WANDERLUST- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Economic hard times force a New York couple to pull up stakes and head for Atlanta, where their boorish relatives are ready to take them in. On their way south, they spend a night at a hippie-style inn and wind up considering a whole new lifestyle.”
2/24/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment February 24th, 2012
LET THE BULLETS FLY- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this comedic Western set in 1920s China, outlaw Zhang hijacks a train carrying the governor and a whole lot of loot. When the train derails, Zhang hatches a scheme to impersonate the governor with the help of the official’s shady assistant.” Excellent early reviews. TRDB.
3/2/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5/15/12- Ridiculous and I turned it off quickly. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment February 17th, 2012
LAST DAYS HERE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this poignant documentary portrait, an aged and gaunt Bobby Liebling — the former lead singer of the heavy metal act Pentagram — rallies to restart his life after decades of disappointment and drug addiction.”
3/2/12- An OK review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews from most other sources. TRDB.
Add comment February 17th, 2012
THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD- 2012. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “The powerful and richly textured second feature from Joshua Marston focuses on an Albanian family caught up in a blood feud. Nik (Tristan Halilaj) is a carefree teenager in a small town with a crush on the school beauty and ambitions to start his own internet café. His world is suddenly up-ended when his father and uncle become entangled in a land dispute that leaves a fellow villager murdered. According to a centuries-old code of law, this entitles the dead man’s family to take the life of a male from Nik’s family as retribution. His uncle in jail and his father in hiding, Nik is the prime target and confined to the home while his younger sister Rudina (Sindi Laçej) is forced to leave school and take over their father’s business.” Good early reviews. TRDB.
2/24/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times but very good reviews in general. TRDB.
3/3/12- I thought this movie was great! TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment February 14th, 2012
PRIVATE ROMEO- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” gets an update in this provocative drama, which sets the tale in an all-male military school where rival groups of cadets clash with one another — and find desire in unexpected quarters.”
2/10/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment February 10th, 2012
WE HAVE A POPE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “The newly elected Pope suffers a panic attack just as he is due to appear on St Peter’s balcony to greet the faithful, who have been patiently awaiting the conclave’s decision. His advisers, unable to convince him he is the right man for the job, seek help from a renowned psychoanalyst (and atheist). But his fear of the responsibility suddenly thrust upon him is one that he must face on his own.” Generally poor reviews. TRDB.
4/6/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4/15/12- Despite the fair to poor reviews I enjoyed this film about a man suffering with the awesome responsibility placed on him and his questions about being able to do the job. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Add comment February 7th, 2012
SPLINTERS- 2012. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “Splinters is the first feature-length documentary film about the evolution of indigenous surfing in the developing nation of Papua New Guinea. In the 1980s an intrepid Australian pilot left behind a surfboard in the seaside village of Vanimo. Twenty years on, surfing is not only a pillar of village life but also a means to prestige. With no access to economic or educational advancement, let alone running water and power, village life is hermetic. A spot on the Papua New Guinea national surfing team is the way to see the wider world; the only way.”
2/3/12- OK review in today’s NY Times as well as good professional reviews in general. OK audience reaction so far. TRDB.
Add comment February 3rd, 2012
THE LOVING STORY- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This riveting documentary profiles Mildred and Richard Loving, who were arrested hours after their 1958 wedding for breaking Virginia’s laws against interracial marriage. In 1967, their case was heard before the Supreme Court and changed the nation.”
1/31/12- I saw this at a special showing with the director Nancy Biurski at the Jacob Burns Film Center. A great documentary with an impressive trove of archival footage. The movie was thought provoking and has analogies to life today in various parts of society both here and abroad. TRDB.
Add comment February 1st, 2012
SAFE HOUSE- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When men bent on eliminating dangerous criminal Tobin Frost attack the safe house where the CIA has squirreled him away, young operative Matt Weston must find a way to get Frost out alive and relocate him to another, securer location.”
2/10/12- OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment January 31st, 2012
WINDFALL- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Exposing the downside of wind turbines, director Laura Israel’s illuminating documentary underlines the harmful facets of harnessing wind power, including the constant noise and potential for financial opportunism. The film focuses on an impoverished rural community in upstate New York, where residents — enticed by economic incentives — leased their land for the erection of turbines but now wonder whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.” Good professional reviews but weak audience reaction. TRDB.
Add comment January 30th, 2012