Film & Media Culture

(Richard Linklater, USA, 2014, 165 minutes) Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Boyhood is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of Mason, a child who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay’s “Yellow” to Arcade Fire’s “Deep Blue.” “Boyhood isn’t just a masterpiece. It’s a miracle”––Ann Hornaday, Washington Post.

(Gina Price-Bythewood, USA, 2014, 116 minutes) The pressures of fame have music superstar Noni on the edge, until she meets Kaz Nicol, an aspiring politician who has been assigned to her detail. Drawn to each other, Noni and Kaz fall fast and hard, despite the protests of those who urge them to put their career ambitions ahead of their romance. “It may be a fantasy, but it is an uncommonly smart and honest one.”––A. O. Scott, The New York Times.

(Cullman/Grausman/Becker, USA, 2014, 89 minutes) This documentary exposes the life of Mark Landis, who has been called one of the most prolific art forgers in US history. His impressive body of work spans thirty years, covering a wide range of painting styles and periods that includes Picasso and even Walt Disney. “It adds fuel to the argument that the art market is a rigged game manipulated by curators and gallerists spouting mumbo-jumbo”––Stephen Holden, The New York Times

In this animated feature, an inspirational speaker becomes reinvigorated after meeting a lively woman (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who shakes up his mundane existence. “Anomalisa’s existence is a minor miracle on multiple levels, from the Kickstarter campaign that funded it to the way the film creeps up on you, transitioning into something warm, human and surprisingly tender”––Peter Debruge, Variety. Sponsored by the Hirschfield International Film Series. (Charles Kaufman, USA, 2016, 90 minutes) Free

One week before Kate Mercer’s (Charlotte Rampling) 45th wedding anniversary, a letter arrives for her husband (Tom Courtenay) with shattering news that promises to forever change the course of their lives. “a quietly explosive film, a potent drama with a nuanced feel for subtlety and emotional complications”––Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times. Sponsored by the Hirschfield International Film Series. (Andrew Haigh, UK, 2015, 95 minutes) Free

Suspecting that those around him are actually malevolent shape-shifters, a troubled man questions whether to protect his only friend from an impending war, or from himself. “An effective and unsettling neuro-psychological thriller.”––Katie Walsh, LA Times.

Sponsored by the Hirschfield International Film Series. (Perry Blackshear ‘05, USA, 2016, 90 minutes). Free.

A team of artists and activists expose the hidden world of extinction with never-before-seen images that will change the way we see the planet. “The film is a captivating, sobering look at the world’s endangered aquatic species, but it’s also a frightening revelation of what methane and carbon are doing to the ocean.” Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter.

Sponsored by the Hirschfield International Film Series in association with the Vermont International Film Festival.  (Louie Psihoyos, USA, 2015, 90 minutes). Free.

The Film and Media Culture Department presents final creative work from Sight and Sound II.

FMMC/GSFS student August Laska (’17) will talk about his internship at Vimeo, a company that facilitates the sharing of videos among Internet users.