Category Archives: Drama

2005, Drama, Explicit sex, Historical Fiction, Made For TV, Military, Nudity, Revenge, Violent, War

Rome HBO BBC (2005)

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From NetFlix:

Follow the saga of two ordinary Roman soldiers — Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo (Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson) — and their families amid the rise and fall of the Roman republic and the creation of an empire. The fates of Pullo and Vorenus become entwined with those of Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra and the young Octavian, a strange and awkward child who, by political guile and force, is destined to become the first emperor of Rome

There is a pay-TV series “Spartacus: Sand and Blood” which is mostly sex and violence pornography. However, the HBO and BBC production of “Rome”, in addition to sex and violence pornography, offers an engrossing history lesson. You will find in the Wikipedia article a good summary (at the very end of the article) of the historical inaccuracies and omissions in the series. It did not take long before I was hooked. The writing is good and the “conceit” that we can view a sweep of history through the eyes of Pullo and Vorenus actually works.

2008, Bullying, Crime, Drama, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Lakeview Terrace (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Director Neil LaBute’s taut thriller follows the Mattsons — Chris (Patrick Wilson) and Lisa (Kerry Washington) — as they settle into their Los Angeles dream house, only to be hassled by their off-kilter neighbor, police officer Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson). It seems Turner disapproves of the couple’s interracial marriage and is determined to drive them away, but as the harassment turns violent, the newlyweds are forced fight back.

Talk about a difficult neighbor! Because the sequence of events is so realistic and possible, the constant sense of “what bad thing is about to happen” is especially palpable. While hoping that the next door policeman will see the error of his ways, I was glued to my seat. Have fun!

2009, Atom Egoyan, Drama, Erotic Thriller, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Mostly About Sex, Nudity, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Vulgar

Chloe (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Suspecting her husband, David (Liam Neeson), of infidelity, doctor Catherine (Julianne Moore) hires sexy escort Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce him and test his faithfulness. But as Catherine checks in on Chloe’s encounters with David, Chloe’s reports become increasingly lurid. Soon, the relationships between all three intensify in unexpected ways. Renowned filmmaker Atom Egoyan directs this psychological drama

Not until the middle of this erotic thriller did I begin to suspect the truth. In fact for much of the beginning I almost dismissed the film as a mediocre excuse for “talking dirty”. But I stayed the course thinking that Julianne Moore just does not do cheap films. Up to the very last seconds this film remains sexually ambivalent.

Amada Seyfried is deviously beautiful as the “other woman”. Every now and then I could almost mistake her for Scarlett Johanssen (which can also be spelled “Johansson”). In this film she is certainly not the wonderful girlfriend in Dear John (2010)

Worthy film or not ? I am not sure. Opinions welcome.

Drama, Gay theme, Love Story, Nudity

A Single Man (2009)

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From NetFlix:

This stream-of-consciousness, 1960s-era drama centers on a day in the life of George Falconer (Colin Firth, in an Oscar-nominated role), an English-born, Los Angeles college professor reeling from the recent death of his lover of 16 years. Fashion designer Tom Ford makes his directoral debut with this luminous film, which is based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel. Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Ginnifer Goodwin, Lee Pace and Nicholas Hoult co-star.

Sadly quiet and understated day in the life of a man grieving for his dead lover of 16 years. Mixed in with a stream of memories is his careful (almost comical in one scene) planning for his suicide at day’s end.

Toward the end one of his students (probably gay) both provides a ray of light amid the darkness and tries to prevent the suicide. Forgive my scepticism, but isn’t that student a bit too mature for his age ? However his character does provide a sweetness to counter George’s despairing outlook.

Such a movie says that finally gay-themed films have matured to a stage where they can avoid cliches such as death from AIDS (the lover dies in a car accident), being closeted, effeminate men, etc. Critics seem to think that Colin Firth has made his mark in this production.

I will not even hint at the film’s perfect end.

2010, Chick Flick, Could Be Sad, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children, Love Story, Military, Sex Scenes, War

Dear John (2010)

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From NetFlix:

While on leave, U.S. soldier John Tyree (Channing Tatum) falls for Southern college student Savannah (Amanda Seyfried), whose ideals and heartfelt principles are at once attractive and unfamiliar. But their love is put on hold when terrorist attacks prompt John to reenlist. Now, handwritten letters hold the lovers together. Lasse Hallstrom directs this modern romance based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks.

As the film started I thought “Why on earth am I watching a PG-13 ?” (the one sex scene is so discreet as to be non-existent). Indeed the beginning of the film seemed like an ordinary chick flick. But there are enough worthwhile themes here to make the story interesting.

Richard Jenkins plays John Tyree’s autistic father. Just yesterday I reviewed The Confession (1999) in which Richard Jenkins plays a crooked politician. He plays the part of a father who loves his son but whose autism prevents him from expressing that love openly. There is one very touching scene between the two.

Channing Tatum has appeared in Stop-Loss (2008) which is another war film.

Amanda Seyfried is Chloe (2009) in the film of the same name.

This could be a tear-jerker.

Forgive my scepticism. I do not know enough about autism. But is it at all believable that an autistic man marries, has a normal son, and when the wife abandons the family while that boy is pre-school the father raises the boy to maturity ? And could that son do such selfless deeds ?

