Category Archives: DO NOT MISS

2009, Child Molestation, Crime, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Drugs, Gangs, Gay theme, Rape, Suspense, TV Series, Violent, Vulgar

Southland (2009)

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From NetFlix:

This hard-hitting drama follows the trials and triumphs of a group of dedicated Los Angeles cops, including tough veteran John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz), who begins this show’s first season training rookie patrolman Ben Sherman (Benjamin McKenzie). Other characters sworn to serve and protect include Detectives Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott) and Lydia Adams (Regina King), single-mom patrol officer Chickie Brown (Arija Bareikis) and more

If you liked “NYPD BLue” or “Law and Order”, you will love “Southland”. Full of tense crime scenes and personal stories, the series is DYNAMITE! Enough said.

2004, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children

Dear Frankie (2004)

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From NetFlix:

Faced with the prospect of raising her son, Frankie (Jack McElhone), with a good-for-nothing man, the resourceful Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) spirits him away to Scotland with good intentions and pretends the boy’s father is aboard the HMS Accra. But after years of Lizzie’s skillful lying, the jig is up when Frankie learns the ship is docked right by their home. Now, the only way to protect Frankie’s heart is to find a man willing to pose as his dad.

“Dear Frankie” is one of my favorite films and I’m not sure why. Perhaps I feel sorry for the mother and son on the run from an abusive father. Perhaps the way a stanger enters their life to help out in a bad situation is touching. At any rate it is a quiet film with some very poignant moments.

You will recognize Emily Mortimer as one of the Rachels in “Shutter Island”. Gerard Butler plays the stranger. Considering his slide into mediocre potboilers, this might be one of Butler’s best films. The fighting scenes between Frankie’s parents could be too much for children to watch.

1986, British Mystery Series, Conspiracy, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gritty, Made For TV, Suspense, TV Series, Violent

Edge of Darkness (1986)

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From NetFlix:

When police detective Ron Craven (Bob Peck) witnesses the murder of his environmental activist daughter (Joanne Whalley), he vows to track down her killer. Little does he know, however, that the trail will lead straight to the heart of Britain’s nuclear power industry. The suspense ratchets ever upward in this award-winning BBC miniseries, as Craven finds himself smack in the middle of a top secret government project. Joe Don Baker co-stars.

This “Edge of Darkness” is the original 6-episode British TV series as opposed to the 2010 Mel Gibson remake. As such it proceeds at an unhurried calm pace. Alongside the conspiracy plot there are the psychological after effects of Craven’s having seen his daughter gunned down. There is some violence, but no gore. And of course the villains are cool and calculating.

According to the Wikipedia article, this series as been acclaimed as one of the best and most influential pieces of British television drama ever made. Be prepared for pessimism and a bit of magical realism.

As an extra, the very appropriate “Edge of Darkness” electric guitar theme that runs throughout is by Eric Clapton.

2008, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Hebrew and Arabic, Lawyers, Love Story, Not Feel Good, True Story, War

Lemon Tree (2008)

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From NetFlix:

A Palestinian widow (Hiam Abbass) fights to keep her lemon grove from being uprooted when Israeli security forces declare it a threat to the Israeli defense minister living next door (Doron Tavory) in this foreign-language drama based on a true story. Teaming with a young lawyer (Ali Suliman), the widow takes her case to the Israeli Supreme Court. But in the process of seeking justice, she’s forced to hide the forbidden bond growing between them.

Quiet, beautifully acted, subtle cameo portrait of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. For the most part the film is an indictment of the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians: the woman’s lemon grove is really no threat, the defense minister comes off as nothing more than a hypocritical politician, the odds in court are obviously stacked against the widow. However, the poor woman is besieged on all sides because even her own culture of women as second class (embodied in local almost bullying pressure) will not allow her a fulfilled life. Note, on the other hand, that the Israeli women are more high-maintenance and powerful. If you are fortunate enough to watch this small gem I would be interested in hearing your impression of the very last scene.

