Sunday, June 30, 2013

The Loneliest Planet

This nearly silent film will have me thinking for weeks - a beautiful & shocking film that turns on a dime. If you like Kim Ki-Duk's quiet films, I think you'll be in awe of this very subtle yet powerful film. 4/5

The Loneliest Planet on Netflix

Saturday, June 29, 2013

This drama about the No campaign in Chile is moving & inspirational with a great performance by Gael Garcia Bernal. 3.5/5

No on Netflix

Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Last Rites of Joe May

Maggio's touching script & a powerful performance by Farina make this indie drama a complete success. 4/5

The Last Rites of Joe May on Netflix

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Newlyweds

This indie comedy is stylish & quite witty but I had a hard time connecting to the characters - just average for me. 3/5

Newlyweds on Netflix

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Raid: Redemption

I love an ol' fashioned violent kung-fu movie & this delivers in spades - the new soundtrack is awesome. 4.5/5

The Raid: Redemption on Netflix

Monday, June 24, 2013

The Hidden Face

Wow, this Spanish thriller is just amazing. I didn't guess one moment of it & the acting is superb. Bravo! 4.5/5

The Hidden Face on Netflix

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Kitchen Stories

This Norwegian comedy is dryly charming but I never really connected with it or its characters emotionally. 3/5

Kitchen Stories on Netflix

Friday, June 21, 2013

Last Ride

This Australian indie is incredibly poignant & hard to watch at times - wonderfully acted by Hugo Weaving. Bravo. 4/5

Last Ride on Netflix

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Side Effects

This thriller is well acted & interesting enough but utterly implausible throughout. Just a meh from me. 3/5

Side Effects on Netflix

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

16 Years of Alcohol

This movie about alcoholism had literally no drinking in it - huh? McKidd was truly magical though. 2/5

16 Years of Alcohol on Netflix

Monday, June 17, 2013

Slaughterhouse-Five

Terrible acting & a very uneven plot made this trippy film hard to swallow. Could have been much better. 2/5

Slaughterhouse-Five on Netflix

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Starlet

This gentle indie drama is very understated & lovely with a wonderful reveal at the end. I really enjoyed this. 4/5

Starlet on Netflix

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Friday, June 14, 2013

Naked

David Thewlis is mesmerizing but I never really got the plot in this odd & muddy thriller. More clarity was needed. 3/5

Naked on Netflix

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Frankie Go Boom

This comedy is smart, witty & well done, but all you need to know is Ron Perlman is in drag. A must see! 3.5/5

Frankie Go Boom on Netflix

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

The Girl Next Door

This profile of adult star Stacy Valentine is very intimate, revealing & down to earth, much like she is. 4/5

The Girl Next Door on Netflix

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Punching the Clown

Henry Phillips is wonderful in this indie comedy with fantastic comedy music - very dark & edgy, well done. 4/5

Punching the Clown on Netflix

Cook County

When this meth thriller is good it's very good, but the plot & acting is a bit too uneven to really pack a punch. 3/5

Cook County on Netflix

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

God Said, "Ha!"

Julia Sweeney's monologue about family, God and cancer is wonderfully delivered & written, really fantastic. 4/5

God Said, "Ha!" on Netflix

Monday, June 3, 2013

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Simple Men

Dear sweet god this was awful - I turned it off less than an hour in. Atrocious acting, terrible script. Hal Hartley did great with "Henry Fool" but terrible with this - he has one tie breaking shot to impress me or I'm out. Bah. 1.5/5

Simple Men on Netflix

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Real Fiction

This early Kim Ki-duk film was a big miss for me with an ambiguous messy plot that just meanders around. Related question - what is Kim Ki-Duk's preoccupation with sexual assault? It's in nearly all of his films. Odd that. 2.5/5

Real Fiction on Netflix