BYZANTIUM- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “On the run for a gruesome crime, two mysterious “sisters” take refuge in a seaside town, where their shocking secret lies waiting to be discovered. Bloody and brooding, Neil Jordan’s gothic tale delves into the ladies’ shared dark history.”
6/28/13- Mixed reviews in general and an OK one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment June 28th, 2013
EUROPA REPORT- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this nail-biting thriller, a private space-exploration company sends six astronauts to determine whether Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, can sustain life — and what they find terrifies and transforms them.”
6/28/13- Reviews are fairly good for this sci-fi thriller. TRDB.
8/2/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/15/13- A very interesting concept but for me something got lost in the execution. One critic said “What isn’t straightforward about the plot is either hackneyed, implausible, or both.” I have to agree. TRDB.
Add comment June 28th, 2013
TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This cautionary documentary looks into the consumer implications of pushing the “I Agree” button on commercial and social websites. As more information about us is shared ever more widely, former notions of privacy are becoming obsolete.”
6/27/13- Just a few reviews at this time and they are all good. TRDB.
7/12/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment June 27th, 2013
THE HUNT- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Lucas is rebuilding his life after a bitter divorce: He has a new job and a girlfriend, and is working on his relationship with his teenage son. But an unfounded accusation of pedophilia changes everything as his community turns against him.”
6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
7/12/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
7/27/13- I liked this movie very much but it was one of the most troubling films I’ve ever sat through. TRDB.
Add comment June 27th, 2013
FRUITVALE STATION- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic rendering of a real-life tragedy recounts the final hours of Oscar Grant, shot by San Francisco transit police on New Year’s Day, 2009. In portraying the energy Oscar brought to life, the film mourns the tragic loss of a unique soul.”
6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
7/12-13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/4/13- An excellent movie with great acting from a true story a few years ago. My only objection was some difficulty understanding the conversation at times. TRDB.
Add comment June 27th, 2013
DEALIN’ WITH IDIOTS- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Comedian Max Morris decides to take on the challenge of managing his son’s youth baseball team, which also means taking on the kids’ parents. Jeff Garlin directs and stars in this semi-improvised comedy about youthful and grown-up ambition.”
10/16/13- Poor reviews from most critics. TRDB.
Add comment June 27th, 2013
RUSHLIGHTS- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Young lovers Billy and Sarah journey from L.A. to Texas with plans to make a false claim to the valuable assets left behind by a dead friend. But when their voyage brings them to Tremo, Texas, they find a bizarre and sinister world awaiting them.”
6/21/13- Uniformly miserable reviews. TRDB.
Add comment June 21st, 2013
THE LOTTERY OF BIRTH- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This intriguing documentary examines society and the path to its future, starting with the notion that none of us asks to be born. Top minds discuss how our personal needs affect our choices, which in turn shape culture as a whole.”
6/21/13- A poor review of the movie if not the topic in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment June 21st, 2013
KUICHISAN- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this earnest drama, a 10-year-old island boy wanders through the tumbledown streets of Koza, Japan, looking for the meaning of life. At the same time, an American tourist adrift in the city embarks on a similar quest for answers.”
6/21/13- Just a few reviews and they are mixed. Today’s NY Times liked it but thought it was too long and wilted at the end. TRDB.
Add comment June 21st, 2013
DOWNLOADED- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Discover the history of Napster, which began as an unassuming bit of computer code in 1998 and would eventually change the nature of music sales. This film spotlights the site’s teenage founders and reveals its unexpected and earth-shattering legacy.”
6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from other critics. TRDB.
Add comment June 21st, 2013