Wrapping up February on the "DVD Is the New Vinyl" podcast, Emmy-nominated actor Jason Ritter (WILD CANARIES, "Parenthood") is haunted by Nicolas Roeg's 1973 masterpiece DON'T LOOK NOW... Independent Spirit Award-winning filmmaker Lynn Shelton (YOUR SISTER'S SISTER, HUMPDAY) shares an anecdote about her latest, LAGGIES, and finds a kinship in experimental auteur Shirley Clarke's 1962 jazz classic THE CONNECTION... Swedish auteur Ruben Östlund was robbed of an Oscar nomination for his tremendous, Cannes-vetted drama FORCE MAJEURE. Plus, "10 Worth a Spin" with DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, FORTY YEARS FROM YESTERDAY, LIFE ITSELF, THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY'S, THE OVERNIGHTERS, LE PONT DU NORD, STAR 80, THE ST. VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE, THROUGH A LENS DARKLY, and TRAITORS. Listen above, or on iTunes.
PICK OF THE WEEK: The Immigrant
March 27
* Actress (acclaimed, artful blend of vérité + melodrama)
The Andy Milligan Grindhouse Experience (retro gutter horror x 3)
* Another Girl, Another Planet (1992, dir. Michael Almereyda)
* Escape From New York (Blu-ray, 1981, Kurt Russell)
* Gone With the Pope (1975, sleazy exploitation crime saga)
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (2002, Audrey Tautou)
* The Immigrant (Marion Cotillard, Aaron's #5 Film of 2014)
Interstellar (Matthew McConaughey, dir. Christopher Nolan)
* Killers (Sundance 2014, Japanese-Indonesian psychological thriller)
* Mommy (Cannes 2014 jury prize-winning drama, dir. Xavier Dolan)
A Most Violent Year (Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, Albert Brooks)
* A Spell to Ward Off the Darkness (experimental docu-drama)
Uncle Grandpa: Good Mornin' (absurdist kids' animation)
Wild (Oscar nom'd biopic: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern)
The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (British horror)
* Actress (acclaimed, artful blend of vérité + melodrama)
The Andy Milligan Grindhouse Experience (retro gutter horror x 3)
* Another Girl, Another Planet (1992, dir. Michael Almereyda)
* Escape From New York (Blu-ray, 1981, Kurt Russell)
* Gone With the Pope (1975, sleazy exploitation crime saga)
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (2002, Audrey Tautou)
* The Immigrant (Marion Cotillard, Aaron's #5 Film of 2014)
Interstellar (Matthew McConaughey, dir. Christopher Nolan)
* Killers (Sundance 2014, Japanese-Indonesian psychological thriller)
* Mommy (Cannes 2014 jury prize-winning drama, dir. Xavier Dolan)
A Most Violent Year (Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, Albert Brooks)
* A Spell to Ward Off the Darkness (experimental docu-drama)
Uncle Grandpa: Good Mornin' (absurdist kids' animation)
Wild (Oscar nom'd biopic: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern)
The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (British horror)
PICK OF THE WEEK: Stray Dogs
March 20
Cast a Giant Shadow (1966, Kirk Douglas, Arab-Israeli war drama)
* Cries and Whispers (1972 Swedish classic, dir. Ingmar Bergman)
* If You Don't, I Will (French marital drama, Mathieu Amalric)
Innocence (spooky young-adult romantic fantasy)
Into the Woods (Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine)
Liars, Fires and Bears (odd-couple indie road trip)
* Love Hunter (entertaining drama about a Serbian musician in NYC)
* Silicon Valley: Season 1 (HBO tech-world comedy)
Song One (Sundance 2014, Anne Hathaway romantic drama)
* Stray Dogs (Taiwanese art drama, dir. Tsai Ming-liang)
Unbroken (Oscar-nominated biopic, dir. Angelina Jolie)
* Veep: Season 3 (Julia Louis-Dreyfus political comedy)
* Vice & Virtue (1963 French wartime drama, dir. Roger Vadim)
The Voices (Sundance 2014, Ryan Reynolds black comedy)
* Web Junkie (fascinating, troubling doc on Chinese internet addicts)
Wild Card (Jason Statham action thriller)
Cast a Giant Shadow (1966, Kirk Douglas, Arab-Israeli war drama)
* Cries and Whispers (1972 Swedish classic, dir. Ingmar Bergman)
* If You Don't, I Will (French marital drama, Mathieu Amalric)
Innocence (spooky young-adult romantic fantasy)
Into the Woods (Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine)
Liars, Fires and Bears (odd-couple indie road trip)
* Love Hunter (entertaining drama about a Serbian musician in NYC)
* Silicon Valley: Season 1 (HBO tech-world comedy)
Song One (Sundance 2014, Anne Hathaway romantic drama)
* Stray Dogs (Taiwanese art drama, dir. Tsai Ming-liang)
Unbroken (Oscar-nominated biopic, dir. Angelina Jolie)
