Fifty Shades Darker

I really don't know why I watch these films except to have the information to tell someone who thinks this is was a true BD/SM relationship is like that these books and films have gotten it terribly, horribly wrong. This film isn't as abusive like the last was, but it's clearly the calm before whatever storm is about to erupt. The acting is just as terrible as last time. It's abundantly clear Johnson and Dornan don't like each other, so the chemistry just doesn't work. And the plot is asinine - how did we even get from the end of the last movie to the end of this film? It honestly makes no sense at all. Ugh. 2/5

Fifty Shades Darker on Netflix

Frank & Lola

I feel like I've seen so many versions of this film before, that of the spurned man and the wily, game-playing woman. The man feels the cuckold, he goes a little nuts, the plot thickens... you know the story. This version wasn't especially different or more interesting than others - I saw it all coming a mile away. The one thing that was better than average was Imogen Poots in the female lead role. She was rather spectacular, but not enough to raise this above three stars. Just average for me. 3/5

Frank & Lola on Netflix

The Handmaiden

This is easily one of the best pictures of last year. I can't imagine why it wasn't nominated for multiple Academy Awards - perhaps it wasn't released in theaters? The direction is masterful. For the entirety of the film I marveled at it, so I wasn't surprised to see Park Chan-Wook's name in the credits. He's a genius, and I've been a fan of his work for many years. The story is absolutely intriguing, and the acting is top-notch. There isn't a true flaw in this film - it's a genuine masterpiece. A must see. 5/5

The Handmaiden on Netflix

Last Tango in Paris

I realize this film is a classic, but I honestly couldn't stand it. I'm surprised I finished it I disliked it so much. The script made no sense at all to me. I don't know who these characters were or why they did what they did. The direction was just bad, and the music was worse. I've never been a Brando fan, and I found him nearly intolerable in this. The only saving grace for me was Maria Schneider, who I found beautiful and very compelling. She was much too good for this atrocious movie. 1.5/5

Last Tango in Paris on Netflix

Free Fall

This German LGBTQ drama is really spectacular. The plot is nuanced and very deftly written where no easy answers can be found. The acting is top notch with outstanding performances by all the leads. I really like the ending - it was appropriate for the story and really made me think. I highly recommend this. 4/5

Free Fall on Netflix

The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears

I tend to either really like or really loathe experimental French cinema, and sadly I loathed this. The half star is for the beauty of the direction, which was audacious and oddly pleasing. The soundscape was also interesting, that I will also praise. But there was no story here, no characters, no coherency. I made it about half way and had to turn it off it got so on my last nerve. Not for me, thank you. 1.5/5

The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears on Netflix

10,000 km

I adored this movie. It's so rare that a film can truly capture all the intimacy and nuance of a true, loving, long-term relationship. The first twenty minutes of this film were so crucial in establishing the depth of the relationship between these two characters, so that the events of the next 70 minutes had real meaning. The two leads (the only two people in the film in fact) are absolutely perfect - one would think they had been a couple for years. This film gets a bad rap by Netflix reviewers, but I wonder how many of those who pan this film have been in a long-term relationship. This is a beautiful, tragic, romantic, tearful, and wonderful movie. I loved it. 5/5

10,000 km on Netflix

Romance

I think the only reason people talk about this movie is because it has scenes of actual sex in it. In reality, it's a piss poor film with very little in the way of plot, acting, or character development. If that wasn't bad enough, this movie manages to be one of the most un-erotic films I've ever seen. The sex is so bad and mechanical and passionless it's repelling, not exciting. To top it off, the film unexpectedly shows a live birth at the end, which I was in no way prepared to see. This film was built up to me as a truly great erotic drama, but it was a huge letdown in every way. 1.5/5

Romance on Netflix

Ma Mere

This French erotica was billed as a festival of the taboo - I imagined something of a cross between "Spanking the Monkey" and "The Piano Teacher". Sadly, it was entirely tame until the last ten minutes. Huppert, who I've liked in the past, failed to bring the  subtle sizzle to this role, but Louis Garrel delivered a tortured and striking performance as her son. There was potential here, but it was never realized to my eye. 2/5

