Morristown Spring 2012 Festival
8 WEEKS OF THE SEASON'S BEST
FILMS & LIVE DISCUSSION
8 Wednesday Evenings at 7:00 pm
Wednesday April 4th thru Wednesday May 23rd.
Registration (973) 539-8785
8 Week Pass - $229
(Plus $20 Registration Fee)
OR Any 6 Week Pass of Your Choice $199
(Plus $20 Registration Fee)
Headquarters Clearview Cinemas
72 Headquarters Plaza Mall,
Morristown, NJ 07960Registration Hotline
(973) 539-8785
Email us for More info
TEXT 888777 and TYPE “FILMSERIES”
to receive SCHEDULED FILM UPDATES and VIP INFORMATION.
Upon receiving confirmation – there is no need to Reply for Additional Special Offers.HOSTED BY CRITICS:
Peter Travers (CNN/Rolling Stone Magazine, ABC-TV),)
Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly Magazine,
Karen Durbin (Elle/NY Times),
Alison Bailes (NBC) Ebert Presents,
Marshall Fine (NY Film Critics Circle, STAR Magazine),
David Edelstein (New York Magazine /NPR's Fresh Air/ CBS Sunday Mornings),
Godfrey Cheshire (NY Film Critics Circle, The Independent),
Stephen Whitty (Star Ledger),
Glenn Kenny (National Society Film Critics), and others.
ADD YOUR EMAIL TO OUR ANNOUNCEMENT LIST HERE & RECEIVE REGULAR NOTIFICATIONS OF SCREENINGS AND THE SCOOP ON INSIDER INDUSTRY INFO.
5/16 – MIGHTY FINE
Set in the 1970s, “Mighty Fine” is the story of Joe Fine, a charismatic, high-spirited man, who relocates his family—wife Stella, daughters Nathalie and Maddie — from Brooklyn to New Orleans, in search of a better life. Joe’s devotion to his family knows no bounds, and he seeks to provide them with the ultimate in the good life, from a palatial home to a steady string of extravagant gifts. Unfortunately, Joe’s spending spree is wildly out of touch with reality, as his apparel business is teetering on the brink of collapse, a fact he refuses to accept. “Mighty Fine” ultimately shows how coming to terms with the past without judgment is the most fruitful way tomove toward the future.
Directed by: Debbie Goodstein
Cast:
Chazz Palminteri
Andie MacDowell
Jodelle Ferland
Rainey Qualley
Paul Ben-Victor
Arthur J. Nascarella
Production:
Ajae Clearway -Producer
Mark C. Manuel -Executive Producer
Kathryn Wallack -Producer
Guest: Mr. Chazz Palminteri
Host: Peter Travers
Guest: Chazz Palminteri & Director Debbi Goodstein
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itJkzU4VkpM
http://www.adoptfilms.net/mighty
5/11 – ELENA
Winner of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize, Elena is a gripping, modern twist on the classic noir thriller. Sixty-ish spouses Vladimir and Elena uneasily share his palatial Moscow apartment—he’s a still-virile, wealthy businessman; she’s his dowdy former nurse who has clearly “married up.” Estranged from his own wild-child daughter, Vladimir openly despises his wife’s freeloading son and family. But when a sudden illness and an unexpected reunion threaten the dutiful housewife’s potential inheritance, she must hatch a desperate plan…. Masterfully crafted by award-winning Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev (Golden Globe nominee The Return) and featuring evocative, Hitchcockian music by Philip Glass, Elena is a subtly stylish exploration of crime, punishment and human nature.
Directed by- Andrey Zvyagintsev
Written by-Oleg Negin
Starring- Nadezhda Markinahttp://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/elena/
Host: Godfrey Cheshire2nd Feature:
I WISH
he latest film from Japanese master director Hiroshi EDA Enclave. 12-year-old Koichi (Maeda Koki) with his mother and grandparents retired in Kagoshima, southern Kyushu, Japan region. His brother Ryunosuke (Tian Hongyi real life brothers Ohshiro Maeda) live with their father in Hakata in northern Kyushu. The brothers have separated from their parents' divorce and Koichi's only desire is for his family reunion. When he learned that a new bullet train line will soon be opened, the two towns connected, he began to believe that a miracle will now happen is the new trains passing each other even with the fastest speed. With the help of the adults around him, Koichi with a group of friends, each hoping a miracle, that the difficult path to improve their lives, to testify.
Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda
Written by Hirokazu Koreeda
Distributed by Gaga Communications
Cast:
Koki Maeda
Oshiro Maeda
Nene Otsuka
Joe Odagiri
Ryoga Hayashi
Hosinosuke Nagayosi
Kara Uchida
http://www.magpictures.com/iwish/
Photo: James O'Rourke
Kathleen Turner and Peter Travers
Photo: James O'Rourke
Producer Mark Ehrenkranz with Guests
5/2 - The Perfect Family - 7:30 Start!
A devout Catholic who's in the running for the coveted Catholic Woman of the Year award at her church, Eileen Cleary (KATHLEEN TURNER) must prove that her family conforms to the image of the "perfect family" as envisioned by the church, an image she's put forth (with considerable effort) her whole life. Eileen's life of lies catches up to her when she's forced to confront her very human family: her gay daughter, SHANNON (EMILY DESCHANEL), who is about to marry her life partner ANGELA (ANGELIQUE CABRAL); her unhappily married son FRANK, JR. (JASON RITTER), who's just left his wife; and the painful secrets she'd rather not face about her own marriage to the long-suffering, loving FRANK (MICHAEL MCGRADY)... -- (C) Present Pictures
Starring:
Kathleen Turner,
Emily Deschanel
Richard Chamberlain
Director: Anne Renton
Screenplay: Paula Goldberg/Claire Riley
Producers: Cora Olson/Jennifer Dubin of Present Pictures
Guest: Kathleen Turner
Host: Peter Travers
http://www.theperfectfamilymovie.com/
4/25 BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of British retirees who decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past.
Director: John Madden
Screenwriter: Ol Parker
Cast:
Judi Dench,
Bill Nighy,
Penelope Wilton,
Tom Wilkinson,
Maggie Smith
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thebestexoticmarigoldhotel/Host Alison Bailes
4/18 - Downtown Express
Set in the world of Russian immigrants living in New York City, Downtown Express uses music to explore the clash of old world values against the lure and excitement of a new country. Downtown Express marks the first time that a classical musician has been featured as the lead in an American independent film to study with The Juilliard School's renowned teacher Dorothy DeLay and take instruction from such luminaries as Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman.
Director: David Grubin
Screenwriter: Kathleen Cahill, David Grubin
Starring:
Philippe Quint,
Nellie McKay
Host: Alison Bailes
Guest: Director Dave Grubin.
A director, writer, producer and cinematographer, David Grubin has produced over 100 films, ranging from history to art, from poetry to science, winning every award in the field of documentary television, including 2 Alfred I. Dupont awards, 3 George Foster Peabody prizes, 5 Writer's Guild prizes, and 10 Emmys.
http://downtownexpressfilm.com/
4/11 -Monsieur Lazhar
In Montreal, an elementary school teacher dies abruptly. Having learned of the incident in the newspaper, Bachir Lazhar (Fellag), a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant, goes to the school to offer his services as a substitute teacher. Quickly hired to replace the deceased, he finds himself in an establishment in crisis, while going through his own personal tragedy.
The cultural gap between Bachir and his class is made immediately apparent when he gives them a dictation exercise that is beyond their reach. Little by little, Bachir learns to better know this group of shaken but endearing kids, among whom are Alice and Simon, two charismatic pupils particularly affected by their teacher’s death. While the class goes through the healing process, nobody in the school is aware of Bachir’s painful past; nor do they suspect that he is at risk of being deported at any moment.
Director: Philippe Falardeau
Writer: Philippe Falardeau (screenplay)
Cast:
Mohamed Fellag,
Sophie Nélisse
É milien Néron
Guest: Ed ArentzHost: Caryn James
http://www.monsieurlazharmovie.com/
Opening Night !
