as an adult. Annie must face the complex father-daughter relationship, while Howard and Grace must realize their own imperfections.
Starring: James Cosmo, Brid Brennan, Catherine Walker, Nora-Jane Noone, and Aidan O’Hare
Genre: Drama | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Finland | Ireland | Belgium (English)
Runtime: 103 minutes
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Dark Asset
Directed By: Michael Winnick
Studio: Saban Films
In this adrenaline-fueled action film, an ordinary soldier becomes the subject of a top-secret experimental program. Under the guise of enhancing his combat abilities, the program transforms him into a lethal living weapon. As the John Doe delves deeper into the project, he uncovers the horrifying truth behind the program’s objectives and the dark intentions of his creator. Fueled by a thirst for justice and driven by a desire for vengeance, the soldier breaks free from his captors and embarks on a relentless mission to dismantle the program while navigating a dangerous web of betrayal, conspiracy, and high-stakes action.
Starring: Byron Mann, Robert Patrick, Helena Mattsson, Shani Rigsbee, and Sabina Gadecki
Genre: Action | Thriller
Rating: R (for violence)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 90 minutes
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Kidnap for Romance
Directed By: Victor Villanueva
Studio: Viva Films
To pay for her mother’s medical bills, Ena abducts Fred Tan, the grandson of one of the richest men in the Philippines, to hold him for ransom. Elena takes Fred to a villa owned by his family and Fred’s grandfather, Henry, sees them in an improper position during an escape attempt. Henry plans a wedding for them as soon as possible, forcing Elena and Fred to pretend that their relationship is something more than a botched kidnapping.
Starring: Cristine Reyes, Empoy Marquez, Nikko Natividad, Debbie Garcia, TJ Valderrama, and Boboy Garrovillo
Genre: Drama | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Philippines (Tagalog & Filipino)
Runtime: 117 minutes
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The Storms of Jeremy Thomas
Directed By: Mark Cousins
Studio: Cohen Media Group
In “American Outlaws,” audiences are invited to delve into the lives of the Dougherty siblings–Ryan, Lee-Grace, and Dylan–as they embark on a cross-country journey in search of home, safety, happiness, and freedom. The film paints a powerful picture of their struggle to break free from the suffocating circumstances and past mistakes that have defined their lives.
Starring: Jeremy Thomas, Debra Winger, Tilda Swinton, Mark Cousins, and Rebecca O’Brien
Genre: Documentary | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: UK (English)
Runtime: 94 minutes
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Relax, I’m From The Future
Directed By: Luke Higginson
Studio: Blue Fox Entertainment
Relax, I’m From the Future is the feature debut of writer/director Luke Higginson, and is based on his TIFF-featured 2013 short film of the same name. Self-described as a “dirtbag time travel comedy”, Relax stars the comedic absurdist genius, Rhys Darby. Darby leads as the stuck-in-the-past protagonist but in this case, his “past” is present-day Toronto.
Starring: Rhys Darby, Gabrielle Graham, Julian Richings, Janine Theriault, Zachary Bennett, and Louisa Zhu
Genre: Comedy | International | Sci-Fi
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Canada (English)
Runtime: 94 minutes
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Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms
Directed By: Wuershan
Studio: Well Go USA Entertainment
After conspiring with a conniving fox demon to kill the emperor and seize power, King Zhou reigns as a tyrant so brutal that he incurs the wrath of Heaven. In a final attempt to save the mortal world from desperate peril, the gods decide to intervene and invest in an unlikely champion brave enough to challenge the evil king–even if it may cost him everything.
Starring: Huang Bo, Kris Phillips, Li Xuejian, Yu Xia, Kun Chen, Quan Yuan, and Le Yang
Genre: Drama | Fantasy | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: China (Mandarin)
Runtime: 148 minutes
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Vicenta
Directed By: Darío Doria
Studio: OVID
Vicenta lives with Laura, her 19-year-old daughter, who suffers from a developmental delay. Laura is pregnant, the product of rape by a family member. She is legally allowed to have an abortion, but the system will put all kinds of obstacles to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Starring: Liliana Herrero
Genre: Documentary | Drama | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Argentina (Spanish)
Runtime: 69 minutes
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Beneath Us All
Directed By: Harley Wallen
Studio: Deskpop Entertainment
A soon-to-be 18-year-old foster child stumbles on a Yggdrasil pendant and unintentionally releases an evil presence disguised as an injured man. As the presence continues to gain power, it becomes a race to save her family.
