The Reel Dr. Bob

SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLDER REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) I KILLED MY MOTHER– Netflix

2) KON-TIKI– Netflix

3) SMALL, BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS– Netflix Streaming

4) IN A WORLD…- At the Theater

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) IN A WORLD…- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Lake Bell (“Children’s Hospital”) stars in In a World…, a hilarious romantic comedy about a struggling vocal coach who strikes it big in the cutthroat world of movie-trailer voiceovers, only to find herself in direct competition with the industry’s reigning king-her father. Written and directed by Bell, who won the Sundance 2013 Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for the script.”8/9/13- Good reviews from today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

9/2/13- The movie was fun but nothing great. There were some funny situations that reminded me of early Woody Allen and I did enjoy the various relationships. TRDB. At the Theater.

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) I KILLED MY MOTHER– 2009. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Hubert Minel, a brash 17 year old, dislikes his mother intensely. He gauges her with contempt, only seeing her out-of-date sweater, her kitschy décor and the vile bread crumbs that lodge in the corners of her noisy mouth. Below the surface of these irritating traits, lie the ingrained mechanisms that his mother has always cultivated so dearly – manipulation and guilt. Hubert, confused and torn by a love-hate relationship that obsesses him more and more each day, wanders in and out of an adolescence that is both marginal and typical, combining artistic discovery, openness to friendship, ostracism, and sex. All the while, he is consumed by his all encompassing contempt for this woman he somehow once loved.”3/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. Other critics have liked it as well. TRDB.

8/29/13- Very difficult to watch the conflict between mother and son but the movie was well done and I enjoyed it. TRDB. Netflix.

2) KON-TIKI– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “With five loyal friends in tow, explorer Thor Heyerdal sails a fragile balsa wood raft along an ancient path some 4,300 miles across the Pacific. Along the way, they’re attacked by tidal waves, sharks and all the dangers the ocean can muster.”

4/19/13- Fairly good early reviews. TRDB.

4/26/13- A really poor review in today’s NY Times but other critics seemed to have liked it. TRDB.

8/30/13- This movie was and had to be limited by the monotony of cruising powerlessly on a raft for nearly 4 months but they did manage to inject some suspense into it and at the same time recognize the symbolic importance of the undertaking. Worth seeing. TRDB.

3) ON THE ROAD– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “At the height of the Beat era, New York writer Sal Paradise, his freewheeling buddy Dean, and Dean’s wife set out on a journey of self-discovery. Their cross-country quest for answers reflects the American character, attitudes and values of the time.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.

12/21/12- A weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

8/31/13- Incredibly boring and I turned it off. TRDB.

4) SMALL, BEAUTIFULLY MOVING PARTS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Technology is second nature to digitally adept Sarah Sparks, but pregnancy is alien ground, and in this quirky road movie, the mom-to-be unearths her maternal instinct while crossing a desert to reach her own estranged — and phone-free — mother.”

5/11/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9/1/13- I found the story interesting, believable and I enjoyed it. The quirky characters, each a caricature, were fun as well. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 10-

 

1) WISH YOU WERE HERE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Searching for answers about what happened to their friend who vanished while they vacationed in Cambodia together, Steph, Alice and Dave discover a shocking truth — and must deal with the consequences as more secrets are revealed.”5/25/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

6/7/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED is directed by Golden Globe (R) and Oscar (R) winning filmmaker Susanne Bier, written by Bier and Anders Thomas Jensen and starring Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm. Philip (Brosnan), an Englishman living in Denmark, is a lonely, middle-aged widower and estranged single father. Ida (Dyrholm) is a Danish hairdresser, recuperating from a long bout of illness, who’s just been left by her husband for a younger woman, Thilde. The fates of these two bruised souls are about to intertwine.”

4/21/13- Fairly good early reviews. TRDB.

5/3/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As they push into Germany near the end of World War II, Russian troops discover that the Nazis have used the research of legendary scientist Victor Frankenstein to create monstrous new soldiers that are pieced together from body parts of the dead.”

7/16/13- Some good reviews including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) CHASING ICE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This mesmerizing and beautifully shot documentary from National Geographic photographer James Balog offers a clear vision of climate change as time-lapse cameras across the Arctic reveal glaciers melting and disappearing over a period of years.”

Just a few professional reviews and they are all good. TRDB.

11/9/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) WAR WITCH– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In sub-Saharan Africa, 12-year-old Komona is kidnapped by rebel soldiers who force her to kill her parents and join their ranks. Over the next two years, Komona clings to life despite her horrific experiences and tries to pacify her parents’ ghosts.”

3/1/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/6/13- Very difficult to watch this moving drama of a girl who amazingly survives war and superstition but it should be a “must-see.” TRDB.

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY, AUG. 30 IN  ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT ON AUG. 29-

 

1) PASSION– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Christine, an ad exec whose veins run with ice water, has no qualms about taking the credit for a plum idea dreamed up by her mousy assistant, Isabel. But the incident sparks shy, passive Isabel to undertake a campaign of revenge against her boss.”8/30/13- Poor reviews in general but the NY Times liked it in today’s review. TRDB.

2) ABIGAIL HARM– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Echoing the theme of a Korean folk tale, this mysterious drama focuses on solitary New Yorker Abigail, who’s granted a wish by a mysterious stranger. Unfortunately, the granting of that wish brings consequences Abigail failed to consider.”

8/30/13- Poor reviews al around, including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) AFTERNOON DELIGHT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Although 30-something wife and mother Rachel appears to have the perfect life, she’s being driven crazy by boredom. While attempting to spice up her marriage, Rachel befriends a stripper named McKenna who educates her about being true to herself.”

8/30/13- This movie received poor reviews in general but the NY Times liked it in today’s movie review. TRDB.

4) THE LIFEGUARD– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After hitting a rough patch, 29-year-old Leigh abandons her journalism career, moves back in with her parents and gets a job as a lifeguard. Soon, she begins an affair with a teenage boy she meets at the pool.”

8/30/13- Awful reviews from almost everybody and from the NY Times as well. TRDB.

6) GETAWAY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When washed-out race car driver Brent Magna’s wife is kidnapped, he partners with a sexy, enigmatic hacker known only as The Kid to track her down. But the figure behind the abduction is calling the shots, and is watching their every move.”

8/30/13- ALL reviews have been awful– NO easy task. TRDB.

7) THE LAST CHRISTEROS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This minimalistic film chronicles the little-known war of a band of Christeros, rural Christian rebels, against the Mexican government in the 1930s. The character-driven narrative focuses on the periods between skirmishes rather than conflict itself.”

8/30/13- Only 3 reviews so far– 1 down (Today’s NY Times) , 2 up. TRDB.

8) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Award-winning documentarian Morgan Spurlock turns his camera on boy band phenomenon One Direction in this combination concert film and backstage pass. The film follows the multiplatinum group as they prepare for their 2013 world tour.”

8/3/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from others. TRDB.

9) WAMPLER’S ASCENT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Wampler’s Ascent documents Steve Wampler as he attempts to become the first person with a disability to climb the biggest rock face in the world, El Captain in Yosemite National Park.”

8/30/13- Mixed early reviews. The NY Times gave it a qualified positive review today. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK (FRIDAY, SEPT.6)-

 

1) BEST KEPT SECRET– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “High school teacher Janet Mino has dedicated herself to helping a group of autistic students overcome obstacles and plan for normal lives. This documentary follows Mino as she prepares her kids — and their families — for the challenges ahead.”8/23/13-  No reviews yet but this sounds interesting and I’ll probably see it. TRDB.

2) FIRE IN THE BLOOD– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Dylan Mohan Gray delves into Africa’s AIDS crisis to put a human face on those caught in the battle over inexpensive, generic HIV drugs. Gray reveals the power of American pharmaceutical companies in the global market and what’s at stake.”

8/23/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

3) GOOD OL’ FREDA– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Freda Kelly was just a shy Liverpudlian teenager when she was asked to work for a local band hoping to make it big: the Beatles. In Good Ol’ Freda, the band’s former secretary tells her personal stories for the first time in 50 years.”

8/23/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

4) OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Directed by a family member of one of the victims, this gripping documentary tells the story of financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, which took the lives of 658 of the company’s employees.”

8/23/13- No professional reviews as yet but audiences have liked it. TRDB.

5) RED OBSESSION– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Russell Crowe narrates this sobering study of how the tastes of China’s nouveau riche are driving up wine prices in France’s Bordeaux region — and pushing out Western customers who can no longer afford it.”

8/23/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

6) SALINGER- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Interviews with 150 of J.D. Salinger’s friends and colleagues shed light on the reclusive author in this absorbing documentary. High-profile writers and actors, including Martin Sheen, Gore Vidal and John Cusack, discuss how Salinger influenced them.”

8/23/13- Mostly poor reviews. TRDB.

7) THE ULTIMATE LIFE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blessed with the treasures that came to him in The Ultimate Gift, Jason Stevens inherits family conflicts and copes with his wife’s extended trip abroad. Once again Jason must rethink his life values, and his grandfather’s journals provide a path.”

8/23/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

8)ADORE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this seaside drama adapted from a novella by Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing, two lifelong friends who fall in love with each other’s teenage sons must carry out their affairs in relative secrecy.”

8/24/13- I’ve seen just 4 reviews– 2 up, 1 down and 1 neutral. TRDB.

9) LA MAISON DE LA RADIO– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taking his cameras inside Paris’ Radio France, filmmaker Nicolas Philibert spotlights the personalities behind the station’s diverse programming and portrays them as a microcosm of the world at large.”

9/4/13- Mixed reviews from critics and audiences as well. The NY Times didn’t care for it. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) 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.

2) AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After escaping prison, Bob Muldoon begins a search for his girlfriend and young daughter, but their reunion doesn’t go as planned: He took the rap for a crime she committed, but now she’s involved with a lawman from their past.”8/6/13- Mixed reviews with some very good ones and some really poor ones too. TRDB.

8/16/13- A negative review in today’s NY Times saying that the film was unconvincing. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) THE ICEMAN–  2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This thriller based on a true story follows Richard Kuklinski, who killed more than 100 people for the mob — and his own pleasure — between 1964 and 1986. Despite his prolific violence, Kuklinski was a devoted husband and father of two daughters.”Early reviews look good for this docudrama including a NY Times review on 5/3/13. TRDB.

5/1/13- A riveting performance by Michael Shannon as the contract killer Richard Kuklinski places this movie at a suspenseful level and keeps it there. TRDB.

2) STORIES WE TELL– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Using a mix of interviews and sly home movies, Sarah Polley creates an intriguing profile of her family, especially her mother, Diane, who died when Polley was 11 years old. In a family of storytellers, does the truth depend on who does the telling?”4/29/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

5/10/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5/21/13- An interesting documentary about family relationships and specifically what Sarah Polley learned about her family by letting people tell the story. Done in a creative manner- could have been a bit shorter. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

 

 

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES)-

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Award-winning documentarian Morgan Spurlock turns his camera on boy band phenomenon One Direction in this combination concert film and backstage pass. The film follows the multiplatinum group as they prepare for their 2013 world tour.”8/3/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from others. TRDB.

