Martin Eden
Martin (Luca Marinelli) is a self-taught proletarian with artistic aspirations who hopes that his dreams of becoming a writer will help him rise above his station and marry a wealthy young university student (Jessica Cressy). The dissatisfactions of working-class toil and bourgeois success lead to political awakening and destructive anxiety in this enveloping, superbly mounted bildungsroman.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“The film is a masterpiece, so you should see it any way you can.” – Bilge Ebiri, Vulture
“The true miracle of this film is how Marcello translates both London’s scabrous tone and his lush, character-revealing prose into pure cinema. Lines have been plucked from the novel, yet even at its wordiest, the film is never weighed down by the burden of faithfulness.” – Manohla Dargis, New York Times
“Pietro Marcello’s sweeping historical Italian epic Martin Eden is a whole lot of movie. It possesses a weight and heft, both cinematically and philosophically, that make it a rare treat. And at the center of the film is a whole lot of movie star: Luca Marinelli’s performance in the title role is an outstanding star turn for the Italian actor.” – Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune
Available on Kanopy.
The Mole Agent
When a family grows concerned for their mother’s well-being in a retirement home, private investigator Romulo hires 83-year-old Sergio to pose as a new resident and undercover spy inside the facility. The Mole Agent follows Sergio as he struggles to balance his assignment with his increasing involvement in the lives of the many residents he meets.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“The Mole Agent may not look like a documentary, but it builds to a poetic finale enmeshed in emotional authenticity.” – Eric Kohn, IndieWire
“The Mole Agent is a perfect film. From a technical and emotional viewpoint equally, The Mole Agent possesses no flaws. Yes, as with every documentary, manipulation is openly displayed and validity can always be questioned, but The Mole Agent dissuades any inkling of pessimism or negativity through its unabashed sincerity.” – Jonathan Christian, The Playlist
“What begins as a bit of a lark blossoms into a moving reflection on old age and loneliness that should strike a chord across the generations.” – Allan Hunter, Screen Daily
Available on Kanopy.
The Last Right
A fateful exchange on a flight has consequences for Daniel Murphy. He’s left in charge of a corpse of someone he never knew. He is persuaded to take on the challenge of getting a coffin from his family home in Clonakilty to Rathlin Island.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“The comedic drama is insightful, touching, and relatable, permitting viewers the ability to resonate with its every line, moment, and character.” – Kyle Bain, Film Threat
“Crehan knits it together like a well-worn onesie: you know exactly what shape it’s going to be once you’re wrapped up in it, but that doesn’t mean it lacks for comfort and warmth.” – Mike McCahill, The Guardian
“[A] small film that never feels small. There’s an expressive spirit that permeates the whole thing, charming us with the predictable and unpredictable alike… a film about love and loss and the ties that bind us together, whether we want them to or not.” – Allen Adams, The Maine Edge
Available on Hoopla.
We Are Little Zombies
When four young orphans—Hikari, Ikuko, Ishi, and Takemura—first meet, their parents’ bodies are being turned into dust, like fine Parmesan atop a plate of spaghetti Bolognese, and yet none of them can shed a tear. They are like zombies; devoid of all emotion. With no family, no future, no dreams, and no way to move forward, the young teens decide that the first level of this new existence involves salvaging a gaming console, an old electric bass, and a charred wok from their former homes—just enough to start a band… and then conquer the world.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“We Are Little Zombies is the most entertaining thing to come out of Japan since sushi, Iron Chef and the Miata.” – Roger Moore, Movie Nation
“No pulsating, psychedelic, pop-punk phantasmagoria ought to be as moving and smart as We Are Little Zombies. But Makoto Nagahisa’s explosively ingenious and energetic debut (imagine it as the spiritual offspring of Richard Lester and a Harajuku Girl) holds the high score for visual and narrative invention, as well as boasting [insert gigantic-beating-heart GIF] and braaaains, too.” – Jessica Kiang, Variety
“A relentless, but emotionally well-balanced character study of Hikari (Keita Ninomiya) and his bandmates as they receive a series of transformative reality checks, and also perform post-millennial garage rock that sounds like a cross between post-shoegaze emo rock and video-game-style chiptunes.” – Simon Abrams, RogerEbert.com
Available on Kanopy.
