Lisa Muskat Movies

A remake of the 2011 Icelandic film Either Way, David Gordon Green's quirky character study tells the tale of Alvin and Lance, two polar opposites from the city who nurture an unlikely friendship while repainting traffic lines on a damaged country road during the summer of 1988. Paul Rudd, Emile Hirsch, and Lance Le Gault star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

An assistant scoutmaster takes a group of sheltered youths on an unauthorized outing, fleeing from his straight-laced brother, an overzealous security guard, park rangers, and angry parents while attempting to shape his young charges into respectable boy scouts. The son of a late, great scoutmaster, Randy Stevens (Patton Oswalt) plots to take his shrinking troupe on a trip that would have made his father proud. Crashing the slumber party that his upwardly mobile brother Kirk (Johnny Knoxville) is throwing for his newly adopted 10-year-old son, Randy lures the kids away from their television trance with promises of the ultimate scout trip. But when Kirk catches wind of Randy's plan, he recruits his loyal security guard (Rob Riggle) to bring the kids back to the safety of the suburbs. Meanwhile, as word of the outing spreads and a massive search gets underway, Randy realizes that turning these 21st century tykes into true scouts will be no simple task. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A college dropout becomes a babysitter to make some quick cash, and takes his three young charges on an epic urban adventure in this comedy from director David Gordon Green (George Washington, Pineapple Express). Noah (Jonah Hill) isn't a babysitter, but he'll do just about anything for a little extra cash in his wallet. Shortly after he's hired to look after three young children, though, Noah gets a call from his girlfriend promising sex in exchange for drugs. Desperate and horny, the irresponsible sitter packs his unsuspecting wards into the car and heads for the seedy part of town. Before Noah can think twice the whole night has gone to hell, and he's on the run from a pair of murderous drug dealers (Sam Rockwell and J.B. Smoove) with no qualms about shooting at small targets. Ari Graynor, Max Records, and Method Man co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A woman finds herself stranded in a land torn apart by war in this independent drama from director Arielle Javitch. An unnamed woman (Anamaria Marinca) living in a nation where civil war has broken out is trying to make her way through a skirmish and find a safe haven. She stops in the nearest village and finds herself joined by a young girl (Valentina Berisa) also trying to find a place away from the fighting. The two encounter a messenger (Tom Burke) who is willing to serve as their guide; as the grimly determined woman and the resilient child follow the messenger though a blasted landscape, no one is sure if they'll find safety or just another battle at the end of the trail. Look, Stranger was an official selection at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Director/screenwriter David Gordon Green adapts Stewart O'Nan's popular novel to the screen in this feature, which tells the parallel tales of a teenager named Arthur (Michael Angarano) and his onetime babysitter Annie (Kate Beckinsale) -- whose turbulent relationship with her estranged husband, Glenn (Sam Rockwell), leads the small-town waitress down a troubled path. Arthur is a high-school student from a dysfunctional family, and does everything in his power to avoid hanging around the house while mom and dad quarrel. When he's not practicing his trombone and performing with the high-school marching band, Arthur can usually be found bussing tables at the local Chinese restaurant and flirting with older waitress Annie. Annie used to be Arthur's babysitter, and is currently struggling to separate from her former high-school sweetheart, Glenn. But being a single mother isn't easy, especially since the troubled Glenn wants nothing more than to clean up his act and reunite his family.

Back at school, Arthur and pretty classmate Lila (Olivia Thirlby) have been bonding over their mutual love for all things geeky. Though the casual friendship shows promise of evolving into something more when Lila expresses her true feelings for Arthur, he can't help but becoming distracted by his chaotic family life: his father is moving out of the family home, and his mother is doing everything in her power to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Realizing that happiness is fleeting as his family becomes shattered and Annie experiences a series of distressing encounters with Glenn, Arthur gradually begins to fall for Lisa despite his growing cynicism concerning long-term relationships. Later, on a cold winter morning, Glenn and Annie's past catches up with them in a blinding flash, and the lives of everyone they know are suddenly and irrevocably changed. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A former Pakistani rock star attempts to adjust to life in New York City while simultaneously making friends and selling coffee from a push cart on the streets of Manhattan in Iranian-American director Ramin Bahrani poignant, character-driven drama. By day Ahmad (Ahmad Razvi) tends to hurried Manhattan-ites by keeping their bellies full and ensuring that they are adequately caffeinated, and by night he supplements his income by selling bootleg porn DVDs. Though Ahmad hopes to one day raise enough money to purchase a place of his own and reunite with his estranged son, times are tough in the city and the hard-working immigrant soon strikes up a tentative friendship with fellow countryman Mohammed (Charles Daniel Sandoval); a generous but sometimes condescending soul who readily takes the fledgling New Yorker under his knowing wing while offering additional work decorating his apartment. Spanish immigrant Noemi (Leticia Dolera) works at a newsstand near Ahmad's cart, and also finds herself warming to the haunted former rock-star's timid ways. As Ahmad, Mohammed, and Noemi gradually begin to socialize together, a tragedy in Ahmad's past soon prompts the struggling New York newcomer to question the true nature of his current relationships. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

American independent filmmaker Paxton Winters makes his writing and directing debut with the offbeat comedy Crude. Shot in digital video, the film follows American backpackers Gabe (Paul Schneider) and Bryce (David Connolly) making their way through Europe. After losing their money in Turkey, they figure out a way to make quick cash by interviewing a terrorist. When it doesn't work, they pretend to kidnap themselves. The film also stars Turkish actors Yigit Ozsener, Ipek Deger, and Mehmet Guleryuz. Crude was shown at the IFP Los Angeles Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi