A dramatized account of the capture, trial and last days of Sophie Scholl, who together with her brother Hans and a few friends, operated within Hitler's Germany an anti-Nazi movement called The White Rose. [ Sophie Scholl the Final Days credits: Dir: Marc Rothemund/ 120 min/ Biography, Drama, Foreign/ Resistance to tyranny] External Reviews "Compelling in its depiction … [Read more...]
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
A fourteen year-old Aborigine girl escapes with her sister and cousin from a 1930s Australian government camp intended to forcibly assimilate them into White society. [ Rabbit-Proof Fence credits: Dir: Phillip Noyce/ Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan/ 94min/ Adventure-Drama/ Government as Bigot] “Rabbit-Proof Fence is a touching and inspirational story, told … [Read more...]
Ararat (2002)
The members of a film crew struggle with their own respective interpretations of the past as they make a docudrama about the Armenian holocaust. [ Ararat credits: Dir: Atom Egoyan/ David Alpay, Arsinee Khanjian, Christopher Plummer/ 115min/ Drama/ Canada/ Democide] “Ararat is an important film because it brings into the popular mind the heretofore forgotten memory of one … [Read more...]
Das Experiment (2001)
WINNER: TOP 25 LIBERTARIAN FILMS A psychological experiment in which test subjects are divided into "prisoners" and "guards" spins out of control when the "guards" take their authority a little too seriously. [ Das Experiment credits: Dir: Oliver Hirschbiegel / Moritz Bleibtreu, Christian Berkel, Justus von Dohnanyi / 120min/ Drama, Thriller, Foreign Language/ In German with … [Read more...]
Before Night Falls (2000)
Reinaldo Arenas suffers increasing state persecution as he rises to become one of Cuba's greatest writers. [ Before Night Falls credits: Dir: Julian Schnabel / Javier Bardem, Olivier Martinez, Johnny Depp / 133min/ Biography, Drama/ Anti-Socialism, Freedom of Speech, Government as Bigot] “While this is a story of state oppression, it's also a story of heroism in the face … [Read more...]
Traffic (2000)
ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE: BEST PICTURE The stories of several drug dealers, drug addicts, and anti-drug officials are interwoven to present a picture of current battlefield conditions in the War on Drugs. [ Traffic credits: Dir: Steven Soderbergh/ Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones / 147min/ Drama/ Legalize Drugs] “Traffic is an important film, because … [Read more...]
Dirty Pictures (2000)
A museum curator on trial for displaying "obscene" photographs defends his free speech rights in a fierce legal battle. Based on a true story. Dirty Pictures credits: [Dir: Frank Pierson/ James Woods, Craig T. Nelson, Diana Scarwid/ 95min/ Drama/ Freedom of Speech, Government Enforced Morality] Click here to see trailer. For the most part, the work of late photographer … [Read more...]
Billy Elliot (2000)
A young boy overcomes the cynicism and macho character of his working-class surroundings to become a great ballet dancer. [ Billy Elliot credits: Dir: Stephen Daldry/ Jamie Bell, Gary Lewis, Julie Walters/ 110min/ Musical-Dance, Drama/ Britain/ Individualism] “This is a true gem and one of the best British films in years." There is something so universally appealing in … [Read more...]
October Sky (1999)
Four high-school students overcome the odds to build a series of working rockets and win first prize at the National Science Fair. Based on a true story. [ October Sky credits: Dir: Joe Johnston/ Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern/ 108 min/ Drama/ Creator as Hero] “This is an all-around satisfying film, and it’s an important one because it tells the truth. Working … [Read more...]
The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999)
Ayn Rand and Nathaniel Branden have an affair, with devastating consequences for all involved. [ The Passion of Ayn Rand credits: Dir: Christopher Menaul/ Helen Mirren, Eric Stoltz, Julie Delpy, Peter Fonda/ 104 min/ Drama, Biography/ Ayn Rand] See trailer here. This film has something for everyone. First, for Rand’s fans, this is an intimate look at the woman Ayn Rand, a … [Read more...]