Mynette Louie Movies
A has-been British pop star reluctantly confronts the demons of his past in order to avoid getting deported from the U.S. after being pulled over for drunken driving and seeing a previous drug offense used against him in court. Back in the 1990s, Lachlan MacAldonich (Robert Carlyle) was on top of the world. You could barely turn on a radio without hearing one of his hits, but these days Lachlan maintains a low profile by working on an organic farm in L.A., and reflecting on the untimely deaths of his favorite musicians in his podcast "Flame-Outs." One night, while driving back home following a night of drinking at his favorite bar, Lachlan is arrested on a DUI charge. That compounded with a drug conviction from years prior means that Lachlan may face deportation unless he can convince the judge that his absence would have a negative impact on his family stateside. Desperate, Lachlan soon finds himself compelled to try and repair the failed relationships that have haunted him ever since his music career dried up and his star faded. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
The beleaguered guest of honor at a 30th-birthday party has difficulty mustering the excitement to celebrate due to job troubles, boyfriend issues, and a cynical younger sister with horrible social skills. Determined to help his best friend Jennifer (Laura Prepon) celebrate her 30th in style, thoughtful Stan (Matt Bush) invites some of their best friends over for an all-out birthday bash. Unfortunately, Jennifer isn't in much of a mood to party -- she's currently unemployed, she just kicked her cheating boyfriend to the curb, and her irritating roommate is acting creepier than ever. Meanwhile, things go from bad to worse when Jennifer's little sister (Dreama Walker) can't figure out when to stop talking, and an obsessed ex-boyfriend shows up uninvited. Later, as the bands in the backyard strike up a fierce rivalry and the manic-depressive party photographer seems to slip into a psychotic episode, the disastrous night seems to hit a nadir. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
A family faces the unexpected consequences of chasing the American dream in this independent drama. Elaine Cheng (Cindy Cheung) is an Asian-American single mother who has recently moved to Boston with her two kids, ten-year-old Raymond (Michael Chen) and eight-year-old Tina (Crystal Chiu). Elaine's financial situation is precarious, and when she loses her job, the family is evicted from their home and begin squatting in a flat in an unfinished apartment building. As Elaine struggles to maintain a stable home life for her children, she takes a job related to a questionable pyramid scheme; Raymond and Tina are left to their own devices most of the day, and he passes the time creating makeshift inventions he dreams will someday make him rich. When Elaine is arrested as the police shut down the pyramid scheme, Raymond becomes the head of the household and must use his wits and resourcefulness to care for himself and his sister. Children of Invention was the first feature film from writer and director Tze Chun; it was adapted from his 2007 short film Windowbreaker and was an official selection at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cindy Cheung, Michael Chen, (more)
Alan's (Justin Rice) band, the Bumblebees, has recently broken up after releasing an EP that got some attention. Alan has moved to Brooklyn, where he is trying to get solo gigs, and spending a lot of time with his old friend Lawrence (Andrew Bujalski, the film's writer/director) and Lawrence's girlfriend, Ellie (Rachel Clift). Alan quickly books a gig at hip Brooklyn club Northsix, and does a radio interview with Sara (Seung-Min Lee), during which he mentions that he doesn't even have a drummer. As luck would have it, Sara's brother, Dennis (Kevin Micka), is a drummer. Sara also makes it clear that she's attracted to Alan, which creates a problem when he decides he doesn't want to get involved with her. On the night of his gig, a friend of Alan's father with purported record-industry connections shows up, and invites Alan, Sara, and Dennis to his well-appointed apartment. Afterward, Alan drunkenly goes to a party where he was supposed to meet Lawrence and Ellie. As it turned out, they didn't make it, but a trio of women there (including one played by Kate Dollenmayer, who starred in Bujalski's debut feature, Funny Ha Ha), also drunk, have their own plans for him. Eventually, the unspoken attraction between Alan and Ellie comes to the fore. Mutual Appreciation was shot in black-and-white, and was a hit on the festival circuit before its theatrical release in September of 2006. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Starring:
- Justin Rice, Rachel Clift, (more)
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