Subtitles available for the Hebrew and Arabic.

Don’t miss it!

2005, Could Be Hard To Watch, Could Be Sad, Danish, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Not Feel Good, Redemption, Susanne Bier, Violent, War

Brothers (2005)

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From NetFilx:

When army major Michael (Ulrich Thomsen) is presumed dead on a mission to Afghanistan, his wife (Connie Nielsen) and transient younger brother (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) are drawn together. Michael is eventually found and sent home, but his harrowing experience as a prisoner of war changes the family forever. Winner of a Sundance Film Festival Audience Award, this Danish drama inspired a 2009 English-language remake from director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot).

Danish directory Susanne Bier has made many films such as “Things We Lost In The Fire”. In this review and the other two reviews we are recommending three of her films: “Open Hearts”, “Brothers”, and “After the Wedding”. The language is Danish with subtitles. Susanne Bier directs fine films.

There is a newer film “Brothers (2009)” which is an American rewrite of the 2005 Danish version. I have read reviews of the newer version which say that the original Danish version is the better of the two.

In any case, this is in certain parts a tough film to watch, but well-acted and always worth the viewing effort.

2004, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Gay theme, Nudity, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense

Walk on Water (2004)

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From NetFlix:

American-born Israeli director Eytan Fox lenses this contemporary road movie that takes its Israeli characters to Berlin as they attempt to understand the role that the past still plays in the lives of young Israeli and German people. Stars Lior Ashkenzai, Carola Ranier, Hans Tischler, Israeli Gideon Shemer and Yousuf Swaid. The soundtrack includes tunes by Esther Ofarim, Bruce Springsteen, Telepopmusic and Gigliola Cinquetti.

Thanks to my Spanish teacher Joaquín for lending me this film. If any theme is strongest, it is that of personal change and overcoming prejudices. The plot itself offers many surprising turns all the way to the end of the film. In fact for me this was one of those films in which the suspense of the plot line is so strong that I could not even pause the film for a second.

No film is perfect. The main actor, the Mossad assassin, was best when he was purposely emotionless. In one scene he is not terribly successful in portraying remorse. Was the ending a bit too good to be true ? And of course the Mossad agent is an expert martial artist.

This film is not for children not so much because of its gay subtheme but because there is very explicit discussion of gay sexual practices.

If I had not seen this movie, I would have missed a really worthwhile film.

2008, British Mystery Series, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gritty, Made For TV, MHz Choice, Mystery Film, Occasional gore, Suspense

Wallander (2008)

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June 2020 Update:

Wallander has moved to MHz Choice. There are two Wallander series in MHz Choice.

————————– NEW REVIEW ————————————-

From Netflix:

By now (August 2016) you can stream from Netflix 3 seasons of the British Wallander with Kenneth Branagh.  Each episode lasts about an hour and a half.  Each of the 3 seasons offers 3 independent stories. However, you should start from the beginning and watch in sequence because running through the entire 9 stories is the theme of Wallander’s personal life: loneliness, struggles with his eccentric father, relation with his daughter, etc.

One advantage of streaming is that there are captions.

More than ever, I consider these somewhat “noir” stories a DO NOT MISS!

————— OLD REVIEW ———————————————

From NetFlix:

Kenneth Branagh delivers a bravura performance as Swedish sleuth Kurt Wallender in three stories drawn from Henning Mankell’s best-sellers. With violence on the rise in once-peaceful Ystad, the dour detective battles crime as well as personal demons. This trio of TV mysteries finds Wallander connecting a woman’s suicide with government corruption, pursuing a cabbie’s killer and coping with the murder of a colleague during a tough investigation.

There is already a review for “Before the Frost (2002)” which was an excellent Wallander story. The present review is for a two-disk series (two separate NetFlix disks) from 2008. Kenneth Branagh again does an outstanding job portraying a dedicated detective whose personal life is in shambles. As such, the three stories (the second disk contains two stories) are dark. Kenneth Branagh is shabby and haggard throughout.

