SEPT. 3, 2009
TWO NEW movies for me this week at the-
THEATRE-
1) THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE- A documentary about Vogue magazine and the preparation for the “all important” September issue that sets the tone for the entire year. The film was OK and in particular I liked the way the various underlings related to the famous boss, Anna Wintour. Theatre.
2) INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS- Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. About a group of Nazi killers in Germany who were an elite offshoot of the U.S. military. A colossal waste of time as the movie was a collection of way too long scenes, every cliche in the book, together with a screenplay that was beyond belief. And very violent to boot. Theatre.
HOME-
1) NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS- 2008. Starring Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig who also wrote and directed. About a couple that maintains a long distance relationship and tries to deal with the problems that arise. Interestingly done but more like 2 jerks acting like 2 jerks.
2) STRICTLY SEXUAL- Directed by Joel Viertel and starring Amber Benson and Kristen Kerr. About 2 guys who are hired by 2 young women to live in their pool house and to service them whenever they want. Complications arise when the relationship goes further. Light fluff but OK. Netflix Streaming.
3) I LIKE KILLING FLIES- A documentary about Charlie Shopsin who has owned and operated a neighborhood restaurant in Greenwich Village for 32 years. The movie is mostly a running dialogue by Shopsin about his restaurant and life in general. Who cares? The movie was clever but I eventually got tired of watching. Netflix Streaming.
4) SUNSHINE CLEANING- 2008. Starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin. Directed by Christine Jeffs. Cute story about two sisters who, out of financial necessity, form a company that cleans up messy crime scenes. Light but OK movie. I love Alan Arkin and I enjoyed the relationship between the sisters. Netflix.
5) GOODBYE SOLO- 2008. Starring Souleymane Sy Savane and Red West and directed by Ramin Bahrani. Solo is a Sengelese taxi driver in North Carolina who is offered $1000 to drive a despondent man to Blowing Rock N.C. at some point in the future where he presumably plans to commit suicide. The film is about Solo’s “mission” to save this lonesome depressed man. A few too many unanswered questions for me. Netflix.
6) TRADE- 2007. With Kevin Kline. About the sex trade in Mexico. The movie was formulaic and boring and I turned it off before Kevin Kline entered the movie. Netflix Streaming.
7) DUPLICITY- Directed by Tony Gilroy and starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. They play corporate spies who are involved with 2 companies in heavy competition. The movie was convoluted and lacked any sense of drama and suspense for me. I turned it off. Netflix.
8) RUDO Y CURSI- 2008. Directed by Carlos Guaron and starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. About 2 brothers who come from rural Mexico and want to become professional soccer players. When they reach their goal (no pun intended) life becomes even more difficult. Enjoyed the movie. Netflix.
COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 8-
1) SILENT LIGHT- Premise by Netflix. “Johan (
Cornelio Wall Fehr), a Mennonite living in Mexico, is tormented with guilt over his extramarital affair with Marianne (
Maria Pankratz). His father (
Peter Wall), best friend (
Jacobo Klassen) and wife (
Miriam Toews) know the truth, but Johan’s suffering has to do with his faith, which he can’t reconcile with his deeds. Director
Carlos Reygadas‘s powerful drama won the Jury Prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Independent Spirit Awards.”
Very good reviews.2) LOCAL COLOR- Premise by Netflix. “A struggling 18-year-old art student meets a well-known painter many years his senior whose life has been consumed by alcoholism, and the two forge a friendship that helps both of them to overcome their pain and look toward their dreams. The young man really wants to learn to approach his painting like the master, and the old master wants just as much to be able to revisit the world through the rose-colored lenses of youth.” Fair reviews at best.
OPENING THIS WEEK-
1) AMREEKA- Premise by Zap2it. “A vivacious Palestinian woman and her teenage son cope with culture clash and more as they try to build a new life in rural Illinois.” Excellent reviews.
2) SANDSTORM- Premise by Zap2it. “Trapped by a massive sandstorm, a policeman is tormented by memories of his past persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.” Sounds interesting but I couldn’t find any reviews as yet.
3) ALL ABOUT STEVE- Premise by Zap2it. “After a lovely blind date, crossword puzzle-writer Mary Horowitz falls head over heels in love with Steve, a news cameraman. Mary is convinced that she and Steve are true soul mates, and, with the encouragement of a reporter, follows Steve around the country in a bid to win his love. Along the way, she befriends an assortment of misfits who accept her for whom she is, leading her to reassess her reasons for this strange journey.” No reviews as yet.
FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth
1) LAILA’S BIRTHDAY- Very good reviews.
2) O’HORTEN- Premise by RottenTomatoes. From Norway, O’HORTEN, is a former train driver who struggles to adjust to the freedoms of retirement. Very good reviews.
BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-
1) INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. See “above” but DON’T see the film.
2) ADAM- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Saw it and liked it.
3) JULIE AND JULIA- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Mixed reviews.
4) TAKING WOODSTOCK- Bethel. Haven’t seen it yet but has mixed reviews so far.
5) BIG FAN- Clearview 100. Good reviews.
6) WORLD’S GREATEST DAD- Clearview 100. Very good reviews.
7) (500) DAYS OF SUMMER- Garden Cinema Norwalk, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Saw it and liked it.
8) MY ONE AND ONLY- Garden Cinema Norwalk. Good reviews.
9) THE BAADER-MEINHOFF COMPLEX- Jacob Burns. About the West German terrorist group Red Army Faction. This was the German selection for the Academy Award last year.
ATTENTION !!! NEW SECTION:
I’ve noticed that there are many more NEW films being showed on COMCAST ON-DEMAND. I will occasionally list new movies from COMCAST that I would recommend seeing.
COMCAST-
BRAND NEW- ON DEMAND
1) FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN- About the IRA. With Liam Neeson. Mixed reviews.
2) STILL WALKING- A story about a Japanese family that ostensibly gets together for a reunion to remember the oldest son who died 15 years ago in an accident. The film is still in NY and coming to the suburbs soon. No release date available. Excellent reviews.
RELATIVELY NEW- ON DEMAND
1) IN THE LOOP- In local theatres now. Haven’t seen it yet. Supposedly very funny but difficult to understand and better with On Demand as you can turn it back if you miss something.
2) GOODBYE SOLO- Also available on Netflix. I saw this and liked it.
3) JULIA- On Netflix also. Saw it and liked it.
4) A QUIET MARRIAGE- On my queue for Netflix but NO release date available. Good reviews.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-