Sweet November (1968)

Released February 8th in the US.

Filmed entirely in New York.

The story: Sara is a young woman who lives and works in Brooklyn Heights.

One day, while trying to cheat on a driver's test, Sara meets Charlie, a maker of boxes...

At first, Charlie doesn't really like Sara much but she makes sure to spend some time with him to get Charlie to warm up to her.

It works.

Sara convinces Charlie to stay with her for the month of November.

She claims to be someone who helps and studies the men that she asks to stay with her.

But when Charlie tells Sara he's in love with her she just avoids the situation.

This boggles Charlie's mind. 

While asking people that know her he begins to figure out what's really going on.

Stars Sandy Dennis, Anthony Newley, Sandy Baron, Theodore Bikel, Marj Dusay, Virginia Vincent, Burr DeBenning, King Moody, Martin West, Robert Gibbons, Robert Cleaves, Francis De Sales

Directed by Robert Ellis Miller

Not Rated

DRAMA/COMEDY

"All we are, are the people who remember us."

Notes for My Son AKA El Cuderno de Tomy (2020)

Made for Netflix, airing on instant streaming November 24th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

Based on truths.

The story: After Maria has a hysterectomy due to having cancer she finds that her troubles are not over.

She now is diagnosed with having a very large tumor in her pancreas.

Her state is so bad there is no medical treatment to help.

Slowly, day by day, Maria is slipping away.

She begins keeping a journal of sorts for her very young son so he will know who she was.

Maria also starts tweeting about her journey on Twitter. 

The next thing she knows there is a newspaper article about her.

Then she is asked to do an interview, which she does over the phone and is broadcast live.

Everyone loves Maria but she is just trying to spend as much time with the ones she loves before she must go.

Stars Valeria Bertuccelli , Esteban Lamothe , Julian Soren , Mauricio Dayub , Malena Pichot , Monica Antonopulos , Fabian Arenillas , Paola Barrientos , Diego De Paula , Diego Gentile , Ana Katz

Directed by (& story written) Carlos Sorin

Spanish w/English subtitles

Rated TVMA

BIOGRAPHY/DRAMA

Blaze (2018)

Released August 17th in the US,

Filmed in Louisana and Mississippi.

Based on truths.

The story: Blaze is a guitarist and songwriter who lives in a treehouse in the woods.

Blaze loves his music but has no interest in being famous.

He meets and soon marries Sybill, who believes he should let other people hear his music, and gets Blaze to go on the road.

Because of Blaze's love for drink, he screws a lot of gigs up.

After losing his wife it looks like Blaze's career is going in the right direction when he gets signed.

But he quickly blows that gig and finds himself back where he always longed to be,  at home.

After a confrontation with a friend's addicted son, everything changes.

Stars Ben Dickey, Charlie Sexton, Josh Hamilton, Alia Shawkat, Kris Kristofferson, Gurf Morlix, Ethan Hawke, Alynda Segarra, Sybil Rosen, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Steve Zahn, Sam Rockwell

Directed by Ethan Hawke

Rated R
BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY/DRAMA

Spielberg (2017)

Made for HBO, airing October 7th in the US.

The story: As a child, Steven just wanted to fit in, but he never really did...

A lonely child, Steven was frightened by everything.

But there was one thing he loved and that was making movies.

Movies were his world.

He practiced by making films all the time and by the time he was 16, he found himself on the lot of Universal by his own doing.

Once he was there, he didn't leave.

Successful and talented. A brave risk-taker and intelligent storyteller, Steven directed some really big names while working with and encouraging many filmmaker friends.

With life experience and sentiment in his heart, Steven went on to make more adult, serious films, always doing everything with brilliant enthusiasm and fascinating magic.

Stars Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Richard Dreyfuss, Bill Butler, John Williams, Michael Phillips, Nancy Spielberg, Anne Spielberg, Sue Spielberg, Leah Adler, Arnold Spielberg, JJ Abrams, James Brolin, Sid Sheinberg, David Geffen, Roger Ernest, Steven Bochco, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Vilmos Zsigmond, Tony Kushner, Bob Balaban, Tom Hanks, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Melissa Mathison, Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Holly Hunter, Kathleen Kennedy, Harrison Ford, Oprah Winfrey, Frank Marshall, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Janusz Kaminski, Laura Dern, David Koepp, Jeff Goldblum, Rick Carter, Robert Zemeckis, Ron Meyer, Laurie MacDonald, Cate Blanchett, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Dustin Hoffman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Lawrence Kasdan, Tom Cruise, Adam Somner, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Joanna Johnston, Normal Howell

Directed by Susan Lacy

Rated TVMA

BIOGRAPHY/DOCUMENTARY/HISTORY

"Movies are my therapy."

Black Christmas (2019)

Released December 13th in the US.

Filmed entirely in New Zealand.

The story: It is a day before Winter break and a lot is going on in the sorority house at Hawthorne College.

Some girls are going home for the holidays while others are staying on campus.

When one of the girls from the sorority begins getting strange DM's on her phone and then goes missing, no one really notices.

