Posts filed under 'Drama/Romance'
TINY FURNITURE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When twenty-something film theory major Aura (Lena Dunham) returns home after college to live with her artist mother in TriBeCa, she confronts a long list of personal and professional failures and wonders whether her dismal past will become her future. It’s an early midlife crisis for sure, but there’s hope on the horizon if Aura can figure out who she is and what she’s really meant to do. Dunham also wrote and directed this wry comedy.” OK review in NY Times on 11/12/10. Some friends hated it.
2/4/12- I liked the characters and the script and enjoyed the movie. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama
November 12th, 2010
THE PORTUGUESE NUN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When a French actress shooting a movie in Lisbon sees a nun praying earnestly night after night in the chapel where the crew is filming, the young starlet tries to understand what drives the mysterious sister’s heartfelt devotion. But as she learns more about the nun’s spiritual calling, the actress discovers unexpected inspiration herself. This atmospheric drama from Eugène Green stars Beatriz Batarda, Leonor Baldaque and Francisco Mozos. Good early reviews.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 11th, 2010
INHALE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In a desperate move to save his daughter’s life, a New Mexico district attorney (Dermot Mulroney) crosses the border to look into an illegal lung transplant. But upon arrival, he learns the truth about where these “donated” organs really come from. Diane Kruger, Sam Shepard and Rosanna Arquette co-star in this gritty examination of ethics, immigration and innocent lives from director Baltasar Kormákur.” OK review in NY Times 11/11/10.
1/11- A very interesting premise but the plot was unfortunately trivialized with a cops and robbers mentality. I turned it off midway. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
November 11th, 2010
CHERRY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Brilliant but naïve Ivy League freshman Aaron (Kyle Gallner) becomes enchanted by free-spirited older student Linda (Laura Allen) — and when she invites him for dinner, he hopes they hook up. But it turns out Linda’s spunky 14-year-old daughter, Beth (Brittany Robertson), takes a liking to him. As he fends off Beth’s aggressive advances, Aaron finds himself in the middle of an unusual emotional triangle that teaches him some unexpected lessons.” OK reviw in NY Times on 11/5/10.
9/16/11- Formulaic for most of the movie but surprisingly interesting in others, particularly the young daughter’s personality. I have to say that I did like it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama
November 5th, 2010
A MARINE STORY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “A decorated officer from a military family, Alex (Dreya Weber) is unexpectedly discharged from duty. When she returns to her conservative hometown, the Marine struggles to readjust to civilian life, but agrees to mentor Saffron (Paris P. Pickard), a troubled teen who’s enlisting. Alex is the no-nonsense role model and authority figure Saffron needs, but as Saffron finally hits her stride, Alex must find the courage to face her own demons.” OK review in NY Times on 11/5/10.
3/11- A very good idea but a trivial screenplay brings it down, particularly the bar scenes. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
November 5th, 2010
TAMARA DREWE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After undergoing plastic surgery and a complete fashion makeover, suddenly sexy journalist Tamara (Gemma Arterton) triumphantly returns to her tiny hometown, where she exploits her irresistible appeal by recklessly toying with others’ emotions and breaking hearts. Adapted from a comic strip by Posy Simmonds, this Stephen Frears-directed comedy explores themes such as unrequited loved, envy and lust.” Mostly good professional reviews. Just OK from audiences.
2/11- Funny, occasionally poignant and definitely worth seeing. TRDB.Netflix.
Tags: Drama/Romance
November 5th, 2010
SAMSON & DELILAH- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In the desert of Central Australia, aimless Samson (Rowan McNamara) takes a fancy to Delilah (Marissa Gibson), a fellow teen who takes care of her grandmother. Branded as outcasts by the rest of the community, Samson and Delilah set out for Alice Springs on a grueling road trip. The epic journey subjects the aboriginal duo to poverty, addiction and hunger in writer-director Warwick Thornton’s sparse and grittily beautiful feature debut.” Good review in NY Times on 10/15/10.
10/10- I saw this about 6 months ago and it’s one of the few that I hated. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 19th, 2010
CARMO, HIT THE ROAD- Premise by Netflix. “Stifled by small-town life, Brazilian spitfire Carmo (Mariana Loureiro) strikes out in search of adventure and finds more than she bargained for in a wild cross-country ride with a coarse, wheelchair-bound smuggler (Fele Martínez) in pursuit of the bandits who robbed him. She’s hardly a damsel in distress and he’s no Prince Charming, but the chemistry between the two crackles as they careen recklessly through the South American landscape.” Poor reviews.
Tags: drama
October 15th, 2010
THE NEXT THREE DAYS- Premise by Netflix. “When his wife (Elizabeth Banks) is sent to jail on murder charges she fervidly denies, college professor John Brennan (Russell Crowe) comes up with a plan to break her out by meticulously plotting the ultimate escape — despite the fact that he’s never committed a crime in his life. Writer-producer Paul Haggis (Crash) also directs this remake of the French film Pour elle by Fred Cavayé. Liam Neeson and Brian Dennehy co-star.” Bad professional reviews but very good audience reaction.
Tags: drama
October 14th, 2010
TOKYO STORY- 1953. Premise by Netflix. “Director Yasujiro Ozu focuses on an elderly couple (Chishu Ryu and Chieko Higashiyama) in post-World War II Japan who travel to Tokyo to visit their children but are received rather coldly by their offspring; in fact, the only one happy to see them is their widowed daughter-in-law (Setsuko Hara). In an attempt to get them out of the way, the children shuttle their aging parents off to a health spa, a decision that could come back to haunt them.”
10/10- A sad story about family relationships. Well done and I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
October 13th, 2010
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