May 2016

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Directed by: Bob Hercules & Rita Coburn Whack

The film includes interviews with President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Common, Alfre Woodard, Cicely Tyson, Quincy Jones, Secretary Hillary Clinton, John Singleton and Dr. Angelou’s son, Guy Johnson.

Synopsis: Distinctly referred to as “a redwood tree, with deep roots in American culture,” icon Maya Angelou gave people the freedom to think about their history in a way they never had before. Dr. Angelou’s was a prolific life; as a singer, dancer, activist, poet, and writer she inspired generations with lyrical modern African American thought that pushed boundaries.

This unprecedented film celebrates Dr. Maya Angelou by weaving her words with rare and intimate archival photographs and videos, which paint hidden moments of her exuberant life during some of America’s most defining moments. From her upbringing in the Depression-era South to her work with Malcolm X in Ghana to her inaugural speech for President Bill Clinton, we are given special access to interviews with Dr. Angelou whose indelible charm and quick wit make it easy to love her.

April 2016

Phoenix Film Festival

All Phoenix Film Society memberships include complimentary passes to the annual Phoenix Film Festival. Your level of Society Membership includes equivalent Passes to enjoy the biggest Film Festival in Arizona. With 175 screenings over 8 days, you can be sure to find your new favorite movie!

For more information on the Phoenix Film Festival, go to www.phoenixfilmfestival.com

March 2016

Welcome to Happiness

Directed by: Oliver Thompson

Cast: Kyle Gallner, Olivia Thirlby, Nick Offerman, Keegan-Michael Key, Brendan Sexton III, Josh Brener

A children’s book author, Woody Ward, is the gatekeeper to a mysterious door in his closet that only allows certain people to enter. One such person, a suicidal artist, is led down a rabbit hole of bizarre coincidences that ultimately bring him to Woody’s doorstep. Though he has no idea where the door leads, Woody happily shepherds people through until he finds out the truth and his life is forever changed.

March 2016

Dating Daisy

Directed by: Neel Upadhye

Cast: Sascha Alexander, Brennan Kelleher, Erica Dasher, Sara Amini, Diane Robin

“Dating Daisy” is a romantic comedy about the honest and crazy truth of dating in your twenties!  The story follows Michael and Daisy, two exes who decide to road trip home together for the holidays and get caught up in their crazy past.

February 2016

City of Gold

Directed by: Laura Gabbert

CITY OF GOLD chronicles Pulitzer Prize-winning restaurant critic Jonathan Gold’s relationship to his beloved and sprawling metropolis, Los Angeles. Gold has long been adored in his hometown for his cultural writing about LA’s hidden culinary treasures; he was one of the first critics to review small family owned restaurants in far-flung ethnic enclaves with as much passion as the haute cuisine establishments of Beverly Hills.

With a stroke of his pen, he’s changed the lives of countless immigrant chefs, newly discovered by voracious foodies who avidly track his reviews. CITY OF GOLD explores the rigor, knowledge, and curiosity that make Gold’s style of criticism nationally recognized. Mapping Los Angeles through his Odyssey-like quests for new food experiences, Jonathan Gold reveals a complex, paradoxical urban landscape that will surprise newcomers and locals alike.

Featuring celebrity chefs Roy Choi, David Chang, and Ludo Lefebvre, as well as the chefs and owners behind some of Gold’s favorites: Jitlada (Thai), Guelaguetza (Oaxacan), Meals by Genet (Ethiopian), and Chengdu Taste (Sichuan). CITY OF GOLD offers the rare opportunity to discover the true Los Angeles through the eyes of its foremost cultural writer, and most loyal fan.

February 2016

Eddie the Eagle

Directed by: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: Taron Egerton, and Hugh Jackman

Synopsis: Inspired by true events, Eddie the Eagle is a feel-good story about Michael “Eddie” Edwards, an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself – even as an entire nation was counting him out.  With the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach (played by Hugh Jackman), Eddie
takes on the establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by making an improbable and historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.  Eddie the Eagle is produced by the team behind Kingsman: The Secret Service and stars Taron Egerton as Eddie, the loveable underdog with a never say die attitude.  

