CLIP- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this intense and explicit indie, 16-year-old Jasna lives with her terminally ill father and depressed mother in Belgrade, where she tries to find fulfillment through partying, porn, drugs and a debilitating relationship with her abusive boyfriend.”
3/15/13- Mixed review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere with the Times calling in cheerless and voyeuristic. TRDB.
Add comment March 15th, 2013
THE KILL HOLE- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this gripping, lyrical meditation on war and the scars it leaves on those who fight, Lt. Samuel Drake is forced to face his violent past and forms an uneasy bond with the mysterious assassin he must confront in his quest for redemption.”
3/15/13- Awful reviews. TRDB.
Add comment March 15th, 2013
MARIACHI GRINGO- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A stifled, small-town man stuck in a dead end life, runs away to Mexico to be a mariachi singer. MARIACHI GRINGO is a musical tour-de-force exploring the reality of “following your dreams” across cultural, personal, social and geographical borders.”
3/15/13- Today’s NY Times gave this a very good review. TRDB.
4/16/15- Miserable– I don’t know what the NY Times was thinking. TRDB.
Add comment March 15th, 2013
CRAZY AND THIEF- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Using a map of stars splashed on an envelope as her guide, a 7-year-old girl takes her 2-year-old brother on an adventure, creating a magical mythology. Their discoveries include a one-eyed “cyclops” who inspires them to search for a time machine.”
3/15/13- This movie was directed by the father of the 2 children who star. Awful reviews all over. TRDB.
Add comment March 15th, 2013
REALITY- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jovial fishmonger and small-time con artist Luciano hopes to enrich his humble family by participating in the Italian version of “Big Brother,” but his obsession with appearing to be an ideal contestant soon has his family doubting his sanity.”
3/15/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
Add comment March 15th, 2013
IF I WERE YOU- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a bungled plot to pay back her husband’s infidelity, a jilted wife finds herself forced to star as King Lear in a spectacularly terrible production, with her husband’s younger lover playing the role of the king’s fool.”
3/15/13- Bad review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere. TRDB.
Add comment March 15th, 2013
SPRING BREAKERS- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After four college girls rob a fast food joint to fund their spring break in Florida, they hit the road and wind up in jail and hungover. They’re bailed out by a deeply weird dude named Alien, who demands their help with his own criminal enterprises.”
3/15/13- This movie got an OK review in today’s NY Times and from others as well although it sounded pretty stupid from the description. TRDB.
Add comment March 15th, 2013
THE SAPPHIRES- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “The spirit and vitality of 1960s soul music are at the core of this film about a real-life Australian aborigine singing group and their bumpy career. Three sisters and a cousin are brought together as the Sapphires by a talent scout with a plan”
3/14/13- Excellent reviews all around. TRDB.
3/22/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/19/13- Although one feels like they’ve seen this formulaic movie 100 times before it was still fun when the characters weren’t acting stupid. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment March 14th, 2013
MY BROTHER THE DEVIL- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a 14-year-old Arab living in London, Mo is desperate to make friends and worships his older brother, Rashid, a gregarious local gang member. But Mo eventually makes an ill-fated play to fit in that changes both brothers’ lives forever.”
3/14/13- Great reviews. TRDB.
3/22/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/6/13- An excellent depiction of the drug and gang culture, this time about the Egyptian Diaspora living in England. The movie is also about family and, in particular, brotherly love. Very good and I enjoyed it. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment March 14th, 2013
HUNKY DORY- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Minnie Driver plays a drama teacher who challenges her listless students to put on a pop-musical version of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” Set in 1976, the film features plenty of teen angst as well as the teacher’s search for a substitute Prospero.”
3/14/13- Early reviews are mixed but more positive than negative. TRDB.
3/22/13- The NY Times gave this movie an OK review today. TRDB.
Add comment March 14th, 2013