Posts with the tag 'Foreign'
Premise by Netflix. “Belfast hood Martin (Jim Sturgess) is recruited by a British agent (Ben Kingsley) to infiltrate the IRA during the height of the Northern Irish conflict and quickly becomes embroiled in a dangerous game that could cost him his life if his secret is found out. As other informers are brutally murdered, Martin starts to look for a way out, but his handler urges him to stay undercover in this taut political thriller based on a true story.”
1/10- I needed but couldn’t get sub-titles for this Irish movie and turned it off after 20 minutes. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
January 5th, 2010
CHAMBERMAID ON THE TITANIC- Premise by Netflix. “Armed with a photo of a pretty chambermaid he met aboard the Titanic (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón), a French foundry worker (Olivier Martinez) returns home to share the titillating — and greatly embellished — story of how she asked to share his room. All the while, he suspects that his wife (Romane Bohringer) has been having an affair in his absence — and with his employer (Didier Bezace), no less. Bigas Luna directs this foreign-language drama.”
1/10- A very imaginative and sensitive drama and I liked it very much. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
January 5th, 2010
IN THIS TRICKY LIFE- Premise by Netflix. “When 27-year-old Elisa (Mariana Santángelo) breaks up with her boyfriend and loses her job, she also loses any hope of realizing her dream of becoming a hair salon owner and supporting her two children. Elisa’s only option is to take a job in a Uruguayan brothel, which soon lands her in Barcelona, Spain — and into the midst of a white slavery ring. Director Beatriz Flores Silva‘s atmospheric drama also stars Andrea Fantoni and Josep Linuesa.”
1/10- While the movie was comical at times it really dealt with some serious issues, in particular a plea for help from and for the women involved unwittingly in the international sex trade. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
January 4th, 2010
A NOS AMOURS- 1983. Premise by Netflix. “Winner of two Cesars (France’s version of the Oscar), Maurice Pialat‘s sizzling drama centers on Suzanne (Sandrine Bonnaire), a teenage girl who suffers at the hands of her dysfunctional family. To escape the abuse of her father (Pialat), mother (Evelyne Ker) and brother (Dominique Besnehard), the troubled teen indulges in meaningless sexual encounters, yet declines the advances of a boy (Cyr Boitard) who is perhaps her only true friend.”
1/10- I liked this movie a lot and found it a very realistic story about this wildly dysfunctional family. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
January 4th, 2010
A FRENCH GIGOLO- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Josiane Balasko‘s part farce, part drama centers on Judith (Nathalie Baye), an entrepreneur in her 50s who gets caught in a tangle of emotions with sensitive, money-strapped prostitute Patrick (Eric Caravaca) and his cute wife, Fanny (Isabelle Carré). While financially supporting relatives in the Paris projects, Patrick begins to despair until Fanny, who has learned of her husband’s secret profession, drives him back to Judith’s arms and money.”
1/10- A cute farce with some poignant moments also. Recommended for light fare. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Tags: Comedy, drama, Foreign
January 3rd, 2010
MOSCOW, BELGIUM- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “When harried mother of three Matty (Barbara Sarafian) causes a fender bender with twentysomething Johnny (Jurgen Delnaet), their flirting blossoms into an unlikely affair. But when Matty’s estranged husband, Werner (Johan Heldenbergh), declares that he wants back in her life, she must choose between old, familiar love and the uncertainty of starting life afresh. Christophe Van Rompaey directs this comedy.”
2/2/10- Great acting and a very good script make this somewhat formulaic story totally believable and fun to watch. I liked it a lot. TRDB.
Tags: Drama/Romance, Foreign
January 2nd, 2010
POLICE, ADJECTIVE- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Undercover cop Cristi (Dragos Bucur) trails suspected pot dealer Victor (Radu Costin) through the decrepit streets of Vasliu, but when he learns that the suspect is just a teen who sometimes gets high with his pals, he refuses to make an arrest. Unfortunately, Cristi’s boss (Ioan Stoica) isn’t quite as forgiving. The Romanian New Wave rolls on strongly with this complex drama from writer-director Corneliu Porumboiu.”
1/10- I found this movie to be incredibly boring. The “climax” of the movie is when the cop’s superior chews him out for not following his orders, except he lectures him with the use of a dictionary. The movie spent loads of time on the most mundane of chores, like eating alone, and perhaps that was what the author was trying to show, the mundane life in post Communism Romania. Despite a very good review from A.O. Scott of the NY Times, I’d miss it. Comcast On-Demand. 12/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
January 2nd, 2010
SEQUINS- Premise by Netflix. “After learning she’s five months pregnant, 17-year-old Claire (Lola Naymark) leaves her former life behind to give birth in anonymity. An excellent embroiderer, Claire finds work with a professional in the business, Madame Melikian (Ariane Ascaride). Both women bear a heavy burden — the Madame can’t cope with her son’s death, and Claire doesn’t want to have a child. As they pour themselves into the work they love, the two develop a strong bond.”
12/09- A very interesting story with character growth of all. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 30th, 2009
LE PETIT LIEUTENANT- 2006. Premise by Netflix. “Rookie detective Antoine Derouère (Jalil Lespert) accepts a position with Paris’s elite homicide division, where his first days as a new lieutenant are routine. But when the body of a drifter is found on the banks of the Seine, the entire squad is thrown into turmoil. Led by a recovering alcoholic unit commander (Nathalie Baye), Antoine and the seasoned investigative team unravel a case of shocking violence that will change their lives forever.”
12/27/09- Very interesting movie. Really about his relationships with his job, his wife and with his co-workers. Nathalie Baye is brilliant as usual. Netflix Streaming. 12/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 27th, 2009
MATADOR- 1986. By Pedro Almodovar. With Antonio Banderas, Assumpta Serna and Nacho Martinez. About a bullfighter who can no longer fight because of an injury in the ring. He becomes obsessed with death and a love triangle. I liked the movie. Netflix. 12/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
December 21st, 2009
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