FILM REVIEWS #487
January 29th, 2014
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1/23/14- I did enjoy this film but there’s a whole lot of sap flowing and a whole lot of PR for Disney as well. TRDB.
2) THE JEWISH CARDINAL- 2013. Synopsis by IMDB. “The Jewish Cardinal tells the amazing true story of Jean-Marie Lustiger; the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants; who maintained his cultural identity as a Jew even after converting to Catholicism at a young age; and later joining the priesthood.”
1/24/14- I liked this movie very much and highly recommend it. TRDB.
3) RETURN OF THE VIOLIN-
1/26/14- I saw this movie at the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival and while I did enjoy it I felt that it was nowhere as good as “Orchestra of Exiles” which preceded it. Both were about the fate of Jewish musicians during the Nazi era. TRDB.
3) THE PAST (LE PASSE)- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. When Iranian Ahmad returns to France after a four-year separation from his French wife, Marie, he discovers that she now has a boyfriend — and that behind her difficult relationship with their daughter lies a secret from the past.”
12/3/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
12/20/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
1/28/14- From the same director who did “A Separation” this film is driven by the frank emotional talk between the characters. Just a bit slow but definitely a very good movie well worth seeing. TRDB.
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2) THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER AND PETE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When his mother is arrested for drugs and prostitution, 14-year-old Mister takes charge of 9-year-old runaway Pete and tries to shield them both from protective services. But surviving on the streets of Brooklyn is no easy task.”
9/9/13- I saw this movie a few days ago at the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival and liked it very much. TRDB.
10/11/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3) ESCAPE PLAN- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Framed and thrown into an escape-proof prison that he designed himself, structural security expert Ray must use all his know-how to break out. Ray and a fellow inmate dodge the jail’s corrupt warden and guard to track down who’s behind the setup.”
10/18/13- A fair at best review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4) BLOOD BROTHER- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After traveling to India, American tourist Rocky Braat wound up finding new purpose in life helping children with HIV and AIDS. This inspiring film documents the challenges he faces and the love he finds as he creates a meaningful life.”
9/29/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
10/18/13- An excellent review for this documentary in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5) CUTIE AND THE BOXER- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Explore the work and marriage of Ushio and Noriko Shinohara, who took America’s art scene by storm after leaving Japan for New York. Each has created their own unique space, both in style … and in their 40-year relationship.”
8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
8/16/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
1/8/14- A very interesting documentary seen both as about the art and about a love story between the two artists. TRDB.
6) MOTHER OF GEORGE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nigerian-Americans Ayodele and Adenike marry and perform a traditional ceremony in which Adenike confirms the name of the son she will one day bear. But the stress of adjusting to life in America and the pressure to conceive soon take their toll.”
9/13/13- Excellent reviews all around including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/17/13- I enjoyed (if you can use that term here) the movie very much. Great acting and a poignant story. TRDB.
2) LIFE IS STRANGE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Sharing stories of fractured childhoods, this sobering documentary recounts the experiences of Jews whose lives were forever changed by World War II. The film also includes interviews with Shimon Peres, Walter Kohn, Robert Aumann and Uri Orlev.”
1/24/14- Today’s NY Times called this movie “a useful, if slightly redundant, oral history.” TRDB.
3) OLD GOATS- 2010. Synopsis by IMDB. “Old Goats is a comedy that features three elderly men playing themselves, but within a fictional framework. The story blends fiction and reality. Britt lives alone on a boat and searches for excitement and romance in his life. Bob writes a book of memoirs about his life as a soldier, para-trooper, and bush pilot, but is uneasy about revealing his sins as a younger man. David is struggling to adapt into retired life while living with his bossy wife. The story is about each man’s attempt to change his ways.
12/20/12- An interesting premise and interesting quirky characters but I found the movie way too slow, I was exhausted from the day, and I drifted several times. The couple we went with liked it more. TRDB.
4) 24 EXPOSURES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “For Billy, photographic fantasy and real-life lust have always blurred, which proves dangerous when one of his models ends up dead. Even if he’s cleared of the murder, Billy must face the wreckage in his life that this wake-up call has revealed.”
1/24/14- A weak review from today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.
5) PAPIROSEN- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This award-winning portrait of director Gastón Solnicki’s family weaves excerpts from 200 hours of home movies with interviews with his grandmother. The film captures generations of his Jewish family, and more than just the special occasions.”
1/24/14- A good review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.
6) RUN & JUMP- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Struggling to support her family after her husband, Conor, is fundamentally changed by a stroke, Vanetia accepts a grant from a brain researcher named Ted. As Ted studies Conor, he and Vanetia form an unexpected bond.”
1/24/14- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
7) STRANGER BY THE LAKE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this gay murder thriller, young Franck notices the middle-aged Henri sitting on a beach by himself and starts a conversation. Their dialogue continues over several days, in between Franck’s repeated trysts with a seductive killer named Michel.”
1/24/14- Very good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.
8) VISITORS- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Completely devoid of dialogue and backed by a soundtrack by Philip Glass, this description-defying cinematic showpiece explores humans’ reactions to technology and media in beautiful black-and-white clarity.”
1/24/14- The NY Times and most other critics were positive about this movie but it sounds very, very different as it consists solely of black and white images of faces. TRDB.
9) MERCEDES SOSA: THE VOICE OF LATIN AMERICA- Synopsis by Netflix. “The story of Argentinian superstar Mercedes Sosa comes to life through film clips spanning her 60-year career and interviews with her contemporaries. The documentary also delves into Sosa’s personal life and reveals how it influenced her music.”