But soon others are experiencing the same thing and when one girls' mom calls looking for her, that's when sorority sister Riley believes something really strange is happening.

Stars Lucy Currey, Imogen Poots, Cary Elwes, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue, Brittany OGrady, Caleb Eberhardt, Simon Mead, Madeleine Adams, Ben Black, Zoe Robins, Brittany OGrady

Directed by Sophia Takal

Rated PG13

REMAKE/MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR/CHRISTMAS

Newhart : Don't Rain on My Parade (1983)

Made for CBS, airing November 21st in the US.

Season 2. Episode 6.

The story: Jim and Chester have come to ask Dick to be the director of their Thanksgiving parade.

When he declines because he is busy working, George gets to be the director instead.

On their way out the door, Jim and Chester mention that the parade is great but the part no one likes is anyone involved doesn't get a chance to have Thanksgiving dinner, because they are all so busy plus they have no place for all the people involved in the parade to have dinner together.

Dick thinks that stinks so he suggests that they all have dinner at the inn, a potluck, and Dick and Joanna will cook the turkey.

As if the situation isn't bad enough on Thanksgiving day the parade gets rained out.

Stars Bob Newhart, Tom Poston, Thomas Hill, William Lanteau , Mary Frann, Julia Duffy, Steven Kampmann, George Wallace, Peggy McCay, Iron Eyes Cody

Directed by Will Mackenzie

Rated TVG
COMEDY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

B.C. : The First Thanksgiving (1973)

Made for NBC, airing November 19th in the US.

The story: B.C. discovers fire and the Fat Broad is the first person he sees.

Before he can brag about his discovery, she rushes him to get the fire on the sticks so the rock soup can start cooking.

A turkey notices the rock soup and makes the observation that "the only thing that can flavor rock soup, is a dead turkey"....!

With that, the turkey is out of there.

Now the Fat Broad insists that the men go out and get a turkey for the rock soup but none of them know what a turkey is exactly.

Stars (voices by) Daws Butler, Joanie Sommers, Bob Holt, Don Messick, Mel Blanc

Directed by Abe Levitow

Not Rated

ANIMATION/COMEDY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

Family Guy : Thanksgiving (2011)

Made for Fox, airing November 20th in the US.

Season 10. Episode 6.

The story: This year for Thanksgiving the Griffins are hosting, inviting all their friends and family.

Just as they are all sitting down to eat, there's a knock at the door.

Peter answers the door to find Joe and Bonnie's assumed to be dead son Kevin...

Kevin's parents explain they were told he was killed at war so he tells them all a story of how he was in a coma due to a stupid accident.

Everyone is just happy to see Kevin once again, but the more time they spend with him the more everyone becomes suspicious of his story.

Stars (voices by) Adam West, Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Mike Desilets, Julie Hagerty, Christine Lakin , Patrick Warburton, Jennifer Tilly , Scott Grimes, John Viener

Directed by Jerry Langford

Rated TV14

ANIMATION/COMEDY/THANKSGIVING

"Oh, this looks fantastic. I can't wait to poop this out."

Cosby : Turkey Day (1998)

Made for CBS, airing November 23rd in the US.

Season 3. Episode 10.

The story: Jurnee is scheduled to be in the Thanksgiving Day parade, dressed as a turkey.

But when Hilton sees her self-made costume he believes he can do better.

First, he calls every place in town to get a turkey costume but that's not going to happen.

So he attempts to make a costume himself, but that doesn't work out either.

In a dilemma now with only a day to spare, he asks Erica to help but she's busy making pies for the cafe.

While in the cafe, Martha Stewart shows up for a cappuccino and accidentally leaves her bag behind, which coincidentally has a turkey costume in it.

Just when Hilton thinks he's got it made she returns to get her bag and he has no choice but to give it back to her.

Barney happens to be in the cafe as well and offers some much-needed help from a local sewing workshop.

Stars Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, TKeyah Crystal Keymah, Doug E Doug, Jurnee Smollett, Madeline Kahn, Darien Sills Evans, Martha Stewart, Fred Applegate, Lynne Thigpen

Directed by Don Scardino 

Rated TVPG
COMEDY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

Bob's Burgers : The Quirk-ducers (2016)

Made for Adult Swim, airing November 20th in the US.

Season 7. Episode 6.

The story: Over dinner, the Belchers talk about Thanksgiving.

Bob is looking for recipes, Tina is writing a Thanksgiving story and Louise complains about the Thanksgiving play at school last year.

It was scheduled as a half-day of school but because of the play, the half-day didn't happen.

So Louise comes up with an idea.

How about they put on the Thanksgiving play, using Tina's story "The Quirky Turkey".

That way they can plan to mess it up, it will get shut down and they will have their scheduled half day before Thanksgiving day.

Stars (voices by ) H Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, John Roberts, Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal, David Herman, Jenny Slate, Bobby Tisdale, Larry Murphy

Directed by Mauricio Pardo & Bernard Derriman

Rated TVPG

ANIMATION/COMEDY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

PBS Short Film Festival : All Inclusive (2020)

Made for PBS's POV, airing July 13th in the US.

