Thursday, January 22, 2015

For the love of 'Old Glory' - an OPED on hanging the USA flag horizontally at all future SOTU speeches

For the love of 'Old Glory'
by Dan Bloom
CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan -- I was born in America and I love America. But
living overseas for over 20 years has shown me that America does not
always get it right, in terms of international PR.
I watched President Barack Obama's "State of the Union" address on TV
CNN Internatjonal here in Taiwan the other day, like millions of other
viewers worldwide, and I found the speech well-written and
well-orated. President Obama has not lost his touch with the spoken
word.
I was able to follow the speech along with the full text as printed
online, and it made the speech even more
intesting, using my iPhone screen for the text and looking up at the
TV screen as well.
But I have a small proposal to make and I hope someone somewhere is
listening. It's this: the State of the Union address is given every
four years with the American flag behind the president, in full view
of worldwide TV audience, which grows bigger each year with social
media and other platforms following the speech as well, including
"live" tweets as the speech unfolds in real time.
One problem for me, as an American living overseas for over 20 years:
the American flag is hung vertically behind the president -- yes,
vertically! -- in a way that viewers from foreign countries might not
understand. Why the flag is hung this way is a long story, and it's
partly due to the U.S. Flag Code and partly due to Congressional
regulations.
But I feel that the American flag, on such a globally momentous
occasion, should be hung against the wall behind the president in a
horizontal position. This would be an important and positive
international "optic'' as they say in the PR business. Viewers in
China, Japan, France and Italy, among the other 140 or so nations that
get the SOTU speech via satellite and cable TV worldwide would "see"
the American flag -- "Old Glory" -- as she was designed to be seen:
horitzontally.
So I am proposing with this quiet oped that in future years, the SOTU
address given inside the Congressional building position the American
flag horizontally on the wall behind the presidemt, whoever he or she
is after Obama's term is over.
I am proposing this mostly as a PR idea for the global viewership of
the SOTU address, with the thinking that a good optic of an easy to
see and easy to understand American flag for foreign viewers would end
up being a positive PR achievement for America on the international
scene.
Of course, to do this will take some doing, and it might take 20 years
to see this happen. But you read it here first.
Notice the Japan never hangs its national flag in its Diet in a
vertical way. Neither do Germany or Brazil or Sweden or India. So why
does America hang Old Glory vertically behind the president during the
SOTU address?
It's lousy PR and lousy optics, and it's an easy to fix issue. So I am
typing these words and sending them to my editor in San Diego in the
hope that they will land someday on the right ears in Washington.
Put the flag right! Enough with this vertical thing. It does not show
America at its best. and we do have a lot of PR work to do in regards
to how we are "seen" by people in far away countries. My proposal is
one way to correct a bad optic.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

An Open Letter to the President of the USA, the Congress, both houses, and the Supreme Courts and every newspaper editor in the land, not to mention every PR person in the land, especially folks like David Gergen and Anderson Cooper of CNN about hanging the USA flag horizontally behind the president during the SOTU speech next time for better intl optics:

An Open Letter to the President of the USA, the Congress, both houses, and the Supreme Courts and every newspaper editor in the land, not to mention every PR person in the land, especially folks like David Gergen and Anderson Cooper of CNN:
I have a modest simple proposal for future STATE OF THE UNION SPEECHES: let's hang the USA FLAG on the wall behind the speaker's podium in a horizontal way. Vertical is bad optics.
Here's why: The SOTU speech is seen by milions and billions of people worldwide, not just in USA, and for foreigners overseas, for them to see the USA FLAG hung vertically behind the president while he is giving the SOTU address is confusing. Why do this? The flag was designed to hang horizontally.
So for future years, lets start a grass roots movement via social media to
ask the WHITE HOUSE power that be to start putting the AMerican flag horizontally at the next SOTU as a good optic for international viwers of the speech.
I write this from Taiwan, where I watched it. Vertical? Does not make sense. Not pretty that way. Bad optics.
Can we fix this?
 
RE:
 
 
WHY is the USA flag put on the wall behind the SPEAKERS PODIUM at the
annual STATE OF THE UNION address by our presidents in a VERTICAL
hanging way against the wall and with the "union" -- the blue part --
on the left? According to the US Flag Code - ''When displayed
vertically against a wall, the ''union'' should be uppermost and to
the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left.'' SO FAR SO
GOOD. but for viewers at home on TV and around the WORLD, i have an
IDEA, for future SOTU speeches: namely, why not display the flag
horitzontally like a normal USA flag view, the way we always see it,
instead of vertically? Since the SOTU is on Tv and beamed around the
world, showing the REAL USA flag in a horizontal way against the wall,
WOULD THAT MAKE A BETTER OPTIC for the world to see and you and me
too? I am planning to start a campaign to ask COngress to do this?
NEXT TIME, anyone want to help me or can offer advice. I HATE THE
VERTICAL FLAG display. It's stupid and dumb. LONG THE REAL USA FLAG
DISPLAY. !!! if want to help me or rebuke me, email me at
danbloom@gmail.com
http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html#173

WHY is the USA flag put VERTICALLY on the wall behind the SPEAKERS PODIUM at the annual STATE OF THE UNION speech?