* Veep: Season 3 (Julia Louis-Dreyfus political comedy)
* Vice & Virtue (1963 French wartime drama, dir. Roger Vadim)
The Voices (Sundance 2014, Ryan Reynolds black comedy)
* Web Junkie (fascinating, troubling doc on Chinese internet addicts)
Wild Card (Jason Statham action thriller)
PICK OF THE WEEK: R100
March 13
* The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944, Fredric March)
The Big Shot (1942, little-seen Bogart crime drama)
Eddie and the Cruisers (Blu-ray, 1983, includes 1988 sequel)
* Gates of Heaven + Vernon, Florida (1978 - 1981, dir. Errol Morris)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The Imitation Game (Best Actor Oscar nom: Benedict Cumberbatch)
Life Partners (crowd-pleasing comedy, Leighton Meester, Gillian Jacobs)
* Pioneer (Norwegian underwater thriller from "Insomnia" director)
* R100 (outrageously weird Japanese S&M comedy)
The Rewrite (Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei, J. K. Simmons)
* Song of the Sea (Ireland, Oscar-nominated animated fantasy)
Swing Your Lady (1938, Humphrey Bogart comic oddity)
* The Thin Blue Line (1988 landmark doc, dir. Errol Morris)
* Top Five (acclaimed Chris Rock comedy, Rosario Dawson)
* The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944, Fredric March)
The Big Shot (1942, little-seen Bogart crime drama)
Eddie and the Cruisers (Blu-ray, 1983, includes 1988 sequel)
* Gates of Heaven + Vernon, Florida (1978 - 1981, dir. Errol Morris)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The Imitation Game (Best Actor Oscar nom: Benedict Cumberbatch)
Life Partners (crowd-pleasing comedy, Leighton Meester, Gillian Jacobs)
* Pioneer (Norwegian underwater thriller from "Insomnia" director)
* R100 (outrageously weird Japanese S&M comedy)
The Rewrite (Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei, J. K. Simmons)
* Song of the Sea (Ireland, Oscar-nominated animated fantasy)
Swing Your Lady (1938, Humphrey Bogart comic oddity)
* The Thin Blue Line (1988 landmark doc, dir. Errol Morris)
* Top Five (acclaimed Chris Rock comedy, Rosario Dawson)
PICK OF THE WEEK: The Soft Skin
March 6
Annie (Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Quvenzhané wallis)
* The Bride Wore Black (Blu-ray, 1968, dir. François Truffaut)
* Disorder (mesmerizing doc on urbanization in China)
Exodus: Gods and Kings (Christian Bale, dir. Ridley Scott)
* Katt Williams: Priceless Afterlife (dir. Spike Lee)
The Liberator (Venezuelan biopic about Simón Bolívar)
Lovesick (1983 rom-com, Dudley Moore, Elizabeth McGovern)
* Low Down (Sundance award winner, John Hawkes jazz drama)
Night Game (1989 Texas crime drama, Roy Scheider)
Penguins of Madagascar (kids' animated feature)
* The Physician (11th-century Persian epic, Ben Kingsley)
* Ride the Pink Horse (1947 unusual crime noir, Criterion)
* The Soft Skin (1964, Criterion, dir. François Truffaut)
Son of a Gun (Australian crime thriller, Ewen McGregor)
* The Way He Looks (compassionate Brazilian gay drama)
Wild Orchid (1990, Mickey Rourke erotic cult classic)
Annie (Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Quvenzhané wallis)
* The Bride Wore Black (Blu-ray, 1968, dir. François Truffaut)
* Disorder (mesmerizing doc on urbanization in China)
Exodus: Gods and Kings (Christian Bale, dir. Ridley Scott)
* Katt Williams: Priceless Afterlife (dir. Spike Lee)
The Liberator (Venezuelan biopic about Simón Bolívar)
Lovesick (1983 rom-com, Dudley Moore, Elizabeth McGovern)
* Low Down (Sundance award winner, John Hawkes jazz drama)
Night Game (1989 Texas crime drama, Roy Scheider)
Penguins of Madagascar (kids' animated feature)
* The Physician (11th-century Persian epic, Ben Kingsley)
* Ride the Pink Horse (1947 unusual crime noir, Criterion)
* The Soft Skin (1964, Criterion, dir. François Truffaut)
Son of a Gun (Australian crime thriller, Ewen McGregor)
* The Way He Looks (compassionate Brazilian gay drama)
Wild Orchid (1990, Mickey Rourke erotic cult classic)
PICK OF THE WEEK: Listen Up Philip
February 27
* Algorithms (unique, soulful doc on blind chess players in India)
* An Autumn Afternoon (Blu-ray, 1962, dir. Yasujiro Ozu)
Barbie in Princess Power (animated feature)
Best Seller (1987 thriller, James Woods, Brian Dennehy)
* The Bridge (powerful doc on Golden Gate Bridge suicides)
The Eternal Return of Antonis (Berlin 2013, odd Greek satire)
* 52 Pick-Up (1986, sleazy Elmore Leonard adaptation, Roy Scheider)
* Forty Years From Yesterday (indie meditation on grief)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
The Last of Robin Hood (Kevin Kline as Errol Flynn!)
