If I Ever See You Again (1978)

Released May 24th in the US.

Filmed in New York and California.

The story: Bob Morrison is a TV jingle writer.

He lives in New York with his two young children and their nanny.

Unhappy with his job and the lack of freedom that it offers, Bob decides to try his hand out in California, writing music for movies.

While there, he runs into Jennifer, an old girlfriend from college who had broken up with him.

She agrees to get together with Bob but is quite distant which is confusing.

When Bob wants to further their relationship,  Jennifer wonders if she can commit this time.

Stars Michael Decker, Julie Gordon, Joseph Brooks, Shannon Bolin, Danielle Brisebois, Branch Emerson, Jimmy Breslin, Shelley Hack, Jerry Keller, George Plimpton, Bob Kaliban, Eric Weissberg

Directed by Joseph  Brooks

Rated PG
DRAMA

The Florida Project (2017)

Released October 4th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Florida.

The story: Young, jobless, and completely rebellious Halley lives in a hotel with her 6-year-old daughter Moonee.

Halley tries idea after idea to keep the two with a roof over their head and food to eat, but nothing she does is really very stable.

Moonee doesn't attend school but rather runs the streets with her mother but mostly with a couple of her friends that live in the same hotel or one close by.

Halley has a history of getting in trouble with the law and although most of the things she does to keep herself on her feet are illegal, she continues to do what she can to make money.

But it's only a matter of time before things get real.

Stars Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Rivera, Aiden Malik, Josie Olivo, Valeria Cotto, Edward Pagan, Mela Murder, Jim R Coleman, Sandy Kane, Rosa Medina Perez, Caleb Landry Jones, Terry Allen Jones, Sonya McCarter, Shail Kamini Ramcharan, Kit Sullivan

Directed by Sean Baker 

Rated R
DRAMA

The Crossing Guard (1995)

Released November 16th in the US.

Filmed in California.

The story: Six years ago, Freddy Gale was a happily married man with three children.

All of that changed when his 7-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver.

Since that day, Freddy has not been himself.

He has been waiting patiently until the day that the man who killed his daughter is released from prison and that day is today.

Freddy believes that if he kills the man who caused him so much suffering, all will feel better once again.

Stars Jack Nicholson, Kari Wuhrer, David Morse, Piper Laurie, Richard Bradford, Anjelica Houston , Robbie Robertson, Robin Wright, Priscilla Barnes, Jennifer Leigh Warren, Kellita Smith

Directed by (& story written) Sean Penn

Rated R
DRAMA/THRILLER

Summer of Soul (...Or , When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)

Released July 2nd in the US.

Filmed entirely in New York.

The story: For six weeks, only on Sundays starting at 3PM, in the Summer of 1969, The 3rd Annual Cultural Festival took place in Mt Morris Park, Harlem, New York.

This round of the festival was organized, promoted, and hosted by lounge singer/promoter/hustler Tony Lawrence.

The festival took place at the very same time Woodstock was going on, only not too many people outside of Harlem actually knew about it.

The festival showcased an array of different types of music, mostly directed at and performed by but not entirely, black people.

It was a celebration of music, freedom, life, and happiness which everyone involved believed was a step in the right direction for America.

Unfortunately, even though the festival was fully filmed and recorded, no one has ever seen it.

Until now...

There were many performers who did sets, some of the performances that can be seen here are by Stevie Wonder, The Chamber Brothers, BB King, DJ Jerry B, Herbie Mann,  The 5th Dimension, Edwin Hawkins Singers, Pops Staples, and the Staples Singers, Prof. Herman Stevens and the Voices of Faith, Clara Walker, and the Gospel Redeemers, Mahalia Jackson, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Ben Branch, David Ruffin, Gladys Knight, and the Pips, Sly and the Family Stone, Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto, Willie Tyler, and Lester, Moms Mabley, Dinizulu and His African Dancers and Drummers, Sonny Sharrock, Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Hugh Masekela, Nina Simone

Stars Dorinda Drake , Barbara Bland Acosta , Darryl Lewis , Ethel Beatty Barnes , Reverened Al Sharpton , Allen Zerkin , Margot Edman , Alan Leeds , Cyril "Bullwhip" Innis Jr , Hal Tulchin , Musa Jackson , Billy Davis Jr , Marilyn McCoo , Adrienne Kryor , Marvis Staples , Greg Tate , Charlayne Haunter Gaunt , Reverend Jesse Jackson , Gladys Knight , Greg Errico , Jim McFarland , Lin Manuel Miranda , Luis Miranda , Denise Oliver Velez , Sheila E , Roger Parris , Stevie Wonder , Chris Rock , Raoul Roach , Selema Maskela

Directed by Questlove

Rated PG13

DOCUMENTARY/HISTORY/MUSIC

"Lovingly dedicated to Richard Nichols."

Sheryl (2022)

Made for Showtime,  streaming March 6th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story:  Sheryl Crow is one of two girls and a boy born to Bernice and Wendell Crow in Missouri.

At a very young age, Sheryl had a tremendous love for music.

Her mother, a piano teacher, owned three pianos. Sheryl was always playing.

After high school, Sheryl attended the University of Missouri.

When she graduated she quickly joined a band.

Being in a serious romantic relationship that failed, Sheryl believed it was the right time to get on with her future music career.

She moved to L.A., gave her demo to every record company she could, and worked to make ends meet as a waitress.

The restaurant she worked at saw many musicians and one day, a commercial producer came in.

Knowing she would get fired, Sheryl gave him her tape.

When he called her back and asked her to come in, she was fired. 

Broke, Sheryl continued to follow her heart and before she knew it, she was in Tokyo, touring with Michael Jackson.

