Tortilla Flat on AllMovie Tortilla Flat (1942)

Like the John Steinbeck novel on which it is based, Tortilla Flat is not so much a movie as a series of warm-hearted anecdotes, all linked to a small California fishing village populated by poor but happy immigrants. The focus is upon Pilon (Spencer Tracy), a good-natured, charismatic freeloader, and Danny (John Garfield), a hot-headed fisherman who is dragged kicking and screaming into the world of personal responsibility when he inherits two small houses. As Pilon toys with the notion of stealing the nest egg saved up by an old man known as "the Pirate" (Frank Morgan), Danny tries to spark a romance with sexy cannery worker Dolores "Sweets" Ramirez (Hedy Lamarr). Abandoning the robbery plans when he learns that the Pirate intends to use his money to purchase a candlestick for St. Francis, Pilon turns his attentions to stealing Sweets away from Danny. But when Danny is injured in a drunken fight, the mercurial Pilon switches gears again, devoting his energies to bringing Danny and Sweets back together. Of the film's many highlights, standouts include the surprisingly effective "straight" performance by comic actor Frank Morgan (for which he received an Oscar nomination), and the seemingly improvised songfest between Spencer Tracy and John Garfield.

Delicacy on AllMovie Delicacy (2011)

The beautiful Nathalie (Audrey Tautou) throws herself into her work after her husband of just three years unexpectedly passes away. One day, she fixates on Markus (Francois Damiens), an unremarkable underling of hers at the office. The two begin a relationship that everyone who knows Nathalie firmly believes will not last, but it's not other people's perceptions as much as their own self-doubt that threatens to split apart this seemingly odd pairing.

Shut Up and Play the Hits on AllMovie Shut Up and Play the Hits (2011)

Filmmakers Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace document Grammy-nominated dance-music outfit LCD Soundsystem's 2011 farewell concert at Madison Square Garden as front-man James Murphy and author Chuck Klosterman reflect on the topics of fame and success.

Where Do We Go Now? on AllMovie Where Do We Go Now? (2011)

Women try to persuade their men to put a stop to war in this fusion of comedy and drama from director, screenwriter, and actress Nadine Labaki. Amale (Labaki) runs a café in a small Lebanese village where the local women, both Christian and Muslim, get together to talk, swap ideas, and share grief as the number who've lost sons or husbands in frequent skirmishes continues to grow. The fighting between religious and political factions has been going on for years, and one day Amale and her friends Afaf (Layla Hakim), Saydeh (Antoinette Noufaily), Takla (Claude Baz Moussawbaa), and Yvonne (Yvonne Maalouf) decide it's time to stop talking about the fighting and do something to bring it to a halt. The local women join forces to distract their men, convinced if they put their minds on other things they won't worry so much about killing. Their efforts range from serving hashish-laced baked goods at a community get-together to hiring Ukrainian dancers to show off their charms to the menfolk. After a young man is killed in a gun battle, the women realize they need to take a stronger stand if they intend to make their home safe again; meanwhile, Christian Amale unwittingly strikes a blow for religious unity when she falls for handsome Muslim Rabih (Julien Farhat). Et Maintenant On Va Ou? (aka Where Do We Go Now?) won the People's Choice Award at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry on AllMovie Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2011)

Filmmaker Alison Klayman presents an intimate portrait of outspoken Chinese artist/political activist Ai Weiwei, who was taken into police custody after criticizing the Chinese government over the deaths of 5000 students during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and who defied his country's censorship laws to help organize and inform his fellow citizens.

Being Flynn on AllMovie Being Flynn (2012)

Robert De Niro and Paul Dano headline writer/director Paul Weitz's adaptation of Nick Flynn's memoir Another Bullshit Night in Suck City. The story concerns a struggling writer named Nick (Dano), who is working at an inner-city homeless shelter when his estranged father Jonathan (De Niro) shows up looking for a place to rest his head. Dale Dickey, Lili Taylor, Olivia Thirlby, and Julianne Moore co-star in a film produced by Depth of Field in association with Tribeca Productions and Corduroy Films.