Sound of Noise
Police officer Amadeus Warnebring was born into a musical family with a long history of famous musicians. Ironically, he hates music. His life is thrown into chaos when a band of crazy musicians decides to perform a musical apocalypse using the city as their orchestra… Reluctantly, Warnebring embarks on his first musical investigation…
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“What binds the entertaining crime movie to its YouTube-ready musical interludes is the unspoken yearning of its two leads: he for the world of silence in which he’d rather live, and she for all the sounds that slip by every second, uncontrolled and unappreciated.” – Noel Murray, AV Club
“What follows is a character study mixed with outlandish crime procedural. Everyone’s quite serious about the joke, without a moment of Adam Sandler-style ‘look at how cute we are’ that would only dilute the film’s appeal. Sound of Noise is a dry treat – a solid, self-aware cult pleasure.” – David DeWitt, New York Times
“Without pounding home its avant-garde cred, this fresh ode to found sound and the music of silence casts an amused gaze at careerism, classical-music reverence and notions of artistic purity and ends with a pitch-perfect change of tune.” – Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times
Available on Kanopy.
The Good Doctor
Martin Blake is an ambitious but anxious young doctor, eager to impress his superiors and colleagues: Chief Resident Waylans, self-assured fellow intern Dan and no-nonsense nurse Theresa. But things are not going Martin’s way and he can’t seem to shake off his insecurities. When 18-year-old patient Diane is admitted for a kidney infection, Martin steps in, getting the much-needed boost of self-esteem he craves. But things take a dark turn as his enthusiasm begins to become an obsession.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“John Enbom’s slow-burn script avoids overloading the action with backstory or psychologizing, and Bloom strikes the right balance of diffidence, panic and blank-itude to keep things creepily on edge.” – Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times
“The film is anchored and greatly bolstered by Bloom, who delivers a performance of quietly escalating madness.” – Nick Schager, Village Voice
“Daly deftly creates a disturbing, Chabrol-like tension that plays on immediate identification with the handsome medico’s lonely, shy vulnerability and slow-building horror at the depths to which his self-delusion can sink.” – Ronnie Scheib, Variety
Available on Kanopy.
The Adventures of Thomas and Felix
After escaping from summer camp, Thomas and his invisible fox Felix have the adventure of a lifetime.
Description provided by IMDb.
“Director Micah Barber finds inspiration in the questions kids ask for his magical fantasy… His film is a classic, simple tale of two good friends.” – Richard Whittaker, Austin Chronicle
Available on Hoopla.
Wallflower
A man planning to commit a mass shooting is befriended by an eccentric group of ravers and finds himself conflicted about his intentions.
Description provided by Rotten Tomatoes.
“An immersive fever dream of raves, Molly and guiltless survivor’s guilt covering the last hours of an infamous mass murderer.” – Roger Moore, Movie Nation
“Wallflower walks a fine, unsteady line between keeping the narrative engaging and somehow making the story ‘entertaining.'” – Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic
“This culture-clash snapshot provides a moving if also mysterious portrait of fragile mental health snapping tether entirely amid the alien environs of blithe hedonism.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety
Available on Kanopy.
A Crooked Somebody
Michael’s minister father always told him: Better to be an honest nobody than a crooked somebody. But Michael (Richard Sommer) doesn’t see the harm in giving people the closure they need with the dead and travels town-to-town professing his abilities as a spirit medium. One night, Michael is kidnapped. With a knife to his throat, Michael suddenly sees the opportunity of a lifetime in his psychologically unstable captor’s (Clifton Collins Jr.) desperation to make contact with the other side. Intent on saving his life and his floundering career, Michael sets out to become a celebrity TV psychic by solving the mystery of a high-profile crime in the national spotlight.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Often uncomfortable and all the better for it, A Crooked Somebody doesn’t mind watching its characters squirm a little. That’s tough for them but good for us in this highly enjoyable thriller.” – Ken Jaworowski, New York Times
“Working from a smartly constructed script by Andrew Zilch, director Trevor White (Jamesy Boy) does an impressive job of propelling the narrative along parallel tracks of arrestingly suspenseful thriller and knowing media satire.” – Joe Leydon, Variety
“[A] meticulously balanced blend of character-based drama and genre conventions.” – Maitland McDonagh, Film Journal International
Available on Kanopy.
