Posts with the tag 'drama'
LIMITLESS- 2011. Premise by Netflix. “With his writing career tanking and his girlfriend (Abbie Cornish) casting him off, ex-druggie Eddie Morra’s (Bradley Cooper) fortunes finally turn around when he’s given a mysterious drug that provides astonishing mental powers — but its deadly side effects threaten his sanity. Adding to Eddie’s misery are shadowy businessman Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), who wants to exploit his new genius, and the other users willing to kill for his stash.” Mixed reviews with an OK one from the NY Times on 3/18/11. TRDB.
8/22/11- An OK sci-fi that generally held my interest with an interesting premise that carried the movie more than some of the schlock scenes with the Russians. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, thriller
March 18th, 2011
WHITE IRISH DRINKERS- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In a blue-collar Irish section of 1970s Brooklyn, brothers Danny (Geoff Wigdor) and Brian Leary (Nick Thurston) come of age in a family dominated by their longshoreman father, Patrick (Stephen Lang), whose hard-drinking leaves them scrambling for a way out. As delinquent Danny and dejected mom Margaret (Karen Allen) take the brunt of Patrick’s assaults, aspiring artist Brian hides his dreams. But desperate acts will threaten them all.” A few reviews and they’re OK. TRDB.
8/5/11- An ethnic family drama that you’ve seen before but to tell the truth the movie did have some appeal to me. Not enough to fully recommend it however. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
March 17th, 2011
PEEP WORLD- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When four siblings gather to celebrate their father’s 70th birthday, the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan because one of them has penned a novel populated by characters who strongly resemble his nearest and dearest. How will this dysfunctional family keep it together after everyone has seemingly been hung out to dry? Barry W. Blaustein’s ensemble-cast comedy stars Rainn Wilson, Ron Rifkin, Michael C. Hall and Sarah Silverman.” OK reviews at best. TRDB.
7/20/11- I liked this movie very much as it combined comedy with a very serious topic, i.e. working through a dysfunctional family. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
March 17th, 2011
MIRAL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After she rescues dozens children who survived a massacre in Jerusalem in 1948, Palestinian Hind Husseini (Hiam Abbass) establishes an orphanage that helps thousands of other children left homeless by violence. But the success of her peace-through-education institution is tested when pupil Miral (Freida Pinto) gets a taste of radical politics in the region’s refugee camps. Julian Schnabel directs this film that co-stars Willem Dafoe.” Uniformly poor reviews but the film does sound interesting. TRDB.
This film stirred controversy when it’s opening was held at the UN as it was an unusual place for a film opening, particularly since it was felt by some to be anti-Israel. TRDB.
7/16/11- I feel that the movie was just fair and it absolutely portrayed the Israelis in a negative light including a torture scene. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
March 17th, 2011
MONAGAMY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Miserable shooting weddings for a living, Brooklyn photographer Theo (Chris Messina) starts up a cool new business, taking surveillance-style photos of clients. But when an alluring female (Meital Dohan) hires his services, the shutterbug falls into a world of lust and jealousy. Co-starring Rashida Jones as Theo’s fiancée, this tense drama explores how intimacy and inadequacy coexist in the modern world.”
3/11 Good review in NY Times ON 3/11/11. TRDB.
6/26/11- I found this movie interesting although a lot of it was predictable. A classic case of “cold feet” as well. TRDB.
Tags: drama
March 11th, 2011
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU- 2011. Premise by Netflix. “A congressman (Matt Damon) who’s a rising star on the political scene finds himself entranced by a beautiful ballerina (Emily Blunt), but mysterious circumstances ensure that their love affair is predestined to be a non-starter. Screenwriter George Nolfi (The Bourne Ultimatum) makes his directorial debut with this romantic adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s classic sci-fi short story “Adjustment Team.” Fair to poor professional reviews. TRDB.
8/7/11- Unbelievably silly film and I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, sci-fi
March 1st, 2011
BOY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Filmed in his native New Zealand, this comedy from writer-director Taika Waititi (Eagle vs. Shark) follows 11-year-old Boy and his younger brother, Rocky, whose rich fantasy lives are stopped cold when their father returns home after years away. Although Boy has imagined that his father (Waititi) is a dashing, accomplished hero who is related to Michael Jackson, in reality he is a failed gangster seeking to restore his family’s faith in him.” Good audience reviews. TRDB.
3/2/12- Excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6/26/14– I enjoyed this film much more than the premise would indicate. Great acting by the kid (Boy). TRDB.
Tags: drama
February 27th, 2011
RAW FAITH- 2010. Premise by IMDB. “This surprisingly open and revealing documentary follows two years in the private life of a minister. Marilyn Sewell is successful and beloved in the pulpit, but behind the scenes she is lonely and yearning for change. As she considers leaving the ministry, she realizes she will be leaving her only social network. Yet when she falls in love for the first time, she realizes she does not trust intimacy. A study in contrasts, Marilyn must rely on raw faith as she questions her future, her difficult past, her God, and most importantly… her ability to love.” No reviews as yet. TRDB.
Tags: drama
February 27th, 2011
WIN WIN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Paul Giamatti stars as bush-league lawyer Mike Flaherty, who agrees to become an aging client’s legal guardian as a way to pay the bills. But his visions of an easy stipend begin to fade when the man’s teenage grandson suddenly appears on the scene. Just when the attorney thinks he’s found a way to make this new development work for him, the boy’s mother shows up and puts Flaherty’s dreams of a big score in jeopardy.” Very good reviews. Good review in NY Times on 3/18/11. TRDB.
4/11- Well acted, very funny at times and very poignant at times as well. I liked it a lot. TRDB.
Tags: drama
February 27th, 2011
THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Nearly 20 years after Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci) ran away from home, his father, Henry Sawyer (J.K. Simmons), and mother, Helen (Cara Seymour), discover that the no longer young man is now living in a hospital due to a brain tumor that blocks him from recording fresh memories. Desperate to connect with his son, Henry soon realizes that the best way to do so is through music — specifically the classic rock tunes Gabe loves and he despises.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
8/5/11- One reviewer said that this movie rose above the schmaltz but I disagree. As it was based on a true story I watched the whole thing but you shouldn’t. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
February 27th, 2011
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