We Have a Pope on AllMovie We Have a Pope (2011)

A man about to be elevated into a position of great responsibility and power has a serious case of cold feet in this comedy-drama from director and actor Nanni Moretti. The College of Cardinals has assembled at the Vatican with the important task of electing a new Pope to lead the Catholic Church. After much debate and a number of ballots that reach no consensus, an obscure but respected man, Cardinal Melville (Michel Piccoli), is chosen by the College to become the new pontiff. However, Melville is a humble man, and when he's told he's been elected to the highest office in the church, he flies into a panic and says he doesn't want to be Pope. Unfortunately, the cardinals have already announced that they've chosen a new Pontiff, so they bring in a psychiatrist (Nanni Moretti) to talk to Melville in hopes of determining if he's just suffering from a case of the jitters or if he has a more serious problem. After some initial interviews, the analyst wants a second opinion and asks his ex-wife (Margherita Buy), also a psychiatrist, to talk to Melville, but after spending some time at her home, the cardinal runs away and begins exploring Rome incognito, talking to ordinary people and pondering his unusual circumstances. Habemus Papam (aka We Have a Pope) received its North American premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Vicky Donor on AllMovie Vicky Donor (2012)

A virile Punjabi boy finds his past as a frequent sperm donor coming back to haunt him after falling in love with a girl who objects to his generous giving in this lighthearted Bollywood comedy. New Delhi fertility specialist Dr. Baldev Chaddha (Anu Kapoor) is in a bit of a bind; despite guaranteeing his clients healthy sperm, he can't seem to produce the results they're looking for. Upon encountering Vicky Arora (Ayushmann Khurrana), the handsome son of a poor widow from Lajpat Nagar, Dr. Chaddha finds the donor capable of making his clinic a true success. Eventually, Vicky agrees to provide the product that the troubled specialist so desperately seeks. But later, when Vicky falls for gorgeous Bengali bank employee Ashima Roy (Yami Gautam) he finds that not everyone is so accepting of his unique generosity. Despite initially being rejected by Ashima, however, the charming Vicky determines to do everything in his power to win her heart.

NOVA: The Mysterious Crash of Flight 201 on AllMovie NOVA: The Mysterious Crash of Flight 201 (1993)

Nova takes viewers directly to the disaster scene in Nova: The Mysterious Crash of Flight 201. Hours after the commercial airplane plummeted into the Panamanian jungle, cameras were brought in to record the wreckage. The resulting investigation spread over 12 months and came down to the malfunction of a wire. Nova delves deep into crash clues along with researchers to find a reason for such a mishap. Along the way, the process is disassembled and analyzed to insure this never happens again.

What We Do in the Shadows on AllMovie What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Flight of the Conchords duo Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi reteam for this comical mock-documentary centering on four contemporary vampire roommates waging an immortal struggle to be cool. When they're not looking for their next meal or scheming to get into the hottest dance clubs, the bloodsucking foursome get their kicks by stirring up trouble with the local lycanthropes, or bickering to determine who's fallen behind on their housework. Rhys Darby, Jonathan Brugh, Stu Rutherford and Jackie van Beek co-star.

Thunderstruck on AllMovie Thunderstruck (2012)

A teenage basketball fan inadvertently steals his NBA idol's talent in this sports comedy for the entire family. Brian loves basketball. He can't make a free shot to save his life, but he dreams of the day when he'll learn to dunk like basketball superstar Kevin Durant. Then, one night at an NBA game, Brian is called down to the boards to make a half-court shot, and something magical happens. The moment Kevin hands Brian the ball, his dazzling skills are transferred to the bumbling young fan. Now Brian can play ball like pro, and Kevin can barely dribble. With the championship game fast approaching and Kevin's career on the line, young Brian must figure out a way to get his sports hero back in the action, even if it means giving up the ability to outplay everyone on the court.

Peace, Love & Misunderstanding on AllMovie Peace, Love & Misunderstanding (2011)

Director Bruce Beresford brings Jane Fonda back to the screen in this comedy-drama about a mother and daughter who have precious little in common. Diane (Catherine Keener) is a straight-laced Republican lawyer who lives in Manhattan with her teenage children Zoe (Elizabeth Olsen) and Jake (Nat Wolff). However, Diane's marriage to Mark (Kyle MacLachlan) has fallen apart, and after receiving the final divorce papers, she needs to get out of the city for a while. Diane and her kids head to upstate New York, where she's decided it's time they met her mother Grace (Jane Fonda). Unlike her daughter, Grace was and is a proud hippie, the unofficial leader of the town's countercultural community who supports herself by selling marijuana. Grace and Diane haven't spoken for nearly twenty years, and just as Grace hasn't changed a bit over the years, Diane hasn't found a way to forgive her for her failings as a parent. As mother and daughter get reacquainted, Zoe has her head turned by Cole (Chace Crawford), even though he's a butcher and she doesn't eat meat, and Jake falls for Tara (Marissa O'Donnell), who he meets at a coffee shop. And as Diane searches for common ground with Grace, she also finds time to be romanced by local musician Jude (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding received its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Blue Like Jazz on AllMovie Blue Like Jazz (2012)

A sheltered Texas young man from a strict Christian background gets a crash course in secular life after enrolling in Reed College and encountering people who question reality on a daily basis. Nineteen-year-old Don (Marshall Allman) was feeling suffocated by religion when he impulsively set his sights on the Pacific Northwest. Subsequently thrust into a world where faith takes a back seat to creativity and impulsiveness, Don struggles tirelessly to fit in while realizing that the only way to truly be sure in his beliefs is to test each and every one of them.

Heroine of Hell on AllMovie Heroine of Hell (1996)

Catherine Keener stars in this made-for-TV drama as Magda, an artist who has strong ideas about the notion of retribution and personal justice against those who have hurt other people emotionally. After Magda is unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend for another woman, she takes off in his car and heads North, going nowhere in particular. After seeing a man die in a fiery car accident, Magda begins using images of the fiery pits of Hades in her paintings, as she struggles to find answers to her emotional turmoil in art. However, the longer Magda is obsessed with seeing her ex suffer as she has, the more she feels the need to express herself in more than just paint and canvas. Heroine of Hell also features Dermot Mulroney, Wendy Phillips, and Karen Gordon.

Not Fade Away on AllMovie Not Fade Away (2012)

Sopranos mastermind David Chase's autobiopgraphically-tinged drama Not Fade Away stars John Magaro as Douglas, a music-obsessed New Jersey high-school senior who quickly abandons his thoughts of joining the military when he hears the British Invasion, especially the raw blues swagger of the young Rolling Stones. He begins drumming in local bands with his buddies and, over the course of summer and winter breaks home from college, fights with his gruff dad (James Gandolfini), tries to win the heart of a girl he's been crushing on since forever, and keeps his dreams of being a rock star alive. As the sixties unfold, Douglas' band finally catches the break they've been looking for, but internal fighting threatens to sink the group.

2 Days in New York on AllMovie 2 Days in New York (2011)

Writer/director Julie Delpy follows-up her 2007 comedy 2 Days in Paris with this tale of a happy couple who find their comfortable relationship put to the test during a tumultuous family visit. Marion (Delpy) and Mingus (Chris Rock) both come from failed relationships. But by bringing their children together, they've managed to form a small yet happy family. Tensions in their household soon begin to spike, however, when Marion's jovial father (Albert Delpy -- the director's real-life father) shows up on their doorstep with his randy daughter and her peculiar boyfriend in tow. Later, as the motor-mouthed houseguests shatter every taboo imaginable, the happy couple begin to question their commitment.

Holy Motors on AllMovie Holy Motors (2012)

This freewheeling surrealist outing from France attempts to dispense almost completely with conventional narrative structure; instead, it offers a series of absurdist sketches with scarcely any discernible connection between them. The film opens on a character played by director Leos Carax known only as "Le Dormeur." After waking up one morning, he somehow locates and opens a secret door in his apartment, and wanders into a packed movie house where an audience watches King Vidor's classic The Crowd and a giant dog wanders up and down the aisles. Meanwhile, Oscar (Denis Lavant) rides to work in a white limousine driven by his close friend and associate Céline (Edith Scob); Oscar's job, it seems, involves using makeup, elaborate costumes, and props to carry out a number of complex and unusual scenarios. Of these, one has the actor performing an action sequence and simulated sex with an actress on a soundstage while he's filmed by an off-camera director. The second sequence puts him in a sewer with Monsieur Merde, a character who first appeared in Carax's segment in the omnibus picture Tokyo!; here, Merde falls in love with a beautiful model (Eva Mendes) who accompanies him on a jaunt through a cemetery. Subsequent episodes cast Oscar in a deathbed melodrama, a gangster film, a musical alongside pop star Kylie Minogue, and much more. At one point in the picture, Carax implies that Oscar may be acting these scenes out for hidden cameras, which are webcasting the episodes for Internet surfers. An intriguing footnote: Movie buffs may experience some déjà vu while watching Scob in this film, as she's deliberately used to invoke her characterization from Georges Franju's 1960 horror classic Eyes without a Face, and at one point, even wears a facial mask similar to the one she donned in that picture. Holy Motors marked Carax's first feature since the 1999 Pola X.

The Polar Express on AllMovie The Polar Express (2004)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on children's author Chris Van Allsburg's modern holiday classic of the same name, The Polar Express revolves around Billy (Hayden McFarland), who longs to believe in Santa Claus but finds it quite difficult to do so, what with his family's dogged insistence that all of it, from the North Pole, to the elves, to the man himself, is all just a myth. This all changes, however, on Christmas Eve, when a mysterious train visits Billy in the middle of the night, promising to take him and a group of other lucky children to the North Pole for a visit with Santa. The train's conductor (Tom Hanks) along with the other passengers help turn Billy's crisis in faith into a journey of self-discovery. A long-time fan of Van Allsburg's book, Hanks also helped produce the film.