One caveat: there are NO subtitles available for those of us who are hard of hearing.

Also remember that everything takes place in Sweden despite the actors being British.

2009, Animated, Comedy, DO NOT MISS, Feel Good For All

Up (2009)

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From NetFlix:

After a lifetime of dreaming of traveling the world, 78-year-old homebody Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) flies away on an unbelievable adventure, with Russell, an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer (Jordan Nagai), unexpectedly in tow. Together, the unlikely pair embarks on a thrilling odyssey full of jungle beasts and rough terrain. Other voices include the renowned Christopher Plummer and Pixar stalwart John Ratzenberger.

Not your average Disney film. Entertaining for young and old alike. Sometimes I just burst out laughing. In the initial part of the film we watch the lifetime of a married but childless couple. They age, she dies, he is alone. As I watched this part I thought “Oh my gosh, do I look like him ?” The fatherless boy scout is at times touching. The villain is, well, a real Walt Disney villain. If I could do the athletic stunts that the old man carries off, I would be in amazing shape. Just suspend disbelief and enjoy the fun.

2002, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Kidnapping, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Trapped (2002)

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From NetFlix:

In this tense thriller, a young girl with asthma (Dakota Fanning) is kidnapped and held for ransom. Her captors (Courtney Love and Kevin Bacon) tell her parents (Stuart Townsend and Charlize Theron) that they’ll deprive the child of her medication unless they comply with their terms, one of which is not to contact the police. Pressed for time and clinging to their sanity, the tortured parents must work through this horrifying ordeal alone.

“Trapped” is the best kidnapping film I have seen to date. As one of the villains Keven Bacon is the usual perfect actor. In fact all the actors, including the child Dakota Fanning, are excellent. The plot details are very creative allowing for many surprises. Quite frankly I was glued to my seat.

I have one objection: could there really be a family of three, each of whom is so clever, inventive and brave?

If the ending were not so satisfying, you might mistake it for just another highway crash scene. But even that scene is one I can’t remember seeing in another film.

If you want a really good suspense film, DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!

2006, Could Be Hard To Watch, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gay theme, Love Story, Non-physical Violence, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Redemption, War

The Secret Life of Words (2005)

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From NetFlix:

After surviving the war in Yugoslavia, taciturn nurse Hanna (Sarah Polley) heads to Ireland for some rest and relaxation. But when she hears about an oil-rig accident off the coast, she agrees to tend heroic burn victim Josef (Tim Robbins). Personalities clash aboard the derrick as Hanna contends with Josef, a Russian soldier (Sverre Anker Ousdal), a lively Spanish chef (Javier Cámara) and other oddballs in this compelling character study.

Where to begin with this superb but disturbing film ?

If anything, this is a story of a severly damaged woman little by little returning to life due to her nursing the burn survivor Tim Robbins on the almost deserted oil-rig. It is also the story of his gradual return to life physically and mentally. His character has a wonderful talent for words. From the very outset he is determined to break through Hanna’s defenses, initially just because he is a very accomplished flirt. Both he and she have some horrible history which eventually emerges.

Some of the other actors are notable. I won’t say what role she plays (it is part of the mystery surrounding Hanna) but Julie Christie is still a beautiful woman with those startling blue eyes. It took me awhile to place the cook Jose Cámara. He was one of the men who was a caretaker for a comatose girl friend in the Almodóvar film “Hable Con Ella”.

I have some nitpiks: It would have been impossible in my opinion for the burn victim to have located Julie Christie’s character. Also Kathy and I found the ending to be too good to be true.

Challenge: Who or what was the childlike voice narrator ?

The next paragraph is a spoiler, but I owe it to you. WARNING: if vivid descriptions of war atrocities bother you, do NOT watch this film.