2) THE PATIENCE STONE– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes said- “Author Atiq Rahimi’s adapts his own bestselling novel about a Muslim woman whose paralyzed husband unconsciously assumes the role of a magical force, which shields her from the sorrows of life in her war-torn village. Her unnamed Middle Eastern country caught up in an insurrection, the loyal, thirtysomething wife faithfully sits watch over her vegetative husband, who has been all but forgotten by his brothers and fellow Jihadists. Over time, she gathers the courage to tell her husband all of the things she had remained silent about during their 10 years of marriage. Throughout the course of these missives, she speaks frankly of the disappointments, sorrows, and sacrifices that have made her life so difficult throughout the previous decade. Only weeks later, when the isolated wife enters into a relationship with a young soldier, does she begin to reveal the woman who she had kept locked up deep inside ever since the day she was married.”

8/6/13- Very good early reviews and I’ll definitely try to see this one. TRDB.

8/14/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) CLOSED CIRCUIT– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Martin and Claudia, top-flight lawyers who happen to be former lovers, become targets when they’re teamed up to defend a notorious terrorist. As the trial unfolds, the danger causes the pair to reevaluate their allegiance to justice.”8/27/13- Poor reviews. TRDB.

2) BLUE JASMINE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”

7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

3) LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history.”

8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

8/16/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/25/13- Although I did enjoy parts of this movie, I was disappointed with the film as a whole. I thought it was a lackluster story about the butler used as a vehicle for a very powerful piece of history and it just didn’t seem to fit for me. The acting carried the movie. TRDB.

4) THE SPECTACULAR NOW– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When high school loner Aimee Finicky finds her classmate Sutter Keely passed-out drunk on a lawn, it marks the start of an unlikely friendship. After deciding to help Aimee raise her social confidence, Sutter finds himself falling for his creation.”

7/15/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

8/2/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/23/13- Overall I enjoyed this movie but I felt that the first 45min. was too long and the second 45min. a bit too short. TRDB.   

5) THE GRANDMASTER– Danbury, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the Japanese invasion looms, Chinese kung fu master Ip Man’s world changes when rival master Gong Er and her father arrive in his village. As her father ceremoniously retires, Gong Er finds love with Ip Man, who’s conflicted by his feelings.”

8/23/13- A good review in today’s NY Times for this martial arts film and positive reviews in general. The Wall St. Journal said that you had to be a martial arts fan to like this movie and sight unseen I would agree. TRDB.

6) IN A WORLD…- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Lake Bell (“Children’s Hospital”) stars in In a World…, a hilarious romantic comedy about a struggling vocal coach who strikes it big in the cutthroat world of movie-trailer voiceovers, only to find herself in direct competition with the industry’s reigning king-her father. Written and directed by Bell, who won the Sundance 2013 Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for the script.”

8/9/13- Good reviews from today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

9/2/13- The movie was fun but nothing great. There were some funny situations that reminded me of early Woody Allen and I did enjoy the various relationships. 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
 

AUGUST 29, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLDER REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) THE SPECTACULAR NOW– At the Theater

2) SPARROWS DANCE– Comcast On-Demand

3) LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER– At the Theater

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) THE SPECTACULAR NOW– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When high school loner Aimee Finicky finds her classmate Sutter Keely passed-out drunk on a lawn, it marks the start of an unlikely friendship. After deciding to help Aimee raise her social confidence, Sutter finds himself falling for his creation.”7/15/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

8/2/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/23/13- Overall I enjoyed this movie but I felt that the first 45min. was too long and the second 45min. a bit too short. TRDB.

2) LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history.”

8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

8/16/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/25/13- Although I did enjoy parts of this movie, I was disappointed with the film as a whole. I thought it was a lackluster story about the butler used as a vehicle for a very powerful piece of history and it just didn’t seem to fit for me. The acting carried the movie. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) SPARROWS DANCE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an overflowing toilet forces an agoraphobic ex-actress to let in the outside world for the first time in months, romance blooms. But making it to her musician-boyfriend’s first professional gig will prove the real test for the shut-in.”8/23/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/23/13- I enjoyed this movie very much. Very good acting and a good depiction of the life of an agoraphobic. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

2) SHADOW DANCER– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Collette, a single mother and career IRA terrorist, is captured after an abortive bombing in London and faces an excruciating ultimatum. She can either turn against her lifelong compatriots or go to prison and be separated forever from her son.”

5/31/13- Very good reviews in general and a very good one in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.

8/25/13– The movie was touted as riveting but I didn’t think so. Some good acting by the two leads saved this slow, slogging story about the IRA. TRDB. Netflix.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 3-

 

1) 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.

2) EVOCATEUR: THE MORTON DOWNEY JR. MOVIE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Rude, crude and polarizing, Morton Downey Jr. was the profane right-wing prince of talk show hosts during his brief heyday in the late 1980s. This colorful documentary includes archival footage of Downey’s riotous show with revealing interviews.”

6/7/13- An OK, interesting review in today’s NY Times. Other critics have liked it very much. TRDB.

3) BLANCANIEVES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shot in black and white and without dialogue, this unusual take on “Snow White” follows the young daughter of a matador who finds fame after escaping the clutches of her evil stepmother to join a band of bullfighting dwarves.”

3/29/13- Very good reviews including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) COCKNEYS VS. ZOMBIES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an attempt to save their granddad’s old age home, slacker Cockneys Terry and Andy team up with three friends to rob a bank. But their caper goes awry when they run afoul of a horde of hungry zombies, who then do battle with the feisty pensioners.”

8/2/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and OK reviews in general. TRDB.

5) SOMM– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmed in six countries over a two-year period, this documentary follows four sommeliers as they embark on an all-consuming course of study for the prestigious (and nearly impossible to pass) Master Sommelier exam.”

6/21/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and mixed professional reviews at best. Audiences, however, have liked the movie. TRDB.

6) FROM UP ON POPPY HILL– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As Japan prepares to host the Olympics, Shun, a school reporter, fights to save a clubhouse from progress-minded authorities. He gets unexpected help from Umi, a classmate who’s fallen in love with him.”

3/3/13-Fairly good early reviews.  TRDB.

3/15/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) THE ENGLISH TEACHER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Devoted small-town English teacher Linda yearns for love. Enter Jason, a former student whose career as a Broadway playwright didn’t pan out. When she persuades him to stage his play at the school before giving up, love — and controversy — arise.”

5/24/13- Weak reviews in general and a poor one in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.

8)KOCH– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Former Mayor Ed Koch is the quintessential New Yorker. Still ferocious, charismatic, and hilariously blunt, the now 87-year-old Koch ruled New York from 1978 to 1989-a down-and-dirty decade of grit, graffiti, near-bankruptcy and rampant crime. First-time filmmaker (and former Wall Street Journal reporter) Neil Barsky has crafted an intimate and revealing portrait of this intensely private man, his legacy as a political titan, and the town he helped transform.”

2/1/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9) THE ICEMAN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This thriller based on a true story follows Richard Kuklinski, who killed more than 100 people for the mob — and his own pleasure — between 1964 and 1986. Despite his prolific violence, Kuklinski was a devoted husband and father of two daughters.”

Early reviews look good for this docudrama including a NY Times review on 5/3/13. TRDB.

5/1/13- A riveting performance by Michael Shannon as the contract killer Richard Kuklinski places this movie at a suspenseful level and keeps it there. TRDB.

 

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY, AUG. 23, IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT-

 

1) DRINKING BUDDIES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Workmates at a small Chicago brewery, Luke and Kate are romantically involved with others but also the best of friends — on and off the clock. Things get complicated, however, when the couples spend a weekend together at a lakeside retreat.”8/23/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times and very good ones all around. TRDB.

2) THE GRANDMASTER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the Japanese invasion looms, Chinese kung fu master Ip Man’s world changes when rival master Gong Er and her father arrive in his village. As her father ceremoniously retires, Gong Er finds love with Ip Man, who’s conflicted by his feelings.”

8/23/13- A good review in today’s NY Times for this martial arts film and positive reviews in general. The Wall St. Journal said that you had to be a martial arts fan to like this movie and sight unseen I would agree. TRDB.

3) PARADICE: FAITH– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Anna Maria is an x-ray technician who spends her free time lugging a statue of the Virgin Mary through Vienna, hoping to convert her fellow citizens. But her mission is derailed by the sudden reappearance of her long-lost husband, an Egyptian Muslim.”

8/23/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and some good reviews all around. TRDB.

4) SAVANNAH– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In post-Civil War America, aristocrat Ward Allen becomes a self-styled renaissance man, taking up life as a hunter and befriending a freed slave. His new rough-hewn style draws the attention of a young socialite who defies her father to be with him.”

8/23/13- Poor reviews everywhere including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) THE WORLD’S END– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Twenty years after attempting a marathon pub crawl, a group of friends reunites to give it another shot. Their ultimate destination is the World’s End pub, whose name turns out to be rather literal.”

8/23/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews in general. TRDB.

6) SCENIC ROUTE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When car trouble strands old friends Mitchell and Carter in the California desert, friction surfaces as they try to deal with the situation, and a heated dialogue soon escalates into a violent struggle for survival.”

8/23/13- Mixed reviews in general. Today’s NY Times panned it. TRDB.

7) THE TRIALS OF MUHAMMAD ALI– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Exploring issues of race, religion and wartime conscientious objection, this documentary gives viewers an inside look at Muhammad Ali’s biggest battle: his struggle to overturn a five-year prison sentence after refusing to fight in Vietnam.”

8/23/13- Good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times as well. Audiences have liked this film very much. TRDB.

8)SHORT TERM 12– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Grace, a compassionate young supervisor at a foster care facility, works with her boyfriend and colleague, Mason, to help at-risk teens. But when a new charge dredges up memories of her own troubled past, Grace’s tough exterior begins eroding.”

8/23/13- An excellent review from most critics and the NY Times liked it as well. TRDB.

9) THE UNITED STATES OF FOOTBALL– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Sean Pamphilon is a father first, football fan second. Thus, with his 12-year-old son set to play, Pamphilon begins to investigate the sport’s safety. This film documents his sometimes shocking findings about gridiron brain injuries.”

8/23/13- Weak reviews so far in general and from today’s NY Times. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK (AUG. 30)-

 

1) I DECLARE WAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A once-friendly game of war between two groups of 13-year-olds takes on sinister overtones when an enemy soldier goes rogue and kidnaps the best friend of the opposing side’s commander.”

8/14/13– Surprisingly good reviews. TRDB.

2) OUR NIXON– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nixon himself wasn’t the only one obsessively recording his presidency; three of his top aides were filming it, too, with Super 8 cameras. These home movies — from H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman and Dwight Chapin — form the basis of this portrait.”

8/14/13- Some very good early reviews. TRDB.

3) SATYAGRAHA– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A dynamic and ambitious young man who is poised to take the elevator of corporate success, encounters personal tragedy which exposes him to the shocking on sequences of corruption in India. Joining hands with an idealist, he ignites a people’s protest that soon escalates into a massive movement with a national resonance, battling politicians determined to crush and discredit him.”

8/23/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) EUROPA REPORT–  2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this nail-biting thriller, a private space-exploration company sends six astronauts to determine whether Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, can sustain life — and what they find terrifies and transforms them.”6/28/13- Reviews are fairly good for this sci-fi thriller. TRDB.

8/2/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) 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.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) SPARROWS DANCE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an overflowing toilet forces an agoraphobic ex-actress to let in the outside world for the first time in months, romance blooms. But making it to her musician-boyfriend’s first professional gig will prove the real test for the shut-in.”8/9/13- Very few reviews but they are good. TRDB.

8/23/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/23/13- I enjoyed this movie very much. Very good acting and a good depiction of the life of an agoraphobic. TRDB.

2) AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After escaping prison, Bob Muldoon begins a search for his girlfriend and young daughter, but their reunion doesn’t go as planned: He took the rap for a crime she committed, but now she’s involved with a lawman from their past.”8/6/13- Mixed reviews with some very good ones and some really poor ones too. TRDB.

8/16/13- A negative review in today’s NY Times saying that the film was unconvincing. TRDB.

3) FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY–  2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As they push into Germany near the end of World War II, Russian troops discover that the Nazis have used the research of legendary scientist Victor Frankenstein to create monstrous new soldiers that are pieced together from body parts of the dead.”7/16/13- Some good reviews including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) PRINCE AVALANCHE–  2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While repainting traffic lines along a burnt-out stretch of rural highway, a mismatched pair — straightlaced Alvin and his girlfriend’s harebrained brother, Lance — form an unlikely bond that builds upon their differences.”Rotten Tomatoes had this to say– “Driven by striking performances from Rudd and Hirsch, Prince Avalanche is an offbeat comedy about two men painting traffic lines on a desolate country highway that’s been ravaged by wildfire. Against this dramatic setting, the men bicker and joke with each other, eventually developing an unlikely friendship. Funny, meditative and at times surreal, Prince Avalanche features a score by Explosions in the Sky and David Wingo, and was shot by frequent Green collaborator Tim Orr was. Loosely adapted from Either Way, an Icelandic film by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson.”

8/3/13- Good reviews all around. TRDB.

8/9/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/15/13- Not really a road movie but these 2 guys were working on a road. A good story about male bonding and I enjoyed it very much. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

5) DRINKING BUDDIES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Workmates at a small Chicago brewery, Luke and Kate are romantically involved with others but also the best of friends — on and off the clock. Things get complicated, however, when the couples spend a weekend together at a lakeside retreat.”8/23/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times and very good ones all around. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) IN A WORLD…- Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Lake Bell (“Children’s Hospital”) stars in In a World…, a hilarious romantic comedy about a struggling vocal coach who strikes it big in the cutthroat world of movie-trailer voiceovers, only to find herself in direct competition with the industry’s reigning king-her father. Written and directed by Bell, who won the Sundance 2013 Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for the script.”8/9/13- Good reviews from today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

 

2) CLOSED CIRCUIT– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Martin and Claudia, top-flight lawyers who happen to be former lovers, become targets when they’re teamed up to defend a notorious terrorist. As the trial unfolds, the danger causes the pair to reevaluate their allegiance to justice.”8/27/13- Poor reviews. TRDB.

3) THE GRANDMASTER– Danbury, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the Japanese invasion looms, Chinese kung fu master Ip Man’s world changes when rival master Gong Er and her father arrive in his village. As her father ceremoniously retires, Gong Er finds love with Ip Man, who’s conflicted by his feelings.”

8/23/13- A good review in today’s NY Times for this martial arts film and positive reviews in general. The Wall St. Journal said that you had to be a martial arts fan to like this movie and sight unseen I would agree. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) BLUE JASMINE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great but after the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. Good but not great. TRDB.

2) LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history.”

8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

3) THE SPECTACULAR NOW– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When high school loner Aimee Finicky finds her classmate Sutter Keely passed-out drunk on a lawn, it marks the start of an unlikely friendship. After deciding to help Aimee raise her social confidence, Sutter finds himself falling for his creation.”

7/15/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

8/2/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/23/13- Overall I enjoyed this movie but I felt that the first 45min. was too long and the second 45min. a bit too short. 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

AUGUST 22, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLDER REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) PRINCE AVALANCHE– Comcast On-Demand

2) PLANES– At the Theater

3) THE SAPPHIRES– Netflix

4) EMPEROR- Netflix

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) PLANES- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This spinoff of the beloved Cars films follows Dusty the crop duster, who dreams of flying in a race around the world. But in order to qualify for the competition, he’ll have to overcome his fear of heights.”8/15/13- Jane and I went to the movies today with our daughter, her husband and their 2 children. It was the kid’s first movie theater experience and they enjoyed it very much and we, of course, enjoyed them enjoying it very much. Don’t pass out but we actually enjoyed the movie and SO DID THE KIDS!! TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) PRINCE AVALANCHE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While repainting traffic lines along a burnt-out stretch of rural highway, a mismatched pair — straightlaced Alvin and his girlfriend’s harebrained brother, Lance — form an unlikely bond that builds upon their differences.”8/3/13- Good reviews all around. TRDB.

8/9/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/15/13- Not really a road movie but these 2 guys were working on a road. A good story about male bonding and I enjoyed it very much. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

2) THE SAPPHIRES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “The spirit and vitality of 1960s soul music are at the core of this film about a real-life Australian aborigine singing group and their bumpy career. Three sisters and a cousin are brought together as the Sapphires by a talent scout with a plan”

3/14/13- Excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

3/22/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/19/13- Although one feels like they’ve seen this formulaic movie 100 times before it was still fun when the characters weren’t acting stupid. TRDB. Netflix.

3) EMPEROR– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As World War II ends, Gen. MacArthur oversees Japan’s surrender, an act that dispels the nation’s centuries-old beliefs about its emperor. With the eyes of the world — and history — upon them, MacArthur and his protégé will change Japan forever.”

