FILM REVIEWS #495
May 1st, 2014
4/18/14- A good movie that dealt well with revenge and reconciliation. I could have done well without the amount of torture portrayed. TRDB.
4/17/14- A very good documentary that offers a glimmer of hope for the future of the region. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
2) HIPSTERS- 2008. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this hit Russian musical, a group of friends flaunts Soviet authority in 1950s Moscow by embracing jazz. When Communist Mels (Anton Shagin) falls for Polly (Oksana Akinshina), a free-spirited jazz fan, he risks losing his party membership by associating with her rebellious crew. Equally smitten, Polly introduces her new beau to jazz and other forbidden Western delights. Writer-director Valery Todorovsky helms this colorful take on the Cold War.”
2/24/12- OK review in today’s NY Times but mostly good reviews from others. TRDB.
4/20/14- I really liked this Russian musical drama, especially the musical scenes. It seems to be Russia’s answer to India’s Bollywood- Moscowwood? Netflix Streaming.
3) HIDE YOUR SMILING FACES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two young brothers, Eric and Tommy, are upended by a tragic incident that kills of one of their friends and leaves emotional chaos behind. The boys must answer not only to the adults and family around them, but to their own consciences as well.”
3/28/14- Fairly good reviews all around including the NY Times. TRDB.
4/20/14- This movie has been compared to “Stand By Me” which was far superior. One critic said that “Hide” was more intent on tone than on incident and I believe that that says it all. I liked it but I felt it could have been much better. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
4) YOUNG & BEAUTIFUL– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Told over the course of four seasons with four songs, this lyrical film portrays the coming of age of a 17-year-old French girl as she experiences a sexual awakening, explores love and goes on a quest to understand her own identity.”
4/25/14- Fairly good early reviews but the NY Times did not care for it. TRDB.
4/29/14- An interesting movie that’s worth seeing but certainly not one of Francois Ozon’s best. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
5) THE UNFINISHED SKY– 2007. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taciturn farmer John Woldring is living on his own in the Australian Outback when a terrified woman who speaks little English appears on his property. Upon learning that the woman is an Afghan refugee in dire straits, Woldring elects to shelter her.”
4/30/14- I liked the first 90% of this movie but found the last 10% hard to believe. Never-the-less it’s still worth viewing. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
6) 11 FLOWERS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This elegantly filmed drama of village life is told from the viewpoint of an 11-year-old who unexpectedly comes into contact with an accused murderer. The upheavals of China’s Cultural Revolution provide a turbulent backdrop to the boy’s adventures.”
2/22/13- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4/30/14- A very enjoyable movie with, of course, social and political themes. The kids were great. TRDB.
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2) BURN- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Meet the firefighters of Detroit, who battle the nation’s highest arson rate in a bid to save their once-thriving city from virtual collapse. At the helm is commissioner Donald Austin, whose firebrand attitude has galvanized the city and its leaders.”
11/9/12- Good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
3) THESE BIRDS WALK– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This inspiring documentary profiles both legendary humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi and a young boy named Omar, who has fled his abusive family. Living at one of Edhi’s orphanages in Karachi, Pakistan, Omar attempts to find safety and peace.”
11/1/13- Very good reviews from everybody including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4) DEAR MR. WATTERSON– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nearly two decades after the last original “Calvin and Hobbes” was published, this documentary examines the comic strip’s enduring legacy. Fans and cartoonists such as Berke Breathed of “Bloom County” discuss the strip’s impact and timeless appeal.”
11/15/13- Fairly good reviews but a weak one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) BEARS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This captivating DisneyNature documentary follows two mother brown bears as they raise cubs amid the splendor of the Alaskan wilderness. Over the course of a year, the cubs play in the snow, learn how to fish and elude a predatory wolf pack.”
4/18/14– Good reviews for this documentary although no critic raved about it. TRDB.
3) CESAR’S LAST FAST– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Paying tribute to the extraordinary life of labor leader Cesar Chavez, this bio-documentary spotlights his controversial “Fast for Life” in 1988. Newly discovered footage and interviews with those who knew him resurrect Chavez’s passionate spirit.”
4/18/14- Early critical review is good. Audiences have uniformly enjoyed this documentary. TRDB.
4) THE FINAL MEMBER– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary follows curator Siggi Hjartarson as he works to complete his collection of specimens at the Icelandic Phallological Museum: the world’s only penis museum. So far, he’s rounded up a sample from every mammal — except for man.”
4/18/14– Good reviews for this strange sounding documentary. TRDB.
