BRINGING UP BOBBY- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Olive is a European exile living in Oklahoma with her 10-year-old son, trying to raise him properly even as her past begins to close in on her. Her son, however, has the same roguish charm that landed her in trouble in the first place.”
Weak reviews all over including today’s (9/28/12) NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment September 11th, 2012
THE WAITING ROOM- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This disquieting documentary relates the stories of medical patients, many of them uninsured, as they wait to be seen at a California hospital. The film also portrays the efforts of hospital professionals to cope with a drastically strained system.”
Excellent review all around. TRDB.
Add comment September 11th, 2012
BUTTER- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a gifted butter sculptor announces his retirement, his ambitious wife sees her hopes for future fame — and the presidency — melt away. She sets out to take up the mantle, but soon learns how cutthroat the world of pro butter sculpting can be.”
OK early reviews. TRDB.
10/5/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment September 10th, 2012
DESPERATE ENDEAVORS- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This drama inspired by a true story follows Indian immigrant Ram Patel as he tries to make it big in New York in 1973. Ram’s desperation to provide for his growing family leaves him deeply in debt until he undergoes a spiritual awakening.”
9/7/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times but audiences have liked this so far. TRDB.
Add comment September 7th, 2012
BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Get to know Wayne White, one of America’s most unusual and arresting artists, with this snappy documentary that traces the ups and downs of his career. The jovial White discusses his art, strums the banjo, plays with puppets and simply enjoys life.”
9/7/12- Very good professional reviews and mediocre audience reaction. TRDB.
Add comment September 7th, 2012
THE INBETWEENERS- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Four geeky high school friends set out on a wild sun and booze-filled vacation in The Inbetweeners Movie, the hilarious British breakout hit finally reaching American shores. Packed with outrageous sexual shenanigans, out-of-control party antics and cheekily rude humor in the tradition of American Pie, the film follows a quartet of sex-obsessed nerds to a notorious Mediterranean hotspot as they try to break their lifelong losing streak with the ladies.”
9/7/12- Weak professional reviews in general and from today’s NY Times. Audiences likes it a bit more. TRDB.
Add comment September 7th, 2012
THE EYE OF THE STORM- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A woman recently divorced from a French prince and her washed-up actor brother return home to Australia, hoping to reconcile with their dying mother. But neither is prepared for the ensuing drama that brings the dread of their childhood back to life.”
Rotten Tomatoes had this to say– “In the Sydney suburb of Centennial Park, two nurses, a housekeeper and a solicitor attend to Elizabeth Hunter as her expatriate son and daughter convene at her deathbed. But in dying, as in living, Mrs Hunter remains a powerful force on those who surround her. Based on the novel by Nobel Prize winner Patrick White, The Eye of the Storm is a savage exploration of family relationships – and the sharp undercurrents of love and hate, comedy and tragedy, which define them.”
9/7/12- Poor reviews for this movie but it sounds interesting and I’ll probably see it eventually. TRDB.
Add comment September 7th, 2012
NO- 2012- Synopsis by Netflix. “In this engaging drama from Chile, Gael García Bernal portrays René Saavedra, a hot-shot ad executive who creates a controversial media campaign opposing military dictator Augusto Pinochet during the referendum on his presidency in 1988.”
Very good reviews so far. TRDB.
2/15/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3/12/13-I enjoyed the basic premise of voter impowerment and of course the history lesson but I felt that the movie was a bit tedious at times and I also agree with one critic who called the movie “gimmicky.” TRDB.
Add comment September 5th, 2012
FRANCES HA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Determined to make it as a modern dancer in New York, young Frances Ha pursues her unlikely goal with more enthusiasm than natural talent. The rest of the time, she and her sardonic best friend, Sophie, put off growing up for as long as they can.”
9/5/12- Mentioned briefly in the NY Times as being shown at the Telluride Film Festival this September. TRDB.
5/4/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.
5/17/13- Fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5/25/13- I liked this movie very much. Very good acting and an insightful screenplay. TRDB.
Add comment September 5th, 2012
THE WORDS- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After finding a brilliant unpublished book in an old briefcase, wannabe writer Rory Jansen decides to claim it’s his work — but his choice sets events in motion that have him facing an ethical quandary he could never have expected.”
9/7/12- Weak reviews in general and in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.
9/18/12- Despite the weak reviews a few critics liked it very much. I thought it was done in an interesting manner with an unusual premise and I did like it. The scene at the end with Jeremy Irons I could have done without. TRDB.
Add comment September 4th, 2012