PG: Psycho Goreman
Siblings Mimi and Luke unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord who was entombed on Earth millions of years ago after a failed attempt to destroy the universe. They nickname the evil creature Psycho Goreman (or PG for short) and use the magical amulet they discovered to force him to obey their childish whims. It isn’t long before PG’s reappearance draws the attention of intergalactic friends and foes from across the cosmos and a rogues’ gallery of alien combatants converges in small-town suburbia to battle for the fate of the galaxy.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Will good triumph over evil? Who cares, when there’s this much chaotic creature fun to be had.” – Richard Whittaker, Austin Chronicle
“Psycho Goreman is a necessary explosion of ridiculous fun in a time when it’s needed most. Fans of practical effects and over-the-top horror-comedy will instantly fall in love.” – Mary Beth McAndrews, Paste
“The movie’s ability to flirt with the familiar and completely turn it on its head is what keeps Psycho Goreman so perversely fresh and fun throughout. It never once betrays its dark heart and continually trots out practical creature effects that tumble out of a GWAR nightmare that keep it engaging, unique, and deliciously deviant all the way to the closing credits.” – Rob Rector, Film Threat
Available on Hoopla.
Bypass
After the death of his mother, a teen (George MacKay) turns to a life of crime to make ends meet.
Description provided by Rotten Tomatoes.
“The hard-bitten terseness doesn’t stop a faint glimmer of sentiment leaking in, but Hopkins is a stylist and a social observer with a cogent personal signature.” – Jonathan Romney, Observer
“Another sensitive performance from George MacKay (Pride) gives Duane Hopkins’s drama Bypass a solid emotional core.” – Kate Muir, The Times
“A welcome corrective to Benefits Street-type cynicism.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Available on Hoopla.
The Act of Reading
Every day, in high schools across the United States, a student will fall behind in a reading assignment. Some, like the protagonist of The Act of Reading, will go as far as to fail the class, only returning to the literature many years later. Now a fully-formed adult with a Master’s degree in Film Production, the narrator seeks to redeem himself in the eyes of his high school English teacher by presenting her with the best book report presentation on Moby-Dick that has ever been assembled. The mighty and digressive novel pulls the resulting film in its multitudinous directions, ultimately confronting us with bigger questions about how reading works in society and the brain, what happens when it doesn’t work, and how reading a book may alter the course of your life.
Description provided by Metacritic.
“I enjoyed The Act of Reading. I loved its insight and heart.” – Alan Ng, Film Threat
Available on Hoopla.
Beyond Sixty
The myth that older women are invisible is shattered in this inspirational, revealing look at remarkable women thriving, leading lives rich in experiences and accomplishments that defy perceptions and reveal what is possible beyond sixty.
Description provided by IMDb.
Available on Hoopla.
The Wanting Mare
In Whithren, a line of women pass a recurring dream through multiple generations.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“It’s remarkable how fully fleshed out Bateman’s hell-scape is, given that much of this movie was shot in an empty storage facility. There’s something haunting and poetic too about the simplicity of this story, which is primarily about how people find reasons to persevere once they find a companion.” – Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times
“It’s as if Nicholas Ashe Bateman is commenting on a distinctly American suburban malaise, using a fictional place, digitally made, to get at a real, painful truth about being stuck in a place you didn’t choose, amid circumstances you didn’t create.” – Henry Stewart, Slant
“Bateman’s worldbuilding introduces stranger elements that are always counterbalanced by more grounded emotional developments, keeping the audience engaged as hard as the esoteric mythology pushes them away. In that delicate balance it bypasses the logical parts of the brain and speaks purely in quiet emotional truths.” – Richard Whittaker, Austin Chronicle
Available on Hoopla.
Luxor
When British aid worker Hana returns to the ancient city of Luxor, she comes across Sultan, a talented archaeologist and former lover. As she wanders, haunted by the familiar place, she struggles to reconcile the choices of the past with the uncertainty of the present.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Filmmaker Zeina Durra’s entrancing, languorous Luxor wonders about the allure of the backward gaze and the uncertainty inspired by an unknowable future, and co-stars Andrea Riseborough and Karim Saleh are practically perfect in this thoughtful romance.” – Roxana Hadadi, RogerEbert.com
“In its modest, quiet maturity, Luxor avoids the cliché of presenting the East as exotic or renewal as a catharsis — it’s the rare travel story that understands how sometimes being someplace else is as much about the ‘being’ as it is the ‘someplace else.'” – Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times
“The dialogue is thin and the action is patchy, but Durra films Hana’s travels—and the places that she visits—with an ardent attention that fuses emotional life with aesthetic and intellectual exploration.” – Richard Brody, The New Yorker
Available on Hoopla.