Season 2020. Episode 24.

The story: Jump aboard so-to-speak on a very magnificent cruise ship.

This cruise has everything anyone could ever want or need.

All excess and luxury is what some people just have to have.

Directed by Corina Schwingruber Ilic

Not Rated

DOCUMENTARY

PBS Short Film Festival : Happy Hounds (2020)

Made for PBS, aired July 13th in the US.

Season 2020. Episode 23.

The story: Linda Domer had been training dogs for two years when she began working for Maryland's Happy Hounds Prison Dog Program in 2016.

She now works with medium security Roxbury Correctional Institution, with inmates training shelter dogs two times a week.

The program helps and teaches both the dogs and the inmates on many levels.

The inmates work with the dogs on any issues they may have, helping ready them for being adopted into their forever homes.

It's a lot of work but it's also very rewarding work.

Stars Linda Domer, Brad Woodfall, Mr. Ennis, Mr. Smith, Jonathan Hughes

Director unknown.

Not Rated

DOCUMENTARY

"When you show that patience with them and you spend that time with them and you commit to that dog, the response out of them is incredible."

Dawson's Creek : Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1999)

Made for The WB Network, airing November 24th in the US.

Season 3. Episode 5.

The story: This year Jen's granny is hosting Thanksgiving dinner for everyone.

At the last minute, Jen is surprised to find that her estranged mom has made it for the holiday.

This isn't settling well with Jen, as she hasn't spoken to her mom in over a year, on top of all the issues she has with their relationship.

But everyone who knows and loves Jen does their best to give her words of encouragement and wisdom...

Because after all, Thanksgiving is a time for acceptance.

Stars Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, James Van Der Beek, Mary Margaret Humes, John Wesley Shipp, Katie Holmes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, Mel Harris

Directed by Jim Chareston

Rated TVPG
DRAMA/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

Man with a Plan : Thanksgiving (2016)

Made for CBS, airing November 21st in the US.

Season 1. Episode 5.

The story: Adam and Andi are the house parents for Emme's class but since Andi has gone back to work, Adam has been handling things.

When Adam goes to the school to bring Emme's lunch that she forgot, he finds Andi's there talking to Mrs. Rodriquez.

He learns that it is his duty, as a class parent to help organize the Thanksgiving dinner for the class.

Andi is there because she figured Mrs. Rodriquez needed help and Adam couldn't handle it.

At first, Adam is happy that Andi is gonna handle it.

That is until he thinks she believes he cannot organize it without her.

Stars Matt LeBlanc, Liza Snyder, Grace Kaufman, Matthew McCann, Hala Finley, Jessica Chaffin, Matt Cook, Diana Maria Riva, Kevin Nealon, Kali Rocha 

Directed by James Burrows

Rated TVPG
COMEDY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

A Dog Named Gucci (2015)

Released February 14th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story: In 1994, older gentleman Doug James was looking into selling his house in Alabama.

The day the potential buyer was to show up he did not, so Doug called and made an appointment for the next evening.

The next evening, Doug was outside in the front of his house waiting for the buyer when he heard a dog yelping nearby.

The next thing Doug saw was what appeared to be a dog, fall out of a tree and engulfed in flames...

Doug proceeded to walk to the homes nearby, knocking on doors to find out if anyone knew where the dog was.

Doug and another neighbor found the young pup on fire, hiding underneath a nearby house, and put out the flames with a hose.

The young woman whose dog it was, was not home at the time but when she came home she was unable to provide her dog with the help it needed.

She pleaded with Doug to help her 10-month-old puppy.

Doug complied, which set in motion a road to recovery, support, lifelong friendship, and love.

It also became the start of much-needed change in animal abuse laws, eventually making animal abuse illegal in all states with a stern penalty and important message.

Directed by (and story written) Gorman Bechard

Not Rated

DOCUMENTARY/BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY

A Dog Named GUCCI

The Gucci's : The Last Fashion Victim (1997)

Released date unknown.

Filmed in Italy.

The story: On March 27,1995, the last living member of the famous fashion dynasty Maurizio Gucci was found shot three times at his new office in Milan.

At first, no one could figure out who would want to kill him, although he was known to be in millions of debt.

As Maurizio had burned many bridges with members of the Gucci family, not many of them attended his funeral.

Both of his daughters as well as their mother and his ex-wife Patrizia attended.

But people who spoke to Patrizia found her reaction to the whole situation very strange.

After police investigated the murder for two years the case went cold until there was a tip-off.

A man claiming he was part of an organization to kill the last Gucci man with his hands on the family enterprise said he was paid and directed by Maurizio's ex-wife, Patrizia.

When she was finally arrested she did not resist, although she made many claims, most importantly that she was not in any way involved or responsible.

After serving a year in jail, Patrizia was sentenced to 29 years in prison.

She had four accomplices, all of which received years in prison for their involvement as well with only the shooter getting life.

Directed by Andrew Webb

Rated TVPG

DOCUMENTARY/HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY

"I mean if she ain't crazy I don't know who's crazy."

The Gits (2005)

Released July 7, 2007, in the US.

