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My Queue
001- The Visitor
Widowed professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) discovers an immigrant couple, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira), squatting in his Manhattan flat and becomes wrapped up in their lives when Tarek is thrown into a detention center. A wonderful Hiam Abbass co-stars as Tarek's mother, who forges an unlikely connection with Walter. Director Thomas McCarthy's follow-up to his indie hit The Station Agent premiered at Sundance in 2008.
002- Pixar Short Films: Vol. 1
Enjoy some of the most fun, inventive and entertaining animated short films ever made in this comprehensive Pixar Studios collection. Each wonderful tale features memorable characters, from a mischievous bumblebee to an unwanted unicycle. Academy Award winners "Tin Toy," "Geri's Game" and "For the Birds" are included, as well as a special behind-the-scenes look at Pixar with founder and chief creative officer John Lasseter.
003- Gloomy Sunday
A romantic melodrama set in 1930s Budapest, Gloomy Sunday centers on a love triangle with tragic consequences. Restaurant owner Laszlo hires pianist András to play in his restaurant. Both men fall in love with the beautiful waitress Ilona, who inspires András to write his only composition. The resulting song, "Gloomy Sunday," is at first loved by the public … but soon, its melancholic melody appears to trigger a chain of suicides.
004- Forgetting Sarah Marshall
After his TV star girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), breaks his heart, Peter (Jason Segel) wants nothing more than to enjoy his vacation in Hawaii. One problem: Sarah's vacationing at the same resort he is, and even worse, she's bringing her new beau. Produced by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Superbad), this hilarious comedy also stars Mila Kunis, Paul Rudd and Bill Hader.
005- Zelary
This gorgeously shot World War II drama tells the story of a clash between two different worlds and two different people. Eliska, a nurse in a city hospital, donates her blood to save the life of injured mountain-dweller Joza, and the two form a strong bond. When the resistance group Eliska belongs to is discovered by the Gestapo, she's forced to seek refuge with Joza, leaving her urban life behind and starting anew in the remote mountains.
006- Dead Poets Society
John Keating (Robin Williams) is an unconventional English teacher who lives by a simple motto: Seize the day! Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) is a prep school student who dreams of being an actor but lives in fear of his imperious father, who wants to see him matriculated into Harvard's medical school. Can Keating -- and his infectious love of poetry -- inspire Neil to reach for his dreams? The screenplay won an Oscar.
007- In China They Eat Dogs
A few hours after bank clerk Arvid (Dejan Cukic) knocks out a bank robber (Peter Gantzler) with his squash racket, the robber's wife appeals to Arvid with a sad tale of woe. Arvid hatches a scheme to help the couple by teaming with his criminal brother Harald (Kim Bodnia). Bloody high jinks ensue in this darkly comic gangster import, the rough Danish equivalent of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
008- Death Note
When he discovers a mystical notebook that grants him the power to kill anyone he wants by merely writing their name, a brilliant student named Light (Tatsuya Fujiwara) develops a god complex and attempts to create utopia. Now, it's up to ingenious detective "L" (Ken'ichi Matsuyama) to stop the supernatural vigilante. Directed by Shusuke Kaneko, this eerie thriller also stars Asaka Seto, Erika Toda and Shigeki Hosokawa.
009- American Graffiti: Collector's Edition
The film that put director George Lucas on the Hollywood map also expertly showcased newcomers such as Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, Suzanne Somers and "Ronny" Howard. Lucas masterfully weaves together the stories of a disparate group of high school students as they struggle with adolescent rites of passage in 1962. Touching and timeless, American Graffiti is a not-to-be-missed classic.
010- 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.
011- Mermaids
This is the story of Mrs. Flax (Cher), an eccentric single mother, and her two children, Charlotte (Winona Ryder) and Kate (Christina Ricci). Charlotte is ashamed of her mother's theatrical behavior and strives to become the best Catholic possible -- even though her family is Jewish. Kate, meanwhile, has her sights set on being the world's greatest swimmer. When Mrs. Flax moves the clan to New England, the trio learns the true meaning of family.