Best Summer Ever
Sage and Anthony have had the “Best Summer Ever” after falling in love at a dance camp in Vermont. Not expecting to see each other again until the following summer, Sage, by a twist of fate, arrives unexpectedly at the same high school as Anthony. Now faced with the drama of high school cliques, an evil cheerleader, and the illegal secret that keeps Sage’s family on the move, they are forced to reevaluate their relationship as Tony struggles to be both the high school football star and the dancer he’s always wanted to be.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Tender and exuberant, it includes set pieces modeled on Footloose and Grease, and feels closer to those films in spirit than to the Disney Channel. This is the kind of movie that vibrates with the energy of the people who made it, whose enthusiasm radiates from the screen.” – Calum Marsh, New York Times
“Best Summer Ever isn’t the best movie ever, but what it does is continue to show that disability can be fun, unique, and enticing without being dour. It’s the best at what it’s doing and you’ll want to see more.” – Kristen Lopez, IndieWire
“Although some might argue that not mentioning anyone’s difference is a kind of erasure in itself, it’s hard not to get swept up in the cast and crew’s joyful insouciance. Plus, the cheeky showtunes, co-written by onscreen villain MuMu and executive producer Peter Halby, are a hoot.” – Leslie Felperin, Hollywood Reporter
Available on Hoopla.
Binti
Binti, a 12-year-old vlogger, plots a scheme with her new friend Elias. She wants to bring their parents together in order to save her future.
Description provided by Kanopy.
“If American kids’ movies were as naturally energetic, and as willing to explore some hard emotional truths, as the Belgian movie Binti, our children and Hollywood would be much better for it.” – Sean P. Means, The Movie Cricket
“Despite aiming the film at young audiences, Migom doesn’t hide the seriousness of the topic.” – Kaleem Aftab, Cineuropa
Available on Kanopy.
Team Marco
Young Marco is obsessed with playing video games and hardly leaves the house. But when his grandfather moves in, Marco’s life is turned upside-down and he’s forced… to go play outside. Nonno introduces him to bocce — the world’s oldest game — and to the neighborhood crew of old-school seniors who play daily at the local court. With sport, laughter and love, Marco finds connection to other people “in real life” and rounds up a team of neighborhood kids to take on his grandfather and his pals.
Description provided by Metacritic.
“Team Marco is a pleasant surprise in a world that can be quite cruel to comedies. I am genuinely impressed with the passionate acting, the compelling story, and the deep, moving metaphors. This film is sure to please everyone who watches.” – Kyle Bain, Film Threat
“Julio Vincent Gambuto’s debut feature could be dismissed as formulaic and overly sentimental-but only by misanthropes. Cynics have plenty of other options for entertainment. This is a life-affirming feel-good movie.” – Leonard Maltin, leonardmaltin.com
“Julio Vincent Gambuto’s charmer is a rare live-action family film winner, one that’s funny, sweet and certain to make you tear up a little.” – Randy Myers, San Jose Mercury News
Available on Kanopy.
Mrs. Hyde
Mrs. Géquil is a teacher despised by her colleagues and students. On a stormy night, she is struck by lightning and faints. When she wakes up, she feels different. Will she be able to keep the powerful and dangerous Mrs. Hyde contained?
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“There is much to savor in this beautifully-crafted movie.” – Rory O’Connor, The Film Stage
“Serge Bozon’s sharply political comedy—a giddily imaginative reworking of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale—stars Isabelle Huppert, who revels in its sly blend of dissonant humor, intellectual fervor, and macabre violence.” – Richard Brody, The New Yorker
“Eccentric and occasionally hilarious, this is yet another uniquely Bozonian creation, which this time explores the transmission of ideas between teachers and students and the tricky notion that our good side might not necessarily be our best side after all.” – Boyd van Hoeij, Hollywood Reporter
Available on Kanopy.
