FILM REVIEWS #477
October 31st, 2013
10/17/13- I enjoyed (if you can use that term here) the movie very much. Great acting and a poignant story. TRDB.
2) YOU WILL BE MY SON– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Paul de Marseul (Niels Aretrup) is the passionate, demanding proprietor of his prestigious family wine estate. But he has no faith in his son, Martin (Loran Deutsch), who works at the vineyard. Paul dreams of a harder-working, successful son-a dream that one day seemingly materializes when he meets Philip (Nicolas Bridet), the son of his dying estate manager (Patrick Chesnais). Can Paul turn against his own blood and turn Philip into the rightful heir of his family estate?”
Here’s what Netflix had to say– “Doubtful that his own son is up to the task, the demanding owner of a vintage chateau and wine label turns to the offspring of his late caretaker to maintain the strict principles of his prestigious business.”
8/16/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
10/27/13- I loved the acting, the story and the characters. What else can I say? You should see this one! TRDB.
3) ALL IS LOST– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this harrowing drama — which has no dialogue — Robert Redford portrays a man stranded alone at sea, courageously battling a ferocious storm as he struggles to survive with just a sextant and maritime maps to guide him.”
9/29/13- Very good reviews from all critics. TRDB.
10/18/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/29/13- I enjoyed this movie a lot as the understated Redford pulled this solo off. TRDB.
10/19/13- Slow at times but an interesting story about female sexuality and empowerment and about doctor-patient relationships. TRDB. Netflix.
2) GIMME THE LOOT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two talented graffiti artists from the Bronx are stung when a rival outfit covers their own illustration with a portrait of the Mets’ Home Run Apple. They turn their outrage into a daring plan to tag the real Home Run Apple at the Mets ballpark.”
3/22/13- Good review in today’s NY Times and everyone else liked it also. TRDB.
10/21/13- After the first few minutes I wasn’t sure if I would l like this one but the 2 main characters grew on me especially the way they related to each other and I did enjoy the film. TRDB. Netflix.
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.
10/4/13- Today’s NY Times gave this movie a weak review. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
10/21/13- A bit different but I liked it. TRDB.
3) THE FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMAS– 2012. “With THE FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMAS, Burns returns to the working-class, Irish-American roots of THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN. Reuniting with McMullen co-stars Connie Britton (“Friday Night Lights”, “Nashville”), and Michael McGlone, along with Noah Emmerich (LITTLE CHILDREN, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS), Kerry Bishé (ARGO, RED STATE) and Caitlin FitzGerald (DAMSELS IN DISTRESS, NEWLYWEDS) Burns seamlessly weaves an ensemble story of adult siblings dealing with the desire of their estranged father (Ed Lauter, THE ARTIST, THE LONGEST YARD) to return home for Christmas for the first time since he walked out on his family 20 years ago. Family rifts emerge, and like with any family, Christmas brings a mixed bag of complicated emotions and dynamics. Alliances form, old wounds are reopened or glossed over, and the possibility for a new hope and forgiveness emerges.”
12/7/12- The NY Times liked this movie. TRDB.
12/17/12- I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Edward Burns “gets” family relationships in a way that others don’t. TRDB.
4) 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.”
8/9/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.
5) 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. TRDB.
10/4/13- The NY Times panned this movie today- I’m including it for its historical value. TRDB.
6) COMPUTER CHESS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This comedic period piece set before PCs became commonplace centers on a 1980s chess tournament in which human competitors get their first crack at testing their skills against a machine.”
7/3/13- Just a few reviews and they are good. TRDB.
7) PASSION- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Christine, an ad exec whose veins run with ice water, has no qualms about taking the credit for a plum idea dreamed up by her mousy assistant, Isabel. But the incident sparks shy, passive Isabel to undertake a campaign of revenge against her boss.”
8/30/13- Poor reviews in general but the NY Times liked it in today’s review. TRDB.
8)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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
2) DALLAS BUYERS CLUB– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Loosely based on true events, this drama follows Ron Woodroof, who refuses to accept he’ll die in 30 days when he’s diagnosed with AIDS in 1986. He extends his life and eventually helps many other AIDS patients by smuggling medications from abroad.”
10/16/13- Very good reviews for this Indie drama. TRDB.
3) DIANA- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Princess Diana, the world’s most-watched woman, struggles to find herself after her painful divorce. In the two years before her death, she embarks on a vital campaign to ban landmines and on a passionate love affair with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.”
10/16/13- Uniformly awful reviews. TRDB.
4) SAL– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Sal Mineo — one of Hollywood’s first openly gay actors — provides the focus of this biopic that tracks his career ups and downs and his tragic death. Mineo was on the verge of a comeback when he was stabbed to death behind his apartment building.”
10/16/13- This movie has been on DVD for a while and the reviews are weak. TRDB.