012- The Girl on the Bridge
A despondent girl named Adele (Vanessa Paradis) is about to take a swan dive off a bridge into the Seine River when she's rescued by Gabor (Daniel Auteuil), a knife thrower who needs a human target for his show. The luckless Adele agrees, and together the pair thrives, winning a fortune gambling when not performing their act. But fate conspires to separate the duo, who find they need each other to maintain their lucky streak.
013- American Gangster
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. Ruby Dee (in an Oscar-nominated role), Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead the supporting cast in this powerhouse tale penned by Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List).
014- Grace Is Gone
Director James C. Strouse's indie drama stars John Cusack as Stanley Phillips, an ex-military man trying to find the courage to break some devastating news to his two daughters: Their mother has died while serving in Iraq. As he works through his complex feelings about his wife's death and the war, Stanley delays telling his girls the truth, instead taking them on an excursion to a theme park. The film won the Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance 2007.
015- Stop-Loss
After a tour in Iraq, decorated hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) returns home to his small Texas town and tries to readjust to civilian life. But when he's called up again as part of the military's controversial stop-loss program, he decides to go AWOL. Directed by Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry), this poignant drama co-stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum as Brandon's war buddies and Timothy Olyphant as his superior officer.
016- No Such Thing
An ambitious story that scorns sensational journalism. Beatrice (Sarah Polley) is a naïve reporter sent to find out what happened to a camera crew that disappeared in Iceland. Instead, her focus turns to a depressed and suicidal monster she encounters there. She promises to help the monster but instead feeds him to the hungry international media. The first-rate cast includes Helen Mirren and Julie Christie.
017- Cherish
Zoe (Robin Tunney) is a shy San Francisco computer animator who, while heading home after a few drinks one night, is forced into her car by a stalker, who steers her into a police officer. The stalker flees, and Zoe's left with a dead cop, a high blood-alcohol level and a story no one believes. Can she prove her innocence and evade the man who's still watching her?
018- La Haine
French director Mathieu Kassovitz's jolting drama traces a fateful day in the lives of alienated ghetto youths Vinz (Vincent Cassel), Saïd (Saïd Taghmaoui) and Hubert (Hubert Koundé) -- a Jew, an Arab and an African, respectively. When their friend Abdel ends up comatose after a police beating, Vinz -- who's come into possession of a gun -- vows to dispense rough justice, sealing the destiny of all three. Benoît Magimel also stars.
019- The Jane Austen Book Club
Six book club members find their lives resemble a modern-day version of Jane Austen's novels in this drama. Sylvia's (Amy Brenneman) husband of 20-plus years has walked out; Jocelyn (Maria Bello) breeds dogs to escape loneliness; Prudie (Emily Blunt) dreams of other men; Bernadette (Kathy Baker) hopes to find Mr. Right; Allegra (Maggie Grace) has issues with her girlfriend; and Grigg (Hugh Dancy), the only man, wonders why he's even in the club.
020- Charlie Wilson's War
Texas congressman Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) sets a series of earth-shaking events in motion when he conspires with a rogue CIA operative (Philip Seymour Hoffman, in an Oscar-nominated role) to aid Afghan mujahedeen rebels in their fight against the Soviet Red Army. Julia Roberts, Emily Blunt and Amy Adams co-star in this fact-based political thriller directed by Mike Nichols and based on George Crile's 2003 book by the same name.
Well, how'd you get here?
Profile Information
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- Of course
- Are you a Netflix employee?
- a) No.
- What is your (apx) "Reviewer Rank" Number?
- 301
- What is your (Anonymous) Friends Link? (the code on the right side of Invite Friends)
- http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/P6cDzH202IiNHxFDuYXo
- What is your Outward Profile page URL (find yourself on one of your friend's lists, and click back to see yourself)
- http://www.netflix.com/StrangerProfile?prid=121801279&lnkctr=MD...
