Posts filed under 'Seen On Netflix'
THE INFIDEL- Premise by Netflix. “When his mother dies, Muslim business owner and family man Mahmud Nasir (Omid Djalili) uncovers the two biggest surprises of his life: he was adopted as a baby, and his birth parents weren’t Muslim — they were Jewish. As he scrambles to get a handle on his existential identity crisis, Mahmud turns to boozy Jewish cab driver Lenny (Richard Schiff) for a little spiritual counsel. Josh Appignanesi directs this indie comedy.” OK review in NY Times. Fair reviews in general.
11/10- A few funny, clever parts but otherwise very routine ethnic cliches and I was bored. TRDB. Netflix.
May 5th, 2010
LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “With nowhere else to turn to after her unexpected release from prison, cold-blooded murderer Leila (Kaarina Hazard) reluctantly accepts a job composing letters for blind pastor Jacob (Heikki Nousiainen), whom she deeply resents at first but gradually grows to admire. A heartwarming tale of personal redemption, Finnish director and writer Klaus Härö‘s subtle drama also features Jukka Keinonen and Esko Roine.” Fair review at best in NY Times on 10/8/10.
3/11- A spiritual drama where all of the action takes place at the end. Fortunately it’s a very short movie. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 4th, 2010
MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT- Premise by Netflix. “Rehearsal footage, backstage action and interviews comprise this moving Michael Jackson experience. He is shown here preparing for a series of 50 sold-out London shows, which were scheduled to kick off in late summer 2009. Singing his numerous hits at the Staples Center in Los Angeles during the days leading up to his untimely death, Jackson is also seen refining cues, delving into dance details and working with director Kenny Ortega.”
5/10- If you like MJ this movie is great. I do and it is!! A very different view of the master and his interaction with the crew to improve the production. Nothing about the man himself in the movie. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
May 4th, 2010
MERCY- 2009. Directed by Patrick Hoelck. Premise by Netflix. “A pessimistic writer who’s never known true love struggles to pen a novel that captures that puzzling emotion’s all-consuming nature. While hunting for inspiration, the author falls for Mercy (Wendy Glenn), a woman who drastically alters his outlook on life. Scott Caan writes and stars in this enthralling romance that co-stars his father, James Caan, as well as Erika Christensen, Dylan McDermott and Troy Garity. Mixed reviews but many more negative than positive.
10/10- A love story about a guy who begins as a womanizer but meets the girl of his dreams and she turns him around. OK. Netflix.
Tags: drama
May 3rd, 2010
MAN ON WIRE- Premise by Netflix. “Philippe Petit captured the world’s attention in 1974 when he successfully walked across a high wire between New York’s Twin Towers. This Oscar winner for Best Documentary explores the preparations that went into the stunt as well as the event and its aftermath. Obsessed with the towers even before they were fully constructed, Petit sneaked into the buildings several times to determine the equipment he needed to accomplish his daring feat.”
5/10- I loved this movie. Very suspenseful even when you know the outcome. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
April 29th, 2010
MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Premise by Netflix. “In 1979, architect Gabriel (Timothy Hutton) begins questioning his existence, avoiding work and escaping into the fictional world of movies. When he starts writing a play examining the choices he’s made, it creates issues with his wife (Dana Delany), daughter (India Ennenga) and friends. Meanwhile, he tries to convince a brassy literary agent (Stockard Channing) to represent him and confides in his best friend (Mira Sorvino) in this indie drama.” Reviews are awful.
8/10- Terrible reviews are accurate for this boring as hell movie that I turned off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
April 26th, 2010
BABIES- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Documentary filmmaker Thomas Balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs. Training his camera on newborns Hattie from San Francisco, Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia and Mari from Tokyo, Balmes captures every moment, from their first screaming breaths to their first tentative steps.” Fairly good reviews.
9/10- Interesting and informative documentary but could have been shorter than the already short 79min. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: documentary
April 26th, 2010
NORTHFACE- Premise by Netflix. “In 1936, young German climbers Toni Kurz (Benno Fürmann) and Andreas Hinterstoisser (Florian Lukas) face off against a rival Austrian duo in an attempt to be the first team to scale the infamous north face of the Eiger in the Swiss Alps. As the men make the treacherous climb, journalist Luise (Johanna Wokalek) — Toni’s childhood love — covers the biggest story of her career. Philipp Stölzl helms this drama based on a true story.”
5/10- Interesting and suspenseful. I liked the juxtaposition of what’s primitive on the mountain and what’s elegant at the hotel where everybody is waiting for them to complete the climb. Try not to be upset at the melodramatic ending. I liked it. TRDB.
Tags: docudrama
April 26th, 2010
TETRO- Premise by Netflix. “Francis Ford Coppola writes, directs and produces this captivating drama that centers on the relationship between Bennie (Alden Ehrenreich) and Tetro (Vincent Gallo), two brothers who reunite in Buenos Aires after a 10-year estrangement. Maribel Verdu, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Carmen Maura and Rodrigo de la Serna also star in this moving tale loosely inspired by Coppola’s own experiences growing up in a creative Argentine-Italian family.” Very good reviews.
5/10- I found this movie very creative and while a bit too long I did enjoy it. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
April 24th, 2010
TOKYO SONATA- Premise by Netflix. “From Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa comes a drama about the Sasakis, an ordinary Japanese family living a bucolic life — until the father is abruptly laid off from his job and decides to keep the news from his wife and kids. Soon, the father’s sense of shame, and the indignity he faces while passing each day in the park in his suit and tie, quickly turns into a rage that proves to hold irrevocable consequences for all concerned.” Excellent reviews.
5/10-An interesting and also very poignant family study. Worth seeing. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
April 24th, 2010
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