Sunday Night Film Club – DC

In the tiny, rural town of Carthage, TX, assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede was one of the townas most beloved residents. He taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Everyone loved and appreciated Bernie, so it came as no surprise when he befriended Marjorie Nugent, an affluent widow who was as well known for her sour attitude as her fortune. Bernie frequently traveled with Marjorie and even managed her banking affairs. Marjorie quickly became fully dependant on Bernie and his generosity and Bernie struggled to meet her increasing demands. Bernie continued to handle her affairs, and the townspeople went months without seeing Marjorie. The people of Carthage were shocked when it was reported that Marjorie Nugent had been dead for some time, and Bernie Tiede was being charged with the murder. Cast: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brady Coleman, Richard Robichaux Director: Richard Linklater

Nanni Moretti (The Son’s Room, Caro Diario) joins forces with the great French actor Michel Piccoli (Contempt, Belle de Jour) to tell the story of Melville, a cardinal who suddenly finds himself elected as the next Pope. Never the front runner and completely caught off guard, he panics as he’s presented to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square. To prevent a worldwide crisis, the Vatican’s spokesman calls in an unlikely psychiatrist who is neither religious nor all that committed, played by Moretti, to find out what is wrong with the new Pope. As the world nervously waits outside, inside the therapist tries to find a solution. But Cardinal Melville is adamant: he does not want the job, or at least needs time to think it over. What follows is a marvelous insight into the concept of a human being existing behind the title of God’s representative on Earth. We Have a Pope is the latest film by Moretti to make wonderful use of humor while dealing with serious issues and continue to showcase his deep humanism.

In Montreal, an elementary school teacher dies abruptly. Having learned of the incident in the newspaper, Bachir Lazhar (Fellag), a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant, goes to the school to offer his services as a substitute teacher. Quickly hired to replace the deceased, he finds himself in an establishment in crisis, while going through his own personal tragedy. While the class goes through the healing process, and Bachir learns to better know this group of shaken but endearing kids, nobody in the school is aware of Bachir’s painful past; nor do they suspect that he is at risk of being deported at any moment. Adapted from “Bachir Lazhar,” a play by Evelyne de la Cheneliere, Monsieur Lazhar depicts the encounter between two distant worlds and the power of self-expression. Using great sensitivity and humor, writer-director Philippe Falardeau follows a humble man who is ready to transcend his own loss in order to accompany children beyond the silence and taboo of death. An Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film.

The director and writer/star of Forgetting Sarah Marshall reteam for the irreverent comedy The Five-Year Engagement. Beginning where most romantic comedies end, the new film from director Nicholas Stoller, producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and Rodney Rothman (Get Him to the Greek) looks at what happens when an engaged couple, Jason Segel and Emily Blunt, keeps getting tripped up on the long walk down the aisle. The film was written by Segel and Stoller.

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The inspirational romantic comedy Salmon Fishing in the Yemen stars Ewan McGregor as Dr. Alfred Jones, a fisheries scientist who one day receives an unusual request. A businesswoman named Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt, The Adjustment Bureau) wants his help in fulfilling a wealthy sheikh’s (Amr Waked) desire to bring sport fishing to Yemen. Jones declines at first, but when the British prime minister’s overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to the project as a way to improve Middle East relations, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible. Meanwhile, romance blooms as Jones and Harriet work to make the sheikh’s dream come true. Written by Simon Beaufoy (the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Slumdog Millionaire), based on the novel by Paul Torday. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom (Chocolat, The Cider House Rules).

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a quiet yet enthralling documentary that chronicles the life of Jiro Ono, the most famous sushi chef in Tokyo. For most of his 85 years, Jiro has been perfecting the art of making sushi. He works from sunrise to well beyond sunset to taste every piece of fish; meticulously train his employees; and carefully mold and finesse the impeccable presentation of each sushi creation. Although his restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro only seats ten diners, it is a phenomenon in Tokyo that has won the prestigious 3-Star Michelin review, making him the oldest Michelin chef alive. Jiro Dreams of Sushi chronicles Jiro’s life as both an unparalleled success in the culinary world, and as a loving yet complicated father of two. Jiro Dreams of Sushi explores the passion required to run and maintain a legendary sushi restaurant, and one son’s journey to eventually take his father’s place at the head of the culinary dynasty. (Fully subtitled)

One ruthless crime lord. Twenty elite cops. Thirty floors of chaos. Showcasing the jaw-dropping Indonesian martial art of Pencak Silat, the crime thriller The Raid: Redemption has been described as “mind-bogglingly stunning” and “a slam-bang, knock-your-socks-off action bonanza with some of the most peerlessly shot, performed and choreographed fight sequences you’re likely to see on screen” (Los Angeles Times). As a rookie member of an elite special forces team, Rama (Iko Uwais) is instructed to hang back during a covert mission involving the extraction of a brutal crime lord from a rundown fifteen-story apartment block. But when a spotter blows their cover, boss Tama (Ray Sahetaphy) offers lifelong sanctuary to every killer, rapist and thief in the building in exchange for their heads. Now Rama must stand in for the team’s fallen leader and use every bit of his fighting strength-winding through every floor and room to complete the mission and escape with his life. Written and directed by Gareth Huw Evans, who reteams with Uwais, star and fight choreographer of the cult sensation Merantau. The film features a propulsive score by alternative rocker/composers Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park and Joseph Trapanese, collaborator with Daft Punk and M83.

Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister’s place for the latest match.

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In the comedic drama Jeff, Who Lives at Home, slacker Jeff (Jason Segel) looks for signs from the universe to determine his path. As he is dispatched from his basement room on an errand to pick up wood glue for his mother (Susan Sarandon), Jeff just might discover his destiny (finally) when he spends the day with his brother Pat (Ed Helms) as he tracks his possibly adulterous wife. A series of unexpected events thus leads him to cross paths with his family in the strangest of locations and circumstances. Written and directed by brothers Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass.

FRIENDS WITH KIDS is a daring and poignant ensemble comedy about a close-knit circle of friends at that moment in life when children arrive and everything changes. The last two singles in the group observe the effect that kids have had on their friends’ relationships and wonder if there’s a better way. They decide to have a kid together – and date other people.

There are big laughs and unexpected emotional truths as this unconventional ‘experiment’ leads everyone in the group to question the nature of friendship, family and, finally, true love.

FRIENDS WITH KIDS stars Adam Scott (“Parks and Recreation”), Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox and Edward Burns. Written and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt (KISSING JESSICA STEIN).