I WISH- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When he learns that a bullet train will soon connect the city where his mother lives to the city where his estranged father resides, young lad Koichi and his kid brother hatch a wildly imaginative plan to use the new train to reconnect their parents.”
5/11/12- Fairly good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment May 11th, 2012
SLEEPLESS NIGHT- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Vincent is one of two French cops whose bold drug heist goes bad, leading the mobster whose cocaine they’ve snatched to kidnap his son. Given one night to return the drugs to their owner, Vincent desperately tries to save the boy’s life.”
5/11/12- Very good professional reviews and OK audience ones. TRDB.
Add comment May 11th, 2012
CORPO CELESTE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Having recently returned to her native Italy after living in Switzerland for 10 years, quiet but curious 13-year-old Marta is left to her own demise while her loving but worn-out mother toils away at an industrial bakery. Marta’s only source of socialization is the local church, where she is told to attend preparatory classes for her confirmation. But the doctrines of Roman Catholicism offer little in terms of life lessons or consolation, and she quickly sees through the hypocrisy of the priest, who cares more about status than about his constituents. Eventually, Marta forges her very own way of the cross, which turns out to have much less to do with God than with her own climb towards adulthood.”
Very good early professional reviews and just OK audience reaction. TRDB.
Add comment May 6th, 2012
ELENA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Middle-aged Elena is a meek wife to her emotionally distant second husband, Vladimir. When he decides to leave his riches to his estranged daughter, Elena chooses to take drastic action to provide for her own adult son.”
Rotten Tomatoes had this to say– “Winner of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize, Elena is a gripping, modern twist on the classic noir thriller. Sixty-ish spouses Vladimir and Elena uneasily share his palatial Moscow apartment-he’s a still-virile, wealthy businessman; she’s his dowdy former nurse who has clearly “married up.” Estranged from his own wild-child daughter, Vladimir openly despises his wife’s freeloading son and family. But when a sudden illness and an unexpected reunion threaten the dutiful housewife’s potential inheritance, she must hatch a desperate plan. Very good early reviews. TRDB.
7/16/13- Well acted, slow paced and I found it interesting. TRDB.
Add comment May 6th, 2012
THE INTOUCHABLES- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this compelling story based on true events, affluent quadriplegic Phillipe hires Driss — a young Parisian petty criminal — to be his caregiver, and the two form an unexpected bond that changes both their lives.” Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
5/6/12- An article in today’s NY Times talks about the movie and the lead actor. Apparently this has become a “hot” topic in France. TRDB.
5/25/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times, but good reviews in general. TRDB.
6/28/12- Despite a few good scenes I was very disappointed by this movie that proves Hollywood can slide effortlessly into Paris. TRDB. At the Theater.
Add comment May 6th, 2012
OSLO, AUGUST 31st- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This psychological drama follows a day in the life of Anders, a recovering drug addict who travels to his old stomping grounds of Oslo for a job interview. While there, he must confront his past as well as his plans for a new life.”
Very good professional reviews and average audience ones. TRDB.
5/6/12- An article in today’s NY Times about the movie and lead actor. TRDB.
9/19/12- One of the saddest, realistic movies I’ve seen in a long time. Great acting and you feel like you’re in it. TRDB.
Add comment May 6th, 2012
POLISSE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This French drama presents a fictionalized but well-researched portrait of the juvenile protection division of the Paris court system, following a documentarian as she films the employees in the department and the children under its authority.” Good early reviews. TRDB.
5/18/12- Good review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews by almost all critics. Audiences have liked it too. TRDB.
11/6/12- Although this movie was difficult to watch at times it was very realistic and portrayed well the stress that the police men and women are under while trying to protect children from predators. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment May 5th, 2012
KAREN CRIES ON THE BUS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “After 10 years in a loveless marriage, a woman leaves her husband to embark on a journey of independence and self-discovery. But as she possesses no discernable job skills, friends or money, the road will be bumpy.”
5/2/12- This movie, from Colombia, held my interest and I enjoyed it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
Add comment May 2nd, 2012
HEADHUNTERS- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living way beyond his means, corporate recruiter Roger Brown steals rare artworks to maintain his lavish lifestyle. But when he plans to boost an especially valuable painting, he targets a man who has headhunting skills of a different variety.”
4/27/12- Very good reviews in general but a weak one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment April 27th, 2012
WHERE DO WE GO NOW?- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “While their men fight a remote sectarian war, the women of a Lebanese village — one hemmed in by minefields — band together to denounce the clash of Islamic and Christian beliefs that sustains the war and threatens to poison their own community.”
5/11/12– Mediocre professional reviews and OK audience reaction but good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
10/1/12- It took a while to get into this movie but I did and even though I agree with a reviewer who said that the film was more interesting than satisfying I can still recommend it. TRDB. Netflix.
Add comment April 26th, 2012