FOOTNOTES- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this musical comedy inspired by the movies of genre masters Jacques Demy and Stanley Donen, unemployed Julie gets a job in a luxury shoe factory, only to learn that it will soon close. When her co-workers go on strike, Julie must choose sides.”
7/14/17- Mixed reviews at best. TRDB.
Add comment July 15th, 2017
LUCKY STIFF- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When milquetoast bachelor Harry Witherspoon inherits $6 million from an uncle he never knew, the windfall comes with a catch: To collect, Harry will have to escort the corpse to Monte Carlo for the holiday his uncle had always dreamed of.”
7/24/15- Weak reviews. TRDB.
Add comment July 27th, 2015
THE LAST FIVE YEARS- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Telling their story through song, novelist Jamie and his actress wife Cathy retrace the blossoming and decay of their five-year romance from opposite ends of the timeline and meeting in the middle — with Jamie’s marriage proposal.”
2/13/15- Fair reviews from critics and audiences but the timelines here sound very interesting. TRDB.
5/14/15- Very creative but I just couldn’t get into this movie and I ultimately turned it off. TRDB.
Add comment February 15th, 2015
LIFE OF AN ACTRESS: THE MUSICAL- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “While slinging hash at a New York City diner, a trio of struggling actresses — Hannah, Jen and Sandy — strives to follow their dreams. But when the eatery falls on hard times, they must choose between their ambitions and reality.”
12/19/14– Really bad early reviews. TRDB.
Add comment December 19th, 2014
BJORK: BIOPHILIA LIVE- 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Biophilia live’ is a concert film by Nick fenton and Peter strickland that captures the human element of Björk’s multi-disciplinary multimedia project: Biophilia. recorded live at Björk’s show at london’s alexandra palace in 2013, the film features Björk and her band performing every song on ‘Biophilia’ and more using a broad variety of instruments – some digital, some traditional and some completely unclassifiable.”
9/26/14- Just a few reviews and they are good . TRDB.
Add comment September 26th, 2014
GOD HELP THE GIRL- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This musical by Stuart Murdoch — of the indie band Belle and Sebastian — follows Eve, whose gift for songwriting sees her through a troubled life. Her talent takes her to Glasgow, where she finally meets others who share her passion.”
8/25/14- Good reviews. TRDB.
9/7/14- Reviews are mixed for this movie– from critics and from audiences alike. The NY Times did not care for it. TRDB.
4/23/15- A delightful musical about some troubled young adults and one in particular. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment August 25th, 2014
THE ROOFTOP- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Gao and his friends are the happiest kids in the city of Galilee. Living on the rooftops of this bustling metropolis, sometimes life can be tough – but they still churn out songs all day, and dance under the stars at night. But when Gao meets his dream girl, a billboard beauty named Sian, fate takes him on a wild ride through romance, friendship, and gang rivalry, all told through enchanting melodies and stunning dance numbers.”
7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment July 22nd, 2013
LES MISERABLES- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “The musical version of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of love and sacrifice, first produced for the stage in 1985, now receives the big-screen treatment. The bloody era of the French Revolution is the backdrop to Jean Valjean’s long struggle for redemption.”
Fairly good reviews even as some critics complained that the movie was poorly directed. TRDB.
12/25/12- I enjoyed this movie very much even though I generally have trouble getting into musicals on the screen. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment December 17th, 2012
CHICO & RITA- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Fernando Trueba and artist Javier Mariscal collaborate on this animated celebration of Cuban music that features pianist Bebo Valdés and other jazz greats in an epic story of romance, ambition and glamour set in the 1940s. Chico (voiced by Eman Xor Oña) is a gifted pianist and composer who falls in love with Rita (Limara Meneses), an equally talented singer, but her rise to success in America tears their romance apart.” Great professional reviews but so-so audience reaction so far. TRDB.
2/10/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/9/12- Great music along with a good old fashioned story and I liked it. TRDB.
Add comment January 31st, 2012
PASSING STRANGE- Premise by Netflix. “A young black musician named Stew (played by singer-songwriter Stew himself) flees his comfortable middle-class roots in Los Angeles for a soul-searching journey to Europe and gets wrapped up in the music scene of 1980s Amsterdam and West Berlin. The one-of-a-kind Broadway musical, which netted Stew a Tony for Best Book, comes to cinematic life courtesy of film icon Spike Lee. The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.”
1/26/10- Great reviews but I could not get into the film. Netflix. TRDB.
Add comment January 2nd, 2010