RICHARD’S WEDDING- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this acerbic ensemble comedy, Tuna and his longtime female pal Alex meet up with their outspoken friends as they travel along New York’s crowded streets to the Central Park wedding of Richard and Phoebe, the most mature members of the group.”
Good review in the NY Times on 6/1/12. TRDB.
Add comment June 12th, 2012
POLISSE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This French drama presents a fictionalized but well-researched portrait of the juvenile protection division of the Paris court system, following a documentarian as she films the employees in the department and the children under its authority.” Good early reviews. TRDB.
5/18/12- Good review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews by almost all critics. Audiences have liked it too. TRDB.
11/6/12- Although this movie was difficult to watch at times it was very realistic and portrayed well the stress that the police men and women are under while trying to protect children from predators. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment May 5th, 2012
MIRROR MIRROR- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This remake of the classic Grimm tale, starring Julia Roberts as the evil Queen, is much darker than the well-known animated Disney version. Snow White’s team of dwarves are a shady bunch, but dedicated to helping her regain her royal throne.”
3/31/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment April 7th, 2012
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
UNDEFEATED- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Cinéma vérité tackles football in this inspirational profile of an inner-city Memphis high school football team, whose downtrodden players combine with a dedicated volunteer coach in a valiant effort to reach the school’s first-ever playoff game.” Good audience reaction but no professional reviews as yet. TRDB.
2/17/12- Excellent reviews in today’s NY Times and elsewhere for this nominated film for Best Documentary for this year’s Academy Awards. 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
BIG MIRACLE- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After small-town Alaska journalist Adam Carlson writes about three whales trapped in the Arctic Circle, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. team up to rescue them in this tale inspired by true events. Meanwhile, Adam’s Greenpeace volunteer ex-girlfriend arrives.”
2/3/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment January 30th, 2012
FOOTNOTE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Long-buried tensions erupt in this witty drama, which follows the strained relationship between a reserved Talmudic scholar and his ambitious son — both professors at the same university — when the father wins a prestigious award the son covets.”
I saw this at the Palm Springs Film Festival 2012 and loved it. It was one of the 5 nominees for Best Foreign Film. TRDB.
3/9/12- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment January 13th, 2012
A SEPARATION- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “An Iranian husband and wife split up over his decision to stay and care for his aging father instead of leaving the country with his family. But his fateful choice to hire a stranger to do most of the caretaking breeds unexpected consequences.” Very good reviews and indeed on the top ten list of at least one reviewer I’ve read. TRDB.
12/30/11- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
1/13/12- I saw this at the Palm Springs Film Festival 2012 and liked it but not as much as most of my friends. TRDB.
Add comment December 20th, 2011
IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Actress Angelina Jolie makes her directorial debut with a tale of marriage set against the violence of the Bosnian War. Ajla and her husband struggle with to keep their relationship alive, a battle that distracts them from the nation’s upheaval.”
12/23/11- OK review in today’s NY Times but poor reviews over all. TRDB.
4/5/12- I just could not get into this movie. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment December 6th, 2011