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***** A must watch
**** Worth seeing
*** If you must watch a movie and there is nothing else out there
** Don’t bother
* It’s so bad its almost good... not... These are films I walked out on, or just fell asleep
(K: stars) Rating by my children. As they are easy to please, would typically be higher than mine...

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From category archives: RonenRecommends

Biopic

Million Dollar Arm (2014) ***

Million Dollar Arm (2014) ***

Based on a true story, Million Dollar Arm is a sports-drama, directed by Craig Gillespie to a screenplay by Tom McCarthy.
Do you know these motivational posters? The ones with the cliché sayings and beautiful images? Yeah, this is Million Dollar Arm but in moving images. Still, the story is sweet, even if predictable; the cast does their best, even if it means a little too much drama where no additional show of emotions is really called for; and, hey, it’s a Disney – must have a happy-ever-after...
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people
Searching for Sugar Man (2012) ****

Searching for Sugar Man (2012) ****

Searching for Sugar Man is a modern Cinderella story. It is a story of a search, of a journey that changed lives forever, and that is its charm. At the heart of the search is an American named Sixto Rodriguez, a Detroit based unknown musician, whose career in the early 1970s proved to be short lived with two albums that hardly sold in the USA. Unbeknown to him, his music became very successful and much influential in South Africa. Fast forward to the 1990s, when two determined South African fans, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, manage to track Rodriguez down, a task not made easy given Rodriguez' obscurity.
Currently rated 5.0 by 1 people
Dallas Buyers Club (2013) ****

Dallas Buyers Club (2013) ****

Based on the true-life story of Ron Woodroof, an AIDS patient who, back in the 80's, smuggled medicine and supplements into Texas after finding it to improve his symptoms, and then started illegally selling it to others, Dallas Buyers Club is a tale of transformation and redemption.
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people
Saving Mr. Banks (2013) ***

Saving Mr. Banks (2013) ***

An American-British-Australian production, Saving Mr. Banks is a comedy-drama-biopic that tries to satisfy the audience by sweetening history, whilst providing a sense of accuracy via dramatized facts. The result is that much like the P. L. Travers character, Saving Mr. Banks' emotionally conflicted protagonist, the film itself ends up being uneven.
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) ***

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) ***

Think of The Wolf of Wall Street as The Great Gatsby meeting The Goodfellas of the stock market. Martin Scorsese's drama-comedy-biopic is based on Jordan Belfort's real-life memoir of the same name. The Wolf of Wall Street has several great moments but, all in all, when everything is said and done, I had to ask myself whether there was really a need to make this film. At close to three hours the film is long and feels even longer. Having Belfort as the film’s protagonist, even if the lead is depicted by a charismatic DiCaprio, makes the story dislikable and somewhat dull. That being said, maybe for the Kardashians audience this film is a treat. Not being part of that crowd, this film is one I could have done without.
Currently rated 1.0 by 1 people
Philomena (2013) *****

Philomena (2013) *****

By its own definition, Philomena is a story of human interest. It is a story of man, God, the riotousness of the people who claim to represent the Lord, and the pain of a mother. It is also the story of a journalist who finds compassion where before there was mostly anger. Both horrible and wonderful, Philomena is a reminder of a dark period in history and at the same time, a very fine piece of storytelling and filmmaking.
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people

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Latest Comments

    Re: Logan (2017) ***

    I agree about the relationship with Logan and Charles - added a lot of depth, especially with the next...

    -- ed

    Re: Eye in the Sky (2015, UK) *****

    Great Review Ronen!

    -- Scott

    Re: Top Five (2014) ***

    wonderfully expressed review and very accurately describing the movie...

    -- Zoes mom

    Re: Begin Again (2014) ***

    such great performers - would have expected more of.... very disappointing to hear....

    -- mother of four

    Re: Waltz with Bashir (2008) *****

    Stunned. Speechless. This is a powerful movie. Its objectivity and lack of judgment IS its power, and...

    -- Monroe Movie Lover

    Re: Inception (2010) ***

    Special effects are more than ever present even in drama movies, its almost normal that an action thriller...

    -- Alvaro

    Re: The Real Dirt On Farmer John (2005) ***

    Interesting though i was expecting more of the film.

    -- rondnor

    Re: Midnight Run (1988) *****

    great movie indeed

    -- rondnor

    Re: The Bounty Hunter (2010) *

    wont bother then

    -- superair

    Re: Stardust (2007) *****

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie :-)watching Robert De Niro in a dress what could be better.Enjoy

    -- YRD

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