January 2016

The Dark Horse

Directed by: James Napier Robertson

Starring: Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston, Sia Trokenheim, Kirk Torrance, Xavier Horan, Miriama McDowell, Baz Te Hira, Wayne Hapi

Synopsis: An inspiring true story based on the life of charismatic and brilliant chess champion, Genesis Potini. His emotionally-charged story is about finding the courage to lead, despite his own struggles – finding purpose and hope in passing on his gift to the children of his community.

January 2016

Remember

Directed by: Atom Egoyan

Starring: Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, Bruno Ganz, Jürgen Prochnow, Heinz Lieven, Henry Czerny, Dean Norris

Synopsis: Remember tells the story of Zev Guttman (Academy Award® Winner Christopher Plummer), a 90-year-old struggling with memory loss who is living out his final years in a serene retirement home. A week following the death of his beloved wife Ruth, he suddenly gets a mysterious package from his close friend Max (Academy Award® Winner Martin Landau), containing a stack of money and a letter detailing a shocking plan. Both Zev and Max were prisoners in Auschwitz, and the same sadistic guard was responsible for the death of both their families—a guard who, immediately after the war, escaped Germany and has been living in the U.S. ever since under an assumed identity. Max is wheelchair-bound but in full command of his mental faculties; with his guidance, Zev will embark on a cross-continental road-trip to bring justice once and for all to the man who destroyed both their lives.

Academy Award® nominated director Atom Egoyan creates a thrillingly fast-paced revenge story that, in a highly original and deeply intimate way, deals with the aftermath of one of the most deplorable and significant events in recent history. With an incredible lead performance from Christopher Plummer as the frail but unstoppable Zev, Remember manages to keep audiences on the edge of their seats while giving them something to think about long after the film is over.

December 2015

Joy

Directed by: David O. Russell

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramirez, Isabella Rossellini, Diane Ladd and Virginia Madsen

Synopsis: This is the wild story of a family across four generations centered on the girl who becomes the woman who founds a business dynasty and becomes a matriarch in her own right. Betrayal, treachery, the loss of innocence and the scars of love, pave the road in this intense emotional and human comedy about becoming a true boss of family and enterprise facing a world of unforgiving commerce. Allies become adversaries and adversaries become allies, both inside and outside the family, as Joy's inner life and fierce imagination carry her through the storm she faces.

December 2015

Youth

Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Jane Fonda, Michael Caine, Paul Dano, Harvey Keitel, Ed Stoppard, Poppy Corby-Tuech, Neve Gachev and Tom Lipinski

Synopsis: YOUTH is about two longtime friends vacationing in the Swiss Alps. Oscar winning actor Michael Caine plays Fred, an acclaimed composer and conductor, who brings along his daughter (Rachel Weisz) and best friend Mick (Harvey Keitel), a renowned filmmaker. While Mick scrambles to finish the screenplay for what he imagines will be his last important film, Fred has no intention of resuming his musical career. The two men reflect on their past, each finding that some of the most important experiences can come later in life.

December 2015

45 Years

Directed by: Andrew Haigh

Starring: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay and Geraldine James

Synopsis: The winner of the Silver Bear for Best Actress (Charlotte Rampling) and Best Actor (Tom Courtenay) at the Berlin International Film Festival, Andrew Haigh’s (Weekend, Looking) film is a moving and profound look at marriage and the secrets we keep. There is just one week until Kate Mercer’s (Rampling) 45th wedding anniversary and the planning for the party is going well. But then a letter arrives for her husband (Courtenay). The body of his first love has been discovered, frozen and preserved in the icy glaciers of the Swiss Alps. By the time the party is upon them, five days later, there may not be a marriage left to celebrate.

November 2015

Trumbo

Cast: Diane Lane, Bryan Cranston, Elle Fanning, Louis C.K. and John Goodman

Directed by: Jay Roach

Synopsis:

In 1947, Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) was Hollywood’s top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.  

TRUMBO (directed by Jay Roach) recounts how Dalton used words and wit to win two Academy Awards and expose the absurdity and injustice under the blacklist, which entangled everyone from gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) to John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger

November 2015

Love the Coopers

Directed by: Jessie Nelson

Starring: Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Marisa Tomei, Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Ed Helms and Alan Arkin.

