Marley

Bob Marley's universal appeal, impact on music history and role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. Marley is the definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, and legend, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best.

Marley celebrates the fact that its subject is still among us in the way that perhaps matters most: His music not only survives, it thrives. -- Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Marley," an ambitious and comprehensive film, does what is probably the best possible job of documenting an important life. -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

[It] shows off his chops not by doing anything dazzling - the film is documentary prose, not poetry - but by treating Marley as a man of depth and nuance, of inner light and shadow. -- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Official Site

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of British retirees who decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past.

Besides its sterling cast, its ace in the hole is its pungent depiction of Jaipur's teeming streets, which give an otherwise well-mannered movie a blinding splash of color. -- Stephen Holden, New York Times

A charming, funny and heartwarming movie ... a smoothly crafted entertainment that makes good use of seven superb veterans. -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Marigold Hotel" is too well made to be dismissed and contains too much truth to be scorned. -- Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A sterling cast and a fine balance of comedy and poignancy make this story of unfulfilled Brit retirees discovering new life in India a pleasure-filled journey. -- David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

Official Site

The Deep Blue Sea

Master chronicler of post-War England, Terence Davies directs Rachel Weisz as a woman whose overpowering love threatens her well-being and alienates the men in her life. In a deeply vulnerable performance, Rachel Weisz plays Hester Collyer, the wife of an upper-class judge (Simon Russell Beale) and a free spirit trapped in a passionless marriage. Her encounter with Freddie Page (Tom Hiddleston), a troubled former Royal Air Force pilot, throws her life in turmoil, as their erotic relationship leaves her emotionally stranded and physically isolated. The film is an adaptation of British playwright Terence Rattigan's 1952 play, featuring one of the greatest roles for an actress in modern theatre.

A shimmering exploration of romantic obsession and the tension between fitting in and flying free. -- Jeannette Catsoulis, NPR

The social and psychological particulars, and the wonderful period details, are part of the background. And Mr. Hiddleston and Mr. Beale, disciplined and sensitive actors though they are, exist in the penumbra of Ms. Weisz's incandescence. -- A.O. Scott, New York Times

Rachel Weisz - in what has to be the performance of her career, and there have been lots of good ones - plays an intelligent woman in the grip of a lust that's too big to handle or suppress. She can either ride the tiger or be devoured. -- Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Official Site

The Princess Bride

Part of the FREE Click! Family Flick! Doors at 9:30am, film at 10am.

Director Rob Reiner breathes vividly colored cinematic life into William Goldman's THE PRINCESS BRIDE, effectively evoking the wondrous, wide-eyed spirit of the witty 1973 novel. When a sick boy (Fred Savage) receives a visit from his doting grandfather (Peter Falk) who intends to read to him from his favorite book, he's not exactly pleased to be extracted from his world of video games. However, his mood quickly changes as he, along with the viewer, is transported to a place out of time--to Florin, a kingdom in the ultimate imaginary land, complete with dashing heroes, cowardly princes, rhyming giants, shrieking eels, rodents of unusual size, fancy swordfights, and yes...even some kissing. The lovely Buttercup (Robin Wright) learns that "As you wish" really means "I love you" when she falls for her charming farmhand, Westley (Cary Elwes). While trying to seek his fortune, however, Westley disappears at sea, an apparent victim of the Dread Pirate Roberts, who takes no prisoners. A few years later, Buttercup, engaged to the oily Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), is kidnapped by an oddball trio of rogues--brains, Vizzini (Wallace Shawn); brawn, Fezzik (André the Giant); and sword, Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin in a standout performance). As they sail away toward the Cliffs of Insanity, they notice the pursuit of a man in black...and the adventure begins. A clever fairy tale for all ages, THE PRINCESS BRIDE is arguably one of the funniest and most entertaining films of all time.

Sound of Noise

Part of our Tuesday Film Series! Two showings, one day only!

Police officer Amadeus Warnebring was born into a musical family with a long history of famous musicians. Ironically, he hates music. His life is thrown into chaos when a band of crazy musicians decides to perform a musical apocalypse using the city as their orchestra... Reluctantly, Warnebring embarks on his first musical investigation...

The basic premise of this delightful comedy from Sweden is one of the most imaginative you'll ever see. -- Peter Brunette, Hollywood Reporter

Official Site

The Wrecking Crew

Join us at the Grand for special "Sneak Preview" screenings of THE WRECKING CREW! The film is not available for nationwide theatrical distribution due to music rights (see New York Times article about this process), but we are excited to be able to present limited special screenings on May 23rd! Tickets available now. Plus, the director will be in attendance for both screenings!

