THE BOY FROM GEITA- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Adam, a young Tanzanian boy persecuted because of his albinism, finds a kindred spirit in Peter, a Canadian man with the same condition. Together they embark on an unlikely journey that transcends cultures and continents.”
10/16/15- Mixed reviews with one in particular saying how difficult this film was to watch. TRDB.
Add comment October 16th, 2015
BEASTS OF NO NATION- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name, this searing drama focuses on the stolen childhood of Agu, one of many young boys forced to take up arms in his West African nation’s brutal civil war.”
10/16/15- Very good reviews for this drama although a few critics said that it was repetitive. TRDB.
10/17/15- Very well done movie even though it feels like I’ve seen this a few times before. The kid was great. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment October 16th, 2015
THE ASSASSIN- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this action epic set in 9th-century China, Nie Yinniang is abducted at age 10 and trained to become an assassin who uses her skills to get rid of corrupt public officials — until she’s ordered to kill her beloved cousin.”
10/16/15- Generally good reviews but the reviewers stressed the beauty of the film rather than the plot. We’ll see what that means. TRDB.
Add comment October 16th, 2015
PARATISAN- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Raised in an isolated communal family led by the enigmatic and dictatorial Gregori, 11-year-old Alexander begins to question his surrogate father’s teachings — which doesn’t sit well with Gregori and soon leads to a growing conflict between them.”
10/14/15- Weak professional reviews but audiences liked it more. TRDB.
Add comment October 14th, 2015
LABYRINTH OF LIES- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1958, prosecutor Johann Radmann follows up on a reporter’s tip and uncovers a trail of evidence connecting a host of public-sector employees to atrocities perpetrated at the Auschwitz concentration camp during Germany’s murderous Nazi regime.”
10/13/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
10/29/15- Very well done and very realistic as well. This movie from Germany is yet another example of Germany’s attempt to come to grips with its past. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment October 13th, 2015
BRIDGE OF SPIES- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “At the height of the Cold War in 1960, the downing of an American spy plane and the pilot’s subsequent capture by the Soviets draws Brooklyn attorney James Donovan Tom Hanks) into the middle of an intense effort to secure the aviator’s release.”
10/11/15- Excellent reviews for this drama/mystery. TRDB.
10/17/15- I enjoyed this cold war spy thriller, even with the few touches of Hollywood thrown in by Steven Spielberg. Also, I read that the Tom Hanks character, portrayed as a novice, actually had been involved in the Nuremberg trials. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment October 11th, 2015
ROOM- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being abducted, raped and imprisoned in a small windowless room, a young woman gives birth and is forced to raise her son, Jack, in the same improvised space. But after five years, Jack’s mother begins planning their escape.”
10/11/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
10/26/15- A splendid movie with wonderful acting and a great screenplay. The movie is fiction but there is ample precedent for this scenario. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment October 11th, 2015
TRUTH- 2015. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “On the morning of September 9, 2004, veteran CBS News producer MARY MAPES (Cate Blanchett) believed she had every reason to feel proud of a broadcast journalism job well done. By the end of the day, Mapes, CBS News, and the venerable CBS News anchor DAN RATHER (Robert Redford) would be under harsh scrutiny.”
10/11/15- Fair reviews at best. Cate Blanchett is noted in particular. TRDB.
11/8/15- I found the movie a bit tedious at times but I enjoyed the discussion of the difficult issues involved. I’d definitely recommend it. TRDB.
Add comment October 11th, 2015
UNBRANDED- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Intending to cross the United States from south to north on horseback, four friends saddle up their wild mustangs and begin a journey of self-discovery amid breathtaking vistas, uncovering some disquieting truths about the changing American West.”
10/9/15- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
Add comment October 9th, 2015
PAN- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fantasy drama based on J.M. Barrie’s beloved tale about ageless sprite Peter Pan is reset in World War II. With pirates still roaming the landscape, Peter is transported to the magical kingdom of Neverland, where he’s destined to become a hero.”
10/9/15- Poor reviews. TRDB.
Add comment October 9th, 2015