Category Archives: 2011

2011, Based on true facts, British, Comedy, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Feel Good Not For Children, Love Story, Satire

Hysteria (2011)

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From NetFlix:

In 1880s London, forward-thinking young doctor Mortimer Granville has a difficult time keeping a job until he and an inventor friend concoct an electrifying solution to the rampant “hysteria” affecting England’s sexually and socially repressed women.

Along with the fun and naughty treatment of the invention of the sexual vibrator, there is an underlying theme of women’s rights in Victorian England as well as a budding romance between the young Doctor Granville and the rebellious socialist daughter of Granville’s greedy employer.

Maggie Gyllenhaal (who played the title role in “Secretary”) plays the rebellious daughter. At first I did not recognize Rupert Everett as Edmund St. John-Smythe (probably because he was sporting a beard and has put on a bit of weight) who plays the inventor of the vibrator.

Despite my own enthusiasm, my daughter Kate found the film to be a bit “smaltzy”. Although not for children, at least it offers 100 minutes of somewhat thought-provoking amusement for the older family members.

2011, Car Chase, Clever Plot, Complicated, Conspiracy, Crime, Frenetic, Love Story, Norwegian, Nudity, Occasional gore, Plot Twist, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Violent

Headhunters (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Living way beyond his means, corporate recruiter Roger Brown steals rare artwork to maintain his lavish lifestyle. But when he plans to boost an especially valuable painting, he targets a man who has headhunting skills of a different variety.

Hold onto your seats because this plot twists and turns like an angry alligator. From one minute to the next you will be surprised by all the unexpected, and usually violent, events.

In Norwegian with subtitles, even though the actors are Norwegian, still there is a surprise in store. Just how the names of the actors are pronounced is beyond me. Aksel Hennie as Roger Brown and Synnøve Macody Lund as his drop-dead beautiful wife Diana were excellent actors that I have never seen before. However, I kept staring at Nikolaj Coster-Waldau who plays the villain Clas Greve and wondering where had I ever seen this Norwegian actor. Surprise … he played Jaime Lannister in the TV series “Game of Thrones” (which you should NOT miss!) where he seemed to speak perfect English.

Much of the plot has Roger Brown running for his life from one horrible experience to another. But his ingenuity is remarkable.

Expect an incredibly satisfying ending. But you have to also expect unending suspense.

2011, Corny, Dysfunctional Lives, Feel Good Not For Children, Flirting, Slacker

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Siblings Jay and Mark Duplass direct this comedy focusing on two brothers — one a moderate success, the other still living with Mom. A trip to the store for glue, however, turns into an encounter with destiny for the stay-at-home slacker.

Do now films glorify slackers so regularly that I must add the film category of “slacker”? Granted in this year of 2012 unemployment is a genuine problem, but Jeff does seem to live in la-la-land. For the entire film he chases after any experience that is connected with the name “Kevin”, sometimes to his real detriment.

Jeff has a brother Pat whose marriage is in trouble. At least Pat is employed but he could be a lot more responsible and also responsive to his long-suffering wife Linda. Their situation and discussions ring very true.

Their mother Sharon (played by Susan Sarandon) comes off as a needy, lonesome woman who has no idea how to help her son who lives in the basement. Her flirting with an anonymous admirer is fun to watch and also a bit sad. Surely there are a lot of women in her position.

Finally a somewhat extreme episode unites Sharon, Jeff, Pat, and Linda. Probably we needed this episode to turn the film into a “feel-good”. Nice try!

Not boring, sadly current, worth a watch.

2011, Based on true facts, Comedy, Gay theme, Murder Investigation, Satire, Small Town

Bernie (2011)

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From NetFlix:

In this black comedy inspired by real-life events, affable Texas mortician Bernie befriends the small town’s wealthiest widow and then kills her. But despite the suspicious nature of her death, no one wants to think anything but the best of Bernie.

After seeing A Separation (2011), I was grateful I don’t live in Iran. After seeing “Bernie” I am grateful I don’t live in a small town.

At the conclusion of this film you can see the real Bernie and his unfortunately murdered wife.

For the first half of the film I was amused by the small town culture, the east Texas accents, and Jack Black’s excellent portrayal of smarmy Bernie. Moreover, any film that satirizes the predatory practices of funeral directors is a film near and dear to my heart. Also I was surprised by the many politically incorrect turns of speech, tsk, tsk!

