Posts with the tag 'drama'
VIVERE- 2007. Germany. Premise by Netflix. “After her impulsive little sister Antonietta (Kim Schnitzer) runs off to Rotterdam with her musician boyfriend, dutiful daughter Francesca (Esther Zimmering) is dispatched to find her. But the journey becomes one of unexpected self-discovery when Francesca picks up depressed Gerlinde (Hannelore Elsner). Soon, the three women’s fates become intertwined in surprising ways in this lyrical drama from Germany. Angelina Maccarone directs.”
7/10- The story is told through the story of each of the three women and that is what makes this movie mildly interesting. TRDB.
Tags: drama
July 1st, 2010
THE EXTRA MAN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Forced to quit his prep school job after a humiliating incident, would-be dramatist Louis Ives (Paul Dano) heads to New York City, where he rents a room from has-been playwright Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline) — who earns a living escorting rich dowagers about town. Despite their huge age difference, the two develop a bond as Henry takes Louis under his wing and leads him on a series of wild adventures. Katie Holmes and John C. Reilly also star.” Mixed reviews, more plus than minus. TRDB.
11/10- Miserable movie and I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
June 30th, 2010
LEBANON- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In this claustrophobic drama by first-time director Samuel Maoz — a veteran of the early ’80s Israel/Lebanon conflict in which the film is set — four Israeli soldiers command a tank in a situation that becomes increasingly tense and chaotic. Like Das Boot before it, most of the action is confined to the stark interiors of that tank, as the men wrestle with fear, anger and their own consciences in the face of possible death and worse.” Very good early reviews.
9/10- Yet one more piece of evidence that war is definitely hell, this time involving a bunch of very frightened Israeli soldiers fighting in the confined space of the tank. I liked it very much but be aware that this is not for the faint of heart. TRDB. At the theater.
Tags: drama, Foreign
June 30th, 2010
EYES WIDE OPEN- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Married Jerusalem butcher Aaron (Zohar Strauss) takes pity on homeless student Ezri (Ran Danker) and hires him to work in his shop. But when romantic sparks fly between the unlikely pair, Aaron’s wife, Rivkeh (Tinkerbell), becomes suspicious and consults their ultra-Orthodox rabbi. The rabbi assigns his “modesty guards” to monitor Aaron’s every move in this tragic drama, an official selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
Well done movie and I enjoyed it. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
June 30th, 2010
DOGTOOTH- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In this Greek drama, siblings who grow up cut off from the world — homeschooled and dependent on one another for entertainment — develop their own blissful alternative universe. That universe is shattered when their father lets in an outsider. Sex enters the picture when dad begins bringing home a female security officer to satisfy his son’s sexual needs. Suddenly, nothing is quite the same within this highly idiosyncratic family unit.”
1/11- Clearly one of the strangest movies I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a lot of strange movies. Also, very well done and it held my interest. Not for most people. The movie won Best Picture at Cannes 2009. TRDB and is an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Film this year. Netflix Streaming.
Tags: drama, Foreign
June 29th, 2010
HOLLY- Premise by Netflix. “In this poignant drama, Holly (Thuy Nguyen), a young Vietnamese girl sold into prostitution by her family, tries to escape her dismal life by beginning a platonic relationship with a 40-year-old American named Patrick (Ron Livingston), a stolen-artifacts dealer. Twelve-year-old Holly has been smuggled into Cambodia, becoming one of countless children exploited in the sex trade; Patrick, who has his own troubles, may be her only hope.”
Tags: drama
June 27th, 2010
LOVE RANCH- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Inspired by the story of the couple who introduced legalized prostitution to Nevada with the opening of their Mustang Ranch brothel, this Taylor Hackford-directed drama focuses on the devastating consequences of infidelity in the land of sex for pay. Helen Mirren stars as Grace Botempo; Joe Pesci plays her husband, Charlie; and Sergio Peris-Mencheta plays the boxer who, on entering their world, sets into motion a violent chain of events.” Bad reviews. TRDB.
11/10- I watched for 15 minutes and had to turn it off. The worst. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
June 27th, 2010
THE TRIAL BEGINS- Premise by Netflix. “An overly ambitious investigator in the Italian tax police, Filippo (Michele Lastella) ignores his conscience in order to pad his bank account and further his burgeoning career, but eventually his under-the-table dealings and lack of morals begin to catch up with him. Directed by Vincenzo Marra, this compelling drama about tax evasion also features Fanny Ardant, Giulia Bevilacqua and Augusto Zucchi.”
6/10- Just OK. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
June 24th, 2010
QUIET CHAOS- Premise by Netflix. “After helping his brother (Alessandro Gassman) save two women from drowning, film exec Pietro (Nanni Moretti) returns home only to find that his wife has suddenly died, plunging him into a quiet chaos of grief as he assumes sole parenting duties of his 10-year-old daughter, Claudia (Blu Yoshimi). Valeria Golino co-stars as Pietro’s beautiful sister-in-law, Marta, in this tender and thoughtfully understated portrait of mourning and survival.”
7/10- A very good story with good acting and I liked it very much. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
June 24th, 2010
VIVA CUBA-
VIVA CUBA- 2005. Premise by Netflix. “In this Cuban coming-of-age charmer, preteens Jorgito (Miló Ávila) and Malú (Tarrau Broche) have formed a deep bond, so when they learn Malú’s divorced mother plans to remarry and leave the country, taking Malú with her, the two friends go on a quest to prevent their separation. Leaving Havana and traveling on foot and by any available vehicle, the children try to reach Malú’s father before he signs papers permitting her to emigrate.”
6/10- A charming coming of age story from Cuba and I highly recommend it. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
June 22nd, 2010
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