This opened many doors for Sheryl and was the potential start to her lifelong musical career.

Through many great highs and equally great lows, Sheryl persevered and to this day, still continues to make her dreams come true.

Stars Sheryl Crow, Greg Phillingaines, Scooter Weintraub, Bill Bottrell, Keith Richards, Trina Shoemaker, Jeff Trott , Jason Isbell, Bernice Crow, Wendell Crow, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile, Laura Dern, Joe Walsh, Jimmy Iovine, Steve Jordan 

Directed by Amy Scott

Rated TVMA

BIOGRAPHY/DOCUMENTARY/HISTORY/MUSIC/TV

"Fame is not natural."

Popcorn (1991)

Released February 1st in the US.

Filmed in Jamacia and Canada.

The story: Maggie is a college student, studying film and living with her single mother.

She has been having a recurring dream, which she has been remembering by making clips of herself telling what happens.

Maggie believes her dreams would make a great film.

One day while in school, Maggie's class, along with their teacher, come up with a brilliant idea.

They will rent the local theater which has been closed for some time and put on a scifi/horror film festival to raise funds.

Little do any of them realize though, that the guy who happens to be the star of Maggie's dream has a bit of revenge in mind and she, along with her teacher and classmates are his target.

Stars Jill Schoelen, Matt Falls, Dee Wallace, Derek Rydall, Ivette Soler, Tony Roberts, Kelly Jo Minter, Tom Villard, Malcolm Danare, Freddie Simpson, Ray Walston, Karen Lorre, Ethan Ormsby

Directed by Mark Herrier & Alan Ormsby

Rated R
HORROR/MYSTERY/THRILLER

Eating Raoul (1982)

Released October 1st in the US.

Filmed entirely in California.

The story: Paul and Mary Bland live a very disciplined life.

Paul is a wine connoisseur and Mary is a nurse.

They are trying to save money to come up with enough to open their own restaurant.

But every time they turn around, money is getting tighter.

Paul and Mary live in an apartment building where swinger parties happen all the time.

Of course, the reserved couple frown on this in many ways.

But there is one thing that they believe these low lives are good for.

Money.

After Paul has no choice but to kill one of those overly pushy swingers, he and Mary come up with a sure-fire plan to raise the funds.

Murdering as many of these scums for their free-flowing cash.

Stars Mary Woronov, Paul Bartel, Susan Saiger, John Shearin, Lynn Hobart, Robert Beltran, Richard Paul, Mark Woods, Ben Haller, Darcy Pulliman , Roberta Spero, Vernon Demetrius, Arlene Harris, Buster Wilson, Hamilton Camp, Buck Henry, Anna Mathias, Hanns Manship, Allan Rich, Ed Begley Jr, Billy Curtis, Edie McClurg, Joe Dante,, Rick Waln, Don Steele, John Paragon

Directed by Paul Bartel

Rated R

DARK COMEDY

Henry : Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

Released September 10, 1990, in the US...

Filmed in Illinois.

The story: Henry is a serial killer...

He makes his kills in the city of Chicago when no one is looking.

Henry is staying with Otis, a friend he made while the two were in prison.

But Henry is planning to move on to California soon.

When Otis' sister Becky comes to stay with him for a while, she takes an instant liking to Henry and as the two get to know each other, he becomes increasingly protective of her.

One night while Henry and Otis are out for some fun, Henry kills two women they picked up.

Freaked, Otis doesn't know what to think but soon Henry talks him into believing it's fine.

Next,  Henry is encouraging Otis to kill but it's only a matter of time before Henry turns on Otis as well.

Stars Mary Demas,  Anne Bartoletti, Ted Kaden, Elizabeth Kaden, Denise Sullivan, Michael Rooker, Tom Towles, Tracy Arnold, Monica Anne O'Malley, Erzsebet Sziky, David Katz, John Scafidi 

Directed by John McNaughton

Not Rated

THRILLER/MYSTERY

Fast Company (1979)

Released August 17th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Canada.

The story: Lonnie is a popular professional drag car driver for the big money Fast Company.

His boss Phil is a greedy businessman who doesn't care about much more than his pockets.

When Phil believes he is losing money, and Lonnie's ride burns up, Phil forces Lonnie to drive his mechanic Billy's funny car until Lonnie's is fixed.

This pisses Billy off but it's only for a little while and he doesn't have much of a choice anyway.

When Lonnie drives Billy's car, there are problems, due to Lonnie pissing a competitor's mechanic off.

This gives Phil yet another bad idea.

He decides to fire Phil and hire the competitor, setting Lonnie up one last time to end all future competition with him.

Stars Nicholas Campbell, John Saxon, Judy Foster, George Buza, Robert Haley, Cedric Smith, William Smith, Claudia Jennings, Don Francks, David Graham, David Petersen, Chuck Chandler

Directed by David Cronenberg

Rated R
DRAMA

Anthropophagus AKA The Grim Reaper (1980)

Released October 9, 1981, in the US.

Filmed in Greece and Italy.

The story: A bunch of tourists decide to take a trip to a fantastic, hidden island with a woman they have just befriended.

Their new friend claims to have visited the island before, although she hasn't been in some time.

Right from the beginning, things seem doomed for the group.

Little do they realize though, one of the only two inhabitants left on the island is a flesh-eating killer.

Stars Simone Baker , Mark Logan , Tisa Farrow , Serena Grandi , Saverio Vallone , Margaret Mazzantini , Mark Bodin , Bob Larson , Rubina Rey , George Eastman , Zora Kerova , Joe DAmato

Directed by Joe DAmato

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR