FILM REVIEWS #522
November 27th, 2014
11/22/14- This was an excellent documentary that everybody should see! It’s part of the Global Watch Festival at Jacob Burns Film Center. TRDB.
11/25/14- The movie held my interest from time to time only. A bit of history made it OK. I love Emmanuelle Devos and for that reason alone I would recommend it. TRDB.
11/22/14- As noted, very good reviews but I was bored to distraction and could not care less what happened to anyone in the film. That’s when I turned it off. TRDB.
2) SEXUAL CHRONICLES OF A FRENCH FAMILY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After her son is caught filming himself masturbating at school, his mother rounds up the whole family to discuss their sexual issues. The revelations that follow involve all three generations of the clan.”
A fair review in the NY Times on 6/1/12. TRDB.
3) VANISHING WAVES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this cerebral sci-fi tale, a scientist who’s part of a neurological research team volunteers for a series of unusual experiments that will afford him access to the feverish thoughts of a comatose female patient.”
3/15/13- Generally good reviews but the NY Times panned it in today’s review. Might be interesting. TRDB.
4) THE END OF TIME– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Human perception of time is the elusive topic of this feature-length documentary that explores its subject as real and conceptual, while advancing the idea that the clock may not be the only way to perceive, gauge and experience time.”
11/20/13- I’ve seen just 2 reviews, one up and one down. TRDB.
11/29/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5) BREATHING– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A probationary job at a morgue leads a rootless teen delinquent to question his origins and launch a search for the mother he never knew. It all begins with the lifeless body of a woman who shares his family name but turns out to be a stranger.”
8/31/12- Excellent reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6) KORKORO- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on the real-life experiences of a Gypsy family living in Nazi-occupied France, this poignant drama explores the broader definition of freedom through the eyes of characters who see permanency as punishment.” Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
7) CIRKUS COLUMBIA– Premise Netflix. “With communism dismantled, refugee Divko Buntic (Miki Manojlovic) returns to his Herzegovina home bearing a new paramour and old grudges. His first act of comeuppance is disturbing the peace of Lucija (Mira Furlan), the wife who refused to flee with him 20 years before. Domestic strife echoes the coming civil war as Divko has Lucija tossed from her home, Lucija retaliates, and intrigue develops between their son and Divko’s new wife.”
At the 2011 Palm Springs Int. Film Festival. I enjoyed the film. TRDB.
2/17/12- Fair review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8) SPLINTERS– 2012. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “Splinters is the first feature-length documentary film about the evolution of indigenous surfing in the developing nation of Papua New Guinea. In the 1980s an intrepid Australian pilot left behind a surfboard in the seaside village of Vanimo. Twenty years on, surfing is not only a pillar of village life but also a means to prestige. With no access to economic or educational advancement, let alone running water and power, village life is hermetic. A spot on the Papua New Guinea national surfing team is the way to see the wider world; the only way.”
2/3/12- OK review in today’s NY Times as well as good professional reviews in general. OK audience reaction so far. TRDB.
9) LUNCH- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “For 4 0 years, a group of comedy legends that includes Sid Caesar, Monty Hall and Carl Reiner has been meeting every two weeks for lunch. This documentary examines the strong friendships within the group, which has seen members come and go over time.”
11/9/12- Uniformly good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10) LOVES HER GUN- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Allie is attacked in New York, she picks up and moves to Austin. Paranoid and still haunted by the incident, she immerses herself in the city’s gun culture as a way to feel less vulnerable.”
1/10/14- A good review from the NY Times in today’s issue. Most other critics have liked it also. TRDB.
11) NORTE, THE END OF HISTORY– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In the northern Philippine province of Luzon, a law-school dropout commits a horrific double murder; a gentle family man takes the fall and receives a life sentence, leaving behind a wife and two kids.”
6/18/14- Great reviews. TRDB.
12) MY WORDS, MY LIES, MY LOVE (LILA, LILA)- Premise by Netflix. “David (Daniel Brühl), a shy waiter, is desperately in love with a sophisticated literature student named Marie (Hannah Herzsprung). When he finds a manuscript in a nightstand at a secondhand furniture shop, David hatches a brilliant plan to impress his crush. Claiming the masterfully crafted work as his own, David becomes a respected published novelist and wins Marie’s heart. Everything seems perfect … until the manuscript’s real author shows up.”