The Last Five Years on AllMovie The Last Five Years (2014)

Richard LaGravenese directed and wrote the screenplay for this big-screen adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's off-Broadway musical The Last Five Years. Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan star as Cathy and Jamie, a young couple who clash as his career as a novelist begins to skyrocket, while she struggles to make a name for herself as an actress. This all-sung movie skips around in time, contrasting the couple's happier times with their saddest fights, and their hardest individual plights. The Last Five Years screened at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

The Thieves on AllMovie The Thieves (2012)

Two bands of thieves team up to steal a priceless diamond from a casino known for its cutting edge security, and find their meticulously planned heist going to pot due to a series of unexpected complications. Opportunistic thief Popie (Lee Jung-jae) and his gang have just pulled of a big job in South Korea when they decide to get out of the country until the heat blows over. Never one to rest on his laurels, Popie has another caper planned in Macao that rests on his willingness to reteam with the slippery Macao Park (Kim Yun-seok), a former associate who once betrayed him. With wire specialists Yenicall (Jeon Ji-hyun) and Zampano (Kim Soo-hyun), skillful swindler Chewingum (Kim Hae-sook), and expert lock picker Pepsee (Kim Hye-soo) by his side, Popie puts his differences with Macao aside in hopes of swiping the raer yellow diamond known as the "Tear of the Sun". Meanwhile, Macao's team includes the crass Andrew (Oh Dal-soo), suave veteran thief Chen (Simon Yam), focused point man Jonny (Derek Tsang), and Julie (Lee Sinje) - who never met a safe she couldn't crack. But when the day of the heist arrives, the professionals who left nothing to chance find their perfect plan snowballing into disaster, and a cool $20 million payday about to slip though their fingers.

Agent Vinod on AllMovie Agent Vinod (2012)

An Indian secret agent races from Morocco to London on a mission to uncover a vast conspiracy following a series of events that threaten to destabilize the entire globe. A top spy has been killed while attempting to communicate with the government of India. Now, it's up to Agent Vinod (Saif Ali Khan) to uncover how a murdered KGB agent, an assassinated Indian agent, and an elusive suitcase nuke all have something common. With the help of an elderly mobster and a mysterious beauty, Agent Vinod sets out to solve the case, and pull the world back from the brink of destruction.

On the Road on AllMovie On the Road (2012)

Jack Kerouac's seminal pseudo-autobiography finally heads to the big screen thanks to director Walter Salles Jr. (The Motorcycle Diaries) and producer Francis Ford Coppola. The tale is semi-based on the author's trips across America, with fiction intertwining with reportedly real events and people met along the way. The starring cast includes Kristen Stewart, Sam Riley, and Kirsten Dunst. José Rivera provides the adaptation.

Cosmopolis on AllMovie Cosmopolis (2012)

Director David Cronenberg adapts author Don DeLillo's novel about a Manhattan billionaire (Robert Pattinson) who finds his quest to get a haircut from his father's old barber complicated by the presidential motorcade, a gang of violent anarchists, and a funeral procession for a famous hip-hop star. Meanwhile, the wealthy 28-year-old's vast fortune rests on the value of the yuan, which he continually monitors from the comfort of his stretch limo. Samantha Morton, Paul Giamatti, and Juliette Binoche co-star.

Sardari Begum on AllMovie Sardari Begum (1997)

Set in the walled North Indian city of Delhi, this lavish melodrama of a popular thumari singer's life and accidental death is based on a true story. Her tragic tale is framed by that of newspaper reporter Tehzeeb Abbasi, who has come near the singer's home to investigate a terrible riot between Hindus and Muslims during which singer Sardari Begum was fatally injured with a flying rock. Abassi is shocked to discover that Begum was her father's sister, and this compels her to change the focus of her story from the riot to that of the victim.

Rowdy Rathore on AllMovie Rowdy Rathore (2012)

A small-time con artist gets a chance to become a real hero after crashing a wedding, and meeting a little girl who may be his long-lost daughter. Clever grifter Shiva (Akshay Kumar) is living it up at a stranger's wedding when he falls for Priya (Sonakshi Sinha), a pretty guest who succumbs to his effortless charms. But it all goes wrong when six-year-old Neha shows up claiming to be the daughter Shiva never knew. At first crafty Shiva simply brushes her aside. But when a group of dangerous gangsters get Shiva locked in their sights, he realizes he'll have to fight back in order to save Priya and Neha. But it won't be easy, because in order to succeed Shiva will have to travel to the town of Bahir, where a corrupt MLA (Minister of Legislative Assembly) rules with an iron fist. Now if Shiva can just topple the crooked official and save the town, he may finally redeem himself and get the girl of his dreams in the process.