In the 1960s many of the hits coming out of Los Angeles under the names of the Beach Boys, Sonny & Cher, the Mamas and the Papas, the Monkees and other top pop acts were actually recorded by an elite but largely anonymous corps of studio musicians nicknamed the Wrecking Crew. To gain them some belated public recognition Denny Tedesco, a son of one of the most prolific of those session players, spent more than 15 years making a documentary about the ensemble. But there’s just one problem, and it has held up commercial release of “The Wrecking Crew” since 2008, when the documentary made its debut at the South by Southwest film festival. The film includes dozens of snippets from songs the Wrecking Crew played on, but the record companies that own the recordings want so much money from Mr. Tedesco, whose total budget was less than $1 million, that he has turned to a fund-raising campaign, including an event scheduled for New York in mid-June, to meet their demands. -- New York Times (Read full article.)

I hovered in the room near the ceiling as I watched this inspiring movie about the musicians who made the songs that continue to lift me higher than ever. -- Nancy Wilson ("Heart")

Official Site

Darling Companion

Beth (Diane Keaton) saves a bedraggled lost dog from the side of the freeway on a wintry day in Denver. Struggling with her distracted, self-involved husband Joseph (Kevin Kline) and an empty nest at home, Beth forms a special bond with the rescued animal. When Joseph loses the dog after their daughter's (Elisabeth Moss) wedding at their vacation home in the Rockies, Beth, distraught and angry with Joseph, enlists the help of the few remaining guests (Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Mark Duplass) and a mysterious woman (Ayelet Zurer) in a frantic search.

It's fun to watch Keaton and Kline together, bickering and (of course) bonding all over again. -- Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Joseph's cynicism and wit are communicated with the spot-on casting of Kline, and Keaton ably conveys Beth's suppressed loneliness as well as her big heart. -- Claudia Puig, USA Today

Official Site

The Island President

The Island President is the story of President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, a man confronting a problem greater than any other world leader has ever faced - the literal survival of his country and everyone in it. After bringing democracy to the Maldives after thirty years of despotic rule, Nasheed is now faced with an even greater challenge: as one of the most low-lying countries in the world, a rise of three feet in sea level would submerge the 1200 islands of the Maldives enough to make them uninhabitable. A classic David and Goliath tale, The Island President captures Nasheed's first year in office, culminating in his trip to the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009 where the film provides a rare and unprecedented glimpse of the political horse-trading that goes on between world leaders at such a top-level global assembly.

Watch the film's subject, Mohamed Nasheed, on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart!"

"The Island President" is a mostly compelling documentary about that rarest of breeds, an appealing politician. -- Walter V. Addegio, San Francisco Chronicle

A portrait of defiant optimism as a last-chance means of survival, Jon Shenk's The Island President offers not only a Mandela-like tale of political heroism but a much-needed perspective on climate change. -- John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter

Official Site

Caravaggio

Part of our Tuesday Film Series - one day, two showings! Also prsented in coordination with the Tacoma Art Museum and their Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Potraiture Exhibit! Learn more here.

Join us for a special film discussion for this special Tuesday Film Series selection! Claudia Gorbman (UWT Professor) and Laura Brewer (Administrator for The Rainbow Center) will co-facilitate a discussion following the film's 6:30pm showing. 

Jarman’s most profound reflection on art, sexuality and identity retells the life of the celebrated 17th-century painter through his brilliant, nearly blasphemous paintings and his flirtations with the underworld. CARAVAGGIO incorporates the painter’s precise aesthetic into the movie’s own visuals, while touching on all of Jarman’s major concerns: history, homosexuality, violence and the relationship between painting and film.

Official Site

Juan of the Dead

Juan is 40 years old, most of which he spent in Cuba doing absolutely nothing. Juan's only emotional tie is his daughter, Camila, a beautiful young girl that doesn't want anything to do with her father because the only thing he's good at is getting into trouble. Suddenly some strange things start to happen, people are turning violent attacking one to the other. Juan was first convinced it's just another stage of the Revolution. Little by little Juan and his friends start to realize that the attackers are not normal human beings and that killing them is quite a difficult task. They're not vampires, they're not possesed, but they're definitely not dissidents; a simple bite turns the victim into other violent killing machine and the only way to beat them is destroying their brains. Juan decides that the best way of facing the situation is making some money out of it.....