1999, Conspiracy, Crime, Drama, Lawyers, Made For TV, Redemption, Religious Theme

The Confession (1999)

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From NetFlix:

Two 2004 Oscar nominees, Ben Kingsley and Alec Baldwin, are featured in this made-for-TV legal drama. A New York lawyer (Baldwin) with his eyes on the D.A.’s office has a crisis of conscience when he must defend a man (Kingsley) who killed three hospital workers who ignored his dying son. Problem is, the defendant actually wants to be convicted. Based on the novel Fertig by Sol Yurick.

Most often Ben Kingsley plays a sinister role. What a surprise, then, to see him as a devout Jew saying his prayers, observing the Sabbath. In much of the film Kingsley talks about his relationship with God. In this respect you might see the film as a bit preachy. There is even more of this sentiment throughout the film, for example, at trial and in private conversations.

Amy Irving (Emily Sloan in 9 episodes of “Alias”) does a wonderful job as the unhappy wife of Ben Kingsley. I just could not accept the affair between her character and that of Alex Baldwin. Let me know if you think otherwise.

Richard Jenkins (the dead father in “Six Feet Under”) get to play a crook as does Jay O. Sanders (“Revolutionary Road”).

Good over evil after a bit of soul searching.

2004, Could be boring, Drama, Horror, Unusual

The Village (2004)

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From NetFlix:

M. Night Shyamalan assembles an all-star cast — including Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt — in this chilling tale about an isolated village whose residents face the constant threat of evil creatures. The villagers’ lives are changed forever when one of them decides to venture beyond the town borders to see what’s lurking in the surrounding woods and makes an unexpected discovery.

Not for everyone, this unusual film features a 19th century village in which the characters speak very slowly and deliberately, almost as if they were on stage rather than in a film. Leave it to Joaquin Phoenix to appear in a strange production.

Almost from the beginning I guessed what was going on and you probably will also. Adrian Brody plays a retarded man who needs a haircut badly. There are some surprises. I stuck around to see just how everything resolved, but it takes a bit of fortitude.

Could this happen ? You are warned.

2009, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Not Feel Good, Sex Scenes

Solitary Man (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Michael Douglas stars as a former car dealership owner who sees his personal and professional lives take a nosedive when the repercussions of years of shady business dealings and chronic womanizing finally catch up with him. Susan Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Danny DeVito and Jenna Fischer co-star in this comedic drama written and co-directed by Brian Koppelman.

Michael Douglas playing Michael Douglas is pitch perfect for this role as a man whose behavior makes me cringe with sadness. Despite the NetFlix description, this film is NOT a comedy.

Towards the end of the film his first wife, Susan Sarandon, asks him about his behavior. His explanation, if I understood correctly, attributes his attitude to a single event in the past. Even if I understood correctly his intended answer, I just don’t buy it. Any comments ?

All the acting is good, especially the really young Harvard students who eventually see through the protagonist.

For me the ending was perfect. Any wild disagreements ?

2007, Complicated, Drama, Imperfect, Love Story, Mediocre, Suspense

Premonition (2007)

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From NetFlix:

Housewife Linda Hanson (Sandra Bullock) is devastated when her husband (Julian McMahon) dies suddenly in a car crash. But when he reappears the next day as if nothing had ever happened, she realizes the tragedy might have just been a premonition. The question now is, can Linda prevent the horrible event from happening again, or is she powerless to redirect fate? Amber Valletta and Nia Long also star.

Most Sandra Bullock films have been date films. They are light hearted films that make Kathy and me laugh and have a good time. In The Blind Side (2009) she gets a little more serious. As far as I can recall “Premonition” is one of her few serious films. Although Rotten Tomatoes
gives a really low rating, the story itself kept me interested.

For me Julian McMahon will always be the womanizing plastic surgeon from “Nip/Tuck” (whose first few years were outrageous fun to watch).

Probably the story kept me challenged because it was a bit difficult to understand the time sequencing. Call me a romantic but I just wanted to see love triumph.

Sadly, the writers saw fit to have this poor depressed housewife visit a Catholic priest to hear a lot of maudlin nonsense. This part was high on the “Yuck”-o-meter.

If you think about it, who caused the husband’s death ?

All is all, a B-movie that is not horrible.

2009, Acceptable for children, Biographical, Drama, Sports, Underdogs win

Invictus (2009)

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From NetFlix:

In this drama based on real-life events, director Clint Eastwood tells the story of what happened after the end of apartheid when newly elected president Nelson Mandela used the 1995 World Cup rugby matches to unite his people in South Africa. Based on John Carlin’s book, the film stars Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon (both Oscar nominated) as Francois Pienaar, the captain of the scrappy South African team that makes a run for the championship

Invictus is a short Victorian poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley. The text is as follows:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gait,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Nelson Mandela used this poem as a personal prayer to see him through 30 years of imprisonment. “Invictus” means “unconquered”.

As a piece of art, the film is mediocre. There may be at least 5 scrums too many. It would help if you understood the game of rugby. Matt Damon is adequate. Morgan Freeman is perfect as Mandela. See Wikipedia for critical reviews.

When the plane flies low over the stadium, you are supposed to read something written on its lower side: “Good luck, Bokke!”

Despite all these comments, I found the film to be inspiring and meaningful.