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A trio of soon-to-be college graduates are snapped out of their ennui when a professor’s mayoral run (with promises to purge the town of “low art”) imperils their beloved karaoke bar. Shot entirely on 16mm film, this freewheeling low-fi comedy is packed with absurdity, sophistication, and razor-sharp wit.

A scientist injects his best friend with a compound he`s created to help her stop cheating on her wife, but when the wife finds her new fixation suffocating, the wife gets a dose too, which backfires as she falls for the scientist.

An emotional portrait, a social critique, and a passionate plea for human equality, JAMES BALDWIN:  THE PRICE OF THE TICKET is now considered a classic.  Without using narration, the film allows Baldwin to tell his own story:  exploring what it means to be born black, impoverished, gay and gifted – in a world that has yet to understand that “all men are brothers.” BALDWIN is a vérité feast.  Intercutting rarely-seen archival footage from over one hundred sources and nine different countries, the film melds intimate interviews and eloquent public speeches with astounding private glimpses of Baldwin.  The film also includes a rich selection of original footage:  scenes from Baldwin’s extraordinary funeral service; explorations of Baldwin’s homes on three continents, including France, Switzerland, Turkey and Harlem; plus on-camera interviews with close friends, colleagues and critics.  Witnesses include his brother David; biographer David Leeming; writers Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, William Styron, Ishmael Reed and Yashar Kemal; painter Lucien Happersberger and entertainer Bobby Short.  Cinéma Vérité … Passé.

French director Robin Campillo has been surprising interviewers by comparing his highly acclaimed new movie to Blue Velvet, saying it’s “a little bit David Lynch.” And although one is set in Madagascar and one in North Carolina, both are personal coming-of-age films that feature a young main character who lives in a paradise with a hidden dark side. Thomas (Charlie Vauselle) is the 10-year-old son of a low-ranking Army man who revels in the colonial lifestyle, even as Independence looms. Taking inspiration from his comic book hero Fantomette, Thomas and his Vietnamese friend (Cathy Pham) spy on the adults, discovering the tangled political and sexual lives of the colonizers and the colonized. As relocation looms, Thomas wonders if super-saturated memories of his childhood only disguise its brutality. “It’s a compelling, visually exquisite piece of work.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian. Five stars

MANHATTAN SHORT 27th Annual Short Film Festival, a worldwide event taking place in over 500 venues across six continents. MANHATTAN SHORT is the only event of its kind. The Ten Finalists will screen simultaneously across the world during a one-week period, with the Best Film and Best Actor awards determined by ballots cast by audiences in each participating venue. By virtue of their selection by MANHATTAN SHORT, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified.)

“I think of horror films as art, as films of confrontation. Films that make you confront aspects of your own life (or world) that are difficult to face…” – David Cronenberg.   It’s a family affair, as twins Sam and Max Eggers join their brother Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse) in the family business of scaring filmgoers into sleepless nights! Everything goes to hell for Belinda, a black pregnant anthropology professor played by Brandy Norwood, after her Daughters-of-the-Confederacy mother-in-law (Kathryn Hunter) moves in. First it’s the racial and religious microaggressions, then it’s rearranging the furniture, but when the diabolical guest tries to get her claws on the child, Belinda declares family warfare.

An ensemble of leading lights takes the stage for Offenbach’s fantastical final work, headlined by tenor Benjamin Bernheim in the title role of the tormented poet. Hoffmann’s trio of lovers are sung by soprano Erin Morley as the mechanical doll Olympia, soprano Pretty Yende as the plagued diva Antonia, and mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine as the Venetian seductress Giulietta. Marco Armiliato conducts Bartlett Sher’s evocative production, which also features bass-baritone Christian Van Horn as the Four Villains and mezzo-soprano Vasilisa Berzhanskaya in an important company debut as Hoffmann’s friend Nicklausse.

Rebellion, rock ‘n roll, and high-waisted jeans never grow old – so get yourself over to Cinestudio for the one-night-only showing of the 40th Anniversary 4K print of Footloose! It is perfectly acceptable to squeal when you see how young the actors look, especially Kevin Bacon as city boy Rick, who moves to a stuck-in-the-past Midwestern town where dancing and rock music are illegal. As he struggles to fit in with the conservative mindset, Ren and his cohorts have to battle to change hearts and minds. With the help of his new buddy Willard Hewitt (Christopher Penn), and defiant teen Ariel Moore (Lori Singer), he might find the magic it takes to loosen up Ariel’s puritanical father, Reverend Shaw Moore (John Lithgow) and get the whole town grooving to the beat. The great soundtrack includes Let’s Hear it For the Boy, Dancin’ in the Streets and Kenny Loggins’ Footloose. “It’s very, very silly, but, ahem, fun!” Wendy Ide. Times UK

What will happen on January 6, 2025, when Congress convenes to certify the 2024 presidential election? Will the duly-elected candidate be confirmed, or will another — more successful — attempt to subvert the democratic process unfold? Will government leaders be prepared? The ex-government and military participants of WAR GAME (Steve Bullock, Heidi Heitkamp, and Wesley Clark, et alia) play out an immersive, fully-staged simulation in the White House Situation Room, as they are confronted by a coup launched by rogue elements within the U.S. military (one in five criminal defendants of the ’21 Capitol attack were military veterans). Collaborating with the non-partisan organization Vet Voice, directors Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber (FULL BATTLE RATTLE) expertly craft this credible nightmare — gaming out the unthinkable in a heartstopping race to save democracy.

