Posts with the tag 'drama'
WORLD’S GREATEST DAD- Premise by Netflix. “Play Preview After his son (Daryl Sabara) dies in an awkward freak accident, high school poetry teacher Lance (Robin Williams) ghostwrites a suicide note to spare the family embarrassment. But when the note becomes an unexpected hit, Lance sees a chance to resurrect his writing career. In a bid for literary fame, Lance writes his son’s journal and passes it off as his own. Writer-director Bob Goldthwait‘s comedy debuted at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.” This film got fairly good reviews and I’ll see it.
12/10/09– I saw this and liked it a lot. One critic called the film “a mind blowing shot of black-comic genius” and I agree. Netflix. 12/09
Tags: drama
November 28th, 2009
EVERYBODY’S FINE- Premise by Zap2it. “Eight months after the death of his wife, Frank Goode looks forward to a reunion with his four adult children. When all of them cancel their visits at the last minute, Frank, against the advice of his doctor, sets out on a road trip to reconnect with his offspring. As he visits each one in turn, Frank finds that his children’s lives are not quite as picture-perfect as they’ve made them out to be.” Mixed reviews, mostly good.
EVERYBODY’S FINE- Premise by Netflix. “Frank (Robert De Niro) just lost his wife, and without their mother by his side, Frank’s grown children aren’t compelled to visit for the holidays. So he hits the road to visit them — collecting various revelations and learning about himself along the way. Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell and Melissa Leo co-star in writer-director Kirk Jones’s family tale, an update of Giuseppe Tornatore’s 1990 Italian film.”
3/10- Cheesy at times but I did like the movie, especially the scenes where De Niro looks at his adult children and sees them as young kids. How many times have I done that? TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
November 28th, 2009
BROTHERS- Premise by Zap2it. “Siblings Sam and Tommy Cahill are as far apart as brothers can be; while Sam serves his country as a Marine, Tommy is a drifter who just got out of prison. When Sam is shot down and presumed dead in Afghanistan, Tommy vows to take care of Sam’s wife, Grace, and his children. Tommy and Grace become close, and when Sam unexpectedly returns home, the consequences of their actions threaten the foundation of the entire family.” Several great reviews.
12/21/09- I saw this in Florida a few days ago and liked it very much. Great study of family dynamics and great acting as well. Just when you think that there can’t be another anti-war movie with a different twist one more comes along. I actually liked Natalie Portman for a change. TRDB.
Tags: drama
November 28th, 2009
LA FEMME NIKITA- 1990. By Luc Besson and starring Anne Parillaud. She plays a petty criminal who is convicted of murder. She is rehabilitated as an assassin in exchange for her prison sentence. I saw this years ago and loved it and I enjoyed it again but nowhere like the first time. Netflix. 11/09
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 28th, 2009
ME AND ORSON WELLES- Premise by Zap2it. “After a chance encounter, theater-loving teen Richard Samuels gets the opportunity of a lifetime when famed director Orson Welles gives him a small role in his 1937 production of “Julius Caesar.” Unexpectedly thrust into the heady world of the stage, Richard finds himself surrounded by ambition, clashing egos and sheer brilliance.”
9/10- Described as light and frothy or the equivalent by most reviewers and I agree. I think you can skip this one. Netflix.
Tags: drama
November 24th, 2009
A CHRISTMAS TALE- 2008. About an extended family in France with an ailing matriarch. The theme is about the family getting together at their childhood home for a Christmas visit and dinner. There is lots of bad blood spilled before and during the visit, most of which stems from an early family trauma. I loved the movie and the relationships between the various family members. Comcast ON-DEMAND. 12/08
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 24th, 2009
BROKEN EMBRACES- Premise by Netflix. “Aging filmmaker Mateo Blanco (Lluís Homar) — aka screenwriter Harry Caine — tells his assistant (Tamar Novas) about life before the accident that left him blind, when he became embroiled in a torrid affair with aspiring actress Lena (Penélope Cruz). Harry’s story involves his agent, Judit (Blanca Portillo), and deceitful financier Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez). Pedro Almodovar writes and directs this colorful, romantic and tragic thriller.”
12/25/09- I liked this movie a lot. Beautiful photography and beautiful Cruz as well. You’ll probably have questions and lots of discussion at the end. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 20th, 2009
THE BLIND SIDE- 2009. Premise by Netflix. Oversized African American Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), the teen son of a murdered father and a crack-addicted mother, is homeless at age 16. Taken in by an affluent Memphis couple, Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) and Sean (Tim McGraw), Michael embarks on a remarkable rise to play for the NFL. Based on Michael Lewis’s bestseller, this inspirational sports tale also stars Kathy Bates as Michael’s persistent tutor, Miss Sue.”
2/10- A little of Hollywood shows through frequently but I still enjoyed the movie. TRDB.
Tags: drama
November 20th, 2009
THAT EVENING SUN- 2009. Directed by Scott Teems. Premise by Zap2it. “Vowing not to die in a nursing home, Abner Meecham leaves the facility and returns to his Tennessee farm. There, an unpleasant surprise awaits him: Abner’s son has leased the property to ne’er-do-well Lonzo Choat and his white-trash family. Abner suspects that the Choats will not be able to afford the farm, and moves into a shack to await their departure. Tensions escalate between Abner and Lonzo, who are each determined not to give in to the other.” Great early reviews especially in relation to Hal Holbrook.
9/10- The script was a bit erratic but Hal Holbrook was very good in this film about memories and forgiveness. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
November 10th, 2009
WHERE GOD LEFT HIS SHOES- 2007. Written and directed by Salvatore Stabile and starring John Leguizamo. About a familoy that has been evicted and is living in a shelter. The husband spends a day searching for a job so that they can qualify for an apartment in the projects. The film was very well done, very realistic and had a very honest screenplay. I liked it a lot. Netflix. 11/09
See other posts about this movie also.
Tags: drama
November 8th, 2009
Newer Posts
Older Posts