PIECES OF APRIL

Director: Peter Hedges

Language: English

Courtesy: Netflix

My Rating: @ @ @ @

Synopsis: First off, I absolutely love the title of the film!! It is so damn apt. A low budget quirky, yet beautifully offbeat film, that is very touching and has a simple message about you wanting your family and your family being there for you no matter what!

As the name suggests, "Pieces of April", is about a reformed wild child April (Katie Holmes), who consciously unwilling from the outside, but sub-consciously and deeply willing from the inside, attempts to cook a Thanksgiving dinner, while battling a temperamental oven in addition to her conscience and eventually her neighbors, for her estranged suburban family, in her not so chic, New York City Apartment.

The whole point of this adventure / drama is to introduce her new boyfriend Bobby, to her dysfunctional family who eventually come together to address the past, and heal the future.

Katie Holmes is quite brilliant and keeps you engaged throughout... Oliver Platt & Oscar-nominated Patricia Clarkson co-star in this brilliant film... a must watch!

AMORES PERROS (LOVE'S A BITCH)

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Language: Spanish
Courtesy: NetFlix

My Rating: @@@

Recommended by my dear friend Dave Robinson

Synopsis: In this internationally acclaimed debut film -- which earned an Oscar nod for Best Foreign Language Film -- recounts three intertwining tales that unfold on the brutal streets of Mexico City. Octavio, has an obsessive crush on his sister-in-law; Daniel, dumps his family for a disturbed supermodel; and El Chivo, cares for a wounded dog while planning an assassination.

I must say this movie is really brutal, dark, violent, and very graphic, so watch it only if you can handle it. I saw this film a few weeks back actually and am still figuring it out in my head. All 3 stories seem to have these 3 things in common... Love, Lust and Dogs. All characters seem to have a connection with a dog at some point in the movie. This connection seems to play an integral part of the movie. I particularly loved not knowing that it was all going to come together, especially in the case of the homeless character. 

None of the animals were hurt during the making of the film. The photography, editing, and direction are brilliant and seamless.