Posts filed under 'Drama'
SOMEWHERE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Set amid the hallowed grounds of Hollywood’s legendary Chateau Marmont, this atmospheric dramedy centers on a hard-living actor (Stephen Dorff) whose life is thrown for a loop when his 11-year-old daughter (Elle Fanning) pays him a surprise visit. Written and directed by Academy Award-nominee Sofia Coppola (Lost In Translation, Marie Antoinette), this character-driven film also features Benicio Del Toro and Chris Pontius of MTV’s “Jackass.” Some very good reviews along with some really bad ones too. Very good review in NY Times on 12/22/10.
5/30/11- The film had some extended camera shots of essentially very little happening but it was a good portrayal of the loneliness that being famous can not cure. I’d recommend it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
December 4th, 2010
COUNTRY STRONG- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “While out on tour to revive her stalled career, once-popular country singer Kelly (Gwyneth Paltrow) falls for emerging newcomer Beau (Garrett Hedlund) and tries desperately to hide their burgeoning romance from her ever-present husband and manager, Ed (Tim McGraw). Written and directed by Shana Feste, this musical drama co-stars Leighton Meester as a former beauty queen trying to break out as a songstress.” Fair reviews at best.
5/24/11- Despite the poor reviews I loved the music and managed through the dialogue. I’d recommend it if you like C&W music. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
December 4th, 2010
THE KING’S SPEECH- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Tom Hooper directs this drama based on the true story of Britain’s King George VI (Colin Firth), a man who for years struggled with a nervous disposition and an embarrassing stutter — until he seeks help from unorthodox Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Logue’s pioneering treatment and unlikely friendship give the royal leader a sense of confidence that serves him and his country well during the dark days of World War II. Very good reviews.
12/10- While I enjoyed this film I felt the “Hollywood Effect” throughout most of the nearly 2 hours. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama
November 21st, 2010
TODAY’S SPECIAL- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “After he gets passed over for promotion, haute cuisine sous chef Samir (Aasif Mandvi) quits to pursue his dream of cooking in Paris, but an emergency forces him to take over his family’s shabby Indian restaurant in Queens. Taxi driver-turned-chef Akbar (Naseeruddin Shah) shares his passion for Indian food with Samir, whose romance with fellow chef Carrie (Jess Weixler) fuels his desire to prove himself and save the restaurant.”
Fair review in NY Times 11/19/10. Good reviews in general. TRDB.
2/24/12- A lightweight Hollywood/Bollywood that did have some merit. I watched it through. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama
November 20th, 2010
NOTHING PERSONAL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In this moody drama from Polish director Urszula Antoniak, Anne (Lotte Verbeek) is a loner and a drifter, hitching rides through the Irish countryside, until she comes across an isolated cabin and strikes up an uneasy relationship with its owner (Stephen Rea). Each one has something to offer the other — the solace of his cabin, her welcome companionship — and in time, they begin to trust and even care for one another.” Good review in NY Times 11/19/10.
10/8/11- Interesting and very different even by my standards. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 20th, 2010
ME, TOO- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Proving everyone is equal in their need for — and ability to feel — love, Daniel (Pablo Pinedo), a thirtysomething office worker with Down’s syndrome, embarks on a romance with Laura (Lola Dueñas), a neurotic but “normal” co-worker. Despite their apparent differences, Laura is attracted to Daniel, who is the first European with Down’s to graduate from a university. Álvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro co-directed this touching, thoughtful drama.” Good early reviews. NY Times liked it- 11/19/10.
9/6/11- A wonderful movie about people accepting people for who and what they are. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 15th, 2010
TINY FURNITURE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When twenty-something film theory major Aura (Lena Dunham) returns home after college to live with her artist mother in TriBeCa, she confronts a long list of personal and professional failures and wonders whether her dismal past will become her future. It’s an early midlife crisis for sure, but there’s hope on the horizon if Aura can figure out who she is and what she’s really meant to do. Dunham also wrote and directed this wry comedy.” OK review in NY Times on 11/12/10. Some friends hated it.
2/4/12- I liked the characters and the script and enjoyed the movie. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama
November 12th, 2010
CHERRY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Brilliant but naïve Ivy League freshman Aaron (Kyle Gallner) becomes enchanted by free-spirited older student Linda (Laura Allen) — and when she invites him for dinner, he hopes they hook up. But it turns out Linda’s spunky 14-year-old daughter, Beth (Brittany Robertson), takes a liking to him. As he fends off Beth’s aggressive advances, Aaron finds himself in the middle of an unusual emotional triangle that teaches him some unexpected lessons.” OK reviw in NY Times on 11/5/10.
9/16/11- Formulaic for most of the movie but surprisingly interesting in others, particularly the young daughter’s personality. I have to say that I did like it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama
November 5th, 2010
GUY AND MADELINE ON A PARK BENCH- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Black-and-white verité meets the charm of the classic Hollywood musical in writer-director Damien Chazelle’s romantic drama about a jazz trumpeter named Guy (Jason Palmer) who’s perennially falling in and out of love. After connecting with the shy Madeline (Desiree Garcia), Guy embarks on a quest for a more gregarious paramour, but through a series of twists and turns punctuated by an original score, the two lovers reunite in the end.” Mixed reviews but a few said it was very interesting and very different. TRDB.
5/5/11- Unusual it was and I didn’t like it except for the musical numbers. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: Drama/Romance
October 11th, 2010
LEAVING- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Bored with her life of leisure, Suzanne (Kristin Scott Thomas) decides to reestablish her career as a physiotherapist. But first, she’ll need an office … and that’s where her troubles begin in this drama from Catherine Corsini. As soon as Suzanne meets the man her husband hired to construct her backyard office, she falls hard — and the attraction is mutual … and dangerous. Sergi López and Yvan Attal co-star.” Fair review in NY Times 10/1/10. Coming attractions looked good to me.
11/10- I found this film engrossing and not so difficult to believe as people make these types of decisions every day. I recommend it. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Tags: Drama/Romance
October 1st, 2010
Newer Posts
Older Posts