The Meerkats on AllMovie The Meerkats (2007)

The Weinstein Company and BBC Films team up to offer this inspiring exploration of one family's resilience and fortitude with this nature documentary shot using innovative and groundbreaking filming techniques.

Short Term 12 on AllMovie Short Term 12 (2013)

I Am Not a Hipster director Destin Daniel Cretton expands his 2008 short of the same name into a feature film depicting the struggles of a compassionate twentysomething contending with some unexpected life developments while working as a supervisor at a home for at-risk teens. Grace (Brie Larson) has dedicated her life to helping kids who have slipped through the cracks of the system. Committed to her job and in love with kindhearted co-worker Mason (John Gallagher Jr.), she's still struggling to make sense of her own troubled past when she learns that her life is about to change forever. Meanwhile, into the facility walks a young girl who's been constantly shifted between group homes due to dangerous behavior. Almost immediately, Grace forges a powerful connection with her new charge. Now if Grace can just open up to Mason the way she encourages her kids to open up to her, she may find a way to make peace with the future while still providing support to the kids who depend on her the most.

Thin Ice on AllMovie Thin Ice (2010)

A salesman in a slump turns to a life of crime in this comedy-drama from filmmaker Jill Sprecher. Mickey Prohaska (Greg Kinnear) is an insurance salesman living and working in rural Wisconsin. Mickey likes to believe that he's a talented salesman who can talk anyone in to buying a policy, but the truth is his career has hit the skids, he's struggling to make ends meet, and his divorce from his wife Jo Ann (Lea Thompson) has shaken his confidence. Mickey and his new partner Bob Egan (David Harbour) are able to sell a policy to elderly farmer Gorvy Hauer (Alan Arkin), though Gorvy seems more interested in having someone come by and fix his television than discussing his financial future. One day, Mickey is paying Gorvy a visit when he makes a remarkable discovery -- the old violin in his living room is a vintage one worth $30,000. Seeing an easy payday, Mickey begins hatching a scheme to get the instrument away from Gorvy and into the hands of a violin dealer, but his plan gets more complicated at every turn and eventually goes from difficult to dangerous. Also starring Bob Balaban and Billy Crudup, The Convincer (aka Thin Ice) was an official selection at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

Darling Companion on AllMovie Darling Companion (2012)

An aging couple find the happiness of their daughter's wedding offset by the emotional distress of losing their beloved dog in this comedy-drama from director Lawrence Kasdan. Beth (Diane Keaton) and her daughter Grace (Elizabeth Moss) are driving down a Denver freeway on a chilly winter day when Beth rescues a lost dog on the side of the road. Naming her new companion "Freeway," Beth forges a strong bond with her new pet while growing increasing frustrated with her husband Joseph (Kevin Kline) -- a self-centered doctor who shows more concern for his patients than he does for his own children. But shortly after Grace's wedding in the Rockies, Freeway runs off during a walk with Joseph. Furious at Joseph and devastated at the loss of losing her loyal pet, Beth recruits remaining wedding guests Penny (Dianne Wiest), Russell (Richard Jenkins), and Bryan (Mark Duplass) -- and enigmatic stranger Carmen (Ayelet Zurer) to help bring Freeway home safely. Along the way, Beth finds her crumbling marriage to Joseph put to the ultimate test.

My Name Is Bill W. on AllMovie My Name Is Bill W. (1989)

My Name Is Bill W reunited the stars of the highly acclaimed 1986 TV movie The Promise: James Garner and James Woods. This time Woods has the bigger role as the real-life Bill Wilson, who comes marching home from World War One with a "little" liquor problem. He drinks steadily throughout the Prohibition Era, but Wilson's habit doesn't catch up with him until he is ruined by the 1929 stock market crash. This disaster propels Wilson into flat-out alcoholism, costing him his family and his reputation. While drying out in detox, Wilson strikes up a friendship with Bob Smith (Garner), an alcoholic doctor. Through Smith's influence, Bill Wilson organizes a small band of chronic drinkers into what will eventually become Alcoholics Anonymous. The formation of AA consumes the emotional final third of My Name Is Bill W, which like its Garner/Woods predecessor The Promise was originally presented as a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV special.