Filmed in Calfornia, Ohio, and Seattle.

The story: In 1986, rock band The Gits were formed at Antioch College in Ohio.

They played on college campus until they decided to take their act to Seattle.

At first, the four members of the band lived in separate places but soon found themselves living in a very large house all together.

Dedicated and loyal friends, The Gits jammed and helped many fellow rockers along their way.

After quite a few years of playing local Seattle clubs and not really making the scene, they got the offer to tour Europe opening for Nirvana.

This made The Gits the "band of the people".

The next thing they knew they were signed to Atlantic Records and had a national tour in the working.

But all that changed on the night of July 7, 1993, when frontwoman of the band Mia Zapata's body was found on an abandoned street.

She was 27-years-old...

Stars Steve Moriarty , Matt Dresden , Andrew Kessler , Rachard Zappata , Valeria Agnew , Mark Polland , Ben London , Maria Mabra , Julian Gibson , Carla Sindle , Eric Greenwalt , Selene Vigil , Scott Benson , Walter Laig , Ann Powers , Tim Sommer , Leah Gold , Tess. Lotta , Greta Hartley , Eric Zappata , Kathleen Hanna , Richard Gagnon , Michael Millet 

Directed by Kerri O Kane 

Rated TV14

DOCUMENTARY/HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY/MUSIC

That's the Way of the World (1975)

Released sometime in June of 1975 in the US.

Filmed in California and New York.

The story:  Coleman Buckman is a popular record producer for ACor Records.

He is considered the "guy with the golden ear" and seems to make magic out of all the records he produces.

Recently, Coleman has been working with a really fantastic, popular local band.

Actually, they have been working for months.

But when Coleman is ready to get the band into the studio he is forced by the company to work with a new group.

Coleman doesn't think the new group is worth the time but his boss believes they are the next up and coming act.

He works with the new group while trying to figure out how to get out of working for them forever.

Stars Harvey Keitel, Earth Wind and Fire, Maurice White, Ed Nelson, Michael Dante , Valerie Shepherd, Francesca De Sapio, Cynthia Bostick, Bert Parks, Jimmy Boyd, Ron Gorton

Directed by Sig Shore

Rated PG

DRAMA

The Beverly Hillbillies : Turkey Day (1963)

Made for CBS,  airing November 27th in the US.

Season 2. Episode 46.

The story: While Granny is making stuffing she sings a song about making turkey stuffing.

She gets the idea she may have scared the turkey and goes to offer him some bread.

But the turkey is missing. 

Granny tells Jeb about the turkey and he explains that Elly May has the turkey and is putting it back as they speak.

But Elly May is set on being nice to the turkey no matter what anyone says.

Now Jeb is having a hard time turning the turkey into dinner.

Stars Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, Buddy Ebsen, Max Baer Jr, Benny Rubin, George Sawaya, Harriet E MacGibbon, Nancy Kulp, Raymond Bailey

Directed by Richard Whorf

B&W

Not Rated

COMEDY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

"Herman...I declare Duke , if Mr. Drysdale gave us a string of weenies that girl'd make a pet out of em."

The French Chef with Julia Child : To Roast a Turkey (1971)

Made for TV, airing sometime in January of 1971.

Season 9. Episode 3.

The story: Julia is having a Thanksgiving dinner for 16 people.

She explains she needs at least a 16-pound turkey, but she is working with a 23-pound turkey with much consideration for leftovers and seconds...

Julia tells us a bit of turkey history, from eating it to cooking it, and has quite the original technique for taking the neck, giblets, gizzard, and heart out.
Next,  how to use them for your gravy and stuffing the turkey purely for flavoring.

When the turkey is cooked to perfection, Julia shows us various ways to cut the different parts of the turkey, using a selection of knives for various jobs.

Lastly, she shows her side dishes, including separately roasted stuffing, peas with broiled tomatoes, and creamed onions...

Among other things, Julia tells and shows us some really helpful, useful tips for your best Thanksgiving turkey.

Stars Julia Child

Rated TVG
COOKING/SERIES/HISTORY/THANKSGIVING

Grace Under Fire : Thanks For Nothing (1995)

Made for CBS, airing November 22nd.

Season 3. Episode 9.

The story: Grace has invited Rick to Thanksgiving dinner but Quentin isn't happy at all about that.

Jean shows up to complain about Grace having a lawyer who is looking to get more money for child support from Jimmy.

Grace explains the lawyer is Rick's and he is helping her for free, which doesn't help the situation.

Jean ends up telling Grace she will be alone for Thanksgiving, Libby overhears this and insists Grace invite her, which she has to.

Now, Grace is worried that things will be a disaster because Quentin and Jean have it out for Rick.

Stars Brett Butler, Dave Thomas, Peggy Rae, Kaitlin Cullum, Dave Florek, Walter Olkewicz, Alan Autry, Paul Jon Steuer, Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Casey Sander, Julie White 

Directed by Jack O Brien

Rated TVPG
COMEDY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

"Someone has to break the vicious gelatin mold cycle."

