Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics Book, Movie & Podcast Reviews The Netflix Thread

I, up until recently, lived within walking distance of a Landmark theater which caters to the Independent film crowd rather than the big blockbusters and to which my girlfriend was more likely to drag me to as there is a lower probability of me being annoyed by my fellow movie going patrons as the average age of the movie goers is over 40 and there are rarely ever children there to annoy me (and they have really good popcorn). Anyway, I've seen some lovely movies there that are worth a look see via Netflix (links are to the netflix site for said movies)
Becoming Jane : A wonderful little movie about Jane Austen, though I warn you not to go with someone with a Literature degree as they will pick nits about the movie for the entire walk back to your apartment. Not out on DVD yet, but worth seeing when it is.
Kinky Boots : Man inherits dieing shoe factory from father and revives it by making sexy footware for transvestite cabaret dancers (you will be singing "whatever Lola wants" after seeing this movie)
Keeping Mum : A kind of Mary Poppins... if Mary Poppins was a kindly old axe murderer.

"Raise the Red Lantern" is a powerful film and quite depressing regarding the role of women in China during the time period it portrays. It is a film that has stayed with me ever since I saw it about ten years ago (before Netflix). I highly recommend it.

I really like foreign films, especially French ones. One that was very interesting was "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" (I think) starring the same actress that starred in "Amelie". A totally different role for her. It's the same story, told from two different perspectives. Fascinating.

I think Audrey Tatou ("Amelie") is wonderful; I just watched "Happenstance" this weekend, and I've added "He Loves Me" to my queue.

One thing I really love about foreign films is that they seldom seem to rely on violence to solve an issue. There's shouting, sometimes, but not nearly the violence of US movies. The language is not as obscene (obscenity doesn't bother me but it can limit the range of the writers and dialogue). And the editing doesn't seem to be as "fast" - the shots are, or at least feel, longer, slowing the pace of the movie a bit.

I'm sure a lot of that is due to my choice of movies, though.

There are some good movies coming out of Ireland, too...

This was fantastic. Everything everybody has said.
I loved it.

"My Best Friend" too. French. Don't miss
A man who was too busy making money and being aloof didn't realize what a good friend his taxi driver was.
Don't miss this one.

"Waiting for Guffman" was cute. Easy and fun.

Touch of Greatness is a wonderful documentary
Greatness tells the story of Albert Cullum, a teacher who bucked traditional learning initiatives of the time and instead used his own method of hands-on teaching. Cullum also applied the idea of making learning fun. It shows a man who has a totally unique teaching style, that unfortunately probably could not be extended to other teachers I found it interesting if only to show the possibility of different approaches to education. And in doing so, illustrate the poverty of what usually passes for education in our schools


The Historyboys
The "boys" are a group of talented diverse prep students vying to get into Oxford and Cambridge. Thematically it deals with teachers and how they choose to educate, imparting life lessons in some cases and showing how to beat the system and win in other cases. Richard Griffiths is remarkable as the old guard history teacher, who has quirky behavior, and unique, humorous methods on how to impart a love of the classics. Includes gay lesbian themes and some reference to pedophilia



Shortbus
This film contains explicit sex scenes but still is not pornographic.
While sex is a focal point, the film deals with all manners of human relations. Not stressing one form over another, it shows how sex, friendship and love intermingle and sometimes get confused with one another. Because one’ comfort level with sexuality mirrors how one relates in all other relationships, showing the carnal aspect of each character so explicitly works beautifully to accurately convey their motivations and struggles. Many people dislike this film, but it is certainly completely original for those who do like it. Includes gay lesbian themes

Watched Cinema Paradiso last night. Interesting characters, nicely filmed, really terrific plot twist at the end that brought up all sorts of ethical issues, but: I have to admit that for the last hour all I thought, repeatedly, was "This movie's never gonna end, this movie's never gonna end." The only other movie I've ever reacted to in this way was Bergman's Fanny and Alexander where after I muttered my never-end mantra for what seemed like an eternity, the characters settled in someone's living room and one of them began to read, aloud, a Strindberg play. I howled with despair, embarrassing my companions and horrifying an audience that had to be composed of English majors and Swedish movie devotees. I didn't howl last night when Salvatore began watching the kissing clips but only because I had no interest in waking up my husband or the cats.

And I hate to admit it, but Miss Picky settled in to watch with me, and at one moment she was not amused. The movie house is rebuilt and racier films are being shown, one of them a clip from And God Created Woman. Now curiously enough, I have a history with that film. When it showed in Washington DC, the theater was across a small park from my father's office. It opened, and the title on the marquee could be clearly seen above a young tree. By the time it closed, the tree had grown enough to block the title and even the marquee. Now I remember this as happening when I was in high school, which would put it between 1957 and 1961. Shortly after the clip is seen in Ciniema Paradiso, Salvatore begins a vigil across the street from his girlfriend's house. The time he does so is marked by pages being torn from a 1054 calendar. Oops? Nah. I'm often wrong. This morning, however, a quick visit to www.imdb.com told me And God Created Woman was released in Europe in 1956, the US in 1957. Looks like I'm back to "oops."

