Posts filed under 'Drama'
ALBATROSS- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Aspiring writer Emelia has been bought up by her grandparents and is under the impression that she is the great granddaughter of renowned novelist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Jonathan sees promise in Emelia and begins to tutor her, as Beth becomes enamoured with her forthright friend and decides to take her along on a visit to Oxford University – with hilariously raucous results. As Emelia’s confidence and free-spirit help Beth learn to enjoy life beyond, Emelia too is inspired by Beth’s determination to focus and she begins to see a way to break through her self-destructive tendencies. However, when Emelia and Jonathan begin an illicit affair, the girls’ friendship is threatened. Can Emelia and Beth escape the ties of small town existence and free themselves of the Albatross around their necks?” Weak early reviews. TRDB.
1/13/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Tags: drama
December 28th, 2011
ROADIE- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this taut drama, middle-aged Jimmy Testagross loses his gig as roadie for a has-been rock band and moves back in with his ailing mother. With no job or skills, Jimmy must find a way to let go of his overextended adolescence and become his own man.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
1/6/12- Review is fair at best in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4/9/12- A good story and I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
December 28th, 2011
NORWEGIAN WOOD- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in 1969 Tokyo, this melancholic tale centers on serious young college freshman Toru Watanabe (Ken’ichi Matsuyama), whose developing relationship with childhood friend Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi) drags into the present a terrible event both would rather bury. While Naoko begins to withdraw, Toru awakens to the political and cultural tumult around him, and when he meets the intriguing Midori (Kiko Mizuhara), Toru must confront his own uncertain heart.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
1/6/12- Fair review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
7/7/12- This film was way too slow, even for me. There was no life to any of the characters. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 28th, 2011
ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A body has been buried in the grasslands of rural Turkey. Over the course of one night, a doctor and a detective from a nearby town join a search effort in which the desolate landscape comes to symbolize their own solemn, insular lives.” Very good professional reviews but so far audiences just so-so. TRDB.
1/4/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/27/12- This movie was as slow as frozen molasses. Very little happened but for some reason I stuck in out and actually enjoyed it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 28th, 2011
RESTLESS CITY- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Aspiring musician Djibril (Alassane Sy) hopes to make it in New York City in this fresh take on the Horatio Alger narrative from director Andrew Dosunmu. Djibril’s life takes a turn toward more meaning when he meets Trini (Sky Grey), a prostitute controlled by loan shark Bekay (Anthony Okungbowa). Together they do all they can to escape the lure of the street in order to legitimately achieve the American dream.” Very good reviews and it’s mentioned in the NY Times on 12/25/11. TRDB.
Tags: drama
December 25th, 2011
PINA- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Wim Wenders uses 3D technology to arresting effect in this performance documentary about Pina Baussch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal dance company. Performing in the streets and parks of Wuppertal, Germany, the troupe’s pieces include “The Rite of Spring.”
12/23/11- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2/15/12- An amazing experience!! The dancing– c’est magnifique!!! TRDB. At the Theater.
Tags: dance, drama
December 23rd, 2011
THE FLOWERS OF WAR- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1937, as the Japanese army brutally invades the Chinese city of Nanking, an American mortician is trapped inside a western cathedral and vows to protect a group of young schoolgirls and 13 courtesans who are seeking refuge from the soldiers.” Awful professional reviews but audiences appear to like it. TRDB.
8/3/12- Ridiculous movie that seemed “made for TV only worse.” I turned it off fairly quickly. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
December 21st, 2011
A SEPARATION- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “An Iranian husband and wife split up over his decision to stay and care for his aging father instead of leaving the country with his family. But his fateful choice to hire a stranger to do most of the caretaking breeds unexpected consequences.” Very good reviews and indeed on the top ten list of at least one reviewer I’ve read. TRDB.
12/30/11- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
1/13/12- I saw this at the Palm Springs Film Festival 2012 and liked it but not as much as most of my friends. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 20th, 2011
THE IRON LADY- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Meryl Streep provides a subtle and nuanced portrait of Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister of Britain, whose political career and determination changed the rules that had limited women’s opportunities for leadership.”
12/30/11- A weak review in today’s NY Times and by many others as well. TRDB.
4/12/12- Not as bad as some made it out to be but clearly the movie’s vantage point of Thatcher’s later years was hard to understand. I enjoyed a few of the history lessons and a great Meryl Streep. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
December 20th, 2011
DOWN TO THE BONE- 2004. Synopsis by Netflix. “Irene (Vera Farmiga), a drug-addled, working-class mother of two, decides to check herself into a rehab center in upstate New York, where she meets and falls in love with a fellow addict (Hugh Dillon) who’s working hard to mend his ways. But when one of them relapses into addiction, can their commitment to each other prevail over the lure of narcotics? Debra Granik won the Director’s Award and Farmiga won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance.” I liked this movie very much with a great Farmiga. TRDB.
Tags: drama
December 20th, 2011
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