11/8/16 11/8/16 (2017) Featuring Amrit Palsingh, Eric Hayhurst, Hana Barkowitz, Tom Erdmann, Gina Erdmann, Dave Davies, Anthony Ray Hinton, John Dougherty, Calene Van Noy, Sierra Kos, Christina Ballantoni, Joe Concra, Denise Orzo, Vetress Boyce, Adrian Ojeda, Boots Wardinski and Vernon Kimball IV. Directed by Duane Andersen, Don Argott, Yung Chang, Garth Donovan, Petra Epperlein, Vikram Gandhi, Raul Gasteazoro, Jamie Gonçalves, Andrew Beck Grace, Alma Har’el, Sheena M. Joyce,

Faces Places FACES PLACES (2017) Featuring Agnès Varda, JR, Jean-Paul Beaujon, Amaury Bossy, Yves Boulen, Jeannine Carpentier, Marie Douvet, Claude Ferchal, Claude Flaert, Vincent Gils, Laurent Levesque, Nathalie Maurouard, Patricia Mercier, Pony-Soleil-Air-Sauvage-Nature, Morgane Riou, Sophie Riou, Nathalie Schleehauf, Clemens Van Dungern and Daniel Vos. Directed by Agnès Varda and JR. Distributed by Cohen Media Group. 89 minutes. Rated PG. Faces Places is a documentary that

Have a Nice Day HAVE A NICE DAY (2017) Featuring the voices of Zhu Changlong, Cao Kai, Liu Jian, Yang Siming, Shi Haitao, Ma Xiaofeng, Xue Feng, Zheng Yi, Cao Kou and Zhu Hong. Screenplay by Liu Jian. Directed by Liu Jian. Distributed by Memento Films International. 77 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. PFF26 Best Narrative Feature Winner I watched Have a Nice Day twice during the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. The first time, I admittedly

Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me SAMMY DAVIS, JR.: I’VE GOTTA BE ME (2017) Featuring Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Norman Lear, Jerry Lewis, Kim Novak, Quincy Jones, Paula Wayne, Todd Boyd, Burt Boyar, David Steinberg and archival footage of Sammy Davis Jr. Written by Laurence Maslon. Directed by Sam Pollard. Distributed by American Masters Pictures. 100 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. I did not expect to see so many people in the audi

Sean Baker at the Philadelphia Film Festival screening of “The Florida Project” at the Prince Theater Sean Baker Looking at the Dark Side of the Happiest Place on Earth with The Florida Project by Jay S. Jacobs Much like the characters in his films, indie director Sean Baker has spent most of his life toiling under the radar. In a writing/directing career that has spawned seven movies in 17 years (plus shorts, TV series and TV movies), Baker has specialized in small, intimate

The Bar (El Bar) THE BAR (EL BAR) (2017) Starring Blanca Suarez, Mario Casas, Carmen Machi, Terele Pavez, Alejandro Awada, Joaquin Climent, Secun de la Rosa and Jaime Ordonez. Screenplay by Jorge Guerricaechevarria. Directed by Alex de la Iglesia. Distributed by Pokeepsie Films. 102 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. Alex de la Iglesia is sort of like the Spanish Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead), a smart, hip, funny guy who puts

The Square THE SQUARE (2017) Starring Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, Linda Anborg, Christopher Laesso, Annica Liljeblad, Emelie Beckius, Jan Lindwall, Marina Schiptjenko, Elijandro Edouard, Daniel Hallberg, Martin Sööder, Sofie Hamilton, Peter Diaz, Sarah Giercksky and Kolya Hardy. Screenplay by Ruben Östlund. Directed by Ruben Östlund. Distributed by Magnolia Pictures. 148 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. Director

Golden Exits GOLDEN EXITS (2017) Starring Emily Browning, Adam Horowitz, Mary-Louise Parker, Jason Schwartzman, Chloe Sevigny, Lily Rabe, Analeigh Tipton, Craig Butta, Keith Poulson, Jake Perlin, Kate Lyn Sheil, Jay Giampietro and Ethan Spigland. Screenplay by Alex Ross Perry. Directed by Alex Ross Perry. Distributed by Washington Square Films. 94 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. Golden Exits has a wonderful ensemble cast, some amazing acti