Just read the comments posted here yesterday. I agree that violence and profanity limit a movie; I have no interest in Hollywood blockbusters. But I'm sensing my reactions to the films you're recommending remind me of an ancient Peanuts
cartoon. Charlie Brown and the gang are outside looking up at clouds. All the others, except Charlie, say the cloud formations remind them of specific biblical or historical happenings. Something about Thomas Acquines was one. Everyone except Charlie Brown leaves. He looks up at the clouds and says that they reminded him of a horsey and a ducky. I'm going to watch all the movies listed here recently, but I won't be surprised to see horsies and duckies instead of Art.

Fun thread.

Yes, I know what you are saying. Werner Herzog movies are like that for me... I just cannot figure why people like them.

I also enjoy a good Hollywood style film. But for purposes of this thread, it seems a little redundant to suggest some film everyone is familiar with and will likely have already seen if they are interested (ie The Godfather).

I personally like finding "hidden gems".... even though that inevitably means watching part of many dreadful films. But then again, an advantage of Netflix.... it allows you to explore unfamiliar things with minimal commitment.


I tend to be more patient with a film, if only because I have had many example of films I disliked for the first half or more. I have a similar experience with music: Immediate appeal is not a reliable guide to long term enjoyment.

I'm with Martha re. Cinema Paradiso. I'd heard all good things, rented it....and at the end felt disappointed. That was a number of years ago and I barely remember the movie. Had it rung major chords, it would've remained with me.

I filed it away as one of those Peggy Lee, "Is That All There Is?" experiences. Not meaning the movie should've been longer but, rather, could've had more substance.

However, that's what makes art interesting. One person gets knocked for a loop...and the next just feels a breeze.

Here are a few more


Burnt by the sun
a masterful and tragic portrait of a Soviet family which like millions of others had suffered through terror of Stalin regime. Frankness and details of this movie may not have been possible to recreate even in 1980s. Main melody of the Burnt by the Sun creates heart-pinching nostalgic feeling but only by the end of the movie you understand that there is nothing to be nostalgic about. Mihkalkov authentically shows reality and lives of the people in 1930s, one of the most malignant decades in Russian history



Divided we fall
The basic plot deals with a Czechoslovak couple in Nazi-poccupied Bohemia who take in a Jewish escapee in 1943, and must keep the secret from friends and neighbors
What I loved about this movie was that it doesn't fall prey to self-pity, and neither do any of the characters. Although what the couple at the center of the film does is heroic (they shelter a Jew, a former neighbor, who has escaped from a concentration camp), they don't act "heroic"---they question their own motives, and are somewhat petty and annoyed at the fix they are in. Although there are some grim moments, it is overall a movie of hope and optimism. These are ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, that's all.

Autum spring
Autumn Spring" tells of the misadventures of a dapper, walrus faced, 78 (approx) year old Czech man who haplessly befuddles and bemuses all who know him with his mischievous ways while his wife meticulously plans her funeral. Centerpiece Hana (Brodský) shows us how to get babes to kiss you in public when your 78 and how to cop a feel in an elevator and get thanked for it as he pranks his way from day to day in this warm and glowing look at old age and one man's creative, amusing, but socially unacceptable ways of enjoying life while refusing to be relegated to the old folk's home. "Autumn Spring" is a plodding, subtle, and sentimental comedy with messages for all ages which will have the greatest appeal with more mature foreign film buffs


Billy Elliot
When 11-year-old Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) trades boxing school for ballet lessons, his father (Gary Lewis) is less than pleased. The hardworking miner from Northern England despises the idea of his son running around in toe shoes, but when the boy wins an audition for the Royal Ballet School, he experiences a change of heart. The movie started off kind of slow and was difficult to get into. I wanted to watch this movie b/c I liked the premise behind it – a boy who ditches boxing classes for ballet lesson against the wishes of his father. After watching Billy Elliot I realized that were other secondary stories, within this movie, that were just as important. Billy’s relationship with his father, the coal miners strike in England, Billy’s father still grieving the loss of his wife, and Mrs. Wilkinson (the ballet teacher), in the midst of dealing with her husband’s infidelity and realizing her own daughter’s lack of talent, attempt at doing something significant in her life. I sometimes find European movies a little hard to follow. It’s a different way of filmmaking and I am not accustomed to it. But, if you can get past all that you realize what is actually there – a good story with great acting.

Ardy, I especially like the look of Billy Elliot and Autumn Spring and am adding them.

For those that like watching music concerts....I really enjoyed The Last Waltz about the farewell concert of The Band. There were alot of interviews interwoven and guest appearances by such as Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton,Neal Diamond, Ringo, Joni Mitchell
For some reason the very ending classical number they did especially touched me

I've got so much going on in my life right now that we're going to slow down our subscription when this one runs out in a couple of days to only two a month.