M. Night Shyamalan makes another bad movie, but this one actually shows a little bit of promise after a rancid run of films that includes “The Village,” “The Happening,” “The Last Airbender,” and “After Earth.” Becca and Tyler (Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould) have never met their grandma. When Mom (Kathryn Hahn) decides to go on a cruise with her boyfriend, she leaves them with her parents, even though they have been estranged for many years. Becca and Tyler are game to meet their Nana, so they board a train to Pennsylvania and meet her and their granddad at the station. Things get weird fast on the farm. Nana (a delightfully strange Deanna Dunagan) is prone to sleep walking and projectile vomiting, sometimes naked, after 10:30, while Pop Pop (creepy Peter McRobbie) has a tendency to stick shotguns in his mouth and pile his used adult diapers in strange places. There are a couple of good scares, but Shyamalan (who wrote the script and directed) opts for the stupid “found footage” gimmick, which does nothing but trip up his narrative. The film doesn’t need the found footage angle, and it suffers for it. Still, Dunagan is a creepy movie monster, and Shyamalan shows that maybe he still has some creativity left in the tank. With him, it seems simpler is better, but still not that good.

With the Tucson Festival of Films less than a month away, there's plenty for movie lovers to look forward to this year. However, local music fans will definitely want to check out the Sounds of Tucson documentary.

Making its North American premiere, this French documentary highlights some of the musicians that make Tucson the audibly unique place it is. Featuring Tom Walbank, Gabriel Sullivan, Brian Lopez and Mariachi Luz de Luna all performing together live in France at the Festival les Escales, you'll have to wait to see that moment until director Guillaume Dero's "love letter" to the Old Pueblo's music scene screens on Friday, Oct. 9. However, we do have the intro to the film on hand for you to check out, which features Howe Gelb stripped down, playing on his Tucson porch.

For more information on this year's Tucson Festival of Films, which will take place at the Temple of Music & Art, you can visit the event's website. We'll have more film fest specifics as it draws nearer, as well, but until then, here's Howe Gelb doing what he does:

Nelly (Nina Hoss), a disfigured Holocaust victim, returns to post-war Berlin in search of her husband Johnny (Ronald Zehrfeld). Nelly undergoes facial reconstructive surgery that renders her unrecognizable. When she encounters her husband, he doesn’t know who she is, but does notice a resemblance to his wife, whom he thinks is dead. He conspires with Nelly to have her impersonate his wife so he can be entitled to her inheritance. At face value, director Christian Petzold’s film might sound a little hokey, but it’s anything but. The film is best taken metaphorically, rather than literally. The movie is about Nelly finding out where true loyalty lies within her family and friends, and finding out who truly stood for her in her time of need. A good soul is represented in Lene (Nina Kunzendorf), who brings Nelly to Berlin and tries to protect her. The character of Nelly represents those who survived the Holocaust, embodying the confusion, anger, and sense of betrayal when they returned to everyday life. To watch this film as a straight, realistic drama would be a mistake. It doesn’t work that way. Petzold has made a movie of haunting beauty, especially in the film’s stunning final scene. Nelly is a character that will stay with you long after the movie is over. 

The folks who bring you such T.V.-based exclamatory oddities as Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and Superjail! are touring the country this fall and Tucson's on the list of stops. Adult Swim is hosting a drive-in movie event at the Mercado San Agustin, and you're going to want to secure your spot soon.

The Adult Swim Drive-In isn't simply just screening re-runs of Children's Hospital (though that would be pretty cool, too), but, rather, showing off some unaired pilots and specials. Food trucks, trivia and prizes are all on the night's line-up as well, with vouchers for a free food truck meal handed out while supplies last. The AS crew recommends bringing your own blankets, pillows, chairs, slankets and blillows ... whatever that means.

All of that takes place on Saturday, Oct. 17 completely free. All you have to do is RSVP online via the Adult Swim website and you're good to go. It is an 18 and over event and is subject to capacity. 

Until then, let's all take a moment on this lovely Friday to remember Adult Swim at its finest:

There is a hypnotic quality to Listen to Me Marlon. That stands to reason, since the documentary is a quilt of Marlon Brando’s life stitched together from hundreds of hours of his home recordings—including self-hypnosis sessions. In his final years, Brando was a parody of his former self. Fat, isolated, bizarre, there was barely a trace of the most important film actor of all time, and maybe the best, when his mood was right.

Listen to Me Marlon brings all those roles back with a fire and an autobiographer’s frankness. Brando’s personal life, all too public for his tastes, is also revealed here, from his many conquests (he fathered at least 16 children) to more painful episodes. Brando is languid throughout, and thoughtful. It’s a far cry from the easy impressions we’ve come to know, and a flawless final performance from one of the greats.

With combined ages a few years beyond Lemmon and Matthau in Grumpy Old Men, you may have a pretty good idea what you’re getting with the seasoned comedy travelogue, A Walk in the Woods. At 79 and 74 years old, respectively, there are a lot of miles on Robert Redford and Nick Nolte.