5) HALF THE ROAD– 2014. This movie is about the efforts to include women in bicycle racing. TRDB.
4/18/14- I’ve seen just 2 reviews– 1 up (NY Times) and 1 down. TRDB.
6) HOME, JAMES– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the story follows James, an aspiring local photographer whose recent rejection from a major gallery has left him questioning his talent. While working his unfulfilling day job, he falls for Cooper, a hard drinking Tulsa socialite.”
4/18/14– I’ve seen just one review- from the NY Times and it’s good. TRDB.
7) KID CANNABIS– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “KID CANNABIS is the true story of an Idaho teen dropout who builds a multimillion-dollar marijuana ring by trafficking drugs through the woods across the Canadian border. But his pursuit of the high life – complete with girls, guns, and vicious rival drug lords – may leave this ex-pizza boy in way over his head.”
4/18/14- Very good reviews and audiences have liked this movie very much as well. TRDB.
8) MAKE YOUR MOVE- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nothing can subdue the sizzle between dancers Donny and Aya, even when their respective brothers — two rival club owners — try to tear them apart. When hardships challenge the star-crossed lovers, their move-busting romance conquers all.”
4/18/14– Weak reviews all around. TRDB.
9) A PROMISE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hired on to assist a wealthy German industrialist with his affairs, a dutiful young protégé soon proves so indispensable that he moves into his employer’s home — and promptly falls in love with his beautiful wife.”
4/18/14– Uniformly miserable reviews. TRDB.
10) 13 SINS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Desperate to get his finances in order, a man agrees to appear on a game show where performing 13 tasks could win him $6 million. But as the challenges become more and more extreme, he realizes he’s made a grave mistake.”
4/18/14- Poor reviews in general with but a few exceptions. TRDB.
11) VANISHING PEARLS– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “is the story of paradise lost – an ongoing, environmental David and Goliath struggle between multinational oil and gas company BP plc (Beyond Petroleum) and a 300 person, Louisiana Gulf community dependant on oyster fishing. The battlefield is the Gulf coast of Louisiana, and the opening salvo was the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.”
4/18/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
12) MANAKAMANA– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Breathtaking, poignant and mesmerizing, MANAKAMANA is a documentary shot entirely inside the narrow bubble of a cable car, high above a jungle in Nepal, as it transports villagers and tourists to an ancient mountaintop temple. Filmed in 16mm and comprised of 11 rides (each a single take corresponds to the length of a roll of film), MANAKAMANA is a tender, ephemeral character study of its passengers and a window onto the lush, rolling landscape of a country in transition from ancient tradition to modernity.”
4/18/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
13) APE– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “There are a myriad of young directors who have decided to focus their attention on the failures of their peers, daring to show the western white male as immature and antisocial, exposing his contradictions, neuroses and anxieties. Welcome to economically depressed Grand Rapids, Michigan, the city of director Joel Potrykus. Here we find the listless Trevor Newandyke (a brilliant Joshua Burge), a sociopath, comic failure and arsonist. His efforts to wrestle a smile from his audience with his stand-up monologues lead to one flop after another.”
4/25/14- Very good review in today’s NY Times and from every other critic as well. TRDB.
14) BLUE RUIN– 2003. Synopsis by Netflix. “Bad news from the past unhinges vagabond Dwight Evans, sending him on a mission of bloody retribution that takes him to his boyhood hometown. After killing his quarry, Dwight holes up in a relative’s house to await payback from his victim’s family.”
4/27/14- Good reviews from critics and audiences as well. The NY Times did not care for it. TRDB.
15) BRICK MANSIONS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this explosive thriller, Detroit undercover cop Damien Collier fights a constant battle to stem a tide of crime and corruption. As a ruthless drug lord makes apocalyptic plans for the city, Damien teams with an ex-con to foil the plot.”
4/25/14- Poor reviews all around. TRDB.
16) DESERT RIDERS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Synopsis by Netflix. “Shedding light on the little-known practice of trafficking young boys to work as camel jockeys, this sobering documentary examines the effect of government intervention on the children’s lives and the ongoing effort to rehabilitate them.”
4/25/14- Just a few reviews so far but they are positive. The NY Times liked it as well. TRDB.
17) FOR NO GOOD REASON– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this engaging documentary, Hunter S. Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing” collaborator, illustrator Ralph Steadman, reveals his creative process. When actor Johnny Depp steps into Steadman’s studio, the artist shares a wealth of anecdotes and insights.”
4/25/14- Poor critical reviews including the NY Times today. Audiences have liked it. TRDB.
