The Stream Widens

This list includes almost as many Netflix streams as Netflix mails – just one less. But in terms of hours watched, because of the top rated miniseries, I watched more streaming than via mail. Four of the top rated six were mail DVDs, as were two of the bottom rated four, so the quality mix is getting more equal  for mail and instant view. As more movies show up on instant view, I expect I will be watching more that way than by mail.

A couple of Oscar nominees tied at 3.2, but were edged by a Czech sleeper at 3.3. But Masterpiece did it again, playing to one of my favorite genres with Downton Abbey.

Here is what I have watched on DVD and streaming since I posted my last list. The ratings I give are on my own number system explained at the link on the sidebar. Those watched via Netflix instant view, include “Streamed” after the numeric rating.

Downton Abbey – 2010 (3.6) Streamed. This Masterpiece miniseries evokes Upstairs Downstairs in its British social and political themes from the years before WWI, but also weaves in some Jane Austen themes with three daughters of marriage age. Add the wonderful Maggie Smith as the Dowager mother of the Lord of the manor, and the classic is complete – almost. Is it a spoiler alert to tell you not to expect all issues to be resolved in the last episode? A second series is brewing, and I’ll be there for my fill.

The Country Teacher – 2008 (3.3) Streamed. The premise for this Czech film sounded like a romantic dramedy, handsome gay city teacher flees to a country teaching job after a breakup with his lover, and the pretty village farm widow is attracted to him without knowing his sexual preference. But this surprising drama was much better than that. First of all, the leads were not very good looking, which combined with the authentic village setting to create a feeling of legitimacy. The teacher is attracted to the widow and her college age son in a familial way, while the widow, who had been abandoned by her good looking philanderer husband, is interested in romance, and her son is dallying with a college girl visiting from the city on weekends. All three characters struggle with self-esteem issues and the story proceeds dramatically without artifice of plot. Sexual typecasting and the meaning of intimacy are subtly challenged in this film, prompting the viewer to ponder seriously without feeling pushed.

The Fighter – 2010 (3.2). Developing the quirky family aspects before getting too heavily into the actual boxing made this movie more appealing to me. Melissa Leo and Christian Bale deserve the praise they received for playing the screwed up mother and brother. Filming this truth based story in the real setting, integrating the supposed filming of a documentary about the brother and having Mark Wahlberg well trained for boxing matches filmed by HBO boxing crews were also effective moves. We can’t choose the family into which we are born, but this film shows we can choose whether we want to stay involved with the family even after it has hurt us. The DVD special feature on the making of the movie was fun to watch after the movie, to show the real people and how well the actors captured them; George the cop and trainer was played by the real man.

The King’s Speech – 2010 (3.2). The story of King George working with a commoner speech therapist to overcome his stammering was not well known, and this movie did a good job of showing how uncommon the therapist actually was. Their bond was a closely personal one that lasted for 25 years, though the movie only shows the first part about coaching the new King into speech making capability by the start of WWII. Well written, directed and acted, though the concentration on the stammering and the coaching left little room for developing the other dramatic elements taking place at the time.

Evelyn – 2002 (3.2) Based on a true story of an Irish father whose wife abandoned him and his three small children, this heartfelt movie tells how the Church and State stepped in to take the children away and put them in Church run foster care because the father did not have a regular income and the mother could not be found to consent to him trying to raise the children alone. The man decides to challenge the system, with little hope of success, especially since he has no money to pay for the necessary legal help. This movie is Capraesque in style and almost as appealing.

Housewife, 49 – 2006 (3.0). Victoria Wood, who usually does comedy, wrote and starred in this BBC production, playing Nella Last, a London housewife who volunteered during WWII with a women’s group involved in numerous activities in support of service members. The script is based on a diary Nella wrote for many years, as part of another program to let the government know how ordinary people were doing. Starting with her depressive frame of mind feeling trapped in a dull marriage, with the second of her two sons about to leave the nest, Nella wrote about how her volunteer work freed her from her depression. The script gives a fresh viewpoint of what the War was like on the English home front, through this very personal sharing.

