Posts with the tag 'drama'

BRIDESMAIDS

BRIDESMAIDS- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Kristen Wiig leads the cast as Annie, a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and a group of colorful bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down the road to matrimony.” Fairly good reviews so far but a fair number of negative ones as well.  A surprisingly good review from the NY Times on 5/13/11. TRDB.

11/14/11- A few good laughs but otherwise formulaic and not worth the 2 hours you’ll have to spend to see what happens. TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment April 23rd, 2011

THE BANG BANG CLUB

THE BANG BANG CLUB- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Four combat photojournalists document the end of apartheid in South Africa, a turbulent period marked by brutality and anger. This real-life drama is based on a memoir by Greg Marinovich (Ryan Phillippe) and Joao Silva (Neels Van Jaarsveld), who won Pulitzer Prizes for their work. Along with Ken Oosterbroek (Frank Rautenbach) and Kevin Carter (Taylor Kitsch), the group exposes the tragic violence that spawned a new regime in the country.” This sounded interesting but awful early reviews. TRDB.

8/28/11- Despite criticism of  this movie by the “experts” I really liked it. The 4 members of the club were the core of the film but the problems in South Africa as well as the moral dilemma of photographing horrendous scenes without trying to help were dealt with through the members of the “gang.” TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment April 22nd, 2011

VITO BONAFACCI

VITO BONAFACCI-  Synopsis by Zap2it. “A successful businessman explores the meaning of faith after his late mother appears to him in a dream and implores him to abandon his pursuit of wealth.” Sounds interesting but I couldn’t find any mention of this film. TRDB.

Add comment April 19th, 2011

OCTOBER

OCTOBER (OCTUBRE)- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “While trying to track down the missing prostitute who left her newborn at his doorstep, solitary loan shark Clemente (Bruno Odar) forms unexpected attachments to the baby — which might be his — and Sofia (Gabriela Velasquez), the single neighbor helping him care for the child. Written and directed by brothers Daniel and Diego Vega, this bittersweet Peruvian drama also stars Carlos Gasols, Maria Carbajal and Sheryl Sánchez Mesco.” No reviews as yet but did sound interesting and I plan to see it. TRDB.

5/16/11- As far as I’m concerned this movie was like a character study of a man with NO character. No emotion and no dialogue. Miss it!! Theater.

Add comment April 19th, 2011

AN INVISIBLE SIGN

AN INVISIBLE SIGN- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a puzzling disease devastates her beloved father, math prodigy Mona Gray deals with the pain by isolating herself from the rest of the world and turning for comfort to the reliable world of mathematics. But when she later teaches math to troubled grade school kids, Mona discovers that her gift can be a route back from her long emotional exile. Marilyn Agrelo directs and Jessica Alba stars in this adaptation of the book by Aimee Bender.” Poor reviews. TRDB.

11/14/11- Poor reviews, well deserved. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment April 19th, 2011

DAYDREAM NATION

DAYDREAM NATION- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “City girl Caroline Wexler (Kat Dennings) feels like she’s spinning her wheels when she moves to a small rural town, where she’s got nothing in common with anyone — except her disarmingly handsome teacher, Mr. Anderson (Josh Lucas). But when Wexler tires of their clandestine affair, Mr. Anderson isn’t ready to let her go. Andie MacDowell co-stars in this humorous dark romance from writer-director Michael Goldbach.” Fair audience reviews and professional reviews as well. TRDB.

5/23/11- Good at times and a bit hard to believe at times also. Fair at best. TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment April 19th, 2011

CATERPILLAR

CATERPILLAR- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1940, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the people of a rural Japanese village eagerly await a hero’s return. But Lt. Kurokawa’s wife, Shigeko, receives a horrifying shock: Her husband has lost his arms and legs. Nevertheless, the villagers depend on Shigeko to do her duty to her country by caring for her mutilated husband. Shinobu Terajima, Keigo Kasuya and Emi Masuda star in this historical drama about the grim aftermath of war.” Average audience reviews and excellent professional reviews including a few great ones. TRDB.

2/2/12- Another message that war is truly hell, this well done movie will shock you. See it but have a strong stomach!! TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

Add comment April 19th, 2011

THE PARANOIDS

THE PARANOIDS- 2008. Synopsis by Netflix. “Luciano (Daniel Hendler) is devastated to learn that his friend, Manuel (Walter Jakob), is creating a television series featuring an uncomfortably familiar character named Luciano. But life changes for the narcoleptic hypochondriac when he gets a houseguest: Manuel’s girlfriend (Jazmín Stuart). Set in Argentina, director Gabriel Medina’s comedy follows Luciano as he reveals his softer side to his beautiful boarder.”

4/11- Mixed reviews but despite being very slow I did enjoy it. TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment April 18th, 2011

FLY AWAY

FLY AWAY- 2011. Directed by Janet Grillo. Synopsis by Netflix. “Single mother Jeanne (Beth Broderick) is dedicated to enriching the life of her teenage daughter, Mandy (Ashley Rickards), who has severe autism, although as Mandy matures, the challenges of her condition grow too extreme for Jeanne to be able to manage on her own. When Mandy’s dad suggests that she attend a residential school, Jeanne resists, even though her stressful home life impinges on work and a romance with a new neighbor (Greg Germann).” Good review in NY Times on 4/15/11. TRDB.

5/8/11- An interesting drama covering a difficult situation with care and realism. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.

Add comment April 16th, 2011

BLACK BUTTERFLIES

BLACK BUTTERFLIES- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This passionate biopic profiles South African poet Ingrid Jonker, whose exuberant nature is destroyed by her repeated betrayals of her supportive lover and her complex relationship with her disapproving father, the minister of censorship.”

3/2/12- Generally good reviews. TRDB.

Add comment April 15th, 2011

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