Movie Tuesday

Bella

Netflix.com synopsis: Two lost souls, Nina (Tammy Blanchard), a pregnant, unmarried waitress, and Jose (Eduardo Verástegui), an introspective yet troubled cook with a mysterious past, find solace in each other as their lives become unpredictably linked throughout the course of one incredible day. An uplifting story of love, hope and forgiveness, this remarkable tale is co-written and directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde.

My view: A feel-good movie that I could watch with my mom. It was entertaining. Eduardo Verástegui was a telenovela star and is hot. I thought the movie was cute, but not the most fabulous movie I've ever seen.

27 Dresses

Netflix.com synopsis: Tired of being a perpetual bridesmaid after helping 27 friends tie the knot, altruistic Jane (Katherine Heigl) finds herself facing her worst nightmare as her younger sister (Malin Akerman) announces her engagement to the man Jane secretly adores. But when Jane meets the charming Kevin (James Marsden), will she beat her sibling to the altar? Edward Burns and Judy Greer also star in this breezy romantic comedy from director Anne Fletcher.

My view: Very cute and exactly the chick-flick-goodness I was hoping for when I ordered it online. I don't think DH would have stood for it, but he was gone when I watched it. I thought it was adorable.

Mostly Martha

Netflix.com synopsis: German director Sandra Nettelbeck whips up this tragicomic tale about an uptight professional chef who finds her world turned upside down when she takes in her newly orphaned niece, Lina (Maxime Foerste). Martina Gedeck stars as Martha, whose obsession with precision gourmet cooking extends to discussing recipes with her bewildered therapist (August Zirner) and verbally attacking anyone at the restaurant who attempts to send her food back.

My view: Good, but not great. A good story, not violent, mostly relational - you know, the kind of movie I like. I was kind of annoyed by the music, though. I thought it sounded like elevator muzak. I think I have seen the movie before too. It was a good story though. Also, if you don't want to watch the foreign version, check out No Reservations. It has nearly the same plot, and nearly the exact same dialogue in the first half.

The Namesake

Netflix.com synopsis: While he respects his immigrant parents (Irfan Khan and Tabu) and their decision to rear him in his United States birthplace, Gogol Ganguli (Kal Penn) is torn between Indian traditions and the modern Bostonian lifestyle. Jacinda Barrett and Zuleikha Robinson also star in director Mira Nair's thought-provoking coming-of-age drama, which explores first-generation Americans' delicate dance between culture and identity.

My view: LOVED it. I thought it was a great story and helped me understand the Indian culture more, as well as was very relevant to my ever-transition-filled life. I highly recommend it.

Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring

Netflix.com synopsis: Claude Berri directs this pair of award-winning French dramas. In Jean de Florette, two men (Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil) scheme to acquire a neighboring farm by preventing a natural spring from flowing, a water source that the new owner, Jean (Gérard Depardieu), needs for his crops. In Manon of the Spring, Jean's grown daughter (Emmanuelle Beart) goes after the two men with a fierce vengeance worthy of her proud and courageous heritage.

My view: Oh, I seriously messed up with this movie. I didn't realize that there were actually two movies on one disc - one on each side. I don't know what I was thinking, if you read the description there are two movies. I guess I just didn't realize that they were sequential. I ended up watching Manon first, and being kind of confused. It was good, but I didn't want to see the first one after I had watched the second. There are better foreign films out there, but you could definitely see worse too.

Shark Mountain

Netflix.com synopsis: For years, the husband-and-wife team of Howard and Michele Hall have devoted their lives to documenting the mysteries of maritime life. This fascinating episode from the popular series produced by Nature takes viewers to Coco's Island, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where schools of sharks gather beneath the surface amid other sea beasts in a magical, mystical world never before witnessed by the human eye.


My view: I found this movie to be more about the Halls and their process than sharks. It had really cool reef shots and talked about how fragile the ocean ecosystem is. I found my new favorite fish - a red lipped batfish. It's not really my favorite, but it's extremely fun to say and a pretty funky fish. Frogfish are strange too.

Movie Tuesday

Australia the Beautiful

Synopsis from netflix: From ancient, misty forests to canyons that conceal secrets from the age of dinosaurs; from pristine lakes to majestic peaks; and from sophisticated cities to some of the world's greatest wilderness areas, experience all of Australia's dramatic contrasts, dazzling wildlife and glorious landscapes. Highlights include the Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe's Island, King's Canyon and Lake Eyre ... to name just a few.

Our view: Not the best documentary/travel promotion video I've ever seen. And I really like documentaries. I used to watch them in high school. I found it kind of boring, even though I was eating lunch while watching it. But it was very pretty. Oh, and the "highlights" are pretty much all they show. It did get me excited about going to Australia though (not that I need any more help).

Bride and Prejudice

Synopsis from netflix: Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson and Anupam Kher star in this joyous musical about the Bakhsi family, who's celebrating the arrival of a British-born man, Mr. Balraj, who may be perfect husband material for one the Bakhsis' four unmarried daughters -- Maya, Lucky, Jaya and, most especially, their eldest, Lalita (Rai). But Lalita refuses to marry someone handpicked for her, believing instead in true love, which just may be waiting in the wings.