1/24/14- Weak reviews for this documentary including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
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2) TIM’S VERMEER- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Teller, of Penn & Teller fame, directs this absorbing film about inventor Tim Jenison’s quest to solve one of art’s greatest mysteries: How did Dutch master Johannes Vermeer paint so photo-realistically 150 years before the invention of photography?”
1/25/14- Good reviews. 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.
2) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this exciting adventure based on true events that made international headlines, Tom Hanks portrays Capt. Richard Phillips, who is taken hostage by Somali pirates after they hijack his cargo ship, and the U.S. Navy’s efforts to rescue him.”
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.
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) RUN & JUMP- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Struggling to support her family after her husband, Conor, is fundamentally changed by a stroke, Vanetia accepts a grant from a brain researcher named Ted. As Ted studies Conor, he and Vanetia form an unexpected bond.”
1/24/14- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
5) ENOUGH SAID- 2013. 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.”
9/24/13- Excellent reviews from nearly everyone. 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.
3) THE BEST OFFER- I saw this On-Demand and liked it very much
4) BLACKFISH- Very good reviews
5) BROADWAY IDIOT- Mixed reviews
6) CONCUSSION- I liked this movie
DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
12/6/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) HER- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this sci-fi romantic comedy starring Joaquin Phoenix, love comes to a lonely young writer in the sleekest of packages when he finds himself falling for the advanced operating system he purchased to run his life.”
12/18/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
1/12/14- One of the most creative movies I’ve seen in a while, this film is definitely worth seeing but I have trouble actually recommending it. It did stimulate a lot of discussion. TRDB.
3) AMERICAN HUSTLE- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fictionalization of the “Abscam” scandal of the early 1980s follows con man Irving Rosenfeld and his lover, Sydney Prosser, as they help an eccentric FBI agent expose corruption among several members of Congress in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”
12/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
4) THE INVISIBLE WOMAN- Bethel, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in this drama about the affair Charles Dickens began with a teen actress while at the height of his career. Felicity Jones plays the young thespian who catches Dickens’s eye, and Kristin Scott Thomas plays her mom.”
12/3/13- Mixed reviews but more good than bad. TRDB.
5) PHILOMENA- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Floundering BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith and aging Irishwoman Philomena Lee form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son Philomena was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.”
11/22/13- Excellent reviews all around including the NY Times. TRDB.
11/29/13- I liked this movie very much. Great and true story with great acting and very realistically done. Sad beyond sad at times. Everybody should see this. TRDB.
6) DALLAS BUYERS CLUB- Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.
11/1/13- The review in today’s NY Times gave this movie an OK review but said that it lacked passion and “played it safe.” TRDB.
11/23/13- Very good reviews but not from this guy. I felt that the movie was predictable at every stage and the acting from Jennifer Gardner was weak. The story however could have been more interesting if anyone other than McConaughey showed any interest. TRDB.
7) AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY- Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When their father disappears, three strong-willed women return to their childhood home and to their equally strong-willed mother. As they search for their patriarch, the dysfunctional family members wind up facing difficult truths about themselves.”
12/3/13- Mixed reviews but more positive than negative. TRDB.
12/27/13- The NY Times gave this movie a poor review in today’s issue. TRDB.
8) NEBRASKA- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a cantankerous old boozer thinks he’s won a magazine sweepstakes prize, his son reluctantly takes a road trip with him to claim the fortune. As they drive from Montana to Nebraska, they visit friends and relatives to whom the dad owes money.”
11/15/13- Good reviews in general and a good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
11/29/13- I liked this movie very much. Great and true story with great acting and very realistically done. Sad beyond sad at times. Everybody should see this movie. TRDB.
9) THE WOLF OF WALL STREET- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Martin Scorcese’s high-rolling Wall Street drama is based on the memoirs of stockbroker Jordan Belfort, whose giddy career — involving audacious scams and confrontations with the FBI and other agencies — ended in federal prison.”
12/27/13- The NY Times liked this very much. TRDB.
12/29/13- Similar to American Hustle that I saw last week- way over the top but I liked it. TRDB.
10) 12 YEARS A SLAVE- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk . 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The autobiography of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was abducted from New York state and sold into slavery in the mid-1800s, serves as the basis for this historical drama. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Northup, and Brad Pitt plays an abolitionist.”
9/29/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
10/18/13- A glowing review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
11/6/13- Overall I enjoyed this movie as this is clearly a story needing to be told. The acting was wonderful. Throughout the movie I couldn’t help thinking about this as another Holocaust movie with the dehumanizing, the oppression, the splitting of families and the often random nature of the violence inflicted on the victims, in this case Blacks. My only objection was that too many scenes seemed the same to me, each showing the difficult daily life on the plantation in one form or another. TRDB.
11) THE INVISIBLE WOMAN- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in this drama about the affair Charles Dickens began with a teen actress while at the height of his career. Felicity Jones plays the young thespian who catches Dickens’s eye, and Kristin Scott Thomas plays her mom.”
12/3/13- Mixed reviews but more good than bad. TRDB.
12) THE GREAT BEAUTY- Jacob Burns. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As charming 65-year-old journalist Jap Gambardella writes about Rome’s culture and social life, he reflects with bitterness on the passions of his lost youth, even as he paints a complex portrait of the lovely and ancient city.”
11/15/13- Very good review in today’s NY Times and equally good reviews from most other critics. Most of my friends have hated this movie. One called it psychotic. 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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