vs
http://www.flagandbanner.com/images/flagetiquette_illus1.jpg

WHY is the USA flag put on the wall behind the SPEAKERS PODIUM at the annual STATE OF THE UNION address by our presidents in a VERTICAL hanging way against the wall and with the "union" -- the blue part -- on the left? According to the US Flag Code - ''When displayed vertically against a wall, the ''union'' should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left.'' SO FAR SO GOOD. but for viewers at home on TV and around the WORLD, i have an IDEA, for future SOTU speeches: namely, why not display the flag horitzontally like a normal USA flag view, the way we always see it, instead of vertically? Since the SOTU is on Tv and beamed around the world, showing the REAL USA flag in a horizontal way against the wall, WOULD THAT MAKE A BETTER OPTIC for the world to see and you and me too? I am planning to start a campaign to ask COngress to do this? NEXT TIME, anyone want to help me or can offer advice. I HATE THE VERTICAL FLAG display. It's stupid and dumb. LONG THE REAL USA FLAG DISPLAY. !!! if want to help me or rebuke me, email me at

For the love of 'Old Glory'



I was born in America and I love America. But
living overseas for over 20 years has shown me that America does not
always get it right, in terms of international PR.
I watched President Barack Obama's "State of the Union" address on TV
CNN Internatjonal here in Taiwan the other day, like millions of other
viewers worldwide, and I found the speech well-written and
well-orated. President Obama has not lost his touch with the spoken
word.
I was able to follow the speech along with the full text as printed
online, and it made the speech even more
intesting, using my iPhone screen for the text and looking up at the
TV screen as well.
But I have a small proposal to make and I hope someone somewhere is
listening. It's this: the State of the Union address is given every
four years with the American flag behind the president, in full view
of worldwide TV audience, which grows bigger each year with social
media and other platforms following the speech as well, including
"live" tweets as the speech unfolds in real time.
One problem for me, as an American living overseas for over 20 years:
the American flag is hung vertically behind the president -- yes,
vertically! -- in a way that viewers from foreign countries might not
understand. Why the flag is hung this way is a long story, and it's
partly due to the U.S. Flag Code and partly due to Congressional
regulations.
But I feel that the American flag, on such a globally momentous
occasion, should be hung against the wall behind the president in a
horizontal position. This would be an important and positive
international "optic'' as they say in the PR business. Viewers in
China, Japan, France and Italy, among the other 140 or so nations that
get the SOTU speech via satellite and cable TV worldwide would "see"
the American flag -- "Old Glory" -- as she was designed to be seen:
horitzontally.
So I am proposing with this quiet oped that in future years, the SOTU
address given inside the Congressional building position the American
flag horizontally on the wall behind the presidemt, whoever he or she
is after Obama's term is over.
I am proposing this mostly as a PR idea for the global viewership of
the SOTU address, with the thinking that a good optic of an easy to
see and easy to understand American flag for foreign viewers would end
up being a positive PR achievement for America on the international
scene.
Of course, to do this will take some doing, and it might take 20 years
to see this happen. But you read it here first.
Notice the Japan never hangs its national flag in its Diet in a
vertical way. Neither do Germany or Brazil or Sweden or India. So why
does America hang Old Glory vertically behind the president during the
SOTU address?
It's lousy PR and lousy optics, and it's an easy to fix issue. So I am
typing these words and sending them to my editor in San Diego in the
hope that they will land someday on the right ears in Washington.
Put the flag right! Enough with this vertical thing. It does not show
America at its best. and we do have a lot of PR work to do in regards
to how we are "seen" by people in far away countries. My proposal is
one way to correct a bad optic.
 

WHY is the USA flag put on the wall behind the SPEAKERS PODIUM at the annual STATE OF THE UNION address by our presidents in a VERTICAL hanging way against the wall and with the "union" -- the blue part -- on the left? According to the US Flag Code - ''When displayed vertically against a wall, the ''union'' should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left.'' SO FAR SO GOOD. but for viewers at home on TV and around the WORLD, i have an IDEA, for future SOTU speeches: namely, why not display the flag horitzontally like a normal USA flag view, the way we always see it, instead of vertically? Since the SOTU is on Tv and beamed around the world, showing the REAL USA flag in a horizontal way against the wall, WOULD THAT MAKE A BETTER OPTIC for the world to see and you and me too? I am planning to start a campaign to ask COngress to do this? NEXT TIME, anyone want to help me or can offer advice. I HATE THE VERTICAL FLAG display. It's stupid and dumb. LONG THE REAL USA FLAG DISPLAY. !!! if want to help me or rebuke me, email me at

Monday, January 19, 2015

Cli-fi movies coming to your screen in 2015....


Little Accidents
When a mining disaster strikes an Appalachian coal-mining town, three strangers become entangled in a web of secrets. With Elizabeth Banks, Boyd Holbrook and Chloë Sevigny. Written and directed by Sara Colangelo.



