Woodshock (opens today at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[WOODSHOCK opens in Cleveland on Friday September 29^th exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

With its hazy, washed out cinematography, languid pacing, ambient soundtrack, and naturalistic performances, WOODSHOCK is every inch the modern indie film. Written and directed by fashion designers turned filmmakers Laura and Kate Mulleavy, it is a film that announces early on that it has something to say, and then goes about saying it in a whisper so low you’re not really sure what was said. It is a tone poem about a woman descending into grief and madness while engulfed in a haze of marijuana smoke.

The plot, to the degree the film has one, is that Theresa (Kirsten Dunst) works at a medical marijuana dispensary. In addition to the usual fare one would expect to find in such an establishment, Theresa also offers a special euthanasia blend to terminal customers. As the film begins, Theresa is giving this drug to her mother. It may be what mom wants, but Theresa has a hard time dealing with her guilt afterwards.

Dave Made a Maze (opens August 18th at the Cedar Lee Theatre and the Nightlight Cinema]

[DAVE MADE A MAZE opens Friday August 18^th at the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland, OH and The Nightlight Cinema in Akron, OH.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

It’s rare these days to find a movie as original and imaginative as DAVE MADE A MAZE. Writer/director Bill Watterson (not the Calvin and Hobbes guy, but rather an actor and voice actor originally from Cleveland, OH) has crafted a bizarre fantasy that feels like part BEING JOHN MALKOVICH and part low budget cult horror/sci-fi fave CUBE.

The premise is that Dave (Nick Thune), a thirty-something artist who seems incapable of finishing anything he starts, builds a massive box fort in the apartment he shares with his more responsible better half, Annie (Meera Rohit Kumbhani). Annie comes home from a weekend trip to discover this cardboard monstrosity, which Dave claims he has been trapped in for 3 days. He also claims he can’t find his way out.

Annie is, understandably, flummoxed by this. Why not just tear the fort apart? But Dave refuses to do so, and also warns Annie against coming in after him. The fort is bigger and more dangerous on the inside than it appears.

Menashe (opens August 18th at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[MENASHE opens in Cleveland on Friday August 18th exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Pamela Zoslov

Joshua Weinstein didn't have an easy time making his movie MENASHE. The filmmaker drew his cast of nonprofessional actors from members of the Hasidic Jewish community in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Many had never even seen a movie before. Some signed on and then dropped out, fearing the disapproval of their synagogues and their children's schools.

Weinstein doesn't speak Yiddish, the language in which the film was made, so he had an on-set translator who read the lines to him in English. He stood far away from the actors, directing them through earpieces, in order not to attract attention in the cloistered enclave, which takes a skeptical view of modernity. Financing came sporadically, and the movie took nearly two years to complete.

Landline (opens August 4th at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[LANDLINE opens in Cleveland on Friday August 4th exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Pamela Zoslov

Gillian Robespierre's new comedy, LANDLINE, has many traits in common with her debut feature, OBVIOUS CHILD, which got a lot of attention due to its abortion story line. Both films focus on the romantic/sexual misadventures of a young woman played by comedienne Jenny Slate, and are sprinkled with copious amounts of scatological humor alongside some funny and affecting moments.

LANDLINE gets its title from its setting, 1995 New York, where the characters inhabit a world of obsolescent technology: boomboxes, manual rowing machines, dot matrix printers, and the eponymous corded phones. It is primarily a family comedy — not for families, given its crude language, but about the family of Dana (Slate), a young woman who is engaged to marry Ben (Jay Duplass), whom she has come to see as boring, sitting up in bed as he does, raving about items in the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog. Dana finds herself attracted to an old college friend, Nate (Finn Wittrock), and ends up sleeping with him, putting her wedding plans in jeopardy. She leaves Ben for a time to move back in with her parents.

Maudie (opens Friday July 21st at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[MAUDIE opens in Cleveland on Friday July 21st at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Pamela Zoslov

The difference between Art and Life is that Art is more bearable.

— Charles Bukowski

"A World Without Shadows” is the title of a stage play and short film about Maud Lewis, a celebrated Canadian folk artist who lived most of her life in a tiny, primitive house in Nova Scotia, covering every surface of the home with vibrant flowers, birds, and butterflies and painting whimsical cats in tulip fields, carriages carrying brightly dressed people, seagulls soaring over seascapes. Bent-backed and increasingly crippled by rheumatoid arthritis, the diminutive self-taught artist sold her paintings for five dollars apiece to locals and tourists who stopped by the house she shared with her husband, Everett. The couple are described in the documentary as having a “childlike, tremendous feeling; no shadows at all. Everything is happy and gay and quick and lively.”

