FILM REVIEWS #474
October 3rd, 2013
9/29/13- With a very good script, very good acting and with great chemistry between the two main actors this movie seemed like real life with all of its conflicts. TRDB.
9/27/13- I’ll give this film a mixed review– some very good parts and some very bad, stupid parts. I do think it’s worth seeing as yet another coming-of-age story. TRDB. Netflix.
2) ABOUT SUNNY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Angela is a young single mother trying to get by in Las Vegas. When Max and his sister make an offer to “help” Angela, she must decide what she’s willing to give up and what truly matters in life.”
9/27/13- A great performance by Lauren Ambrose as an abusive mother made this movie interesting and believable but very difficult to watch. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
3) ELECTRICK CHILDREN– 2013. Synopsis by IMDB. “Pregnant by music? Rachel, a young teenager from a fundamentalist Mormon community, believes in immaculate conception, while her fundamentally religious family regards her condition as an intolerable transgression. The search for the child’s origins is a revelation for the 15-year-old.”
3/8/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.
9/30/13- An interesting fable that held my interest. It’s different all right but worth seeing. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
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.
9/30/13- I enjoyed this movie very much. TRDB. Netflix.
2) WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Acclaimed documentarian Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) takes the reins for this no-holds-barred look at one of the most unusual phenomena of early 21st century media. In 2006, an Iceland-based outfit called The Sunshine Press launched the website WikiLeaks.org. As run by Australian Internet activist Julian Assange, the site’s mandate involved regularly publishing top-secret documents and covert information, often regarding governments and their respective military operations.”
5/24/13- Very good review by everyone, including the NY Times today. TRDB.
6/13/13- A very timely documentary in our nation’s history. I liked the movie but I thought that the movie was a bit too long and I would have liked to understand Assange’s real psychological motivation for the risks he has taken. TRDB.
3) MEA MAXIMA CULPA– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Alex Gibney explores the scourge of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, highlighting the story of five deaf men who spoke out about a priest who molested more than 200 children between 1950 and 1974.”
Rotten Tomatoes said “In MEA MAXIMA CULPA: SILENCE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, Oscar (R)-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney examines the abuse of power in the Catholic Church through the story of four courageous deaf men, who in the first known case of public protest, set out to expose the priest who abused them. Through their case the film follows a cover-up that winds its way from the row houses of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, through the bare ruined choirs of Ireland’s churches, all the way to the highest office of the Vatican.”
11/16/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times and everywhere else as well. TRDB.
4) LEVIATHAN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the very waters where Melville’s Pequod gave chase to Moby-Dick, this haunting documentary — shot on a dozen cameras and presented with no spoken commentary — captures the collaborative clash of man, nature and machine.”
3/1/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5) EUROPA REPORT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this nail-biting thriller, a private space-exploration company sends six astronauts to determine whether Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, can sustain life — and what they find terrifies and transforms them.”
6/28/13- Very good reviews all around including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6) LAURANCE ANYWAYS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Thirtysomething high school teacher Laurence seems to have the perfect life, but when he confesses to his fiancée that he wants to live as a woman, he must overcome both her resistance and that of his bewildered family and dubious co-workers.”
6/28/13- Very good reviews in general including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
7) MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Based on the acclaimed novel by Salman Rushdie, this epic drama tells the story of two infants switched at birth in 1947, the year of India’s independence from Great Britain. One boy is wealthy, the other poor, and their lives become intertwined.”
4/26/13- A “just OK” review in today’s NY Times. Others have liked it less. TRDB.
8) HOME RUN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “To cure his drinking problem, pro baseball star Cory Brand returns to his hometown and begins coaching a Little League team as part of his rehab. After faking his recovery at first, Cory starts to glimpse real redemption in the kids playing for him.”
9/18/13- Mixed reviews, including some very poor ones. TRDB.
