Far from Heaven 2002  PG-13, 107 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Todd Haynes
Cast: Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, Patricia Clarkson, Viola Davis, James Rebhorn, Bette Henritze, Michael Gaston, Ryan Ward, Lindsay Andretta
Set in the 1950s, an upper-class housewife, Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore), finds her life spiraling downward. First, she discovers that her husband (Dennis Quaid) is gay and then finds her close friendship with her African American gardener (Dennis Haysbert) is causing a scandal in her community. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Actress (Julianne Moore).
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The Happiness Cage 1972  PG, 94 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: The Mind Snatchers
The Demon Within
Director: Bernard Girard
Cast: Christopher Walken, Joss Ackland, Ronny Cox, Ralph Meeker, Marco St. John, Susan Travers, Tom Aldredge, Bette Henritze, Birthe Neumann, Claus Nissen
U.S. Army Private Reese (Christopher Walken) is in constant trouble, so he is sent to a medical facility at a remote location. Hmmm, it appears he is part of a mind control experiment intended to take care of people like him.
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Judy Berlin 2000 N/R, 95 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Eric Mendelsohn
Cast: Barbara Barrie, Bob Dishy, Edie Falco, Julie Kavner, Madeline Kahn, Carlin Glynn, Aaron Harnick, Bette Henritze, Anne Meara, Novella Nelson
Babylon is a NYC suburb and a total eclipse is on the way at noon. Thus the stage is set for a slice of life centering on schoolteacher Sue (Barbara Barrie); her daughter, Judy (Edie Falco); the school principal, Arthur (Bob Dishy); his wife, Alice (Madeline Kahn); and their son, David (Aaron Harnick). David has just returned from a failed effort as a movie director in Hollywood and meets an old high-school classmate, Judy, an aspiring actress about to leave town to make it big. Meanwhile, Sue and Arthur start an affair while depressed, whining Alice ponders life. Though all of the characters have problems, the film works well as a fine mood piece, much of which takes place in the semi-darkness of the eclipse. Remarkable black and white photography, and the last film appearance by the late Madeline Kahn.
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Taking Woodstock 2009  110 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy / Drama
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Demetri Martin, Dan Fogler, Imelda Saunton, Emile Hirsch, Eugene Levy, Liev Schreiber, Henry Goodman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Adam LeFevre, Kevin Chamberlin, Jonathan Groff, Edward Hibbert, Paul Dano, Kelli Garner, Bette Henritze
This film is based on the true story of Greenwich Village interior designer Elliot (Demetri Martin) who moved back to his parents'–Sonia and Jake (Imelda Stanton and Henry Goodman)–home in upstate New York to help manage their run-down Catskills motel, The El Monaco. The year is 1969, and when Elliot gets word that a neighboring town has retracted its permit for a planned hippie music festival, Elliot sees a way to drum-up business for the motel. Elliot contacts the producer, Michael Lang (Jonathan Groff), and offers to board the crew and use his family's land for the concert. Their land is a swamp and will not work, but a few weeks later, half a million people arrive for the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival that takes place on neighbor Max Yasgur's (Eugene Levy) farm. Elliot works hard to keep things running smoothly, and his success changes his life forever.
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| 1. Far from Heaven (2002)
2. The Happiness Cage (1972)
aka: The Mind Snatchers
aka: The Demon Within
3. Judy Berlin (2000)
4. Taking Woodstock (2009)
In The News
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