A married couple's romantic weekend is turned upside down when the husband's ex-girlfriend, a woman he's secretly obsessed with, turns out to be running the ski lodge where they're staying. With Emmanuelle Chriqui, Sam Huntington and Meaghan Rath. Written and directed by Pat Kiely. Freestyle Releasing
Vice
At a resort where customers can play out their wildest fantasies with artificial humans, chaos results when one of the latter becomes self-aware and escapes. With Thomas Jane, Bruce Willis and Ambyr Childers. Written by Andre Fabrizio and Jeremy Passmore. Directed by Brian A. Miller. Lionsgate
The Wedding Ringer
A successful but socially awkward groom-to-be enlists a best-man-for-hire to fill out his half of the bridal party. With Kevin Hart, Josh Gad and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting. Written by Jeremy Garelick and Jay Lavender. Directed by Garelick. Screen Gems
Zero Motivation
A unit of young Israeli female soldiers in a remote desert outpost battles boredom and infuriates their superior. With Dana Ivgy, Nelly Tagar and Shani Klein. Written and directed by Talya Lavie. In Hebrew with English subtitles. Zeitgeist Films
Jan. 23
Americons
A broken-down college football player gets a shot at real-estate stardom during the 11th hour of Los Angeles' subprime mortgage boom. With Beau Martin Williams, Matt Funke and Sam McMurray. Written by Williams. Directed by Theo Avgerinos. Archstone Distribution
Big Muddy
A grifter must come to terms with her dark past after her teenage son commits a horrible crime. With Nadia Litz, Justin Kelly and Rossif Sutherland. Written and directed by Jefferson Moneo. Monterey Media
Black Sea
A rogue submarine captain assembles a misfit crew to go after a sunken treasure rumored to be lost in the depths of the Black Sea. With Jude Law, Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn. Written by Dennis Kelly. Directed by Kevin Macdonald. Focus Features
The Boy Next Door
A high school teacher coping with a failed marriage and raising a teenage son has an affair with her much younger neighbor, who becomes increasingly obsessed with her. With Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman and John Corbett. Written by Barbara Curry. Directed by Rob Cohen. Universal Pictures
Cake
A woman becomes fixated on the suicide of a member of her chronic-pain support group and inserts herself into the lives of the husband and son the deceased woman left behind. With Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza and Anna Kendrick. Written by Patrick Tobin. Directed by Daniel Barnz. Cinelou Films
Dark Summer
A 17-year-old on house arrest for stalking a classmate is haunted by a supernatural presence. With Keir Gilchrist, Stella Maeve and Maestro Harrell. Written by Mike Le. Directed by Paul Solet. IFC Midnight
The Duke of Burgundy
An entomologist tests the limits of her sadomasochistic relationship with her lover. With Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara D'Anna. Written and directed by Peter Strickland. Sundance Selects
Goodbye to Language
A married woman and a single man love, argue and fight. With Héloïse Godet, Kamel Abdeli and Richard Chevallier. Written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard. In French with English subtitles. In 3-D. Kino Lorber
The Humbling
A famous but depressed stage actor attempts to get his mojo back and has an affair with a lesbian half his age. With Al Pacino, Greta Gerwig, Nina Arianda. Written by Buck Henry and Michal Zebede. Directed by Barry Levinson. Millennium Entertainment
Killers
Two serial killers — one in Tokyo, one in Jakarta — upload videos of their crimes and connect with each other online. With Oka Antara, Rin Takanashi and Kazuki Kitamura. Written by Takuji Ushiyama and Timo Tjahjanto. Directed by Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel. In English, Indonesian and Japanese, with English subtitles. WellGo USA
Manny
A documentary about the eight-division boxing world champ and Philippines congressman Manny Pacquiao. Narrated by Liam Neeson. Directed by Ryan Moore and Leon Gast. In English and Tagalog, with English subtitles. Gravitas Ventures
Mommy
A widowed single mother burdened with the full-time custody of her unpredictable 15-year-old son finds help in the form of a peculiar new neighbor. With Anne Dorval, Antoine-Olivier Pilon and Suzanne Clément. Written and directed by Xavier Dolan. Roadside Attractions
Mortdecai
A globe-trotting art dealer races to recover a stolen painting the may hold the key to a stash of Nazi gold. With Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor. Written by Eric Aronson. Directed by David Koepp. Lionsgate
R100
A mild-mannered family man with a secret taste for S&M finds himself pursued by a gang of ruthless dominatrixes. With Mao Daichi, Lindsay Kay Hayward and Hairi Katagiri. Written and directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto. Drafthouse Films In Japanese with English subtitles.
Red Army
A documentary about the Soviet Union and the dominance of its national hockey team during the Cold War. Directed by Gabe Polsky. Sony Pictures Classics
Song One
When a car accident leaves her musician brother in a coma, an archaeologist returns home to see him and strikes up a relationship with his favorite artist. With Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn and Mary Steenburgen. Written and directed by Kate Barker-Froyland. Cinedigm / Film Arcade
Strange Magic
Goblins, elves, fairies and imps battle over a powerful potion in this animated musical inspired by Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." With the voices of Alan Cumming, Evan Rachel Wood and Kristin Chenoweth. Written by David Berenbaum, Irene Mecchi and Gary Rydstrom. Directed by Rydstrom. Walt Disney Pictures
Winter Sleep
For a former actor who runs a mountaintop hotel in Turkey, a seemingly insignificant incident involving the young son of a former employee sparks a fierce debate about class struggle. With Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sözen and Demet Akbag. Written by Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Ebru Ceylan. Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. In Turkish and English, with English subtitles. Adopt Films