Grace Under Fire : Cold Turkey (1994)

Made for CBS, airing November 22nd in the US.

Season 2. Episode 9.

The story: This year for Thanksgiving, Jimmy wants to have all the kids at his house for dinner.

Grace thinks it's a great idea and agrees.

On Thanksgiving day Jimmy and his mom show up to pick up the kids.

When they leave Grace and Nadine do their anti-Thanksgiving by going Trick or Treating.

When Grace and Nadine return home they find Libby sitting on the back porch.

Libby got upset that her dad was spending all his visit with the boys and none with her so she decided to hitch a ride with her Uncle back home.

Soon after Grace calls up Jimmy to tell him Libby is home, he shows up at Grace's house with all his family to have dinner there, with Libby.

Stars Brett Butler, Julie White, Casey Sander, Geoff Pierson, Peggy Rae, Kaitlin Cullum, Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Jon Paul Steuer, Dave Thomas, Valri Bromfield, Blake Clark

Directed by Michael Lessac

Rated TVPG
COMEDY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

The 15:17 to Paris (2018)

Released February 9th in the US.

Filmed in Italy, Georgia, Netherlands, Belgium, and France.

Based on truths.

The story: Spencer, Alek, and Anthony have been the best of friends since childhood.

As adults, they have grown apart a bit due to their careers, Spencer in basic training, Alek in the Army, and Anthony working a 9 to 5 back home, but they make sure to keep in contact with each other.

When Spencer is having a break he contacts Alek about a backpacking trip of Europe they have planned.

Spencer decides to get Anthony to go along as well.

The three travel through many cities, seeing all the sights, meeting people, and having the time of their lives.

Their last stop is planned to be Paris but everyone they talk to tells them to just skip it.

Spencer is set on going so on the train they go and when they get into France, everyone on the train is subjected to a terrorist.

Spencer, Alek, and Anthony become heroes when they help each other, taking down the terrorist.

Stars Ray Corasani, William Jennings, Bryce Gheisar, Paul Mikel Williams, Judy Greer, Irene White, Jenna Fischer, Thomas Lennon, PJ Byrne, Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler 

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Rated PG13

HISTORY/DRAMA/THRILLER

Cybill : They Shoot Turkey's , Don't They? (1995)

Made for CBS, airing November 19th in the US.

Season 2. Episode 8.

The story: This year Cybill is planning on having the whole family for Thanksgiving dinner.

But person by person she gets the news that everyone has their own plans and won't be around.

That's okay with Cybill because she has been working on a movie with a snotty young co-star and when she pisses him off she causes the whole cast and crew to have to work.

At the last minute, everyone's plans get canceled and they have to cook dinner themselves while Cybill's at work.

Stars Cybill Shephard, Blake Heron, Andrew Craig, Christine Baranski, Tom Wopat, Susan Knight, Deedee Pfeffier , Ileen Getz, Alicia Witt, Alan Rosenberg, Peter Krause, (voice) Rory Markas

Directed by Andrew D Weyman

TVPG
COMEDY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

Free Birds (2013)

Released November 1st in the US.

The story: Reggie is a young turkey who lives on a turkey farm.

He is terrified of Thanksgiving and every year tries convincing the other turkeys that somehow, they must make an escape and free themselves of their doomed fate.

But the other turkeys never listen to Reggie, they don't like him either.

This year things change for Reggie when he is accidentally picked as the one turkey who will be saved, which changes Reggie's life.

He is thrown into a world he has never known before but as soon as he starts getting used to things he is once again ripped away and thrown into another situation that he would really rather not be in.

He is now on a mission, to go back in time and change Thanksgiving forever as we know it by taking turkeys off the menu...

Stars (voices by) Carlos Ponce, Owen Wilson, Jimmy Hayward, Kaitlyn Maher, Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler, George Takei, Colm Meaney, Keith David, Dan Fogler, Carlos Alazraqui

Directed by Jimmy Hayward

Rated PG
ANIMATION/COMEDY/THANKSGIVING

"The following film is a work of fiction. 

It is loosely based on historic events and is in no way meant to be historically accurate.

Except for the talking turkeys.

That part is totally real."

Garfield and Friends : Garfield's Thanksgiving (1989)

Made for TV, airing November 22nd in the US.

The story: After waking John for breakfast, Garfield realizes he has an appointment with the vet today.

In an attempt to miss the appointment, Garfield changes the date and realizes that tomorrow is Thanksgiving!

John realizes it is the day before Thanksgiving and takes Garfield off to the grocery.

But on the way home it's straight to the vet appointment.

John has a crush on the vet and persistently asks her to dinner, which she finally agrees to, then she puts Garfield on a strict diet.

The next day, while John is distracted by being so excited about his date, Garfield attempts to sabotage his Thanksgiving dinner.

Stars (voices by) Lorenzo Music, Thom Huge, Gregg Berger, Julie Payne, Pat Carroll

Rated TVG

ANIMATION/FAMILY/SERIES/THANKSGIVING

Rosemary's Baby , Night One - Two (2014)

Two-part mini-series made for NBC, airing May 11th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story: Three months after Rosemary Woodhouse suffered a devasting miscarriage she finds herself, along with her husband Guy living in Paris.

