FILM REVIEWS #565
October 15th, 2015
10/10/15- This documentary was an inside view of the fashion industry. It made up for the lack of suspense by using deadlines and clever music. I enjoyed it– very good but not great. TRDB. Netflix.
2) THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When dedicated butterfly collector Cynthia hires a new housekeeper, Evelyn, the relationship soon turns sexual. In time, their role-playing encounters transform Evelyn’s role from employee to personal slave — even though she’s the real boss.”
1/23/15- Excellent reviews from critics and very good ones from audiences. TRDB.
10/11/15- Maybe I’m missing something but I turned this movie off after 22 minutes. Boring. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
3) THE FAREWELL PARTY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Inventor Yehezkel lives at a facility for the elderly, where he comes up with gadgets to assist his fellow seniors. When neighbor Max asks him to build a machine that will enable Max to take his own life, Yehezkel must decide whether to oblige.”
5/22/15- Fairly good reviews from both critics and audiences. TRDB.
10/11/15- An excellent drama from Israel that is worth seeing by both young and old. More about love than death. TRDB. Netflix.
4) PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When graphic novelist Will Henry discovers his wife’s infidelity, it sends him into exile from his family. Living in a tiny apartment, Will is too depressed to write and can’t let go of his ex — until a student challenges him to move forward.”
8/10/15- Fairly good reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.
10/12/15- A well written screenplay and very good acting make this comedy/drama worth watching. TRDB. Netflix.
5) RED KNOT– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Opting to take their honeymoon cruise to Antarctica aboard a research ship, Chloe and Peter find the going rough in more ways than one. When journalist Peter starts spending most of his time with the scientists, Chloe responds by switching cabins.”
12/5/14- Very good reviews. TRDB.
10/14/15- I found this movie to be very interesting and suspenseful as well. Beautiful photography in Antarctica. TRDB. Netflix.
6/24/15- About young love and the realities of war. Very well acted and I liked it very much. TRDB.
2) Z FOR ZACHARIAH– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Believing she’s the lone survivor of a global catastrophe, Ann Burden soon learns she’s not the only human alive when a research scientist shows up. But as the two slowly get acquainted, their relationship is strained by the arrival of another man.”
8/18/15- Very good reviews in general along with a few really poor ones. TRDB.
3) THE WOLFPACK– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the heart of Manhattan, Baghavan and Susanne have raised their seven kids with virtually no exposure to the outside world. This startling documentary captures their offspring’s unique views of society — molded largely by films they’ve watched.”
6/12/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
6/19/15- This documentary proves once again that the truth is stranger than fiction. Nobody could make this up. The film was very different, creative and disturbing but definitely worth seeing. TRDB..
4) GUEROS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “During a student strike at Mexico’s National University, flatmates Sombra and Santos settle into a different routine — until the arrival of Sombra’s brother, Tomás, sends the trio on a quest to find a long-forgotten musical star.”
5/20/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
2) IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After rap artist Che “Rhymefest” Smith decides to raise his new family in his boyhood home on Chicago’s South Side, he learns that his estranged father is a homeless alcoholic living in the neighborhood and sets out to reestablish a connection.”
10/9/15- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
3) 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.
12/11/13- Despite the poor reviews I enjoyed this movie very much. TRDB.
4) UNBRANDED– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Intending to cross the United States from south to north on horseback, four friends saddle up their wild mustangs and begin a journey of self-discovery amid breathtaking vistas, uncovering some disquieting truths about the changing American West.”
10/9/15- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
5) A WOMAN LIKE ME– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “The real life of author and terminal cancer patient Alex Sichel interweaves with the experiences of her fictional character Anna Seashell, as both women learn to face a devastating diagnosis and find the blessings in a life cut short.”
10/9/15- Just 2 reviews so far– 1 up (The NY Times) and 1 down. Sounds interesting and I’d give it a try. TRDB.
6) WINTER ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 2013, Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych announced a major policy shift that would strengthen the nation’s ties to Russia. His decision inflamed much of the populace, touching off three months of mass demonstrations and street violence.”
10/9/15- Several reviews have praised this documentary. TRDB.
Not Recommended-
1) PAN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fantasy drama based on J.M. Barrie’s beloved tale about ageless sprite Peter Pan is reset in World War II. With pirates still roaming the landscape, Peter is transported to the magical kingdom of Neverland, where he’s destined to become a hero.”
10/9/15- Poor reviews. TRDB.
2) POACHED- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the UK, rare egg collectors are a passionate group, but they are evolving into a criminal subculture. Their obsession drives them to poach thousands of eggs from nests and threatens to accelerate extinction for some of the world’s rarest birds.”
10/9/15- Just a few reviews so far but they are weak. TRDB.
TOO SOON TO TELL-
1) A FASTER HORSE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Put in charge of revamping the Ford Mustang in time for the 50-year anniversary of its introduction, automotive engineer Dave Pericak must take the new version of the classic muscle car from concept to showroom while preserving its legacy.”
10/9/14- Just a single review (from the NY Times) and it’s negative. TRDB.
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2) ROOM– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being abducted, raped and imprisoned in a small windowless room, a young woman gives birth and is forced to raise her son, Jack, in the same improvised space. But after five years, Jack’s mother begins planning their escape.”
