Freedom Film Festival -- Films

Freedom Film Festival of Nashua, New Hampshire (NH)

Upcoming Films

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Past Films

Tuesday, June 22nd	07:00 PM	Matrix Reloaded	Considering the lofty expectations that preceded it, The Matrix Reloaded triumphs where most sequels fail. It would be impossible to match the fresh audacity that made The Matrix a global phenomenon in 1999, but in continuing the exploits of rebellious Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) as they struggle to save the human sanctuary of Zion from invading machines, the codirecting Wachowski brothers have their priorities well in order. They offer the obligatory bigger and better highlights (including the impressive "Burly Brawl" and freeway chase sequences) while remaining focused on cleverly plotting the middle of a brain-teasing trilogy that ends with The Matrix Revolutions. The metaphysical underpinnings can be dismissed or scrutinized, and choosing the latter course (this is, after all, an epic about choice and free will) leads to astonishing repercussions that made Reloaded an explosive hit with critics and hardcore fans alike. As the centerpiece of a multimedia franchise, this dynamic sequel ends with a cliffhanger that virtually guarantees a mind-blowing conclusion. --Jeff Shannon	Frienship Club
Tuesday, July 27th	07:00 PM	Matrix Revolutions	Despite the inevitable law of diminishing returns, The Matrix Revolutions is quite satisfying as an adrenalized action epic, marking yet another milestone in the exponential evolution of computer-generated special effects. That may not be enough to satisfy hardcore Matrix fans who turned the Wachowski Brothers' hacker mythology into a quasi-religious pop-cultural phenomenon, but there's no denying that the trilogy goes out with a cosmic bang instead of the whimper that many expected. Picking up precisely where The Matrix Reloaded left off, this 130-minute finale finds Neo (Keanu Reeves) at a virtual junction, defending the besieged human enclave of Zion by confronting the attacking machines on their home turf, while humans combat swarms of tentacled mechanical sentinels as Zion's fate lies in the balance. It all amounts to a blaze of CGI glory, devoid of all but the shallowest emotions, and so full of metaphysical hokum that the trilogy's detractors can gloat with I-told-you-so sarcasm. And yet, Revolutions still succeeds as a slick, exciting hybrid of cinema and video game, operating by its own internal logic with enough forward momentum to make the whole trilogy seem like a thrilling, magnificent dream. -- Jeff Shannon	Frienship Club
Tuesday, August 24th	07:00 PM	Brazil	If Franz Kafka had been an animator and film director--oh, and a member of Monty Python's Flying Circus--this is the sort of outrageously dystopian satire one could easily imagine him making. However, Brazil was made by Terry Gilliam, who is all of the above except, of course, Franz Kafka. Be that as it may, Gilliam sure captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka's The Trial (along with his own Python animation) in this bureaucratic nightmare-comedy about a meek governmental clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. Not a software bug, a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka's famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets smooshed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr. Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro). When Sam becomes enmeshed in unraveling this bureaucratic glitch, he himself winds up labeled as a miscreant. The movie presents such an unrelentingly imaginative and savage vision of 20th-century bureaucracy that it almost became a victim of small-minded studio management itself--until Gilliam surreptitiously screened his cut for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who named it the best movie of 1985 and virtually embarrassed Universal into releasing it. This DVD version of Brazil is the special director's cut that first appeared in Criterion's comprehensive (and expensive) six-disc laser package in 1996. Although the DVD (at a fraction of the price) doesn't include that set's many extras, it's still a bargain. --Jim Emerson	Frienship Club
Tuesday, September 28th	07:00 PM	Farienhiet 451	Ray Bradbury's cautionary near-future parable of a society where books are banned and firemen start fires was the only English-language film from French auteur François Truffaut. Oscar Werner is the conflicted fireman Montag, and Julie Christie has a dual role. The score is by Truffaut favorite Bernard Hermann, of Psycho fame. For an extra level of subtle satire, look closely at the carefully chosen book titles.	Frienship Club
Tuesday, October 26th	07:00 PM	Braveheart	Combine the pathos of Mad Max with the epic battle scenes and machismo of Gladiator, and you'll get a sense of Braveheart's power. Mel Gibson directed and stars in the full-throttle telling of the story of rebel Scottish warrior William Wallace and his fierce battle to rid Scotland of a tyrannical English ruler. Mythmaking at its best, Braveheart picked up Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography and more.	Frienship Club
Tuesday, November 23rd	07:00 PM	Spartacus	Stanley Kubrick directed this epic saga based on ancient historical events when a vagabond slave-army led by an ex-gladiator, Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), threatened the very sovereignty of Rome. This film has everything, including a wonderfully funny (and Oscar-winning) performance from Peter Ustinov as the cowardly owner of a gladiator school. Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Jean Simmons and Tony Curtis round out a superb cast.	Frienship Club
Tuesday, December 28th	07:00 PM	Firefly	After you've seen the fist Firefly episode that will be presented this month, you'll be begging for more. The sad irony is, series creator Joss Whedon's ambitious science-fiction Western (Whedon's third series after Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) was canceled after only eleven of these 14 produced episodes had aired on FOX, and its demise was woefully premature. Whedon's generic hybrid suffered an inaugural setback when network executives preferred an action-packed one-hour premiere ("The Train Job") over the intended two-hour pilot "Serenity" (oddly enough, the final episode aired), which provides a better introduction to the show's concept and splendid ensemble cast. Obsessive fans may debate the quirky, semi-fallible logic of combining spaceships with direct parallels to frontier America (it's 500 years in the future, and embattled humankind has expanded into the galaxy, where undeveloped "outer rim" planets struggle with the equivalent of Old West accommodations), but Whedon and his gifted co-writers and directors make it work, at least well enough to fashion a credible context from the incongruous culture-clashing of past, present, and future technologies, along with a polyglot language (the result of two dominant superpowers) that combines English with an abundance of Chinese slang.	Frienship Club