3/8/13- Weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

8/21/13- Generally well deserved poor reviews but I feel that the movie was at least interesting from a historical point of view. TRDB. Netflix.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 27-

 

1) 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.

2) THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST– 2012. “Pakistani professor Changez Khan regales a journalist with his U.S. experiences in the opening scene of this compelling post-9/11 drama. As their chat continues, however, it emerges that Khan has much more on his mind than the past.”

4/19/13- Mixed early reviews. TRDB.

4/26/13- A fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5/5/13- Despite a bit of Hollywood this movie held my interest and portrayed fairly well the ambivalence of the lead character. TRDB.

3) KON-TIKI– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “With five loyal friends in tow, explorer Thor Heyerdal sails a fragile balsa wood raft along an ancient path some 4,300 miles across the Pacific. Along the way, they’re attacked by tidal waves, sharks and all the dangers the ocean can muster.”

4/19/13- Fairly good early reviews. TRDB.

4/26/13- A really poor review in today’s NY Times but other critics seemed to have liked it. TRDB.

4) SCATTER MY ASHES AT BERGDORF’S– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary peels back the curtain at Bergdorf Goodman, the iconic New York store that’s been launching design careers for more than a century. Key creative personnel and fans such as Joan Rivers and Candice Bergen discuss Bergdorf’s appeal.”

5/3/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

5) BETWEEN US– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A newly married New York couple visit their old friends in their huge Midwestern home. Despite their wealth, the hosts are in a bitterly destructive marriage. A few years later, the couples reunite in New York, but the tables are turned.”

7/9/13- Mixed reviews. TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

OPENED LAST WEEK (AUG. 16) IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT ON AUG. 15-

 

1) YOU WILL BE MY SON– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Paul de Marseul (Niels Aretrup) is the passionate, demanding proprietor of his prestigious family wine estate. But he has no faith in his son, Martin (Loran Deutsch), who works at the vineyard. Paul dreams of a harder-working, successful son-a dream that one day seemingly materializes when he meets Philip (Nicolas Bridet), the son of his dying estate manager (Patrick Chesnais). Can Paul turn against his own blood and turn Philip into the rightful heir of his family estate?”Here’s what Netflix had to say– “Doubtful that his own son is up to the task, the demanding owner of a vintage chateau and wine label turns to the offspring of his late caretaker to maintain the strict principles of his prestigious business.”

8/16/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

2) DREW: THE MAN BEHIND THE POSTER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A feature-length documentary film highlighting the career of poster artist Drew Struzan, whose most popular works include the Indiana Jones, Back to the Future and Star Wars movie posters. Telling the tale through exclusive interviews with George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, Frank Darabont, Guillermo del Toro, Steven Spielberg and many other filmmakers, artists and critics, the journey spans Drew’s early career in commercial and album cover art through his recent retirement as one of the most recognizable and influential movie poster artists of all time.”8/16/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times, mostly because the film did not delve into anything less than positive about the subject. Other critics agreed with the rating. TRDB.

3) THE HAPPY SAD– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Black, white, gay, straight: Relationships are tough regardless of your race or sexuality, as the couples at the heart of this movie find out. When Annie and Stan take a break from coupling, both end up with same-sex partners — at least temporarily.”

8/16/13- Weak reviews in general and also in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) IN SEARCH OF BLIND JOE DEATH: THE SAGA OF JOHN FAHEY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Known as the father of American Primitive Guitar, many consider John Fahey to be a foundational figure in American folk music. As both musician and musicologist, Fahey made a fundamental contribution to our understanding and appreciation of such music genres as Delta blues, Appalachian bluegrass and New Orleans jazz.”

8/16/13- Poor reviews in general but an OK one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) HERBLOCK: THE BLACK & THE WHITE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this lively documentary, luminaries including Tom Brokaw, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Ted Koppel and Jon Stewart salute the remarkable life, career and indelible influence of Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Herbert Block.”

8/16/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. Audiences have liked it a lot. TRDB.

6) INCH’ALLAH– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A Canadian obstetrician living in Israel makes multiple passes through heavily guarded checkpoints to get to her job at a women’s health clinic in Palestine. But political tensions take on personal overtones when she befriends a pregnant patient.”

8/16/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and weak ones in general. TRDB.

7) PARANOIA– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blackmailed by his company’s CEO, low-level employee Adam Cassidy finds himself forced to spy on the boss’s rival and former mentor. As Adam enjoys all the trappings of an executive position, he soon learns he can trust no one.

8/16/13- A terrible review from nearly everybody. TRDB.

8)SPARK: A BURNING MAN STORY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Each year, Nevada’s Burning Man festival gathers revelers for one free-spirited weeklong party in the middle of the desert. Capturing the energy of the festivities, organizers and attendees share their passion for this renowned artistic event.”

8/16/13- A few professional reviews and they are good including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

OPENING THIS WEEK (AUG. 23)-

 

1) DEVIL’S PASS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Five students retrace the steps of a group of hikers who famously perished in Russia’s Ural Mountains more than five decades prior. It isn’t long, however, before trouble besets the new group of adventurers in this found-footage chiller.”8/9/13- No reviews as yet but this movie sounds very scary and I probably won’t see it even if it gets good reviews. TRDB.

2) THE FROZEN GROUND– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based thriller starring Nicolas Cage, an Alaska state trooper looking to bring a notorious serial killer to justice teams with a 17-year-old prostitute who escaped the predator’s clutches.”

8/9/13- Mixed reviews, more positive than negative. TRDB.

3) SPARROWS DANCE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an overflowing toilet forces an agoraphobic ex-actress to let in the outside world for the first time in months, romance blooms. But making it to her musician-boyfriend’s first professional gig will prove the real test for the shut-in.”

