JACKPOT- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Driven by a fairly outrageous proposition, this blood-soaked comedy opens with Oscar Svendson waking up in the middle of a grisly murder scene. Oscar tries to prove his innocence to the police with the tale of a huge lottery win that went very wrong.”
6/27/14- Today’s NY Times gave this one a mixed review. I couldn’t find other reviews. TRDB.
Add comment June 29th, 2014
THE DISCOVERERS- 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Washed-up history professor Lewis Birch (Oscar and Emmy nominated Griffin Dunne) takes his begrudging teenage kids – Zoe (Madeleine Martin, “Californication”) and Jack (Devon Graye, “American Horror Stories”) – on a road trip to a conference in hopes of putting his career back on track. But, when Lewis’s estranged father Stanley (Emmy Award-winning Stuart Margolin) goes AWOL on a Lewis and Clark historical reenactment trek, Lewis is forced to make a family detour.”
5/16/14- Critics liked this movie very much and audiences have loved it. TRDB.
Add comment May 18th, 2014
4000 MILES- 2014.
I have no information about this movie except that it is a production of the Lake Worth Playhouse. TRDB.
Add comment April 13th, 2014
2) THE ROCKET– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Determined to disprove the common belief that he brings bad luck to everyone around him, outcast Laotian boy Ahlo builds a giant rocket with the intention of participating in the lucrative but dangerous competition at a rocket festival.”
1/5/14- Universally great reviews. TRDB.
3/30/14- A very good movie that was really like a fable about an optimistic child and what he can accomplish using his wits and leftover war materials. TRDB.
3) LE WEEK-END- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Returning to Paris long after their honeymoon there, a British couple hopes to rediscover the magical feelings of their early years together. There, they meet an old friend whose perspectives on love and marriage help them recover what was lost.”
3/14/14- Good reviews from critics– audiences so-so. TRDB.
4/7/14- I enjoyed this ultimately sad movie about people’s relationships with their spouses. TRDB.
8/2/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3/29/14- While there are many mysteries that persist after the movie ends this true story packs a real wallop. Wonderful acting makes it even better. TRDB. Netflix.
2) TWO LIVES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the European communist bloc is collapsing, Katrine’s quiet life in Norway is interrupted by questions about her early years in East Germany. With the truth about her past catching up with her, Katrine must try to explain the facts to her family.”
2/28/14- Very good reviews. The NY Times liked it also. TRDB.
4/2/14- A well acted and fascinating story. I enjoyed it very much and definitely recommend it. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
3) AT ANY PRICE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this father-vs.-son drama, Dean Whipple is fixated on auto racing, while his dad, Henry, wants him to take over the family’s farm business. However, Henry’s penchant for shady deals and bribery unexpectedly puts the whole empire at risk.”
4/19/13- Mixed early reviews with more positive than negative. TRDB.
4/9/14– Only fair reviews but I found the movie interesting with several moral dilemmas being explored. TRDB. Netflix.
12/3/13- Mixed reviews but more good than bad. TRDB.
3) PHILOMENA– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Floundering BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith and aging Irishwoman Philomena Lee form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son Philomena was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.”
11/22/13- Excellent reviews all around including the NY Times. TRDB.
11/29/13- I liked this movie very much. Great and true story with great acting and very realistically done. Sad beyond sad at times. Everybody should see this. TRDB.
4) DATE AND SWITCH– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “High school seniors and lifelong friends Michael and Matty, still virgins, agree to help one another “score” before prom. But things take a surprising turn when Michael develops a crush on Matty’s ex, and Matty admits that he’s gay.”
2/14/14- Sounds awful but reviews were mixed. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.
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OPENED 2 WEEKS AGO-
1) NOAH– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This ambitious adaptation of the story of Noah depicts the visions that led him to voice dire prophesies of apocalypse and to build an ark to survive. As he labors to save his family, Noah asks for help from a band of angels called the Watchers.”
3/28/14- Mixed reviews in general. The NY Times was “so-so” on it. TRDB.
