Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By simmons on July 11, 2017

Heres a look at an interesting new release available to rent from cable and digital providers and a few titles that have recently hit streaming services.

Video on Demand

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer: In his English-language debut film, Israeli director Joseph Cedar introduces us to Norman (Richard Gere), a seemingly well-connected but nebbish man who can talk himself into just about any situation. He spends most of his time on the phone, pulling favors and acting as a middleman in order to move up the food chain of the rich and powerful in New York City. A chance meeting with a politician named Micha Eshel (Lior Ashkenazi) pays off years later when this man becomes the Prime Minister of Israel. It allows Norman to make more powerful connections, but things take a turn when his big promises (and occasional flat-out lies) catch up with him in an unpleasant manner. The title acts as its own spoiler, so you cant be too surprised when his promises fail to help him. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Dan Stevens, Hank Azaria and Steve Buscemi round out the stellar supporting cast. While this sluggish story gets mired in politics, Gere shines through in an unexpected performance. (Cable and digital VOD)

Also on streaming services

Lion: Garth Davis (Top of the Lake) graduated from television work to the big screen, and his directorial debut earned him an incredible six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. Based on a true story, the film follows a 5-year-old Indian boy named Saroo who falls asleep on a train and then wakes up hours later over 500 miles away in Calcutta. Hes stuck in a strange place where he doesnt know the language and cannot communicate, eventually being taken to an orphanage where he is adopted and moved away to Australia. Nicole Kidman was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Saroos adoptive mother and Dev Patel (The Newsroom) earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for portraying Saroo as a grown man desperate to find his birth family. (Netflix)

Prince Avalanche: Austin-based filmmaker David Gordon Green returned to his indie roots with this quirky buddy comedy that was filmed up the road in Bastrop. Inspired by an Icelandic film named Either Way, it takes place in the late 1980s and follows a city worker named Alvin (Paul Rudd) who hires his girlfriends brother Lance (Emile Hirsch) to help him repaint traffic lines on a country highway after a wildfire. Filled with sharp dialogue and hearty laughs, its a charming story of an unlikely friendship. Bonus points for a beautiful score composed and performed by Explosions in the Sky and Ola Podridas David Wingo. (Hulu)

See more here:

Check out an unexpected performance from Richard Gere, now on demand - MyStatesman.com

Category: Ashkenazi
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