AMERICANO- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Following the death of his dynamic mother, grieving Frenchman Martin travels to Los Angeles to settle her estate, and learns the true meaning of family while tracking down Lola, his childhood friend who seems to have meant a great deal to his mother.”
6/15/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
12/24/12- A large waste of time. TRDB.
Add comment June 15th, 2012
SEXUAL CHRONICLES OF A FRENCH FAMILY- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After her son is caught filming himself masturbating at school, his mother rounds up the whole family to discuss their sexual issues. The revelations that follow involve all three generations of the clan.”
A fair review in the NY Times on 6/1/12. TRDB.
12/10/14- This movie had 2 sides– one side was actually interesting as the mother in the family got the entire family to recognize and talk about their sexuality (not with each other). The boring side was the actual sex of each of the 3 generations which occupied way too much of the film. TRDB.
Add comment June 12th, 2012
FOUND MEMORIES- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Life in a quiet village rolls slowly from one day to the next with little excitement — until a young photographer named Rita arrives. Intent on capturing the town on film, Rita forms a profound bond with Madalena, an elderly baker.”
A very good review from the NY Times on 6/1/12 and excellent reviews in general. TRDB.
3/25/13- One of the slowest but ultimately engaging movies I’ve seen in a long time. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment June 12th, 2012
BEYOND THE HILLS- 2012. Synopsis by IMDB. “A drama centered on the friendship between two young women who grew up in the same orphanage; one has found refuge at a convent in Romania and refuses to leave with her friend, who now lives in Germany.”
5/28/12- Mixed reviews but the writer won Best Screenwriter at Cannes this year. TRDB.
3/8/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews in general. TRDB.
3/17/13- Interesting at first but the movie dragged on and on and on for no apparent reason and I’d have to recommend against seeing it. TRDB.
Add comment May 29th, 2012
THE HUNT- 2012.
5/28/12- Mads Mikkelsen won Best Actor Award at Cannes this year for his role in this movie where he plays a teacher accused of child molesting. TRDB.
Add comment May 29th, 2012
AMOUR- 2012. Synopsis by IMDB. “Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple’s bond of love is severely tested.”
5/28/12- This movie won Best Picture in Cannes this year. TRDB.
2/14/13- This movie was a look into the reality of dementia and it’s toll on ALL members of the family. Well done and I liked it very much. TRDB.
Add comment May 29th, 2012
THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “An American writer moves to Paris to be closer to his daughter and finds himself falling immediately on hard times. Befriended by a French Arab who offers him a job, Tom finds himself employed as a security agent as he struggles to write his second novel and see his daughter. Meanwhile, his personal life takes a turn as he becomes involved with a beguiling woman.” Good early professional reviews and just OK audience reaction. TRDB.
6/15/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6/20/12- I liked the movie very much although I do have some questions. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
Add comment May 27th, 2012
PATANG- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This colorful drama is set in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, where each year a million kites take to the sky in the annual festival of the Uttarayan. Against this backdrop, six characters’ divergent paths intersect.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.
6/15/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment May 27th, 2012
BEL AMI- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Bel Ami is the story of Georges Duroy, who travels through 1890s Paris, from cockroach ridden garrets to opulent salons, using his wits and powers of seduction to rise from poverty to wealth, from a prostitute’s embrace to passionate trysts with wealthy beauties, in a world where politics and media jostle for influence, where sex is power and celebrity an obsession.” Weak professional reviews but good audience reaction so far. TRDB.
Add comment May 23rd, 2012
BONSAI- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this poignant drama, a forlorn bookstore employee haunted by his unrealized literary ambitions — as well as an intense but failed college romance — begins to write a novel based on the relationship. In the process, he reshapes his own life.”
5/11/12- Good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
8/30/12- Most of the positive reviews were from critics as audience reaction was mixed. I thought it was just so-so, a bit slow and lacking the real passion I would expect with this kind of movie. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment May 11th, 2012