5) SWEET DREAMS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Rwanda’s first and only all women’s drumming troupe is called Ingoma Nshya. Made up of women from both sides of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the troupe offers a place of support, healing and reconciliation. When the group decides to partner with two young American entrepreneurs, Jennie Dundas and Alexis Miesen of Brooklyn’s Blue Marble Ice Cream, and open Rwanda’s first ever ice cream shop, these remarkable Rwandan women embark on a journey of independence, peace and possibility.”
10/16/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.
6) A PERFECT MAN– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “On the cusp of their ninth anniversary, James and Nina seem to have the perfect marriage and ideal lives – an affluent life in Amsterdam, lucrative jobs and adoring friends. Yet when Nina discovers James’s infidelity with a mutual friend of theirs after a long line of extramarital affairs, it’s the final straw, shattering whatever illusions they’ve created about their relationship and leaving them separated. Heartbroken about their separation, a stroke of luck leads Nina to impersonate James’s chatty travel agent on the phone, and he’s soon pouring his heart out and unwittingly falling for his wife all over again as they discuss the uncertainty of love and the eternal misunderstanding between men and women.”
10/15/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.
2) THE HUMAN SCALE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “With the majority of the world population in urban areas, Danish architect Jan Gehl is reimagining how to make cities more sustainable and livable. Rather than examining structures, Gehl and his team meticulously analyze spaces where people interact.”
10/18/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. I’ve seen 4 professional reviews– 2 up and 2 down. TRDB.
3) LOST FOR WORDS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While in Hong Kong, Michael, a former United States Marine, becomes enchanted with Anna, a lovely dancer from mainland China. As their love grows, the two discover that not everyone approves of their cross-cultural romance.”
10/18/13- Mixed reviews– more negative than positive. The NY Times didn’t care for it. TRDB.
4) MONDAYS WITH WILLIAM– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “”Mondays With William” is an inspiring CBS 2 / KCAL 9 Documentary News series that follows the heartening friendship between Artist William Laga and altruistic Patron of the Arts, Marcelle Danan. The beginning of every week starts just the same … by Danan picking Laga up and the journey begins! First stop, the duo is off to purchase blank canvas and a beautiful array of paints that soon will become extraordinary works of art.”
10/18/13- I’ve found just 4 reviews and there are 1 up and 3 down. The NY Times, the positive one, concentrated more on the character than the film itself. TRDB.
5) PEACHES DOES HERSELF– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “With a cast and crew of over 40 people and 20 plus songs from her back catalogue (The Teaches of Peaches, Fatherfucker, Impeach my Bush, I Feel Cream) Peaches wrote, directed and starred in this fantastical narrative build obscurely around her development as an artist and performer from “bedroom wannabe to fully fledged rock-stardom and beyond!”
10/18/13- I’ve seen just 4 reviews, 3 up and 1 down. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.
6) THE PRIME MINISTERS: THE PIONEERS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Discover the legacy of two of Israel’s early prime ministers, Levi Eshkol and Golda Meir, as seen through the eyes of adviser and author Yehuda Avner. Leonard Nimoy, Sandra Bullock and other stars voice this film from the Simon Wiesenthal Center.”
10/18/13- Early reviews are mostly negative. The NY Times liked it. I’m sure I’ll see this one regardless of the reviews. TRDB.
7) SEDUCED AND ABANDONED– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this documentary, director James Toback and actor Alec Baldwin take viewers on their journey to raise money for a film, providing a look behind the scenes at the Cannes Film Festival and insights from Martin Scorsese and others.”
10/18/13- Good reviews all around and in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.
8) THE TAIWAN OYSTER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a fellow American dies, two expatriate teachers in Taiwan decide to steal the corpse for a proper burial but have trouble finding a good spot. Their quest puts them in touch with a broad range of humanity.”
10/18/13- A fairly good review in today’s NY Times and in the 2 other reviews I have seen. TRDB.
9) TORN- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After two mothers lose sons to a bomb at a shopping mall, they develop a deep emotional connection as they recover from their mutual sorrow. But when one victim’s brother becomes a suspect in the crime, the women’s bond is put to the test.”
10/18/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and the few other professional reviews I’ve seen are positive as well. TRDB.
10) TWO JACKS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “2 Jacks is a comical adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s short story Two Hussars, comparing the generational change from father to son within the same business. The fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle, with romance and glamor, comes alive in 2 Jacks; a now-and-then look at the renowned way of living.”
10/18/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times but very weak reviews in general. TRDB.
OCT. 25–
1) BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Determined to fall in love, 15-year-old Adele focuses on Thomas. But it’s a blue-haired girl she meets on the street who really piques her interest. Soon, Adele begins exploring her desire for girls as she negotiates her way to becoming a woman.”
Rotten Tomatoes had this to say– “A 15-year-old girl finds her naïve perceptions of human sexuality challenged upon meeting a blue-haired girl who encourages her to assert her individuality in director Abdel Kechiche’s deeply perceptive drama. The recipient of the prestigious Palme d’ Or at the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival, Blue is the Warmest Color stars Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux.”
9/28/13- Excellent reviews although A.O. Scott from the NY Times wrote a negative review after this film won at Cannes. TRDB.
