A movie dedicated to the “fallen heroes” of Afghanistan and Iraq, praising patriotism and religion, but also showing those left behind who struggle to survive in affluent America.
Director: Lexi Alexander
Writer: Lexi Alexander
Cast: Nicki Aycox, Uriah Shelton, Dash Mihok
Music by Kurt Farquhar
Cinematography by David Brower
Film Editing by Gregory Nussbaum
Great acting, but the way the lead actress is kept at a distance prevents a better empathy
Cast: Maggie Siff, John Ortiz, Cara Seymour
Director: Elisabeth Subrin
Writer: Elisabeth Subrin
Cinematographer: Chris Dapkins
Editor: Jennifer Ruff
This movie shows that both science and religion are motivated by faith. Ultimately, however, religion becomes a political power, science not. It also shows that all power feeds itself on minorities!
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom, Rupert Evans, Michael Lonsdale
Directed by Alejandro Amenabar
Written by Amenabar, Mateo Gil
Music by Dario Marianelli
Cinematography by Xavi Giménez
Film Editing by Nacho Ruiz Capillas
In what is supposed to be the paradise of children and one of the symbols of the American dream, a single mother struggles to make end come for her and her young daughter (6). To survive, both mother and daughter manipulate people around them. Left behind by the economic bonanza, they fight for the right to have their place in the sun.
Cast: Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe, Bria Vinaite, Christopher Rivera, Valeria Cotto, Caleb Landry Jones, Macon Blair
Director: Sean Baker
Writer: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch
Cinematographer: Alexis Zabe
Editor: Sean Baker
Excellent cast, great humor, very sensitive direction
Cast: Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon, Naomi Watts, Tate Donovan, Maria Dizzia, Sam Trammell, Linda Emond, Jordan Carlos
Director: Gaby Dellal
Writer: Nikole Beckwith, Gaby Dellal
Cinematographer: David Johnson
Editor: Joe Landauer, Jeff Betancourt
Composer: West Dylan Thordson
Sex and relationships in the eyes of a teenage girl and a woman in her late 40’s.
A movie staging 3 women in a finely-tuned coming-of-age and out-of-the-closet story, with balanced personages, multi-faceted sexual identities, and an healthy racial distribution.
“You may look at Miranda, and think immediately, ‘Oh, okay, I know who that woman is’. You would be wrong. The same for Cyd. ‘Oh, okay. Bored teenager sunbathing in a bikini. I know who that is’. Again, you would be wrong.” writes Sheila O’Malley.
Cast: Rebecca Spence, Jessie Pinnick, Malic White, James Vincent Meredith, Tyler Ross, Matthew Quattrocki
Director: Stephen Cone
Writer: Stephen Cone
Editor: Christopher Gotschall
Director of Photography: Zoe White
Original Music Composer: Heather McIntosh
An exceptional success at mixing comedy and drama / Rich representations of minorities, excellent dialogues
Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish, Caleb Landry Jones, Kathryn Newton, Clarke Peters
Director: Martin McDonagh
Writer: Martin McDonagh
Cinematographer: Ben Davis
Editor: Jon Gregory
Composer: Carter Burwell
Writing in pair: man + woman directing
Good music, excellent acting, great tension build-up on a somewhat weak scenario
Cast: Sophie Reid, Allison Tolman, JoBeth Williams, Luis Bordonada, Tanner Beard
Director: Jason Cortlund, Julia Halperin
Writer: Jason Cortlund
Cinematographer: Jonathan Nastasi
Composer: Chris Brokaw
Working in pair: man + woman directing
Great female lead, good humor, surprising editing
Cast: Lydia Wilson, Johnny Flynn, Ellie Kendrick
Directors: Emily Harris, Ate de Jong
Writer: Ate de Jong
Cinematography by Zoran Veljkovic
Film Editing by Brent Backhus, Antonio Rui Ribeiro
Working in pair: man + woman directing
Social drama set in Brazil showing how football and religion as a source of hope ultimately prevent the poor from escaping their condition
Cast: Sandra Corveloni, João Baldasserini, Vinícius de Oliveira
Directors: Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas
Writers: George Moura, Daniela Thomas
Music by Gustavo Santaolalla
Cinematography by Mauro Pinheiro Jr.
Film Editing by Gustavo Giani, Lívia Serpa