“The Company You Keep” stars Robert Redford (director) as Jim Grant, a former Weather Underground activist who is on the lam. Shia LaBeouf plays journalist Ben Shepard who uncovers Grant’s identity. It’s a political thriller with a slew of top actors including Susan Sarandon, Richard Jenkins, Chris Cooper, Nick Nolte, Sam Elliott, Stanley Tucciand Julie Christie. “The Company You Keep” is playing now in New York City at Regal Union Square Stadium 14, Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and City Cinemas 123. Rated R. 125 minutes.
“No Place on Earth” is part dramatization and part documentary about a tale that would seem far-fetched had it not been true. The matriarch of a Jewish family led her loved ones to evade capture during World War II. They hid out in Ukraine caves for a year and a half. Cave enthusiast Chris Nicola came upon buttons, a worn comb, cup and key near what seemed to be crude makeshift furniture. When he saw names scrawled on the cave walls he became obsessed with uncovering the story. Doggedly, Nicola tracked down the people who’d lived there and uncovered this extraordinary chronicle of survival. Janet Tobias masterfully wrote and directed. The film stars holocaust survivors Saul (92) and Sam (86) Stermer and Sonia (79) and Sima Dodyk (74). “No Place on Earth” is playing now at Film Society Lincoln Center, 144 West 65th Street, NYC. Rated PG-13. 83 minutes.
“Simon Killer,” starring Brady Corbet as Simon, first opened at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Filmmaker Antonio Campos(“Martha Marcy May Marlene”) wrote and directed. Simon, an American sociopath in Paris, thinks he’s a pretty alright guy. Haunted and weak after a recent breakup, he misreads a prostitute’s kindness and thinks she actually cares for him. Simon is a weirdo who puts one in mind of Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) from Martin Scorcese’s “Taxi Driver.” Corbet gives a brilliant performance and this film noir thriller is creepy. Some will find it deliciously so while others might just get too creeped out. “Simon Killer” is playing now at NYC’s IFC Center, 323 6th Avenue. Not rated. 102 minutes.
“Down the Shore” is a heartrending drama of family, friendship, love, loss and deceit. The amazing cast will blow you away. The story, set on the New Jersey shore, is about three lifelong friends who grew up together. To avoid any spoilers, let’s just leave it at that. James Gandolfiniis riveting as down in the dumps Bailey who drinks. Bailey’s best friend is Wiley (Joe Pope) who is married to Mary (Famke Janssen) and they have a teenage autistic son Martin who is played pitch perfectly by John Magaro (“Liberal Arts”). Jacques is played by Edoardo Costa who is not only soap opera handsome, he is also captivating and we dare you not to fall for him. Let’s all pray Costa does many more movies … and quick! Wow, he is something. “Down the Shore” was made years ago and originally titled, “Kiddie Ride.” It’s odd that the movie was sat-on for so long. Usually that’s a bad sign. Two years ago it did a few festival screenings but gained little attention. Yeah, yeah, it could be accused of being laden down with clichés, but for those who dig sentimental it won’t disappoint. Frankly, this indie is lumps-in-your-throat moving. “Down the Shore” is playing now at the Quad Cinema, 34 West 13th Street. Rated R. 93 minutes. Also available on Blu-ray and DVD.
“In The House” (Dans la maison) is adapted from the play, “The Boy in the Last Row.” The screenplay was written by François Ozon (“Swimming Pool”) who also directs. Fabrice Luchiniplays Germain, a literature teacher who is disgusted by his sea of students who write by dashing off short un-prose-like accounts of their TV watching and cell phones. One student, Claude Garcia (Ernst Umhauer), earns Germain’s interest by writing intimate details about a family that Claude has ingratiated himself into. It’s a story about voyeurism, manipulation, ethics, morals and relationships. It’s a winner! Don’t miss this one. One disclaimer: the ending falls a little flat. The rest of the film is intriguing so the so-so ending is forgivable. Kristin Scott Thomas plays Jeanne Germain, the professor’s frustrated wife. Denis Ménochet plays Rapha Artole père, father to Garcia’s manipulated classmate, Rapha Artole fils (Bastien Ughetto). Ménochet gives an excellent performance and we shall look forward to seeing much more of him in future films.Emmanuelle Seigner plays Rapha’s crimped and bored mom, Esther Artole. The cast gives spellbinding performances and the story is deeply engrossing, and original. We highly recommend this one. “In the House” opens on Friday, April 19, 2013 at New York City’s Sunshine Cinema Landmark Theaters, 143 East Houston Street. Rated R. 105 minutes. French with subtitles.