2) BLUMENTHAL– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Celebrated playwright, Harold Blumenthal, has passed away after succumbing to cardiac arrest while laughing at his own joke. Now, Harold’s estranged and jealous brother, Saul, must confront his personal hang-ups to deliver himself from an epic bout of constipation. Meanwhile, Saul’s wife Cheryl and son Ethan must grapple with their own personal obstacles through a set of circumstances so improbably ironic they might as well have been lifted from one of Harold’s plays.”
3/28/14- Mixed reviews by critics but audiences have liked it. The NY Times gave it a mixed review. TRDB.
3) CESAR CHAVEZ– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “During the 1960s and ’70s, Cesar Chavez served as an inspirational leader to tens of thousands of migrant farm workers trying to improve their rights. This biopic recounts Chavez’s efforts as the head of the United Farm Workers labor union.”
3/28/14- Weak critical reviews but audiences so far have liked it. TRDB.
4) BREATHE IN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Music teacher Keith has his mind focused on the past when he and his wife agree to welcome a foreign exchange student into their household. But the arrival of a British girl who’s the same age as their daughter has a way of shaking up the present.”
3/28/14- An OK review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from others and from audiences as well. TRDB.
5) CHEAP THRILLS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Humiliation and pain are the name of the game in this offbeat drama whose hero, Craig, takes on a strange series of dares in exchange for cash. When the wealthy couple paying for the high jinks invites him home, Craig’s degradation only worsens.”
3/28/14- A fairly good review from the NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.
6) FINDING VIVIAN MAIER– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “When longtime nanny Vivian Maier died in 2009, she left behind thousands of photo negatives that she’d produced over the years. But the now-famous shutterbug’s unique body of work lay in storage until an amateur historian uncovered the trove.”
3/28/14- Very good reviews all around. TRDB.
7) GO DOWN DEATH– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Go Down Death is a wry, sinister realization of a strange new universe, a cross-episodic melange of macabre folktales supposedly penned by the fictitious writer Jonathan Mallory Sinus. An abandoned factory in Brooklyn stands in for a decrepit village haunted by ghosts, superstition and disease, while threatening to buckle under rumblings of the apocalypse.”
3/28/14- Just a few reviews and they are mixed. Audiences have not liked it. TRDB.
8) JEWS OF EGYPT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix “This documentary examines the history of Jews in Egypt during the early 20th century, through their forced exile during the 1956 Suez Crisis. Witnesses and historical footage chronicle a period of coexistence that seems unthinkable today.”
3/28/14- Good early reviews but a weak one from the NY Times in today’s review. TRDB.
9) REFUGE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Amy’s parents abandon her two younger siblings — one of them brain-damaged — she’s obliged to leave college to take care of them. While struggling to accept her dreary new existence, Amy meets a man who may change everything.”
3/28/14- Poor reviews all over. TRDB.
10) NOTHING WITHOUT YOU– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Despite the odds stacked against her, a mentally unstable woman is determined to prove that she’s innocent of a violent crime. With the help of her court-appointed therapist, she attempts to piece together why she’s being framed for murder.”
3/28/14- Poor reviews by all critics. Audiences have liked it. TRDB.
11) GREENCARD WARRIORS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Set against the backdrop of Bush’s War on Terror and Barack Obama’s rise to presidency, Crosstown follows the story of 14-year-old Angel, an undocumented Latino teen, who struggles to find his place in an increasingly violent world. With the promise of naturalization papers, the US Military presents Angel’s family with the opportunity for a brighter future if they send his older brother into the US Army.”
3/28/14- Just one review and it’s good. Audiences have not liked it. TRDB.
12) HIDE YOUR SMILING FACES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two young brothers, Eric and Tommy, are upended by a tragic incident that kills of one of their friends and leaves emotional chaos behind. The boys must answer not only to the adults and family around them, but to their own consciences as well.”
3/28/14- Fairly good reviews all around including the NY Times. TRDB.
OPENED THIS WEEK-
1) ALAN PARTRIDGE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Legendary blowhard Alan Partridge, made famous by funnyman Steve Coogan, has become an obscure radio host in this new page from his demented life. When Alan finds out he may be laid off, his response is to try to get a colleague fired instead.”
4/4/14- Good reviews all around including the NY Times. TRDB.
