Posts filed under 'Drama'
DANBEROUS LIASONS- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A Chinese adaptation of the French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses begins with aging socialite Mo Jieyu (Cecilia Cheung) who finds herself circling ex-boyfriend Xie Yifan (Jang Dong-kun). Mo, the rich and charming widow with a taste for pleasures, still has eyes for famous womanizer Xie, who secretly burns with love for her. And yet, in his luxurious life, Xie’s new interest lies in chaste humanitarian Du Fenyu (Ziyi Zhang), who has captured his attention and earned his desire for conquest. Mo lures Xie into a treacherous, dangerous game of hearts: win, bed, and leave Du, proving his mettle as a rogue and impossible catch. But can Xie take the honor of such a woman, without losing his own heart, as well?
11/10/12- Very mixed reviews, in the NY Times and elsewhere. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 10th, 2012
COMING UP ROSES- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “COMING UP ROSES is a haunting coming-of-age story about a mother-daughter forced to choose between reality and fantasy, their love for each other and survival.”
11/9/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere. Audiences have liked it. TRDB.
Tags: drama
November 9th, 2012
OTELO BURNING- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Defying the law, three Zulu boys escape their harsh township lives through the joy of surfing. Overcoming his traditional fear of the water, Otelo Buthelezi discovers a natural talent, finding freedom on the waves. But in the turmoil of a country on the cusp of change, he is dragged down into a spiral of jealousy and violence. As Nelson Mandela finally walks free, Otelo must choose between two worlds. Otelo Burning is based on real events. It is a moving drama of courage, love, betrayal and hope.”
11/9/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 9th, 2012
A BOTTLE IN THE GAZA SEA- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Tal is a 17-year-old Frenchwoman who has settled in Jerusalem with her family. She writes a letter expressing her refusal to accept that only hatred can reign between Israelis and Palestinians. She slips the letter into a bottle, and her brother throws it into the sea near Gaza, where he is carrying out his military service. A few weeks later, Tal receives an e-mail response from a mysterious “Gazaman,” a young Palestinian named Naïm. And thus begins a turbulent but tender long-distance friendship between two young people that are separated by a history they are trying both to understand and change. This engrossing and hopeful drama starring Hiam Abbas is based on the award-winning novel by Valérie Zenatti.”
11/8/12- There is an article in today’s NY Times about this film that is playing in the “Other Israel Film Festival” in NY. TRDB.
1/4/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4/14/13- I felt that the characters were interesting, the acting was very good and the film conveyed a message of hope despite all of the misery involved. See this film if you get the chance. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 9th, 2012
THE INVISIBLE MEN- 2012. Synopsis by IMDB. “An untold side of the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict: gay Palestinians – Louie, Abdu and Fares – are hiding in Tel Aviv, and until they escape, they must remain ‘the invisible men’.”
11/8/12- There is an article about this movie in today’s NY Times (not a review). It is playing in the “Other Israel Film Festival” in NY and is about 2 gay Palestinians and how they do not fit into either society. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 9th, 2012
THE NORMALS- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “With a debt collector hot on his trail, Harvard graduate Billy Schine enrolls in a clinical drug trial to make a quick buck. Carted out of New York City in a shuttle full of oddball characters, Billy and the rest of the guinea pigs, affectionately referred to as “Normals,” camp out at hidden research facility. When not popping pills, being tagged, drained of blood, prodded, poked and color-coded, they are telling horror stories of previous tests or generally getting on each other’s nerves. As the test drags on, just being there starts to take its toll, and tensions build until the dam finally bursts. Billy realizes that there is no such thing as “normal.”
11/16/12- Mixed review in today’s NY Times. Audiences have liked this very much. TRDB.
Tags: drama
November 9th, 2012
PRICE CHECK- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “For Pete, settling down with a wife and son meant giving up his unstable musical career to work for a third-rate supermarket chain. A reform-minded new boss plans to make an executive out of Pete, who realizes he still harbors dreams of music fame.”
Fair early reviews. TRDB.
11/16/12- Today’s NY Times described a strong beginning and a weak ending for this movie. TRDB.
9/29/14- A funny and strong performance from Parker Posey make this movie. TRDB.
Tags: drama
November 9th, 2012
IN OUR NATURE- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Seth and Andie had the perfect weekend getaway planned, until a booking error put Seth’s estranged father and his girlfriend in the same condo. The four agree to make the best of the unexpected arrangement, with unexpected consequences for all.”
Fair early reviews. TRDB.
12/7/12- The NY Times called it a bit dull in today’s review but it did sound interesting to me. TRDB.
3/27/13- I enjoyed the movie and felt it was a good depiction of a dysfunctional family. TRDB.
Tags: drama
November 9th, 2012
CAFE DE FLORE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two dramatic narratives weave together in a meditation on human love. Set decades apart in Paris and in Montreal, the two stories share subtle yet profound links through their characters — a mother and son, and a divorced couple.”
Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
5/16/18– I could not get into this movie and I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix disc.
Tags: drama
November 9th, 2012
ANNA KARENINA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar winner Tom Stoppard penned this adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel, which stars Keira Knightley as the titular 19th-century Russian aristocrat who enters into a passionate and forbidden love affair with the well-heeled Count Vronsky.”
OK early reviews in general but a few miserable ones as well. TRDB.
11/16/12- Basically a good review in today’s NY Times. I think the Times was disappointed. Others gave it mixed reviews, more good than bad. TRDB.
Tags: drama
November 9th, 2012
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