Lucy and Desi
Dir. Amy Poehler
Saying that the program I Love Lucy paved the way for television would be an understatement. Lucille Ball inspired a…
The Imaginary
Dir. Yoshiyuki Momose
Remember Bing Bong from Inside Out? This time, there’s a whole world of imaginary friends that don’t fade into the…
Housekeeping
Dir. Bill Forsyth
Bill Forsyth, an acclaimed Scottish director best known for his films Local Hero and Gregory’s Girl, directs an underrated masterpiece…
3 Women
Dir. Robert Altman
Robert Altman’s 3 Women begins normally—it follows the flirtatious Millie, the childlike Pinky, and the silent Willie, all of whom…
In the Gloaming
Dir. Christopher Reeve
In the Gloaming has the expected constraints of a made-for-TV movie. It is set in only a handful of places,…
Days of Heaven
Dir. Terrence Malick
The title of Days of Heaven perfectly captures the idyllic life on the farm. It’s truly beautiful. Director Terrence Malick…
My Dinner with Andre
Dir. Louis Malle
The entire premise of My Dinner with Andre is in the title. Nothing more or less happens physically—it’s literally two…
Only Yesterday
Dir. Isao Takahata
This beautiful, realistic, and nostalgic anime movie about childhood is one that almost anyone can relate to. Set in the…
Harold and Maude
Dir. Hal Ashby
Harold and Maude may ostensibly be about death—so much so, that by Harold’s 10th fake suicide attempt, you’ll be rolling…
Secondhand Lions
Dir. Tim McCanlies
This forgotten gem is the perfect family movie. It stars Michael Caine and Robert Duvall as the two eccentric uncles of Walter, a…
Avalon
Dir. Barry Levinson
For the longest time, family was everything. Traditions were maintained, opportunities were made and created for it, and the community…
Manon of the Springs
Dir. Claude Berri
Manon des Sources (Manon of the Springs), directed by Claude Berri, follows a young woman named Manon living reclusively in…
East of Eden
Dir. Elia Kazan
Given the sprawling epic it’s based on, the first film adaptation of East of Eden had to make some adjustments.…
Badlands
Dir. Terrence Malick
Two young lovers go on a violent spree and run away together with zero care for anything else outside of…
True Stories
Dir. David Byrne
When artists or musical bands make films, it’s usually a tour documentary or a biopic of some sort, where fans…
The Long Walk Home
Dir. Richard Pearce
When it comes to films depicting America’s history of racism, many white produced films tend to be centered on a…
The Illusionist
Dir. Sylvain Chomet
Even for the greatest, things can change enough that what was once popular is now ignored, what was once appreciated…
Song of the Sea
Dir. Tomm Moore
This animated movie is absolutely wonderful. It’s an Irish production, and the drawings/graphics are so beautiful and different from what…
Ernest and Celestine
Dir. Benjamin Renner & Stéphane Aubier
Ernest is an old bear and Celestine a young mouse; he lives above ground, while she lives underground. Their kinds…
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Dir. Steven Zaillian
Generally, a mentorship is a great way to find guidance and direction, but rarely do we discuss the importance of…
Bagdad Café
Dir. Percy Adlon
This quirky 1988 adventure drama is newly available on Amazon Prime. It’s the classic that never was, the story of…
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Dir. Dean Fleischer-Camp
There’s a lot of good to be found in the charming, poignant, and endlessly quotable Marcel the Shell With Shoes…
Queen of Katwe
Dir. Mira Nair
If you wanted to watch a woman that rose to the top rankings of chess, playing piece-to-piece against some of…
Little Manhattan
Dir. Mark Levin
At an older age, love can feel like it’s overrated, but watching Little Manhattan easily makes you remember the way…
Nicholas Nickleby
Dir. Douglas McGrath
While writing the classic novel Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens was also writing Nicholas Nickleby, with volumes released every month. His…
Better Off Dead...
Dir. Savage Steve Holland
A lot of 80s comedies have not stood the test of time (remember when racism was funny?) but this smart…
