Music & Musicals
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Lemonade Mouth
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Lemonade Mouth

2011
Detention may seem an unlikely launching pad, but that's exactly what it turns out to be for five high school students who meet there by (mis)chance and form a band that not only rocks their school but becomes a force for good in this Disney musical.

Directed by:

  • Patricia Riggen
    • rating:4.1.png 4.1 Average Rating


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    Music Instinct: Science and Song
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    Music Instinct: Science and Song

    2009
    Its impact bridging time, geography and culture, music serves to unite all peoples of the globe. This groundbreaking documentary explores how and why humans are so inexorably affected by rhythm and melody. Art and science intersect as leading researchers and prominent musicians such as Bobby McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma reveal surprising connections between music, the brain, the body and human evolution.

    Directed by:

  • Elena Mannes
    • rating:4.0.png 4.0 Average Rating


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    Fidel
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    Fidel

    2002
    This documentary by director Estela Bravo takes a look at the political and social impact the immensely powerful Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has had on the world during the 40-plus years he's been in power. Through interviews with politicians (Nelson Mandela, Arthur Schlesinger), friends (Gabriel Garcia Marquez), and other cultural experts (Alice Walker), Fidel's personality and work are explored and discussed.

    Directed by:

  • Estela Bravo
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Harp Dreams
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    Harp Dreams

    2010
    Blythe Danner narrates this music-driven documentary about the prestigious USA International Harp Competition, a discriminating contest held every three years that attracts talented harpists from all over the world. With footage shot in the United States, Paris, Moscow and Zurich, Switzerland, the film follows a handful of young contenders all vying for the coveted grand prize: a lucrative recording contract and a priceless instrument.

    Directed by:

  • Susan Schwibs
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind
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    Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind

    2003
    Joni Mitchell's career as a singer-songwriter and painter is extensively profiled in this in-depth documentary, which originally aired as part of the PBS American Masters series. Take a look at this prolific artist as she reflects on a career that spans decades and includes some of the most influential music of that era.

    Directed by:

  • Susan Lacy
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    The Fall of Fujimori
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    The Fall of Fujimori

    2006
    Ellen Perry's true-life political thriller documents the reign of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, a man who ran on a ticket to fight poverty but whose rule was ultimately marked by violence, corruption and controversy. With promises to restore stability and crush terrorist insurgents, Fujimori won popular support -- and the 1990 election -- but his administration eventually dissolved under the weight of political abuses and scandal.

    Directed by:

  • Ellen Perry
    • rating:3.7.png 3.7 Average Rating


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    Amreeka
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    Amreeka

    2009
    Eager to provide a better future for her son, Fadi (Melkar Muallem), divorcée Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) leaves her Palestinian homeland and takes up residence in rural Illinois -- just in time to encounter the domestic repercussions of America's disastrous war in Iraq. Now, the duo must reinvent their lives with some help from Muna's sister, Raghda (Hiam Abbass), and brother-in-law, Nabeel (Yussuf Abu-Warda). Cherien Dabis writes and directs.

    Directed by:

  • Cherien Dabis
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    Vision: From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen
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    Vision: From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen

    2009
    Directed by longtime star of independent German cinema Margarethe von Trotta, this reverent biopic chronicles the fascinating story of 12th-century Christian mystic and scientist Hildegard von Bingen (Barbara Sukowa). Despite living in an era when women are proscribed from preaching and interpreting scripture, Hildegard believes that the visions she experiences are a gift from God that she must reveal -- even at the risk of condemnation.

    Directed by:

  • Margarethe von Trotta
    • rating:3.5.png 3.5 Average Rating


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    Love and Mary
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    Love and Mary

    2007
    After a bad review imperils her upscale bake shop, Mary plans to take her fiancé, Brent, back to Texas, with the hope of scoring some cash from the engagement party. But an outbreak of hives forces Mary to take Brent's jailbird twin, Jake, instead.

    Directed by:

  • Elizabeth Harrison
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls
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    The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls

    2009
    Trace the fascinating lives of New Zealand's provocative music and comedy duo Jools and Linda Topp through this enjoyable documentary, which details the lesbian twins' rural upbringing, political activism and immense popularity at home and abroad. Featuring hilarious interviews with several of the sisters' most outrageous alter egos, this joyous celebration also includes brilliant insights into New Zealand's history.

