THE DEBT- 2007. This is the original movie called “The Debt” from Israel. Directed by Assaf Bernstein and starring Gila Almagor this thriller is about an Israeli woman in her 60’s, a former Mosad agent, who is summoned to kill a Nazi war criminal that she came close to killing decades ago. TRDB.
9/15/11- I enjoyed the movie and from what I hear it was much less violent than the newer version with Helen Mirren. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Add comment September 15th, 2011
MY AFTERNOONS WITH MARGUERITE- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “An illiterate handyman named Germain (Gérard Depardieu) befriends Margueritte (Gisèle Casadesus), a highly educated 95-year-old woman. The two couldn’t be more different, with the oafish Germain bewildered by the literature that gives Margueritte such pleasure. Slowly the two form an unusual and intense bond, leading them to a greater understanding of their place in the world, and in each other’s lives.” Early professional reviews are positive but weak for audiences. TRDB.
9/16/11- Weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/9/12- A thoroughly delightful movie with a wonderful Depardieu as usual. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment September 14th, 2011
HAPPY HAPPY- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in a remote Norwegian town, this black comedy centers on cheerful housewife Kaja (Agnes Kittlesen), who is contentedly wedded to her loveless high school sweetheart but lands in hot water when a risqué encounter with her urbane new neighbor, Sigve (Henrik Rafaelsen), goes too far. With a full-blown affair on her hands and Christmas just around the corner, Kaja falls back on blinding optimism to get her through the snowballing scandal.” Fairly good professional reviews and average audience ones. TRDB.
2/1/12- Well acted and I found this small movie very interesting. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment September 14th, 2011
BURKE AND HARE- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director John Landis rolls out his first feature film in more than a decade with this black comedy based on the true exploits of two 19th-century body snatchers, played by Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis. When Burke and Hare‘s successful business — selling corpses to the Edinburgh Medical College for dissection — is hampered by a supply shortage, the men are forced to take drastic measures. Isla Fisher and Tim Curry also star.”
9/9/11- Only a fair review in today’s NY Times and worse elsewhere. TRDB.
Add comment September 12th, 2011
LITTLE GIRL (LA PIVELLINA)- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Middle-aged circus performer Patti (Patrizia Gerardi) finds 2-year-old Asia (Asia Crippa) abandoned in a park on the outskirts of Rome. Patti and her German boyfriend, Walter (Walter Saabel), search for the child’s parents but can’t help falling in love with “la pivellina” (the little squirt). Italian documentarians Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel transition effortlessly into fiction with this warmly intimate gem.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
5/20/12- A real sleeper!! I enjoyed this movie that was really about everybody else as much as this adorable child. See it!! TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment September 12th, 2011
THE PIANO IN A FACTORY- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “A humble factory worker (Wang Qian-Yuan) who moonlights as a musician summons every shred of creativity he has when his estranged wife (Shin-yeong Jang) resurfaces and demands custody of their young daughter, who says she’ll live with whomever can give her a piano. With no money to buy the instrument for her, the desperate father tries to grant her wish by building the piano out of discarded scraps.”
9/10/11- I saw this at the 2011 Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival and did not like it at all. TRDB.
Add comment September 12th, 2011
VIVA LALDJERIE- 2004. Synopsis by Netflix. “Three urban Algerian women face an uncertain future in this drama set during times of increasing fundamentalism. Twenty-something Goucem (Lubna Azabal), her traditional mother, Papicha (Biyouna), and prostitute Fifi (Nadia Kaci) must steer clear of the local terrorists yet still make enough money to survive. Liberated Goucem refuses to give up her freedom by continuing to work and hitting the nightclubs, while her mom longs for happier times.” Few reviews and they are OK. TRDB.
9/5/11- An OK story coupled with a travelogue of Algiers make this film worthwhile. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment September 5th, 2011
LOVE CRIME- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “With a nod to the machinations of All About Eve and Dangerous Liaisons, French director Alain Corneau delivers a chilling tale of two ambitious women whose professional appetites grow dangerously personal. At first, things are fine between senior executive Christine (Kristin Scott Thomas) and her eager young assistant, Isabelle (Ludivine Sagnier). But when Christine abuses her position of power, Isabelle resorts to revenge — and insubordination.”
9/2/11- An OK review in today’s NY Times. Friends saw this and thought it was OK too. TRDB.
1/27/12- Very well done, clever and suspenseful. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment September 2nd, 2011
I’M GLAD MY MOTHER IS ALIVE- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Given up for adoption at a young age, Thomas (Vincent Rottiers) has been plagued all his life with questions about the birth mother (Sophie Cattani) who abandoned him, so he sets out to find and confront her, with quite unexpected results. The connection that they make when they finally meet is charged not only with the chemistry of mother and child, but an unsettling erotic undercurrent as well. Veteran French filmmaker Claude Miller directs.”
9/2/11- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2/21/12- Very well acted and definitely recommended. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment September 2nd, 2011
WEEKEND- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Russell visits a local gay bar on a Friday night, hoping to meet Mr. Right Now. Instead, he finds Glen, and they spend an intimate weekend learning each other’s innermost secrets. Though neither expected to, both men may have found a soul mate.” I read one review and it’s good. TRDB.
9/23/11- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/12/11- I could have liked this movie a lot more than I did but with the thick accent and both main actors high on booze or drugs continuously I found it very difficult. Where are the sub-titles when you need them? TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Add comment August 31st, 2011