2) BEING GINGER– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Being ginger” is a wonderful, illuminating look into the life of the film’s maker, Scott P. Harris. At first the film seems to be a comedy about a red haired man trying to find love. But through revealing moments, whimsical animation, and real interviews, a universal story arises.”
4/4/14- Great reviews from everybody. TRDB.
3) FLEX IS KINGS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dance-fueled documentary immerses audiences in the art of “flexing,” a gritty style of movement born on the streets of East New York that mirrors the neighborhood’s violence — and ingenuity.”
4/4/14- Poor reviews from audiences but the few critics who have weighed in seemed to like it. TRDB.
4) FRANKIE & ALICE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “It’s a crushing battle for conscious dominance inside a disturbed woman’s (Halle Berry) mind as a multiple personality disorder pits her organic self — an African American woman — against her Caucasian racist alter-ego. Berry, who won an Oscar for her performance in Monster’s Ball, produces this independent psychological thriller filmed in Vancouver and directed by Geoffrey Sax (Doctor Who and White Noise.)”
4/4/14- Poor reviews from nearly everybody. TRDB.
5) THE GALAPAGOS AFFAIR: SATAN CAME TO EDEN- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Reading from letters, journals and memoirs, Cate Blanchett, Diane Kruger and others help narrate this little-known tale of a handful of European dreamers whose relocation to the Galapagos Islands in the 1930s took a tragic turn.”
4/4/14- Reviews have been mixed but more positive than negative. TRDB.
6) UNDER THE SKIN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jonathan Glazer’s atmospheric, visually arresting abstraction stars Scarlett Johansson as a seductive alien who prowls the streets of Glasgow in search of prey: unsuspecting men who fall under her spell, only to be consumed by a strange liquid pool.”
4/4/14- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
7) WATERMARK– 2013. “Exploring the life force that sustains us all, this documentary brings together diverse stories from around the globe about our relationship with water: how we are drawn to it, what we learn from it, how we use it and the consequences of that use.”
4/4/14– Good professional reviews– audiences have been luke warm to the movie. TRDB.
8) NYMPHOMANIAC: VOLUME 2– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “The second half of Lars von Trier’s epic follows self-diagnosed nymphomaniac Joe as she chronicles her adult years to the man who saved her from a beating. Her tales include new conquests, both male and female, in her search for fulfillment.”
4/4/14- Mixed reviews– more positive than negative. TRDB.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse
1) TWO LIVES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the European communist bloc is collapsing, Katrine’s quiet life in Norway is interrupted by questions about her early years in East Germany. With the truth about her past catching up with her, Katrine must try to explain the facts to her family.”
2/28/14- Very good reviews. The NY Times liked it also. TRDB.
4/2/14- A well acted and fascinating story. I enjoyed it very much and definitely recommend it. TRDB.
2) EXPOSED- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The stars of New York’s new underground cabaret scene take the stage in this over-the-top documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Beth B. The film captures outrageous performances at the Slipper Room, where gender bending is only the beginning.”
3/14/14- Fairly good reviews and the NY Times liked it. TRDB.
________________________________________________________________________________________
COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) HIDE YOUR SMILING FACES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two young brothers, Eric and Tommy, are upended by a tragic incident that kills of one of their friends and leaves emotional chaos behind. The boys must answer not only to the adults and family around them, but to their own consciences as well.”
3/28/14- Fairly good reviews all around including the NY Times. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) 12 YEARS A SLAVE- I didn’t like this film as much as the critics
6) THE BEST OFFER- I saw this On-Demand and liked it very much
7) BLUE JASMINE- I liked it but not as much as other Woody films
8)CAPTAIN PHILLIPS- Good but definitely not great
9) DALLAS BUYERS CLUB- I liked it but not as much as the critics
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-
NEW IN THE BURBS-
1) DOM HEMINGWAY- Bethel, Clearview 100. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “After finishing a 12-year prison sentence, safecracker Dom Hemingway sets out to collect the money he’s owed by his former partners in crime. When that mission tanks, Dom returns to London to try and gain forgiveness from his estranged daughter.”
4/8/14- Very weak reviews from most critics. A few liked it. TRDB.