Starring: Sean Whalen, Maria Olsen, Kaiti Wallen, Yan Birch, and Jeffrey C. Berry
Genre: Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 91 minutes
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Designer $hit
Directed By: Saffron Cassaday
Studio: The Best Part
Saffron Cassaday is at her wit’s end after suffering from ulcerative colitis for nearly a decade. She decides to try a promising new treatment known as Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) — the act of taking stool from a healthy donor and implanting it into the gut of a sick patient. From convincing her partner to be her donor (Who says chivalry is dead?), to turning their apartment into a makeshift production facility for what some are calling “brown gold,” Saffron spares no details in her quest to uncover what some experts believe could be the biggest medical breakthrough of the 21st century.
Starring: Al Mukadam and Saffron Cassaday
Genre: Documentary | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Canada (English)
Runtime: 69 minutes
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The Black Book
Directed By: Editi Effiong
Studio: Netflix
After his son is framed for a kidnapping, a bereaved deacon takes justice into his own hands and fights a corrupt police gang to absolve him.
Starring: Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ade Laoye, Sam Dede, and Alex Usifo Omiagbo
Genre: International | Thriller
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Nigeria (English)
Runtime: 124 minutes
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LA Undercover
Directed By: Omar Cook & Adonis Armstrong
Studio: Buffalo 8
Corey Shaw is a rookie cop in the LAPD with his intentions set on bettering his community. After his girlfriend, Sierra, reveals her pregnancy, Corey gets offered the job of a lifetime, but it comes with a price. As crime ramps up in LA, Corey must go undercover to take down a cold-blooded crime-lord, Kevin “Keys” Lyles. Corey is tested by the criminal organization to see if he is who he says he is, and encounters some new acquaintances within the crew, Ty and Strap, who won’t make it easy to get down with them. Ty and Strap take Corey on missions to prove his loyalty to the organization and Corey must decide how far he is willing to go to get his job done. With everything on the line, Corey battles between maintaining his relationship, doing his job, and staying true to his identity.
Starring: Sydney Martin, Omar Cook, Dustin Harnish, Gentel Sharrie, Shala White, and Nafessa Johnson
Genre: Crime | Drama
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 60 minutes
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Shaky Shivers
Directed By: Sung Kang
Studio: Fathom Events
After finding herself bitten by a mysterious animal, Lucy becomes convinced that she will transform into a fearsome werewolf. Joined by her best friend Karen, the two embark on a wild adventure filled with magic and mayhem, as they look to do battle with a throat-slashing creature ripped right out of an 80s horror movie.
Starring: Brooke Markham, VyVy Nguyen, Jimmy Bellinger, Erin Daniels, Skyler Day, and Herschel Sparber
Genre: Comedy | Horror
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 82 minutes
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Speed Is Expensive: Philip Vincent and the Million Dollar Motorcycle
Directed By: David Lancaster
Studio: Virgil Films
When the hammer came down on a Vincent Black Lightning motorbike at a Bonhams auction in 2018, an Australian collector paid $1.2 million to own the machine — making it the most expensive motorcycle ever sold.
Starring: Jay Leno, Ewan McGregor, Paul Simonon, John Surtees, and Tim Woodward
Genre: History | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: UK (English)
Runtime: 80 minutes
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I Can
Directed By: Tyler Sansom
Studio: Kappa Distribution
Based on a true story, a couple’s adulterous affair leads to an unexpected pregnancy. They leave their spouses to begin a new life together, but their daughter, Katelyn, is born with a birth defect. While her dad believes Katelyn’s condition is God’s punishment for the affair, Katelyn, with only one fully developed arm, defies all odds with an incredible gift for softball. “I Can” is a story about Katelyn overcoming adversity, and her dad eventually finding genuine forgiveness.
