Gangster Squad

RIP: Elizabeth Peña 1959 - 2014

Jack the Giant Slayer

The Double

Force Majeure

Swedish writer and director Ruben Östlund delivers a knockout with this terrific drama. A Swedish family on vacation in the French Alps witness a controlled avalanche where a moment of danger triggers an instinctual reaction reveals troubling insight in the family's dynamic. Östlund delivers an utterly original film that goes beyond the story exploring male and female psychology in a profound way with plenty of humor. Johannes Kuhnke and Lisa Loven Kongsli deliver terrific performances in the leads along a fine supporting cast. 1001 Films' coverage of the 37th Mill Valley Film Festival.

Gone Girl

Director David Fincher returns with another solid thriller which fits his style perfectly but doesn't explore any new ground. The aftermath of a woman's disappearance when the husband becomes the prime suspect where nothing is as it seems. Writer Gillian Flynn adapts her own novel which is a perfect match for Fincher's clinical approach of filmmaking. The film falls between "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "The Game" where Fincher's paints a scathing view on marriage and the media's obsession of crime. While the film is solid on every level, the expectations are high when it comes to Fincher as a director. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike deliver strong performances along with a great supporting cast that includes Kim Dickens, Tyler Perry and Patrick Fugit amongst others. 1001 Films' coverage of current releases.

Hide and Seek

In Order of Disappearance

Horses of God

French-Moroccan writer and director Nabil Ayouch delivered another solid film with this drama. Two brothers are caught up in a web of poverty and violence while growing up in a slum until one of them goes to jail and returns radicalized in fundamentalist Islam. Inspired by actual events, Ayouch use it to show how poverty paves the way for violence in all its forms. Ayouch again uses non-professional actors and actual location to give the film authenticity which serves the story and film greatly. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

Talaash

Indian writer and director Reema Kagti delivered a terrific drama with her second feature.  A cop haunted by personal tragedy takes on a mysterious case involving the death of a movie star and a prostitute. Kagti and co-writer Zoya Akhtar have a created an effective thriller which holds up well with a terrific cast and vibrant locations. Bollywood superstars Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji shine in the leads with solid performances. The solid supporting cast also includes Nawazuddin Siddiqui while composer Ram Sampath provides the right score and songs to enhance the film. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD.

The Imitation Game

Norwegian director Morten Tyldum makes his Hollywood debut with this astonishing drama about the legendary founder of the computer. The enigma of Alan Turing is revealed to a dazzling effect in this superb thriller as he assigned to crack the Enigma code that helped the allies a victory. Based on the book by Andrew Hodges, Tyldum and writer Graham Moore finally give Turing, the hero treatment he deserved considering the shameful way he was driven to suicide. Benedict Cumberbatch stars in a career defining performance that's flawless. The equally stellar supporting cast includes Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong, Charles Dance, Allen Leech and Rory Kinnear. 1001 Films' coverage of the 37th Mill Valley Film Festival.

The Theory of Everything

British director James Marsh's fourth narrative feature is also his best work besides his outstanding documentary "Man on Wire." A brief history of Stephen Hawking's life from his years at Cambridge University where he falls in love when a vicious disease breaks his body but not his brilliant mind through his years becoming a renowned physicist defying expectations with the help of his wife, family and friends. Based on the book by Jane Hawking, Marsh and writer Anthony McCarten bring the inspiring story of the Hawkings vividly on screen with a stellar cast and crew. Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones star with terrific performances as the couple whose love overcomes incredible obstacles. The stellar supporting cast includes David Thewlis, Charlie Cox amongst others. 1001 Films' coverage of the 37th Mill Valley Film Festival.

Men, Women & Children

Writer and director Jason Reitman's sixth feature is another solid drama which seems rather dated than current. A group of teenagers and their parents navigate their personal tribulations which is complicated through modern technology such as internet and mobile devices. Based on the novel by Chad Kultgen, Reitman and co-writer Erin Cressida Wilson tap into the complication of relationships through technology which has always existed whether it's marital problems, generational conflict or the perils of adolescence. The narrow focus is mostly on sex and self-image which asserts what white Americans are most concerned with. The talented ensemble includes Jennifer Garner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Judy Greer, Ansel Elgort and Adam Sandler. 1001 Films' coverage of the 37th Mill Valley Film Festival.

Only Lovers Left Alive

Writer and director Jim Jarmusch delivers his cool take on the vampire genre with this romantic drama. Two vampire lovers reconnect when one of them suffers from existential crisis which further complicated with the arrival of unexpected visitor. Jarmusch tweaks the vampire genre to his sensibilities which has some dazzling moments of ultra cool but also some dull ones. The always amazing Tilda Swinton enhances the film to a great extent along a fine supporting cast that includes Tom Hiddleston, Anton Yelchin, Mia Wasikowska and John Hurt. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

Dark Skies

Writer and director Scott Stewart delivers with his third feature which perfectly blends two popular genres. A family is terrorized by unexplainable events which leads them to discover its disturbing source. Stewart uses the haunted house formula and gives it an alien twist which makes for an effective horror thriller that stands above the majority of its kind. Keri Russell stars along with Josh Hamilton and J.K. Simmons in the supporting roles. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

The Book Thief

British director Brian Percival delivered a messy drama with this adaptation of the novel by Markus Zusak. During the second World War in Germany, a young orphan girl and her adopted parents shelter a young man which proves dangerous for all involved. Whether it's the source material or the adaptation by Michael Petroni, the story has several major problems which questions its credibility. Percival fails to get the tone right as well in genre that has been explored extensively in the cinematic medium with plenty of superior films that cover similar issues. The talented cast that includes Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson can't overcome the inherent problems of the script. 1001 Films' coverage of films on DVD. 

RIP: George Sluizer 1932 - 2014

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