10/11/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
3) BRIDGE OF SPIES– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “At the height of the Cold War in 1960, the downing of an American spy plane and the pilot’s subsequent capture by the Soviets draws Brooklyn attorney James Donovan (Tom Hanks) into the middle of an intense effort to secure the aviator’s release.”
10/11/15- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.
2) PARATISAN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Raised in an isolated communal family led by the enigmatic and dictatorial Gregori, 11-year-old Alexander begins to question his surrogate father’s teachings — which doesn’t sit well with Gregori and soon leads to a growing conflict between them.”
10/14/15- Weak professional reviews but audiences liked it more. TRDB.
DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
2) TAXI- Clearview 100. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Donning a disguise, director Jafar Panahi goes in front of the lens, masquerading as a Tehran taxi driver. As he shuttles a procession of idiosyncratic fares across the bustling city, a dashboard camera captures their candid conversations.”
9/19/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
3) BRIDGE OF SPIES– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “At the height of the Cold War in 1960, the downing of an American spy plane and the pilot’s subsequent capture by the Soviets draws Brooklyn attorney James Donovan Tom Hanks) into the middle of an intense effort to secure the aviator’s release.”
10/11/15- Excellent reviews for this drama/mystery. TRDB.
4) STEVE JOBS– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Everyone knows about the products Steve Jobs designed, but few people really knew the man behind the technology. This revealing biopic focuses on a few key incidents and relationships to tell the story of a digital visionary who changed the world.”
10/8/15- Great reviews except from someone from the NY Times who said the movie did not reflect Steve Jobs at all and was a big con. TRDB.
5) BIG STONE GAP– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “While living an uneventful existence with her mother in a Virginia coal-mining community, pharmacist Ave Maria Mulligan comes upon information that eventually transforms not only her life but the life of the town.”
10/8/15- Just a few reviews but they are generally negative and call the movie a corny rural romance. TRDB.
6) VICTORIA– Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When adventurous Victoria goes out for a night of clubbing, she meets four young men who invite her to join them for some after-hours revelry. Only after they start planning a brazen heist does Victoria realize she’s running with a dangerous crowd.”
10/8/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
9/15- Overall OK but a trivial screenplay. I’ve always been fascinated with this event and the movie left me somewhat cold. TRDB.
8/9/15– Another beautifully done German movie, this one post Holocaust with yet a new twist. TRDB.
4) 99 HOMES– Bethel. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being evicted from his home by a flinty real-estate dealer, jobless Dennis Nash unexpectedly ends up working for the man. But to Nash’s dismay, his new boss soon begins ordering him to turn other families out of their houses.”
9/22/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
10/8/15- A realistic look at the issue of foreclosure of homes and what people will do to prevent that from happening to them. Also a good look at the people who take over these homes. Very well done and I liked it. TRDB.
5) HE NAMED ME MALALA– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Vividly portraying the obstacles Pakistani women face in getting an education because of prohibitions by the Taliban, this affecting documentary chronicles the story of Malala Yousafzai, a 15-year-old who was shot because of her advocacy efforts.”
10/2/15- Just OK reviews. Most said it was too timid and it felt like everything was rehearsed. I would see it just for the history. TRDB.
6) SICARIO– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Recruited to assist in an undercover operation targeting a Mexican drug lord, federal agent Kate Macy finds her moral standards put to the test when she’s plunged into the middle of a plan that goes beyond the boundaries of the law.”
9/15/15- Great reviews. TRDB.
7) THE INTERN– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Agreeing to participate in a community outreach program, e-commerce entrepreneur Jules Ostin hires a 70-year-old intern — who ends up bringing his special brand of business savvy to her fashion enterprise.”
10/6/15- Just barely more positives from critics than negatives but audiences, including many of my friends, really liked this movie. TRDB.
8) FREEHELD– Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, same-sex partners Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree face tragedy and discrimination when Laurel is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and her request to pass on her pension benefits to Stacie is denied.”
10/2/15- Weak reviews, most calling it a worth cause but just not interesting. TRDB.
9) GRANDMA- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Urgently in need of $600 to pay for an abortion, 18-year-old Sage seeks help from her acerbic grandmother, Elle Reid — who has no extra money. Setting off to raise the cash from Elle’s erstwhile friends and exes, the two instead dredge up the past.”
8/18/15– Excellent reviews for this comedy. TRDB.
10) LEARNING TO DRIVE– Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When soon-to-be-divorced Wendy Shields signs up for driving lessons, her instructor is Darwan, a Sikh immigrant to America. Though their cultural perspectives are poles apart, the two begin to develop a bond that transcends their differences.”
8/18/15- Mostly poor reviews with a few good ones thrown in. TRDB.
11) THE WALK– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit made headlines worldwide with his daring high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. This elevating drama recalls the unauthorized and unforgettable feat pulled off by Petit and his team.”
10/6/15- Mostly positive reviews but many of them expressed qualifications. TRDB.
12) BLACK MASS– Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fact-based drama recounts the story of notorious Boston gangster “Whitey” Bulger, who turned FBI informant to get rid of his mob rivals. Later facing imminent indictment, he eluded authorities for more than 15 years, until his arrest in 2011.”
9/15/15- Very good reviews from critics and audiences alike. 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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