FILM REVIEWS #434
November 4th, 2012
10/25/12- A fascinating and apparently true story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. TRDB.
2) THE OTHER SON– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “”The Other Son” is the moving and provocative tale of two young men — one Israeli, the other Palestinian — who discover they were accidentally switched at birth, and the complex repercussions facing them and their respective families. Joseph (Jules Sitruk), an 18-year-old musician preparing to join the Israeli army for his mandatory military service, lives at home in a comfortable suburb of Tel Aviv with his parents, France-born physician Orith (Emmanuelle Devos) and Israel-born army commander Alon Silbers (Pascal Elbé). A blood test for Joseph’s military service reveals that he is not their biological son. During the Gulf War Joseph was evacuated from a clinic along with another baby, and the pair were given back to the wrong families. While Palestinian Joseph went to Tel Aviv with the Silbers, their actual Jewish son, Yacine (Medhi Dehbi), was brought to the West Bank by an Arab couple, Said (Khalifa Natour) and Leila (Areen Omari). The revelation turns the lives of the two families upside-down, forcing them to reassess their respective identities, values, and beliefs.”
10/26/12– A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/28/12- I liked this movie very much. Great acting and a different slant on a premise that has been done before. The film was very well done especially and dealing with the sensitivities regarding this region of the world. Highly recommended. TRDB. _________________________________________________________________________________________
10/28/12- A well done documentary that again makes us wonder that when it comes to the Holocaust there is no end to the number of stories. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
2) HARIMAYA BRIDGE– 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unsure how to handle his estranged son’s sudden death in Japan, American dad Daniel (Bennet Guillory) travels to the land of the rising sun looking for answers. As he learns about his boy’s life, Daniel must re-examine the resentment he harbors toward the Japanese. The feature film debut from writer-director Aaron Woolfolk, this poignant cross-cultural drama also stars Saki Takaoka, Misa Shimizu and Danny Glover.”
8/12/11- A few OK reviews. TRDB.
10/29/12- A very interesting story but seeing this film on Netflix Streaming limited the amount of sub-titles available and there was significant dialogue that was missed. I still liked it however. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
3) THE LONGEST DAY– 1962. Synopsis by Netflix. “This Oscar-winning war epic chronicles World War II’s harrowing D-Day invasion. Shot on the beaches of Normandy, France, the ambitious film attempts to cover the historic day from all perspectives, focusing on both sides of the conflict.”
Rotten Tomatoes had this to say– “The Longest Day is a mammoth, all-star re-creation of the D-Day invasion, personally orchestrated by Darryl F. Zanuck. Whenever possible, the original locations were utilized, and an all-star international cast impersonates the people involved, from high-ranking officials to ordinary GIs. Each actor speaks in his or her native language with subtitles translating for the benefit of the audience (alternate “takes” were made of each scene with the foreign actors speaking English, but these were seen only during the first network telecast of the film in 1972). The stars are listed alphabetically, with the exception of John Wayne, who as Lt. Colonel Vandervoort gets separate billing. Others in the huge cast include Eddie Albert, Jean-Louis Barrault, Richard Burton, Red Buttons, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Gert Frobe, Curt Jurgens, Peter Lawford, Robert Mitchum, Kenneth More, Edmond O’Brien, Robert Ryan, Jean Servais, Rod Steiger and Robert Wagner. Paul Anka, who wrote the film’s title song, shows up as an Army private. Scenes include the Allies parachuting into Ste. Mere Englise, where the paratroopers were mowed down by German bullets; a real-life sequence wherein the German and Allied troops unwittingly march side by side in the dark of night; and a spectacular three-minute overhead shot of the troops fighting and dying in the streets of Quistreham. The last major black-and-white road-show attraction, The Longest Day made millions, enough to recoup some of the cost of 20th Century Fox’s concurrently produced Cleopatra.”
10/29/12- Truly the classic movie on the subject. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
8/3/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) I WISH– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When he learns that a bullet train will soon connect the city where his mother lives to the city where his estranged father resides, young lad Koichi and his kid brother hatch a wildly imaginative plan to use the new train to reconnect their parents.”
