Posts filed under 'All Reviews'
SEX POSITIVE- Premise by Netflix. “Director Daryl Wein‘s penetrating documentary explores the life and works of Richard Berkowitz, the provocative S&M hustler turned AIDS activist credited with spearheading the safe sex movement in the 1980s. As the AIDS epidemic burgeoned, Berkowitz collaborated on a (then-unpopular) study with Dr. Joseph Sonnabend and activist Michael Callen that cited unsafe sexual practices, promiscuity and drug use as key factors in the spread of the virus.”
6/10- Very good documentary. TRDB.
June 28th, 2010
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER- Premise by Netflix. “When his girlfriend, Summer (Zooey Deschanel), unceremoniously dumps him, greeting-card copywriter and hopeless romantic Tom (Golden Globe nominee Joseph Gordon-Levitt) begins sifting through the year-plus worth of days they spent together, looking for clues to what went awry. As he recalls the good and bad times he spent with the commitment-phobic girl, his heart reawakens to what it cherishes most. Marc Webb directs this uncommon love story.”
Cute story with interesting technique and I liked it. TRDB.
Tags: Drama/Romance
June 27th, 2010
THE TRIAL BEGINS- Premise by Netflix. “An overly ambitious investigator in the Italian tax police, Filippo (Michele Lastella) ignores his conscience in order to pad his bank account and further his burgeoning career, but eventually his under-the-table dealings and lack of morals begin to catch up with him. Directed by Vincenzo Marra, this compelling drama about tax evasion also features Fanny Ardant, Giulia Bevilacqua and Augusto Zucchi.”
6/10- Just OK. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
June 24th, 2010
LET IT RAIN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Returning to her provincial home in the south of France, feminist politician Agathe Villanova (Agnès Jaoui) struggles to reconcile herself with the old-fashioned family she left behind, as well as the undignified demands of her profession. After an interview for a political documentary falls flat, Agathe faces further challenges in dealing with her sister, Florence (Pascale Arbillot), and her lover, Antoine (Frédéric Pierrot).”
6/10- I found the movie a little cute, a little slow and a little funny. Just OK. TRDB.
Tags: Comedy, drama, Foreign
June 18th, 2010
KNIGHT AND DAY- Premise by Netflix. “Perpetually unlucky in love, June (Cameron Diaz) becomes intrigued by a mysterious man (Tom Cruise), who unexpectedly drags her into a whirlwind adventure involving devious enemies, life-threatening confrontations and a major discovery that may alter the future of humankind. Directed by James Mangold, this exhilarating action-comedy also features Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano, Maggie Grace and Viola Davis.” Poor reviews.
Tags: drama
June 15th, 2010
VALHALLA RISING- Premise by Netflix. “After years of slavery, Viking warrior One-Eye (Mads Mikkelsen) escapes from his captors and seeks refuge on a Norse ship bound for his homeland. When a storm throws them off course, the crew lands at a mysterious realm inhabited by invisible demons. As the bloodthirsty creatures claim one sailor after another, One-Eye rediscovers his fighting spirit but begins to wonder if they have all crossed over to the afterlife.”
June 5th, 2010
COLLAPSE- Premise by Netflix. “In an avant-garde soliloquy, investigative journalist Michael Ruppert details his unnerving theories about the inexorable link between energy depletion and the collapse of the economic system that supports the entire industrial world. Helmed by filmmaker Chris Smith (American Movie), Ruppert’s monologue explains how the lies and political propaganda fed to Americans by big business will eventually lead to human extinction.” Very good reviews.
6/10- A very interesting and unusual documentary that I would definitely recommend. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
June 5th, 2010
FROM PARIS WITH LOVE- Premise by Netflix. “Premise by Netflix. “While working at the American embassy in Paris, low-level intelligence agent James Reece (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) gets involved in espionage when he’s pulled into a terrorist plot by high-ranking but uncouth American operative Charlie Wax (John Travolta), who’s trying to stop it. Pierre Morel directs this fast-paced international thriller with a script by Luc Besson (The Professional, The Fifth Element) and Adi Hasak. Richard Durden also stars.” Fair reviews at best.
June 2nd, 2010
ONDINE- Premise by Netflix. “An Irish fisherman (Colin Farrell) hauls in an unexpected catch when a mysterious girl (Alicja Bachleda-Curus) gets tangled in his nets and soon affects the lives of everyone around her in this fantastical seaside tale from director Neil Jordan (Interview with the Vampire). Is it possible this beautiful stranger is a mythical sea nymph who’s been summoned from the ocean’s depths … or is she something far more common?”
6/10- A waste of time but at least now I know what a Selkie is. TRDB.
Tags: Drama/Romance
May 29th, 2010
MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON- Directed by Stephane Brize and starring Sandrine Kiberlan, Vincent Lindon and Aure Atika. Good review in NY Times 5/28/10
6/10- A wonderful drama about a working class man who develops an unlikely and unexpected romance with his son’s school teacher. I loved it. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 28th, 2010
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