FILM REVIEWS #466
August 8th, 2013
7/12/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
7/27/13- I liked this movie very much but it was one of the most troubling films I’ve ever sat through. TRDB.
2) FRUITVALE STATION– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic rendering of a real-life tragedy recounts the final hours of Oscar Grant, shot by San Francisco transit police on New Year’s Day, 2009. In portraying the energy Oscar brought to life, the film mourns the tragic loss of a unique soul.”
6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
7/12-13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/4/13- An excellent movie with great acting from a true story a few years ago. My only objection was some difficulty understanding the conversation at times. TRDB.
3) BLUE JASMINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”
7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.
8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great but after the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. Good but not great. TRDB.
3/15/13- The NY Times liked this movie in today’s review but most critics did not. TRDB.
7/24/13- I just couldn’t get into this movie and turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
2) INTO THE WHITE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the early days of World War II, two military airplanes — one British and one German — are shot down over Norway. Now, the crews of both aircraft are forced to work together in a desperate attempt to survive the harsh winter conditions.”
3/30/13- Mixed reviews but none said that it was very good. TRDB.
7/24/13- I did not like this movie and I turned it off quickly. TRDB. Netflix.
3) GRACELAND– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When criminals accidentally abduct the daughter of chauffeur Marlon Villar instead of the daughter of his longtime boss Manuel Chango, a corrupt Filipino politician, Marlon finds himself caught up in a nightmare of deception and betrayal.”
4/26/13- Very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
7/29/13- A very tense, well acted drama that exposes the sex trade in Manila along with the corruption in daily life. TRDB. Netflix.
4) WOODY ALLEN: A DOCUMENTARY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Iconic and influential director-writer-comedian Woody Allen granted unprecedented access for this in-depth profile of his award-winning career and controversial personal life. Highlights include interviews with collaborators and noted film critics.”
8/1/13- I really enjoyed this documentary and I laughed a lot as well. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
5) NEIGHBORING SOUNDS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A disparate group of upper-middle-class neighbors, including a lonely housewife and a proud grandfather, fear that their apartment building will be overrun by criminals and hire a private security firm, but the watchmen only heighten the problem.”
Here’s what IMDB had to say– “Life in a middle-class neighborhood in present day Recife, Brazil, takes an unexpected turn after the arrival of an independent private security firm. The presence of these men brings a sense of safety and a good deal of anxiety to a culture which runs on fear. Meanwhile, Bia, married and mother of two, must find a way to deal with the constant barking and howling of her neighbor’s dog. A slice of ‘Braziliana’, a reflection on history, violence and noise.”
Very good reviews for this Brazilian movie that was described (not reviewed) in the Arts and Leisure section of the 8/19/12 NY Times. TRDB.
8/5/13- A good cross section of life in Recife, Brazil and the movie was enjoyable if not great. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
6) CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) met in high school, married young and are growing apart. Now thirty, Celeste is the driven owner of her own media consulting firm, Jesse is once again unemployed and in no particular rush to do anything with his life. Celeste is convinced that divorcing Jesse is the right thing to do — she is on her way up, he is on his way nowhere, and if they do it now instead of later, they can remain supportive friends. Jesse passively accepts this transition into friendship, even though he is still in love with her. As the reality of their separation sets in, Celeste slowly and painfully realizes she has been cavalier about their relationship, and her decision, which once seemed mature and progressive, now seems impulsive and selfish. But her timing with Jesse is less than fortuitous…”
Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
8/3/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/8/13- This movie had a few interesting ideas but it was mainly stupid and annoying and I eventually turned it off. TRDB.
2) I KILLED MY MOTHER– 2009. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Hubert Minel, a brash 17 year old, dislikes his mother intensely. He gauges her with contempt, only seeing her out-of-date sweater, her kitschy décor and the vile bread crumbs that lodge in the corners of her noisy mouth. Below the surface of these irritating traits, lie the ingrained mechanisms that his mother has always cultivated so dearly – manipulation and guilt. Hubert, confused and torn by a love-hate relationship that obsesses him more and more each day, wanders in and out of an adolescence that is both marginal an typical, combining artistic discovery, openness to friendship, ostracism, and sex. All the while, he is consumed by his all encompassing contempt for this woman he somehow once loved.”
3/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. Other critics have liked it as well. TRDB.
3) 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.
4) THE COMPANY YOU KEEP– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Robert Redford stars as Jim Grant, a lawyer and single dad who has to go on the lam after a reporter identifies him as a long-sought U.S. terrorist. As the journalist locates more of Grant’s old contacts, his guilt begins to appear less certain.”
3/21/13- Fairly good reviews for this Robert Redford movie. TRDB.