5/11/12- Fairly good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3) THE DAY HE ARRIVES– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dreamlike, meandering narrative — shot in black and white and set in the Korean capital of Seoul — follows the movements of university professor Sungjoon, who’s supposed to meet a male colleague but comes across an old actress friend instead.”
4/20/12 Excellent review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
4) TRISHNA– 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Self-effacing British auteur Michael Winterbottom sets his unique spin on Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles against a contemporary Indian backdrop. Freida Pinto stars as the titular Trishna, a young woman who is seduced by the wealthy son of a property developer. As the romance develops, their relationship also becomes increasingly sordid and volatile.”
Good early professional reviews but weaker audience ones. TRDB.
7/17/12- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5) YOUR SISTER’S SISTER– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jack, who is mourning the death of his brother, has a complicated relationship with his best friend, Iris, who used to date his brother. Their chaotic situation becomes even more tangled when Jack has a drunken tryst with Iris’s flighty sister.” Excellent reviews. TRDB.
An article about the director in the NY Times on 5/6/12. TRDB.
6/15/12- Mixed review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6/26/12- I liked this movie, especially the relationship between the sisters. TRDB.
2) PUSHER– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Based on the edgy and explosive series by visionary director Nicolas Winding Refn, Pusher stars Richard Coyle as a drug dealer who grows increasingly desperate over the course of a week after a botched deal lands him in the merciless clutches of a ruthless crime lord. The more desperate his behavior, the more isolated he becomes until there is nothing left standing between him and the bullet his debtors intend to fire his way.”
10/26/12- A good review in today’s NY Times but reviews are very mixed and some said that it was not as good as the original. TRDB.
3) THE LONLIEST PLANET– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Alex and Nica, a young engaged couple, are so eager to take a serious walking trek through Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains that they hire a local guide. Traveling deep into the wild landscape, however, the emotional atmosphere shifts for the trio.”
10/26/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4) CHASING MAVERICKS– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Chasing Mavericks is the inspirational true story of real life surfing phenom Jay Moriarity (played by newcomer Jonny Weston). When 15 year old Jay discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, is not only real, but exists just miles from his Santa Cruz home, he enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson (played by Gerard Butler) to train him to survive it. As Jay and Frosty embark on their quest to accomplish the impossible, they form a unique friendship that transforms both their lives, and their quest to tame Mavericks becomes about far more than surfing. Chasing Mavericks was made with the help of some of the biggest names in the surfing world, and features some of the most mind-blowing real wave footage ever captured on film.”
10/26/12- An OK review in today’s NY Times but weak professional reviews in general. Audiences have liked it. TRDB.
5) THE BLACK TULIP– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After the Taliban is routed from Afghanistan in early 2001, the Mansouri family seizes the new window of freedom by opening a restaurant called “Poet’s Corner,” with an open microphone and an inviting platform for all to read poetry and tell their stories. This newfound hope proves to be fleeting as they struggle to maintain their lifestyle when encountering very real threats from lingering factions of the Taliban.”
10/26/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times and by other professional critics as well. Audiences have liked this movie a lot. TRDB.
6) LONG SHOT: THE KEVIN LAUE STORY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though born with one arm, Kevin Laue is determined to pursue his dreams and win the approval of his deceased coach father. This inspiring documentary follows Laue’s highs and lows as he works to become college basketball’s first one-armed player.”
10/26/12- A good review in today’s NY Times and OK reviews in general. TRDB.
7) DINOTASIA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “One of our favorite natural history subjects, the good old dinosaur, gets a makeover and then some in this fantastically ambitious and groundbreaking documentary. Based on cutting-edge paleontology and the latest fossil records, DINOTASIA presents a series of vignettes about dinosaurs – both familiar faces and some we have only found out about in the past ten years.”
10/26/12– Weak review in today’s NY Times and by other professional critics as well for this new documentary narrated by Werner Herzog. Audiences have liked it. TRDB.
