THE LAST RITES OF JOE MAY- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Low-stakes hustler Joe May returns home from the hospital to find his landlord assumed he’d died, and rented his apartment out to a single mom and her daughter. Joe‘s life takes surprising turns when he agrees to let the woman and her child stay.”
11/4/11- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
11/18/11- I enjoyed this movie and the 3 main characters. TRDB. On-Demand.
Add comment November 6th, 2011
TOWER HEIST- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a group of workers at a ritzy Manhattan condo realize their boss has swindled them out of their pensions, they vow to reap their own justice. With the cooperation of the building manager, the group devises an ingenious plot to recover the funds.”
11/4/11- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment November 6th, 2011
CHARLOTTE RAMPLING: THE LOOK- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Actress Charlotte Rampling largely tells her own story in this unconventional self-portrait conceived by filmmaker Angelina Maccarone. Highlights include conversations between Rampling and her friends, along with clips from her most famous films.”
11/4/11- Described by the NY Times today as just OK and often a tease. TRDB.
Add comment November 6th, 2011
RID OF ME- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This biting black comedy follows socially awkward newlywed Meris Canfield, who moves to Portland, Ore., with her hubby only to be deserted by him. She then befriends a wild child who introduces her to the joys of punk rock, sugar and self-discovery.” A few very good early reviews. TRDB.
11/18/11- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment November 4th, 2011
THE WAVY GRAVY MOVIE: SAINT MISBEHAVIN- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Explore the meaningful life of longtime clown and political activist Wavy Gravy with this documentary, which follows the popular figure for more than 10 years, revealing his true character, core convictions and biggest contributions to society. Featured guests such as Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Patch Adams, Steve Earle and Buffy Sainte Marie share fond thoughts about the man and his remarkable work.” Mostly positive reviews. TRDB.
Add comment November 2nd, 2011
MAN ON THE TRAIN- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A mysterious criminal (Mullen Jr.) rolls into a small town planning to knock off the local bank, assuming it will go off without a hitch. But when he encounters a retired poetry professor (Sutherland), his plans take an unlikely turn. With no place to stay, the professor generously welcomes him into his home. As the two men talk, a bond forms between these two polar opposites, and surprising moments of humor and compassion emerge. As they begin to understand each other more, they each examine the choices they’ve made in their lives, secretly longing to live the type of lifestyle the other man has lived, based on the desire to escape their own.” Good early reviews from both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB. TRDB.
11/3/11- This movie is a bit different but I found it interesting and thought provoking. It’s one of the few times I can say that an American remake of a European movie was this good. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Add comment October 31st, 2011
13- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “After assuming the identity of a dead person, a callow young man is quickly sucked into a dark and violent underworld where powerful men gamble on human lives in very high-stakes games of Russian roulette. Writer-director Géla Babluani remakes his inventive French thriller, 13 Tzameti — winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006 — with Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Emmanuelle Chriqui and 50 Cent.”
10/28/11- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment October 29th, 2011
THE DOUBLE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Retired CIA agent Paul Shepherdson joins young FBI agent Ben Geary to track down a Russian assassin who has seemingly returned after the Cold War. Old conspiracies quickly resurface, embroiling the pair in deeper and deeper peril.”
10/28/11- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment October 28th, 2011
URBANIZED- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “The third part of Gary Hustwit’s design film trilogy, Urbanized looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design and features some of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders and thinkers. By exploring a diverse range of urban design projects around the world, Urbanized frames a global discussion on the future of cities.”
10/28/11- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
7/3/12- 88% of viewers liked this movie but I’m in the 12% who found this statistic filled documentary boring. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment October 28th, 2011
INTO THE ABYSS- 2011. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “In his fascinating exploration of a triple homicide case in Conroe, Texas, master filmmaker Werner Herzog probes the human psyche to explore why people kill-and why a state kills. In intimate conversations with those involved, including 28-year-old death row inmate Michael Perry (scheduled to die within eight days of appearing on-screen), Herzog achieves what he describes as “a gaze into the abyss of the human soul.” Herzog’s inquiries also extend to the families of the victims and perpetrators as well as a state executioner and pastor who’ve been with death row prisoners as they’ve taken their final breaths. As he’s so often done before, Herzog’s investigation unveils layers of humanity, making an enlightening trip out of ominous territory.” No reviews as yet. TRDB.
Add comment October 17th, 2011