First Blush
Nena and Drew are a young, happy-ish married couple whose relationship is thrown off its axis when they meet Olivia. The trio’s attraction to each other is undeniable, but when they become romantically involved, they struggle to navigate the complications of a polyamorous relationship. The three push each other’s boundaries to their limits as they discover painful truths about who they are, what they want, and how to love in turbulent times.
Description provided by Metacritic.
“While First Blush has a few missteps that stifle the overall story, it does well in its exploration of relationships and what it means to be happy.” – Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant
“Neumark takes on the subject of the three-person relationship. Rather than turn it into an erotic thriller, he finds joy, complication, and humanity.” – Alan Ng, Film Threat
Available on Hoopla.
Mallory
A family fights for justice when Mallory Grossman, a 12-year-old girl, kills herself after months of relentless bullying at school and online.
Description provided by Rotten Tomatoes.
“The documentary film Mallory should be essential viewing for anyone who cares about helping prevent bullying that can lead to suicides… [It’s] a raw and very personal look at how one family is educating people on what to do before it’s too late.” – Carla Hay, Culture Mix
“This film is emotionally hard-hitting and important as an exploration of the way that harm travels through society.” – Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film
Available on Hoopla.
Four
On a hot 4th of July night, sparks fly between four people as they test the limits and possibilities of their own freedom.
Description provided by IMDb.
“Four goes believable places but avoids the trappings of traditional melodrama.” – Brian Tallerico, Hollywood Chicago
“The close-ups of faces convey reams of inchoate emotion and enhance the stumbling poetry mouthed by characters whose urge to connect conflicts with their innate sense of caution.” – Stephen Holden, New York Times
“A cautionary tale featuring spectacular Fourth of July fireworks of the emotional variety.” – Kam Williams, AALBC
Available on Kanopy.
Murder Bury Win
Three friends have created a board game, MURDER BURY WIN, and they think it has what it takes to become a bestseller on the indie charts. When their attempt to crowdfund fails, a mysterious man makes them an offer: he will publish their game on the condition that he takes credit as the sole creator and owner. After a dispute over the gaming rights leaves them with a body on their hands, the young men realize how suspiciously like murder the freak accident appears. Now, with few options remaining, they look to their game for guidance. The premise of their game? How to murder someone and get rid of the body.
Description provided by Rotten Tomatoes.
“Murder Bury Win is just pure fun.” – Kate Sánchez, But Why Tho?
“Presents a game that looks genuinely fun and wraps it up in an evocative story about how dreams often only come true at a cost. Beautifully performed, frequently hilarious, and will strike a chord with anyone who’s even a little bit creative.” – Joey Keogh, Vague Visages
“Murder Bury Win [is] a clever horror film that shows the importance of friendship and teamwork, while also showing the complexities of disposing of a dead body.” – Shannon McGrew, Nightmarish Conjurings
Available on Hoopla.
Castle Freak
Terror strikes when a blind woman and her friends travel to a mysterious Albanian castle that harbors dark secrets.
Description provided by Rotten Tomatoes.
“Influenced as much by Lovecraft as Gordon, Castle Freak is a rich and ambitious film about a blind young woman who inherits a castle with a secret.” – Alix Turner, Ready Steady Cut
“Castle Freak is an interesting update to a familiar horror film and manages to add more of the Lovecraftian influence back into the world.” – Amanda Mazzillo, Film Inquiry
“For all that it plays with some familiar archetypes, stylistically it’s breath of fresh air, and Catherine’s work in the lead gives it a strange kind of sincerity that will stay with you.” – Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film
Available on Hoopla.
Gamemaster
Gamemaster follows the trials and tribulations of designers as they create and publish board games. Conversations with industry legends like Klaus Teuber (Catan) help explore the cultural phenomenon of board gaming.
Description provided by Kanopy.
“Gamemaster lifts the lid and peers into the box of a world that you might not have been all that interested in, but with a charming simplicity, easy to follow rules, and a diverse group of characters, it’s worth giving it a spin.” – Matt Rodgers, Flickering Myth
“In their general outlines, the stories here are timeless and often inspirational.” – Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle
“It reminds us that there’s nothing more associated with childhood memories or a better method for shy kids, or adults, to connect in a fun way than playing games with others.” – Hanna B, Film Threat