8)ORCHESTRA OF EXILES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This inspiring documentary focuses on Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman, who rescued hundreds of Jews from the holocaust and founded the globally renowned orchestra that would eventually become the Israel Philharmonic.”
10/26/12- Fairly good review in today’s NY Times and by most professional critics as well. Audiences have uniformly enjoyed it. TRDB.
2) FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS– 2010. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A father and daughter are separated but are never truly apart in this touching story of a family tragically divided. Reshma is a troubled teenager in 1980s New York who struggles to discover a sense of self and strength amidst a daunting array of pressures and betrayals. While continually grappling with her tumultuous relationship with her mother, Reshma holds on to her dreams of reuniting with the father in Guyana she has not seen or heard from in thirteen years. Documentary filmmaker Shundell Prasad’s ambitious feature debut, which spans two continents and three decades, offers a nuanced and empathetic lens into the plight of displaced immigrant families struggling to create a brighter future for their children.”
No reviews as yet. TRDB.
3) FLIGHT– 2012- Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this action-packed mystery thriller, Academy Award winner, Denzel Washington stars as Whip Whitaker, a seasoned airline pilot, who miraculously crash lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, saving nearly every soul on board. After the crash, Whip is hailed as a hero, but as more is learned, more questions than answers arise as to who or what was really at fault and what really happened on that plane?”
Very good reviews. TRDB.
10/28/12- A well done documentary that again makes us wonder- when it comes to the Holocaust there is no end to the number of stories. TRDB.
http://www.optimum.net/VOD/movies?cat=Movies+On+Demand%2FIndependent+Films%2FIFC+In+Theaters
DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
10/12/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) THE FLAT-Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Arnon Goldfinger’s grandmother died at 98, he was charged with cleaning out her Tel Aviv apartment, where he made a shocking discovery. The filmmaker plays detective as he sorts through decades of the Holocaust survivor’s letters and photos.”
10/19/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
10/28/12- A well done documentary that again makes us wonder that when it comes to the Holocaust there is no end to the number of stories. TRDB.
3) THE SESSIONS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After spending years in an iron lung, a man decides he wants to explore his sexuality for the first time, and hires a surrogate to aid the goal. Through their intensifying relationship, this indie drama illustrates the many forms love can take.”
Very good early reviews. TRDB.
10/19/12- Excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
11/3/12- I found this movie alternately touching, sad, funny and very moving. TRDB.
10/28/12- I liked this movie very much. Great acting and a different slant on a premise that has been done before. The film was very well done especially and dealing with the sensitivities regarding this region of the world. Highly recommended. TRDB.
Good reviews. TRDB.
10/25/12- A fascinating and apparently true story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. TRDB.
9/21/12- The NY Times today called this movie “safe” and reserved praise for Amy Adams, Eastwood’s daughter in the film. TRDB.
5) SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN– Garden Cinema Norwalk.. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades after Detroit singer-songwriter Rodriguez disappeared following the failure of his two critically praised records in the 1970s, two fans from South Africa, where Rodriguez was a huge hit, try to track down their idol, with intriguing results.”
Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
7/27/12- A confusing but good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
9/3/12- A well structured suspenseful documentary about a legend coupled with great music, great interviews, a likable subject and a thought provoking screenplay make this a GREAT DOCUMENTARY. TRDB.
6) ARBITRAGE- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “It’s financial whiz Robert Miller’s day of reckoning. As he struggles to divest his empire before his fraud is brought to light, fate takes a nasty turn. Now desperate and running out of options, Miller turns to an unlikely source for help.”
Great early reviews. I saw the coming attractions for this and it looked very good. TRDB.
9/14/12- Fair review at best in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
9/19/12- A suspenseful and well acted financial thriller. I recommend it. TRDB.
7) THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER- Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this engaging coming-of-age tale based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, a shy freshman struggling with depression deals with his best friend’s suicide and his first love — and finds help from two seniors who take an interest in him.”
Mixed reviews, mostly good. TRDB.
9/21/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com
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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