DANIEL AND ANA- Premise by Netflix. “While shopping in Mexico City, brother and sister Daniel (Dario Yazbek Bernal) and Ana (Marimar Vega) Torres are held up at gunpoint, dragged off by kidnappers and forced into positions they never imagined. But in the aftermath, both must deal with the trauma on their own terms. Writer-director Michel Franco helms this powerful tale of survival and sacrifice that delivers an unexpectedly shocking ending.”
Add comment August 27th, 2010
THE ROMANTICS- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Mischief and sexual escapades ensue when a group of college friends reunite for the wedding of group members Lila (Anna Paquin) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) — and an old rivalry resurges between Lila and her maid of honor, Laura (Katie Holmes), who still holds a torch for the groom. Malin Akerman, Elijah Wood, Adam Brody and Jeremy Strong also star in this indie romantic comedy based on writer-director Galt Niederhoffer‘s novel.” Good early reviews but poor review in NY Times 9/10/10.
2/11- I agree with the Times– trite screenplay and unlikable characters. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment August 27th, 2010
NORA’S WILL- 2010. Premise by Rotten Tomatoes. “Before dying, Nora hatches a plan to make her ex-husband José take care of her corpse, but she is missing something. The only flaw in the plan–a mysterious photograph forgotten under the bed–will lead to an unexpected outcome.” I’ve seen only 2 reviews but both were positive.
4/11- I liked this movie very much. Seen at the Westchester Jewish Film Festival. TRDB.
Add comment August 21st, 2010
LOTTERY TICKET- Premise by Netflix. “Kevin Carson (Bow Wow), a young man living in the projects, dreams of having his life changed by winning the lottery — as do all his neighbors — but when Kevin finally hits it big, he must keep his good luck secret until he can claim the prize. Thrilled to be in possession of the $370 million ticket, Kevin endeavors to keep his scheming and sometimes hostile neighbors at bay in this uproarious comedy co-starring Ice Cube.” Generally poor reviews.
Add comment August 20th, 2010
MAX MANUS- Directed by Espen Sandberg and Joachim Roenning. Premise by Netflix. “Dismayed by Norway’s swift capitulation to Nazi Germany during World War II, Max Manus (Aksel Hennie) — who would become one of Norway’s greatest war heroes — immediately joined the Resistance. This biographical drama tells his story. From his audacious escapes from German captivity (one from a military hospital) to his bold acts of sabotage (which included blowing up warships), the film chronicles all Manus’s derring-do.”
8/10- A very good docudrama about a resistance fighter most people know nothing about. TRDB.
Add comment August 15th, 2010
NESHOBA: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM- Premise by Zap2it. “Filmmakers Micki Dickoff and Tony Pagano chronicle the successful efforts to retry Edgar Ray Killen for masterminding the killing of three young civil-rights workers in 1964 Mississippi.” No reviews available now.
Add comment August 8th, 2010
ANIMAL KINGDOM- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When his mother dies suddenly, a 17-year-old boy (James Frecheville) finds himself drawn into the clutches of a diabolical criminal family, until a good-hearted detective (Guy Pearce) makes a concerted effort to change the boy’s fate. Australian writer-director David Michôd‘s first feature-length drama won the World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.” Great reviews.
9/10- Violent, poignant and very well acted. I liked it. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment August 8th, 2010
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
Add comment July 23rd, 2010
MY WINNIPEG- Guy Maddin‘s dreamlike biographical documentary is part psychoanalysis and part historical study of Winnipeg, Canada, Maddin’s hometown. Poetry serves as narration to explain how the city’s idiosyncratic culture has influenced the director. From lyrical ramblings about how the denizens of Winnipeg exist in perpetual “sleep mode” to fanciful reenactments of scenes from Maddin’s dysfunctional childhood, the film comprises a unique allegory of life.”
7/10- Interesting for about 20min. and then just plain weird. So novel that I’d recommend trying it. Netflix Streaming only at this time.
Add comment July 22nd, 2010
ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE- Premise by Netflix. “A Cambodian whose family was among the 2 million victims slain by the Khmer Rouge, Thet Sambath patiently spends his time, energy and money gaining the trust of the regime’s cold-blooded murderers in hopes of capturing their confessions on tape. Several years in the making, this powerful documentary showcases horrific stories told by the culprits themselves, including the notorious Nuon Chea, Pol Pot’s second-in-command dubbed “Brother Number 2.” No reviews yet.
Add comment July 21st, 2010