11/27/14- OK reviews. TRDB.
Not Recommended-
1) THE FRENCH MINISTER– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Alexandre Taillard de Vorms is tall and impressive, a man with style, attractive to women. He also happens to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the land of enlightenment: France. With his silver mane and tanned, athletic body, he stalks the world stage, from the floor of the United Nations in New York to the powder keg of Oubanga.”
3/21/14- Mediocre reviews in general but the NY Times liked it. I saw 10 minutes of this movie and I think that was enough. TRDB.
2) DEATH METAL ANGOLA– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In Huambo, Angola’s second-largest city, a hard-core rock scene has flourished for years. This absorbing documentary follows two heavy metal devotees as they organize a rock festival to aid the thousands of orphans created by Angola’s long civil war.”
11/21/14- Very good professional reviews. TRDB.
3) FLAMENCO, FLAMENCO– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Veteran flamenco performers are joined by a new generation of artists in this sizzling performance captured at the Seville Expo ’92 pavilion. Oversized replicas of paintings by Spanish masters prove a dramatic backdrop.”
11/21/14- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
4) FOOD CHAINS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary call to arms details the questionable ethics of the food supply industry, pointing out the power of huge supermarket chains to dictate low wages and inhumane labor conditions for farm workers in the United States.”
11/21/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
5) 4 MOONS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “4 Moons tells four stories about love and self-acceptance. An eleven year-old boy struggles to keep secret the attraction he feels towards his male cousin. Two former childhood friends reunite and start a relationship that gets complicated due the fear one of them has of getting caught. A long lasting gay relationship is in jeopardy when a third man comes along. An old family man is obsessed with a young male prostitute and tries to raise the money to afford the experience.”
11/21/14- Just 2 professional reviews and they are both positive. TRDB.
6) A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Bad things are commonplace in Bad City, including prostitution, drugs and crime, and most recently a sequence of attacks by a vampire on the loose. In this wild mash-up of cinematic genres, one couple struggles to cope with their hellish situation.”
11/21/14- This is apparently the first Iranian Vampire Western ever made and it has received excellent reviews. TRDB.
7) THE KING AND THE MOCKINGBIRD– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Based on a Hans Christian Andersen story, the wildly satirical THE KING AND THE MOCKINGBIRD follows a chimney sweep and shepherdess on the run from a tyrannical king.”
11/21/14- Excellent reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.
8) LATE PHASES– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Newly arrived at a remote retirement community, blind war veteran Ambrose McKinley learns that it’s being plagued by a slew of animal attacks. When his service dog and his neighbor are savagely killed, Ambrose realizes something sinister is afoot.”
11/21/14- Sounds ridiculous but has received OK reviews. TRDB.
9) LITTLE HOPE WAS ARSON– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “After arson fires destroy 10 East Texas churches in the space of a few weeks, the resulting police investigation fails to turn up any leads. Eventually, a citizen’s tip points detectives in the direction of two young locals.”
11/21/14- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
10) MONK WITH A CAMERA– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This inspiring documentary charts the journey of photographer Nicholas Vreeland, grandson of fashion icon Diana Vreeland, who left behind the jet-set world he was born into and turned toward a spiritual path that led to his becoming a Buddhist monk.”
11/21/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
11) THE SLEEPWALKER– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “As Kaia and her boyfriend work to restore her childhood home, they get an unexpected visit from her estranged sister, Christine, and her fiancé. And it doesn’t take long for recriminations old and new to enter the women’s lives as well.”
11/21/14- Mixed critical reviews and excellent audience reviews. TRDB.
12) STONES IN THE SUN– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this powerful social drama, Haitian refugees cross paths in 1980s NYC as political violence engulfs their homeland. In order to move forward, they must confront the horrors of the past.”
11/21/14– I’ve seen 3 professional reviews– 2 up including the NY Times and 1 down. I’ll try it. TRDB.
13) LITTLE WHITE LIE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this intimate documentary, Lacey Schwartz reflects on her experiences growing up in a typical Jewish household, remaining unaware of her true parentage until her mother shares the long-held secret of her affair with a black man.”
11/24/14- Great early reviews. TRDB.