The Little Hours (opens July 14th at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

 [THE LITTLE HOURS opens in Cleveland on Friday July 14^th exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

A trio of 14^th century nuns – Alessandra (Allison Brie), Ginerva (Kate Micucci), and Fernanda (Aubrey Plaz) – try to make the best of their lot in life in the deadpan comedy THE LITTLE HOURS. They fight among themselves, but come together to tear into the convent’s hired help. So brutal is their most recent barrage of insults and abuse that the gardener turns in his notice, leaving Sister Marea (Molly Shannon) short handed.

Meanwhile, Father Tommasso (John C. Reilly) sets off to sell various wares made by the nuns in the nearby village. Unfortunately he’s been getting into the communion wine and ends up overturning his cart in a stream, ruining everything he meant to sell.

The Exception (opens June 23rd at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[THE EXCEPTION opens in Cleveland on Friday June 23rd exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

A racy bit of historical fiction, David Leveaux's THE EXCEPTION is set shortly before World War II has begun. Hitler has come to power, and Germany's former ruler, Kaiser Wilhelm (Christopher Plummer), is living in exile in the Netherlands with his wife Princess Hermine (Janet McTeer). Nonetheless, Hitler is still concerned that the Kaiser might exert his influence on the populace. To keep tabs on the Kaiser, he has former SS officer Stefan Brandt (Jai Courtney) assigned to look after the monarch.

Brandt finds himself keeping his eye not so much on the Kaiser, though, but rather on the Kaiser's pretty maid Mieke de Jong (Lily James). But beyond the fact that he isn't supposed to be engaging in hanky panky with the help, there's a pretty big complication to this budding romance: Mieke is a British spy, not to mention Jewish.

The Bad Batch (opens June 23rd at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[THE BAD BATCH opens in Cleveland on Friday June 23rd exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

In a not too distant dystopian future, undesirables are labeled members of the "bad batch" and sentenced to a candy-colored dessert hellscape. This lawless zone is divided into two camps – the  Bridgers are cannibalistic body builders, while the residents live in a world that's flea market by day, rave by night. When they aren't partying, they somehow manage to eke out enough in the way of conventional sustenance from the limited resources around them to survive.

THE BAD BATCH opens with Arlen (Suki Waterhouse) being released into this world, where she is promptly chased down and captured by one of the Bridgers. In short order, her captor chops off an arm and part of a leg, cauterizing the wounds so Arlen won't bleed out. She is then chained up and kept alive to provide additional sustenance at a future date.

I, Daniel Blake (opens June 9th at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[I, DANIEL BLAKE opens in Cleveland on Friday June 9th exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Pamela Zoslov

Daniel Blake, a 59-year-old carpenter in Newcastle in northeast England, has had a major heart attack, and his doctor has advised him not to return to work. “I nearly fell off the scaffolding,” he tells the Jobcentre worker performing an assessment of his “work capability.”

Daniel's nightmare descent into Kafkaesque government bureaucracy begins when an unseen official referred to as “The Decisionmaker” disagrees with his doctor and denies him support benefits. Daniel wants to appeal the decision, but is also required to look for work, processes made more difficult by his health problem and the fact that he's not computer literate.

Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent (opens in Cleveland June 2nd at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[JEREMIAH TOWER: THE LAST MAGNIFICENT opens in Cleveland on Friday June 2nd exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

JEREMIAH TOWER: THE LAST MAGNIFICENT begins by recounting the "poor little rich boy" childhood of future chef/restauranteur Jeremiah Tower. His parents seem to have had little interest in their progeny, leaving him more or less to his own devices whether on luxury cruises or back at home throwing fancy dinner parties. It was during this stage of his development that young Jeremiah began to first take an interest in all aspects of the dining experience; not just the food itself, but the menus, the decor, the whole 9 yards.

From there the film moves on to Jeremiah's college years, his first real job as a chef working at Chez Panisse in California, his rise and fall running the hugely influential restaurant Stars, and his recent attempt at a comeback in New York. There are hints of sex and drugs and people "out to get" Jeremiah throughout, but either the stories weren't that exciting or, more likely, Tower is too private a person to delve too deeply into that territory.

The Wedding Plan (Now playing at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[THE WEDDING PLAN is now playing in Cleveland exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Zoe Brown

THE WEDDING PLAN offers a look inside the world of Orthodox Jewish dating, in which the matchmaking system functions to bring singles together for marriage. It also provides a peek into the heart and mind of Michal, a thirty-something Jewish woman living in Jerusalem who desperately wants to be loved and married.

