Posts filed under 'Seen at the Theater'
OF GODS AND MEN- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Awarded Grand Prix honors at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, this compelling historical drama relates the ordeal of seven French Trappist monks in the mountains of Algeria who are taken captive by Islamic fundamentalists. Before the monks’ abduction, they have ample reason to believe they may be in danger, but their assumption that there can and must be common ground between Islam and Christianity leads them to remain at the monastery.” Great reviews. Opens in NY on 2/25/11.
3/11- Very well done and well acted but a bit too long and definitely not for a general audience. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: docudrama
January 4th, 2011
THE STRANGE CASE OF ANGELICA- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In 1950s Portugal, a well-to-do family hires a young photographer named Isaac (Ricardo Trêpa) to take the last photograph of their deceased daughter, Angelica (Pilar López de Ayala). Upon seeing her, Isaac fallls deeply in love soon finds her returning to life in his camera lens. Now, romance fills his life for the first time. Acclaimed filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira wrote and directed this Official Selection of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.” Good review in NY Times on 12/29/10.
3/11- Despite the good reviews I found this allegorical tale boring. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 29th, 2010
TRUE GRIT- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After her father is murdered by drifter Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), hires Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), an alcoholic U.S. Marshal, to help her exact vengeance. The disreputable Rooster still has grit though, and mounts an epic search. The pair is joined on their quest by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who is also hunting for Chaney, in this updated Western from Joel and Ethan Coen. Very good review in NY Times on 12/22/10.
1/11- To be honest I thought that the film was not nearly as good as the critics said it was. I also needed sub-titles for a good portion of the dialogue. Bring back “The Duke.” At the theater.
Tags: drama
December 22nd, 2010
BLUE VALENTINE- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Once crazy about each other, Cindy (Michelle Williams) and David (Ryan Gosling) have now grown apart. Cindy is bored and disenchanted with her life while David languishes in the emotional emptyness of their sexless, routine life in rural Pennsylvania. As they muddle through their marriage, they hearken back to the golden days when life was filled with possibility and romance. Derek Cianfrance writes and directs this drama.” Very good reviews and good review in NY Times on 12/29/10.
1/11- About the dissolution of a relationship in about as raw a form as I’ve seen in a while. Great movie. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: Drama/Romance
December 4th, 2010
THE ILLUSIONIST- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Compelled to perform in obscure venues as his profession becomes overshadowed by rock stars, a magician gets an emotional boost when a girl from a remote Scottish village believes he possesses real magic in this animated film. She comes with him to the city and takes care of his domestic chores while he performs. Delighted by her enthusiasm, the Illusionist begins “magically” acquiring generous presents for her in spite of his limited finances.” Good professional reviews but only fair audience reviews.
2/11- What were they thinking? Boring for sure and I’d suggest you don’t go to see it. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: animated
December 4th, 2010
THE FIGHTER- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Mark Wahlberg stars as boxer “Irish” Mickey Ward and Christian Bale as half brother and trainer Dicky Eklund in this inspiring drama based on the fighter’s rise from working-class Lowell, Mass., to world-class welterweight champion. After a string of defeats, Mickey rediscovers his fighting will with support from Dicky, himself a once talented fighter now battling drug addiction. Together, they aim to clinch boxing glory.” Very good reviews. Good review in NY Times on 12/9/10.
12/10- Very realistic portrayal of the family relationships and the conflicts involved. I liked it. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama
November 28th, 2010
THE KING’S SPEECH- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Tom Hooper directs this drama based on the true story of Britain’s King George VI (Colin Firth), a man who for years struggled with a nervous disposition and an embarrassing stutter — until he seeks help from unorthodox Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Logue’s pioneering treatment and unlikely friendship give the royal leader a sense of confidence that serves him and his country well during the dark days of World War II. Very good reviews.
12/10- While I enjoyed this film I felt the “Hollywood Effect” throughout most of the nearly 2 hours. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama
November 21st, 2010
LEAVING- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Bored with her life of leisure, Suzanne (Kristin Scott Thomas) decides to reestablish her career as a physiotherapist. But first, she’ll need an office … and that’s where her troubles begin in this drama from Catherine Corsini. As soon as Suzanne meets the man her husband hired to construct her backyard office, she falls hard — and the attraction is mutual … and dangerous. Sergi López and Yvan Attal co-star.” Fair review in NY Times 10/1/10. Coming attractions looked good to me.
11/10- I found this film engrossing and not so difficult to believe as people make these types of decisions every day. I recommend it. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Tags: Drama/Romance
October 1st, 2010
PURITY- 2002. Directed by Anat Zuria. Israeli documentary about the Jewish ritual mikvah.
10/10- I found this to be quite interesting and I learned a lot from it. Just 63 minutes long. TRDB. At Purchase College.
Tags: documentary, Foreign
September 22nd, 2010
THE SOCIAL NETWORK- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “David Fincher‘s biographical drama chronicles the meteoric rise of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) from Harvard sophomore to Internet superstar, examining his relationships with co-founder Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) and founding president Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake). Aaron Sorkin penned the screenplay based on Ben Mezrich’s best-seller The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook.” Reviews just OK.
10/10- I liked this movie a lot even though there was probably a good deal of artistic license given to the story. Well acted (Eisenberg was great) and truly a success story. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: docudrama
September 16th, 2010
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