Posts filed under 'Opening Regionally or Nationwide'
BORN AND BRED- 2011. Synopsis by IMDB. “Born and Bred is a feature-length documentary film chronicling the lives of a new generation of young boxers fighting for their place in the American boxing capital of Los Angeles, where Latino immigration is surging to a historical breaking point. At the heart of the film is the story of 15-year-old twin brothers in their last two years in the tough ranks of amateur boxing where boys are made into men and Olympic dreams are won and lost.”
8/19/11- Fair review at best in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
August 20th, 2011
SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA- 2010. Synopsis by IMDB. “After a disastrous debut on the pro circuit, a young golfer finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas and welcomed by an eccentric rancher.” Sounds interesting and the movie has had good audience reviews so far but none professional. TRDB.
9/2/11- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: drama
August 16th, 2011
THE BOY MIR: TEN YEARS IN AFGHANISTAN- 2011- Synopsis by IMDB. “Following the international hit The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan, The Boy Mir will cover not one year but ten. It will track the cheeky, enthusiastic Mir from a childish eight to a fully grown eighteen-year-old. Over those ten years, it will be a journey into early adulthood in one of the toughest places on earth; a journey that mirrors the current and vitally important story of Afghanistan.”
8/12/11- OK review in today’s NY Times. Much better reviews for the pre-quel in 2002 called “The boy who plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
August 12th, 2011
DARWIN- 2011. Synopsis by IMDB. “Darwin is a documentary feature about an isolated community at the end of a weathered road in Death Valley, California. Propelled from society by tragic turns, the people of Darwin (population 35) must now find ways to coexist in a place without a government, a church, jobs, or children. The film tells the story of a uniquely American place and yet a place that is unique even within America.”
Good review in NY Times on 8/12/11. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
August 12th, 2011
BAD POSTURE- Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Flo, newly fired from his job, is spending his summer wandering Albuquerque aimlessly with his best friend Trey. Together, they spend their days and nights pursuing Trey’s illicit moneymaking schemes. But when Trey implicates Flo in grand theft auto, Flo finds it difficult to shake his feelings of remorse-and his feelings for the car’s beguiling owner, Marissa.”
Good review in NY Times on 8/12/11. TRDB.
Tags: drama
August 12th, 2011
REBIRTH- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Every year between the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and its eighth anniversary, documentarian James Whitaker interviewed nine people, each with a connection to the events. Together, their evolving stories create a mosaic of grief and recovery. A Muslim woman now forging religious tolerance, a Freedom Tower construction worker who lost a brother and a high schooler whose mother died are among those sharing their stories in this fascinating film.” No reviews yet. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
August 11th, 2011
PROGRAMMING THE NATION- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Programming the Nation? takes a powerful and provocative look at the history of subliminal messaging in America and the ways in which we are being manipulated subconsciously by advertisers, pop-culture, corporations, our military, and politicians. Filmmaker Jeff Warrick leads this journey through the subconscious mind while examining the reported history, scientific research and potential effects of such techniques on society.” Good audience reviews but no professional reviews as yet. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
August 8th, 2011
AMIGO- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Writer-director John Sayles steers this poignant period drama, set in turn-of-the-century Philippines, that examines the U.S. occupation of the islands from the perspective of American soldiers, who settle in with native residents. Making connections between the past and modern-day dealings in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sayles draws some surprising parallels through repeated history. Chris Cooper stars as Col. Hardacre.” Worse than average early audience reviews. TRDB.
8/19/11- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: drama
August 8th, 2011
PROTEKTOR- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the Nazis occupy Prague, radio host Emil Vrbata (Marek Daniel) tries to protect his Jewish spouse, Hana (Jana Plodková), by collaborating with the Germans in this atmospheric drama that examines the role the media played during World War II. Despite Emil’s broadcasting of enemy propaganda, Hana is threatened with internment — and the couple’s deteriorating marriage reaches a turning point when a Nazi official is assassinated.”
8/5/11- OK review in today’s NY Times but I saw this 2 years ago at the Palm Springs Film Festival and did not like it. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
August 6th, 2011
THE HELP- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1960s Jackson, Miss., aspiring writer Eugenia Phelan crosses taboo racial lines by conversing with Aibileen Clark about her life as a housekeeper, and their ensuing friendship upsets the fragile dynamic between the haves and the have-nots. When other long-silent black servants begin opening up to Eugenia, the disapproving conservative Southern town soon gets swept up in the turbulence of changing times.” OK reviews. TRDB.
Tags: drama
July 30th, 2011
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