Pierrepoint – 2005 (2.9) Streamed. Albert Pierrepoint followed in his father’s footsteps when he became an English hangman, and from 1933 to 1955 hung 608 people, including scores of Nazi war criminals. This movie provides an intimate look at the man and his wife during these years, including the changes brought about when his anonymity was ended by the high profile Nazi executions. He believed efficient and humane execution was the proper entitlement for convicts forfeiting their lives in payment for their crimes. In later years, he came to believe capital punishment was wrongful retribution, but this phase of his life was not included in the film.

All or Nothing – 2002 (2.8). Mike Leigh really impressed me with Secrets and Lies, but nothing else he has done, including this movie about an alienated family living in a London housing project, has risen to that level. The whole family is depressed and depressing. The son is so obnoxious that when he has a heart attack you kind of hope he dies. The mousy wife engenders some sympathy, until you realize she makes her own contribution to the familial malaise. If this family somehow could make some changes for the better, you still can’t imagine wanting to be involved with them.

A Perfect Candidate – 1996 (2.8) Steamed. In 1994, Iran-Contra conspirator Republican Oliver North ran for the Virginia U.S. Senate seat of Democrat Charles Robb, son-in-law of LBJ. This documentary, largely from inside the North camp, shows a really nasty campaign with each side accusing the other of character defective lying, North about Iran-Contra and Robb about an extra-marital affair and attendance at parties where drugs were present. The rabid fervor of some North fans seems prescient of Sarah Palin, and the stiffness of Robb a precursor of John Kerry’s run for President. In the end, former Governor Wilder, an African-American Republican running as an independent, tipped the scales by endorsing Robb. Filmed extensively in action, without interviews except for a few with a Washington Post reporter, and without narration.

The Human Experience – 2008 (2.7) Streamed. The Netflix prediction was way too high on this documentary and I failed to read the very accurate and most helpful member reviews which point out that the young film makers were a little too self-centered and superficial in their approach to learning about human suffering. Young and naïve they were, but sincere enough to be given credence by the sufferers and those who are helping relieve their suffering, all of whom welcomed interacting with these young people. The Netflix stream was slightly out of sync, but I watched it anyway and don’t think the problem lowered my rating.

The Rector’s Wife – 1994 (2.7). This 1994 British miniseries starts out really boring and only gets slightly better. The 42 year old wife feels trapped in her life, especially when her husband is passed over for promotion and it appears they will be stuck indefinitely in their small town setting. When she challenges conventionality by taking a job as a supermarket stocker in order to pay for a private school for their daughter, her husband and community are not pleased. As a couple of men make advances to her and her husband becomes tyrannical, she must decide what to do with her life, and as depicted it was hard for me to understand what we were supposed to take away from the story.

Paradise Road – 1997 (2.4). Australian Bruce Beresford meant well when he wrote and directed this movie about the courage of colonial women who became prisoners of the Japanese on Sumatra during WWII, but as good as the story could have been, the script was so uneven, inconsistent and disjointed that disbelief never became suspended. Acting level was almost irrelevant in view of the script deficiencies. Production values were fairly high, but the costume and makeup work on the prisoners was pretty pathetic. Frances McDormand provided the only humor, unintentionally delivering one of the worst German accents I have ever heard.

The Pajama Game – 1957 (2.4) Streamed. The positives: a pro-union story, peppy Bob Fosse choreography, and two good songs (Hey There and Hernando’s Hideaway). The negatives: low quality streaming image, not much of a story and mostly forgettable songs. Bottom line: if you like fast paced ensemble dance numbers, give it a try, otherwise forget it.

Disappearing Streams

When a movie in my Netflix Instant Queue is only going to be available for a few more days, it is tempting to squeeze in an instant viewing to save the use of a future mailing. But if I’m really not in the mood for it, I’ll let it pass and then either put it in the mailing queue or on the “Not Yet” sheet in my computer movie database. If the film is short or marginal enough that I might bail out on it early, I’m more likely to give it a quick try. There are a few of those on this list. Also included is a five disk series 2 of a BBC show which the library had on hand. My Netflix mail queue has shrunk to half the size of my instant queue, so it is time to add more to the mail list, watch more instant or both.