Jan. 30
Amira & Sam
A U.S. Army veteran readjusting to civilian life falls for his comrade's niece, an Iraqi immigrant, but their relationship is tested when she's faced with the prospect of deportation. With Martin Starr, Dina Shihabi and Paul Wesley. Written and directed by Sean Mullin. Drafthouse Films
Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of
A documentary charting the highs and lows of the pop boy band the Backstreet Boys. Directed by Stephen Kijak. Gravitas Ventures
Black or White
A widower raising his biracial granddaughter becomes embroiled in a bitter custody battle when the girl's paternal grandmother seeks custody. With Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer and Gillian Jacobs. Written and directed by Mike Binder. Relativity Media
The Devil's Violinist
A biopic about the 19th century Italian violinist and composer Niccolo Paganini. With David Garrett, Jared Harris and Joely Richardson. Written and directed by Bernard Rose. Freestyle Releasing
The Loft
Five married guys sharing a loft in the city to carry out hidden affairs are shocked to find the dead body of an unknown woman there. With Karl Urban, James Marsden and Wentworth Miller. Written by Wesley Strick. Directed by Erik Van Looy. Open Road Films
Preservation
A hedge-fund manager, his anesthesiologist wife and his recently returned veteran brother go on a camping trip and are threatened by an unseen menace. With Wrenn Schmidt, Pablo Schreiber and Aaron Staton. Written and directed by Christopher Denham. The Orchard
Project Almanac
A brilliant high school student and his friends uncover blueprints for a time machine and build one, with dire consequences. With Jonny Weston, Sofia Black-D'Elia and Sam Lerner. Written by Jason Harry Pagan and Andrew Deutschman. Directed by Dean Israelite. Paramount Pictures
Supremacy
When he and his family are taken hostage by a recently paroled white supremacist, an ornery ex-con must fight to free himself and his loved ones. With Danny Glover, Joe Anderson and Dawn Olivieri. Written by Eric J. Adams. Directed by Deon Taylor. WellGo USA
Timbuktu
A family living peacefully in the dunes outside Timbuktu, Mali, come under the thumb of foreign Islamist zealots. With Ibrahim Ahmed, Toulou Kiki and Abel Jafri. Written by Abderrahmane Sissako and Kessen Tall. Directed by Sissako. In Arabic, Bambara, French, English, Songhay and Tamasheq, with English subtitles. Cohen Media Group
Wild Card
A Las Vegas bodyguard with a gambling problem helps a friend get revenge on a sadistic thug, only to bring on the wrath of a powerful mob boss. With Jason Statham, Sofia Vergara and Milo Ventimiglia. Written by William Goldman. Directed by Simon West. Lionsgate
Feb. 6
3 Nights in the Desert
Three estranged friends and former band mates reunite in the desert to celebrate turning 30 but old tensions reemerge. With Wes Bentley, Amber Tamblyn and Vincent Piazza. Written by Adam Chanzit. Directed by Gabriel Cowan. Monterey Media
Above and Beyond
A documentary about a ragtag group of American pilots, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who aided in Israel's 1948 war for independence. Directed by Roberta Grossman. International Film Circuit
Jupiter Ascending
A housecleaner has her life turned upside down when she is saved from bounty hunters by a genetically engineered ex-military warrior and learns she is intergalactic royalty. With Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Sean Bean and Eddie Redmayne. Written and directed by Lana Wachowski and Andy Wachowski. In 3-D and Imax. Warner Bros. Pictures
Love, Rosie
Two childhood best friends grapple with their unspoken feelings for each other over the years. With Lily Collins, Sam Claflin and Suki Waterhouse. Written by Juliette Towhidi. Directed by Christian Ditter. Paramount Pictures / Film Arcade
One Small Hitch
On a flight home to Chicago for a family wedding, two longtime friends agree to fake an engagement to make one's dying father happy. With Shane McRae, Aubrey Dollar and Daniel J. Travanti. Written by Dode B. Levenson. Directed by John Burgess. Freestyle Releasing
Pass the Light
A high school student runs for Congress to spread a message of love and community. With Cameron Palatas, Dalpre Grayer and Alexandria Deberry. Written by Victor Hawks. Directed by Malcolm J. Goodwin. DigiNext
Seventh Son
The sole remaining warrior of a mystical order searches for a prophesied hero to help him vanquish a dark queen. With Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes and Julianne Moore. Written by Charles Leavitt and Steve Knight. Directed by Sergei Bodrov. In 3-D. Universal Pictures
SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water
A goofy sea sponge and his friends venture to the surface world to foil an evil pirate. With Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke and Antonio Banderas. Written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Directed by Paul Tibbitt and Mike Mitchell. In 3-D. Paramount Pictures
The Voices
A chipper but unbalanced man working in a bathtub factory begins taking advice from his talking pets after a date with his office crush goes fatally awry. With Ryan Reynolds, Anna Kendrick, Gemma Arterton. Written by Michael R. Perry. Directed by Marjane Satrapi. Lionsgate
Feb. 13
Ballet 422
A documentary following the 25-year-old choreographer Justin Peck as he crafts a new work for the New York City Ballet. Directed by Jody Lee Lipes. Magnolia Pictures
Fifty Shades of Grey
A mousy college student begins a steamy relationship with a kinky billionaire. With Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson and Jennifer Ehle. Written by Kelly Marcel. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. Universal Pictures / Focus Features
Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem
An Israeli woman seeking to finalize a divorce from her estranged husband finds herself put on trial by her country's religious marriage laws. With Ronit Elkabetz, Simon Abkarian and Menashe Noy. Written and directed by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz. In Hebrew, French and Arabic, with English subtitles. Music Box Films
Girl House
A college student tries to make extra cash by moving into a house that streams content to an X-rated website, but she becomes the target of a deranged fan. With Ali Cobrin, Adam DiMarco and Slaine. Written by Nick Gordon. Directed by Trevor Matthews. eOne Films
Hits
In a small town in upstate New York, an outspoken municipal employee prone to council-meeting rants becomes an unlikely YouTube celebrity. With Matt Walsh, Meredith Hagner and James Adomian. Written and directed by David Cross. Honora
Kingsman: The Secret Service
A street kid is recruited into a secret spy organization just as a global threat emerges from an evil tech genius. With Colin Firth, Taron Egerton and Michael Caine. Written by Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn. Directed by Vaughn. 20th Century Fox
The Last Five Years
A musical chronicling five years in the relationship between an up-and-coming novelist and a struggling actress. With Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. Written and directed by Richard LaGravenese. Radius
Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine
A documentary about the brutal murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, who was killed for being gay. Directed by Michele Josue. Run Rabbit Run Media
Old Fashioned
A former frat boy who has given up his partying ways to run an antique shop in a Midwestern college town falls for a free-spirited young woman. With Elizabeth Ann Roberts, Rik Swartzwelder and LeJon Woods. Written and directed by Swartzwelder. Freestyle Releasing
The Rewrite
A divorced, washed-up screenwriter takes a guest teaching job at a remote college in upstate New York and becomes unexpectedly invested in his students' lives. With Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei and Allison Janney. Written and directed by Marc Lawrence. Image Entertainment
What We Do in the Shadows
A mockumentary about a trio of ageless vampires trying to fit into modern society. With Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi and Jonathan Brugh. Written and directed by Clement and Waititi. The Orchard
White Rabbit
A mentally disturbed high school student bonds with a rebellious new girl in town but is also urged toward revenge by imaginary creatures. With Nick Krause, Britt Robertson and Sam Trammell. Written by Anthony Di Pietro. Directed by Tim McCann. Breaking Glass Pictures
Feb. 20
Blackbird
In a Mississippi town, a devout high school choir boy struggles with religion, sexuality and a troubled home. With Mo'Nique, Isaiah Washington and Terrell Tilford. Written by Rikki Beadle Blair and Patrik-Ian Polk. Directed by Polk. Image Entertainment
Digging Up the Marrow
A pseudo-documentary about monster-themed art in which the filmmakers are contacted by a man who says he can prove such creatures are real. With Adam Green, Ray Wise and Will Barratt. Written and directed by Green. Image Entertainment
The Duff
A high school senior sets out to reinvent herself after learning that she's known as the "designated ugly fat friend" to her two pretty, popular pals. With Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell and Bella Thorne. Written by Josh A. Cagan. Directed by Ari Sandel. CBS Films
Hot Tub Time Machine 2
When one of them gets shot, three friends fire up their time machine to try to prevent the attack but accidentally end up in the future. With Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke and Adam Scott. Written by Josh Heald. Directed by Steve Pink. Paramount Pictures
McFarland, USA
Under the direction of a new coach, a predominantly Latino high school in a poor California farm town forges a championship cross-country team. With Kevin Costner, Maria Bello and Morgan Saylor. Written by Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson. Directed by Niki Caro. Walt Disney Pictures
Wild Tales
An anthology of six stand-alone shorts sharing themes of vengeance. With Dario Grandinetti, Rita Cortese and Oscar Martinez. Written and directed by Damian Szifron. In Spanish with English subtitles. Sony Pictures Classics
Feb. 27
'71
After being separated from his unit during a riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971, a young British soldier must survive the night alone and find his way to safety. With Jack O'Connell, Sam Reid and Charlie Murphy. Written by Gregory Burke. Directed by Yann Demange. Roadside Attractions
Ana Maria in Novela Land
A bored woman switches bodies with her favorite telenovela star. With Edy Ganem, Michael Steger and Luis Guzman. Written by Georgina Garcia Riedel and Jose Nestor Marquez. Directed by Riedel. Fluency
Bluebird
In northern Maine, a school bus driver's oversight shatters the tranquillity of her small logging town. With Amy Morton, John Slattery and Louisa Krause. Written and directed by Lance Edmands. Factory 25
Deli Man
A documentary about the culinary and cultural history of Jewish delicatessens in the United States. Directed by Erik Greenberg Anjou. Cohen Media Group
Everly
A woman holed up in her apartment faces down waves of assassins sent by her mob-boss ex. With Salma Hayek, Jennifer Blanc and Togo Igawa. Written by Yale Hannon. Directed by Joe Lynch. Radius
Focus
A veteran con man crosses paths with a former flame and protege on Buenos Aires' high-stakes racing circuit. With Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Rodrigo Santoro. Written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. Warner Bros. Pictures
The Lazarus Effect
A team of medical students discovers a way to bring the dead back to life, but not without complications. With Evan Peters, Olivia Wilde and Donald Glover. Written by Luke Dawson and Jeremy Slater. Directed by David Gelb. Relativity Media
My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
