A Roku will be delivered this week: no more waiting for movies in the mail...
How adorable was Ryan Gosling (and Rachel McAdams) in The Notebook? Sweet movie.
If you haven't read anything by Stacey Schiff, start here; Cleopatra: A LIfe. Great writer, fascinating book.

BLACK DEATH

5/29/2011

 
Sean Bean was born to play medieval type characters. If you love him, the miserable dark ages, the clank of swords and necromancy, this film will not disappoint. "Die well, my friend."

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Black_Death/70122631?trkid=496624#height1422
Official site: http://www.blackdeathfilm.com/

SOMEWHERE

5/28/2011

 
Since there are so few female directors, I'm not going to bag on one, rather admire her skill in making unique, somewhat experimental movies. Sofia Coppola brings her lyrical minimalist style (with good music) to a portrait of a successful yet lost young Hollywood actor, who's also a dad. Might mean more to those familiar with the film industry. Cool car, great locations.

Netflix: http://www.focusfeatures.com/somewhere
Official Site: http://www.focusfeatures.com/somewhere

SHOESHINE (1946)

5/27/2011

 
Italian neorealist Vittorio De Sica defines the genre with a story of two young shoeshine boys working the streets of postwar Rome, hoodwinked into committing a crime and sent to prison where their friendship is tested. Heartbreaking and beautiful.

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Shoeshine/60035925?trkid=496624#height1666

EVEN THE RAIN

5/25/2011

 
The Global Water Crisis is dramatized in this Spanish film-in-a-film set in Bolivia. Artfully woven story of Christopher Columbus's impact on the native people, the struggles of the the visiting film makers, and the local actors fighting for water and survival.

Official Site: http://www.eventherainmovie.com/
Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Even_the_Rain/70154110?trkid=2361637#height1304

THAT'S WHAT I AM

5/24/2011

 
It's odd to listen to a man's voice over a boy's story. Standard misfit kids in school set in the sixties with the theme of tolerance. For older kids and fans of team Ed Harris / Amy Madigan.

Official Site: http://www.thatswhatiammovie.com/
Netflix:http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/That_s_What_I_Am/70180168?trkid=496624#height1168

DAYDREAM NATION

5/23/2011

 
Dark comedy, not entirely a teenage (angst) story, like Easy A, but deeper, and funnier. Loved it!

Official Site: http://www.daydreamnationmovie.com/
Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Daydream_Nation/70138810?trkid=496624#height847
 
HBO Boxing: great fight!

http://www.hbo.com/boxing/index.html

INSIDE JOB

5/20/2011

 
Prepare to be outraged by this essential documentary about the recent global financial collapse / rip-off caused by corrupt economists, greedy bankers and their Washington lackeys. (All male, by the way. Thanks guys...)

Official Site:http://www.sonyclassics.com/insidejob/
Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Inside_Job/70139555?trkid=496624#height1874

RED WHITE & BLUE

5/19/2011

 
Here's a way to build suspense; don't explain what's going on, and end scenes in the middle, so the viewer is kept wondering "what the...?" and unable to apply finger to fast forward button lest something is revealed. Violent, bloody, revenge film set in Austin Texas. Creepy messed-up characters and weirdly engaging performances. Nasty, mean little disjointed movie which sucked me in for a few minutes.

Official Site: http://www.redwhitebluemovie.com
Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Red_White_Blue/70134423?trkid=496624#height1765