FILM REVIEWS #472
September 18th, 2013
9/15/13- I liked this movie very much. Great acting and a very touching story. TRDB.
6/7/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
9/13/13- I found the movie interesting and enjoyed it. TRDB. Netflix.
2) ORCHESTRA OF EXILES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This inspiring documentary focuses on Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman, who rescued hundreds of Jews from the holocaust and founded the globally renowned orchestra that would eventually become the Israel Philharmonic.”
10/26/12- Fairly good review in today’s NY Times and by most professional critics as well. Audiences have uniformly enjoyed it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
5/24/13- I liked this documentary very much as it once again showed the will of the Jewish people to not only live but to thrive as well. TRDB.
9/15/13- I saw this movie again in preparation for a talk I’m giving in Florida in October. I liked it just as much as last time. TRDB.
2) MY BROTHER THE DEVIL– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a 14-year-old Arab living in London, Mo is desperate to make friends and worships his older brother, Rashid, a gregarious local gang member. But Mo eventually makes an ill-fated play to fit in that changes both brothers’ lives forever.”
3/14/13- Great reviews. TRDB.
3/22/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3) THE KINGS OF SUMMER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Chafing under his widowed father’s control, Joe Toy invites a friend and an offbeat new kid to help him build his own house in the nearby woods. Now that the trio is finally free from parents and responsibility, what’s next?”
5/14/13- Great reviews!! TRDB.
4) IN THE HOUSE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Moved by mesmerizing prose, a teacher pushes a student with extraordinary gifts to keep on writing — even though he knows the young author’s research methods involve a serious invasion of privacy.”
4/19/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.
5) ROOM 237– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Exploring various theories about hidden meanings in Stanley Kubrick’s classic film The Shining, this fascinating documentary presents fans’ and conspiracy theorists’ ideas about messages regarding genocide, government conspiracy and history.”
3/18/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
6) REDEMPTION– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Back home after a harrowing tour in Afghanistan and haunted by his dark past, veteran Joey Jones takes on an assumed identity and tries to atone. But when his pregnant girlfriend is murdered, he must risk stepping into the light to get revenge.”
6/28/13- An equal number of good and bad reviews. The NY Times did not like it. TRDB.
THE FOLLOWING HAVE ALREADY BEEN RELEASED WITHOUT BEING NOTED-
1) THE GREAT GATSBY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Leonardo DiCaprio stars as literary icon Jay Gatsby in this adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. Fascinated by the mysterious, affluent Gatsby, his neighbor Nick Carraway bears witness to the man’s obsessive love and spiral into tragedy.”
5/10/13- The reviewer in today’s NY Times said that the movie was enjoyable but it didn’t seem to me as if he enjoyed it. Mixed reviews from other critics but audiences seem to have liked it. TRDB.
2) SONG FOR MARION (UNFINISHED SONG)- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his wife Marion terminally ill, 72-year-old Arthur sees a future that’s nothing but grim. But when he takes Marion’s place in their church’s very unconventional choir, he begins to find joy in life again.”
6/7/13- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
6/21/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
7/7/13- A very enjoyable movie about an older couple and their adjustment to old age. A bit schmaltzy at times but definitely worth seeing. TRDB.
3) THE MACHINE WHICH MAKES EVERYTHING DISAPPEAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Tinatin Gurchiani asked auditioning young actors to simply talk about themselves, and turned the engaging results into their own film. This series of mini-interviews creates a fascinating cross-section of Georgia’s young people.”
8/9/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.
1) AND WHILE WE WERE HERE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jane accompanies her cellist husband to Naples and spends her days trying to shake a case of writer’s block while he’s in rehearsal. She hoped the trip would help their troubled marriage, but she finds unexpected romance with a young American ex-pat.”
9/13/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews in general, more negative than positive. TRDB.
2) BLUE CAPRICE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In their lead-up to the infamous 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, John Muhammad and Lee Malvo embark on a nationwide trip, forming a deadly bond along the way that distorts the definition of a father-son relationship.”
9/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
3) THE FAMILY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The Manzonis, an infamous mob family, are relocated to Normandy, France, by the witness protection program, where they have some difficulty fitting in. When local problems arise, they respond the only way they know how: mafia style.”
9/13/13- Today’s NY Times gave this movie a good review with qualifications but nealy all other critics panned it. TRDB.
4) FOUR- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a middle-aged black man goes on a date with a young white man he met on the Internet, his teen daughter spends an evening with an ex-basketball star. But their attempts to make intimate connections are hindered by the secrets each holds.”
9/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
5) GMO OMG– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This provocative documentary follows one father’s search for answers to the question “What are we feeding our families?” and examines the risks of consuming genetically modified foods, or GMOs.”
9/13/13- Mixed reviews but a good one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6) GOOD OL’ FREDA– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Freda Kelly was just a shy Liverpudlian teenager when she was asked to work for a local band hoping to make it big: the Beatles. In Good Ol’ Freda, the band’s former secretary tells her personal stories for the first time in 50 years.”