Tuesday, January 25th	07:00 PM	Three Kings	George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube star as a group of American soldiers in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War. Determined to steal a huge cache of stolen Kuwaiti gold reputed to be hidden somewhere near their desert base, the three men find a map they believe will take them to the treasure and embark on a journey that's destined to change their lives drastically in this David O. Russell-directed dark comedy.	Frienship Club
Tuesday, February 22nd	07:00 PM	Celcius 41.11	From www.celsius4111.com Citizens United announced today it has produced the feature length documentary "CELSIUS 41.11 THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH THE BRAIN BEGINS TO DIE," to refute the propaganda in Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11." "Celsius 41.11 - The Temperature at Which the Brain Begins to Die," is scheduled to begin running theatrically in a number of markets later this month. Citizens United hired Hollywood heavyweights Lionel Chetwynd, Ted Steinberg and Kevin Knoblock to write, produce and direct the film. Featuring former Senator and star of Law & Order, Fred Thompson, Charles Krauthammer, Fred Barnes, Michael Medved, Michael Barone and Bill Sammon among other Washington veterans, the film counters the lies and deceptions of "Fahrenheit" 9/11 and provides a full deconstruction of Senator John Kerry, the Democrat presidential nominee. "After seeing the impact of "Fahrenheit 9/11," we decided that there must be a response to correct the record," said David Bossie, president of Citizens United and Executive Producer of "Celsius 41.11." "When lies are repeated often enough, they become the truth. That is what we are fighting today, groups like MoveOn.org, The Media Fund, and other left wing organizations spending over one hundred million dollars spreading lies in order to discredit President Bush." "Michael Moore, MoveOn.org., and their ilk have built up so much heat, through hatred, anger and rage, that they're not thinking rationally, which led us to the movie's title, 'Celsius 41.11: The Temperature at which the Brain Begins to Die," added Bossie. Celsius 41.11 is not a point-by-point refutation of "Fahrenheit," but corrects the record on the important misleading themes in Moore's movie, including the 2000 Florida presidential vote, weapons of mass destruction, intelligence failures and the war on terror. In addition, the film documents Democrat presidential nominee John Kerry's 20-year Senate record, from his flip-flopping on important issues to his intent on reducing funding for America's military and intelligence community, even after the first terrorist attack on American soil. The film also covers the first term of President Bush, his record as a leader in the war on terror, and the stark contrasts between the President and Senator Kerry. "We're hopeful that open-minded people will watch this movie and come away better prepared to cast their vote in November," said Bossie. "It is a factual account of issues that voters need to consider about before accepting the lies and propaganda from zealots like Michael Moore." "Celsius 41.11" takes it roots from Bossie's most recent books, The Many Faces of John Kerry, for which Bossie and a team of researchers and lawyers spent months researching John Kerry, and Intelligence Failure: How Clinton's National Security Policy Set the Stage for 9/11. Bossie is the former Chief Investigator for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, where he led investigations into Chinese espionage and campaign finance scandals during President Clinton's term. . He previously served in the United States Senate as an investigator on the Special Committee to investigate the Whitewater land deal. "Celsius 41.11 - The Temperature at Which the Brain Begins to Die" is an Adams County Production of a Citizens United film, executive produced by David Bossie and Craig Haffner, written and produced by the team of Lionel Chetwynd & Ted Steinberg and directed by Kevin Knoblock. For more information about Citizens United, visit www.cnht.org	Frienship Club
Tuesday, March 22nd	07:00 PM	The Village	The Village (2004) -- M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs) assembles an all-star cast -- including Bryce Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver, Adrien Brody and William Hurt -- in this chilling tale about an isolated village whose residents face the constant threat of evil creatures lurking in its surrounding woods. When one of them decides to venture beyond the town borders, what happens next may change the villagers' lives forever.	Frienship Club
Friday, January 26th	07:00 PM	V for Vendetta	# Tagline: Remember, remember the 5th of November. # Plot Outline A shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally. # Plot Synopsis: The futuristic tale unfolds in a Great Britain that's a fascist state. A freedom fighter known as V (Weaving) uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressive society. He rescues a young woman (Portman) from the secret police, and she becomes his unlikely ally.	Tall Pines Center
Friday, March 23rd	07:00 PM	The Prisoner	<p>The Prisoner -- No Man Is Just A Number. <p>If a top-level spy decided he didn't want to be a spy anymore, could he just walk into HQ and hand in his resignation? With all that classified knowledge in his head, would he be allowed to become a civilian again, free to go about his life? The answer, according to the stylish, brilliantly conceived 1960s British TV series The Prisoner, is a resounding no. In fact, instead of receiving a gold watch for his years of faithful service, our hero (played by Patrick McGoohan) is followed home to his London flat and knocked unconscious. When he awakens, he finds himself in a picturesque village where everyone is known by a number. Where is it? Why was he brought here? And, most important, how does he leave?	Tall Pines Center

