PARATISAN- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Raised in an isolated communal family led by the enigmatic and dictatorial Gregori, 11-year-old Alexander begins to question his surrogate father’s teachings — which doesn’t sit well with Gregori and soon leads to a growing conflict between them.”
10/14/15- Weak professional reviews but audiences liked it more. TRDB.
Add comment October 14th, 2015
LABYRINTH OF LIES- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1958, prosecutor Johann Radmann follows up on a reporter’s tip and uncovers a trail of evidence connecting a host of public-sector employees to atrocities perpetrated at the Auschwitz concentration camp during Germany’s murderous Nazi regime.”
10/13/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
10/29/15- Very well done and very realistic as well. This movie from Germany is yet another example of Germany’s attempt to come to grips with its past. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment October 13th, 2015
BRIDGE OF SPIES- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “At the height of the Cold War in 1960, the downing of an American spy plane and the pilot’s subsequent capture by the Soviets draws Brooklyn attorney James Donovan Tom Hanks) into the middle of an intense effort to secure the aviator’s release.”
10/11/15- Excellent reviews for this drama/mystery. TRDB.
10/17/15- I enjoyed this cold war spy thriller, even with the few touches of Hollywood thrown in by Steven Spielberg. Also, I read that the Tom Hanks character, portrayed as a novice, actually had been involved in the Nuremberg trials. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment October 11th, 2015
ROOM- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being abducted, raped and imprisoned in a small windowless room, a young woman gives birth and is forced to raise her son, Jack, in the same improvised space. But after five years, Jack’s mother begins planning their escape.”
10/11/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
10/26/15- A splendid movie with wonderful acting and a great screenplay. The movie is fiction but there is ample precedent for this scenario. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment October 11th, 2015
WINTER ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 2013, Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych announced a major policy shift that would strengthen the nation’s ties to Russia. His decision inflamed much of the populace, touching off three months of mass demonstrations and street violence.”
10/9/15- Several reviews have praised this documentary. TRDB.
Add comment October 9th, 2015
A WOMAN LIKE ME- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “The real life of author and terminal cancer patient Alex Sichel interweaves with the experiences of her fictional character Anna Seashell, as both women learn to face a devastating diagnosis and find the blessings in a life cut short.”
10/9/15- Just 2 reviews so far– 1 up (The NY Times) and 1 down. Sounds interesting and I’d give it a try. TRDB.
Add comment October 9th, 2015
UNBRANDED- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Intending to cross the United States from south to north on horseback, four friends saddle up their wild mustangs and begin a journey of self-discovery amid breathtaking vistas, uncovering some disquieting truths about the changing American West.”
10/9/15- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
Add comment October 9th, 2015
POACHED- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the UK, rare egg collectors are a passionate group, but they are evolving into a criminal subculture. Their obsession drives them to poach thousands of eggs from nests and threatens to accelerate extinction for some of the world’s rarest birds.”
10/9/15- Just a few reviews so far but they are weak. TRDB.
Add comment October 9th, 2015
PAN- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fantasy drama based on J.M. Barrie’s beloved tale about ageless sprite Peter Pan is reset in World War II. With pirates still roaming the landscape, Peter is transported to the magical kingdom of Neverland, where he’s destined to become a hero.”
10/9/15- Poor reviews. TRDB.
Add comment October 9th, 2015
A FASTER HORSE- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Put in charge of revamping the Ford Mustang in time for the 50-year anniversary of its introduction, automotive engineer Dave Pericak must take the new version of the classic muscle car from concept to showroom while preserving its legacy.”
10/9/14- No reviews as yet but it sounds interesting. TRDB.
Add comment October 9th, 2015