Our view: Make that my view. Dh was watching basketball, and I don't think there's much I could have done to convince him to watch it. I LOVED IT. I love bollywood films, though. This one was great. All of the omissions that made Once an atypical musical are included in this one - breaking out into cheesy songs while walking down the street plus more. Rich, you would hate it. And Rory Gilmore was in it, I mean Alexis Bledel. I love Rory Gilmore. Except in Sin City. But that's another story.

Juno

Synopsis (from netflix): Facing an unplanned pregnancy, teenage Juno (Ellen Page) devises a plan to locate the proverbial perfect parents to adopt her baby. But the seemingly ideal couple Juno chooses still has some growing up to do. Now, everyone in Juno's world must do a little soul-searching. Michael Cera co-stars while Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner play the pair of affluent yuppies anxious for a child in this offbeat coming-of-age comedy, which won the 2008 Oscar for Best Original.

Our view: We really liked it. We pretty much laughed through the entire movie. At times it is irreverant (a teenager is pregnant), but very cute. I'd recommend it to people who would like Garden State.

Bourne Identity

Synopsis from netflix: A man (Matt Damon) washes up on an island in the Mediterranean Sea, suffering from gunshot wounds and amnesia. He soon realizes he's being hunted down by assassins and that he's very good at killing them before they get him … but the question of his identity perplexes him as he fights to stay alive. Franka Potente co-stars in this action thriller based on Robert Ludlum's novel.

Our view: First of all, he didn't wash up on an island... whatever netflix. Anyway, we tried to watch the second movie on tv and thought it'd be a good idea to start from the beginning. They're confusing enough as it is. We liked it, again. Though I did change into my pj's during the car chase scene. Car chases bore and annoy me.


HWotD:
'alemanaka - calendar
"ah-lee-mah-nah-kah"

Movie Tuesday

Hula Girls (Japan)

Synopsis from netflix.com: When a Japanese mining company announces the closure of a coal mine in Iwaki, a group of brave young women defies their community by signing up to become hula dancers at the company's new Hawaiian tourist center in this heartwarming dramedy. Amid union workers' protests and against the wishes of their families, the women passionately practice and perform their newly learned art in hopes that it will lead to a brighter future.

My view: I watched it while babysitting, and the child was asleep. I REALLY liked it. It had the key words "passionately" and "heartwarming." And even better - it included HULA! I would definitely recommend it. And yes, you do have to read subtitles.

The Dinner Game (France)

Le dîner de cons

Synopsis from netflix.com: A group of French intellectuals gather each Wednesday for the dinner game, where the challenge is to bring along the most idiotic guest each can find. Pierre (Thierry Lhermitte) thinks he's found a ringer in François (Jacques Villeret), a civil servant whose passion is making architectural models out of matchsticks. But Pierre gets more than he bargained for when François becomes his houseguest -- and nursemaid!

Our view: LOVED it! Yes, you do have to read subtitles, but it was pretty funny. DH really liked it. DH talked to one of his friends from France about the movie, and he said it was his favorite movie and the actors are all really famous French actors. We liked it!

Antonia's Line (Netherlands?)

Synopsis from netflix.com: Winner of the 1995 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and many other prestigious international honors, Antonio's Line is the remarkable story of a woman who builds a new life with her daughter in a quiet Dutch village after World War II. Earthy, sexy, romantic and filled with laughter and warmth, it's a joyous, multi-generational celebration of simple pleasures and enduring passions.

My views: When they mean sexy, they mean sexy. This movie had a lot of sex and death in it. It was interesting, but I don't think I'd watch it again.

Oyster Farmer (Australia)

Synopsis (from netflix.com) : Down-on-his-luck drifter Jack Flange (Alex O'Lachlan) heads to a secluded oyster-farming community to wait for a parcel of stolen cash that he's mailed to himself. But the package never arrives, and Jack suspects a beautiful postal worker named (what else?) Pearl (Diana Glenn) may be responsible for its disappearance. Anna Reeves directs this quirky but charming romance set along Australia's Hawkesbury River.

Our views: Ok, but not my favorite. Had one scene that made me blush and I watched it by myself. I don't think I'd recommend it.


HWotD:
mele - music, song
"meh-leh"

Movie Tuesday

Surf's Up

Synopsis (from netflix.com): In this animated mockumentary, film crews go behind the scenes at the Penguin World Surfing Championship to provide a close-up look at the inventors of surfing. Yes, penguins were the first species to hang 10 -- or at least that's what this Oscar-nominated film purports. Animators Ash Brannon and Chris Buck co-direct the spoof, and Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, Brian Benben, Jane Krakowski, Michael McKean and James Woods, among others, lend their voices.

My take: Loved it. Dh thought it would be the dumbest movie ever, and sat at the table while I started the movie. By 20 minutes into it, statistics was forgotten and he was cracking up beside me. He loved the little surfer nuances that were put into it, and thought it was pretty true to life. I think we might buy it eventually. I'd at least consider it.

Ratatouille

Synopsis (from netflix.com): Brad Bird (The Incredibles) co-directs this Oscar-winning Pixar offering, following the antics of a passionate rat named Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) who yearns for a sip of the good life. Growing up beneath a five-star Parisian restaurant owned by a famous chef (Brad Garrett), Remy inherits a taste for fine food. But his culinary ambitions only anger his practical father, who wishes his son could just eat garbage like everyone else.

My take: After hearing my preschool kids talk endless about "Ratatootie" I decided I should see the movie. I thought it was pretty good. Not Jungle Book good, but good.

Once

Synopsis (from netflix.com): In this charming contemporary musical helmed by John Carney, a street musician (Glen Hansard) in Dublin, Ireland, strikes up a friendship with a migrant street hawker (Markéta Irglová). Over the course of a busy week, they compose, rehearse and record a series of songs that mirror the duo's burgeoning romance -- and help the young busker release his musical passions. The actors wrote the tunes they perform, and won an Oscar for their efforts.

My take: I LOVED it. LOVE LOVE LOVE. So cute! It's a musical without breaking into song and dance in the grocery store about the price and selection of artichokes. Rich, you could see this one. Oh, you do have to know that they scream the f-bomb for about the first two minutes, but it's still worth watching. Especially to hear him sing "boat" with an Irish accent.

Cocaine Cowboys

Synopsis (from netflix.com): This penetrating and sometimes harrowing documentary from director Billy Corben pulls out all the stops to explore the many dimensions of Miami's cocaine-trafficking boom of the 1980s, from how the drug was moved and the financial impact on the city to the havoc and violence that followed in its wake. Told by the smugglers, cops and average citizens who were there, this film is an unflinching study of Miami's most notorious and lethal vice.

My take: Very interesting. DH chose it. I like documentaries, and this one was very interesting. It was a bit violent for my taste, but dh told me when to look away. It was scary though to think about all that happened, and probably is still happening. Drugs are bad.

American Gangster

Synopsis (from netflix.com): From director Ridley Scott comes this tense crime thriller starring Denzel Washington as true-life Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas. Russell Crowe co-stars as the dogged outcast NYPD cop charged with bringing Lucas down.

My take: DH rented it. I didn't watch it. He liked it. Too violent for me.

Movie Tuesday

Here are some movies I've seen recently, Reneé-style.
Reviews taken from netflix.com.

These are all foreign films, so you must be ready for subtitles! I liked most of them.


The World's Fastest Indian
Based on a true story, this drama follows 67-year-old grandfather and New Zealander Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) as he flies across Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats and blazes into the record books at 183.586 mph on his customized Indian Scout motorcycle.

Recommended. I thought it was inspirational.



Ten Canoes
Hoping to teach younger brother Dayindi (Jamie Gulpilil) a lesson about fidelity, Aboriginal elder Minygululu (Peter Minygululu) weaves a lengthy ancestral fable about warrior Ridjimiraril's sibling battle for his bride's affection. The tale has deep meaning, but the brothers' expedition is the greater reward for both.

Not recommended, unless you're way into anthropology. And even then, maybe not. Interesting, but I still can't figure it out.



Born into Brothels
This Oscar-winning documentary is a portrait of several unforgettable children who live in Calcutta's red-light district, where their mothers work as prostitutes. Spurred by the kids' fascination with her camera, Zana Briski, a photographer documenting life in the brothels, decides to teach them photography. As they begin to look at and record their world through new eyes, the kids awaken to their own talents and sense of worth.

Wholeheartedly recommended.


Children of Heaven
A delightful Iranian movie about a boy who accidentally loses his sister's shoes and must share his own sneakers with her in a sort of relay while each attends school at different times during the day. Finally, the boy enters a much-publicized foot race, hoping to place third. The prize: a new pair of sneakers.

Wholeheartedly recommended for all audiences (who can read). Even my mother, who only liked Driving Miss Daisy.


After the Wedding
To save the failing orphanage he runs in India, Danish transplant Jacob Petersen (Mads Mikkelsen) returns to his homeland to meet a self-indulgent businessman named Jørgen who's offered a generous donation -- and who represents everything the noble-minded Jacob abhors. Complicating matters further are the unusual strings Jørgen has attached to his so-called gift. Rolf Lassgård co-stars in this Oscar-nominated emotional powerhouse of a drama.

Recommended.


Water
After losing her husband to illness, 8-year-old Chuyia (Sarala) is forced to live out the rest of her days in a temple for Hindu widows, communing with 14 other women and a cruel headmistress who agrees to take her in. But it's through the trials of another widow, a beautiful prostitute named Kalyani (Lisa Ray) who's being courted by a man from a higher caste (John Abraham), that Chuyia learns the true restrictions of widowhood in this Oscar nominee.

A beautiful movie. Made me want to move to India and work with widows, especially the child widows.