Everlasting Moments

An LA Times Critics' Choice award for "Everlasting Moments" from film critic Kenneth Turan, who writes:

Swedish director Jan Troell will be 78 in July, and when he talks about his filmmaking choices, about where to spend "the last vestiges of his time and energy," it is not a theoretical concern. His hand, Troell says, "must be turned to something quite extraordinary," and with "Everlasting Moments," it definitely is. (Kenneth Turan's review of "Everlasting Moments")

Synopsis Everlasting Moments
In a series of remarkable events inspired by a true story, Maria Heiskanen stars as Maria Larsson, a Finnish mother and housewife who devotes all of her attention, care, and consideration to the well-being of her family -- but, like many homemakers, does so at the expense of her own identity and self-awareness. Not that her dockworker husband, Sigge (Mikael Persbrandt), particularly deserves such consideration; a brutish, alcoholic lout, his evenings consist of making life hell for Maria and their daughter with tyrannical, abusive behavior. Then, as the dockworkers go on strike and the family's economic situation plummets, a ray of hope appears, in the form of a Contessa camera won in a local lottery. Unsurprisingly, Maria at first attempts to pawn it to reel in extra monies, but store owner Sebastian Pedersen convinces her otherwise; he teaches her how to use it, and she begins taking gorgeous, haunting photographs with the unaffected, instinctive perceptions of a young child. As the woman's self-discovery builds and her identity takes on form and definition, Sebastian unofficially takes her on as a protégée and quietly witnesses romantic feelings for her building inside of him. Meanwhile, Sigge's life falls to pieces when the authorities connect him with the catastrophic explosion of a British vessel. Maria's daughter, Maja (Callin Öhrvall), narrates. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide


Cast: Maria Heiskanen, Jesper Christensen, Mikael Persbrandt, Callin Ohrvall
Director: Jan Troell
Genres: Period Film, Drama, Family Drama
Opened March 6, 2009 Runtime:2 hr. 11 min.

Showtimes and tickets for "Everlasting Moments" at Fandango.com

Sunshine Cleaning

LA Times film critic, Betsy Sharkey awards a Critics' Choice award to "Sunshine Cleaning" writing

On the surface, "Sunshine Cleaning," about a small-time crime scene cleanup crew in a crumbling corner of Albuquerque, is an offbeat and oddly endearing drama, leavened with just the right amount of comedy to even things out. But dig in a bit deeper, and you uncover a smartly done morality tale that couldn't be more in sync with these troubled times. Read Sharkey's full review here

Synopsis "Sunshine Cleaning"

A single mom and her slacker sister find an unexpected way to turn their lives around in the off-beat dramatic comedy Sunshine Cleaning. Directed by Christine Jeffs (Rain, Sylvia), this uplifting film about an average family that finds the path to its dreams in an unlikely setting screened in competition at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Once the high school cheerleading captain who dated the quarterback, Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) now finds herself a thirty something single mother working as a maid. Her sister Norah, (Emily Blunt), is still living at home with their dad Joe (Alan Arkin), a salesman with a lifelong history of ill-fated get rich quick schemes. Desperate to get her son into a better school, Rose persuades Norah to go into the crime scene clean-up business with her to make some quick cash. In no time, the girls are up to their elbows in murders, suicides and other…specialized situations. As they climb the ranks in a dirty job, the sisters find respect for one another.

Cast: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Jason Spevack, Steve Zahn
Director: Christine Jeffs
Genres: Comedy Drama

Show times and tickets for "Sunshine Cleaning" at Fandango.com

Two Lovers

An LA Times Critics' Award for "Two Lovers" from film critic Betsy Sharkey:

Joaquin Phoenix's performance in writer-director James Gray's film represents possibly his best work in an already accomplished career. It is an exceptionally moving film with beautiful performances also turned in by Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw.

Synopsis
Following a broken engagement, sometime photographer Leonard Kraditor moves in with his parents in Brighton Beach. He soon becomes involved with Sandra, an honest and sensible young woman. They appear to be a perfect match, then Michelle enters the picture. Beautiful but manipulative, she wraps him around her finger, even though she has a rich, married boyfriend.


Opened February 13, 2009 Runtime:1 hr. 40 min.
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini, Elias Koteas
Director: James Gray
Genres: Romantic Drama, Psychological Drama, Drama

Showtimes for "Two Lovers"