    Directed by:

  • Leanne Pooley
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    The Flute Player
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    The Flute Player

    2003
    After the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia in 1975, 9-year-old Arn Chorn-Pond was thrust into the darkness of Cambodia's Killing Fields. For four years, Arn's musical talent kept him from perishing in a genocide that took the lives of 2 million Cambodians. Now, after living in the United States for 20 years, Arn faces the dark shadows of his war-torn past as he fights to save Cambodia's once-outlawed traditional music from extinction.

    Directed by:

  • Jocelyn Glatzer
    • rating:3.4.png 3.4 Average Rating


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    The Boys Next Door
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    The Boys Next Door

    1985
    On the eve of their high school graduation, two young men (Maxwell Caulfield and Charlie Sheen) head for Los Angeles -- along the way they embark on a violent murder spree that shocks the nation. They're not maniacs, nor are they hardened criminals; they're just the "typical" boys next door. This crime drama from director Penelope Spheeris (Wayne's World) is a startling look at crime amid normalcy.

    Directed by:

  • Penelope Spheeris
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    The Producers
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    The Producers

    2005
    A has-been Broadway producer and a neurotic accountant scheme to raise a ton of money for a production that's sure to be a flop -- a play titled "Springtime for Hitler," penned by a Nazi -- so they can then pocket the extra cash.

    Directed by:

  • Susan Stroman
    • rating:3.2.png 3.2 Average Rating


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    Stagedoor
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    Stagedoor

    2005
    Summer camp is usually filled with activities and crafts, but for the kids of Stagedoor Manor, camp is all song and dance, literally. Spawning superstar alumni such as Natalie Portman, Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Jason Leigh and Felicity Huffman, Stagedoor Manor is a breeding ground for talent. Director Alexandra Shiva follows five dedicated campers through rigorous rehearsals to a theatrical performance that rivals professional productions.

    Directed by:

  • Alexandra Shiva
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    Grease 2
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    Grease 2

    1982
    Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Stephanie Zinone, the leader of Rydell High's sexy and sassy Pink Ladies who catches the eye of Michael Carrington (Maxwell Caulfield), the nerdy new kid on the block fresh from England. The only way Michael will ever be the object of Stephanie's affection is if he shapes up and become as cool as the T-Birds, the male counterpart to the Pink Ladies. Let the transformation begin!

    Directed by:

  • Patricia Birch
    • rating:3.1.png 3.1 Average Rating


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    Inside the Circle
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    Inside the Circle

    2007
    For four years, filmmaker Marcy Garriott followed three young break-dancers -- Omar, Josh and Romeo -- as they struggled to be the best. The result is this kinetic documentary that showcases explosive performances as well as the b-boy lifestyle. Though beset with legal troubles, poverty and limited practice time, the guys put heart and soul into their quest for stardom. Grupo Fantasma's Adrian Quesada provides the pulsating soundtrack.

    Directed by:

  • Marcy Garriott
    • rating:3.0.png 3.0 Average Rating


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    Now and Then
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    Now and Then

    1995
    Waxing nostalgic about the bittersweet passage from childhood to puberty in this tender coming-of-age tale, four childhood girlfriends -- Teeny, Chrissy, Samantha and Roberta -- recall the magical summer of 1970. During their walk down memory lane, they reconcile experiences with boys, secrets, bullies and more. Lesli Linka Glatter directs; Gaby Hoffmann, Ashleigh Aston Moore, Cloris Leachman, Thora Birch and Christina Ricci co-star.

    Directed by:

  • Lesli Linka Glatter
    • rating:3.8.png 3.8 Average Rating


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    Now and Then (1995)
    A heartwarming movie about four childhood girlfriends who, in adulthood reunion, relive their experience of the life-changing summer of 1970, including a mystery death, divorce, standing up to the boys, first kiss, and the meaning of true friendship. Each explores her unique identity amidst family and friends. Beautifully directed by Lesli Linka Glatter.
    - Frances   
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