18) THE GIRL AND DEATH– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In Russia of the post-WWII era, aging doctor Nicolai (Sergey Makovetsky – DUSKA) returns to an old, abandoned hotel outside of Liepzig, Germany, the place where he first met his great love 50 years ago, and relives his romantic tragedy.”
4/25/14- Poor reviews all around. TRDB.
19) GRAND SLAMMED– 2010. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Mikey is an aspiring Major Leaguer whose chances at pro ball are slipping away. Nevertheless, his father Bobby, a disgruntled construction worker battling alcoholism is not giving up on him. But after throwing a wild pitch in front of a scout, Mikey becomes disillusioned with baseball and ends up at a local Bronx bar. After a night of drinking on that fateful night, Mikey unexpectedly finds himself in the driver’s seat of the getaway car for an attempted murder.”
4/25/14- I’ve seen just 2 reviews– one up and one down. TRDB.
20) THE LAST PASSENGER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Weary single dad Lewis Shaler boards a train from London with his son and begins an unexpected flirtation with a stranger, but his interesting evening turns tragic when a madman seizes control of the train, forcing Lewis to take dramatic action.”
4/25/14- Very good critical review but audiences haven’t cared for it. The NY Times did like it. TRDB.
21) LOCKE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Over the space of 90 minutes, Ivan Locke’s life spins out of control via a series of phone calls made while he drives down the highway to London. On the brink of a career-making moment, Ivan faces a personal decision that could cost him everything.”
4/25/14- Very good reviews all around. TRDB.
22) MARVIN, SETH AND STANLEY-2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The usually quarreling Greenstein brothers Seth (Karpovsky) and Stanley (writer/director Stephen Gurewitz reluctantly agree to join their father, Marvin, for a weekend trip in rural Minnesota. Estranged from each other, the threesome of inept outdoorsmen rediscover repressed grudges as the weekend comically devolves into a series of daytime drinking episodes and botched outdoor pursuits . A serious comedy of deceit and stilted emotions.”
4/25/14- I’ve seen 3 reviews– 2 were weak (including the NY Times) and the positive one was iffy. TRDB.
23) THE OTHER WOMAN– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “When she finds out that her boyfriend is married and that she’s his mistress, a woman teams up with the jerk’s wife to get revenge. Nicki Minaj makes her live-action debut in this comedy about getting the upper hand in a relationship.”
4/25/14- Awful professional reviews but audiences seem to have liked it. TRDB.
24) TANZANIA: A JOURNEY WITHIN– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “He’s from a place so old it’s been called the cradle of mankind. She’s led a privileged life in America without hardship or pain. Together these two unlikely friends embark upon a journey from the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro to the depths of an AIDS ravaged village where even the smallest children become outcasts at the mere hint of the disease and malaria is an ever-present threat.”
4/25/14– Professional reviews have been so-so but audiences have enjoyed the movie. TRDB.
25) WALKING WITH THE ENEMY– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “When the Nazis invade Hungary, young Elek Cohen dons a Nazi uniform to save his skin and find his family. Instead, he uncovers a terrible truth. Now cognizant of Hitler’s “final solution,” Cohen sets about saving thousands of Jews.”
4/25/14- Weak reviews from critics and from audiences alike. TRDB.
26) WE COULD BE KING– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Slashing budgets and still facing shortfalls, Philadelphia did the unthinkable. It shuttered Germantown High School and sent its students to archrival Martin Luther King, leaving a first-time head coach and a new principal to join together in a fight to unite bitter adversaries.”
4/25/14- Just 2 reviews ( one from the NY Times) and they are both very positive. Audiences have liked it also. TRDB.
27) WHO IS DAYANI CRISTAL?- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the oppressive desert heat, Arizona authorities find a man’s decomposing body with only one clue to his identity: a tattoo reading “Dayani Cristal.” Gael García Bernal portrays the unknown man in dramatic segments of this intriguing documentary.”
4/25/14- Mixed reviews but more positive than negative. The NY Times liked it and so did audiences. TRDB.
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4/20/14- This movie has been compared to “Stand By Me” which was far superior. One critic said that “Hide” was more intent on tone than on incident and I believe that that says it all. I liked it but I felt it could have been much better. TRDB.
4/18/14– The NY Times liked this film. TRDB.
2) KID CANNABIS– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “KID CANNABIS is the true story of an Idaho teen dropout who builds a multimillion-dollar marijuana ring by trafficking drugs through the woods across the Canadian border. But his pursuit of the high life – complete with girls, guns, and vicious rival drug lords – may leave this ex-pizza boy in way over his head.”