The Imposter on AllMovie The Imposter (2011)

Documentary filmmaker Bart Layton uses vivid reenactments to tell the tale of a Texas family whose prayers are answered when their missing teenage son returns home after nearly four years, and the mystery that begins to emerge as the newcomer's actual identity comes into question. San Antonio, Texas: 1994. A local teen vanishes after going out to play basketball. As the clues run cold over the next three years, his grieving family continues to fear the worst. Incredibly, in 1997, they receive word that their son has been found in Spain. Despite being ruthlessly tortured by his abductors, he miraculously appears to be in good health. But the more questions that inspectors ask, the less his answers seem to add up. And while his tattoos match those of the kidnapping victim, that's just about where the resemblance ends. Meanwhile, everyone but the victim's family seems to recognize that something is amiss.

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 on AllMovie Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 (2013)

This documentary captures some of the performances from the 2013 edition of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, an event that featured sets from such musical luminaries as Robert Cray, Steve Cropper, B.B. King, Keb' Mo', John Mayer, and Buddy Guy among many others.

Rampart on AllMovie Rampart (2011)

Director Oren Moverman reteams with Woody Harrelson for Rampart, a brutally honest portrait of a corrupt Los Angeles police officer. Dave Brown (Harrelson) is already the focus of much internal investigation when he's caught on tape beating a black man, sending his already unstable career into a further tailspin. Dave lives with his wife and his ex-wife, who happen to be sisters, but that doesn't stop him from picking up women in bars and going to bed with a lawyer who may or may not be investigating him. As his life spirals out of control, Dave makes one last desperate grab for cash. Co-written by Moverman and crime novelist James Ellroy, Rampart played at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

BURN on AllMovie BURN (2012)

Filmmakers Tom Putman and Brenna Sanchez focus on the efforts of Detroiters to save their dying city from total devastation, and highlight the roles that first responders play in protecting the locals. With their budgets in constant danger of being cut, the local fireman, policemen, and EMTs can do little but watch in despair as the city falls to ruin.

Unconditional on AllMovie Unconditional (2011)

A celebrated storybook artist obsessed with tracking down her husband's killer gets a shot at redemption after crossing paths with an old acquaintance who has devoted his life to caring for fatherless children. Her husband murdered in a senseless act of violence, Samantha Crawford (Lynn Collins) devotes her life to capturing the man responsible. But Samantha's fate takes an unexpected twist when she has a harrowing encounter with two children, which leads her back into the company of her longtime friend Joe Bradford (Michael Ealy). A respected figure in his struggling community, Joe acts as a father figure to at-risk youth. But he is dying of kidney disease, and as Samantha bears witness to his profound benevolence, her insatiable thirst for revenge becomes a deep desire to have a positive influence on the lives of the children whom society has given up on.

Damsels in Distress on AllMovie Damsels in Distress (2011)

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Whit Stillman (The Last Days of Disco) returns to the director's chair for the first time in 13 years with this comedy set at an East Coast university and centering on the trials of four female undergrads who seek to make life better for the entire student body. Violet Wister (Greta Gerwig) is a natural-born leader. Together with the help of her conscientious friend Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and their gorgeous pal Heather (Carrie MacLemore), Violet uses aroma and musical therapy to help her possibly suicidal classmates. When newly arrived transfer student Lily (Analeigh Tipton) seeks admission into their social circle, she's welcomed with open arms. While Lily appreciates having a group to be a part of, she soon realizes that Violet may not be a flawless friend.

Barbara on AllMovie Barbara (2012)

An East Berlin doctor is banished to a remote hospital in the country after applying for an exit visa from the GDR, and begins to suspect that her kindly new boss is spying on her for the secret police in this drama set at the dawn of the 1980s. At odds with bucolic new surroundings, frustrated doctor Barbara (Nina Hoss) finds comfort only in her secret rendezvous' with her West German paramour Jörg (Mark Waschke). Jörg is currently in the midst of formulating an escape plan for Barbara, and in the meantime the exiled doctor must be careful to maintain a safe distance from chief physician Andre (Ronald Zehrfeld). Despite Andre's outward kindness to her, Barbara still suspects that he is acting as the eyes and ears of imposing local Stasi officer Schütz (Rainer Bock). When a pregnant patient named Stella (Jasna Fritzi Bauer) arrives in the hospital infected with meningitis, however, Barbara and Andre begin working closely together to save the life of the young woman and her unborn child. Over, time, Barbara falls in love with Andre. Yet through hit all she remains suspicious of his true intentions, and when Jörg returns later to help Barbara flee across the border, she finds herself reluctant to join him despite the obvious dangers of remaining behind.