* Lenny (Blu-ray, 1974, Dustin Hoffman, dir. Bob Fosse)
* Listen Up Philip (Jason Schwartzman bitter comedy, Elisabeth Moss)
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (Ben Stiller)
* Remote Area Medical (acclaimed snapshot of U.S. healthcare)
Terms and Conditions May Apply (slick, illuminating doc)
* Vincent & Theo (1990 biopic, Tim Roth, dir. Robert Altman)
* Algorithms (unique, soulful doc on blind chess players in India)
* An Autumn Afternoon (Blu-ray, 1962, dir. Yasujiro Ozu)
Barbie in Princess Power (animated feature)
Best Seller (1987 thriller, James Woods, Brian Dennehy)
* The Bridge (powerful doc on Golden Gate Bridge suicides)
The Eternal Return of Antonis (Berlin 2013, odd Greek satire)
* 52 Pick-Up (1986, sleazy Elmore Leonard adaptation, Roy Scheider)
* Forty Years From Yesterday (indie meditation on grief)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
The Last of Robin Hood (Kevin Kline as Errol Flynn!)
* Lenny (Blu-ray, 1974, Dustin Hoffman, dir. Bob Fosse)
* Listen Up Philip (Jason Schwartzman bitter comedy, Elisabeth Moss)
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (Ben Stiller)
* Remote Area Medical (acclaimed snapshot of U.S. healthcare)
Terms and Conditions May Apply (slick, illuminating doc)
* Vincent & Theo (1990 biopic, Tim Roth, dir. Robert Altman)
PICK OF THE WEEK: Bandit Queen
February 20
* Bandit Queen (Blu-ray, 1994, female Indian warrior biopic)
The Better Angels (Terence Malick-produced period drama)
* F.I.S.T. (1978, Sylvester Stallone labor union drama)
Foxcatcher (Steve Carell, Oscar noms: Best Actor, Director)
The Intruders (Miranda Cosgrove psychological thriller)
* The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968, dir. William Friedkin)
On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter (gorgeous motorcycle doc)
Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977, animated)
* The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966 Cold War comedy, Carl Reiner)
* Sex(ed): the Movie (funny & insightful doc on U.S. sex education)
* Snoopy, Come Home (1972, animated)
Sons of Anarchy: The Final Season
* Star 80 (1983 biopic, Mariel Hemingway, dir. Bob Fosse)
* The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (Blu-ray, 1967, dir. Roger Corman)
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast (animated)
Tricked (hair-raising doc on sex-trafficking)
WolfCop (Fantasia 2014, Canuxploitation horror-comedy)
* Bandit Queen (Blu-ray, 1994, female Indian warrior biopic)
The Better Angels (Terence Malick-produced period drama)
* F.I.S.T. (1978, Sylvester Stallone labor union drama)
Foxcatcher (Steve Carell, Oscar noms: Best Actor, Director)
The Intruders (Miranda Cosgrove psychological thriller)
* The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968, dir. William Friedkin)
On Any Sunday: The Next Chapter (gorgeous motorcycle doc)
Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977, animated)
* The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966 Cold War comedy, Carl Reiner)
* Sex(ed): the Movie (funny & insightful doc on U.S. sex education)
* Snoopy, Come Home (1972, animated)
Sons of Anarchy: The Final Season
* Star 80 (1983 biopic, Mariel Hemingway, dir. Bob Fosse)
* The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (Blu-ray, 1967, dir. Roger Corman)
Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast (animated)
Tricked (hair-raising doc on sex-trafficking)
WolfCop (Fantasia 2014, Canuxploitation horror-comedy)
PICK OF THE WEEK: Don't Look Now
February 13
Blaze of Glory (“Blaze and the Monster Machines” animated movie)
* Captive (raw hostage thriller, Isabelle Huppert, dir. Brillante Mendoza)
The Captive (Ryan Reynolds, Rosario Dawson, dir. Atom Egoyan)
* Don’t Look Now (1973, Criterion, Julie Christie, dir. Nicolas Roeg)
Dying of the Light (Nicolas Cage thriller, dir. Paul Schrader)
Exists (Bigfoot horror from “The Blair Witch Project” director)
* Final Prayer (atmospheric British “found-footage” horror)
Game of Thrones: Season 4
Horrible Bosses 2 (Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston)
* The Humbling (Greta Gerwig, Al Pacino, dir. Barry Levinson)
Late Phases (“Night of the Lone Wolf,” blind Vietnam vet vs. a werewolf!)