Past Films -- not on database

February	Paths of Glory
March 19th	Gattaca Imagine a world in which every gene you have has to be carefully planned - otherwise you will be considered a castaway, someone who would have only a marginal place in society. Are we headed for a Gattaca-like future? Today in many places you are unable to get a job unless you submit to a Urinalysis Test. Doctors are also doing these invasive tests on pregnant moms. The government is pushing hard for biometric screening at every corner of society. Is Gattaca just around the corner? Or is it here already? Rating: Genetic Freedom
April 23rd	Dr. Strangelove -- or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb Peter Sellers, Geroge C. Scott, directed by Stanley Kubrick
May 28th	Matrix What is the Matrix? Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself. Rating: Government is Out of Control
June 25th	Cube If Clive Barker had written an episode of The Twilight Zone, it might have looked something like Cube. A handful of strangers wake up inside a bizarre maze, having been spirited there during the night. They quickly learn that they have to navigate their way through a series of chambers if they have any hope of escape, but the problem is that there are lethal traps awaiting if they choose their route unwisely... --Tom Keogh (Amazon.com) Rating:
July 23rd	Antitrust In a world where unseen enemies can watch your every move, who can you trust? Ryan Phillippe, Racheal Leigh Cook, Claire Forlani, and Tim Robbins star in this fast-paced, sizzling thriller that crackles with "genuine intrigue",... Rating: Pro Corporate Freedom.

August 27th

The People vs. Larry Flint

Director Milos Forman brings his trademark offbeat humor and affection for vividly defined, marginal characters to a biography of the notorious founder of the Hustler magazine empire. Unlike Hugh Hefner at Playboy, or even Bob Guccione at Penthouse, Flynt had no upscale pretensions. He made Hustler as raunchy, tasteless, and offensive as he could, and America both bought the publication and despised him for it. Although presented as a kind of live-action political cartoon, the movie presents the incredible true story of how a backwards backwoods Kentucky boy made a fortune selling smut in the American heartland, was repeatedly jailed for obscenity, paralyzed by a sniper's bullet, got zonked out of his mind on painkillers, and yet wound up with a landmark freedom of speech case before the U.S. Supreme Court. --Amazon.com

Rating: Freedom of Speech.

September 24th

Thirteen Days

The film (and costar-coproducer Kevin Costner) drew criticism for fictionally enhancing the White House role of presidential aide Kenneth O'Donnell, but while Costner's Boston accent may be grating, his fine performance as O'Donnell offers expert witness to the crisis, its nerve-wracking escalation, and the efforts of John F. Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood) and Robert F. Kennedy (Steven Culp) to negotiate a peaceful settlement with Russia. While Soviet missiles approach operational status in Cuba, director Roger Donaldson (who directed Costner in No Way Out) cuts to exciting US Navy flights over the missile site, ramping up the tension that history itself provided. --Jeff Shannon

Rating: Nevermind freedom. Our very existence is held in the balance by fools.