Starring: Daniel Roebuck, Vernon Wells, John Wells, Cameron Arnett, and Danner Brown
Genre: Drama | Family | Sport
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 85 minutes
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Condition of Return
Directed By: Tommy Stovall
Studio: Stonecutter Media
Eve Sullivan is arrested for committing a heinous crime. Shackled in a police station breakroom, she is questioned by psychoanalyst Dr. Donald Thomas, who is tasked with determining her fitness to stand trial. In a contentious interview, Dr. Thomas persuades Eve to recount her troubling past as she slowly turns the tables, coaxing him into revealing secrets of his own and showing him they may be more alike than he thinks.
Starring: AnnaLynne McCord, Dean Cain, Natasha Henstridge, James Russo, Ryan Bates, and Cami Storm
Genre: Crime | Mystery | Thriller
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 93 minutes
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Everybody Dies By The End
Directed By: Ian Tripp & Ryan Schafer
Studio: Terror Films
A documentary crew follows cult classic horror director Alfred Costella as he makes his final film, an all-practical masterpiece with a dark twist.
Starring: Vinny Curran, Bill Oberst Jr., Brendan Cahalan, Iliyana Apostolova, Ian Tripp, Joshua Wyble, Ryan Schafer, Caroline Amiguet, Paul Fisher III, and Alan Vazquez
Genre: Comedy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 90 minutes
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What Doesn’t Float
Directed By: Luca Balser
Studio: Circle Collective
An anthology of New Yorkers at their wit’s end.
Starring: KMirlande Amazan, Alana Raquel Bowers, Pauline Chalamet, Rachel Cockrill, Cindy De La Cruz, Declan Eells, Larry Fessenden, and Garrett Forster
Genre: Comedy | Drama
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 69 minutes
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26.2 to Life
Directed By: Christine Yoo
Studio: HOKA
The San Quentin Prison Marathon has an unconventional route: 105 dizzying laps around a crowded prison yard. 26.2 TO LIFE is a new documentary that tells the story of incarcerated men who are members of the 1000 Mile Club, the prison’s long distance running club. They train all year for this 26.2 mile race. For the men who take their places at the starting line on a cool, sunny November morning, completing the marathon means more than entrée into an elite group of athletes. It’s a chance to be defined by more than their crimes. Cheering them on are a small staff of volunteer coaches, veteran marathoners who train with the runners throughout the year. The bonds they forge on the track create a community that transcends prison politics and extends beyond the prison walls as members are released. 26.2 TO LIFE is a story of transformation and second chances. The film offers a rare glimpse into a world out of bounds, as the men navigating life sentences seek redemption and freedom… or something like it.
Starring: Markelle Taylor, Tommy Lee Wickerd, Rahsaan ‘New York’ Thomas, Franklin Ruona, and Tone Evans
Genre: Documentary
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 90 minutes
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Man on the Run
Directed By: Cassius Michael Kim
Studio: Evergreen Media
MAN ON THE RUN exposes a shocking true story of corruption and betrayal that shook an entire nation’s financial stability. It follows Jho Low, a mysterious businessman, and playboy, as he masterminds a scheme to exploit a sovereign wealth fund in Malaysia, 1MDB. With the collaboration of Prime Minister Najib Razak, Low funnels billions into global bank accounts to fuel his extravagant lifestyle, including Hollywood parties and even financing “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Director Cassius Michael Kim’s meticulous investigation unravels a web of greed and corruption, revealing the profound impact of this colossal financial scandal.
Starring: Jho Low
Genre: Documentary
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 98 minutes
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The Sixth Reel
Directed By: Carl Andress & Charles Busch
Studio: Wolfe Releasing
When the death of a close friend unearths the long-thought lost final reel of a classic undiscovered film, Jimmy (Charles Busch) a down-on-his-luck movie collector and his social circle of obsessive collectors each concoct wild, underhanded schemes to cash in on a big sale of the film.
Starring: Charles Busch, Julie Halston, Doug Plaut, Tim Daly, and Margaret Cho
Genre: Comedy
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 94 minutes
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