FILM REVIEWS #448
March 21st, 2013
3/16/13- Yet another extremely powerful movie related to the Holocaust. Well done and should be a must see! TRDB.
2) BEYOND THE HILLS– 2012. Synopsis by IMDB. “A drama centered on the friendship between two young women who grew up in the same orphanage; one has found refuge at a convent in Romania and refuses to leave with her friend, who now lives in Germany.”
5/28/12- Mixed reviews but the writer won Best Screenwriter at Cannes this year. TRDB.
3/8/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews in general. TRDB.
3/17/13- Interesting at first but the movie dragged on and on and on for no apparent reason and I’d have to recommend against seeing it. TRDB.
3/16/13- Despite the abundance of gay stereotypes a lot of the dialogue was interesting, particularly related to the 2 leads, and I did enjoy this occasionally silly movie. TRDB.
2) THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER– 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.
3/17/13- Basically fluff but enjoyable never-the-less. TRDB.
3/18/13- A very good documentary about several horse trainers and their love for their horses. TRDB.
4) CHELY WRIGHT: WISH ME AWAY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This poignant documentary, filmed over three years, profiles country music star Chely Wright, a devout Christian whose struggle to succeed in the music biz while hiding her homosexuality from her conservative family and fans caused her much anguish.”
A very good review in the NY Times on 6/1/12 and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
3/19/13- I liked this documentary very much as it portrayed well her courage in “coming out” publicly. TRDB.
12/7/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) THE EYE OF THE STORM– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A woman recently divorced from a French prince and her washed-up actor brother return home to Australia, hoping to reconcile with their dying mother. But neither is prepared for the ensuing drama that brings the dread of their childhood back to life.”
Rotten Tomatoes had this to say– “In the Sydney suburb of Centennial Park, two nurses, a housekeeper and a solicitor attend to Elizabeth Hunter as her expatriate son and daughter convene at her deathbed. But in dying, as in living, Mrs Hunter remains a powerful force on those who surround her. Based on the novel by Nobel Prize winner Patrick White, The Eye of the Storm is a savage exploration of family relationships – and the sharp undercurrents of love and hate, comedy and tragedy, which define them.”
9/7/12- Poor reviews for this movie but it sounds interesting and I’ll probably see it eventually. TRDB.
3) A ROYAL AFFAIR– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 18th-century Denmark, the unstable King Christian IV neglects his young queen, Mathilde, who falls in love with his German physician, Struensee, an intellectual whose advocation of reform transforms the country but brings about his own downfall.”
Great early reviews!! TRDB.
11/9/12- A weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4) KILLING THEM SOFTLY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Brad Pitt plays a slick and brutal enforcer assigned to investigate a robbery that targeted a high-stakes poker match run by his mob bosses. His methods feature plenty of violence and intimidation, backed up by timely lies and treachery.”
Very good early reviews. TRDB.
11/30/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5) LINCOLN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Steven Spielberg takes on the towering legacy of Abraham Lincoln, focusing on his stewardship of the Union during the Civil War years. The biographical saga also reveals the conflicts within Lincoln’s cabinet regarding the war and abolition.”
11/9/12- The NY Times gave this a great review today. TRDB.
7) STEP UP TO THE PLATE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Acclaimed French chef Michel Bras passes the torch (in this case his namesake restaurant) to his son Sébastien in this intimate documentary. The eatery, its mouth-watering cuisine and Michel’s mammoth reputation are all virtual co-stars.”
Very early reviews are a bit weak. TRDB.
9/14/12- OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8)THE COMEDY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Aging hipster Swanson is inured to his life of privilege in New York, where he will inherit his father’s wealth. Instead of doing anything meaningful with his time, Swanson engages in meaningless games of casual cruelty with his equally numb friends.”
11/16/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) UPSIDE DOWN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Adam lives on a poverty-stricken world, while Eden is from its affluent twin planet, and their love sparks an interplanetary incident. Social stigma, family and government forces work to keep them apart, but they’ll stop at nothing to be together.”
3/15/13- Awful reviews everywhere. TRDB.
