The Lives of Others
Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmark
One of the most original movies about life in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall, The Lives of Others is an intense drama with outstanding performances by a completely unknown cast (in the U.S., anyway) and a gripping plot with unexpected twists and a surprisingly touching ending. Rather than paint the hostile, menacing and fanatic regime of communist East Germany in broad strokes, the movie focuses on one intelligence officer’s surveillance of a celebrated right-wing playwright and his girlfriend, who is also the star of his plays. Captain Gerd Wiesler (superbly played by Ulrich Mühe) is in charge of monitoring every detail of their lives in the hopes of discovering evidence of the writer’s treachery. But the more he listens, and the closer he gets, the harder it becomes for him to carry out his duty. Click on the image to buy now!
 

Eklavya: The Royal Guard
Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Why can’t there be more movies like this coming out of Bollywood? Eklavya is a wonderful movie that steers clear of long-winded dance sequences, scantily clad heroines laden down with too many tinkling jewels, and despotic bad men (okay, there is a despotic bad guy, but he’s not over the top).  The movie beautifully blends modern India with its Mahabharata ancestor in a tale of a young prince who, upon the death of his mother, learns that his father is not the king, but rather Eklavya, the aging royal guard whose renown and skill is the stuff of legend. Sure, the plot is utterly melodramatic, but the commanding cast of A-list superstars, headlined by the icon himself, Amitabh Bachchan, shows us that an ensemble Indian cast can act without having to perform. Click on the image to buy now!
 

Black Snake Moan
Directed by Craig Brewer
Wow. Chained nymphomaniacs, dumped and dejected blues guitarists, and all the glamour of the Deep South. This movie has none of the elements of a blockbuster, and I loved it. Cristina Ricci does for poor white trash what Sharon Stone did for … well, rich white trash. This is a hot and steamy mix of blues, sex, and seduction, with little regard for socially acceptable behavior. Enjoy its irreverent black humor, in-your-face sex appeal, and the terrific performances. Samuel Jackson brings the same power to his role as he did in Pulp Fiction; Justin Timberlake came out of nowhere; and Cristina Ricci just blows you away. Click on the image to buy now!