"Drive," "The Tree of Life," "Albert Nobbs," and More Coming to Film Society!

It's going to be a busy few weeks at the Film Society of Lincoln Center as we present limited runs of some of this year’s critical favorites, bring back several crowd pleasers, and debut exciting new films!

It all starts Friday when we kick off limited five-day runs of two of the year's most talked-about films. The first, which topped many year-end critics' lists, is Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life, arguably the most personal and polarizing movie of his career. The film is a reflection on life and death told by way of a 1950s family in Texas. Starring Sean Penn, Brad Pitt and breakout star Jessica Chastain, the film won Malick the Palme d’Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival and was a New York Times Critics' Pick. Film Society’s Scott Foundas commented on the film’s experimental and non-linear narrative structure, “Like 2001, Tree of Life is a symphonic film that surges and swells, returns to favorite motifs, and—even by Malick’s esoteric standards—has more in common with music, painting, poetry, and certain strains of avant-garde filmmaking than it does with mainstream narrative cinema.”

One of this year’s most buzzed-about films, Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive, is also coming to Film Society for a limited five-day run starting Friday. The film received a 15-minute standing ovation when it premiered at Cannes Film Festival and garnered a Best Director prize for Refn. Scott Tobias of the A.V Club praised the movie’s aesthetic—“lean, efficient, and sharpened to the finest point”—and adds: “Drive is a reminder of how powerful the genre can be when every shot and every line of dialogue has a purpose, deployed for maximum impact.”

Also on Friday, Cave of Forgotten Dreams moves to the Gilman Theater to expand its run with more showtimes. Werneg Herzog’s stunning 3D film was recently named best documentary by Los Angeles Films Critics and New York Film Critics Online. Friday also sees the return of Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, which will play in the Amphitheater at discount prices! Don't miss your second chance to see this heartwarming documentary about Kevin Clash, the man behind Elmo, which won a Special Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

Next Wednesday, Dec. 21, Film Society is pleased to present a one-week limited engagement of Albert Nobbs starring Glenn Close, which tells the story of a woman passing as a man to navigate the male-dominated workforce of 19th century Ireland. Adapted from Irish novelist George Moore’s short story “The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs,” the film became a passion project for Close when she portrayed the titular character in a 1982 Off-Broadway adaptation.

And as if all that weren't enough, just around the corner are NYFF hit Pina in 3D, Sundance Award-winner Pariah, and delightful Dutch family film Miss Minnoes. The end of the year is an exciting time at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and we can't wait to share it with you!