Posts filed under 'Foreign'
THE HEADLESS WOMAN- Premise by Netflix. “After she runs over something with her car — maybe a dog, maybe a human — affluent dentist Verónica (María Onetto) suffers a strange breakdown and finds she can’t recognize familiar faces in her rural Argentine town. Director Lucrecia Martel‘s third feature, a loosely structured, visually complex reflection on grief, guilt and class relations, was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Another film with an interesting premise and decent reviews.
12/21/09- Just saw this movie and did NOT like it at all. Way too ambiguous and so little dialogue from the main character that the movie seemed ODD at best. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 3rd, 2009
THE GIRL FROM MONACO- Premise by Netflix. “Middle-aged lawyer Bertrand (Fabrice Luchini) chafes at the presence of Christophe (Roschdy Zem), a bodyguard assigned to protect him during a dangerous case. Things worsen when Bertrand catches the eye of free-spirited weather girl Audrey (Louise Bourgoin), Christophe’s old flame. Audrey brings out long-dormant feelings in the counselor, who finds himself competing against his guardian for her affections in this charming romantic comedy.” An interesting premise and OK reviews.
12/22/09- I just saw this movie and liked it a lot, especially the developing relationship between the attorney and his assigned bodyguard. TRDB.
Tags: Drama/Romance
December 3rd, 2009
PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL- Premise by Netflix. “Director Gini Reticker and producer Abigail E. Disney’s documentary tells the story of the thousands of Liberian women, both Christian and Muslim, who helped end the bloody civil war in 2003 that killed over 200,000 people. Through nonviolent protests, these brave women forced a resolution in the peace talks, and their efforts led to the election of Africa’s first female head of state, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.”
11/30/09- I saw this and while the topic is certainly important I felt that the movie lacked interest. I can’t recommend it. TRDB.
Tags: Documentary/History
December 1st, 2009
I’LL COME RUNNING- 2008. Co-written and directed by Spencer Parsons. Starring Melonie Diaz as a young Texan woman who has a brief romantic fling with a young man from Denmark shortly before he is due to return home. Tragic circumstances compel her to visit Denmark shortly after. Very good acting, an interesting story and I liked it. Comcast On-Demand. 11/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 30th, 2009
ANGRY HARVEST- Premise by Netflix. “Oscar nominated as Best Foreign Language Film, this unsettling character study set in World War II stars Armin Mueller-Stahl as Leon Wolny, a simple but thriving Polish farmer torn between his scruples and sexual desire. When Leon happens upon a Jewish woman (Elisabeth Trissenaar) who’s jumped from a train bound for a Nazi death camp, he takes her in and shelters her in his cellar. But everything changes once his long-suppressed libido surfaces.”
11/29/09- I saw this and liked it a lot. In particular the way their relationship changed as time went on from her being totally dependent on him to one of mutual dependency. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 29th, 2009
LION’S DEN- Premise by Netflix. “After waking to find her apartment a bloody mess, with her ex-lover Nahuel dead and her ex-lover Ramiro (Rodrigo Santoro) wounded, Julia (Martina Gusman) finds herself pregnant and in prison. Incarcerated with other mothers, she gives birth and tries to raise her son behind bars. As she continues to push for a new trial, Julia also deals with her formerly estranged mother, Sofía (Elli Medeiros), who now wants to take her son from her.” Good reviews for this odd sounding movie.
12/8/09- I just saw this movie and liked it a lot. Great acting and very realistic. At points I was riveted to the screen. Highly recommended. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 28th, 2009
LA FEMME NIKITA- 1990. By Luc Besson and starring Anne Parillaud. She plays a petty criminal who is convicted of murder. She is rehabilitated as an assassin in exchange for her prison sentence. I saw this years ago and loved it and I enjoyed it again but nowhere like the first time. Netflix. 11/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 28th, 2009
A CHRISTMAS TALE- 2008. About an extended family in France with an ailing matriarch. The theme is about the family getting together at their childhood home for a Christmas visit and dinner. There is lots of bad blood spilled before and during the visit, most of which stems from an early family trauma. I loved the movie and the relationships between the various family members. Comcast ON-DEMAND. 12/08
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 24th, 2009
THE BAADER MEINHOFF COMPLEX- Premise by Netflix. “Uli Edel directs this Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nominee charting the birth of West Germany’s Red Army Faction, a radical left-wing terrorist group formed in the late 1960s amid a climate of revolution and a fallen generation. Staging a series of bombings, kidnappings and assassinations, the RAF waged a war against fascism with a direct assault against the powers of American imperialism and the fledgling German democracy.” This movie has received very good reviews and I plan to see it.
12/9/09- I saw this and liked it. It was very well done and a good approximation of what that period was really like. Netflix Streaming. TRDB.
November 22nd, 2009
BROKEN EMBRACES- Premise by Netflix. “Aging filmmaker Mateo Blanco (Lluís Homar) — aka screenwriter Harry Caine — tells his assistant (Tamar Novas) about life before the accident that left him blind, when he became embroiled in a torrid affair with aspiring actress Lena (Penélope Cruz). Harry’s story involves his agent, Judit (Blanca Portillo), and deceitful financier Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez). Pedro Almodovar writes and directs this colorful, romantic and tragic thriller.”
12/25/09- I liked this movie a lot. Beautiful photography and beautiful Cruz as well. You’ll probably have questions and lots of discussion at the end. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 20th, 2009
Newer Posts
Older Posts