- A Small Set Of My Favorite Movies
- The Devil's Backbone
Yes
Amelie
The Proposition (set in Australia)
Sin City
American Beauty
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Closer
- What I Snack on in Movie Theaters
- Occasionally a giant box of Milk Duds, but usually just water.
- About Me:
- A bore, really.
More? Well, I'm a nontraditional student with two yappy dogs and a quasi cat (she's not really mine, just hanging out for a while). School was exciting the first semester, but now it's a TREMENDOUS drag. (my apologies if you are a professor, but come on....liven it up a bit, why don't you!)
oh... if I can bore you with any more minutia, drop me a note below.
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Life is good. I haven't been chatting since I receive the movie note that you were not likely to respond to notes due to being swamped with school.
Glad to see you've come up for air.
I'll be curious to hear what you think about Zelary, as it sounds good.
As for livening things up in the classroom, I'll be bringing cookies tomorrow for the few diehards who won't be doing the Turkey Day skip.
Also seen a bunch of good movies lately. But that whole school thing is taking too much time for me to write reviews. :-(
Though diverting, as an intellectual exercise, communicating in 200-word koan poems runs contrary to my interest in learning to write. I could send multiple notes, of course, but that seems like cheating. Plus, there is no mechanism for deletion, which affords no chance to withdraw mistakes or simply prune verbiage on outdated topics. For this reason, I tend to rely on Ning for all serious communication.
I have checked at Ning, with some regularity, to see if you had left any notes. I then received your communiqué, regarding your unfortunate incarceration at school. I was already a note ahead in our exchange at Ning (including a lengthy essay). It seemed rude to force correspondence at a time when you reported being overly busy already. I am extremely busy myself and have been vastly relieved by what seemed your initiation of a hiatus in correspondence.
Luckily, I was drawn to rewatch the trailer for "The Fall" at Netflix -- largely for chance to hear the haunting musical theme once again (Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, II. Allegretto by Ludwig van Beethoven, I have since learned). If not for this alluring music, your note might have gone unready for a long time.
This is just a brief note of explanation. A proper discussion of the movies in question will require something longer and probably separate notes for each. There will be a lull at work for the holiday season. Perhaps I will have time for detailed thoughts early in the new year.
[:-)] Mark
P.S.
I will visit my brother for Christmas. He has an HD television with surround-sound. I am thinking of getting him a blue-ray player, to complete his home-theater system. If so, I will probably get "The Fall" in blue-ray format, from Netflix, and take that along. More than some other films, perhaps, I think that "The Fall" would really make the most of a giant screen and good speakers.
P.P.S.
Regarding my Netflix Note: as my Dad would tell you, whether you wished to know, or not, the lyrics for "Kiss Me Kate" include the words "I come to wive it wealthilily in Padua!" As you may know, this was stolen directly from "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare (Act I, Scene II). For a much, much funnier adaptation, see "Atomic Shakespeare" from the third season of "Moonlighting" instead. I was never a big fan for "Moonlighting" but absolutely loved this one non-sequiter episode. Among my favorite lines: "Goest thou to Hell!"
The disk from Netflix (Season 3, Disk 2) includes three other "normal" episodes of the show. It might help to watch one of those first, to get a feel for the characters, before the absurdity starts. Let us be clear as to the scope of my recommendation: I am only recommending this if you are hankering for a "Taming of the Shrew" adaptation, in which case you can't do better. For outright entertainment, this is still pretty good but Netflix offers so many rewarding nooks and crannies. Do not let this suggestion cloud own discerning judgement. I am only suggesting "Atomic Shakespeare" because you had "Kiss Me Kate" in your queue already.
P.P.P.S.
My parents will be visiting for Thanksgiving. I am totally psyched! I really must go now, to build-up some free hours that I can spend with them. Have a great holiday yourself.
Ater thinking about it you get wrapped up in the five short stories and you want to see what happed those characters but it's not about them it's about the dead girl.(If any of that makes sense.)
Tonight I'm looking foward to Breaking the Waves. It looks interesting and it's lengthy too. I like that. I'll let you know what I think.
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