4/5/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4/19/13- I liked the movie but I felt that there was very little new information here and that I had seen this all before. I think that the talent (and plenty of it) was better than the screenplay. And what’s with the Hollywood ending? TRDB.
5) 42– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This biopic focuses on the relationship between baseball icon Jackie Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson and in 1947 made him the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era.”
4/12/13- Today’s NY Times gave this movie an OK review basically saying that the movie was good but that it fell into the “hero worship” category. TRDB.
4/19/13- Very disappointed! I really wanted to like this movie but, as written by one critic, it was a superficial historical tribute with very little about the man himself. TRDB.
6) ERRORS OF THE HUMAN BODY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After his infant son dies from a rare genetic mutation, Dr. Geoff Burton moves to Germany to continue his work on a regenerative drug that might have saved the boy’s life. But he soon suspects that something is afoot with his new colleagues.”
4/9/13- I read just 2 reviews and they were both good. TRDB.
7) THE BIG WEDDING– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A long-divorced couple feigns years of wedded bliss to please a special guest at their son’s nuptials: his birth mother. As the hoax spins out of control among family and friends, it leaves behind a poignant and funny tale about the ties that bind.”
4/26/13- A miserable review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8)WHAT MAISIE KNEW– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this updated rendering of the timeless Henry James novel, a perceptive 6-year-old girl becomes a bargaining tool when she gets caught in the midst of a toxic custody fight between her self-seeking, childish parents.”
5/3/13- Great review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews in general. TRDB.
6/21/13- This very good movie was also very difficult to watch most of the time. It was well acted and you have to enjoy the spirit of Maisie who always seemed to “go with it” despite what went on around her. A bit of a Hollywood ending! TRDB.
9) A BAND CALLED DEATH– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blending a larger-than-life family story and a rock documentary, this film follows David, Bobby and Dannis Hackney, three teenage brothers from Detroit who founded the band Death, commonly regarded as the first black punk group, in the early 1970s”
6/14/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.
6/28/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews from almost all critics as well. TRDB.
2) BORN TO ROYALTY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this insightful documentary, we celebrate the birth of William and Kate’s baby, the great-grandchild of Elizabeth II with a fascinating portrait of the life that lies ahead for the child who is born to reign.”
7/19/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3) BROKEN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this poignant coming-of-age tale, Skunk, a precocious and diabetic 11-year-old, lives happily with her brother and widower father in a suburban English neighborhood until an act of violence initiates her into the often-baffling world of adulthood.”
7/19/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from others. TRDB.
4) CENTRO HISTORICO– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This new omnibus film, a remarkably successful example of a famously cursed form, brings together short films by four renowned and legendary filmmakers – Aki Kaurismäki, Pedro Costa, Víctor Erice, and Manoel de Oliveira. Though unified by a common theme – the producers asked each filmmaker to take their inspiration from the Portuguese city of Guimarães, the European Cultural Capital for 2012, and in particular to reflect on “the stories the city has to tell” – these four short films are radically different from each other. As a whole, CENTRO HISTÓRICO encompasses four unique and varied perspectives on an ancient European city, as well as demonstrating the thrillingly varied range of sensibilities of these visionary filmmakers.”
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
5) COLOSSUS– 2013. CLARK LARSON (played by Hendrickson), who spent the last 17 years wheeling and dealing in Russia’s twilight of commerce and graft. Now, at the top of his game and before his soul has completely vanished, he decides to “give back” something in return for all he has taken: a film as cautionary tale to illustrate and instruct the audience in “the power of bullshit, lies and intimidation”. To teach this lesson and post this warning, Hendrickson sets out (with no money) to invent a heavy-metal artificial rock band, launch its first national tour across Russia, and make a film to tell the tale.”
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6) COPPERHEAD– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Believing that the North can’t win the Civil War, upstate New York farmer Abner Beech advocates for a negotiated peace with the South. Though Beech earns the violent disapproval of his neighbors, he demands his right to free speech.”
7/19/13- Poor review in today’s NY Times and from most others as well. TRDB.
7) EVIDENCE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A massacre has just occurred in the desert outside of Los Angeles. With no other evidence, two detectives must analyze the found footage collected from the victims’ personal electronic devices to piece together the identity of the killer.”
7/19/13- Poor reviews from everyone including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8)ONLY GOD FORGIVES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ryan Gosling stars as British gangster Julian, who runs a Bangkok fight club, and Kristin Scott Thomas plays his crime-boss mom in this action thriller. When a cop kills Julian’s brother, the family matriarch flies in from London to oversee revenge.”
7/19/13- Awful review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
9) NICKY’S FAMILY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Prior to World War II, Briton Nicholas Winton masterminded the rescue of more than 600 Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Prague. This emotional documentary recounts Winton’s selfless heroics as well as his 50-year silence about his efforts.”