Guy has taken a teaching job there while working on writing a book.

While out walking one day Rosemary's purse is snatched up.

When she retrieves it, she finds it contains someone else's wallet.

Rosemary quickly goes to the woman's address and meets graceful, thankful Margaux Castevet.

After offering Rosemary money for returning her wallet and getting let down, she invites her and Guy to a party she and her husband Roman are giving that evening.

Rosemary and Guy don't stay long but before leaving are they are given a strange gift from their hosts.

At home now and fast asleep, Rosemary and Guy wake to an electrical fire in their tiny apartment where Guy is wounded.

At the hospital, Rosemary is soon joined by Margaux and Roman, which strikes Rosemary as even odder than the previous events.

Claiming that they are worried for their safety, Margaux and Roman insist that Rosemary and Guy move into their vacant apartment in the building they live in.

This seems like a dream come true but Margaux and Roman have very important, sinister reasons for befriending and taking great care of the young couple.

Stars Victoire Belezy , Cyril Casmeze , Zoe Saldana , Patrick J Adams , Christina Cole , Carole Bouquet , Jason Issacs , Stefano Cassetti , Oliver Rabourdin , Francois Civil , Joseph Malerba

Directed by Agnieszka Holland

Rated TV 14

REMAKE/MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR

The Station Agent (2003)

Released December 5th in the US.

Filmed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The story: Reserved Fin, who happens to be a dwarf, works at the local train shop with his good friend/owner  Henry.

When Henry passes away unexpectedly, Fin inherits Henry's abandoned train station in the middle of nowhere, New Jersey.

Quickly after arriving Fin realizes a coffee truck which is driven by very friendly Joe, who is filling in for his father, parks in front of his new home every morning.

The next person Fin encounters is distracted, tormented Olivia, who almost runs him over.

Fin just wants to be left alone but Joe will not allow this.

Joe also thinks Olivia should be hanging out with them as well.

Soon the three become friends and emotionally supportive of each other when things get too heavy.

Stars Peter Dinklage, Paul Benjamin, Bobby Cannavale, Patricia Clarkson, Lynn Cohen, Paula Garces, Raven Goodwin, Michelle Williams, Jayce Bartok, Joe Lo Truglio, John Slattery

Directed by (& story written) Tom McCarthy 

Rated R
COMEDY/DRAMA

"Holy boring."

This Is 40 (2012)

Released December 21st in the US.

Filmed entirely in California.

The story: Debbie and Pete are a married couple, with two young daughters, two failing businesses, and financial troubles.

They are also both close to turning 40.

Neither of them is happy about turning 40, nor are they happy about their lives in general.

Or at least they think they aren't.

While they struggle with things in their lives neither thinks they are getting the support they need and deserve from each other.

It will take many experiences along with their mutual unconditional love to remind the two that they are together for all the right reasons.

Stars Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow, Jason Segel, Annie Murmolo, Robert Smigel, Megan Fox, Charlyne Yi, Chris ODowd, Lena Dunham, Michael Ian Black, Graham Parker, Albert Brooks, Tim Bagley, Tom Everett, Lisa Darr, John Lithgow, Melissa McCarthy

Directed by ( & story written) Judd Apatow

Rated R
COMEDY/DRAMA

" I can handle nightmares. You are a nightmare every day."

HE Who Gets Slapped (1924)

Released December 22nd in the US.

Filmed in California.

The story: Once upon a time, there lived a poor scientist named Paul.

He worked night and day on his studies and when he believed he had a breakthrough, he excitedly shared his joy with his beloved wife Marie and his friend, rich and powerful Baron Regnand who promised to help him.

After locking his discovery away for the night. Marie put him to bed only to wait until he was fast asleep to sneakily take his papers and give them to the Baron.

The next day, when Paul is to share his discoveries in front of a powerful board he finds that his friend the Baron has stolen his work.

Devasted, Paul then finds that his beloved Marie has tricked him along with the Baron and is in love with him as well.

Now completely defeated, feeling that every achievement and happiness in his life just ends in a slap in the face, making him a complete fool he leaves to join the circus.

Paul becomes the most famous clown, known only as HE - the one who gets slapped, who people flock from miles around to see.

Stars Lon Chaney, Ruth King, Marc MacDermott, Ford Sterling, Norma Shearer, John Gilbert, Tully Marshall

Directed by Victor Sjostrom

Not Rated
SILENT FILM/DRAMA

Brahms : The Boy II (2020)

Released February 21st in the US.

Filmed entirely in Canada.

The story: After a break-in and attempted robbery at their home in the city Liza and her young son Jude are completely traumatized.

The result is Liza having nightmares and Jude going mute.

Husband and father Sean comes up with the idea that maybe they should get away from the city and take some family time off the grid which Liza believes is a good idea.

Shortly after arriving in the country, the family takes a walk in the woods.

They come to an old abandoned estate that was once connected to the home they are staying in.

While Liza and Sean are checking out the place, Jude finds a strange porcelain doll buried in the woods.

