Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Nanking

One of the most powerful and shocking things I've ever seen. I could not help but weep at it - brilliantly done. 5/5

Nanking on Netflix

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Footsteps

This bizarre thriller is one of the worst films I've ever seen - no plot or coherence at all. Really truly awful. 1/5

Footsteps on Netflix

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Lost Boys of Sudan

This documentary covers much the same ground as "God Grew Tired of Us" will less impact though still good 3.5/5

Lost Boys of Sudan on Netflix

Friday, July 26, 2013

Abduction of Eden

This harrowing film about human trafficking is disturbing & tragic but yet uplifting & redemptive. Well done 4/5

Abduction of Eden on Netflix

Thursday, July 25, 2013

The Five-Year Engagement

This is about a half hour too long but is still sweet, charming & not about people behaving badly. 3.5/5

The Five-Year Engagement on Netflix

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Monday, July 22, 2013

Movie 43

Most of these raunchy vignettes are garbage but there are a couple that are laugh-out-loud funny, so there's that. 2.5/5

Movie 43 on Netflix

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Sound and Fury

This provocative look at deaf culture bravely doesn't choose sides or offer opinions - very powerful & heartfelt. It's nice to see more documentaries like this, where the filmmaker isn't front & center. A very refreshing & honest trend. 4/5

Sound and Fury on Netflix

Saturday, July 20, 2013

13 Assassins

Takashi Miike is at the height of his powers in this epic action adventure. Tarantino - this is how it's done! 4.5/5

13 Assassins on Netflix

Friday, July 19, 2013

Southern Comfort

This documentary concerning transgendered life is bold, interesting, and features lovely people. Well done. 3.5/5

Southern Comfort on Netflix

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Warm Bodies

This zombie Romeo & Juliet is charming & quite funny, even if it bends the rules sometimes. I really enjoyed it. 3.5/5

Warm Bodies on Netflix

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The Yellow Sea

This South Korean thriller is epic & marvelous in its ambition & execution - I was captivated for every frame. 4.5/5

The Yellow Sea on Netflix

Monday, July 15, 2013

V/H/S

I'm a found-footage lover but this bored the snot out of me. Laboriously long & tedious - only 2 segments were any good. 2/5

V/H/S on Netflix

Sunday, July 14, 2013

LolliLove

This mockumentary is achingly painful in all the best ways. Well acted & written by Jenna Fischer - I liked it a lot. 4/5

LolliLove on Netflix

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Home

This documentary which offers no judgments is equal parts heartbreaking & infuriating - a great look at cultural divides. 4/5

Home on Netflix

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Generation Um....

I made it 45 minutes in before I turned this off due to terminal boredom. Save yourself, avoid this. 1.5/5

Generation Um... on Netflix

6 Souls

This psych thriller isn't particularly inventive or dramatic but Rhys Meyers is really quite brilliant so there's that. 3/5

 6 Souls on Netflix

Monday, July 8, 2013

Upstream Color

This is from the man who created "Primer" but is lightyears more advanced. Visually stunning, cerebral & complex - it will take several viewing to totally unravel this rich film. 4/5

Upstream Color on Netflix 

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston

This was an interesting but very surface portrait of Halston that annoyed as much as educated. This was sadly another casualty of Moore-style film making where the documenatarian gets just too much screen time. Annoying. 3/5

 Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston on Netflix

Friday, July 5, 2013

Mental

This had its moments but I found this comedy more annoying & off-puttng than endearing - it never rang true at all. 2.5/5

Mental on Netflix

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Time Out

This is a fascinating & wonderfully acted story of a man unraveling - keeping it so subtle & mysterious was genius. Incidentally, the translation of the French title to "Time Out" is a poor one - "Time's Up" would be more appropriate for the film. 4/5

Time Out on Netflix

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

56 Up

I was so very happy to see all but one of the participants back for this latest & wonderfully hopeful segment. Bravo! Tony, Suzy & Neil continue to be favorites but I cheered everyone's introduction - I'll be heartbroken when the first dies. 5/5

56 Up on Netflix

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

In The Family

This loving & carefully woven drama about family could have used some editing but delivered a powerful punch. 4/5

In The Family on Netflix

Monday, July 1, 2013

Kenny

This mockumentary done in the vein of "Best in Show" is incredibly charming & witty with a great lead character. 4/5

Kenny on Netflix