3) IF I WERE YOU– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a bungled plot to pay back her husband’s infidelity, a jilted wife finds herself forced to star as King Lear in a spectacularly terrible production, with her husband’s younger lover playing the role of the king’s fool.”
3/15/13- Bad review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere. TRDB.
4) REALITY- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jovial fishmonger and small-time con artist Luciano hopes to enrich his humble family by participating in the Italian version of “Big Brother,” but his obsession with appearing to be an ideal contestant soon has his family doubting his sanity.”
3/15/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
5) CRAZY AND THIEF– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Using a map of stars splashed on an envelope as her guide, a 7-year-old girl takes her 2-year-old brother on an adventure, creating a magical mythology. Their discoveries include a one-eyed “cyclops” who inspires them to search for a time machine.”
3/15/13- This movie was directed by the father of the 2 children who star. Awful reviews all over. TRDB.
6) 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. TRDB.
7) MARIACHI GRINGO– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A stifled, small-town man stuck in a dead end life, runs away to Mexico to be a mariachi singer. MARIACHI GRINGO is a musical tour-de-force exploring the reality of “following your dreams” across cultural, personal, social and geographical borders.”
3/15/13- Today’s NY Times gave this a very good review. TRDB.
8)THE KILL HOLE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this gripping, lyrical meditation on war and the scars it leaves on those who fight, Lt. Samuel Drake is forced to face his violent past and forms an uneasy bond with the mysterious assassin he must confront in his quest for redemption.”
3/15/13- Awful reviews. TRDB.
9) CLIP- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this intense and explicit indie, 16-year-old Jasna lives with her terminally ill father and depressed mother in Belgrade, where she tries to find fulfillment through partying, porn, drugs and a debilitating relationship with her abusive boyfriend.”
3/15/13- Mixed review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere with the Times calling in cheerless and voyeuristic. TRDB.
10) BETTER MUS’ COME– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in the violent world of late 1970s Jamaica, this social drama based on real events tracks the turbulent life of Ricky, a Kingston gang leader. Recruited by politicians to attack their foes, Ricky’s thugs specialize in disrupting public rallies.”
3/15/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) THE HAPPY POET- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Paul Gordon also stars in this quirky indie offering as an earnest but penniless poet who tries to make a living by making a stand — that is, a food stand that only sells organic eats and caters to a mostly vegetarian crowd. His unconventional menu doesn’t appeal to everyone, particularly those hankering for a hot dog. But it does attract a regular customer (Liz Fisher) who just so happens to love poetry.”
3/14/13- Poor early reviews. TRDB.
3) HUNKY DORY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Minnie Driver plays a drama teacher who challenges her listless students to put on a pop-musical version of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” Set in 1976, the film features plenty of teen angst as well as the teacher’s search for a substitute Prospero.”
3/14/13- Early reviews are mixed but more positive than negative. TRDB.
4) LOVE AND HONOR- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dalton, serving in Vietnam, gets a “Dear John” letter and turns a week’s furlough into a desperate (and illegal) trip home to win back his girl. Joined by his friend and fellow soldier Mickey, Dalton’s move could land them both in the stockade.”
3/14/13- Just a few early reviews and they are mixed. TRDB.
5) MURPH: THE PROTECTOR– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “MURPH: The Protector is a feature-length documentary based on LT Michael Murphy’s life of honor, courage and commitment, as told by his friends, family and teammates. Michael gave his life for his men in 2005 and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2007.”
3/14/13- Michael gave his life for his men in 2005 and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2007. TRDB.
6) MY BROTHER THE DEVIL– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a 14-year-old Arab living in London, Mo is desperate to make friends and worships his older brother, Rashid, a gregarious local gang member. But Mo eventually makes an ill-fated play to fit in that changes both brothers’ lives forever.”
3/14/13- Great reviews. TRDB.
7) THE SAPPHIRES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “The spirit and vitality of 1960s soul music are at the core of this film about a real-life Australian aborigine singing group and their bumpy career. Three sisters and a cousin are brought together as the Sapphires by a talent scout with a plan”
3/14/13- Excellent reviews all around. TRDB.
