ANY DAY NOW- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Rudy and Paul take in their neighbor’s teenage son Marco, who has Down syndrome, when his neglectful mother throws him out of her apartment. Their attempt to legally adopt Marco sparks a court battle over gay rights in this powerful true story.”
A few reviews and they are very good. TRDB.
12/14/12- The NY Times gave this a good review today as did most critics. TRDB.
Add comment November 20th, 2012
PLAYING FOR KEEPS- Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Dennis Quaid star in Playing for Keeps, a romantic comedy about a charming, down-on-his luck former soccer star (Butler) who returns home to put his life back together. Looking for a way to rebuild his relationship with his son, he gets roped into coaching the boy’s soccer team. But his attempts to finally become an “adult” are met with hilarious challenges from the attractive “soccer moms” who pursue him at every turn.”
12/7/12- Poor early reviews all over including today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment November 20th, 2012
WAGNER AND ME- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Stephen Fry’s quest begins in southern Germany where he is granted unique access to Bayreuth’s legendary annual Wagner festival. In Switzerland he discovers the origins of Wagner’s masterpiece The Ring. In Bavaria he marvels at the fairytale castle inspired by Wagner’s music, and in St Petersburg learns why Wagner fascinated Russian audiences. But Fry also confronts the composer’s dark side. In Nuremberg he investigates how Hitler appropriated Wagner’s music, and in London meets a cellist who played in the prisoners’ orchestra at Auschwitz – where some of Fry’s relatives died. Animated by Fry’s trademark wit and intelligence and featuring a soundtrack of Wagner’s extraordinary music, “Wagner & Me” is a provocative yet enjoyable exploration of the life and legacy of one of history’s great geniuses.”
No reviews as yet. TRDB.
Add comment November 20th, 2012
RADIOMAN- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This offbeat documentary pays homage to the affable eccentric known as Radioman, a bit-part actor with legendary status on New York movie sets. Nicknamed for the boom box he hangs around his neck, Radioman has appeared in more than 100 films”
OK early reviews. TRDB.
Add comment November 20th, 2012
HELENO- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A biography of the tragic life of one of Brazil’s greatest soccer players, Heleno de Freitas.”
12/7/12- Weak review in today”s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
Add comment November 20th, 2012
HAPPY NEW YEAR- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Returning from duty in Iraq, Sgt. Cole Lewis ends up in the psychiatric wing of a Veterans Administration hospital where, in the face of medical and bureaucratic apathy, he and other vets help one another cope with their shattered minds and bodies.”
12/7/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment November 20th, 2012
GENERATION P- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Ginzburg brings author Victor Pelevin’s popular cult novel to the screen in this confrontational, occasionally hallucinogenic social satire. The film centers around a cynical Russian poet, Babylen Tatarsky (Vladimir Yepifantsev) found working in a drab sidewalk convenience shop. A chance run-in with an old friend reveals an exciting career opportunity. With Communism now a thing of the past, Moscow is quickly moving into the future. That means Western products will soon be flooding into stores, and in order to sell them Russian advertisers must dream up campaigns with local flavor. Babylen quickly climbs the ladder of success alongside virtual politicians, gangsters, politicians, freshly minted millionaires, brands and advertising gurus. Babylen turns to LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, cocaine, vodka and spiritual communication for creative inspiration. Summoning the spirit of Che Guevara with a Ouija board, Babylen gets an unexpected education that completely alters his perspective of the media and leadership.”
11/16/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times and by most other critics as well. TRDB.
Add comment November 17th, 2012
HABIBI- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Habibi, a story of forbidden love, is a fiction feature set in Gaza. Two students in the West Bank are forced to return home to Gaza, where their love defies tradition. To reach his lover, Qays grafittis poetry across town. Habibi is a modern re-telling of the famous ancient Sufi parable Majnun Layla. The full Arabic title is Habibi Rasak Kharban, which translates as “darling, something’s wrong with your head.”
11/16/12- A weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere. TRDB.
Add comment November 16th, 2012
WHO BOMBED JUDI BARI?- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A news anchor reports while graphic news coverage of a terrorist car bomb attack in 1990 in Oakland, CA is shown. Two Earth First! activists are immediately blamed by the FBI for bombing themselves. We learn that the victim/suspects Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney have later sued the FBI and Oakland Police and that Judi Bari is now dying of cancer before her case goes to trial. Weak though defiant, she gives her deposition, on camera, just a month before she dies.”
11/16/12- A so-so review in today’s NY Times. Mixed reviews elsewhere. TRDB.
Add comment November 16th, 2012
TURNING- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “TURNING, based on a critically acclaimed tour of Europe by Antony and Charles Atlas, is a music documentary that explores the heart of that performance. Through its synthesis of Antonys songs and unfurling video portraiture of the 13 remarkable women who performed on stage, TURNING creates an intimate and cinematic experience exploring themes of identity, transcendence and the revelation of essence.”
11/16/12- A somewhat weak review in today’s NY Times. Mostly good reviews from others. TRDB.
Add comment November 16th, 2012