From IMDB: A New England couple's college-aged son dates an older woman who has two small children and an unwelcome ex-husband.

The film was directed by Todd Field who also acts. He co-wrote the script with Robert Festinger based off the story KILLINGS by Andre Dubus. The cast is filled with big names including Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, Marisa Tomei, Nick Stahl, and William Mapother. It received fabulous reviews and earned over $40M USD at the box office. Your co-hosts take a look at this classic film and give their thoughts.

The last voyage of the wonderful cruise ship the Poseidon sets sail between New York City and Athens. After, it will be retired and decommissioned. While during the last leg of the cruise in the Aegean Sea, it is New Year’s Eve and many of the paying customers are having fun. However, an earthquake underwater creates a tsunami and the ship is in great peril.

The movie’s stars include Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, and Stella Stevens among many more. The film was directed by Ronald Neame and based on the novel by Paul Gallico. Getting fine reviews and making tons of money, the movie was a huge hit. With the recent passing of Gene Hackman, your co-hosts take a look at this classic film in cinema history and give their thoughts.

From IMDB:  A middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.

The movie stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jenny Slate, James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis, and remarkably retired child actor Ke Hy Quan who went on to win the Oscar for best supporting actor.  The movie was written and directed by the “Daniels”, Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan after having met at Emerson College in Boston years earlier.  Your co-hosts take a look at this film picked as a feature by co-host Eric.

Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is a lawyer for a big New York City law firm.  Rather than being a partner, he’s called a cleaner or a janitor, someone that cleans up the messes of the firm’s top clients.  When lawyer, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) has a breakdown and may expose the corruption of client U-North, U-North’s internal council, Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton), has to make a rash decision.  In the meantime, Michael has to find Arthur, saving their case, and try to clean up the mess.

The film received seven Academy Award nominations including a win for Tilda Swinton for Best Supporting Actress.  The movie was directed and written by Tony Gilroy and included in the cast Ken Howard, Sydney Pollack, and Denis O’Hare.  Receiving amazing reviews, and considered a masterpiece, the movie went on to make $93M USD.  Your cohosts take a look at the movie and give their thoughts.

In apocalyptic 2035, where people live underground, prisoner James Cole (Bruce Willis) is sent to the surface for samples so a cure for a pandemic that killed most of humanity.  Scientists however have a plan.  They are able to send people back to the past so to see if they can stop the disease itself.  When James heads back to 1996, he discovers that a group of environmental terrorists called 12 Monkeys may be the culprit.

Directed by Gilliam, the screenplay was written by duo, David and Janet Peoples, based off a French short film LA JATEE by Chris Marker.  The cast includes Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, David Morse, Christopher Plummer, and Madeleine Stowe.  Your co-hosts take a look at this very interesting film and give their thoughts.

Nicholas Van Orton is a very successful investment banker that lives in the San Francisco area.  To many he appears to be a selfish and fairly aloof man, but he has carried personal demons from his childhood that haunt his adult life.  At his birthday, his estranged brother gives him a gift to a LARP from a mysterious company called Consumer Recreation Services.  Soon, his life seems to become exciting but for all the wrong reasons.

THE GAME stars one of the top leading men of its era, Michael Douglas, at the top of his game (no pun intended).  The cast includes Sean Penn, Deborah Kara Unger, along with James Rebhorn and Carroll Baker.  With a budget of $70M USD, the film went on to gross $109.4M USD.  Just like FIGHT CLUB, THE GAME originally received fixed reviews before being re-evaluated and becoming a classic.  Your co-hosts take a look at this spectacular thriller and give their thoughts.

Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) is a grieving mother.  A year prior her daughter was raped and murdered and there has been no leads.  Outside her town, she decides to rent three billboards calling out the local sheriff and his officers for their stalled investigation. 

The film is directed and written by Martin McDonagh in a career defining masterpiece.  Starring Frances McDormand in a award winning performance, the movie also stars Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage, Abbie Cornish, and Samara Weaving in a large ensemble cast.  Your co-hosts take a look at their latest picture to reminisce on and give their thoughts.

From Bing:  “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005 American neo-noir mystery black comedy action thriller film written and directed by Shane Black, and starring Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, and Corbin Bernsen. The script is partially based on the Brett Halliday novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them, and interprets the classic hardboiled literary genre in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. The film was produced by Joel Silver, with Susan Levin and Steve Richards as executive producers.”

With its eclectic cast and Shane Black’s fingers on the script and direction, the neo-noir received excellent reviews on Rottentomatoes.  Though a minor film in many involved in the movie, it helped jump each of their careers and has become a cult favorite.  Your co-hosts take a look at Mike’s choice to discuss.  We give our thoughts and talk about the satire about Hollywood that Black’s script focuses on.

Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins) goes with his supermodel wife Mickey (Elle Macpherson) for a photoshoot in the remote areas of Alaska.  When photographer Bob Green (Alec Baldwin) wants better photos, they head off on a small plane to a local guide.  Unfortunately their plane crashes leaving Charles, Bob, and Bob’s assistant Stephen (Harold Perrineau) stranded.  Soon, a Kodiak bear is on their trail and the three must fight for survival.

Besides Anthonly Hopkins and Alec Baldwin in the leading roles, the film’s cast includes Elle Macpherson, L.Q. Jones, Harold Perrineau and Bart the Bear.  The film, chosen by co-host Eric, was almost a topic for the Dark Discussions Podcast before being chosen for discussion here on the Cinema A La Carte podcast.  Take a listen and hear what your co-hosts feel about a highly underappreciated movie.

Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is happily married to attorney Edie Stall (Maria Bello).  He’s the owner of a local diner and has two beautiful children.  When two on-the-run killers attempt to rob his restaurant, Tom is labeled a hero by local media as he saves his employees from a possible massacre.  When a strange group of men appear in town, Tom and his family’s life are turned upside down.  Who are these men and what do they want?

The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, and William Hurt in an Oscar nominated performance.  As a commentary on the violent nature of humanity and even on Hollywood’s and Cronenberg’s own knack for aggression in film, the movie is a reflection on all of us and as a society that seems to fetishizes our own violent nature.  Your co-hosts take a look at this interesting film and give their thoughts.

When a serial killer shots five people dead in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a mysterious former Army military police officer shows up named Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise).  When the district attorney, Alex Rodin (Richard Jenkins), seeks the death penalty, his daughter Helen (Rosamund Pike) feels something is suspicious.  Soon Jack Reacher joins up with Helen and the two begin to unravel a much larger conspiracy.

Jack Reacher is another in a long line of films that were pushed back due to real life crimes that seemed to mirror the plot of the movie.  When the film finally was released, it made less than expected but received legs and made a boat load of money world wide.  The film stars Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, Robert Duval, Werner Herzog, and David Oyelowo in a strong ensemble cast.  Your co-hosts take a look at this well received film and give their thoughts.

Max (Jamie Foxx) is an LA cab driver with big dreams of one day owning a limousine service.  When a well-dressed man named Vincent (Tom Cruise) enters his taxi, Max is asked to drive around the city to five different locations.  While waiting for Vincent to return after the first stop, an unexpected incident occurs that turns a routine night of work into a struggle to stay alive.

The movie stars Tom Cruise in what some say is one of his most iconic performances.  Jamie Foxx also received a nomination for Supporting Actor.  Included in the cast is Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Bruce McGill, Peter Berg, and Javier Bardem.  Your co-hosts take a look at this remarkable film and give their thoughts.

The planet Altair IV had been colonized twenty years earlier, but now it is time for the relief team to replace the original explorers.  When coming into audio communication with the planet, one of the original pioneers, Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), warns starship C-57D to stay away.  But following orders, Commander John J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen) lands the ship only to find Morbius, his daughter Altaira (Anne Francis), and a robot named Robbie all that’s left of the original settlers.

The film was one of MGM’s most successful movies.  FORBIDDEN PLANET was directed by Fred M. Wilcox, written by Cyril Hume, and produced by Nicholas Nayfack.  Years later, the movie still resonates with Robbie the Robot considered one of the most iconic characters in movie history.  Take a listen to your co-hosts discuss all things Krell, the mind’s id, and miniskirts.

When young Riley moves with her family from Minnesota to San Francisco, her emotions get the most of her.  The alpha emotion of Joy (Amy Poehler) has to juggle control of Riley while keeping her fellow emotions, Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Fear (Bill Hader), from causing a total meltdown.  When everything inside this young girl’s mind leads to emotion overload, Joy works her best to put the pieces back together.

Pixar veteran, Pete Docter, directs and co-writes this Oscar winning animated film.  With an all-star cast including two actresses who starred in the great show, The Office, the movie became an instant success during its screen debut.  Cinema A La Carte takes a look at this very original movie and gives their thoughts.

Jane (Dree Hemingway), a beautiful valley girl, rents a room from her friend Melissa (Stella Maeve) and her boyfriend Mikey (James Ransone).  Deciding to redecorate, she goes to various yard sales and buys a thermos that was holding a lot of money.  Not sure what to do, she decides to befriend Sadie (Besedka Johnson), the octogenarian who sold her the item.  As the two begin to become friendly, they both fight their own personal demons as they try to build a better life.

STARLET received fantastic reviews and continued to build the resume of Sean Baker as one of today’s great talents.  Dree Hemingway’s lead performance was a role that in another time would have brought her superstardom.  And the heartwarming story of Besedka Johnson making her film debut after having given up acting as a young woman itself is a story in itself.  A strong depiction of the dignity and humanity of all people, no matter what profession they do, STARLET is a touching drama that should not be overlooked.  Your podcast co-hosts give their thoughts on this indy film gem.

Baby (Ansel Elgort) has been forced to work for a local crime boss since he was sixteen to pay back for doing a car jacking. Now he is a driver for various robberies. When he meets Debora (Lily James) at a local diner, his life seems to finally be moving to a new phase of respectability. Unfortunately for him, the crime boss may not let him out of his debt.

Besides the nominal leads of Ansel Elgort and Lily James, the film has a cast of big names including Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, Jon Bernthal, and Eiza González. Somewhat a cult classic after it was able to be viewed at home, your co-hosts take a look at this very interesting and pulpy film.

Captain Joseph Blocker (Christian Bale) is assigned to escort the pardoned Cheyenne Chief Yellow Hawk (Wes Studi) and his family back to Montana, his homeland. When he and his crew come upon Rosalee Quaid (Rosamund Pike), a survivor from a Comanche massacre, she joins their group. As the two former enemies begin to see the others humanity, Blocker has a change of heart about his mission and becomes friends with Yellow Hawk.

The film was released late December 2017 hoping for Oscar buzz, but unfortunately both its box office and Academy Award hopes floundered. Now Cinema A La Carte, in its debut episode, takes a look at this overlooked movie and gives their thoughts on a modern Western in this new social age.