2) DRAFT DAY- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “On the day of the NFL player draft, Cleveland general manager Sonny Weaver trades up to get the first pick in this breezy sports drama. And while his decision may save football in his city, it just might cost him his girlfriend … and his team.”
4/8/14- I’ve seen just 1 professional review and it was negative. TRDB.
3) JOE– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When ex-con Joe hires 15-year-old Gary to help clear trees for a lumber company, he doesn’t expect to become a father figure for the abused boy. When Gary runs away from home, Joe becomes his protector, a role overshadowed by his own troubled past.”
4/8/14- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Between the world wars, Gustave H, the concierge at a prestigious European hotel, takes a bellboy named Zero as a trusted protégé. Meanwhile, the upscale guests are involved in an art theft and a dispute over a vast family fortune.”
3/7/14- Good reviews all around. TRDB.
2) THE LUNCHBOX- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Mumbai’s eerily reliable lunchbox delivery service erroneously sends a meal prepared by a young housewife to a lonely widower on the brink of retirement, the mistake ignites an exchange of notes and mutual fantasy between them.”
2/28/14-Very good reviews in general. I’ll see it. TRDB.
3) LE WEEK-END- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Returning to Paris long after their honeymoon there, a British couple hopes to rediscover the magical feelings of their early years together. There, they meet an old friend whose perspectives on love and marriage help them recover what was lost.”
3/14/14- Good reviews from critics– audiences so-so. TRDB.
4/7/14- I enjoyed this ultimately sad movie about people’s relationships with their spouses. TRDB.
For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com
For Independent Films in Palm Beach County go to www.lakeworthplayhouse.org
For Films everywhere go to- www.fandango.com
ENJOY!!
THE REEL DR. BOB
Add comment April 10th, 2014
3/16/14- A marvelous, insightful movie that one critic called a cry from beyond the veil. Should be a must-see by anyone who cares about oppressed people.TRDB. Netflix.
2) INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The Coen Brothers helm this chronicle of struggling musician Llewellyn Davis, set during the height of the folk era in the early 1960s. The drama follows Davis through a week of creative highs and lows amid a bleak New York winter.
11/21/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
12/6/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3/19/14- A strange, sad kind of movie with a good portrayal of a slice of life. Worth seeing. TRDB. Netflix.
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10/11/13- Kind of a weak story but the special effects are definitely worth the price of admission. TRDB.
12/29/13- Similar to American Hustle that I saw last week, this movie was way over the top and I enjoyed it. DiCaprio was great. TRDB.
1/28/14- From the same director who did “A Separation” this film is driven by the frank emotional talk between the characters. Just a bit slow but definitely a very good movie well worth seeing. TRDB.
3/14/14- Weak reviews in general and a just OK one in the NY Times. TRDB.
3) BAD WORDS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blessed with a photographic memory but no high school education, Guy Trilby discovers that he’s eligible to enter spelling bees intended for children. As Guy steamrolls his pre-teen competition, a journalist tries to find out what motivates him.”
3/14/14- Good reviews in general and the NY Times liked it as well. TRDB.
4) BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unhappily married small-town pharmacist Douglas Varney has a predictable life. But when he hooks up with a hot customer, everything changes. Soon, he’s caught up in a web of fantasy sex, illegal pharmaceuticals and potential murder.”
3/14/14- Awful reviews all over. The NY Times called it “tepid but pleasant.”
5) BIG MEN- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Where oil flows, money follows. This documentary picks up the trail of that liquid gold as it streams through Western Africa. Shot over a four-year period, the film looks at the nascent oil industry in Ghana and the more established one in Nigeria.”
3/14/14- Excellent reviews all around. The NY Times liked it very much. TRDB.
6) THE COLD LANDS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After his mother’s death, adolescent Atticus runs away and lives in the woods of the Catskill Mountains to avoid being taken by the authorities. When he meets quirky drifter Carter, the two form a tenuous alliance to help each other survive.”
3/14/14- Weak reviews in general. TRDB.
7) THE DEN– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “While spending time investigating webcam chat habits, a young woman accidentally witnesses a gruesome murder online. Now the killer has decided to pursue her — and those she loves — to be his next victims.”
