LOVE AND MERCY- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This candid biopic traces the winding path of Brian Wilson, creator of the Beach Boys’ unique sound. Battling mental illness, Wilson traded stardom for an isolated existence in the 1960s but returned to the stage in the ’80s after taming his demons.”
6/2/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
6/9/15- I liked this movie very much. The acting and, of course, the music were great. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment June 2nd, 2015
I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “With her well-ordered life thrown out of balance by the death of her beloved canine companion, aging widow Carol Petersen — who hasn’t dated in 20 years — unexpectedly finds herself involved with two very different men.”
5/15/15- Excellent reviews for this movie and for Blythe Danner as well. TRDB.
5/30/15- A delightful comedy/romance movie with a very good and accurate script. Blythe Danner was wonderful. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment May 15th, 2015
THE 100 YEAR OLD MAN- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Allan Karlsson caps off his long and colorful life by escaping from his nursing home on his 100th birthday. In short order, he comes into a possession of a suitcase stuffed with cash. With his new friend Julius, Allan decides to take it on the lam.”
5/8/15- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
5/16/15- This movie was a big hit in Sweden but for me and for many critics it seemed ridiculous. There were a few funny scenes. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment May 8th, 2015
FELIX & MEIRA- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After their lives intersect at a Montreal pizzeria, a stifled young Hasidic wife and an atheist grappling with his father’s demise embark on a tentative romance that must bridge their two disparate worlds.”
4/17/15- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
5/2/15- I enjoyed this movie whose main characters, while on the surface seemed very different, actually had more in common than first noted. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment April 17th, 2015
SECRETS OF WAR- 2015. Synopsis by IMDB. “Summer 1943. Tuur and Lambert are best friends. The surrounding of their idyllic village has no secrets for the teenagers. From the farm of Lamberts dad to the marl caves in the woods – it’s their world. But the war is closing in and is about to change their lives forever. Tuurs dad joined the resistance and even his big brother seems to be a part of it. Lamberts family on the other hand choose to obey the Germans. Then a new girl from the city shows up, befriending the boys but telling her secret to only one of them.”
4/15/15- I liked the movie but I felt that it was a bit too melodramatic and predictable to be “very good.” TRDB. Seen at the Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns Film Center.
Add comment April 15th, 2015
ZERO MOTIVATION- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Serving out their required term in the military, a collection of young Israeli soldiers are posted to a desolate base in the middle of the desert. As their collective boredom mounts, personal frictions begin to surface among the all-female company.”
An Israeli military comedy that reminded me of MASH with the absurdity of war as a backdrop. I enjoyed it. TRDB. Seen at the Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns.
Add comment April 15th, 2015
EX MACHINA- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After winning a chance to spend a week at his boss’s Alaskan compound, tech whiz Caleb Smith finds he’s been selected to help evaluate a sentient humanoid dubbed Ava — whose feminine wiles prove more formidable than expected.
4/10/15- Good reviews for this strange sounding movie. TRDB.
5/5/15- Surely a clever idea with very good reviews but I thought it was formulaic and somewhat trivial the longer it ran and, by the way, it ran too long. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment April 11th, 2015
WHILE WE’RE YOUNG- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Documentary filmmaker Josh Srebnick is up against a creative wall when he meets an attractive and quirky young couple, Jamie and Darby, who bring new vigor and energy to the lives of Josh and his wife — until a professional conflict arises.”
3/27/15– Mostly good professional reviews– the NY Times gave it a good review with some qualifications. Audiences have been luke warm to the film. TRDB.
4/12/15- Overall I’ll give this movie a passing grade but I was not overly impressed. Come in mid-way and see the better second half. TRDB.
Add comment March 27th, 2015
OF HORSES AND MEN- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This action drama lets viewers imagine the world of humans through a horse’s eyes, spotlighting the ancient two-way bond between the species. Deep in the wild, events unreel that will test both the horses and their complex human partners.”
3/12/15- Great reviews from the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.
12/22/17– I liked this very different type of movie. TRDB. Netflix Disc.
Add comment March 12th, 2015
MR. KAPLAN- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Depressed by his advancing age, Uruguayan transplant Jacob Kaplan is lamenting his irrelevance when he becomes convinced that a local bar owner is an ex-Nazi — and promptly embarks on a quest to expose the old German.”
3/2/15- No reviews as yet but it sounds interesting. TRDB.
3/8/15- A bit slow and sad but an interesting premise and excellent acting contribute to make this well worth seeing. TRDB.
Add comment March 2nd, 2015