October 29th (Actually the 5th Tuesday)

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. Horror master John Carpenter directs this action-packed sci-fi thriller about one man's battle against aliens who are systematically gaining control of the Earth. --Amazon.com

Rating: Freedom from Government Control (whose ulterior motives can be surprising!)

Nov 26th

The Shawshank Redemption

Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who's sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, but as he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman), we realize there's reason to believe the banker's crime was justifiable. We also realize that Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life. --Jeff Shannon (excerpt from Amazon.com)

Rating: The Justice System leaves a lot to be desired.

Dec 17th
(3rd Tuesday)

George Lucas's enigmatic feature film debut expands on a student film he made at USC. Created under the wing of producer Francis Ford Coppola, this movie is a bleak vision of a world in which technology, not man, is the ultimate dictator. Efficiency overrides every other aspect of human life, as people are reduced to code names and their lives are contained, monitored, and manipulated for the sake of the system. Featuring unsettling performances by Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasance, and Maggie McOmie, THX 1138 does not attempt to explain how things became this way; rather, it utilizes the alienation of its characters, the stifling white-on-white imagery of its sterilized society, and the claustrophobic, droning sound design to emphasize the dangers of a world reliant on soulless technology. Even though this is not a film one will want to take in repeatedly, THX 1138 merits attention because it is that rare film that uses images and sounds--rather than relying heavily on dialogue--to communicate its dark prophecy. --Bryan Reesman

Jan 28th

H.G.Wells' Things to Come

Based on H.G. Wells's speculative meditation on the price of progress, this 1936 English science-fiction epic shows the painterly touch of director William Cameron Menzies, an American whose career in art direction and production design, as well as uncredited directorial work, attached him to such visual triumphs as Gone with the Wind, Alexander Korda's sumptuous 1940 Thief of Baghdad, and Menzies's better-known SF achievement as director, the original Invaders from Mars. Things to Come traces a generational saga that begins, presciently, with a global war that outlives its own political purpose, unraveling society to a Balkanized world of isolated communities. In the wake of a subsequent, devastating plague, a new technocracy arises, evolving toward Menzies's striking vision of vast, subterranean cities, rendered in matte paintings building on then-contemporaneous art-deco "streamlined" aesthetics. Driven more by theme than plot, Things to Come lacks the sheer momentum of other Wells classics brought to film (The Invisible Man, War of the Worlds, and The Time Machine, among them); but Menzies's bold look and a strong cast including Raymond Massey, Ralph Richardson, Cedric Hardwicke and a young Ann Todd explain the film's enduring appeal. --Sam Sutherland

Feb 25th

Fantastic Planet

Based on French science fiction novelist Stefan Wul's Oms en Serie ("Oms by the Dozen"), René Laloux's La Planète Sauvage (its title changed to Fantastic Planet for the U.S. release) paints an animated tale of humans kept as domesticated pets by an alien race of blue humanoid giants called Traags. The story takes place on the Traags' planet Ygam, where we follow our narrator, an Om called Terr, from infancy to adulthood, when he escapes his subjugation with a Traag learning device with which to educate the savage Oms and incite them to revolt.

As a French-Czech coproduction, this story had much resonance for its makers as an allegory of Czechoslovakia's invasion by Soviet troops in the late '60s, and had to be completed in Paris due to political pressure. While the story does not distinguish itself in the annals of science fiction, the imagination invested in the surreal backdrops, with its eerie creatures and landscapes, does. The animation technique--moving paper cutouts across backgrounds--contributes to the overall feeling of other-worldliness. Fantastic Planet won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. --Jim Gay

Mar 25th

Blake's 7 (first 3 episodes)

Blakes 7 is a Science Fiction television series created by Terry Nation and shown by the BBC. It started in 1978 and ran until 1981 giving us four series and a very memorable finale - which to this day is still the topic of conversation between fans of the series.

The story at a very basic level, is that of Blake - a freedom fighter who was captured and brainwashed by the Federation (a facist government in charge of the Earth and a number of other planets).

Apr 27th, 2004

Steven Spielberg directed this story about the 1839 revolt aboard Spanish slave ship La Amistad and the uprising's tragic aftermath. An African-born slave (Djimon Hounsou) leads a mutiny against his brutal captors. Because the ship is in American waters, a U.S. court must decide the slaves' fate. In an eloquent courtroom speech, ex-president John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) argues for the Africans' freedom.

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