2) BRIDGING THE GAP– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Spending more than a year with the Vienna Boys’ Choir, filmmaker Curt M. Faudon captures the singers’ exposure to new cultures on their global tours. At a stop by the road in India, the choral group inspires an entire village to sing along with them.”
10/25/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3) THE SQUARE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This intimate documentary filmed in the midst of the Egyptian revolution follows its subjects on a life-changing journey through the euphoria of victory into the uncertainties and dangers of a “transitional period” under military rule.”
10/25/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from everyone else as well. TRDB.
4) TOAD ROAD– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Feeling he’s living a meaningless life in a small town, disaffected junkie James jumps at the chance to escort newcomer Sara to Toad Road — and risk whatever may happen as they pass seven wooden gates that lead toward hell.”
10/25/13- Mixed reviews in general. The NY Times gave this a weak review. TRDB.
5) REMINGTON AND THE CURSE OF THE ZOMBADINGS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a childhood curse comes true, teen jock Remington finds himself suddenly becoming gay and in a love triangle. As he tries to fend off his newly fabulous impulses and a homophobic serial killer, he must also battle some undead drag queens.”
10/25/13- This sounds weird but with just a few votes in the film has received some good reviews including an OK one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6) HOUSE IN THE ALLEY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this creepy supernatural thriller, a young mother has a miscarriage and then refuses to allow the dead infant’s body to be taken from her. As her sanity declines, her husband must try to drive away the household demons assailing both of them.”
10/25/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times and from most others as well. TRDB.
7) JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In-character encounters with real folks provide comic fodder in this franchise featuring Johnny Knoxville in lecherous-gramps disguise. With hidden cameras in tow, Irving Zisman (Knoxville) takes his grandson on an offbeat cross-country tour.”
10/25/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8)NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After his searing experiences as a pilot in the Vietnam War, retired Marine Eric Hastings turned to fly-fishing to help his personal healing process. As captured in this documentary, Hastings now offers the same solace to today’s wounded warriors.”
10/25/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and good reviews in general. TRDB.
9) GO GRANDRIDERS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “2 have gone through cancers, 4 need hearing aids, 5 suffer from high blood pressure and 8 have coronary diseases. And every one of them has symptoms of joint degeneration. However, at the age of 80 plus, they dare to ride on scooters and to feel the land they have lived for life-long again.”
10/25/13- A fair review in today’s NY Times but others have liked it more. TRDB.
10) I AM DIVINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Get an inside look at the captivating story of Divine, aka Harris Glenn Milstead, who grew up as a chubby bullied Baltimore kid and rose to become filmmaker John Waters’s muse and an internationally celebrated drag superstar.”
10/25/13- Good reviews all around including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
12) OUT LOUD– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Love and loyalty bend into unfamiliar forms in this social drama played out among a group of friends in the ravaged modern landscape of Lebanon. After one of them is beaten up for being gay, the shock brings out different reactions within the group.”
10/25/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5/17/13- Fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5/25/13- I liked this movie very much. Very good acting and an insightful screenplay. TRDB.
2) THE KID WITH A BIKE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being abandoned by his father, preteen Cyril fills with rage, and when good-hearted hairdresser Samantha tries to help him, the disillusioned boy is torn between his need to lash out at the world and his desire for love and stability.” Great early reviews. TRDB.
3/16/12- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4/2/12- The actor who played the kid was great and the story was a heartening act of love. There were also a few terrific scenes like the scene in a car when the boy is very upset. A better understanding of the woman’s motivation would have helped me but the movie was excellent never-the-less. TRDB.
DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
9/28/13- Excellent reviews although A.O. Scott from the NY Times wrote a negative review after this film won at Cannes. TRDB.
2) ABOUT TIME– Bethel. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A young man who comes from a family of time-travelers changes history for the better in this romantic comedy from director Richard Curtis. During one of his trip to the past, he falls for a woman played by Rachel McAdams.”
10/29/13- Mediocre reviews at best. TRDB.
10/18/13- A glowing review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/11/13- This movie, starring Tom Hanks as Captain Phillips, has received excellent reviews but one critic said that it was a Hollywood style “A Hijacking”, a movie that I saw a few months ago that had a similar theme and was excellent. The NY Times liked it also. TRDB.
10/11/13- The movie was well done and helped along by the knowledge that it was taken from a true story. Tom Hanks did his usual good job. I enjoyed the last 15min. the most. TRDB.
10/18/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/29/13- I enjoyed this movie a lot as the understated Redford pulled this solo off. TRDB.
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.
10/4/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/11/13- Kind of a weak story but the special effects are definitely worth the price of admission. TRDB.
7) WADJDA- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Persistent 10-year-old Wadjda would like nothing more than a new bicycle so she can beat her friend (a boy) in a race. But it’s going to take some ingenuity to get one — especially in her culture, which sees bikes as a threat to a girl’s virtue.”
8/26/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
10/6/13- I enjoyed this movie about a young woman from an Arab country and her quest to follow her passion in an all male activity. 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
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>
Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed