After almost fifty years of marriage, the Countess Sofya, Leo Tolstoy’s
devoted wife, passionate lover, muse and secretary—she’s copied out War and Peace six times…by hand—suddenly finds her entire world turned upside down. In the name of his newly created religion, the great Russian novelist has renounced his noble title, his property and even his family in favor of poverty, vegetarianism and even celibacy. After she’s born him thirteen children! When Sofya then discovers 
that Tolstoy’s trusted disciple, Chertkov —whom she despises—may have secretly convinced her husband to sign a new will, leaving the rights to his iconic novels to the Russian people rather than his very own family, she is consumed by righteous outrage. This is the last straw. Using every bit of cunning, every trick of seduction in her considerable arsenal, she fights fiercely for what she believes is rightfully hers. Watch the trailer.
As has-been country singer Bad Blake, Jeff Bridges looks like something scraped off the bowling alleys he’s been reduced to playing. His beard redefines scraggly. His guitar can’t hide his gut. His voice croaks from cigarettes, booze and one-night stands that earned him four divorce decrees. But this Bad boy can write songs and sing them like they’re torn from his insides, even though Bad’s headliner days are behind him and he has a habit of puking between songs. It’s a juicy, career-crowning role, and Bridges — a master of subtle brilliance — plays the hell out of it. Not by showing off but by going bone-deep into a
character who only thinks he’s running on empty. Bridges just turned 60, and he’s still the most underrated actor in America. Crazy Heart may finally win him the Oscar that’s unfairly eluded him. Crazy Heart offers the pleasure of watching a great actor at the peak of his form. Watch the trailer
Cage plays a rogue detective who is as devoted to his job as he is at scoring drugs — while playing fast and loose with the law. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he becomes a high-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon. Complicating his tumultuous life is the prostitute he loves (played by Eva Mendes). The result is a singular masterpiece of filmmaking: equally sad and manically humorous. Bad Lieutenant benefits from Werner Herzog’s typically fearless direction and a delightfully unhinged Nicolas Cage in the title role. Watch the trailer.