A documentary following the idiosyncratic Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn as he struggles to complete his film "Only God Forgives." Directed by J. Liv Corfixen. Radius
March 6
Chappie
An experimental robot capable of thinking and feeling is kidnapped by street thugs. With Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel and Jose Pablo Cantillo. Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell. Directed by Blomkamp. Columbia Pictures
Hayride 2
A detective tries to stop a seemingly invincible serial killer. With Sherri Eakin, Jeremy Sande and Jeremy Ivy. Written and directed by Terron R. Parsons. Freestyle Releasing
Kidnapping Mr. Heineken
A dramatic account of the 1983 kidnapping and ransom of the chairman and chief executive of the Heineken beer empire in Amsterdam. With Jim Sturgess, Sam Worthington and Anthony Hopkins. Written by William Brookfield. Directed by Daniel Alfredson. Millennium Entertainment
Like Sunday, Like Rain
A struggling musician takes a job as a nanny and forms an unlikely bond with a preteen cello prodigy. With Leighton Meester, Julian Shatkin and Debra Messing. Written and directed by Frank Whaley. Monterey Media
Merchants of Doubt
A documentary about a secretive group of pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities but have been hired by corporations and special-interest groups to muddle public debate on topics such as toxic chemicals and climate change. Directed by Robert Kenner. Sony Pictures Classics
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
An idealistic hotelier prepares for his wedding while also trying to expand his business providing accommodations for retirees. With Dev Patel, Richard Gere and Tamsin Greig. Written by Ol Parker. Directed by John Madden. Fox Searchlight Pictures
Two Men in Town
After 18 years in prison, an ex-con struggles to rebuild his life while being badgered by both sides of the law. With Forest Whitaker, Harvey Keitel and Brenda Blethyn. Written by Olivier Lorelle, Yasmina Khadra and Rachid Bouchareb. Directed by Bouchareb. Cohen Media Group
Unfinished Business
A small-business owner and his two associates travel to Europe to close an important deal, but their trip goes decidedly off the rails. With Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson and James Marsden. Written by Steven Conrad. Directed by Ken Scott. 20th Century Fox
March 13
3 Hearts
A hapless accountant is romantically torn between two sisters. With Benoît Poelvoorde, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Chiara Mastroianni. Written by Benoît Jacquot and Julien Boivent. Directed by Jacquot. In French with English subtitles. Cohen Media Group
Anarchy
Corrupt cops and a drug-dealing biker gang wage a turf war in this contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's "Cymbeline." With Ed Harris, Ethan Hawke and Dakota Johnson. Written and directed by Michael Almereyda. Lionsgate
Cinderella
When her merchant father unexpectedly dies, a young woman finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and stepsisters until the night of a fateful ball. With Lily James, Cate Blanchett and Richard Madden. Written by Chris Weitz. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Walt Disney Pictures
The Cobbler
A disenchanted shoe repairman stumbles across a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers. With Adam Sandler, Dan Stevens and Dustin Hoffman. Written by Thomas McCarthy and Paul Sado. Directed by McCarthy. Image Entertainment
In the Heart of the Sea
A 19th century whaling ship is assaulted by one of its very targets off the coast of New England in this drama based on the real-life disaster that inspired "Moby-Dick." With Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker and Cillian Murphy. Written by Charles Leavitt. Directed by Ron Howard. In Imax. Warner Bros. Pictures
Just Before I Go
A depressed man returns to his hometown to settle scores before killing himself. With Seann William Scott, Olivia Thirlby and Garret Dillahunt. Written by David Flebotte. Directed by Courteney Cox. Anchor Bay
Muck
Having narrowly escaped an ancient burial ground under the marshes of Cape Cod, a group of friends is trapped between two evils. With Kane Hodder, Lachlan Buchanan and Jaclyn Swedberg. Written and directed by Steve Wolsh. Anchor Bay
Seymour: An Introduction
A documentary portrait of the concert pianist turned music teacher and composer Seymour Bernstein. Directed by Ethan Hawke. Sundance Selects
The Wrecking Crew
A documentary about Los Angeles-based studio musicians the Wrecking Crew, who backed numerous hits in the 1960s. Directed by Denny Tedesco. Magnolia Pictures
March 20
Danny Collins
Inspired by a long undelivered letter from John Lennon, an aging 1970s rocker tries to give up his hard-living ways and reconnect with his family. With Al Pacino, Bobby Cannavale and Annette Bening. Written and directed by Dan Fogelman. Bleecker Street
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
In the ruins of futuristic Chicago, rebels battle a power-hungry cabal. With Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Kate Winslet. Written by Brian Duffield, Akiva Goldsman and Mark Bomback. Directed by Robert Schwentke. In 3-D. Summit Entertainment
The Gunman
A former special-forces agent gets drawn back into his violent past. With Sean Penn, Idris Elba and Ray Winstone. Written by Pete Travis. Directed by Pierre Morel. Open Road Films
Hunting Elephants
A precocious kid conspires with three senior citizens to rob a bank to save himself and his mom from losing their house. With Sasson Gabai, Moni Moshonov and Patrick Stewart. Written by Reshef Levi and Regev Levy. Directed by Levi. XLrator Media
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter
A lonely office drone in Tokyo mistakes a popular American movie for a documentary, then heads to snowy North Dakota to find a buried suitcase full of cash. With Rinko Kukuchi, Nobuyuki Katsube and Shirley Venard. Written by David Zellner and Nathan Zellner. Directed by David Zellner. Amplify Releasing