Ma Mere on Netflix

Wetlands

I have no earthly idea how this German sex comedy wound up on my queue, but it was completely strange and utterly fun. I found myself cringing in disbelief quite a bit, but, even though it had it's gross moments, it also had heart and depth and a soul to it. Carla Juri was wonderful in the lead as well. I'm surprised I liked this a lot, but I did. 3.5/5

Wetlands on Netflix

Sundown

This movie tried so hard to be the "Risky Business" for this generation, right down to the Porsche, but they got all the important things wrong. It's popcorn fun with good music, but nothing more than that. 2.5/5

Sundown on Netflix

Gloria

When we first meet Gloria, played by the 54-year-old Paulina Garcia, she is dancing alone in a club with sexy abandon. This is a woman confident in herself and her sexuality, and it is truly glorious (pun fully intended) to behold. Funny that it takes a Spanish import to make a film with such a strong, capable, sensual older woman as the lead, but it's just marvelous. I really enjoyed this film, and the ending? Superb. Highly recommended if you like good character studies. 4.5/5

Gloria on Netflix

In Secret

This is a dark, depressing, tragic drama, there's no doubt about that. The innate misery of the plot seems to have turned off most reviewers, but I appreciated the tragedy of this film. Isaac, Olsen, Lange, and Felton all did magnificent jobs in the lead roles - you could almost feel their collective pain melting off the screen. I have always loved Olsen, but I'm a new fan of Isaac, who was a marvel in this. i really enjoyed this film, pay no attention to the naysayers. 4/5

In Secret on Netflix

In the Realm of the Senses

I had heard many tales about this film and finally decided to watch it. I was frankly stunned by the explicit nature of it, given it was shot in 1976 in Japan. I found the first half hour somewhat erotic, but the movie quickly took on very disturbing tones. The intensely graphic sex lasted for virtually the entire film, which dulled the effect of it in my view. The ending was just profoundly disturbing. I had no idea how accurately this film displayed details of a true incident that happened in Japan until a couple of minutes ago when I read the article in Wikipedia. If you don't mind really explicit sex, this is an interesting film to see, and certainly an important one in the history of Japanese cinema, but be prepared to be disturbed by much of it. 3/5

In the Realm of the Senses on Netflix

Better Than Chocolate

This lovely film is truly a celebration of love in all its forms and has characters all over the sexuality spectrum. It's funny and sweet and tender and brave, but I do have to say I wished the acting and direction were stronger so they could better match the script, which I quite enjoyed. 3/5

Better Than Chocolate on Netflix

Breaking the Girls

A terribly average plot with dull acting and a twist you can see a mile away. I feel like one day I'll actually get to see Madeline Zima act and it will be glorious, but this was not the day for that. Shame. 2.5/5

Breaking the Girls on Netflix

Lila Says

This drama didn't take enough risks for me, I wanted to see much more develop plot-wise and with the characters. 3/5

Lila Says on Netflix

Enter the Void

Let me be clear at the start - I am a fan of Gaspar Noe. I loved "I Stand Alone" and found it groundbreaking. I adored "Irreversible" and think it was a game-changer for modern cinema. And yes, I felt ill during parts of "Irreversible" but understood that to be a function of the film. The content is so disturbing that it's only right that you should feel physically ill while watching it, and so I appreciated the camerawork in it, knowing it's purpose. But here, in "Enter the Void", the cinematography is so motion-sickness inducing with the lurching camera and the near constant strobing that I found it impossible to finish. I made it - just barely mind you - to about the 90 minute mark before I had to give up. And what's worse is that, editing aside, because boy does it need some, I was captivated by it. I really wanted to see where it went, which is the only reason I didn't turn it off a half hour in. I've waited a long time to watch this film and I'm sad that I will never finish it. Such a shame. 2/5

Enter the Void on Netflix

Venus in Fur

This was an incredibly clever drama with a wonderful rich story & great characters. I'm surprised how good it was. 4/5

Venus in Fur on Netflix

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