Posts filed under 'Foreign'
CHEMELEON (KAMELEON) 2008. Synopsis by Netflix. “With the help of his childhood pal and fellow nighttime custodian, Tibi (Zsolt Trill), charismatic con man Gábor (Ervin Nagy) seeks out lonely women, charms his way into their lives and then helps himself to their life savings. But the jig may be up when the sexy swindler starts to fall for his latest mark, ballerina and wealthy heiress Hanna (Gabriella Hámori). Director Krisztina Goda helms this comedy that co-stars Sándor Csányi.” A few interesting reviews on the Hungarian drama. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
August 31st, 2011
SPECIAL TREATMENT- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “High-class prostitute Alice (Isabelle Huppert) specializes in wealthy, eccentric clients and is in the throes of a midlife crisis when her services are engaged by prominent psychiatrist Xavier (Bouli Lanners), who’s estranged from his wife and suffering his own existential malaise. While Alice seeks an analyst who can help her find direction, Xavier tries to reconnect with his emotions, and the two unwittingly lead each other to their goals.”
8/27/11- Weak review in today’s NY Times and poor reviews in general. TRDB.
1/22/12- Weak reviews for this drama starring Isabel Huppert but I found it entertaining. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
August 26th, 2011
TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Everyday life in 1980s Romania under Ceausescu takes on an air of comic surrealism in this whimsical collection of shorts written by award-winning filmmaker Cristian Mungiu and helmed by several acclaimed Romanian directors. A lighthearted take on the urban myths that persisted throughout the late communist era, the comedy anthology recalls a time when laughing in the face of absurdity and oppression was the only way to survive.”
8/27/11- OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2/13/12- A lengthy series of “legends” or stories that were supposed to be funny or ironic but which were neither for me and I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
August 26th, 2011
BRIGHTON ROCK- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In hopes of silencing a waitress (Andrea Riseborough) who saw him kill another criminal, a young thug (Sam Riley) decides to romance her and suss out how much she knows. But at what point does his premeditated plot blossom into true passion? And are either party’s motives 100 percent pure? John Hurt and Helen Mirren co-star in writer-director Rowan Joffe’s film adaptation of Graham Greene’s novel.” I’ve seen just a few reviews and they are not good. TRDB.
8/27/11- Good review in today’s NY Tmes. TRDB.
12/30/11- Even taking this film as a crime spoof didn’t help. I lost all interest and turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
August 23rd, 2011
FOR LOVERS ONLY- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Former lovers bump into each other in Paris, and sparks are reignited in this road drama that finds them traveling the length of France. The paramours experience both the joy of each other’s company and the angst of an unsettled relationship.” Just a few reviews and they are good. TRDB.
6/20/12- I truly disliked both the man and the woman in this film. I found them to be immature beyond their years and the screenplay reflected this. You can miss it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
August 22nd, 2011
MOZART’S SISTER- 2011. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “A speculative account of Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart (Marie Feret), five years older than Wolfgang (David Moreau) and a musical prodigy in her own right. Originally the featured performer, she has given way to Wolfgang as the main attraction, as their strict but loving father Leopold (Marc Barbe) tours his talented offspring in front of the royal courts of pre-French revolution Europe. Approaching marriageable age and now forbidden to play the violin or compose, Nannerl chafes at the limitations imposed on her gender but a friendship with the son and daughter of Louis XV offers an alternative.”
8/19/11- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
9/25/11- A bit slow but a very interesting film about gender issues, music and independence. I liked it. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama
August 20th, 2011
THE HEDGEHOG- 2011. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “Inspired by the beloved New York Times bestseller, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery, The Hedgehog is the timely story of Paloma (Garance Le Guillermic) a young girl bent on ending it all on her upcoming twelfth birthday. Using her father’s old camcorder to chronicle the hypocrisy she sees in adults, Paloma begins to learn about life from the grumpy building concierge, Renée Michel (Josiane Balasko). When Paloma’s camera reveals the extensive secret library in Renée’s back room, and that the often gruff matron reads Tolstoy to her cat, Paloma begins to understand that there are allies to be found beneath the prickliest of exteriors. As the unlikely friendship deepens, Paloma’s own coming of age becomes a much less pessimistic prospect.”
8/19/11- Very good reviews in general and a good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/14/11- Very well done and I liked this movie very much. TRDB. At the Theater.
Tags: drama, Foreign
August 20th, 2011
FIVE HOURS FROM PARIS- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “An unassuming Tel Aviv cab driver (Dror Keren) forges an unlikely but deep friendship with his son’s music teacher, the darkly beautiful Lina (Helena Yaralova), despite disparate backgrounds. Lina is married and planning to move to Canada. Will her circumstances keep these two apart? Leonid Prudovsky directs and co-writes this drama about what attracts a born-and-bred Israeli to a Russian immigrant — and what makes their relationship work.” No reviews as yet. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
August 20th, 2011
BORN AND BRED- 2006. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes- “In Patagonia, a successful interior designer’s life falls apart after he suffers a horrific accident.” Good reviews. TRDB.
Synopsis by Netflix. “Santiago (Guillermo Pfening) has it all: a loving family, a beautiful home in Buenos Aires and his own interior design business. But tragedy tears it all away from him, and he travels south to Patagonia, where he hopes a stripped-down, rugged existence will help cure his emotional wounds. Federico Esquerro, Martina Gusman and Tomás Lipan co-star in writer-director Pablo Trapero’s journey into the soul.”
Tags: drama, Foreign
August 19th, 2011
THE RULES OF THE GAME- 1939. Synopsis by Netflix. “When affluent Marquis Robert de la Chesnaye (Marcel Dalio) hosts a party at his sprawling property, emotions run high. Guests include Robert’s mistress Genevieve (Mila Parely) and pilot Andre Jurieu (Roland Toutain), who fancies Robert’s wife, Christine (Nora Gregor). Meanwhile, Schumacher (Gaston Modot) is trying to keep Marceau (Julien Carette) from hitting on his wife (Paulette Dubost). All the while, the servants watch with great interest.”
8/18/11- A classic movie about the pre-WW2 period and about as good as a French sex farce gets. It’s definitely worth a viewing. TRDB. At the Theater but it’s available on Netflix as well.
Tags: Comedy, drama, Foreign
August 19th, 2011
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