The Letters
A biopic about Mother Teresa, as seen through letters she wrote to a longtime friend and spiritual advisor. With Juliet Stevenson, Rutger Hauer and Max von Sydow. Written and directed by William Riead. Freestyle Releasing
Tracers
Hoping to pay off a gang debt, a New York City bike messenger joins a crew that uses parkour to pull off heists. With Taylor Lautner, Marie Avgeropoulos and Adam Rayner. Written by Matt Johnson. Directed by Daniel Benmayor. Lionsgate
The Walking Deceased
In this genre spoof, a band of survivors tries to stay alive in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. With Tim Ogletree, Joe Oglesby and Dave Sheridan. Written by Ogletree. Directed by Scott Dow. Arc Entertainment
Zombeavers
College kids staying at a riverside cabin are menaced by a swarm of undead beavers. With Chad Anderson, Lexi Atkins and Brent Briscoe. Written by Al Kaplan, Jordan Rubin and Jon Kaplan. Directed by Rubin. Freestyle Releasing
March 27
The Barber
A small-town barber hunts for a serial killer—not to expose him but to learn his tricks of the trade. With Scott Glenn and Chris Coy. Written by Max Enscoe. Directed by Basel Owies. Arc Entertainment
Clouds of Sils Maria
Asked to star in a restaging of the play that made her famous 20 years ago but this time in a different role, an aging actress departs with her assistant to rehearse in the Swiss Alps. With Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart and Chloe Grace Moretz. Written and directed by Olivier Assayas. IFC Films
Get Hard
After being convicted of fraud and given 30 days to get his affairs in order, a hedge-fund manager foolishly enlists his car washer to toughen him up for prison. With Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart and Tip "T.I." Harris. Written by Jay Martel, Ian Roberts and Etan Cohen. Directed by Cohen. Warner Bros. Pictures
A Girl Like Her
A 16-year-old girl and her best friend expose her harassment at the hands of a popular classmate. With Lexi Ainsworth, Jimmy Bennett and Hunter King. Written and directed by Amy S. Weber. Parkside
Home
When the Earth is taken over by aliens in search of a new home, a resourceful girl and an outcast extraterrestrial become unlikely partners in crime. With the voices of Jim Parsons, Rihanna and Steve Martin. Written by Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember. Directed by Tim Johnson. In 3-D. 20th Century Fox
It Follows
After a strange sexual encounter, a teenager is haunted by nightmarish visions and the inescapable sense that something is after her. With Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist and Daniel Zovatto. Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell. Radius
A Little Chaos
A strong-willed landscape designer chosen to build a garden at King Louis XIV's new palace at Versailles challenges gender and class barriers. With Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts and Alan Rickman. Written and directed by Rickman. Focus Features
Serena
In Depression-era North Carolina, a timber man sets out to build an empire with his enterprising new wife, but she doesn't take kindly to discovering his hidden past. With Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Rhys Ifans. Written by Christopher Kyle. Directed by Susanne Bier. Magnolia Pictures
While We're Young
A middle-age husband and wife have their routine shaken up when a disarming young couple enter their lives. With Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts and Amanda Seyfried. Written and directed by Noah Baumbach. A24
White God
When a girl is forced to give up her beloved dog because it is deemed unfit by the state, she and her pet journey back to each other while an animal uprising begins. With Szabolcs Thuróczy, Zsófia Psotta and Sándor Zsótér. Written and directed by Kornél Mundruczó. In Hungarian with English subtitles. Magnolia Pictures
March TBA
Champs
A documentary about boxers Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins, and their journeys from poverty to the ring. Directed by Bert Marcus. Amplify
Marfa Girl
A teenager drifts through life in small-town Texas alongside his girlfriend, a newly arrived artist and a deranged Border Patrol agent. With Adam Mediano, Drake Burnette and Jeremy St. James. Written and directed by Larry Clark. Breaking Glass Pictures
April 1
Hillsong: Let Hope Rise
A documentary chronicling the rise of the Australia-based Christian band Hillsong United. Directed by Michael John Warren. Warner Bros. Pictures
April 3
Furious 7
A crew of fast-driving outlaws battles the vengeful brother of a vanquished enemy. With Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson. Written by Chris Morgan. Directed by James Wan. Universal Pictures
Lambert & Stamp
A documentary about filmmakers Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert, who set out to find a subject for a movie in the 1960s and ended up discovering and managing the rock band the Who. Directed by James D. Cooper. In English, French and German, with English subtitles. Sony Pictures Classics
The Living
A husband seeks redemption after beating his wife during an alcohol-induced blackout, while her brother hires an ex-con to kill him. With Fran Kranz, Jocelin Donahue and Kenny Wormald. Written and directed by Jack Bryan. Monterey Media
She's Funny That Way
After spending an evening with an escort, a Broadway director is shocked when the young woman unsuspectingly walks into his audition for a role opposite his actress wife and nails it. With Owen Wilson, Imogen Poots and Kathryn Hahn. Written by Peter Bogdanovich and Louise Stratten. Directed by Bogdanovich. Clarius Entertainment
Woman in Gold
Sixty years after fleeing Vienna during World War II, an elderly Jewish woman sets out to retrieve family possessions seized by the Nazis, including a famous Gustav Klimt painting. With Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds and Daniel Bruhl. Written by Alexi Kaye Campbell. Directed by Simon Curtis. The Weinstein Co.
April 10
Cybernatural
