LA PLAYA D.C.- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Driven from their hometown by civil war, three young Colombian brothers make their way to the capital city of Bogota to try and survive there. One of them, Tomas, learns the barbershop trade while doing his best to keep his brothers out of trouble.”
7/19/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment July 22nd, 2013
ICEBERG SLIM: PORTRAIT OF A PIMP- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blending archival elements with recent interviews, this biographical portrait tells the remarkable tale of pimp turned author Iceberg Slim, whose gritty books based on his life became bona fide literature.”
7/19/13- Mixed reviews at best including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment July 22nd, 2013
ONLY GOD FORGIVES- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ryan Gosling stars as British gangster Julian, who runs a Bangkok fight club, and Kristin Scott Thomas plays his crime-boss mom in this action thriller. When a cop kills Julian’s brother, the family matriarch flies in from London to oversee revenge.”
7/19/13- Awful review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
Add comment July 22nd, 2013
EVIDENCE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A massacre has just occurred in the desert outside of Los Angeles. With no other evidence, two detectives must analyze the found footage collected from the victims’ personal electronic devices to piece together the identity of the killer.”
7/19/13- Poor reviews from everyone including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment July 22nd, 2013
COLOSSUS- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Framed by a pixilated montage of the history of Russia since Lenin (scored by Frank Zappa) and filmed in the louche world of St. Petersburg and Moscow (including Bunker 47, a Khrushchev Era nuclear bunker 18 stories below street level repurposed as a private club) Mark Hendrickson creates a tightly nested narrative for the ex-pat confidence man, CLARK LARSON (played by Hendrickson), who spent the last 17 years wheeling and dealing in Russia’s twilight of commerce and graft. Now, at the top of his game and before his soul has completely vanished, he decides to “give back” something in return for all he has taken: a film as cautionary tale to illustrate and instruct the audience in “the power of bullshit, lies and intimidation”. To teach this lesson and post this warning, Hendrickson sets out (with no money) to invent a heavy-metal artificial rock band, launch its first national tour across Russia, and make a film to tell the tale.”
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment July 22nd, 2013
CENTRO HISTORICO- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This new omnibus film, a remarkably successful example of a famously cursed form, brings together short films by four renowned and legendary filmmakers – Aki Kaurismäki, Pedro Costa, Víctor Erice, and Manoel de Oliveira. Though unified by a common theme – the producers asked each filmmaker to take their inspiration from the Portuguese city of Guimarães, the European Cultural Capital for 2012, and in particular to reflect on “the stories the city has to tell” – these four short films are radically different from each other. As a whole, CENTRO HISTÓRICO encompasses four unique and varied perspectives on an ancient European city, as well as demonstrating the thrillingly varied range of sensibilities of these visionary filmmakers.”
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
Add comment July 22nd, 2013
BORN TO ROYALTY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this insightful documentary, we celebrate the birth of William and Kate’s baby, the great-grandchild of Elizabeth II with a fascinating portrait of the life that lies ahead for the child who is born to reign.”
7/19/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment July 21st, 2013
BIG WORDS- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Set in Brooklyn on the eve of Obama’s history-making election, three former members of a promising hip-hop crew cross paths again to discover that some things never change. Former frontman John, once known as Big Words, is now a working class guy who raps only to himself. James is a publicist living with his boyfriend, far removed from the days when he rhymed about getting girls. While DJ Malik still spins records with a longing for the glory days. Together again on the day of a landmark election, the friends reckon with dreams diferred and new hopes.”
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and positive reviews from the few critics who have weighed it. TRDB.
Add comment July 21st, 2013
RED 2- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ex-CIA agent Frank Moses and his crew return for another high-stakes mission, scouring the globe for a missing nuclear device. Along the way, they’ll face off against assassins, terrorists and corrupt government officials.”
7/16/13- Poor reviews for this stupid sounding movie. What’s Bethel Cinema coming to? TRDB.
7/19/21- A weak review in today’s NY Times saying that the actors probably saved this film. TRDB.
Add comment July 16th, 2013
GIRL MOST LIKELY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After staging an unsuccessful suicide to get her boyfriend’s attention, a struggling playwright moves back home to live with her mother, her mother’s boyfriend and a handsome lodger who sings with a Backstreet Boys cover band.”
7/16/13- Bad reviews from most critics. TRDB.
Add comment July 16th, 2013