* Le Pont du Nord (1981 French masterpiece, dir. Jacques Rivette)
* Syncopation (1942, essential jazz drama, dir. William Dieterle)
* The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (Studio Ghibli animated folktale)
The Theory of Everything (Oscar noms: Best Actor + Best Picture)
* Through a Lens Darkly (ambitious African-American photography doc)
* Vandal (engaging French graffiti-bomber drama)
The Wild Affair (1963, Nancy Kwan, cheeky British satire)
Blaze of Glory (“Blaze and the Monster Machines” animated movie)
* Captive (raw hostage thriller, Isabelle Huppert, dir. Brillante Mendoza)
The Captive (Ryan Reynolds, Rosario Dawson, dir. Atom Egoyan)
* Don’t Look Now (1973, Criterion, Julie Christie, dir. Nicolas Roeg)
Dying of the Light (Nicolas Cage thriller, dir. Paul Schrader)
Exists (Bigfoot horror from “The Blair Witch Project” director)
* Final Prayer (atmospheric British “found-footage” horror)
Game of Thrones: Season 4
Horrible Bosses 2 (Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston)
* The Humbling (Greta Gerwig, Al Pacino, dir. Barry Levinson)
Late Phases (“Night of the Lone Wolf,” blind Vietnam vet vs. a werewolf!)
* Le Pont du Nord (1981 French masterpiece, dir. Jacques Rivette)
* Syncopation (1942, essential jazz drama, dir. William Dieterle)
* The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (Studio Ghibli animated folktale)
The Theory of Everything (Oscar noms: Best Actor + Best Picture)
* Through a Lens Darkly (ambitious African-American photography doc)
* Vandal (engaging French graffiti-bomber drama)
The Wild Affair (1963, Nancy Kwan, cheeky British satire)
PICK OF THE WEEK: Every Man For Himself
February 6
* Beyond the Lights (romantic drama, Oscar nom: Best Song)
* Big Hero 6 (Disney animation, superhero action comedy)
Birdman (Michael Keaton, Oscar noms: Best Picture, Best Actor)
Born Reckless (1958, Mamie Van Doren as a rodeo star)
* A Day in the Country (1932, Criterion, dir. Jean Renoir)
Dumb and Dumber To (Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels)
* Every Man For Himself (1980, Criterion, dir. Jean-Luc Godard)
The Homesman (Hilary Swank western, dir. Tommy Lee Jones)
The Interview (Seth Rogen, James Franco)
Justice League vs. Bizarro League (Lego animation)
* Keep On Keepin’ On (moving doc on jazz legend Clark Terry)
* The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (Hayao Miyazaki doc)
* Laggies (Kiera Knightley rom-com, dir. Lynn Shelton)
* Life Itself (enthralling doc on film critic Roger Ebert)
* Love Me (Turkey/Ukraine, socially aware rom-com)
Nurse Jackie: Season 6
* Traitors (energetic Moroccan drama about female punk-rocker)
V/H/S Viral (Fantastic Fest 2014, anthology horror)
Whiplash (jazz-drummer drama, Oscar nom: Best Picture)
White Comanche (1968, Shatner vs. Shatner western)
* Beyond the Lights (romantic drama, Oscar nom: Best Song)
* Big Hero 6 (Disney animation, superhero action comedy)
Birdman (Michael Keaton, Oscar noms: Best Picture, Best Actor)
Born Reckless (1958, Mamie Van Doren as a rodeo star)
* A Day in the Country (1932, Criterion, dir. Jean Renoir)
Dumb and Dumber To (Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels)
* Every Man For Himself (1980, Criterion, dir. Jean-Luc Godard)
The Homesman (Hilary Swank western, dir. Tommy Lee Jones)
The Interview (Seth Rogen, James Franco)
Justice League vs. Bizarro League (Lego animation)
* Keep On Keepin’ On (moving doc on jazz legend Clark Terry)
* The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (Hayao Miyazaki doc)
* Laggies (Kiera Knightley rom-com, dir. Lynn Shelton)
* Life Itself (enthralling doc on film critic Roger Ebert)
* Love Me (Turkey/Ukraine, socially aware rom-com)
Nurse Jackie: Season 6
* Traitors (energetic Moroccan drama about female punk-rocker)
V/H/S Viral (Fantastic Fest 2014, anthology horror)
Whiplash (jazz-drummer drama, Oscar nom: Best Picture)
White Comanche (1968, Shatner vs. Shatner western)
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