“A must-watch. Chilling and engrossing… plays like a riveting political thriller. [It] has a terrific sense of urgency and apprehension; it’s so engrossing you’re often sucked into the doc, forgetting it’s just an elaborate fiction. It all feels frighteningly real.” – Rodrigo Perez, The Playlist

Together with her husband she came to build a utopian world in the middle of pure nature. Helena, the pregnant wife of the factory manager, is about to give birth and her family is facing a rosy future in a modern city. But all her illusions will soon perish. All it takes is the dead body of a newborn hermaphrodite to be found in the middle of their factory. Helena needs to find out what happened here for the safety of her own child, but she runs into her own prejudices. The story is inspired by the true story of intersex people in the 1930s, shortly before the war destroyed everything.

It’s great to see first time writer/directors still creating original, independent films in an industry dominated by (would-be) blockbusters. India Donaldson’s Good One is an insightful, piercing debut that, like few other films, takes as its subject the inner life of a 17-year-old girl (Lily Collias), as she begins to claim her own identity. Sam, who is queer, embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le Gros) and his oldest friend, Matt (Danny McCarthy). As the two men settle into a quarrelsome brotherly dynamic, they depend on Sam to be the nurturing peacemaker. But when Sam's trust is betrayed, tensions reach a fever pitch, and Sam is forced to experience the moment when the strength of a parental bond is tested. A nominee for awards at the upcoming Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals, Good One is one the year’s indie breakouts, “But the real breakout is Lily Collias. She carries the whole film in an unforgettable depiction of modern girlhood.” – Lindsay Bahr, AP News

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone. Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety, alongside Amy Poehler as the voice of Joy. The voice cast also includes Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Tony Hale and Liza Lapira. Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen

In this taut, twisty psychological thriller, estranged friends Carla (Natalie Dormer) and Heather (Naomie Harris) reunite over tea, only to unveil a dangerous and deceptive plot that will irrevocably alter their lives. As the two navigate a web of secrets and hidden agendas, the true nature of their meeting slowly comes to light, revealing a shocking and perilous reality that neither could have anticipated. The Wasp showcases the immense talent of its lead actresses, with Dormer and Harris delivering captivating, nuanced performances that anchor the film's intense narrative. The cleverly plotted story, adapted from a play, unfolds primarily within the confines of a single room, creating an intimate and claustrophobic atmosphere that amplifies the mounting tension. The expertly crafted twists and turns keep viewers on the edge of their seats, making The Wasp a must-see for fans of gripping, character-driven thrillers.––Jarod Neece

Are you ready for Freddy? Out of all the Bollywood horror films that were inspired by the worldwide phenomenon of Wes Craven's A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, MAHAKAAL is the most brazenly outrageous. The film—directed by Shyam Ramsay & Tulsi Ramsay of the legendary Ramsay family—finds Anita and her friends battling Shakaal, a horrifically disfigured dream-stalker with a razor-clawed glove. A mind-altering cocktail of elements from A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 1-5, DAY OF THE DEAD, and THE TERMINATOR, MAHAKAAL is awash with Argento-esque neon, elaborate effects, and joyous musical segments. Newly restored and never before available in North American theaters!

Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the space with Kyomoto, a truant recluse whose beautiful artwork sparks a competitive fervor in Fujino. What starts as jealousy transforms when Fujino realizes their shared passion for drawing. Based on the acclaimed manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of “Chainsaw Man”, Look Back captures the highs and lows of pursuing artistic excellence and the special bonds formed through creative collaboration. The heart-wrenching story is the stunning feature-length directorial debut from Kiyotaka Oshiyama that will leave you in tears and inspire you to chase your own artistic dreams.

New 4K restoration from Severin Films. Francesco Dellamorte (Rupert Everett) is the groundskeeper at a cemetery where the dead just won't stay dead—and it's up to him to deal with those who come back to life with a hunger for human flesh. But Dellamorte's job soon becomes much more complicated when he falls for an enigmatic young woman (Anna Falchi) whose husband has recently died. Based on the novel by Tiziano Sclavi (DYLAN DOG) and directed by Michele Soavi (THE CHURCH), CEMETERY MAN is a late masterpiece of Italian horror: quirky, gory, romantic, and unlike anything else.

Two-time Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori’s powerful new opera Grounded, commissioned by the Met and based on librettist George Brant’s acclaimed play, wrestles with the ethical quandaries and psychological toll of 21st-century warfare. Mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, one of opera’s most compelling young stars, portrays Jess, a hot-shot fighter pilot whose unplanned pregnancy takes her out of the cockpit and lands her in Las Vegas, operating a Reaper drone halfway around the world. As she struggles to adjust to this new way of doing battle, she fights to maintain her sanity, and her soul, as she is called to rain down death by remote control. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin oversees the Met premiere of Tesori’s kaleidoscopic score and a cast that also features tenor Ben Bliss as the Wyoming rancher who becomes Jess’s husband. Michael Mayer’s high-tech staging, using a vast array of LED screens, presents a variety of perspectives on the action, including the drone’s predatory view from high above. This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

The first international production shot in Moscow following the fall of the Soviet Union, MUTE WITNESS is the greatest horror-thriller that Brian De Palma never made. Billy Hughes (Marina Sudina) is a mute special effects artist working on a low budget American slasher that's being filmed in Russia. While working after hours, Billy stumbles upon the filming of a snuff film . . . and it only gets wilder from there. MUTE WITNESS is an unpredictable and nerve-shredding experience that has never felt more intense thanks to a stunning 4K restoration from Arrow Films.