3/14/14- Good reviews and the NY Times liked it. TRDB.
8) ENEMY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When humdrum academic Adam Bell spots his double in a rented movie, he launches a search that leads him to a small-time actor who seems uncannily like him in every way — except for his personality.”
3/14/14- Good review from the NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
9) ERNEST & CELESTINE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Adapted from a popular children’s book series, this sweet animated drama portrays the friendship between an orphan mouse and a free-spirited bear. After persuading Ernest the bear not to eat her, Celestine the mouse ends up moving in with him.”
3/14/14- Very good reviews from everybody. The NY Times liked it also. TRDB.
10) EXPOSED– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The stars of New York’s new underground cabaret scene take the stage in this over-the-top documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Beth B. The film captures outrageous performances at the Slipper Room, where gender bending is only the beginning.”
3/14/14- Fairly good reviews and the NY Times liked it. TRDB.
11) ON MY WAY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Prompted by a post-midlife crisis, Bettie goes out for cigarettes and decides to keep on driving, abandoning the restaurant she owns. But the farther she gets from her previous life, the closer she gets to reinvention.”
3/14/14- Good reviews in general. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.
12) TEENAGE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “With narration by actors Jena Malone, Ben Whishaw, Julia Hummer and Jessie Usher, filmmaker Matt Wolf explores the origins of the modern-day “teenager” — a demographic that didn’t even exist until the mid-20th century.”
3/14/14- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
13) LE WEEK-END– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Returning to Paris long after their honeymoon there, a British couple hopes to rediscover the magical feelings of their early years together. There, they meet an old friend whose perspectives on love and marriage help them recover what was lost.”
3/14/14- Good reviews from critics– audiences so-so. TRDB.
3/15/14- Weak reviews. TRDB.
3) THE DEN– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “While spending time investigating webcam chat habits, a young woman accidentally witnesses a gruesome murder online. Now the killer has decided to pursue her — and those she loves — to be his next victims.”
3/14/14- Good reviews and the NY Times liked it. TRDB.
4) AMERICAN HUSTLE– 2003. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fictionalization of the “Abscam” scandal of the early 1980s follows con man Irving Rosenfeld and his lover, Sydney Prosser, as they help an eccentric FBI agent expose corruption among several members of Congress in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”
12/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
12/20/13- Way over the top in every way but lots of fun and I liked it. TRDB.
5) INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The Coen Brothers helm this chronicle of struggling musician Llewellyn Davis, set during the height of the folk era in the early 1960s. The drama follows Davis through a week of creative highs and lows amid a bleak New York winter.
11/21/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.
12/6/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
6) MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Golden Globe-winner Idris Elba stars as Nelson Mandela in this in-depth biopic that portrays the groundbreaking South African leader from his rural childhood through his long imprisonment to his election as the country’s first black president.”
11/20/13- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
11/29/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
4) THE BEST OFFER- I saw this On-Demand and liked it very much
5) BLUE JASMINE- I liked it but not as much as other Woody films
6) CAPTAIN PHILLIPS- Good but definitely not great
7) CONCUSSION- I liked this movie
8)DALLAS BUYERS CLUB- I liked it but not as much as the critics
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
11/23/13- Very good reviews but not from this guy. I felt that the movie was predictable at every stage and the acting from Jennifer Gardner was weak. The story however could have been more interesting if anyone other than McConaughey showed any interest. TRDB.
3/10/14- Very good reviews in general. The NY Times liked it also. TRDB.
3/10/14- I saw this today and liked it very much– just a few too many characters. Definitely worth seeing. TRDB.
5) THE FACE OF LOVE– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Years after the death of her husband, Garrett, Nikki begins a romance with Tom, a great guy who looks almost exactly like Garrett. As their relationship unfolds, fate seems to be delivering Nikki both a new start and a second chance.”
3/7/14- Weak reviews all around. The NY Times said that the actors held whatever there was together. TRDB.
6) AMERICAN HUSTLE– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2003. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fictionalization of the “Abscam” scandal of the early 1980s follows con man Irving Rosenfeld and his lover, Sydney Prosser, as they help an eccentric FBI agent expose corruption among several members of Congress in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”
12/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
12/20/13- Way over the top in every way but lots of fun and I liked it. TRDB.
