Posts filed under 'Drama/Romance'
BEESWAX- Premise by Netflix. “Director Andrew Bujalski uses nonprofessional actors and a small crew to bring a sense of intimacy to this film about twins being nudged out of their “safe space” by an impending legal battle and major life changes. Real-life twins Maggie and Tilly Hatcher play sisters Lauren and Jeannie, who find their shared lives shaken up when Lauren considers a job overseas, and conflicts with Jeannie’s business partner raise the possibility of a lawsuit.” Most reviewers liked this film but none called it very good.
4/10- A bit slow, nothing in particular happens but a slice of life and very real. I liked it. TRDB.
Tags: drama
April 6th, 2010
THE WEDDING DIRECTOR- Premise by Netflix. “Movie director Franco Elica (Sergio Castellitto) unexpectedly finds himself in Sicily, where a local nobleman presses him into videotaping the wedding of his daughter. Instead, the director tries to sabotage the union when he falls for the bride himself. Will he win her love — or are things not at all as they appear? Marco Bellocchio directs this labyrinthine drama, which also stars Donatella Finocchiaro.”
4/10- I was bored throughout most of the movie. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
April 6th, 2010
GONE BABY GONE- Premise by Netflix. “When a 4-year-old girl goes missing in one of Boston’s toughest neighborhoods, private investigators Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angela Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) reluctantly agree to take the case. But the investigation proves more complex than they ever could have imagined. Amy Ryan earned an Oscar nod for her portrayal of the missing child’s mother in Ben Affleck‘s directorial debut, adapted from the Dennis Lehane novel.
4/10- I enjoyed this movie very much. TRDB.
Tags: drama
April 4th, 2010
WOMEN WITHOUT MEN- Premise by Netflix. “Amid the tumult of the American- and British-backed coup that reinstated the Shah in early-1950s Tehran, the heart-wrenching tales of five very different Iranian women converge in a lovely orchard garden, where they find both freedom and friendship. Director and acclaimed visual artist Shirin Neshat brings a striking aesthetic style to this stirring drama, an adaptation of the magical-realist novella by Shahrnoush Parsipour.” Good early reviews.
6/10- A wonderful film (the director’s first feature) with marvelous photography and a very interesting story. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
April 1st, 2010
LETTERS TO GOD- Premise by Netflix. “Faith and hope are the twin engines that power the uplifting, bittersweet tale, based on a true story, of Tyler Doherty (Tanner Maguire), an 8-year-old boy who battles brain cancer and turns to God as his own private pen pal. Tyler writes and mails his missives daily, and his steadfast undertaking not only moves his family and friends but alters the life of the despairing postman, Brady McDaniels (Jeffrey Johnson), who opens the boy’s letters. Miserable reviews.
Tags: drama
April 1st, 2010
EVERYONE ELSE- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In director Maren Ade‘s complex drama about gender roles, power and desire, Chris (Lars Eidinger) and Gitti (Birgit Minichmayr) find their relationship tested when a brief encounter with a seemingly perfect couple prompts Chris to emulate the other man’s dominance. Gitti is game for the role-playing experiment, until submission gives way to suffocation and both partners feel their true selves slipping away.” Good reviews.
11/10- Very well done and with sophisticated European acting this movie becomes interesting without very much dialogue. TRDB. Netflix.
April 1st, 2010
HANDSOME HARRY- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “For many years, small-town resident Harry Sweeney (Jamey Sheridan) has avoided confronting painful memories from his past. But when his best friend becomes seriously ill, Harry builds up enough courage to explore long-hidden secrets and uncover his true identity. Directed by Bette Gordon, this character-driven drama boasts a strong ensemble cast that features Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn, John Savage and Campbell Scott.” Only one review and it’s great.
1/11- Very good drama and I recommend it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
April 1st, 2010
THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION- Premise by Netflix. “After duping school officials into awarding him a grant to write a biography on novelist Jules Gund, grad student Omar Razaghi (Omar Metwally) is forced to travel to Uruguay to get legitimate authorization from the late author’s three executors. Directed by James Ivory (A Room with a View), this moving adaptation of author Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name also stars Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney and Charlotte Gainsbourg.” Very good reviews.
8/10- The “old world” that Omar gets himself into is the most interesting part of the film. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
April 1st, 2010
GIGANTE- Premise by Netflix. “Shy supermarket security guard Jara (Horacio Camandule) becomes transfixed by Julia (Leonor Svarcas), a cleaning woman he spots through a surveillance camera. Soon, he becomes obsessed with watching her in this drama about isolation and loneliness from director Adrián Biniez. Jara designs his life around Julia’s schedule, following her to the movies, the beach — even on dates with another man. Will he ever drum up the courage to approach her?”
3/10- Somewhat slow but I liked it. His obsession at no time seemed dangerous. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
April 1st, 2010
SUMMER HOURS- Premise by Netflix. “Sensing that death is close at hand, 75-year-old Hélène (Edith Scob) summons her three adult children to her home in the French countryside and tasks them with deciding the fate of her extraordinary art collection. This touching drama from internationally acclaimed writer-director Olivier Assayas stars Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling and Jérémie Renier as the three siblings forced to ponder their legacy and identity.” I saw this a year ago on Comcast On-Demand and liked it very much. Highly recommend it.
April 1st, 2010
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