First Position on AllMovie First Position (2011)

Six dance students follow the same dream against long odds in this documentary from filmmaker Bess Kargman. The Youth America Grand Prix is a competition for young ballet students between the ages of 9 and 19; it's one of the world's leading proving grounds for new talent, and most major dance companies and schools pay close attention to who fares well in the annual contest. Each year, thousands of dancers enter, but only 300 make it into the finals, held in New York City. First Position follows six youngsters who've entered the Grand Prix, and their lives and backgrounds offer a glimpse into the wide range of competitors. Sixteen-year-old Joan Sebastian Zamora is from Colombia, and his parents have sent him to America to train with a top instructor; he has to deal with his family's high expectations as well as those of the judges. Miko Fogarty is a 12-year-old from Palo Alto, CA, who dreams of becoming a professional; her parents believe in her, but also want her younger brother to follow in her footsteps, whether he's willing to or not. Fourteen-year-old Michaela DePrince was born in Sierra Leone, and is still haunted by memories of the bloody civil war there; she's since been adopted by a couple in Philadelphia, and dreams of becoming a star in a field where African-Americans are still not well-represented. Rebecca Houseknecht is a 17-year-old from Maryland who looks like a star, and she hopes to skip college and go directly into professional dance. Aran Bell, 11, is the son of a military doctor; he's determined to learn, and while his family is in Italy, he travels hours each day for lessons with a former star of the Ballet Marseilles. And Gaya Bommer Yemini, a close friend of Aran, is the daughter of Nadine Bommer, a well-respected Israeli choreographer, who hopes to follow her mother into the world of ballet. First Position received its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel on AllMovie Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (2011)

This documentary takes a look at the fascinating life and career of legendary Vogue editor in chief Diana Vreeland, who helped engineer the iconic style of Twiggy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, served as a pioneer for women in the publishing industry, and advocated tirelessly for the betterment of culture, art, and fashion in the 20th century.

In Darkness on AllMovie In Darkness (2011)

A modest Polish sewer worker becomes a hero after rescuing a group of Jews from certain death during the Holocaust. Robert Wieckiewicz, Agnieszka Grochowska, and Kinga Preis star in this inspirational World War II drama from two-time Academy Award nominee Agnieszka Holland (Bittere Ernte, Europa, Europa).

The Oogieloves in The Big Balloon Adventure on AllMovie The Oogieloves in The Big Balloon Adventure (2012)

This interactive animated adventure for children follows the Oogieloves as they search for five golden balloons on the way to Schluufy's birthday party.

The Deep Blue Sea on AllMovie The Deep Blue Sea (2011)

One of Terence Rattigan's most celebrated plays is given a new screen adaptation in this drama written and directed by Terence Davies. Hester Page (Rachel Weisz) is rescued in the midst of a suicide attempt by her landlady Mrs. Elton (Ann Mitchell) when she smells gas. As those around her ponder why a beautiful woman would choose such a fate, we learn that Hester is not really Hester at all -- she's actually Lady Collyer, the wife of well-known and respected judge Sir William Collyer (Simon Russell Beale). However, Lady Collyer has never known love or satisfaction in her marriage, and she fell into an affair with Freddie Page (Tom Hiddleston), a former RAF pilot. Lady Collyer has become hopelessly infatuated with Freddie, leaving her husband and living with Freddie under an assumed identity. But the woman who now calls herself Hester soon discovers she loves Freddie far more than he loves her, and between his drinking and neglect for her, it seems she's given up her old life for one that has no future. This marks the second time The Deep Blue Sea has been brought to the screen; Vivien Leigh starred in the 1955 version directed by Anatole Litvak.

Casablanca on AllMovie Casablanca (1942)

One of the most beloved American films, this captivating wartime adventure of romance and intrigue from director Michael Curtiz defies standard categorization. Simply put, it is the story of Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a world-weary ex-freedom fighter who runs a nightclub in Casablanca during the early part of WWII. Despite pressure from the local authorities, notably the crafty Capt. Renault (Claude Rains), Rick's café has become a haven for refugees looking to purchase illicit letters of transit which will allow them to escape to America. One day, to Rick's great surprise, he is approached by the famed rebel Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) and his wife, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), Rick's true love who deserted him when the Nazis invaded Paris. She still wants Victor to escape to America, but now that she's renewed her love for Rick, she wants to stay behind in Casablanca. "You must do the thinking for both of us," she says to Rick. He does, and his plan brings the story to its satisfyingly logical, if not entirely happy, conclusion.

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu on AllMovie Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012)

Depressed over losing his lucrative job as an architect in Las Vegas and weary of breaking the news to his demanding parents, 26 year old Rahul Kapoor (Imran Khan) indulges on a wild Christmas bender with witty beautician Riana Braganza (Kareena Kapoor), and awakens the following morning a married man. Meanwhile, as the mismatched newlyweds endure the 10 day wait to have the union annulled, their tenuous friendship evolves into something resembling true love.