Synopsis: LOVE THE COOPERS follows the Cooper clan as four generations of extended family come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration. As the evening unfolds, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.

November 2015

Brooklyn

Director: John Crowley

Cast: Michael Zegen, Alisha Heng, Mary O'Driscoll, Eileen O'Higgins, Paulino Nunes, Eve Macklin, Maeve McGrath, Jenn Murray, Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters

“A superb, emotionally turbulent account of a young Irishwoman's attempt to become an American in the early 1950s.” – Hollywood Reporter

Synopsis: Eilis Lacey is a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother's home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her new vivacity is disrupted by her past, and she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.

October 2015

He Named Me Malala

Cast: Malala Yousafzai

Directed by: Davis Guggenheim

Synopsis: This film is an intimate portrait of Malala Yousafzai, who was wounded when Taliban gunmen opened fire on her and her friends' school bus in Pakistan's Swat Valley. The then 15-year-old teenager, who had been targeted for speaking out on behalf of girls' education in her region of Swat Valley in Pakistan, was shot in the head, sparking international media outrage. An educational activist in Pakistan, Yousafzai has since emerged as a leading campaigner for the rights of children worldwide and in December 2014, became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

October 2015

Room

Cast: Brie Larson, Joan Allen and William H. Macy

Directed by: Lenny Abrahamson

Synopsis:  ROOM tells the extraordinary story of Jack (Jacob Tremblay in a breakout performance), a spirited 5 year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted Ma (Brie Larson, SHORT TERM 12, TRAINWRECK). Like any good mother, Ma dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical—they are trapped—confined to a windowless, 10-by-10-foot space, which Ma has euphemistically named “Room.” Ma has created a whole universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment, Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life.   But as Jack’s curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma’s resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world. ROOM also stars three-time Academy Award® nominee Joan Allen and Academy Award® nominee William H. Macy.

Director Lenny Abrahamson is scheduled to do a Q&A after the film.

September 2015

99 Homes

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon and Laura Dern

Directed by: Ramin Bahrani

Synopsis: In this timely thriller, when single father Dennis Nash (Golden Globe nominee Andrew Garfield) is evicted from his home, his only chance to win it back is to work for Rick Carver (Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon), the ruthless businessman who evicted him in the first place. It's a deal-with-the-devil that may save his family home; but as Nash falls deeper into Carver's web, he finds his situation grows more brutal and dangerous than he ever imagined.

September 2015

Mississippi Grind

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Ben Mendelson, Sienna Miller, Analeigh Tipton, Robin Weigert

Directed by: Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden

Synopsis:  In this lively, freewheeling road movie, Emmy Award nominee Ben Mendelsohn plays Gerry, a talented but down-on-his-luck gambler whose fortunes begins to change when he meets Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), a younger, highly charismatic poker player. The two strike up an immediate friendship and Gerry quickly persuades his new friend to accompany him on a road trip to a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans. As they make their way down the Mississippi River, Gerry and Curtis manage to find themselves in just about every bar, racetrack, casino, and pool hall they can find, experiencing both incredible highs and dispiriting lows, but ultimately forging a deep and genuine bond that will stay with them long after their adventure is over.

August 2015

Pawn Sacrifice

Cast: Liev Schreiber, Peter Sarsgaard and Tobey Maguire

Directed by: Edward Zwick

In a gripping true story set during the height of the Cold War, American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer (Tobey Maguire) finds himself caught between two superpowers when he challenges the Soviet Empire. Also starring Liev Schreiber and Peter Sarsgaard, PAWN SACRIFICE chronicles Fischer's terrifying struggles with genius and madness, and the rise and fall of a kid from Brooklyn who captured the imagination of the world.

August 2015

End of the Tour

Cast: Jason Segel, Anna Chlumsky and Jesse Eisenberg

Directed by: James Ponsoldt

Synopsis: The story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter (and novelist) David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, Infinite Jest. As the days go on, a tenuous yet intense relationship seems to develop between journalist and subject. The two men bob and weave around each other, sharing laughs and also possibly revealing hidden frailties - but it's never clear how truthful they are being with each other. Ironically, the interview was never published, and five days of audio tapes were packed away in Lipsky's closet. The two men did not meet again.