THIS IS 40- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Writer-director Judd Apatow revisits Knocked Up’s married couple Pete and Debbie in this sequel as the pair wrestles with parenthood, keeping romance alive and the realities of getting older.”
12/21/12- A good review in today’s NY Times but fair reviews elsewhere. TRDB.
Add comment December 22nd, 2012
OLD GOATS- 2010. Synopsis by IMDB. “Old Goats is a comedy that features three elderly men playing themselves, but within a fictional framework. The story blends fiction and reality. Britt lives alone on a boat and searches for excitement and romance in his life. Bob writes a book of memoirs about his life as a soldier, para-trooper, and bush pilot, but is uneasy about revealing his sins as a younger man. David is struggling to adapt into retired life while living with his bossy wife. The story is about each man’s attempt to change his ways.
12/20/12- An interesting premise and interesting quirky characters but I found the movie way too slow, I was exhausted from the day, and I drifted several times. The couple we went with liked it more. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment December 21st, 2012
THE GUILT TRIP- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Andy Brewster invents a fabulous new organic cleaner, he goes on a cross-country road trip to promote it. His mother, Joyce, comes along for the ride but soon discovers that her son has an ulterior motive: fixing her up with a long-lost flame.”
12/19/12- A barely fair review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment December 19th, 2012
PROMISED LAND- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taking advantage of hard economic times, two salespeople for a natural gas company come to a small town to buy drilling rights from the residents. To their surprise, a local schoolteacher mobilizes a campaign aimed at blocking the company’s plans.”
Fair early reviews. TRDB.
12/28/12- A mixed review in today’s NY Times but, overall, the reviewer did like it. TRDB.
6/7/13- Interesting enough film about a current topic. I liked Matt Damon in the role but found it hard to believe the ending. TRDB.
Add comment December 17th, 2012
LUV- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This indie drama portrays a single day shared by an 11-year-old boy and his uncle, who’s recently rejoined the world after eight years in prison. When the older Vincent brings young Woody along on business, fresh lessons in life await them both.”
1/18/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment December 17th, 2012
LES MISERABLES- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “The musical version of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of love and sacrifice, first produced for the stage in 1985, now receives the big-screen treatment. The bloody era of the French Revolution is the backdrop to Jean Valjean’s long struggle for redemption.”
Fairly good reviews even as some critics complained that the movie was poorly directed. TRDB.
12/25/12- I enjoyed this movie very much even though I generally have trouble getting into musicals on the screen. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment December 17th, 2012
DJANGO UNCHAINED- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Accompanied by a German bounty hunter, a freed slave named Django travels across America to free his wife from a sadistic plantation owner. Quentin Tarantino directs this modern-day spaghetti Western.”
Excellent reviews. TRDB.
4/23/13- A way over the top Western by the master of violence. It took me a while to get used to this movie but in the end I thought it was OK. TRDB.
Add comment December 17th, 2012
YELLING TO THE SKY- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Rocker Lenny Kravitz’s daughter, Zoë, stars in this independent coming-of-age tale as Sweetness O’Hara, a conflicted teen trying to reconcile her purposeful dreams with the realities of her violent surroundings.”
12/14/12- The Times liked this movie in today’s review. Many other critics have not liked it very much. TRDB.
Add comment December 15th, 2012
THE GIRL- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “While transporting illegal immigrants across the Texas border, a cash-strapped single mother finds herself caring for a young Mexican girl. Along the way, she’s forced to reexamine her life with a critical eye.”
12/14/12- Fair reviews in today’s NY Times and by other professional critics as well. Audiences have not liked this film. TRDB.
12/6/13- Weak reviews but I found it interesting and I got into the story. TRDB.
Add comment December 15th, 2012
STAND UP GUYS- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This tough-guy comedy follows the rambunctious reunion between three retired gangsters and their reminiscences of wild times and crimes gone by. Energized by their own memories, the drunken friends unwisely undertake a reckless criminal adventure.”
12/14/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere. TRDB.
Add comment December 15th, 2012