Posts filed under 'Drama/Romance'
CRIA CUERVOS- Premise by Netflix. “Director Carlos Saura‘s haunting tale — part psychological drama and part political parable — features a mesmerizing turn by Ana Torrent. After watching her mother (Geraldine Chaplin) succumb to cancer, 9-year-old Ana (Torrent) blames the death on her womanizing father (Héctor Alterio) and tries to poison him. When he dies of a heart attack while in bed with a lover, Ana mistakenly assumes she’s responsible for his demise.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Very interesting psychological mix of reality and fantasy with great acting, especially the middle daughter, Ana Torrent. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
July 25th, 2010
SEE THE SEA- Directed by Francois Ozon. Premise by Netflix. “Sasha is a young mother staying in an isolated French beach community with her baby, awaiting her husband’s return. Her solitude is broken by the appearance of Tatiana, a brooding backpacker who asks to camp outside her cottage. Sasha grows increasingly fascinated with her mysterious visitor … even as Tatiana becomes increasingly ominous and insinuates herself into Sasha’s home.”
7/10- A weird movie that had me unnerved but I watched to the end. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
July 25th, 2010
ORLANDO- 1992. Premise by Netflix. “Director Sally Potter adapts Virginia Woolf’s 1928 allegorical novel about a woman who lives for 400 years — the first half as a man — in this surrealist study of sex and gender roles throughout the ages. The transition from man to woman and from the 16th to the 20th century is realized by Tilda Swinton‘s breakthrough performance and the film’s Oscar-nominated costumes and art direction. Quentin Crisp plays Queen Elizabeth I.”
9/10- Bizarre movie and I just could not get into it and I tried. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
July 24th, 2010
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
Tags: Drama/Romance
July 23rd, 2010
GET LOW- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring Bill Murray and Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).” Great reviews.
8/10 To my surprise I did like this movie even though it was clearly a vehicle for Duvall to shine once more. I have never liked Murray outside of the comic role and didn’t here either. TRDB.
Tags: drama
July 21st, 2010
THE DRY LAND- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “American soldier Raymond Gonzales (Wilmer Valderrama) returns home to Texas after his tour of duty, unsure how to reconcile what he’s seen and experienced with the everyday mundanities of home and family life. This drama, from first-time writer-director Ryan Piers Williams, takes a head-on approach to confronting the conflicted emotions of the modern warrior. The stellar cast includes America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”), Melissa Leo and Ethan Suplee.” Fair reviews.
11/10- This movie was just OK in portraying a common theme. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
July 21st, 2010
CHARLIE ST. CLOUD- Premise by Netflix. “Ben Sherwood’s intriguing novel is the basis of this ghost story about Charlie (Zac Efron), who is devoted to his brother, Sam, even after Sam’s death. As the caretaker of the cemetery where Sam is buried, Charlie has lots of time to commune with the dead. Sam visits frequently to hang out with Charlie, but when Charlie meets a mysterious young woman (Amanda Crew), he must decide whether to move forward or remain trapped in the past.” Poor reviews.
Tags: drama
July 21st, 2010
A PROPHET- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “After refusing to snitch, 18-year-old Arab Malik (Tahar Rahim) is thrown into a French prison, where the Corsican mafia rules with a firm fist. The obedient newcomer slowly rises through the organization’s ranks but soon begins to double-cross his superiors. A follow-up to his 2005 gem The Beat My Heart Skipped, French director Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.”
3/09- I liked the movie but found it way too long and convoluted. TRDB.
July 21st, 2010
HOME- 2008. France. Premise by Netflix. “When an unused highway next to their home is rebuilt and put back to use, Michel (Olivier Gourmet) and Marthe (Isabelle Huppert) soon discover it’s an affront to their once peaceful life, adding din and dust to their daily existence. Their extroverted son, Julien (Kacey Mottet Klein), grows more introspective; their daughter, Marion (Madeleine Budd), turns obsessive; and Julie (Adélaïde Leroux) is a near lost cause. But how can they fight back?” Fairly good reviews.
7/10- Interesting drama and very good acting especially the wonderful Isabelle Hupert. I liked it. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
July 20th, 2010
THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN- Premise by Netfllix. “After 35 years of shipyard work in the French port town of Sète, Tunisian immigrant Slimane (Habib Boufares) takes his severance pay and pursues his impossibly expensive dream of opening a couscous restaurant. His only hope lies in his fractured family, including his mistress, Lilia (Leila D’Issernio), her entrepreneurial daughter, Rym (Hafsia Herzi), and his ex-wife and ace couscous cook, Souad (Bouraouïa Marzouk), in this César-winning drama.”
7/10- I saw this about a year ago and I liked it a lot. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
July 20th, 2010
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