The Video On Demand Power Ranker returns this week with a batch of new movies to watch. Sure, there are some holdovers on the list, such as (the still excellent) Life of Pi, but our brain-implanted super computer appears to be feeling that which is fresh this week. Will you go along for the journey? Don’t say no. It doesn’t like being told no.

To find something as simple as Gimme The Loot in amongst the grand-standing, self-consciously important films at Cannes is a rare thing this year, but that isn’t to say that the slightness of Adam Leon‘s debut feature should in any way be construed as a criticism. His day in the life, gentle teenage caper flick is heartfelt and hugely charming, and the fact that it was made with a near zero budget, and has already walked away with the Narrative Grand Jury Prize at SXSW back in March is a major achievement. Inspired by a local-access cable TV show’s suggestion of the NY Mets homerun apple as a worthy target for any graffiti artists (or “bombers” in the language of the film) looking to make a name for themselves, two Bronx teenagers - Malcolm or “Shakes” (Ty Hickson) and Sofia (Tashiana Washington) set about achieving the feat that has defied everyone for the past twenty years. Malcolm knows a man inside at Citi Fields who can get them access before the Mets return from an away game, but the only issue is the $500 finders fee and the fact that both the teens’ pockets are empty.

Gird your loins, Los Angeles, the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival is coming, and this time, the fest is bringing strippers with them. Lots and lots of (cinematic) strippers. The festival has already announced four titles, which include the North American Premiere of Woody Allen‘s To Rome With Love as the festival’s Opening Night Film, along with Gala screenings for Benh Zeitlin‘s Beasts of the Southern Wild, Lorene Scafaria‘s Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, and Ava DuVernay‘s Middle of Nowhere, but it’s high time LAFF unveiled their full slate. And what a slate! As announced today, the festival will close with the World Premiere of Steven Soderbergh‘s Magic Mike and will also feature the World Premiere of Alex Kurtzman‘s People Like Us. Other titles announced today of note include Sundance favorites The Queen of Versailles, Teddy Bear, The House I Live In, Celeste and Jesse Forever, Robot and Frank, and Searching for Sugar Man. Additional titles that pop out include Emmett Malloy’s Big Easy Express, Alejandro Brugués‘ Juan of the Dead, Adam Leon’s Gimme the Loot, and Joshua Sanchez’s Four. LAFF also runs a variety of special programs, including Community and Retro Screenings, a crammed slate of short films, and their trademark “Eclectic Mix” of music videos. After the break, you can check out the full line-up for this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival, along with synopses for all features and a full list of all shorts and music videos playing at the fest. LAFF runs from Thursday, June 14 to Sunday, June 24. Passes