9/13/13- Mixed reviews, mostly positive but the NY Times didn’t care for it, saying that it was more coy than candid. TRDB.
7) HAWKING– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking narrates his own story via the voice-synthesis device that he has used since ALS silenced his speech. Hawking’s memories capture his youth and college years as well as his extraordinary scientific career.”
9/13/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and by nearly all critics as well. TRDB.
8)HERB & DOROTHY 50X50– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This follow-up to 2008’s Herb & Dorothy chronicles the Vogels’ mission to donate 2,500 works of art from their extensive collection. Bestowing 50 pieces to each state, the couple unwittingly opens a discussion on the role of art in the new century.”
9/13/13- Very few reviews so far and they are mixed. Today’s NY Times said that is was difficult not to like a movie dedicated to such a noble gesture but the critic didn’t really care for the film itself. TRDB.
9) INFORMANT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “What turned Brandon Darby from an outspoken radical to a right-wing FBI informant in only three years? This doc gets the story from the man himself. Darby explains the shift in his allegiances that made him one of activism’s most maligned figures.”
9/13/13- Excellent reviews all around with a somewhat weaker review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10) JAYNE MANSFIELD’S CAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1969 Alabama, grizzled WW II vet Jim braces for a visit from his ex-wife’s now-widowed husband, who’s bringing her body from England to bury. Soon, the tumult of the era, the changing South and generational clashes play out in Jim’s home.”
9/13/13- Poor reviews from most and a “just OK” review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
11) THE LAST TIME I SAW MACAO– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “On a journey to Macao, two filmmakers — one who hasn’t seen the city since childhood — compare their memories of a place that defies description. The result is a mesmerizing mix of fantasy, memoir and pulp fiction.”
9/13/13- Very good reviews all around including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
12) MONEY FOR NOTHING: INSIDE THE FEDERAL RESERVE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Focusing on the nation’s 2008 financial meltdown, this sober documentary looks at the role the Federal Reserve played in igniting the crisis. Interviews with economists and government officials reveal diverse opinions about the Fed’s past and future.”
9/13/13- Mixed reviews by critics. The NY Times did not care for it but audiences have liked it a lot. TRDB.
13) NAKED AS WE CAME– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After an unexpected phone call, Laura and her brother Elliot rush to their family’s country estate to find their mother, Lilly, gravely ill and living with a handsome young stranger named Ted. Estranged for some time, their mother’s condition sets Laura and Elliot on a path to realizing where their own lives have gone wrong. Lilly, on the other hand, has mellowed from the controlling woman she was and is hoping to pass on some wisdom to her children. Now her kids find themselves dealing with their own feelings of resentment and broken dreams while trying to figure out how Ted fits into their mother’s life.”
9/13/13- Just a few reviews and they are good. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.
14) SAMPLE THIS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This doc traces rap’s origins from 1973, when DJ Herc’s “Apache” used the first sample, with some surprising side trips along the way. Music luminaries reveal where Charles Manson, RFK’s assassination and a former Beatle fit into hip-hop history.”
9/13/13- Good reviews all around and the NY Times liked it in today’s review. TRDB.
2) C.O.G.- 2013- Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on a short story by David Sedaris, this comedy follows the brash young author as he travels to Oregon to work on an apple farm. The journey exposes him to all sorts of culture clashes, but what awaits him at the farm is far worse.”
9/3/13- Fairly good early reviews. TRDB.
3) ENOUGH SAID- Synopsis by Netflix. “Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini star in this charming comedy about a divorced woman venturing into a relationship with a sweet man. But things get tricky when she discovers the man she’s dating is the hated ex-husband of her new best friend.”
9/18/13- Excellent reviews by critics and mixed reviews from audiences. TRDB.
4) GENERATION IRON– 2013. Synopsis by IMDB. “Generation Iron – examines the professional sport of bodybuilding today and gives the audience front row access to the lives of the top 7 bodybuilders in the sport as they train to compete in the world’s most premiere bodybuilding stage – Mr. Olympia.”
9/4/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.
5) HAUTE CUISINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on real characters and lives, this food-rich drama recounts Hortense Laborie’s experiences as personal chef for the president of France. After reluctantly accepting the job, Hortense braves the intimidating atmosphere of the Elysee Palace.”
8/6/13- Very good early reviews for this film. TRDB.
6) JERUSALEM– 2013. Synopsis by IMDB. “JERUSALEM takes audiences on an inspiring and eye-opening tour of one of the worlds oldest and most enigmatic cities. Destroyed and rebuilt countless times over 5000 years, Jerusalems enduring appeal remains a mystery. What made it so important to so many different cultures? How did it become the center of the world for three major religions? Why does it still matter to us?”
9/4/13- No reviews as yet for this 45min. documentary. TRDB.