For Films everywhere go to- www.fandango.com
Add comment March 26th, 2014
FOR A WOMAN- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though 35-year-old Anne knows little about her parents’ past, the old photos and letters she examines after her mother’s death hint at a buried secret. As Anne digs deeper, she uncovers a hidden affair and other surprises in her family history.”
5/2/14- A good review in today’s NY Times and fairly good reviews in general. TRDB.
11/19/14- I liked this movie very much. Very realistic acting and screenplay. TRDB.
Add comment March 15th, 2014
THE LAST OF THE UNJUST- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dark documentary examines the history of Theresienstadt, the Nazis’ model ghetto created to counter rumors about mistreatment of interned Jews. Director Claude Lanzmann interviews Benjamin Murmelstein, one of the ghetto’s last living witnesses.”
Good reviews. TRDB.
Add comment February 5th, 2014
FREE RIDE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Growing up with full exposure to her mom’s drug-smuggling activities, 7-year-old Shell willingly helps out with business despite the obvious perils. Once the operation attracts the attention of the law, though, Shell begins worrying about her future.”
1/10/14- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
Add comment January 5th, 2014
HOURS- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Nolan’s wife dies in childbirth during Hurricane Katrina, his newborn daughter is placed on a ventilator. When the hospital is evacuated, he stays with her, desperate to keep her alive as the storm rages around them.”
12/13/13- Mixed reviews in general but the NY Times liked it. TRDB.
Add comment December 13th, 2013
11/11/13- I didn’t like it but managed to watch almost half before turning it off. TRDB.
616) COMPUTER CHESS- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This comedic period piece set before PCs became commonplace centers on a 1980s chess tournament in which human competitors get their first crack at testing their skills against a machine.”
7/3/13- Just a few reviews and they are good. TRDB.
11/11/13- Reviews may have been good but I found the movie to be incredibly boring and I turned it off quickly. TRDB.
617) FLIGHT– 2012- Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this action-packed mystery thriller, Academy Award winner, Denzel Washington stars as Whip Whitaker, a seasoned airline pilot, who miraculously crash lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, saving nearly every soul on board. After the crash, Whip is hailed as a hero, but as more is learned, more questions than answers arise as to who or what was really at fault and what really happened on that plane?”
Very good reviews. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
11/2/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
11/11/13- A ridiculous screenplay and I turned it off shortly after the plane crash. TRDB.
618) LOVELACE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Amanda Seyfried stars as adult film icon Linda Lovelace, a woman coerced into and abused by the porn industry before taking charge of her life. The supporting cast includes all manner of Hollywood A-listers stepping into meaty roles.”
8/9/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.
11/12/13- A fairly realistic movie that presented well the seedy nature of the industry. I liked it. TRDB.
619) THE MOTEL LIFE- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this affecting indie drama, two luckless brothers — inseparable because of a pledge they made to their dying mother — are forced to take it on the lam after one of them is involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident.”
11/8/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.
11/14/13- I liked this movie very much. TRDB.
620) THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Luke is a professional motorcycle rider who turns to bank robberies to support his newborn son, but when he crosses paths with a rookie police officer, their violent confrontation spirals into a tense generational feud.”
3/28/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times but better reviews from other critics. TRDB.
11/18/13- A very interesting and well acted drama that is multigenerational in scope. TRDB.
621) THE LAST RIDE- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A young college student agrees to drive volatile country music star Hank Williams to a concert, never guessing he’ll be the last one to see him alive. Along the way, he gets a glimpse into the mind of a troubled legend.”
OK reviews so far from audiences but nothing yet from professionals. TRDB.
6/22/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times- they said that you need to be a Hank Williams fanatic to enjoy this one. TRDB.
11/19/13- I enjoyed the music but basically we learned nothing about what the star Hank Williams was all about. TRDB.
623) CRYSTAL FAIRY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A self-absorbed young American traveling in Chile plans a journey with his pals to find a legendary hallucinogenic cactus. But when he invites the free-spirited Crystal Fairy along, they find themselves locked in a battle of wills.”
7/12/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. Others have liked it as well. TRDB.