Matchmaking for Michal (Noa Kooler) proved to be a little tricky; she’d been dating for 10 years without much luck. When she finally gets engaged, her fiancé, Gidi, calls it off a month before the ceremony, admitting that he really doesn’t love her. She’s distraught about it. And of course, her sister circle is there to pick up the pieces and provide her with all the love and support she needs.

Norman (now playing at the Cedar Lee Theatre and the Capitol Theatre)

Review by Pamela Zoslov

A recent celebrity quote I liked is from Richard Gere, the actor whose outspoken political views — protesting China's occupation of Tibet on the Oscars red carpet, angering China and jeopardizing the overseas movie market — have sidelined him from the majors and led him to take roles in independent films. “I'm not interested in playing the wizened Jedi in your tentpole,” the 67-year-old actor told the Hollwood Reporter. “I was successful enough in the last three decades that I can afford to do these [smaller films] now.”

The former leading man, now 67, appears in two small indies opening this month: THE DINNER, in which he plays a congressman involved in a scandal, and NORMAN, in the titular role of a political fixer, or what my Yiddish-speaking mother would call a “macher,” a guy who knows everyone, trades favors and exploits connections.

My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea (now playing at the Cedar Lee Theatre and The Nightlight Cinema)

[MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA is now playing in Cleveland at the Cedar Lee Theatre and in Akron at the Nightlight Cinema.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

Watching movies used to be simpler before I started reviewing them. A movie was "good" if I liked it, and "bad" if I didn't. Now, I'm more aware that sometimes, quite frankly, I enjoy watching trash. And sometimes, a movie may be exceptional, but it just doesn't appeal to me. And being aware of these possibilities, I try to take them into consideration when writing my reviews.

I mention this because, although I was personally kind of lukewarm on MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA, I recognize its originality and overall quality, even if its sensibilities are too aggressively indie for my tastes, its art and animation style too primitive and brutalist.

Personal Shopper (opens March 24th at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[PERSONAL SHOPPER opens Friday March 24th in Cleveland exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

A meandering, slow-burn ghost story from director Olivier Assayas, PERSONAL SHOPPER touches on a number of genres without fully embracing any of them. It's not a horror film, but it does deliver chills. It's not a mystery film, but it does have its mysteries. It's not erotica, but there are some sexually charged moments tinged with the lure of the forbidden. Mostly, though, it's a well-crafted drama about a woman coming to terms with the death of her twin brother while seeking an answer to the age old question of whether there's anything beyond death.

Kristen Stewart plays Maureen, the personal shopper of the title. She works for a difficult celebrity who we never actually meet on camera, and in her spare time tries to contact the spirit of her brother Lewis.

Donald Cried (opens March 17th at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[DONALD CRIED opens in Cleveland on Friday March 17th exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

The manboy. The slacker. The lovable loser. Call him what you will, but he's become a staple of modern films. Usually portrayed as benign, and often depicted as possessing a kind of wisdom about life that those who give in to maturity and responsibility lack, you've seen these sort of characters in films like JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, and many more. DONALD CRIED presents us with the creepier and more annoying flipside of the characters in those films.

But before we meet Donald, the manboy of the film's title, we meet Peter (Jesse Wakeman). Peter works in the finance business in the big city. When his grandmother passes away, he has to return home to pick up her belongings and her ashes, and set up the sale of her home. It should be a relatively quick and easy process, but the loss of his wallet and a car that won't start throw a wrench into things.

Kedi (opens March 10th at the Cedar Lee Theatre and The Nightlight Cinema)

[KEDI opens in Cleveland on Friday March 10th at the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland and The Nightlight Cinema in Akron.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

Attention cat lovers, your movie of the year has arrived. The documentary KEDI takes audiences on an exotic journey to Istanbul, where felines are given free reign of the city. These are not feral cats, keeping their distance from humans and surviving on the fringes. Nor are they pets in the usual sense of the word. Instead, they exist somewhere between those two points, enjoying food and attention from humans while still maintaining a level of independence and staying true to their animal nature.

Directed by Ceyda Torun, the film is part travelogue, part nature film, part history lesson, and part study of human nature as it susses out the various reasons why Turks have chosen to co-exist with cats in this way. Sure, the cats get food and love, but the relationship is symbiotic as humans benefit, too. But then, if you're a cat lover, you already knew that.

$5 Bargain Mondays Are Back at Cleveland Cinemas

[Press release from Cleveland Cinemas.]

Plus a Bonus Bargain Day for Marquee Rewards Members

 

Cleveland Cinemas continues its commitment to providing a quality movie-going experience at a great price as it has rolled back ticket prices on its popular Bargain Monday. All seats on Mondays are once again just $5!