Here is what I have watched on DVD and streaming since I posted my last list. The ratings I give are on my own number system explained at the link on the sidebar. Those watched via Netflix instant view, include “Streamed” after the numeric rating.

Twin Sisters – 2002 (3.4). Orphaned in the 1920s at 6, German twin sisters are separated and taken by different relatives to be raised out of touch with each other in this Oscar nominee from Holland. One is exploited as cheap farm labor in Germany and the other is raised in urban luxury in Holland. They reunite briefly as young women just as WWII is starting, with little time to reconnect in any depth, and then fall out of touch during the war. Meeting again after the war, their union has problems, which they finally try to work out as they meet again finally in their twilight years. Touching and thought provoking, this movie presents some different perspectives on the impact of the war on German civilians. The script uses frequent flashbacks, but they are not annoying because they are always moving the story forward.

Duchess of Duke Street - Series 2 – 1976 (3.3). I didn’t want to use up Netflix mailings for the five discs of this series, so when a set became available at the library, I went into enjoyable power watch mode. This second set picks the story up on the brink of WWI and takes it through the war and into the mid 20s, mostly following the story arc of the main characters without so many guest star diversions, and concentrates more on the personal issues of the characters and the impact of the War, and less on the business aspects of running the hotel.

The Last Days – 1998 (3.2). In this documentary, five Hungarian Jews who survived the Holocaust tell the stories of their lives as children in pre-war Hungary and then of the horrors of life in the concentration camps. They tell about their lives since being liberated and how they deal with the past, including visiting the places of their youth and the infamous camps. Also included are interviews with some of the liberating American soldiers and a troubling interview with a German doctor who ran a camp clinic that experimented on prisoners and whose claim that he did harmless experiments in order to save them from extermination was enough to gain him acquittal of war crimes.

Desperate Crossing: the Untold Story of the Mayflower – 2006 (3.1). Produced for the History Channel, using Royal Shakespearean actors and Wampanoag Nation Indians, and based largely on the history written by William Bradford, Mayflower passenger and successor Governor of the Plymouth Colony, this documentary with dramatic re-enactments presents the story of the Pilgrims and the Indians in a more accurate manner than what we learned in school and folklore, and does it in a very watchable manner. The 60 or so survivors of the first year after the 1620 landing of the Mayflower were a prolific lot, with an estimated 30 million current American descendants not quite 500 years later.

Moolaade – 2004 (3.0). The Netflix summary of this movie is quite accurate, so I will quote it and add a little. “Senegalese writer-director Ousmane Sembene makes an impassioned plea against the practice of salinde, or female circumcision, in this moving portrait of a society in transition. In a West African village run by uncompromising Muslim males, fiery Colle (Fatoumata Coulibaly) provides safe harbor for young girls fleeing their ‘cleansing’ rituals. But what one man terms "a minor domestic issue" soon puts the whole town on the verge of bloodshed.” Collee is the middle of three wives and the favorite of her husband. Mindless tradition, religion, superstition and ignorance are all effectively attacked by this film which leaves the viewer with a strong sense of authenticity about the village setting and inhabitants.

Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears – 1980 (3.0). This Russian winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, holds it age well and is still fun to watch. It tells the story of three young women who come to Moscow to work in factories and meet potential husbands and of their friendship in 1958 and then 1978. A charming script, appealing cast, pleasant music and restrained direction combine to produce a good movie, though the ending could have been a little more developed.

The People Speak – 2009 (2.9). Actors and entertainers give readings from Howard Zinn’s accurate alternative “People’s History of the United States” and sing related songs as part of a theatrical presentation filmed at two different venues for this documentary. The stage productions and this documentary are aimed at new audiences who may not be familiar with the progressive populist message of Zinn or with his rendering of American history. For those already familiar, there is nothing new, but still interesting to see and hear the performers.