About the middle of the film I got tired of watching. What struck me was how anti-climactic the ending was. True to life, Bernie tearfully confesses and is convicted. This is no spoiler because the outcome is what did in fact happen to the real Bernie. Rather the point of the film is how the townsfolk like Bernie and don’t really care that he shot “that bitch”. And indeed Shirley MacLaine is her usual bitchy self.

Somewhat amusing but you can do better.

2011, Alzheimer's disease, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, Iran, Persian, Religious Theme

A Separation (2011)

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From NetFlix:

An Iranian husband and wife split up over his decision to stay and care for his aging father instead of leaving the country with his family. But his fateful choice to hire a stranger to do most of the caretaking breeds unexpected consequences.

After watching this two hour in Persian with subtitles, you will probably be somewhat tired. Do not let the opening give you the impression that you will watching “talking heads”. However, the entire story is one headache after the other for every character. If that is life in Iran, be grateful you do not live there. It is, in fact, the progression of annoying details that got me so interested that even when I felt tired, I still had to finish the film to see if or how so many problems were resolved.

Possibly I got incorrect impressions. But as far as I could tell:

  • Differences between social classes are quite strong.
  • Whereas the upper class seems secular (possibly atheist), the lower classes are religious to the point of scrupulosity.
  • Everyone lies up to a point.
  • One’s honor is very important.
  • Iranians are very volatile.
  • Court justice is somewhat arbitrary.
  • Traffic is quite dense.
  • Life in Iran is a nightmare.

While not at all a feel-good film, as a slice of Iranian life it could be riveting.

2011, Acceptable for children, Basically Sad, Child Molestation, DO NOT MISS, French, Quiet, School Teacher, Suicide, Wonderful acting

Monsieur Lazhar (2011)

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From NetFlix:

When an Algerian immigrant seeking asylum in Montreal takes a position replacing an elementary school professor who committed suicide, he finds that his own secret, tragic background enables him to help the children with their loss.

As far as I am concerned, the major theme of this story is the cold adult-student separation enforced by teachers’ fear of being accused of something. You CANNOT hug a child student.

As you watch this quiet, thoughtful, well-acted film you will come to understand how this theme relates to the young woman who committed suicide and to the guilt felt by certain students.

Somewhat secondary as a theme is that life is just not fair. You must see the entire film to understand why I say that. This is NOT a feel-good film.

Relax as you watch this film in French with optional English subtitles. Nothing terrible happens. Expect to be charmed by the students’ interaction with Monsieur Lazhar and saddened by certain turn of events. Expect a wonderful, warm film.

Do Not Miss!

2011, Adventure, Based on a Book, British, Crude Talk, DO NOT MISS, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Fantasy, Made For TV, Nudity, Orchestral Music, Revenge, TV Series, Violent, Vulgar

Game of Thrones (2011)

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From NetFlix:

When a power vacuum emerges in the mythical land of Westeros following mighty King Robert’s death, several noble families, including the Starks, Lannisters and Baratheons, wage war against each other for control of the vacant Iron Throne. Full of political and sexual intrigue, this fantasy series, based on George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels, also chronicles the rise of an ancient evil, which threatens the entire kingdom.

UPDATE: April 2016

Only 5 seasons are available at this time.  Season 6 has not yet appeared.   If you don’t mind violence, nudity, crude language, cruelty, etc. then this series continues to be spellbinding. By this time Peter Dinklage has made his fame with his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister. And those dragons are really cool.

If you want details just go to Wikipedia.

Season One consists of 5 disks. You might not like this series unless you enjoy such guilty pleasures as intrigue, nudity, fantasy, sex, revenge, and violence. In other words: What’s not to like?

Among the huge cast you will notice:

  • Sean Bean (as Eddard Stark) was Boromir in “Lord of the Rings”.
  • Peter Dinklage plays Tyrion Lannister who throughout the story calls himself a dwarf. You might remember him from Death at a Funeral (2007) or The Station Agent (2003)
  • Iain Glen (as Ser Jorah Mormont) appears in many British productions. He was the wonderful villain Vaughan Edwards in part of MI-5

Production values are excellent. Note especially the opening of each episode in which the camera pans an abstract model of the entire mythical kingdom.

If this kind of fantasy is your cup of tea, then I would call “Game of Thrones” as DO NOT MISS!