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2) WINTER NOMADS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Pascal, 53, and Carole, 28, are shepherds. In the month of November 2010, they embark on their long winter transhumance: four months during which they will have to cover 600 km in the Swiss-French region, accompanied by three donkeys, four dogs and a eight hundred sheep. An exceptional adventure is about to begin: they brave the cold and the bad weather day in day out, with a canvas cover and animal skins as their only shelter at night. This saga reveals a tough and exacting profession requiring constant improvisation and unflinching attention to nature, the animals and the cosmos.”
9/27/13- Very good reviews all around for this documentary. TRDB.
3) HOTEL NORMANDY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two years after her husband dies in a motorbike crash, Alice’s best pals send her to the luxurious Hotel Normandy for her birthday. Unknown to Alice, her friends also arrange for a man they feel may be just right for her to be there as well.”
9/27/13- A good review in today’s NY Times, mixed reviews from other critics and poor audience reaction. I think I’ll give it a try anyway when it comes to DVD format. TRDB.
4) MUSCLE SHOALS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This tuneful documentary chronicles the musical legacy of Muscle Shoals, Ala., home of Fame Studios, where top musicians have flocked for decades. Keith Richards, Bono and other stars recount their experiences recording at the renowned facility.”
9/27/13- Very good reviews in general. Today’s NY Times did not care for it. TRDB.
5) METALLICA THROUGH THE NEVER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Veteran heavy metal band Metallica is captured live in 3D in this spectacular concert film, highlighted by a staged accident involving a crew member. Narrative bios of band members and a chronicle of Metallica’s career are also featured in the movie.”
9/27/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times but good reviews from others. TRDB.
6) THE NETWORK– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary tells the story of TOLO, Afghanistan’s first independent TV network, and the family that grew it into the nation’s largest broadcaster. The film follows the expansive staff, which faces an uncertain future as foreign troops withdraw.”
9/27/13- The few reviews I’ve seen are mixed. Audiences have liked it. TRDB.
7) ON THE JOB– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “How much trouble can prisoners get into on a one-day pass? A lot, it turns out, if they’re hired assassins on politicos’ payrolls. Meanwhile, a pair of cops investigate the murders in this action drama based on real events in the Phillipines.”
9/27/13- Very good reviews from all critics and audiences. Today’s NY Times gave it a glowing review. TRDB.
8) OUT IN THE DARK– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Sparks fly when Roy, an Israeli lawyer, and Nimr, a Palestinian graduate student, meet at a bar in Tel Aviv. But their budding relationship is threatened when Nimr’s student visa is revoked and he faces deportation.”
9/27/13- Mixed reviews, more positive than negative. The NY Times liked it very much. TRDB.
9) THE PAW PROJECT– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The Paw Project documentary is an inspiring David and Goliath story of a grassroots movement to protect felines, both large and small, from the cruelty of declawing and how the movement has prevailed, despite the efforts of well-funded professional veterinary associations.”
9/27/13- Good reviews all around and in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.
10) THE TIME IS … NOW– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary profiles ordinary people who have endured tragedy and examines how they have evolved from victims into survivors, with psychologists and spiritual leaders offering commentary on the possibility of hope in troubled times.”
9/27/13- I’ve seen just 2 professional reviews and they were both poor. One was in today’s NY Times. Audiences have liked it very much. TRDB.
11) WE ARE WHAT WE ARE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Following a family tragedy, two teenage sisters are forced by their domineering father to keep their cannibalistic clan’s macabre traditions alive by finding — and killing — dinner. Meanwhile, local authorities begin to close in on them.”
9/27/13- Very good reviews for this spooky sounding movie. The NY Times praised it in today’s review. TRDB.
12) WEDDING PALACE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his parents desperate for him to marry, bachelor Jason begins a quest to find his true love, discovering her in a business meeting in Korea. After a long-distance courtship, Jason’s fiancée joins him stateside but is not at all what he expected.”
9/27/13- Early reviews are mixed– the NY Times liked it. Audiences have liked it very much. TRDB.