Jude takes an instant liking to the doll and his parents are fine with that.

But soon Jude's new buddy shows his true colors.

Stars Katie Holmes, Christopher Convery, Owain Yeoman, Anjali Jay, Natalie Moon, Ralph Ineson, Daphne Hoskins, Keoni Rebeiro, Joely Collins, Oliver Rice 

Directed by William Brent Bell

Rated PG13

SEQUEL/MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR

Gas Food Lodging (1992)

Released July 10th in the US.

Filmed in New Mexico and Arizona.

The story: Nora is a single mother, working at the local diner in a dead-end desert town and living with her two teenage daughters, Trudi and Shade.

Nora does the best she can while Trudi rebels as much as possible out of boredom.

Shade is the more reserved type, who likes everyone and just wants to live a normal life.

When Trudi goes away, Shade meets her father by chance.

Now it's just Shade and Nora and after Shade confronts Nora about meeting her dad , Nora decides its time to finally start a new relationship while Shade also finds love and friendship in her soulmate.

Stars Fairuka Balk, Ione Skye, Brooke Adams, James Brolin, Laurie OBrien, Donovan Leitch Jr, Jacob Vargas, Chris Mulkey, Robert Knepper, Adam Biesk, David Lansbury, Leigh Hamilton

Directed by Allison Anders

Rated R
DRAMA

Crime Theif AKA La voleur de Crimes (1969)

Not released in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story: While out walking one day instead of being at work, married with children Jean witnesses a woman commit suicide.

Immediately after Jean begins leading a double life while making up the story that he killed the woman.

He writes it all down and sends it to the newspaper.

Soon he begins reading his letters in the paper and enjoying every minute of the attention.
But Jean does not really take into consideration that he can be and will be prosecuted for a murder he didn't actually commit.

Stars Karen Blanguernon , Jean Louis Trintignant , Giorgia Moll ,  Bernadette Lafont , Vicka Borg , Robert Hossein , Florinda Bolkan , Tanya Lopet , Serge Marquand , Luciene Hamon , Francis Girod

Directed by (& story written) Nadine Trintignant

Not Rated

French w/English subtitles

MYSTERY/DRAMA

"I wonder how many Sundays' you see in a lifetime."

Killer Joe (2011)

Released July 27, 2012, in the US.

Filmed entirely in Louisana.

The story: When Chris' mother steals the stash he had to sell he finds himself in deep shit.

He is told that his mother holds a very large life insurance policy with his younger sister as its beneficiary...

Chris also learns that there happens to be a hitman who will take care of the situation so he can get his hands on that cash.

Chris talks his father into meeting the hitman with him and while doing so, Chris and his father realize they need to pay the hitman in advance, which they cannot do.

Just when they think the deal off, the hitman decides if Chris' sister will act as a retainer for payment, they have a deal.

Chris does not want to go along with the hitmans' offer but he doesn't have much choice.

Just when it looks like Chris and his family will be all set, things go in a whole other, wrong direction.

Stars Emile Hirsch, Gina Gershon, Thomas Hayden Church, Juno Temple, Danny Epper, Marc Macaulay, Matthew McConaughey, Jeff Galpin, Scott A Martin, Gregory C Bachaud

Directed by William Friedkin

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER

Super Duper Alice Cooper (2014)

Released April 17th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story: In high school, Vincent Furnier met fellow classmate Dennis Dunaway.

The two had a mutual love for the arts and soon found themselves in a band together.

They became the only teenagers they knew who had a hit single that played in heavy rotation on the radio.

Next, they decided to take the band out of Phoenix and travel to L.A. where the music scene was happening.

With so many up and coming bands on the L.A. scene, Vincent and Dennis' band needed help.

First, they needed to create an image.

Then they needed help with their music and finally, they needed to change the band's name.

Image help came from the GTO's.

Musical help came from Frank Zappa and they changed the band's name to Alice Cooper.

Now they had the look but the L.A. audiences didn't get them. 

In fact, the audiences hated them.

Alice Cooper left L.A. and traveled playing around the US, exposing their act to anyone who would listen.

But it wasn't until they played a festival in Canada that their stardom really began.

Stars (voices of ) Alice Cooper, Dennis Dunaway, Sheryl Cooper, Jack Curtis, Pamela Des Barres, Robert Ezrin, Ella Furnier, Shep Gordon, Elton John, Wayne Kramer, John Lydon, Iggy Pop, Neil Smith, Dee Snider, Bernie Taupin

Directed by (& story written) Sam Dunn, Reginald Harkema & Scot McFadyen

Not Rated

DOCUMENTARY/HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY/MUSIC

"I'm not a freak and I like Alice Cooper."

Inferno (1980)

Released April 2nd in the US.

Filmed in Italy and New York.

The story: Rose is a young poet living in a very old, strange building in New York.

After purchasing an even stranger old book from the antique shop next door she writes her brother Mark, who is away at school in Italy a letter, and sends it off.

Rose then goes back to the antique shop where she got the book, questioning if the book is full of truth or is made up but gets no answers.