4/4 Turn me on Dammit
TURN ME ON, DAMMIT! is a whimsical and refreshingly honest coming of age story about the blossoming sexuality of a teenage girl. The feature debut of Jannicke Systad Jacobsen, the film was awarded "Best Screenplay" at the Tribeca Film Festival as well as "Best Debut Film" at the Rome Film Festival. 15-year-old Alma (Helene Bergsholm) is consumed by her out-of-control hormones and fantasies that range from sweetly romantic images of Artur, the boyfriend she yearns for, to down-and-dirty daydreams about practically everybody she lays eyes on.
Directed By: Jannicke Systad Jacobsen
Written By: Jannicke Systad Jacobsen, Olaug Nilssen
Cast:
Helene Bergsholm,
Malin Bjørhovde
Henriette Steenstrup
Film Critic: Alison BailesGuest: Jonathan Howell
Fall Series Closer: 12/7 - Carnage
Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly star in Roman Polanski's film adaptation of Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning comedy, God of Carnage, entitled "Carnage." God of Carnage centers on two sets of upper-middle class parents who attempt and fail to resolve a playground dispute between their children. A discussion over coffee and clafoutis turns into an animalistic battle of the sexes.
Director:
Roman Polanski
Cast:
Kate Winslet,
Jodie Foster,
Christoph Waltz,
John C. Reilly
Screenwriters:
Yasmina Reza,
Roman Polanski,
based on the play God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza
Host Alison Bailes
Guest: Julia Ain-krupa -
Author - Roman Polanski : A Life in Exile
Julia Ain-krupa
Roman Polanski : A Life in Exile
Wed 11/30 - My Piece of the Pie
Writer/director Cédric Klapisch (L'auberge Espagnole) returns with the energetic and insightful My Piece of the Pie, a contemporary drama with a comedic edge, a timely social bent, and a surprising twist. Actress Karin Viard is mesmerizing as fiery single mother France, a blue-collar worker who loses her job when the local factory in her French seaside town closes down. Faced with having to support her three children, with no job prospects in sight, France enrolls herself in a housekeeper training program and lands a position cleaning the Paris apartment of handsome but cocky power broker Steve (Gilles Lellouche).
Cast:
Karin Viard,
Gilles Lellouche,
Raphaele Godin,
Audrey Lamy,
Jean-Pierre Martins,
Zinedine Soualem,
Fred Ulysse,
Kevin Bishop,
Tim Pigott-Smith
Director, Screenwriter: Cedric Klapisch
Producers: Bruno Levy, Nicolas Royer
Host: Alison Baileshttp://www.mapartdugateau-lefilm.com/
11/23 – No Screening Due To Thanksgiving. We return on 11/30
Happy Thanksgiving!
Writer Producer Jim Taylor and Godfrey Cheshire talk about THE DESCENDANTS
11/16 - THE DESCENDANTS
From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning Sideways, set in Hawaii, The Descendants is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.
Directed By:
Alexander PayneWritten By:
Alexander Payne,
Nat Faxon,
Jim Rash
Cast:
George Clooney
Shailene Woodley
Mary Birdsong
Nick Krause
Judy Greer
Beau Bridges
Matthew Lillard
Amara Miller
Host: Godfrey Cheshire.
Guest: Jim Taylor
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thedescendants/
11/9– MELANCHOLIA
Lars Von Trier is back with his new film, officially premiered in Cannes 2011. Described as “A beautiful movie about the end of the world”, MELANCHOLIA tells the story of two sisters (Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg), who find their relationship challenged as a nearby planet threatens to collide into the Earth.
LARS VON TRIER – DIRECTOR AND SCRIPTWRITER
META LOUISE FOLDAGER – PRODUCER
LOUISE VESTH – PRODUCER
MANUEL ALBERTO CLARO – DIR. OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Cast:
Kirsten Dunst,
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Kiefer Sutherland
Guest: Jytle Jensen
Jytle Jensen
Hosted by Thelma Adams & Caryn James
Thelma Adams
Caryn James
http://www.magpictures.com
11/2 - THE CONQUEST
Chronicles the volatile right-leaning Sarkozy's startling rise to become President of France and the emotional and psychological stakes involving the conquest of power. On the day the diminutive Sarkozy conquered his ultimate ambition, his wife, who for twenty years had struggled to pull the man she loved from the shadow into the light, walked out on him for another man.