In Spanish with English subtitles.

As a zombie picture, Juan of the Dead is merely OK. But as a satirical comedy of life in Cuba under Castro, it totally kills - and keeps coming back for more. -- Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald

Official Site

Hot Coffee

Join us for FREE screenings of this hit documentary, with receptions beginning at 1:30 and 6:00!

Seinfeld mocked it. Letterman ranked it in his top ten list. And more than fifteen years later, its infamy continues. Everyone knows the McDonald's coffee case. It has been routinely cited as an example of how citizens have taken advantage of America's legal system, but is that a fair rendition of the facts? Hot Coffee reveals what really happened to Stella Liebeck, the Albuquerque woman who spilled coffee on herself and sued McDonald's, while exploring how and why the case garnered so much media attention, who funded the effort and to what end. After seeing this film, you will decide who really profited from spilling hot coffee.

Official Site

Hysteria

Hysteria is a romantic comedy with an accomplished cast led by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, Felicity Jones and Rupert Everett, that tells an untold tale of discovery - the surprising story of the birth of the electro-mechanical vibrator at the very peak of Victorian prudishness.

Official Site

Where Do We Go Now?

Set in a remote village where the church and the mosque stand side by side, Where Do We Go Now? follows the antics of the town's women to keep their blowhard men from starting a religious war. Women heartsick over sons, husbands and fathers lost to previous flare-ups unite to distract their men with clever ruses, from faking a miracle to hiring a troop of Ukrainian strippers.

Director and co-writer Nadine Labaki has a careful, delicate hand when it comes to balancing the precious and the poignant. -- Mary F. Pols, TIME Magazine

Official Site

Safety Not Guaranteed

"WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED. I have only done this once before." An unusual classified ad inspires three cynical Seattle magazine employees to go looking for the story behind it. They discover its author is a mysterious eccentric named Kenneth, a likable but paranoid supermarket clerk, who believes he's solved the riddle of time travel and intends to depart soon. Together, they embark on a hilarious, smart, and unexpectedly heartfelt journey.

A small movie with a big heart, Safety Not Guaranteed is a sci-fi-tinged oddball comedy about love as the ultimate risky adventure. -- Justin Chang, Variety

Official Site

Moonrise Kingdom

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore -- and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl's parents. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the boy and girl.

As in Fantastic Mr. Fox, Anderson is able to express sincere personal connection and compatibility while employing a highly artificial style. -- Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter

Official Site

Your Sister's Sister

Lost in an emotional funk one year after his brother's death, Jack (Mark Duplass) takes his best friend Iris (Emily Blunt) up on her offer for a reflective week of solitude at her family's remote island retreat. Upon arriving at the house, Jack discovers that Iris' sister Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt) had the same idea, and the two spend an awkward evening together. Iris shows up the next morning unannounced, setting in motion an emotionally twisted tale of sisters, brothers, and best friends.  

Check out a New York Times' article about the Seattle-based director of YOUR SISTER'S SISTER, Lynn Shelton!

The three leads are pitch-perfect here, loose and low-key yet fully in character. -- Justin Chang, Variety

Official Site

To Rome with Love

To Rome With Love is a story about a number of people in Italy, some American, some Italian, some residents, some visitors, and the romances and adventures and predicaments they get into. Directed by Woody Allen.

Official Site

Question One

The Grand proudly presents QUESTION ONE in cooperation with Tacoma's Pride Week!

A documentary film on the battle for same-sex marriage in America. On May 6th, 2009 Maine became the first state in this country to legislatively grant same-sex couples the right to marry. Seven months later, on November 3rd 2009 Maine reversed, becoming the thirty-first state in USA to say 'no' to gay and lesbian marriage. Filmed from within both campaigns, 'Question One' chronicles the fierce and emotional battle that took place in Maine during that time, a battle whose political symbolism is a bellwether for the greater ideological battlefield in American politics.

Official Site

Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same

The Grand proudly presents CODEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME in cooperation with Tacoma's Pride Week!

Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same follows the adventures of three lesbian space aliens on the planet Earth, and the story of the romance between Jane, a shy greeting card store employee, and Zoinx, the woman Jane does not realize is from outer-space. Meanwhile, two government agents, or 'Men In Black,' are closely tracking Jane and the aliens while harboring their own secrets.

Ed Wood would have been proud. -- Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times

Official Site & Trailer