8/9/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

4) THERESE DESQUEYROUX– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In southwest France in the 1920s, two wealthy families are joined by an arranged marriage between the dull Bernard and the restless Thérèse. Desperately bored and longing for meaning in her life, Thérèse concocts a drastic solution to her problems.”

8/9/13- Mixed reviews, more positive than negative–just. TRDB.

5) THERESE DESQUEYROUX– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In southwest France in the 1920s, two wealthy families are joined by an arranged marriage between the dull Bernard and the restless Thérèse. Desperately bored and longing for meaning in her life, Thérèse concocts a drastic solution to her problems.”

8/9/13- Mixed reviews, more positive than negative–just. TRDB.

6) UNA NOCHE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Cuban teenager Raul is accused of assault, he and his best friend decide to flee the country and make the 90-mile journey to the United States. Elio’s twin sister — whom he is reluctant to leave behind — narrates their harrowing story.”

8/9/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) THE ACT OF KILLING– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This unique documentary recalls the bloody era in Indonesia when pro-government death squads slaughtered more than a million suspected Communists. Now in positions of power, two ex-squad leaders gleefully reenact their atrocities for the filmmakers.7/3/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/19/13- The NY Times liked this movie very much. TRDB.

2) SHADOW DANCER– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Collette, a single mother and career IRA terrorist, is captured after an abortive bombing in London and faces an excruciating ultimatum. She can either turn against her lifelong compatriots or go to prison and be separated forever from her son.”5/31/13- Very good reviews in general and a very good one in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) SPARROWS DANCE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an overflowing toilet forces an agoraphobic ex-actress to let in the outside world for the first time in months, romance blooms. But making it to her musician-boyfriend’s first professional gig will prove the real test for the shut-in.”8/9/13- Very few reviews but they are good. TRDB.

2) AMOUR– 2012. Synopsis by IMDB. “Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple’s bond of love is severely tested.”

5/28/12- This movie won Best Picture in Cannes this year. TRDB.

2/14/13- This movie was a look into the reality of dementia and it’s toll on ALL members of the family. Well done and I liked it very much.  TRDB.

3) AND WHILE WE WERE HERE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jane accompanies her cellist husband to Naples and spends her days trying to shake a case of writer’s block while he’s in rehearsal. She hoped the trip would help their troubled marriage, but she finds unexpected romance with a young American ex-pat.”

8/20/13- No reviews but it sounds interesting. TRDB.

4) A TEACHER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A popular young high school teacher engaged in a passionate secret affair with one of her students gets pulled deeper into their mutual fantasy world, even as the danger of discovery threatens their relationship.”

8/20/13- No reviews yet but it sounds interesting. TRDB.

REPEATS-

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS- Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After escaping prison, Bob Muldoon begins a search for his girlfriend and young daughter, but their reunion doesn’t go as planned: He took the rap for a crime she committed, but now she’s involved with a lawman from their past.”8/6/13- Mixed reviews with some very good ones and some really poor ones too. TRDB.

8/16/13- A negative review in today’s NY Times saying that the film was unconvincing. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history.”8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) THE SPECTACULAR NOW–  Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When high school loner Aimee Finicky finds her classmate Sutter Keely passed-out drunk on a lawn, it marks the start of an unlikely friendship. After deciding to help Aimee raise her social confidence, Sutter finds himself falling for his creation.”

7/15/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

8/2/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) BLUE JASMINE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”

7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great but after the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. Good but not great. TRDB.

4) IN A WORLD…- Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Lake Bell (“Children’s Hospital”) stars in In a World…, a hilarious romantic comedy about a struggling vocal coach who strikes it big in the cutthroat world of movie-trailer voiceovers, only to find herself in direct competition with the industry’s reigning king-her father. Written and directed by Bell, who won the Sundance 2013 Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for the script.”

8/9/13- Good reviews from today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

 

 

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB

AUGUST 15, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLDER REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) FILLY BROWN– Netflix

2) MR. JEALOUSY– Netflix

3) OFF WHITE LIES– Netflix Streaming

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) FILLY BROWN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Offered a chance to be a star, a young rapper must decide whether to go for the gold or remain true to herself and the friends who’ve helped her. Meanwhile, her family struggles, with her mom in jail and her ex-gangbanger dad trying to go straight.”4/19/13- Mixed professional reviews but audiences have liked this movie. TRDB.

8/13/13- Even though I felt like I had seen this movie’s story many times before it was still entertaining and complete with some fine acting as well. Worth a viewing. TRDB. Netflix.

2) MR. JEALOUSY– 1998. Synopsis by Netflix. “Lester Grimm (Eric Stoltz) can’t control the jealousy he feels toward Dashiell Frank (Chris Eigeman), the best-selling author ex of his gal, Ramona (Annabella Sciorra). He takes his unfettered insecurity issues to a new level when he goes undercover to attend Dashiell’s group therapy sessions. Writer-director Noah Baumbach’s romantic comedy co-stars Bridget Fonda, who plays Dashiell’s current squeeze, Irene.”

8/14/13- I found this romantic comedy interesting and creatively structured with a few appealing characters. TRDB. Netflix.

3) OFF WHITE LIES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Thirteen-year-old Libi is sent to Israel to join her father, Shaul, a wiz at white lies. But it doesn’t take long for her to chafe at his lifestyle. Soon, she begins to unravel the web of lies her father has constructed around him.”

12/7/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/14/13- This Israeli movie was very well acted with an interesting premise and I enjoyed it very much. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 20-

 

1) TRANCE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Danny Boyle directs this psychological thriller about an art heist gone wrong and the hypnotist who’s hired to ferret out the missing masterpiece. Everything is a jumble after an auctioneer gets hit in the head while double-crossing some art thieves.”3/21/13- Fairly good early reviews. TRDB.