13) WE CAME HOME– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “We Came Home tells the story of Afghanistan through Afghan American artist, Ariana Delawari. Born into a suburban Los Angeles home, the same year the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, Ariana’s life unfolds parallel to the ever-changing events of her father’s homeland. Her parents name her after the ancient name of Afghanistan. Her home is filled with refugee relatives, parties with live Afghan music, and her father’s fierce dedication to his homeland.”
9/27/13- I’ve seen 2 professional reviews- both good. Today’s NY Times liked it. TRDB.
2) BRIDEGROOM– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Helmed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, this illuminating documentary chronicles the story of Shane Bitney Crone, who finds himself shut out and deprived of the legal protections of marriage after his same-sex partner dies in a tragic accident.”
9/25/13- Just a few reviews so far and they are very good. TRDB.
3) CONCUSSION– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a blow to the head with a baseball prompts lesbian housewife Abby to shake up her suburban life — and her dull marriage — she buys a fixer-upper in Manhattan and seeks excitement by becoming a prostitute.”
9/25/13- Sounds a bit odd but this film has received lots of good reviews. TRDB.
4) FIVE DANCES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Real dance phenoms show their acting chops in this tale about Chip, a prodigy from Kansas hoping to make it big in New York City. Chip’s first weeks of rehearsal are marked by triumphs and setbacks both in his personal life and in the studio.”
9/25/13- Just a few reviews for this documentary but they are good. TRDB.
5) GRACE UNPLUGGED– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Every Sunday, 18-year-old Grace performs at church with her ex-rock star father, but she longs to share her talent with the rest of the world. Heading for the bright lights of Los Angeles, she soon must choose between stardom and faith.”
9/25/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.
6) I USED TO BE DARKER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When runaway Taryn seeks help from her aunt and uncle in Baltimore, she discovers a family in crisis and a marriage in ruins — and finds herself in the middle of the emotional fallout between everyone involved.”
9/25/13- Mixed early reviews. TRDB.
7) PARKLAND– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on Vincent Bugliosi’s book, this powerful drama takes place in the Dallas hospital where John F. Kennedy was brought after being shot on Nov. 22, 1963. Intertwining stories follow doctors, FBI agents, an unwitting cameraman and many others.”
9/25/13- Mixed reviews but many critics did not like this movie at all. I think I’ll see it anyway. TRDB.
8) THE SUMMIT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Combining interviews, archival footage and recreations, filmmaker Nick Ryan sets out to uncover what went wrong when 11 people died on their way up the infamous K2 — the deadliest day in modern mountaineering history.”
9/25/13- A few fairly good reviews so far. TRDB.
9) RUNNING WILD: THE LIFE OF DAYTON O. HYDE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dedicated to trying to protect wild horses in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Dayton Hyde emerges as a unique brand of hero in this bio-documentary. Hyde’s efforts include rescuing feral herds from government-sanctioned wild-horse roundups.”
9/25/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.
10) THE DEAD MAN AND BEING HAPPY– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In Award-winning Spanish director Javier Rebollo’s third feature, Santos (renowned Spanish actor José Sacristán), a sick, worn-down hired killer, impulsively heads out on one last assignment: a 2,000-mile excursion from his Buenos Aires hospital bed into the vast interior of Argentina.”
10/1/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB.
8/16/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
3) GRAVITY– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission embarks on a space walk with a seasoned astronaut, debris strikes their craft and destroys it — leaving the two floating through space tethered together, with no connection to Earth.”
10/2/13- Very good reviews and this film has been well received at festivals too. 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.
3) RUSH– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 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.
9/20/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4) DON JON– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jon Martello’s romantic exploits are legendary among his friends, but his obsession with online porn is starting to sap his enthusiasm for real sex. As he tries to regain his hunger for intimacy, Jon meets two women with vital lessons to teach him.”
9/15/13- Fairly good reviews so far. TRDB.
5) PRISONERS– Bethel. 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- Very good reviews for this suspense drama. 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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