On the other hand, they bring literally 100 years of filmmaking experience to the table here, so while A Walk in the Woods is pretty formulaic, these guys know what they’re doing. It’s basically what the title describes: old friends attempt to walk the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail. Of course, there are life lessons doled out, even though these guys are about done living theirs. Redford is solid, but Nolte steals it, infusing the movie with a lot more genuine humor than you might expect.

A good recommendation for your parents’ Labor Day weekend.

Mother of God, is Gloria (Lola Duenas) one of the craziest characters to hit screens in years. Major applause to Duenas, who encapsulates pure insanity as a quiet woman who reluctantly goes on an outing with online dating guy Michel (Laurent Lucas). The two have a one-night stand. Gloria, who isn’t all that quiet after all, wants more, even after finding out she is just one of many for Michel, who fancies himself a regular Don Juan taking advantage of lonely women for their money. Gloria wants in, and she poses as his sister in his schemes. She has a little jealousy problem, however, and starts murdering the women Michel is attempting to defraud. Director Fabrice Du Weiz makes the movie an often uncomfortable one (not a complaint), and dots the movie with the occasional “so bizarre” moments, such as when Gloria breaks into a heartfelt song before sawing a victim’s leg off. The movie is “loosely based” on the Lonely Hearts Killers, who killed women under similar circumstances in the late ‘40s here in the good old U-S-of-A. Duenas and Lucas give us one of the more diabolical screen pairs since Beatty and Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde. Actually, they make those infamous robbers look like missionaries.

Jesse Eisenberg, having himself a great summer with his career best performance in The End of the Tour, spreads his wings a bit as a stoner with a secret in this sporadically fun one from director Nima Nourizadeh (Project X) and writer Max Landis (Chronicle). While enjoying a fine cup of soup, convenience store clerk Mike Howell (Eisenberg) notices some dudes monkeying with his car. Seconds later, he’s killing people with a spoon. Mike’s girlfriend Phoebe (Kristen Stewart kicking mortal ass) is concerned about her beau, who has suddenly attained the ability to wipe out people with robot precision. I will not tell you why. You have to see the movie to find out why. The film has a great premise, and could’ve been a classic dark comedy. Unfortunately, it leans a little too heavy towards the dark side in its second half and goes light on the laughs. Eisenberg and Stewart rise above any of the tonal problems and story lags to make the movie something worth seeing. Stewart just gets better with every movie she shows up in. I think her Bella-Lag is wearing off for sure. Eisenberg plays his part like an ignorant, coiled rattlesnake, and he’s actually appropriately scary at times. Again, a fun film for most of its running time, but it could’ve been something really special.

For those of you who have been re-watching “This is Spinal Tap” or “Best in Show,” quietly praying that mockumentary king Christopher Guest would return to his forte, rejoice.

Netflix announced today that Guest would be joining their growing list of big time movie folks creating smart, funny and popular originals for their streaming service.

“Mascots” will be Guest’s first directorial project since 2006’s “For Your Consideration,” a film that didn’t really hit well with fans or reviewers. (This is the only film of his that I haven't watched and quoted a zillion times. Once, was enough, though I say that with respect and disappointment.) The new feature will hearken back to what the fans love him for, satirical mockumentaries about funny people in niche worlds. From dog shows, to washed up rock bands and folk performers, this comedy will tell the untold story of mascots. Think of it as, the heart and soul beneath giant animal heads out on the football field or basketball court.

Not much has been released about the film, just a short plot description and promotional poster.

“Welcome to all the drama, intrigue, and occasional excitement of the 8th World Mascot Association Championships, where a group of 'unusual' men and women, with big heads and furry suits, compete to win the prestigious Gold Fluffy Award and be crowned best mascot in the world.”

Though the cast has not been announced yet, I am willing to bet that some of his right hand men and women will be returning with their fearless brand of wit.

Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard making jokes through big, hot animal heads. Yes, Please.

Parker Posey making some reference to Busy Bee, while maybe in a bee costume herself? I have been waiting for the day.

While no official release date has been announced, I am sure fans are just waiting, ready to dial it up to eleven.
 

I asked readers to name movies and TV series with teachers in prominent roles or important secondary roles. Here's what you've offered so far, in chronological order (the TV show dates are when they first aired).

More! More! Keep 'em coming.

Boy’s Town (1938)
Good-bye Mr. Chips (1939)
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
Our Miss Brooks (1952)
Blackboard Jungle (1955)
Miracle Worker (1962)
Mr. Novak (1963)
To Sir With Love (1967)
Up the Down Staircase (1967)
Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
Good-bye Mr. Chips (1969)
Room 222 (1969)
Paper Chase (1973)
Conrack (1974)
Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)
Fame (1982)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Head of the Class (1986)
Stand and Deliver (1988)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Saved By The Bell (1989)
Kindergarten Cop (1990)
Boy Meets World (1993)
Renaissance Man (1994)
Dangerous Minds (1995)
Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Election (1999)
Miracle Worker (2000)
Mean Girls (2004)
Freedom Writers (2007)
Breaking Bad (2008)
Bad Teacher (2011)
Rita (Swedish)( 2012)