Sunday, August 31, 2014

RoboCop

HORRIBLE remake that has none of the sense or message of the original. This was painful to watch, utter useless. 2/5

RoboCop on Netflix

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You

This script was strong with some great lines and overall the acting was solid, but the lead, Toby Regbo, didn't have enough emotional depth to carry this. Good, not great. 3/5

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You on Netflix

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Saturday, August 23, 2014

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete

This touching drama feature truly extraordinary acting from its young stars Skylan Brooks and Ethan Dizon. It reminded me of "Treeless Mountain" and "Nobody Knows" - gritty and dark yet redemptive. 4/5

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete on Netflix

Friday, August 22, 2014

Cropsey

This documentary asks good questions but fails to deliver enough information for the viewer to truly know the answers. 3/5

Cropsey on Netflix

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Sacrament

This thriller was good but lost impact with me because I'm so familiar with Jonestown. Good, not great. 3/5

The Sacrament on Netflix

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Tango

Ugh, I almost died of boredom watching this - too many aching long dance scenes that I ended up fast forwarding. LONG. 2/5

Tango on Netflix

Monday, August 18, 2014

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Frankie & Alice

Halle Berry is wonderful but the script a bit strained & barren in this drama about multiple personalities. For the record, the modernization of terms and understanding of the disorder really threw me out of the picture. Sloppy. 3/5

Frankie & Alice on Netflix

Saturday, August 16, 2014

The Railway Man

Firth is wonderful in this disquieting drama about the power of forgiveness. I cried at the end - moving. 3.5/5

The Railway Man on Netflix

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Filth

If McAvoy doesn't win an Oscar for this there is no justice. Brilliantly blindingly amazing - I loved this so hard, 4.5/5

Filth on Netflix

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Locke

A brilliant, seamless, & innovative drama with a stunning performance from Tom Hardy. I've not seen anything like it. 5/5

Locke on Netflix

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

I Think We're Alone Now

When I was 18, I watched an older friend develop schizophrenia. She developed an intense obsession with a rock star that we both knew in passing. She believed it was her supernatural destiny to marry him, that they were communicating telepathically, that I was the daughter of Satan because I stood in her way. She made pilgrimages to his house, plastered her home with pictures of him, and endangered his family. I know what unhealthy obsession looks like, and what I saw in this film chilled me to the bone. But I have to give tremendous kudos to the filmmaker for not trying to portray his subjects as crazy stalkers, but rather as real people who struggled with mental illness. This film is deeply unsettling to watch, but perhaps more so for me as I've seen this thing up close and personally. Highly recommended, especially since it's only an hour long. 4.5/5

I Think We're Alone Now on Netflix

Monday, August 11, 2014

The Story of Luke

Lou Taylor Pucci was wonderful but the script a bit weak in this drama about autism & "normalcy". 3.5/5

The Story of Luke on Netflix

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Best Worst Movie

I've never seen Troll 2 & I admit I'm curious after this documentary which doesn't quite tell me enough. 3/5

Best Worst Movie on Netflix

Friday, August 8, 2014

The Protector 2

Why on earth do you hire Tony Jaa & then use tons of CGI, effects & camera tricks? Epically disappointing. And I say this as a HUGE Jaa fan who loved Ong Bak sequels Jaa directed. Find your roots again, Tony. You CAN do so much better. 2/5

The Protector 2 on Netflix

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Atrocious

Why in sweet hell I decided to watch this uber-scary found-footage horror film before bed is beyond me - terrifying. 4/5

Atocious on Netflix

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Divergent

This action version of "A Brave New World" is fun to watch but light on plot depth - I wanted more details. 3/5

Divergent on Netflix

Monday, August 4, 2014

Joe

Nic Cage hasn't acted this well in years in this tight, well scripted drama that fits perfectly in the "Mud" vein. 3.5/5

 Joe on Netflix

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Saturday, August 2, 2014

The Protector

This movie is abysmally bad & wastes its star with bad direction but I would watch Tony Jaa in anything honestly. 2/5

The Protector on Netflix

Friday, August 1, 2014

Smash & Grab: The Story of The Pink Panthers

An interesting documentary about the Pink Panthers and how some were eventually caught - good film making. 3.5/5

Smash & Grab: The Story of The Pink Panthers on Netflix