7/19/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10) ICEBERG SLIM: PORTRAIT OF A PIMP– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blending archival elements with recent interviews, this biographical portrait tells the remarkable tale of pimp turned author Iceberg Slim, whose gritty books based on his life became bona fide literature.”
7/19/13- Mixed reviews at best including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
11) LA PLAYA D.C.- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Driven from their hometown by civil war, three young Colombian brothers make their way to the capital city of Bogota to try and survive there. One of them, Tomas, learns the barbershop trade while doing his best to keep his brothers out of trouble.”
7/19/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
12) THE ROMEOS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Meet the ROMEOWS (Retired Older Men Eating Out Wednesdays), college buddies now in their 70s who refuse to grow old gracefully. This spirited doc joins the guys as they share a meal, give one another grief and defy every aging myth in the book.”
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times for this documentary. TRDB.
13) THE ROOFTOP- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Gao and his friends are the happiest kids in the city of Galilee. Living on the rooftops of this bustling metropolis, sometimes life can be tough – but they still churn out songs all day, and dance under the stars at night. But when Gao meets his dream girl, a billboard beauty named Sian, fate takes him on a wild ride through romance, friendship, and gang rivalry, all told through enchanting melodies and stunning dance numbers.”
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
14) WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Twelve-year-old Sam has a long list of things he want to learn and do — and not much time to accomplish them, thanks to a leukemia diagnosis. This warm-hearted drama follows Sam as he unravels the secrets of his life and his approaching death.”
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
JULY 26-
1) BREAKING THE GIRLS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “College sophomores Sara and Alex, roommates who’ve become intimate, idly joke about killing each other’s enemies. But now someone’s been murdered. Was one of them taking things too far, or is someone else playing a deadly game with the lovers?”
7/26/13- Poor reviews all around, including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) BLUE JASMINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”
7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.
8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great but after the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. Good but not great. TRDB.
3) DRUG WAR– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an illegal-drug manufacturer gets arrested after a wild attempt to evade capture, police captain Zhang Lei senses an opportunity. But after convincing the man to betray his own cronies, Zhang wonders if he’s not the one being played.”
7/26/13- This movie really sounded stupid but it’s actually gotten some good reviews including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4) FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As they push into Germany near the end of World War II, Russian troops discover that the Nazis have used the research of legendary scientist Victor Frankenstein to create monstrous new soldiers that are pieced together from body parts of the dead.”
7/16/13- Some good reviews including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5) NEANDER-JIN: THE RETURN OF THE NEANDERTHAL MAN– Synopsis by Netflix. “When a Neanderthal man suddenly appears in her back yard, Barbara realizes his importance and strives to protect him from exploitation. But things get a bit complicated when she discovers that she has romantic feelings for the big lug.”
7/26/13- An awful review in today’s NY Times but other critics have liked it. TRDB.
6) POSTALES– 2010- Synopsis by Netflix. “This cross-cultural drama brings together the lives of two very different families — American and Peruvian — in the dusty village of Cusco, Peru, via an encounter between a local street urchin and a young American tourist.”
7/26/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
7) RED TIDE– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Red tide, a toxic algae bloom, infiltrates a small Florida town leaving its economy in ruin, and forcing the local fishermen and divers to do whatever they can to make a living. Alex Nikoladis returns home from prison to find that his older brother is wrapped up in a world of drugs, lies and denial. Now Alex’s only hope for redemption from his rebellious past is to rescue his brother and return to the family trade of sponge diving, that is, without drowning in the red tide himself.”
7/26/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8)STRANDED– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being bombarded by a meteor shower, the crew of a lunar space station discovers the meteors harbor alien spores, which replicate and mutate into a shape-shifting predatory life form hell-bent on destroying the astronauts one by one.”
7/26/13- Poor review in today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.
9) THE TO DO LIST– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this racy ensemble comedy, sexually inexperienced high school graduate Brandy Klark comes up with a list of erotic activities she’d like to work her way through before heading off to college in the fall.”
7/26/13- A surprisingly good review good review in today’s NY Times but only fair ones in general. TRDB.
10) WASTELAND– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Looking for seed money for a business venture — and some retribution — recent parolee Harvey Miller teams with his three best friends to rob Steven Roper, the drug lord responsible for Harvey’s stint behind bars.
7/26/13- A decent review in today’s NY Times but other critics have not been as kind. TRDB.
11) THE WOLVERINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Enigmatic superhero Wolverine travels to the Land of the Rising Sun in this kaleidoscopic battle epic based on the Marvel Comics character. There, Wolverine confronts his long-time adversary Logan in a spectacular battle that rattles the universe.”
7/26/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
AUGUST 2-
1) THE CANYONS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While calculating young movie producer Christian makes films to keep his trust fund intact, his actress girlfriend, Tara, hides an affair. But a chance meeting thrusts them into a violent, sexually-charged tour through the dark side of human nature.”
8/2/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and similar reviews elsewhere. TRDB.
2) BREAKUP AT A WEDDING– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “On the eve of their wedding, Alison gets cold feet and decides to break up with her fiancé Phil. But rather than face the embarrassment of calling off the ceremony, Alison suggests to Phil that they proceed with a sham wedding.”
8/2/13- A barely OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3) COCKNEYS VS. ZOMBIES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an attempt to save their granddad’s old age home, slacker Cockneys Terry and Andy team up with three friends to rob a bank. But their caper goes awry when they run afoul of a horde of hungry zombies, who then do battle with the feisty pensioners.”
8/2/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and OK reviews in general. TRDB.
4) JAMEL SHABAZZ STREET PHOTOGRAPHER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “New York street culture photographer Jamel Shabazz’s images defined the visual impact of hip-hop culture, a style that quickly led to mainstream success. This character-rich documentary includes interviews with musicians and historians of the 1970s.”
8/2/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and a few good reviews from other sources. TRDB.
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2) I GIVE IT A YEAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this romantic comedy, newlyweds Nat and Josh find their marriage beginning to fall apart almost immediately after their fairy tale wedding. The couple seeks the advice of a counselor, but both are also tempted by old and new lovers.”
8/3/13- I’ve seen several reviews and they are mixed. TRDB.
3) LOVELACE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Amanda Seyfried stars as adult film icon Linda Lovelace, a woman coerced into and abused by the porn industry before taking charge of her life. The supporting cast includes all manner of Hollywood A-listers stepping into meaty roles.”
8/2/13- Mixed reviews. TRDB.
4) PRINCE AVALANCHE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While repainting traffic lines along a burnt-out stretch of rural highway, a mismatched pair — straightlaced Alvin and his girlfriend’s harebrained brother, Lance — form an unlikely bond that builds upon their differences.”
8/3/13- Good reviews all around. TRDB.
5) WE’RE THE MILLERS– Synopsis by Netflix. “When a small-time pot dealer gets mugged, he needs to find a way to pay back his supplier. Agreeing to smuggle in a major stash from Mexico, he rounds up a fake family to act as his cover, and they head for the border in an RV.”
8/7/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and from nearly everyone else as well. TRDB.
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) THE CANYONS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While calculating young movie producer Christian makes films to keep his trust fund intact, his actress girlfriend, Tara, hides an affair. But a chance meeting thrusts them into a violent, sexually-charged tour through the dark side of human nature.”
8/2/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and similar reviews elsewhere. TRDB.
3) I GIVE IT A YEAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this romantic comedy, newlyweds Nat and Josh find their marriage beginning to fall apart almost immediately after their fairy tale wedding. The couple seeks the advice of a counselor, but both are also tempted by old and new lovers.”
8/3/13- I’ve seen several reviews and they are mixed. TRDB.
10) GRACELAND- I liked this movie
DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great but after the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. Good but not great. TRDB.
2) STILL MINE– Bethel. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “His home in disrepair, elderly farmer Craig Morrison must build a better shelter for his wife, whose health is deteriorating rapidly. He faces the wrath of an overzealous government inspector but refuses to back down.”
6/27/13- Great reviews. TRDB.
7/19/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4) FRUITVALE STATION– Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic rendering of a real-life tragedy recounts the final hours of Oscar Grant, shot by San Francisco transit police on New Year’s Day, 2009. In portraying the energy Oscar brought to life, the film mourns the tragic loss of a unique soul.”
6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
7/12-13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/4/13- An excellent movie with great acting from a true story a few years ago. My only objection was some difficulty understanding the conversation at times. TRDB.
5) BLACKFISH– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fascinating documentary examines the life of performing killer whale Tilikum — who has caused the deaths of several people while in captivity — and questions the safety and humaneness of confining these intelligent creatures.”
7/3/13- Just a few reviews and they are all good. TRDB.
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
7) THE ATTACK– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “An Arab Israeli physician offers assistance at the scene of a gruesome suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and then learns that the bomber was his own wife. Stunned and furious, he sets out to confront the people who encouraged her deadly decision.”
6/7/13- Only a few reviews so far but they are all excellent. TRDB.
6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6/30/13- A riveting thriller that according to one critic is about politics, love and betrayal. I can’t agree more. TRDB.
For Independent Films in Palm Beach County go to www.lakeworthplayhouse.org
For Films everywhere go to- www.fandango.com
Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters
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