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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Take Shelter (2011)


Curtis LaForche lives in a small Ohio town with his wife Samantha and six-year-old daughter Hannah, who is deaf. Money is tight, and navigating Hannah's healthcare and special needs education is a constant struggle. Despite that, Curtis and Samantha are very much in love and their family is a happy one. Then Curtis begins having terrifying dreams about an encroaching, apocalyptic storm. He chooses to keep the disturbance to himself, channeling his anxiety into the obsessive building of a storm shelter in their backyard. But the resulting strain on his marriage and tension within the community doesn't compare to Curtis' private fear of what his dreams may truly signify. Faced with the proposition that his disturbing visions signal disaster of one kind or another, Curtis confides in Samantha, testing the power of their bond against the highest possible stakes. 

Director: Jeff Nichols
Writer: Jeff Nichols
Stars: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain and Shea Whigham
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675192/

Bunraku (2010)


A mysterious drifter and an ardent young Japanese warrior Yoshi both arrive in a town that has been terrorized by outrageous and virulent criminals. Each is obsessed with his separate mission, and guided by the wisdom of The Bartender at the Horseless Horseman Saloon, the two eventually join forces to bring down the corrupt and contemptuous reign of Nicola, the awesomely evil "Woodcutter" and his lady Alexandra, a femme fatale with a secret past.

Director: Guy Moshe
Writers: Boaz Davidson (story) and Guy Moshe (screenplay)
Stars: Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1181795/

Monday, January 30, 2012

Swing Vote (2008)


November, 2004, New Mexico. Bud is a slacker with one good thing in his life, his engaging fifth-grade daughter Molly. On election day, Bud is supposed to meet her at the polling place. When he doesn't show, she sneaks a ballot and is about to vote when the power goes off. It turns out that New Mexico's electoral votes will decide the contest, and there it's tied with one vote needing recasting - Bud's. The world's media and both presidential candidates, including the current President, descend on Bud in anticipation of his re-vote in two weeks. Can the clueless Bud, even with the help of Molly and a local TV reporter, handle this responsibility? 

Director: Joshua Michael Stern
Writers: Jason Richman and Joshua Michael Stern
Stars: Kevin Costner, Paula Patton and Kelsey Grammer
More info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027862/