Posts filed under 'Drama/Romance'

UNCERTAINTY

 UNCERTAINTY- Premise by Zap2it. “A coin flip decides whether a young couple attends a Fourth of July bash or has a wild adventure in the city.” I saw only one early review and he called it bizarre and compelling.

Netflix said- “A young couple facing a life-changing decision, Bobby (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Kate (Lynn Collins), stand on the Brooklyn Bridge, toss a coin and let the outcome decide their holiday plans. The action unfolds in intercutting scenes of both possibilities. This creative cinematic puzzle from filmmakers Scott McGehee and David Siegel (Bee Season) reveals an intricate thriller as well as a tense relationship drama.”

12/3/09- Just saw the film and liked it a lot. TRDB

Add comment November 5th, 2009

DARE

DARE- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In their final semester before graduation from an affluent suburban high school, good girl Alexa (Emmy Rossum), outcast Ben (Ashley Springer) and bad boy Johnny (Zach Gilford) decide to shed their youthful inhibitions and take some very grown-up risks. A twisty tale of betrayal, heartbreak and unleashed sexuality ensues in director Adam Salky‘s unique teen drama, which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.”

2/10- A fairly good movie about teen angst. TRDB.

Add comment November 5th, 2009

FOUR SEASONS LODGE

 FOUR SEASONS LODGE- Premise by Zap2it. “Some survivors of the Holocaust spend their summers in the Catskill Mountains of New York.” Documentary. I found one review and it was good.

Add comment November 5th, 2009

THREE MONKEYS

THREE MONKEYS- Premise by Netflix. “When a politician accidentally runs down a pedestrian, he pays his driver to take the rap and serve the jail term. But as the driver’s family grows restless, seeing, hearing and speaking the truth cannot be ignored. Who will ultimately pay the price? Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, this provocative Turkish drama stars Hatice Aslan and Yavuz Bingol and won the Best Director Award at Cannes Film Festival.” Some called it plodding but others said it was very good. I’ll get it.

 

11/24/09- I just saw this movie and loved it. Very subtle and very powerful at the same time. Terrific acting as well. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

Add comment November 5th, 2009

THE MAID

THE MAID- 2009. By Sebastian Silva and starring Catalina Saavedra. About a 41yr. old woman who has been a live-in maid for a well-to-do Chilean family for 20yrs. Either depressed or psycho she pouts through most of the movie and has a hostile dependent relationship with each member of the family. It’s only when an assistant hired to help her takes a liking to her and shows her that there’s more to life than taking care of someone else’s family that she begins to smile and take an interest in life.

I liked the movie very much and agree with the reviewer who said that this movie was “an intelligent microcosm of Latin social hierarchy.” TRDB.

Add comment November 5th, 2009

DANGEROUS LIASONS

DANGEROUS LIASONS- 1988. Directed by Stephen Frears. Starring Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer. Close and Malkovich play a pair of scheming nobles in Paris and in particular Close bets Malkovich that he can’t bed Pfeiffer and get written proof of the conquest. Considered somewhat of a classic, I did enjoy the film but not with rave reviews. Netflix Streaming. 11/09

Add comment November 3rd, 2009

THE LAST STATION

THE LAST STATION- Premise by Netflix. “Set during the final year of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy’s life, writer-director Michael Hoffman‘s period biopic explores the fractious relationship between Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) and his wife, Sofya (Helen Mirren), as he embraces a life of asceticism. Paul Giamatti co-stars as impassioned Tolstoy devotee Vladimir Chertkov, with James McAvoy playing the role of the aging writer’s young new secretary.”

2/10- I think that the acting overcame a poor script to make this movie just OK. TRDB.

Add comment November 1st, 2009

THE WHITE RIBBON

THE WHITE RIBBON- Premise by Netflix. “At a rural school in northern Germany in 1913, a form of ritual punishment has major consequences for students and faculty. But the practice may have bigger repercussions on the German school system — and maybe even on the growth of fascism. Celebrated Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke helms this searing and sumptuously photographed black-and-white drama that stars Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Tukur and Theo Trebs.”

3/10- I saw this in Palm Springs and did not particularly care for it. TRDB.

Add comment November 1st, 2009

ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE

ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE- Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Ellen Burstyn, Harvey Keitel and Kris Kristofferson. About a young mother whose abusive husband is killed in an accident. She sells her house and hits the road with her 11yr. old son with the goal of reaching Monterey, where she was last happy. The movie is about her emotional trip and the people she meets. Wonderful classic. Netflix Streaming. 11/09

Add comment November 1st, 2009

THE MERRY GENTLEMAN

THE MERRY GENTLEMAN- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Play Preview Kelly Macdonald stars as a young wife who escapes an abusive marriage to begin a new life on her own. But when she finds herself a witness to a murder, she develops an unusual bond with a glum hit man. Beloved actor Michael Keaton makes his directorial debut with this quirky drama from a script by Ron Lazzeretti. The film premiered at the famed Sundance Film Festival in 2008.” I saw this and liked it a lot.

Add comment October 31st, 2009

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