Posts filed under 'Foreign'
MICMACS- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet takes a satirical look at the global arms trade with this foreign-language comedy starring Dany Boon as Bazil, who rallies his friends to take down weapons manufacturers responsible for his father’s death. Bazil also transforms a dump into an underground haven for cool tools and sculptures crafted from discarded junk. Dominique Pinon, André Dussollier and Jean-Pierre Marielle co-star.” Good review in NY Times.
12/10- A farce and an awful one at that. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: Comedy, Foreign
May 28th, 2010
THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “When a man who seemingly has everything takes his own life, the question on everyone’s mind is, why? This drama penned and helmed by Mia Hansen-Løve explores that quandary by recounting the weeks before and after a film producer’s suicide. With an adoring family, a job that fulfills him completely and a charismatic bearing that masks all woes, producer Grégoire Canvel appears at the top of his game. But underneath the surface, trouble is brewing.” Very good review in NY Times.
6/10- A sad drama about a loving family and the grief process. Very well done and I liked it. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 28th, 2010
EL BESO DEL SUENO (THE GOODNIGHT KISS)- Premise by Netflix. “EL BESO DEL SUENO- Premise by Netflix. “When a beautiful woman (Maribel Verdu of Y Tu Mama Tambien) who makes her living by posing as a prostitute, drugging her victims and stealing their money recovers a suitcase stuffed with cash, she unwittingly becomes part of a dangerous world of crime — and the target of a handsome police officer (Juan Diego), who falls under her spell. Eusebio Poncela, Tony Isbert, and Juan Diego co-star in this intricate thriller.”
5/10- Good story, very good acting and I really enjoyed the movie. TRDB.
May 27th, 2010
FOR MY FATHER- Premise by Netflix. “Strapped into a vest of explosives, young Palestinian Terek (Shredi Jabarin) enters Tel Aviv on a suicide mission to restore his father’s honor. But a faulty fuse leaves him stranded among Israelis, and he begins to question his ingrained beliefs about his enemy. While he waits the weekend for a repair, he meets beautiful Keren (Hili Yalon). Still wearing his remote-controlled bomb, Terek must decide his fate before a decision is made for him.”
5/10- The movie is a slice of life and is OK only if you can suspend reality for a while. TRDB.
May 24th, 2010
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD- Premise by Netflix. “On a train crossing the Manchurian desert, an unlikely trio — good bounty hunter Park Do-won (Woo-sung Jung), bad gangster Park Chang-yi (Byung-hun Lee) and weird train robber Yoon Tae-goo (Kang-ho Song) — unite to find a treasure map’s promised loot. Racing through the unforgiving landscape, they stay one step ahead of rivals and the Japanese army. Ji-woon Kim directs this Sergio Leone-inspired adventure.” Mixed reviews, more good than bad.
8/10- A comedy that was bad and weird and I turned it off rather than suffer for 2 hours. TRDB.
Tags: Comedy, drama
May 23rd, 2010
THE SUN- Premise by Netflix. “From renowned director Aleksandr Sokurov comes a piercing historical drama about Japan’s emperor Hirohito at the end of World War II. Faced with his country’s defeat and the renunciation of his divine status, Hirohito must establish his own identity. Sokurov’s exquisite cinematography accentuates this examination of diplomacy and personal responsibility as Hirohito agrees to meet with American Gen. MacArthur in an attempt to move Japan forward.” Very good reviews.
6/10- Very slow but wonderful depiction of Hirohito and the emotional conflict regarding Japan’s surrender. Highly recommended but not if you’re tired. TRDB.
Tags: docudrama, Foreign
May 23rd, 2010
TONY MANERO- Premise by Netflix. “Set in 1978 Chile during the tyrannical reign of Augusto Pinochet, Pablo Larraín’s gritty drama centers on Tony Manero wannabe Raúl (Alfredo Castro), whose obsession with Saturday Night Fever leads him into dangerous territory. Bent on creating the ultimate disco routine, Raúl sets out to acquire the illuminated dance floor that will bring him one step closer to his idol. Amparo Noguera and Héctor Morales co-star.” Very good reviews.
6/10- Very powerful and disturbing but at the same time very good. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 23rd, 2010
HERE AND THERE- Premise by Netflix. “The lives of two men intersect in this comedy-drama from writer-director Darko Lungulov. Serbian immigrant Branko (Branislav Trifunovic) wants his girlfriend, Ivana (Jelena Mrdja), to come live in America, while struggling New York musician Robert (David Thornton) desperately needs money. Robert agrees to travel to Belgrade to marry Ivana, but during the course of his chaotic trip, he encounters plenty of surprises. Pop icon Cyndi Lauper co-stars.”
7/10- A very good drama and excellent performance by David Thornton. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 21st, 2010
TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Paul Hanganu (Mimi Branescu) is in love with two women: Adriana (Mirela Oprisor), his wife of 10 years, and Raluca (Maria Popistasu), his mistress of the past several months. Now, at a crossroads, Paul is forced to choose between them in this drama from Romanian director Radu Muntean. Combining careful staging and emotionally intense dialogue, the film presents an unblinking profile of a man in crisis and the women whose lives he’s ensnared.” Good audience reviews but no professional reviews as yet. TRDB.
5/25/11- Excellent review in NY Times today. TRDB.
12/29/11- Very well acted and I enjoyed it despite feeling that I’ve seen it before in many other movies. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 21st, 2010
BIUTIFUL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When a love affair goes bitterly awry, Uxbal (Javier Bardem) must pick up the pieces of his broken heart while protecting his children and facing the powerful demons of his past. A run-in with a childhood friend proves pivotal. Acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel) is reunited with his ace cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, for this probing Spanish drama shot in Barcelona, Badalona and Santa Coloma.” Good early reviews. OK review in NY Times on 12/29/10.
2/11- A very moving drama with a terrific Bardem. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 20th, 2010
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