4/18/14- Very good reviews and audiences have liked this movie very much as well. TRDB.
3) YOUNG & BEAUTIFUL– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Told over the course of four seasons with four songs, this lyrical film portrays the coming of age of a 17-year-old French girl as she experiences a sexual awakening, explores love and goes on a quest to understand her own identity.”
4/25/14- Fairly good early reviews but the NY Times did not care for it. TRDB.
4/29/14- An interesting movie that’s worth seeing but certainly not one of Francois Ozon’s best. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
4) BLUE RUIN– 2003. Synopsis by Netflix. “Bad news from the past unhinges vagabond Dwight Evans, sending him on a mission of bloody retribution that takes him to his boyhood hometown. After killing his quarry, Dwight holes up in a relative’s house to await payback from his victim’s family.”
4/27/14- Good reviews from critics and audiences as well. The NY Times did not care for it. TRDB.
1) 12 YEARS A SLAVE- I didn’t like this film as much as the critics
5) DALLAS BUYERS CLUB- I liked it but not as much as the critics
6) DANCING IN JAFFA- I liked this one very much
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
1) LOCKE– Jacob Burns. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Over the space of 90 minutes, Ivan Locke’s life spins out of control via a series of phone calls made while he drives down the highway to London. On the brink of a career-making moment, Ivan faces a personal decision that could cost him everything.”
4/25/14- Very good reviews all around. TRDB.
3) CESAR CHAVEZ– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “During the 1960s and ’70s, Cesar Chavez served as an inspirational leader to tens of thousands of migrant farm workers trying to improve their rights. This biopic recounts Chavez’s efforts as the head of the United Farm Workers labor union.”
3/28/14- Weak critical reviews but audiences so far have liked it. TRDB.
4) THE GERMAN DOCTOR– Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a young family opens a lakeside lodge in Patagonia, they have no idea that their first guest will be a Nazi war criminal. Unbeknownst to them, the charming doctor so entranced with 12-year-old Eva is none other than Josef Mengele.”
4/25/14– The NY Times liked this movie as did audiences and most other critics. TRDB.
5) BEARS– Danbury. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This captivating DisneyNature documentary follows two mother brown bears as they raise cubs amid the splendor of the Alaskan wilderness. Over the course of a year, the cubs play in the snow, learn how to fish and elude a predatory wolf pack.”
4/18/14– Good reviews for this documentary although no critic raved about it.
2) LE WEEK-END- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Returning to Paris long after their honeymoon there, a British couple hopes to rediscover the magical feelings of their early years together. There, they meet an old friend whose perspectives on love and marriage help them recover what was lost.”
3/14/14- Good reviews from critics– audiences so-so. TRDB.
4/7/14- I enjoyed this ultimately sad movie about people’s relationships with their spouses. TRDB.
3) THE RAILWAY MAN– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades after his brutal captivity under the Japanese during World War II, Eric Lomax still has nightmares about the ordeal. But when he unexpectedly meets and falls for Patti, a bizarre coincidence brings his past back into focus.”
4/11/14- Mixed reviews for this war related movie, more good than bad. TRDB.
4) FADING GIGOLO– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Middle-aged Fioravante and Murray are an unlikely gigolo and pimp in this farce about two cash-strapped friends who turn to the sex trade to make ends meet. Their new enterprise is fruitful, but things get complicated when romance enters the picture.”
4/12/14- Mixed reviews but more positive than negative. I’ll see it just to see Woody Allen in a movie that’s not his. TRDB.
4/18/14- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5) ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE– Clearview 100. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Depressed over the state of the human world, underground musician Adam — a vampire — hooks up again with Eve, his mysterious lover of many centuries. But the antics of Eve’s spirited little sister threaten to destroy their eternal love.”
4/11/14– Good reviews for this movie and I’ll probably see it despite recently saying that I’ll never see a vampire movie again. TRDB.
6) THE LUNCHBOX– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Mumbai’s eerily reliable lunchbox delivery service erroneously sends a meal prepared by a young housewife to a lonely widower on the brink of retirement, the mistake ignites an exchange of notes and mutual fantasy between them.”
4/12/14- A sensitive movie about several lonely people. I enjoyed it very much. TRDB.
7) HEAVEN IS FOR REAL– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the 4-year old son of a small-town Nebraska pastor who, during emergency surgery, slips from consciousness and enters heaven. When he awakes, he recounts his experiences on the other side.”
4/30/14- Weak critical reviews but audiences have liked it. TRDB.
For Films everywhere go to- www.fandango.com
ENJOY!!
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