7) MEN AT LUNCH– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Inspired by the iconic 1932 snapshot of 11 unnamed workers eating lunch atop a steel girder during Rockefeller Center’s construction, documentarian Seán Ó Cualáin sets out to learn their identities, toasting the immigrant labor force in the process.”
9/4/13- This sounds interesting but it has received poor reviews so far. TRDB.
8)PRISONERS- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When his 6-year-old daughter is abducted and the investigation stalls, carpenter Keller Dover tracks down the culprit himself. But his vigilante action pits him against the case’s lead detective and puts his own sanity at risk.”
9/4/13- Not too many reviews but they are all excellent. TRDB.
9) RUSH– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic portrayal of the intense 1970s rivalry between race drivers Niki Lauda and James Hunt captures the contrasts between the two champions. While Hunt was a charming and handsome ladies’ man, Lauda was a loner with a single goal: victory.”
9/4/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
10) THE SHORT GAME– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary follows eight of the world’s best 7-year-old golfers, who convene in Pinehurst, N.C., to compete for a championship. Their interweaving stories provide a charming look into the unconventional, ultracompetitive world of junior golf.”
9/4/13- Few early reviews but they are very good. TRDB.
11) THANKS FOR SHARING– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While making his way through a support group for sex addicts, Adam dips his toe in the dating pool to embrace a meaningful relationship. But the woman he’s attracted to has sworn off addicts altogether.”
9/4/13- Mixed reviews. TRDB.
12) A SINGLE SHOT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After accidentally shooting a young woman, hunter John Moon panics and tries to hide the body in a cave. Stumbling onto a huge stash of cash there, he decides to keep it — and soon finds himself being hunted by backwater outlaws and redneck bullies.”
9/4/13- I’ve seen 3 reviews– all positive. TRDB.
9/15/13- I liked this movie very much. Great acting and a very touching story. TRDB.
9/2/13- The movie was fun but nothing great. There were some funny situations that reminded me of early Woody Allen and I did enjoy the various relationships. TRDB.
2) JAYNE MANSFIELD’S CAR- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1969 Alabama, grizzled WW II vet Jim braces for a visit from his ex-wife’s now-widowed husband, who’s bringing her body from England to bury. Soon, the tumult of the era, the changing South and generational clashes play out in Jim’s home.”
9/13/13- Poor reviews from most and a “just OK” review in today’s NY Times. A few good ones too. TRDB.
3) LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED is directed by Golden Globe (R) and Oscar (R) winning filmmaker Susanne Bier, written by Bier and Anders Thomas Jensen and starring Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm. Philip (Brosnan), an Englishman living in Denmark, is a lonely, middle-aged widower and estranged single father. Ida (Dyrholm) is a Danish hairdresser, recuperating from a long bout of illness, who’s just been left by her husband for a younger woman, Thilde. The fates of these two bruised souls are about to intertwine.”
4/21/13- Fairly good early reviews. TRDB.
5/3/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
9/9/13- I saw this movie a few days ago at the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival and despite some schmaltz and Hollywood I enjoyed this film very much. TRDB.
DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
4) BLUE CAPRICE– Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In their lead-up to the infamous 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, John Muhammad and Lee Malvo embark on a nationwide trip, forming a deadly bond along the way that distorts the definition of a father-son relationship.”
9/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
8/16/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
9/2/13- The movie was fun but nothing great. There were some funny situations that reminded me of early Woody Allen and I did enjoy the various relationships. TRDB.
3) BLUE JASMINE– Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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 and I liked the movie. After the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. TRDB.
4) CLOSED CIRCUIT– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Martin and Claudia, top-flight lawyers who happen to be former lovers, become targets when they’re teamed up to defend a notorious terrorist. As the trial unfolds, the danger causes the pair to reevaluate their allegiance to justice.”
8/27/13- Poor reviews. TRDB.
5) THE SPECTACULAR NOW– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When high school loner Aimee Finicky finds her classmate Sutter Keely passed-out drunk on a lawn, it marks the start of an unlikely friendship. After deciding to help Aimee raise her social confidence, Sutter finds himself falling for his creation.”
7/15/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.
8/2/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/23/13- Overall I enjoyed this movie but I felt that the first 45min. was too long and the second 45min. a bit too short. TRDB.
6) LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history.”
8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
8/16/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/25/13- Although I did enjoy parts of this movie, I was disappointed with the film as a whole. I thought it was a lackluster story about the butler used as a vehicle for a very powerful piece of history and it just didn’t seem to fit for me. The acting carried the movie. TRDB.
7) SHORT TERM 12– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Grace, a compassionate young supervisor at a foster care facility, works with her boyfriend and colleague, Mason, to help at-risk teens. But when a new charge dredges up memories of her own troubled past, Grace’s tough exterior begins eroding.”
8/23/13- An excellent review from most critics and the NY Times liked it as well. TRDB.
9/15/13- I liked this movie very much. Great acting and a very touching story. 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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