Movie for January 2016: Bridge of Spies - and a special guest speaker

Hugh is hosting our next meeting on Wednesday, January 6th.

We're only seeing one movie this month:

Bridge of Spies

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Matt Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Stars: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda

During the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers.

We will also have a special guest speaker: Gregory S. Lamb, a retired United States Air Force Colonel who studied Geography as an undergraduate, earned his Masters Degree in International Relations, and was awarded a fellowship in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He's a graduate of several formal professional military education institutions including the Joint Forces Staff College and the Defense Language Institute.

Greg piloted the U-2 High-Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft for most of his operational military career and held senior staff assignments with Air Combat Command, NORAD-NORTHCOM, and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Coupled with his life experiences, his passion for shedding light on the injustice experienced by refugees drove him to write his first novel, The People in Between: A Cyprus Odyssey.  His most recent novel, A Dangerous Element, was the result of recent events related to STUXNET and the temporary disruption of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

Greg lives with his wife, Cindy, in Portland, Oregon. The Lambs have three grown sons.

Movies for December 2015 meeting: Spotlight and Shattered Glass

This month's meeting will be at Steve C.'s house, at 7:30 on December 2.

Spotlight (2015)

The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Director: Tom McCarthy
Writers: Tom McCarthy (screenplay), Josh Singer(screenplay)
Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams

Shattered Glass (2003)

The true story of a young journalist who fell from grace when it was found he had fabricated over half of his articles.

Director: Billy Ray
Writers: Buzz Bissinger (article) (as H.G. Bissinger) ,Billy Ray
Stars: Hayden Christensen, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Zahn

Films for November 2015 meeting: The Martian, Steve Jobs

The November meeting will be held at Carl C's house, 7:30 pm.

The Martian (2015)

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Drew Goddard (screenplay), Andy Weir (book)
Stars: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig

Steve Jobs (2015)

Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint a portrait of the man at its epicenter.

Director: Danny Boyle
Writers: Aaron Sorkin (screenplay), Walter Isaacson (book)
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen

Films for October 2015: Pawn Sacrifice and Bobby FIsher Against the World

The next meeting is on Wednesday, October 7th at Don's house.

Pawn Sacrifice (2014)

In theaters Sept. 16.

American chess champion Bobby Fischer prepares for a legendary match-up against Russian Boris Spassky.

Director: Edward Zwick
Writers: Steven Knight (screenplay), Stephen J. Rivele(story)
Stars: Tobey Maguire, Liev Schreiber, Peter Sarsgaard

Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011)

Netflix DVD, Google and Vudu streaming.
'Bobby Fischer Against the World' is a documentary feature exploring the tragic and bizarre life of the late chess master Bobby Fischer. The drama of Bobby Fischer's career was undeniable; this film explores one of the most infamous and mysterious characters of the 20th century.

Director: Liz Garbus
Stars: Bobby Fischer, David Edmonds, Anthony Saidy

Movies for September 2015: O'Horten, The Wolfpack

The next meeting is on Wednesday, September 2nd at Jon L's house.

O'Horten (2007)

Netflix DVD; streaming from Amazon, Google Play, Vudu etc.

A drama focused on a life-changing moment in 67-year-old train engineer Odd Horten's existence: the evening of his retirement.

Director: Bent Hamer
Writers: Tom Gulbrandsen (script consultant), Bent Hamer
Stars: Baard Owe, Espen Skjønberg, Ghita Nørby

The Wolfpack (2015)

Living Room Theater; streaming from

Locked away from the outside world in a Manhattan apartment, the Angulo siblings satisfy their curiosity, imagination and need to explore by re-enacting their favorite movies. (Documentary)

Director: Crystal Moselle
Stars: Bhagavan Angulo, Govinda Angulo, Jagadisa Angulo

Movies for August 2015: Leviathan and Red Army

The next meeting is on Wednesday, August 5 at Bob's house.

Leviathan (2014)

Netflix: DVD; likely also available elsewhere.

In a Russian coastal town, Kolya is forced to fight the corrupt mayor when he is told that his house will be demolished. He recruits a lawyer friend to help, but the man's arrival brings further misfortune for Kolya and his family.

Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Writers: Oleg Negin, Andrey Zvyagintsev
Stars: Aleksey Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova, Roman Madyanov

Red Army (2014)

Netflix: DVD only; likely also available elsewhere.
The story of the Soviet Union's famed Red Army hockey team through the eyes of its players.

Director: Gabe Polsky
Writer: Gabe Polsky (story)
Stars: Viacheslav Fetisov, Scotty Bowman, Mark Deakins

Movies for July 2015: Wild Tales and Stand By Me

The next meeting is Wednesday, July 1, at Bill T's house.

Wild Tales (2014)

Six short stories involving distressed people.

Director: Damián Szifrón (as Damián Szifron)
Writer: Damián Szifrón (as Damián Szifron)
Stars: Darío Grandinetti, María Marull, Mónica Villa

Stand by Me (1986)

Available by Netflix streaming and DVD.

After the death of a friend, a writer recounts a boyhood journey to find the body of a missing boy.

Director: Rob Reiner
Writers: Stephen King (novel), Raynold Gideon(screenplay), 1 more credit »
Stars: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)

NOTE: this film has not yet released in Portland, so Bill T. has substituted Wild Tales (see above) as his first pick.

High schooler Greg, who spends most of his time making parodies of classic movies with his co-worker Earl, finds his outlook forever altered after befriending a classmate who has just been diagnosed with cancer.

Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Writers: Jesse Andrews (novel), Jesse Andrews (screenplay)
Stars: Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke