GEBO AND THE SHADOW- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Gebo is a poor but virtuous Lithuanian man who lives with his sullen wife and devoted daughter-in-law; his only son Joao vanished years earlier. When Joao shows up again, the blessing of his return is soon followed by brazen theft from his father.”
5/28/14- Very good reviews including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment May 28th, 2014
WOLF- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After his release from prison, Dutch-Moroccan kickboxer Majid tries to turn his life around using his talent for fighting. But he soon finds himself sucked into a criminal world so violent and crushing that it may destroy him.”
5/23/14- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
Add comment May 24th, 2014
THE DANCE OF REALITY- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky weaves the story of his early years with mythical themes, recounting his unhappy childhood and how he was molded by a tyrannical communist father and free-spirited mother amid a landscape of political turmoil.”
5/23/14- Great professional reviews. The NY Times called it “something close to a masterpiece.” TRDB.
Add comment May 23rd, 2014
CHINESE PUZZLE- 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A 40-year-old father of two, still finds life very complicated. When the mother of his children moves to New York, he can’t bear them growing up far away from him and so he decides to move there as well.”
5/16/14- Fairly good reviews from critics including the NY Times and mostly good reviews from audiences. TRDB.
Add comment May 18th, 2014
AI WEIWEI: THE FAKE CASE- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After 81 days of solitary detention world famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is put under house arrest. He suffers from sleeping disorder and memory loss, 18 cameras are monitoring his studio and home, police agents follow his every move, and heavy restrictions from the Kafkaesque Chinese authorities weigh him down.”
5/16/14- Uniformly positive views from critics and uniformly negative reviews from audiences. TRDB.
Add comment May 18th, 2014
IDA- 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Raised in a Catholic orphanage during the Nazi occupation of Poland, Anna is poised to join the order when she learns she has a surviving aunt. But visiting the woman before taking her vows uncovers some inconvenient truths about her heritage.”
5/2/14- Excellent reviews all around including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
5/23/14– Difficult to watch at times but a very interesting story. Definitely recommended. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment May 2nd, 2014
THE UNFINISHED SKY- 2007. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taciturn farmer John Woldring is living on his own in the Australian Outback when a terrified woman who speaks little English appears on his property. Upon learning that the woman is an Afghan refugee in dire straits, Woldring elects to shelter her.”
4/30/14- I liked the first 90% of this movie but found the last 10% hard to believe. Never-the-less it’s still worth viewing. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment April 30th, 2014
GABRIELLE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Musicians Gabrielle and Martin fall in love and want to begin a relationship, which is against the rules at the home for the disabled where they live. Refusing to part with Martin, Gabrielle is determined to prove that she can live independently.”
4/14/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
11/10/14- This movie was beautiful– great characters and a very interesting story. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment April 14th, 2014
BICYCLING WITH MOLIERE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A TV celebrity faces an uphill battle as he tries to persuade his old pal, once-famous actor Serge Tanneur, to take on the lead in a Moliere play, no easy task considering the reclusive Serge has given up acting and burns every script he receives.”
7/18/14- Fairly good reviews by the critics and 50/50 by audiences. TRDB.
8/10/14- I found the movie insufferable and finally turned it off. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment April 13th, 2014
TASTING MENU- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “On the closing night at a world-famous bistro, the evening turns into a farce of manners and misunderstandings as an eclectic mix of customers flocks to the eatery, including an estranged couple and an eccentric widow dining with her husband’s ashes.”
4/13/14- This sounds interesting but reviews are poor. TRDB.
Add comment April 13th, 2014