“Cleveland Cinemas was the first in Cleveland to offer a discount day for movie goers,” says Jon Forman, President of Cleveland Cinemas. “We are happy to be able, to once again, offer our original Bargain Monday price of $5.”

 

Patrons visiting the concession stand on Bargain Mondays will also be treated to additional discounts on snacks. All popcorn and fountain drinks will be $1 off the regular price and kiddie combos will be discounted by $2.

 

Members of Cleveland Cinemas’ free Marquee Rewards program will be eligible for a bonus bargain day on Tuesdays. Members presenting their card can enjoy the same Monday offers at the box office and concession stand every Tuesday. Anyone who is not a Marquee rewards member can pick up a member card at any Cleveland Cinemas location. Once the card is activated online the new member can enjoy these discounts immediately.

Cleveland Cinemas is also pleased to announce that it has extended its Happy Hour specials at the Capitol Theatre, Cedar Lee Theatre and Shaker Square Cinemas. Happy Hour will now be every Monday through Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with $1 off select beer, wine and cocktails.

Titles, show times and tickets are available at the theatre box office or online at clevelandcinemas.com.

 

Marquee Rewards Bargain Tuesday admission discount is available at the box office only and is limited to 2 tickets per member card. Bargain Monday and Tuesday pricing is restricted on select holidays. Bargain Monday and Tuesday admission pricing is not valid at the Apollo Theatre.

The Red Turtle (opens February 24th at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[THE RED TURTLE opens in Cleveland on Friday February 24th exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

THE RED TURTLE is a quiet, subtle, easy-going film. It is yet another variation on that tried and true notion of a man who washes up on the proverbial dessert island. There is food and water and places to take shelter, but the man nonetheless wastes no time trying to get back to civilization. Using the resources available to him, he makes a raft and sets out to sea, only to have his makeshift boat smashed to pieces. The culprit is the aquatic terrapin of the film's title, and each and every time the man builds another raft, the turtle breaks it apart before it gets more than a few yards from shore.

One day, however, the turtle makes the mistake of coming on land. The man hits it with a large bamboo stalk and leaves it turned over on its back. The turtle apparently dies, and then apparently transforms into a woman. This female companionship gives the man a reason to stay on the island, and we watch their relationship as time passes, and the two eventually become three with the addition of a son.

I Am Not Your Negro (opens in Cleveland February 10th at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO opens in Cleveland on Friday February 10th exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Pamela Zoslov

“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time,” said the writer James Baldwin (1924-1987), an eloquent commentator on race relations in the United States, even though he spent a large portion of his life abroad. He was the author of numerous essays, plays, novels and speeches that spoke powerfully of the experience of black people and the struggle for justice. In the '50s and '60s, the Harlem-born Baldwin wrote books including the semi-autobiographical Go Tell It On The Mountain, Notes of a Native Son, Nobody Knows My Name and The Fire Next Time.

At the time of his death from stomach cancer at age 63, Baldwin had left unfinished a manuscript titled Remember This House. The book was to be a memoir of his friendships with three murdered civil rights leaders, Medgar Evers Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Haitian-born filmmaker and political activist Raoul Peck has taken that fragment and imagined a completed work by Baldwin. In I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, Peck has created a filmed essay, with Baldwin's words read by Samuel L. Jackson, footage from Baldwin's many speeches and television appearances (he was a regular guest on the Dick Cavett show in the late '60s), and archival images of the history of racial oppression and resistance. The film also incorporates events such as the killing of Trayvon Martin, police murders of unarmed black citizens, and Black Lives Matter demonstrations, events Baldwin did not live to witness.

Julieta (opens in Cleveland January 3rd at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[JULIETA opens in Cleveland on Friday January 3rd exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

With JULIETA, noted Spanish director Pedro Almodovar finds himself in familiar territory, returning to the sort of female-centric family drama he's best known for after the less than stellar reception of his 2013 airborne farce I'M SO EXCITED. The story of the titular character, played in the present by Emma Suárez, is set in motion when Julieta learns that her estranged daughter Antia, who she hasn't seen in years, may be living in Madrid. This happens just as she's about to leave said city behind for a permanent move to Portigal with her lover Lorenzo (Dario Grandinetti). This new information leads Julieta to throw all her plans out the window so she can track down her estranged daughter and hopefully reconnect.

Julieta explains her change of plans to no one, instead writing them down in a notebook for Antia. This being a movie, that triggers a flashback so we the audience can see the various events that led to mother and daughter going their separate ways.