Headhunters on AllMovie Headhunters (2011)

A man living on both sides of the law is caught in a dangerous game in this thriller from Norwegian director Morten Tyldum. Roger Brown (Aksel Hennie) makes his living as a corporate recruiter, finding talented people who work for other companies and making them lucrative offers to join the firm currently signing his paychecks. Roger's work brings with it a handsome salary, but he suffers crushing insecurity when it comes to his beautiful wife Diana (Synnove Macody Lund), and he constantly showers her with expensive gifts in hopes of staying on her good side. Between Diana's expectations and the equally expensive tastes of Roger's mistress Lotte (Julie R. Olgaard), Roger needs cash, so he's taken on a high-paying second job -- stealing rare works of art. Roger is just good enough and smart enough to know that he'll get caught eventually, and when he learns of a man with an authentic Rubens, he hopes to make one last score that will keep him well-set for a long time. But Roger soon finds out there's a catch -- the man with the painting is also someone he's supposed to recruit for a client, and he's clearly a few steps ahead of Roger. Hodejegerne (aka Headhunters) was an official selection at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day on AllMovie Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day (2012)

Long-buried secrets threaten to destroy a seemingly happy couple after their young daughter is abducted in this thriller starring Blair Underwood, Sharon Leal, and Pam Grier. David (Underwood) and Kari Ames (Leal) were preparing to celebrate their beloved daughter's seventh birthday when she vanished without a trace. As the cracks in their marriage begin to show, David and Kari realize that in order to save their daughter, they must first confront the secrets they have been hiding from each other for years.

Bol Bachchan on AllMovie Bol Bachchan (2012)

In the wake of losing a land battle, siblings Abbas and Sania move to the remote village of Ranakpur, where Abbas causes a stir by breaking into a temple to save a child. As he scrambles to cover his Muslim roots, a series of comic mishaps unfold.

2010 on AllMovie 2010 (1984)

This belated sequel to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is directed by Peter Hyams. Roy Scheider plays the astronaut/skipper of a U.S.-Soviet space mission, sent to find out what happened to the missing Discovery flight that carried Keir Dullea into the beyond in the original 2001. Scheider's polyglot crew includes Americans John Lithgow and Bob Balaban (the latter a computer whiz, responsible for the notorious HAL 9000) and Russians Helen Mirren, Elya Baskin and Natasha Schneider. The reason for this international mixture is that the world is on the brink of nuclear war, and it is hoped that the space mission will assure east-west solidarity (in this respect, 2010 dates far more than 2001, given the collapse of the Iron Curtain). When the astronauts catch up with Dullea, still in orbit around Jupiter, producer/director/writer Hyams attempts to demystify the enigmatic climax of 2001. Arthur C. Clarke, author of the story upon which 2001 was based, appears in 2010 as a man on a park bench. Incidentally, the voice-over credited to Olga Mallsnerd is actually Candice Bergen. (The name Mallsnerd is a play on the name of one of the characters created by her ventriloquist father Edgar.)

Take This Waltz on AllMovie Take This Waltz (2011)

Sarah Polley's sophomore directorial effort Take This Waltz stars Michelle Williams as Margot, a 28-year-old Toronto woman who has been married for five years to Lou (Seth Rogen), a cookbook author who specializes in chicken dishes. One day she meets Daniel (Luke Kirby) her neighbor across the street, and there is a quick and lasting connection between the two. While she remains faithful to Lou, she finds herself drawn more and more to this seemingly perfect other man. Eventually, Margot is forced to confront the truth about herself, and share her feelings with her unsuspecting husband. Take This Waltz had its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

For a Good Time, Call... on AllMovie For a Good Time, Call... (2012)

Two former college rivals team up to start a lucrative business while sharing a New York apartment in this comedy from director Jamie Travis. Back in school, Lauren (Lauren Anne Miller) and Katie (Ari Graynor) had a love/hate relationship. Years later, Lauren is recovering from a messy break-up, and Katie is living in her late grandmother's apartment when the rent control runs out. In order to avoid losing the apartment, Katie invites Lauren to move in and help out with the payments. Fate intervenes, however, when Katie becomes fed up with Lauren's boisterous bedroom antics, and learns that her new roommate has a naughty side that could earn them both some quick cash. With Lauren in charge of the business and Katie catering to the clients, the mismatched pair launch a phone-sex line that quickly proves a smashing success. Justin Long, Mark Webber, and Nia Vardalos co-star.