Off she goes on her way back home when she sees a way into the basement of the building she lives in.

Of course Rose goes into the basement, never to be seen again.

After Mark gets Rose's letter, he begins looking for her.

But while looking, everyone Mark encounters somehow comes to meet their doom.

Stars Irene Miracle, Sacha Pitoeff, Leigh McCloskey, Ania Pieroni, Eleonora Giorgi, Alida Valli, Veronica Lazar, Gabriele Lavia, Feodor Chaliapin Jr, Leopoldo Mastelloni, James Fleetwood

Directed by (& story written) Dario Argento

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR

The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971)

Released May 21st in the US.

Filmed in Italy.

The story: Blind Franco lives with his young niece and works as a crossword puzzle maker.

One night while out walking with his niece, Franco overhears someone's conversation in a car they walk past.

He asks his niece to look and see who the people are in the car but she can only see one of them.

The next day, Franco and his niece realize that the man they walked past last night is dead.

They visit with a  newspaper reporter who has been reporting on the story of another death in the area and they realize together that the deaths are connected.

Soon Franco is working closely with the reporter to find and stop the killer.

Stars Karl Malden , Catherine Spaak , James Franciscus , Pier Paolo Capponi , Horst Frank , Rada Rassimov , Aldo Reggiani , Vittorio Congia , Ugo Fangareggi , Tom Felleghy , Emilio Marchesini

Directed by Dario Argento 

Rated GP
MYSTERY/THRILLER

The Pack (1977)

Released November 20th in the US.

Filmed entirely in California.

The story: Seal Island is a popular vacation spot for people who enjoy fishing and hiking.

It is a quiet place with very few full-time residents.

When a man brings his son and others to the island for some fishing and to get his son out of his shell, things don't go exactly as planned.

There is a group of stray, vicious dogs attacking animals in the area and soon they become a threat to the people as well.

Stars Joe Don Baker, Peggy Price, Steve Butts, Rob Narke, Steve Lytle, Hope Alexander Willis, Richard B Shull, RG Armstrong, Ned Wertimer, Bibi Besch, Delos V Smith Jr, Richard O Brien, Sherry E DeBoer, Paul Wilson, Eric Knight 

Directed by Robert Clouse

Rated PG

THRILLER/MYSTERY/HORROR

Freaks (2018)

Released September 13, 2019, in the US.

Filmed entirely in Canada.

The story: Chloe is a 7- year -old girl who is locked away from the outside world by and with her father.

Dad insists, no matter how much Chloe wants to go out and explore the world, that it is dangerous, and if they leave the house, they will be killed.

Chloe dreams of having a mother, a sister, and a normal life, and dad promises all of this but it will take time.

After begging for ice cream and not getting any, even after dad promised, Chloe takes it upon herself to leave the house.

Outside she finds the ice cream man, who strangely enough seems to know who she is.

This is all confusing for young Chloe but soon, what she learns is far more incredible than she could have imagined.

Stars Lexy Kolker, Emile Hirsch, Ava Telek, Michelle Harrison, Bruce Dern, Amanda Crew, Grace Park, Matty Finochio, Aleks Paunovic, RJ Fetherstonhaugh, Ryan Beil, Reese Alexander

Directed by (& story written) Zach Lipovsky & Adam B Stein

Rated R
SCIFI/MYSTERY/THRILLER

Under the Skin (2013)

Released April 4, 2014, in the US.

Filmed in Scotland and England.

The story: Two aliens travel to Scotland, one disguised as a human male the other as a human female.

Neither has an ounce of empathy or compassion for human life.

Their mission is for the female to collect single, alone, human men and steal the life out of them with some minor help from the male.

All goes as planned until the female begins to identify as a human.

Then things get dangerously complicated.

Stars Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Kevin McAlinden, D Meade, Andrew Gorman, Krystof Hadek , Alison Chand, Roy Armstrong, Ben Mills, Oscar Mills, Lee Fanning, Paul Brannigan, Joe Szula, Dougie McConnell, Lynsey Taylor Mackay, Scott Dymond, Adam Pearson

Directed by Jonathan Glazer

Rated R
SCIFI/MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR

Diabolique AKA Les diaboliques (1955)

Released November 21st in the US.

Filmed entirely in France.

The story: Christina and Nicole are both teachers at a boarding school for boys.

Christina is also the wife of Michel, the school's headmaster and, Nicole is his mistress...

Both women know about each other and have become friends but neither woman seems to really like Michel, as he is cruel and abusive to both of them.

The two women concoct a plan to take out Michel, which is foolproof.

But after getting the deed done, and waiting for his body to be found, something goes horribly wrong.

Stars Vera Clouzot , Simone Signoret , Paul Meurisse , Jean Brochard , Robert Dalban , Michel Serrault , Therese Dorny , Charles Vanel , George Chamarat , Jean Lefebvre , Jacques Hilling

Directed by Henri Georges Clouzot

B&W

French w/English subtitles

Not Rated

MYSTERY/THRILLER

"Don't be devils! Don't ruin the interest your friends could take in this film. Don't tell them what you saw. Thank you for them."