A teenager and her friends are stalked by a mysterious assailant in this horror film unfolding over a computer screen. With Shelley Hennig, Moses Storm and Renee Olstead. Written by Nelson Greaves. Directed by Leo Gabriadze. Universal Pictures
Desert Dancer
During the volatile climate of Iran's 2009 presidential election, a dancer risks everything to form an underground company. With Reece Ritchie, Freida Pinto and Nazanin Boniadi. Written by Jon Croker. Directed by Richard Raymond. Relativity Media
Ex Machina
A programmer at an Internet search giant is chosen to evaluate the capabilities and consciousness of a new experiment in artificial intelligence. With Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac and Alicia Vikander. Written and directed by Alex Garland. A24
Kill Me Three Times
A mercurial assassin discovers he isn't the only person trying to kill the siren of a sun-drenched surfing town. With Simon Pegg, Sullivan Stapleton and Alice Braga. Written by James McFarland. Directed by Kriv Stenders. Magnet Releasing
The Longest Ride
When their love is tested, a bull rider looking to make a comeback and a college student about to enter the New York art world draw inspiration from a decades-long romance. With Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson and Alan Alda. Written by Craig Bolotin. Directed by George Tillman Jr. 20th Century Fox
Sisterhood of Night
A girl exposes a secret society in her New Jersey suburb. With Kara Hayward, Kal Penn and Georgie Henley. Written by Marilyn Fu. Directed by Caryn Waechter. Freestyle Releasing
True Story
When a disgraced New York Times reporter meets the accused killer who has taken his identity, his investigation turns into a game of cat-and-mouse. With Jonah Hill, James Franco and Felicity Jones. Written by Rupert Goold and David Kajganich. Directed by Goold. Fox Searchlight Pictures
Underdogs
As the players from his foosball table are magically brought to life, a gaming ace recruits them to help save his town and win the heart of his crush. With the voices of Matthew Morrison, Ariana Grande and Nicholas Hoult. Written by Juan José Campanella, Eduardo Sacheri and Gastón Gorali. Directed by Campanella. The Weinstein Co.
April 17
Beyond the Reach
During a hunting trip in the Mojave desert, a crazed billionaire and his impoverished guide engage in a battle of wills. With Michael Douglas and Jeremy Irvine. Written by Stephen Susco. Directed by Jean-Baptiste Leonetti. Roadside Attractions
Child 44
In 1953 Russia, a disgraced intelligence agent is sent to a grim provincial outpost where he joins forces with the local police chief to catch a serial killer preying on young boys. With Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman and Noomi Rapace. Written by Richard Price. Directed by Daniel Espinosa. Summit Entertainment
Monkey Kingdom
A documentary following a resourceful monkey in the jungles of South Asia as she welcomes a son into her complicated extended family. Directed by Mark Linfield. Walt Disney Pictures
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
A mall security guard heads to a convention in Las Vegas with his college-bound daughter and stumbles upon a heist. With Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez and Neal McDonough. Written by James and Nick Bakay. Directed by Andy Fickman. Columbia Pictures
The Road Within
When his mother dies, a young man with Tourette syndrome sneaks out of his clinic with his anorexic love interest and OCD roommate to deliver his mother's ashes to the ocean. With Robert Sheehan, Zoe Kravitz and Dev Patel. Written and directed by Gren Wells. WellGo USA
Run All Night
When his estranged son becomes a target, an aging mob hit man is forced to choose between his crime family and the family he abandoned. With Liam Neeson, Joel Kinnaman and Vincent D'Onofrio. Written by Brad Ingelsby. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Warner Bros. Pictures
The Squeeze
A notorious gambler discovers a young man with uncommon golf skills in a rural town and persuades him to start playing in high-stakes matches. With Jeremy Sumpter, Christopher McDonald and Katherine LaNasa. Written and directed by Terry Jastrow. Arc Entertainment
April 24
The Age of Adaline
A solitary woman who hasn't aged for almost eight decades after a freak accident has a chance encounter with a charismatic philanthropist that changes everything. With Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman and Kathy Baker. Written by J. Mills Goodloe and Salvador Paskowitz. Directed by Lee Toland Krieger. Lionsgate
Eden
A garage DJ navigates 20 years in the French underground dance music scene. With Felix De Givry, Pauline Etienne and Vincent Macaigne. Written by Mia Hansen-Love and Sven Hansen-Love. Directed by Mia Hansen-Love. In French and English, with English subtitles. Broad Green Pictures
Gloria
A biopic about pop star Gloria Trevi, who has been called the Mexican Madonna. With Sofia Espinosa, Marco Perez and Tatiana del Real. Written by Sabina Berman. Directed by Christian Keller. Picturehouse
Little Boy
A boy tries with all his might to do something to bring his father back home from World War II. With Jakob Salvati, Emily Mortimer and Michael Rapaport. Written by Alejandro Monteverde and Pepe Portillo. Directed by Monteverde. Open Road Films
The Water Diviner
Four years after the battle of Gallipoli in World War I, an Australian farmer journeys to Turkey to discover the fate of his three missing sons. With Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko and Yilmaz Erdogan. Written by Andrew Knight and Andrew Anastasios. Directed by Crowe. Warner Bros. Pictures
April 29
Iris
A documentary portrait of the 93-year-old New York style maven Iris Apfel. Directed by Albert Maysles. Magnolia Pictures
April TBA
Tales of the Grim Sleeper
A documentary about Lonnie Franklin Jr., the man arrested as a suspected serial killer who terrorized South Los Angeles for a quarter-century. Directed by Nick Broomfield. HBO Documentary Films
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