The Invisible Guest (Contratiempo) THE INVISIBLE GUEST (CONTRATIEMPO) (2017) Starring Mario Casas, Ana Wagener, Jose Coronado, Barbara Lennie, Francesc Orella, Paco Tous, David Selvas, Iñigo Gastesi, San Yélamos, Manel Dueso, Blanca Martínez, Pere Brasó, Jordi Brunet, Robert González, Martina Hurtado and Ruth Llopis. Screenplay by Oriol Paulo. Directed by Oriol Paulo. Distributed by Think Studio. 106 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. Time is

Just to Be Sure (Otez-moi d’un doute) JUST TO BE SURE (ÔTEZ-MOI D’UN DOUTE) (2017) Starring Francois Damiens, Cecile de France, Guy Marchand, Andre Wilms, Alice de Lencquesaing, Esteban, Lyès Salem, Sam Karmann, Brigitte Rouan, Julie Debazac, Loïc Baylacq, Nadège Beausson-Diagne, Heiko Dethier, Hervé Pierre, Emmanuelle Michelet and Aylin Mikaelian. Screenplay by Carine Tardieu, Raphaele Moussafir and Michel Leclerc. Directed by Carine Tardieu. Distributed by Karé Productions.

Thoroughbreds THOROUGHBREDS (2017) Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Olivia Cooke, Anton Yelchin, Paul Sparks, Francie Swift, Kaili Vernoff, Chaunty Spillane, Stephanie Atkinson, Max Ripley, Leah Procito, Svetlana Orlova, Xavier Dillingham, Lauren Laperriere, Thomas Dings, Kristen Annese, Daniel Martignetti and Odin Lowe. Screenplay by Cory Finley. Directed by Cory Finley. Distributed by Focus Features. 90 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. How do yo

Chappaquiddick CHAPPAQUIDDICK (2017) Starring Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, Ed Helms, Jim Gaffigan, Clancy Brown, Taylor Nichols, Olivia Thirlby, Bruce Dern, Thomas Kee, Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell, John Fiore, Jason Mulcahy, Andria Blackman, Tamara Hickey, Lexie Roth, Victor Warren, Alison Wachtler, Susan Garibotto and Matthew Lawler. Screenplay by Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan. Directed by John Curran. Distributed by Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures. 105 minutes. Not Rated. Sc

Ismael’s Ghosts ISMAEL’S GHOSTS (2017) Starring Mathieu Amalric, Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Louis Garrel, Alba Rohrwacher, Laszlo Szabo, Hippolyte Girardot, Jacques Nolot, Catherine Mouchet, Samir Guesmi, Mélodie Richard, Marc Prin, Bruno Todeschini, Pascal Ternisien, Philippe Fretun and Bernard Bloch. Screenplay by Arnaud Desplechin, Julie Peyr and Lea Mysius. Directed by Arnaud Desplechin. Distributed by Magnolia Pictures. 114 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at th

Gemini GEMINI (2017) Starring Lola Kirke, Zoë Kravitz, John Cho, Ricki Lake, Greta Lee, Michelle Forbes, Nelson Franklin, Reeve Carney, Jessica Parker Kennedy, James Ransone, Todd Louiso, Marianne Rendon, Gabriela Flores, Abraham Lim, Ted Stavros, Levy Tran, Naby Dakhli, Ray Reynaga and Chad Hartigan. Screenplay by Aaron Katz. Directed by Aaron Katz. Distributed by Rough House Pictures. 93 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. In Aaron Katz’s Ge

Flesh and Blood FLESH AND BLOOD (2017) Starring Mark Webber, Guillermo Santos, Cheri Honkala, Mark Webber Sr., Madeline Brewer, Guillermo Santos Sr., Antoine Williams, Galen Tyler, Victoria Cheatom, Asadullah al-Khidr, Sister Mary McKenna, Temperance Surgest and Teresa Palmer. Screenplay by Mark Webber. Directed by Mark Webber. Distributed by Wide Awake Cinema. 91 minutes. Not Rated. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. It is quite clear that Philadelphia-based ac

I, TONYA (2017) Starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Paul Walter Hauser, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Mckenna Grace, Bojana Novakovic, Caitlin Carver, Joey Thurmond, Catherine Dyer, Evan George Vourazeris, Joshua Mikel, Heather Williams, Jason Davis and Laura Distin. Screenplay by Steven Rogers. Directed by Craig Gillespie. Distributed by Neon/Miramax. 119 minutes. Rated R. Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival. Sure, we all know Tonya Har