2011, Based on a Book, Basically Sad, British, Imperfect, Love Story, Mediocre, Melodrama, Not Feel Good, Orchestral Music, Quiet, Sex Scenes

The Deep Blue Sea (2011)

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From NetFlix:

This remake of the original 1955 film, adapted from a Terence Rattigan play, stars Rachel Weisz as a wedded woman who falls hard for a younger man. Her determination and emotional obsession lead her into tragic conflict with the morals of the day.

Up to a certain point good acting made the story interesting enough to watch. But in a pub scene disappointment set in. Have you ever seen an amateur production in which the actors are unable to deliver a strong emotion without recourse to yelling? At this point my opinion of Rachel Weisz as an actor fell quite a few notches.

Both Simon Russell Beale as the affectionate but dull husband and Barbara Jefford as his insufferable, snobbish, and cruel mother did a wonderful job.

Tom Hiddleston, the lover, you may recall as Loki in “The Avengers” or as Capt. James Nicholls in War Horse (2011).

At least we had the sobbing violins to tell us when something sad was happening.

Try some other film.

2011, Based on true facts, Disturbing Image, Drugs, Dysfunctional Lives, Military, Redemption, Religious Theme, Sadism, Suspense, True Story, Violent, War

Machine Gun Preacher (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Gerard Butler stars in this true-life story of Sam Childers, a drug dealer who turns his life around to become a spiritual warrior. His mission? Rescuing child soldiers in the Sudan from lives ruined by their forced participation in bloody conflict.

Before starting to watch this film I expected to watch part and then stop because Gerard Butler is not the star of the drama world. However, in portraying the real-life and still very active Sam Childers, Gerard Butler found for himself his perfect role. Granted the macho war scenes might be over the top Hollywood or (given the horrors inflicted on Ugandan and Sudan by the psychotic monster Joseph Kony who is at the present being hunted by UN forces) might just be what must really happen to protect the children. Butler convincingly lets his work bring him to a boiling cauldron of angry hate that nearly destroys his church, business, and family. His subsequent return to a more balanced approach to his even now continuing work is cleverly connected with the very first scene of the film (but no spoiler in this review!).

One other actor that you might recognize is Michael Shannon who plays Childers’ best friend Donnie. Shannon did an outstanding job in the film Take Shelter (2011).

Be sure to watch the closing credits because a side bar shows many photos of the real Sam Childers, his family, and his work in South Sudan.

2011, Clever Plot, Crime, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, FBI, Grim, Murder Investigation, Mystery Film, Politicians, TV Series, Violent, Wonderful acting

The Killing (2011)

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From Net Flix:

The disappearance of a young Seattle girl sets in motion this moody crime series centering on a detective — Sarah Linden — who’s trying to start a new life in California but is unable to walk away from the mysteries posed by the complex case.

Three years after I first wrote this review (2014), Kathy and I have just finished streaming all 26 episodes of season one plus season two (no, not in one sitting). You must see both seasons to see the entire Rosie Larsen story. Amazon Prime offers four seasons for free. You can also use your Roku to search for all streaming sources for any given film, series, or whatever. There is more than one streaming source for “The Killing”.

This TV series from 2011 is well-written, well-acted, and immensely engaging. How, you might ask, can you spend two TV years investigating just one murder? As soon as you start the series you will understand how the plot intertwines many connected and well-constructed threads.

Rosie Larsen is found drowned in a sunken car. Finding her killer involves her family, her teachers, her friends, two starring detectives, and, possibly most interesting of all, an politician running for the office of Seattle’s mayor against a corrupt incumbent. Searching for that murder brings sorrow, family dysfunction, violence, false leads, FBI involvement, unjustified persecution, and the list goes on.

At times the series seemed to drag. An awful lot of time was spent watching the Larsen family suffer the effects of the murder. Just as much time was spent watching the detective Sarah get so involved with the case that she as a single mother does NOT do a good job raising her son. Thank goodness she has the support of her partner detective Holder.

Many surprises are in store, especially in the last episode. It is perhaps realistic and to the writer’s credit that some of the bad guys get away with their skullduggery.

Watching this series from week to week would have been sheer torture. Thank goodness the NetFlix discs let us watch episode after episode without foolish interruptions such as food, sleep, etc.

DO NOT MISS!