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Comedian Mike Birbiglia brings his hilarious semi-autobiographical storyalready an off-Broadway smash and a best-selling bookto the screen as writer/director/star in his cinematic debut. Occasionally commenting ruefully on the action (“Remember: you’re on my side!”), Birbiglia plays alter-ego Matt Pandamiglio, a struggling stand-up comedian avoiding commitment with his long-time girlfriend (Lauren Ambrose, “Six Feet Under”) who is becoming impatient. Unable to confront his anxieties, Matt finds them manifesting in ridiculous, dangerous and surreal bouts of sleepwalking in which his sub-conscious runs wild (he fights off a jackal attack, competes in the Dustbuster Olympics). With the help of a doubtful talent agent he goes on the road to little colleges and dive bars, where his material bombs until he stumbles into some revealing jokes about his relationship. Birbiglia’s self-deprecating persona makes for a fresh, appealing and very funny film. Co-starring Carol Kane and James Rebhorn, with cameos by members of today’s stand-up scene. Co-written and produced by Ira Glass (“This American Life”).

Ira Glass will be giving a Q&A after the film. This screening is likely to sell out, so please purchase your tickets in advance at https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=264&MovieID=13747&ShowDate=9/2/2012&ScheduleID=104687

We will be heading down to the theater 30 minutes before show time. If you arrive late, we will reconvene in the upstairs theater lobby after the movie and Q&A.

In the dramatic comedy Robot & Frank, set in the near future, Frank (Frank Langella), a retired cat burglar, has two grown kids who are concerned he can no longer live alone. They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frank’s son chooses a different option: against the old man’s wishes, he buys Frank a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health. What follows is an often hilarious and somewhat heartbreaking story about finding friends and family in the most unexpected places. Director Jake Schreier’s feature film debut also stars James Marsden, Liv Tyler and Susan Sarandon.

Celeste and Jesse Forever transforms the conventional romantic comedy with a bracingly honest real-life vibe, exploring both the comedy and complexity of love and friendship. Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) met in high school and are a young married couple who are growing apart. Now thirty, Celeste is the driven owner of her own media consulting firm, while Jesse is once again unemployed and in no particular rush to do anything with his life. Celeste is convinced that divorcing Jesse is the right thing to do-she is on her way up, he is on his way nowhere, and if they do it now instead of later, they can remain supportive friends. Jesse passively accepts this transition into friendship, even though he is still in love with her. As the reality of their separation sets in, Celeste slowly and painfully realizes she has been cavalier about their relationship. While navigating the turbulent changes in their lives and in their hearts, these two learn that in order to truly love someone, you may have to let them go.

In the late ’60s, two celebrated producers, who were struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics, discovered a musician in a Detroit baraan artist who reminded them of a Chicano Bob Dylan, perhaps even greater. They had worked with the likes of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, but they believed the album they subsequently produced with RodriguezaCold Factawas the masterpiece of their producing careers. In fact, the album bombed and the singer disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide. But a bootleg recording of Cold Fact somehow found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, it became a phenomenon. Two South African fans then set out to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation led them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez. First-time director Malik Bendjelloul’s documentary Searching for Sugar Man is a film about hope, inspiration and the resonating power of music.

In the romantic comedy Ruby Sparks, Calvin (Paul Dano) is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writingas well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby (Zoe Kazan), in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person. Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine).

Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent’s crimes.

Francis (Andre Dussollier, Micmacs, Tell No One) is a successful crime writer who moves to Venice to work on his next novel. When he meets model-turned-real-estate-agent Judith (Carole Bouquet, That Obscure Object of Desire, Red Lights), he is instantly infatuated. Francis and Judith eventually marry and move to a remote house on Torcello Island but Francis’ newfound happiness hinders his writing. Obsessing over what Judith does while at work, he hires a young ex-convict (Mauro Conte) to investigate. As Judith’s sexual past is revealed both men become increasingly fixated on the mysterious woman. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Venice, Unforgivable examines the consequences of unresolved past relationships and their far-reaching effects into the future. Directed and co-written by veteran French filmmaker Andre Techine (The Girl on the Train, Wild Reeds). Official selection of Cannes 2011 Directors’ Fortnight. (Fully subtitled)

When Margot (Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine), 28, meets handsome artist Daniel (Luke Kirby), their chemistry is intense and immediate. But Margot suppresses her sudden attraction; she is happily married to Lou (Seth Rogen), a cookbook writer. When Margot learns that Daniel lives across the street from them, the certainty about her domestic life shatters. She and Daniel steal moments throughout the steaming Toronto summer, their eroticism heightened by their restraint. Swelteringly hot, bright and colorful like a bowl of fruit, Take This Waltz leads us, laughing, through the familiar, but uncharted question of what long-term relationships do to love, sex, and our images of ourselves. Also starring Sarah Silverman. Warmly human, funny and bittersweet, Take This Waltz deftly avoids romantic cliches and paints an unusually true and unsentimental portrait of adult relationships. Written and directed by Sarah Polley (Away From Her).

Advance tickets may be purchased here: https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=264&MovieID=13318&ShowDate=7/15/2012&ScheduleID=102933

In a forgotten but defiant bayou community cut off from the rest of the world by a sprawling levee, Hushpuppy (Quvenzhane Wallis), a six-year-old girl, exists on the brink of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism and extraordinary imagination, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the universe until a fierce storm changes her reality. Desperate to repair the structure of her world in order to save her ailing father and sinking home, this tiny hero must learn to survive unstoppable catastrophes of epic proportions. The fantastical and striking narrative drama Beasts of the Southern Wild is director and co-writer Benh Zeitlin’s feature film debut.

To Rome With Love is a kaleidoscopic comedy set in one of the world’s most enchanting cities. The film brings us into contact with John (Alec Baldwin), a well-known American architect reliving his youth; Leopoldo Pisanello (Roberto Benigni), an average middle-class Roman who suddenly finds himself Rome’s biggest celebrity; a young provincial couple, Antonio (Alessandro Tiberi) and his lovely new wife Milly (Alessandra Mastronardi), drawn into separate romantic encounters-Antonio ends up passing off a stranger (Penelope Cruz) as his wife, while Milly is romanced by legendary movie star Luca Salta (Antonio Albanese); and Jerry (writer/director Woody Allen), an American opera director endeavoring to put Giancarlo (renowned tenor Fabio Armiliato), a singing mortician, on stage. While Rome is a city abundant with romance and comedy, To Rome With Love is about people having adventures that will change their lives forever. Also starring Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page, Greta Gerwig, Judy Davis, Alison Pill and Flavio Parenti.

Given that this is opening weekend for the movie, it is strongly recommended that you buy your tickets in advance at http://www.landmarktheatres.com/tickets/default.asp