8)YOU DON’T NEED FEET TO DANCE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This affecting documentary reveals the world of Sidiki Conde, who lost the use of his legs at age 14 but lives a busy life as a performance artist. Mastering all the obstacles New York City offers, Conde also leads workshops for disabled youth.”
3/14/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.
9) STARBUCK– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A fortysomething slacker’s life is turned upside down when he learns that his many sperm donations have resulted in more than 500 children — 100 of whom are now suing to meet their father, who’s desperate to keep his identity a secret.”
Friends saw this at the Palm Springs Film Festival and loved it. TRDB.
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2) GREENWICH VILLAGE: MUSIC THAT DEFINED A GENERATION– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “GREENWICH VILLAGE: MUSIC THAT DEFINED A GENERATION is a feature-length documentary about the Greenwich Village music scene and how it sparked everlasting political, social and cultural changes. For the first time, the greatest singer-songwriters, authors and performers from Greenwich Village reflect on how they collectively became the voice of a generation.”
1/18/13- I found only 2 reviews at this time, one positive and one negative. TRDB.
3/8/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews in general. TRDB.
2) ELECTRICK CHILDREN– 2013. Synopsis by IMDB. “Pregnant by music? Rachel, a young teenager from a fundamentalist Mormon community, believes in immaculate conception, while her fundamentally religious family regards her condition as an intolerable transgression. The search for the child’s origins is a revelation for the 15-year-old.”
3/8/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.
3) LIFE OF PI– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel, this coming-of-age tale recounts the adventures of Pi, an Indian boy who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with only some zoo animals for company.”
Excellent reviews. TRDB.
1/2/13- I enjoyed this movie very much especially the creative cinematography. See it in 3D if you can. TRDB.
4) BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD- I enjoyed the film
7) FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMAS- I liked this very much
9) FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL—- OK reviews
13) JOHN DIES AT THE END- Good reviews
16) MOONRISE KINGDOM- I liked it
17) THE MULBERRY TREE- Very good reviews
18)MY BEST ENEMY- A good movie
19) THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER- A cute movie
20) THE PUSHER- OK reviews but critics said the original was better
21) THE SESSIONS- I loved this movie
22) SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS- I didn’t care for the movie
24) SUPPORTING CHARACTERS- Very good reviews
25) TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE- Not great but I liked it
26) WAITING FOR LIGHTNING- The NY Times called this movie boring
28) WOMAN IN THE FIFTH- I liked it
29) THE WORDS- I enjoyed this movie
DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
3/16/13- Yet another extremely powerful movie related to the Holocaust. Well done and should be a must see! TRDB.
2/15/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3/12/13- I enjoyed the basic premise of voter empowerment and of course the history lesson but I felt that the movie was a bit tedious at times and I also agree with one critic who called the movie “gimmicky.” TRDB.
3/3/13- A good, if somewhat predictable, movie with lots of good music to boot. TRDB.
3/10/13- I liked this movie very much but it did seem unusual to me that each of the men seemed to distance himself from Israeli tactics. Were there any heads of Shin Bet that agreed with the policies even if they don’t appear to have worked in retrospect? TRDB.
3/15/13- Good review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.
12/21/12- A weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
9) EMPEROR- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As World War II ends, Gen. MacArthur oversees Japan’s surrender, an act that dispels the nation’s centuries-old beliefs about its emperor. With the eyes of the world — and history — upon them, MacArthur and his protégé will change Japan forever.”
3/8/13- Weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.
10) SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a four-year stay in a psychiatric institution, former teacher Pat Peoples has no choice but to move back in with his mother. While he’s trying in vain to reunite with his wife, Pat meets another woman fated to change his life.”
Very good reviews. TRDB.
11/16/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
11) LIFE OF PI- Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel, this coming-of-age tale recounts the adventures of Pi, an Indian boy who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with only some zoo animals for company.”
Excellent reviews. TRDB.
1/2/13- I enjoyed this movie very much especially the creative cinematography. See it in 3D if you can. 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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