Cast:
Denis Podalydès
Florence Pernel
Samuel Labarthe
Bernard LeCoq
Michèle Moretti
Director: Xavier DurringerWriters:
Patrick Rotman Screenplay
Xavier Durringer Screenplay
Producers:
Eric Altmeyer .... producer
Nicolas Altmeyer .... producer
Host: Godfrey Cheshire
Godfrey Cheshire
Guest Ed Arentz - Music Box Films
Ed Arentz
http://www.theconquestmovie.com/BONUS DOUBLE FEATURE
YOUNG GOETHE IN LOVE
Germany 1772 – The young and tumultuous Johann Goethe (Alexander Fehling) aspires to be a poet, but after failing his law exams, is sent by his father (Henry Huebchen) to a sleepy provincial court to mend his ways. At first, he tries to do his best and even wins the praise and friendship of his superior, Kestner (Moritz Bleibtreu). Suddenly, Lotte (Miriam Stein) enters his life and changes his world. However, Johann is unaware that Lotte has already been promised to Kestner by her father (Burghart Klaußner).
Cast:
Alexander Fehling
Miriam Stein
Moritz Bleibtreu
Volker Bruch
Blughart KlauBner
Henry Hübchen.
Directed by: Philipp Stölzl
Writing credits
Alexander Dydyna- screenplay
Christoph Müller- screenplay
Philipp Stölzl- screenplay
http://www.younggoetheinlove.com/
10/26 – THE MAN ON THE TRAIN
A mysterious criminal (Mullen Jr.) rolls into a small town planning to knock off the local bank, assuming it will go off without a hitch. But when he encounters a retired poetry professor (Sutherland), his plans take an unlikely turn. With no place to stay, the professor generously welcomes him into his home. As the two men talk, a bond forms between these two polar opposites, and surprising moments of humor and compassion emerge. As they begin to understand each other more, they each examine the choices they've made in their lives, secretly longing to live the type of lifestyle the other man has lived, based on the desire to escape their own.
Cast:
Donald Sutherland,
Larry Mullen Jr.,
Graham Greene,
Tony Nardi,
Kate O’Toole,
Carlo Rota
Director: Mary McGuckian
Screenwriter: Mary McGuckian
Guests:
MARY MCGUCKIAN
LARRY MULLEN JR
Drummer in the rock group U2.
THE MAN ON THE TRAIN is his debut feature film performance.
Hosted By Stephen Whitty
(NY Film Critics Circle, Newhouse News, Star Ledger, Daily Record)
10/19 – MARGIN CALL
The key players at an investment firm become entangled during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When entry-level analyst Peter Sullivan unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster.
Director: Steven Williford
Writer: Paul Marcarelli
Director: JC Chandor
Screenwriter: JC Chandor
Cast:
Zachary Quinto,
Kevin Spacey,
Paul Bettany,
Penn Badgley,
Stanley Tucci,
Simon Baker,
Jeremy Irons,
Demi Moore,
Mary McDonnell,
Aasif Mandvi,
Ashley Williams,
Maria Dizzia
Host: Owen Gleiberman
http://www.margincallmovie.com/
L-R John Hawkes (CONTAGEON, WINTER’S BONE), Elizabeth Olsen, Director Sean Durkins and Peter Travers chat about MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, (Fox Searchlight’s Big 2011 acquisition)
10/12 Opening Night:
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE is a powerful psychological thriller starring Elizabeth Olsen as Martha, a young woman rapidly unraveling amidst her attempt to reclaim a normal life after fleeing from a cult and its charismatic leader (John Hawkes). Seeking help from her estranged older sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson) and brother-in-law (Hugh Dancy), Martha is unable and unwilling to reveal the truth about her disappearance. When her memories trigger a chilling paranoia that her former cult could still be pursuing her, the line between Martha's reality and delusion begins to blur.