11/20/13- Very different but I liked it. TRDB.
624) SUNLIGHT JR.- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hard times befall an already struggling convenience-store clerk and her paraplegic boyfriend when they’re evicted from the seedy motel they call home, and she loses the job that barely supports them.”
11/15/13- Very good reviews in general but the NY Times review today was barely OK and said that the actors were not convincing. TRDB.
11/21/13- I enjoyed this movie very much as it presented a very realistic picture of what it’s like to be poor with little hope of improvement. I was rooting for the couple. TRDB.
625) DALLAS BUYERS CLUB- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Loosely based on true events, this drama follows Ron Woodroof, who refuses to accept he’ll die in 30 days when he’s diagnosed with AIDS in 1986. He extends his life and eventually helps many other AIDS patients by smuggling medications from abroad.”
10/16/13- Very good reviews for this Indie drama. TRDB.
11/1/13- The review in today’s NY Times gave this movie an OK review but said that it lacked passion and “played it safe.” TRDB.
11/23/13- Very good reviews but not from this guy. I felt that the movie was predictable at every stage and the acting from Jennifer Gardner was weak. The story however could have been more interesting if anyone other than McConaughey showed any interest. TRDB.
626) WHICH WAY IS THE FRONT LINE FROM HERE? 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this moving documentary, Sebastian Junger pays tribute to Tim Hetherington, his co-director on the Oscar-nominated film Restrepo, a talented and compassionate photojournalist who was killed while covering the war in Libya in 2011.”
11/22/13- Excellent reviews by everybody. TRDB.
11/23/13- An excellent documentary about the man who, unfortunately, was killed doing his job as a photo journalist in Libya. Plenty of footage of war but also plenty of Hetherington speaking directly to the camera about his views of life. TRDB.
627) THE SQUARE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This intimate documentary filmed in the midst of the Egyptian revolution follows its subjects on a life-changing journey through the euphoria of victory into the uncertainties and dangers of a “transitional period” under military rule.”
10/25/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from everyone else as well. TRDB.
11/24/13- An excellent documentary about the political changes in Egypt over the last 2 years with an emphasis on the realities involved in a popular revolution. TRDB.
628) HANNAH ARENDT- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After fleeing Nazi Germany for the United States, a Jewish-German philosopher accepts an assignment from the New Yorker to cover the trial of an infamous war criminal, resulting in an article that ignites controversy all over the world.”
8/6/13- Good reviews all over. TRDB.
11/25/13- I think that the movie gave a good description of the character and what she was about but as for the movie it felt a bit Hollywoodish and overacted. TRDB.
629) PHILOMENA- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Floundering BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith and aging Irishwoman Philomena Lee form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son Philomena was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.”
11/22/13- Excellent reviews all around including the NY Times. TRDB.
11/29/13- I liked this movie very much. Great and true story with great acting and very realistically done. Sad beyond sad at times. Everybody should see this. TRDB.
630) THE WAY WAY BACK- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A stifled teen finds his voice with encouragement from the manager of a local water park, where he takes a summer job to escape his unbearable home life with his mom and her overbearing boyfriend.”
7/5/13- Uniformly good reviews but just an OK one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
12/3/13- The worst!! TRDB.
631) NEBRASKA- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a cantankerous old boozer thinks he’s won a magazine sweepstakes prize, his son reluctantly takes a road trip with him to claim the fortune. As they drive from Montana to Nebraska, they visit friends and relatives to whom the dad owes money.”
11/15/13- Good reviews in general and a good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
12/4/13- Basically I enjoy almost every road movie I see and this was no exception. An interesting story about families. Dern was great. TRDB.
632) WEST OF MEMPHIS- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After the 1994 conviction of three troubled teens for the murders of three younger boys, questions began to arise about the prosecution of the case, with numerous legal experts and celebrities demanding that previously ignored evidence be examined.”
Excellent reviews. TRDB.
12/6/13- An extremely well done documentary that held my interest despite its two and a half hour length. It should be required viewing for all lawyers. TRDB.
THIS IS THE LAST MOVIE ENTERED BEFORE LEAVING FOR FLORIDA
Add comment December 6th, 2013