Children of Huang Sui – 2008 (2.9). Filmed mostly on location in China, this movie is based on the true story of George Hogg, a young English journalist who wants to uncover the story of the brutality of the Japanese occupation of China and the civil war between the Nationalists and the communists in the 1930s, but gets sidetracked into taking over an orphanage full of boys of all ages when the home is left without an adult leader. Generally well done, though a little formulaic in parts, with some genuinely emotionally affecting moments. The closing credits include filmed tributes from some of the now elderly orphans.

Blue State – 2007 (2.9) Streamed. A vegetarian 28 year old liberal progressive blogger vows to go to Canada if Bush wins the 2004 election, really doesn’t want to, makes contact with an encouraging Marry a Canadian (to become a Canadian citizen) web site and interviews for a ride sharer, choosing a young girl with blue streaked hair and a nose ring. More of a dramedy, there are a few laughs here and there, but mostly it is a road trip movie that holds our interest because we are not sure why the girl is going and whether and when any chemistry will develop between the pair. The film takes opportunities to comment on war and politics and the comparison of American and Canadian cultures, all fairly low key and mildly humorous. The ending felt too quick and incomplete and I did not understand the final scene until I let it roll to the credits and reminded myself of the name of the blogger.

Late Spring – 1949 (2.9) Streamed. This Japanese movie, made right after WWII by the great film maker Ozu, tells the story of widowed professor and his devoted daughter who lives with him. She is quite happy dealing with his idiosyncrasies and wants to spend her life caring for him, but he thinks the time has come for her to get married, rather than spend her life all on him. Slow but authentic feeling in its portrayal of their life on the outskirts of Tokyo, this well done film is a cultural time capsule.

Only When I Dance – 2007 (2.8) Streamed. From Brazil, this documentary follows two aspiring ballet dancers from lower income households in Rio. Both sets of parents are supportive but financially challenged to raise money to send their child to prestigious competitions. The boy, who is brown skinned, is a wonderful dancer and it is when he dances that this film literally soars. The girl is very talented but has two extra obstacles to becoming a world class ballerina, her black skin and her robust body.

My Boy Jack – 2007 (2.8). Brit actor David Haig is a ringer for Rudyard Kipling and plays him in this Masterpiece Theater version of the Haig written play about Kipling’s son Jack, whose extreme myopia kept him out of the war with Germany, much to the disappointment of his father, who eventually got him a chance with the Irish Guards. Though only 17, Jack wanted to join and fight, as much to become a man in his own right as to please his father. Though well done, the script lacks depth and fails to explain character backgrounds or show much character development other than Kipling questioning whether he should have pushed so hard.

Zelig – 1983 (2.8) Streamed. This Woody Allen mockumentary was short enough to squeeze in before the instant viewing rights expired. I don’t recall ever seeing the whole thing before, though I know I have seen parts of it and knew what to expect. It is like a standup comedy routine presented as narration to quite well done integration of old newsreel footage and new film made to look old. The joke of a man who can morph into character types like the people he is around could wear a little thin, but the show moves at the faster pace of the old newsreels and finishes in 79 minutes counting credits.

Sunshine – 1999 (2.6). The idea to tell a story of one man from successive generations of a Hungarian Jewish family and how they dealt with anti-Semitism under the Emperor, the Nazis and the Communists was a good one, but the resulting movie was a disappointment, mostly because of the script but also because having one actor play all three roles actually distracted from the story. The problem with the script was that it often seemed to ramble without proper pace for three hours, most noticeably in spending disproportionate time covering one man’s skill at fencing and for all three men spending too much time on promiscuous sex scenes without showing any other intimacy or the emotional consequences of lack of other intimacy. Having Ralph Fiennes play all three roles, fencing prodigiously and demonstrating multiple acts of sexual prowess may have been fun for him but constantly called attention to him as an actor rather than as the three separate characters.

Henry V – 1989 (2.2) Streamed. For more than a score this tale of Henry hath laid within my list. In days of tape I shortened once a try. Its stream about to disappear I pulled it from the mist. Then did it play unto my ear and eye. Alas though fear of Bard I do not have, his words passed sadly undiscerned. Though mine eyes beheld the movement on the screen, my heart beat mildly unconcerned. Others about it have made much ado, but I cannot gift it over two point two.