Cast:
Elizabeth Olsen
Christopher Abbott
Brady Corbet
Hugh Dancy
Maria Dizzia
Julia Garner
John HawkesProduced by:
Antonio Campos - producer
Andrew Corkin - co-producer
Patrick Cunningham - producer
Ted Hope - executive producer
Saemi Kim - executive produce
HOST: Peter Travers
GUESTS:
Elizabeth Olsen
John Hawkes
Sarah Paulson,
Director Sean Durkin
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/marthamarcymaymarlene/
Morristown, NJ. (January, 25, 2008) – After a successful fifteen year run in Secaucus, Clifton and Paramus, the organizers of NJ’s COMING ATTRACTIONS, NY Film Critics Series, are excited to announce that their upcoming 2008 SPRING SEASON will now be offered at a second location. The Series will be adding a second night at The Headquarters Plaza Clearview Cinemas, Headquarters Plaza Mall in exciting Morristown, NJ.
Open to the public, The NY FILM CRITICS SERIES presents private, preview screenings followed by a live discussion. They have expanded the program format to include high caliber films, guests and audience discussion now with a different host each week. “We strongly feel that this will bring a fresh, new insightful perspective to the preview film experience of the better movies not ordinarily available at the multiplexes,” says organizers Ira and Mark Ehrenkranz.
WHAT: NY FILM CRITICS SPRING 2008 SCREENING SERIES.
WHERE: Headquarters Plaza Clearview Cinemas, Headquarters Plaza Mall, Morristown, NJ.
WHEN: The Upcoming Spring Season runs for 8 SPECIALLY SELECTED WEDNESDAY NIGHTS IN APRIL & MAY 2008. The Opening Night is APRIL 2, followed by 7 additional consecutive Wednesdays through May 21 with a 7PM START.
WITH: HOSTED BY: Peter Travers (CNN/Rolling Stone Magazine),) Marshall Fine (STAR Magazine), David Edelstein (New York Magazine /NPR’s Fresh Air/ CBS Sunday Mornings), Godfrey Cheshire (The Independent), Stephen Whitey (Star Ledger) and others.
FORMAT: 7:00 SCREENING Followed BY 30 -40 mins DISCUSSION
RESERVATIONS: Call (973) 539-8785. Or write to The Cinema Arts Group, P.O. Box 344, Convent Station, NJ 07961 or go to www.nyfilmcritics.com. njfilm@optonline.net
A Few Of The Recent Screening Highlights Have Included:
Juno, Kite Runner, The Savages, A Mighty Heart, Death At A Funeral, Waitress, The Hoax, Lives Of Others, Black Book, Away From Her, Babel, Little Children, Illusionist, Painted Veil, Little Miss Sunshine,Good Night & Good Luck, Transamerica, Paradise Now, The Squid And The Whale, The Matador, Hustle and Flow, Kinsey, Supersize Me, American Splendor, Whale Rider.
With Recent, Special, Live Appearances By:
Jason Reitman, Sigourney Weaver, Zach Braff, Keri Russel, Olympia Dukakis, Tom Cavanagh, Edward Norton, Kevin Bacon, Gabriel Byrne, Harold Ramis, Patricia Clarkson, Tim Blake Nelson, Peter Saarsgard, Paul Giamatti, Paul Rudd, Eli Wallach, Anthony Quinn, Peter Bogdanovich, Patricia Arquette, Ismail Merchant, Joe Pantoliano, Stanley Tucci, Edie Falco, Aidan Quinn, John Turturro, Bob Hoskins, Celeste Holm, Paul Sorvino, Alfred Molina, George Plimpton, Director Robert Downey Sr. (Putney Swope), Frank Langella, Anthony LaPaglia, Vincent D’Onfrio, Danny Aiello, Writer Director Herb Gardner (1000 Clowns), Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Produced By The Cinema Arts Group, Inc.
Producers: Mark & Ira Ehrenkranz
HOSTED BY: Peter Travers (CNN/Rolling Stone Magazine),)
Marshall Fine (STAR Magazine),
David Edelstein (New York Magazine /NPR’s Fresh Air/ CBS Sunday Mornings),
Godfrey Cheshire (The Independent),
Charley Taylor (Star Ledger, National Society of Film Critics),
Laura Blum (comingsoon.net),
Stephen Whitey (Star Ledger) and others.