2) REACH ME- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Led by a stellar ensemble cast, the inspirational dramedy REACH ME tells interwoven stories from a diverse group of people who are united by one thing¿a powerful book from an anonymous and reclusive author (Tom Berenger). When the book’s positive message goes viral, a journalist (Kevin Connolly) and his editor (Sylvester Stallone), a former inmate (Kyra Sedgwick), a hip-hop mogul (Nelly), an actor (Cary Elwes) and an undercover cop (Thomas Jane) are inspired to change their lives by facing their fears. REACH ME also stars Kelsey Grammer, Lauren Cohan, Ryan Kwanten and Tom Sizemore.”
11/21/14- Terrible reviews- this movie managed to get a zero rating from Rotten Tomatoes. TRDB.
10/22/14- I liked this documentary very much. TRDB.
10) FELONY- Mixed reviews
11) FORT BLISS- Mixed reviews– more good than bad. I liked the movie, especially Michelle Monaghan
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-
NEW IN THE BURBS-
1) FOXCATHER– Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Preparing for the 1988 Olympics, two sibling wrestlers cross paths with a paranoid schizophrenic millionaire in this drama based on a true story. The competitive Schultz brothers soon learn their new acquaintance is a dangerous distraction.”
11/14/14- Very good reviews. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) BIRDMAN– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100.- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Michael Keaton delivers a winking performance in this dark comedy about a cinematic superhero trying to forge a comeback with a Broadway play. With none of the super-powers of his former character, the actor struggles to rebuild his career and life.”
10/17/14- Excellent reviews from nearly all critics and audiences have liked it as well. The NY Times loved it. TRDB.
10/31/14- Very original and interesting mixing fact and fantasy. Keaton was excellent and I enjoyed the movie. Labeled a comedy, it surely isn’t. TRDB.
2) ROSEWATER- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. ” The film marks the directorial debut of “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart, and stars Gael García Bernal. Rosewater follows the Tehran-born Bahari, a broadcast journalist with Canadian citizenship. In June 2009, Bahari returned to Iran to interview Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who was the prime challenger to president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As Mousavi’s supporters rose up to protest Ahmadinejad’s victory declaration hours before the polls closed, Bahari endured personal risk by sending footage of the street riots to the BBC.”
9/17/14- Very good reviews in general. TRDB.
3) ST. VINCENT– Bethel, Danbury. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his parents preoccupied with their divorce, lonely 12-year-old Oliver strikes up a friendship with his war-veteran neighbor Vincent. A hard-drinking gambler with a fondness for hookers, Vincent finds his life changed by the boy’s presence.”
10/10/14- Just fair professional reviews but audiences have liked it more. Most said that Bill Murray made the movie. TRDB.
4) THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his body progressively ravaged by ALS, world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking must rely on his wife, Jane, to continue his life’s work as he faces various challenges. This affecting biographical drama centers on the couple’s fertile partnership.”
11/7/14- Good reviews from critics and audiences alike. TRDB.
5) WHIPLASH– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Driven by his demanding music teacher, drummer Andrew is determined to succeed as a jazz musician — even if it destroys his personality. Under the shadow of his father’s failed artistic attempts, Andrew practices until his hands bleed.”
10/10/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
11/7/14- Great acting, great music and a very good story. I liked the movie a lot despite a bit of Hollywood at the end. TRDB.
6) THE HOMESMAN– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a frontier town in the Nebraska Territory, self-reliant spinster Mary Bee Cuddy is tasked with escorting a trio of deranged women to a sanctuary in Iowa. Joining her on the arduous trek is George Briggs, an Army deserter Mary rescued from hanging.”
11/14/14- Good professional reviews and weak audience ones. I’d see anything with Hilary Swank. TRDB.
7) GONE GIRL– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name, this unsettling thriller follows the mercurial Nick Dunne, who finds himself dogged by police and caught in a media maelstrom after he becomes the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance.”
9/26/14- Very good reviews. The NY Times did not like it. TRDB.
10/9/14- Very well done mystery with interesting characters. A bit too long but I liked it. TRDB.
For Independent Films in Palm Beach County go to www.lakeworthplayhouse.org
For Films everywhere go to- www.fandango.com
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Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters
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