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Release Date: January 1, 1985
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A petite New Jersey housewife finds self-fulfillment through amnesia in this new wave comedy of errors set in New York's hip '80s downtown scene. Rosanna Arquette stars as Roberta, who turns to the personals for vicarious thrills after her four-year marriage to staid hot tub salesman Gary (Mark Blum) grows stale. Her favorite classified ads trace the romance of Jim (Robert Joy), a struggling musician, and Susan (Madonna), a SoHo vamp who's just narrowly escaped being murdered alongside one of her other boyfriends -- a gangster who recently stole some Egyptian jewelry. Through a series of complicated missteps, Roberta ends up losing her memory and convincing both herself and a broodingly handsome young man named Dez (Aiden Quinn) that she's the elusive, adventurous Susan. Soon, Roberta finds herself being romanced by Dez and pursued separately by her husband, Jim, Susan, and by a murderous mobster who's looking for the stolen jewels. For her second feature outing, which was partially inspired by Jacques Rivette's Celine and Julie Go Boating, director Susan Seidelman filled her cast with hipster extras, downtown personalities, and New York thespians. Notable faces include comedian Steven Wright; future indie mainstay John Turturro; future TV stars Michael Badalucco and Laurie Metcalf; punk singer Richard Hell, who also starred in Seidelman's Smithereens; and performance artist Ann Magnunson, who would star in the director's Making Mr. Right. The big dance-club sequence was filmed at Danceteria, the disco that helped launch Madonna's career. The scene, and the film, helped propel Into the Groove, one of the singer's all-time club classics, into the charts even though it was actually a b-side to the single Angel. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Starring:
Madonna
Directed by:
Susan Seidelmun
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
Runtime: 104 min
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Up in the Air
From director Jason Reitman, who has brought us both Juno and Thank You For Not Smoking, an outstanding third outing with a cast that features three actors all Oscar-nominated for their roles here. George Clooney plays a “downsizing expert,” a man who has no real roots as he constantly flys all around the country firing people from their jobs. He meets his match in Vera Famiga, also a downsizing expert. Hot on their heels is the up & coming young Anna Kendrick, who wants to do the same job via video conferencing rather than racking up all of the frequent flier miles. The movie manages to capture perfectly our current economic crisis – a film for our time.
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March 9th, 2010
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Saphire
Two major Academy Awards nominations for the lead actresses here. The film takes an unsparing look at the life of a Harlem teenager, circa 1987, played by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. She’s illiterate, overweight, and pregnant for the second time by her own father. This is tough stuff. Her monster of a mother is played by Mo'Nique in an electrifying, Oscar-winning performance. Also included in the film is Mariah Carey as a social worker and Lenny Kravitz as a male nurse. An interesting variety in the cast and we see the same eclectic variety in the way the story is told. Director Lee Daniels has made a strong film that is at times dramatic, humorous, and warm – a film of many emotions. Nonetheless, a film that, as Oprah Winfrey has said, people might not “enjoy” but would “appreciate this experience.” An Oscar also went to Geoffrey Fletcher for his adapted screenplay.
Old Dogs
John Travolta and Robin Williams star in this tired comedy about two business partners whose lives are turned upside down when one of them discovers they have two 7-year-old twin kids they didn’t know about. Seth Green co-stars in this unfunny comedy.
Planet 51
Light animated fare that is very much in the classic, 1950s Hollywood movie tradition where an alien ship lands on the home planet. However, in this case, the home planet is inhabited by little green men and a human is the invading alien! Dwayne Johnson, Justin Long, and Jessica Biel are among the voice talents.
Capitalism: A Love Affair
Light animated fare that is very much in the classic, 1950s Hollywood movie tradition where an alien ship lands on the home planet. However, in this case, the home planet is inhabited by little green men and a human is the invading alien! Dwayne Johnson, Justin Long, and Jessica Biel are among the voice talents.
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