4/5/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.

2) RAPTURE-PALOOZA– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this revelatory comedy, a pair of teenagers survives the apocalypse only to find themselves on an all-or-nothing mission to defeat the Antichrist — who turns out to have numerous psychiatric issues and a powerful yen for an Earth virgin.”

6/7/13- The NY Times gave this a luke warm review but others have not been so kind. TRDB.

3) AMOUR- 2012. Synopsis by IMDB. “Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple’s bond of love is severely tested.”

5/28/12- This movie won Best Picture in Cannes this year. TRDB.

2/14/13- This movie was a look into the reality of dementia and it’s toll on ALL members of the family. Well done and I liked it very much.  TRDB.

4) DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’: EVERYMAN’S JOURNEY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary presents the musical saga of Arnel Pineda, who goes from singing in Manila nightclubs to fronting the legendary rock band Journey. Brought into the group just before a world tour, Arnel must sell himself to Journey’s many fans.”

3/8/13 Good reviews for this documentary from today’s NY Times and from most others as well. TRDB.

5) SHADOW DANCER– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Collette, a single mother and career IRA terrorist, is captured after an abortive bombing in London and faces an excruciating ultimatum. She can either turn against her lifelong compatriots or go to prison and be separated forever from her son.”

5/31/13- Very good reviews in general and a very good one in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.

6) POST TENEBRAS LUX– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “An affluent couple lives in the Mexican countryside with their two adorable children. But their idyllic surroundings belie a disturbing existence where violence and suffering are commonplace and light and darkness struggle to eliminate one another.”

4/17/13- Early reviews are weak. TRDB.

7) NO PLACE ON EARTH– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary sheds light on a long-untold story of World War II: the 18-month sanctuary of 38 Jewish refugees in a Ukrainian cave. Five surviving members discuss their ordeal, as the film chronicles the accidental discovery of the cave in 1993.”

3/21/13- Just a few reviews and they are all very good. TRDB.

4/5/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

OPENED LAST WEEK (AUG. 9) IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I’VE WRITTEN ABOUT-

 

1) BLOOD– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living in the shadow of their police chief father, two detective brothers commit the ultimate crime while interrogating a suspect, and the fear of being caught turns their lives into a downward spiral of guilt and paranoia.”8/9/13- Poor reviews all around but several critics brought out some good points in the film. TRDB.

2) CHENNAI EXPRESS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “What could have been a sad journey turns into a joyful one for Rahul when he falls in love with a woman en route to submerging his grandfather’s ashes. Exotic landscapes and rousing musical numbers follow as the pair traverses South India.”

8/9/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times for this Bollywood. TRDB.

3) ELYSIUM– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this dystopian thriller set in 2159, the wealthiest humans move to a fabulous private space station, while life on Earth grows ever more grim. With no other options, an ex-con agrees to join a risky mission to bring balance to the two worlds.”

8/9/13- Mixed reviews in general and in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.

4) THE GARDENER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf travels to Jerusalem, capital of the Baha’i faith, which has been outlawed in his native Iran for decades. The film examines Baha’i and captures debates on religion as a whole between the director and his atheist son.”

8/9/13- A good review in today’s NY Times as well as a good review on IMDB. TRDB.

5) THE GOOD SON: THE LIVE OF RAY BOOM BOOM MANCINI– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades after the fateful match in which Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini defeated Duk Koo Kim — which led directly to Kim’s tragic death — Kim’s son comes to meet the man who killed his father.”

8/9/13- Good reviews all around and also in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6) I GIVE IT A YEAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this romantic comedy, newlyweds Nat and Josh find their marriage beginning to fall apart almost immediately after their fairy tale wedding. The couple seeks the advice of a counselor, but both are also tempted by old and new lovers.”

8/3/13- I’ve seen several reviews and they are mixed. TRDB.

8/9/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) IN A WORLD…- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Lake Bell (“Children’s Hospital”) stars in In a World…, a hilarious romantic comedy about a struggling vocal coach who strikes it big in the cutthroat world of movie-trailer voiceovers, only to find herself in direct competition with the industry’s reigning king-her father. Written and directed by Bell, who won the Sundance 2013 Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for the script.”

8/9/13- Good reviews from today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

8)JUG FACE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Teenage Ada is pregnant, which means she’ll make the ideal sacrifice to a monstrous beast that lives in a pit near her backwoods village. When she learns of her fate, however, she flees, leaving the community to cope with the unfed creature’s wrath.”

8/9/13- Today’s NY Times did not like this horror film but most other critics did. TRDB.

9) THE MACHINE WHICH MAKES EVERYTHING DISAPPEAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Tinatin Gurchiani asked auditioning young actors to simply talk about themselves, and turned the engaging results into their own film. This series of mini-interviews creates a fascinating cross-section of Georgia’s young people.”

8/9/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

10) OFF LABEL– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A pair of filmmakers explore the influence of prescription drugs by profiling “off label” pharmaceutical users who take medication in unintended ways. The result is an emotional and sobering look at health and healing.”

8/9/13- Poor reviews from everybody, including the NY Times today. TRDB.

11) THE UNITED STATES OF AUTISM– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Seeking insight and answers for his son, a caring father travels across America to interview individuals and families dealing with autism — and discovers meaningful connections that lead to life-changing experiences for him and those he meets.”

8/9/13- The NY Times gave this a favorable review today but most critics haven’t weighed in yet. Audiences have liked it. TRDB.

12) ZIPPER: CONEY ISLAND’S LAST WILD RIDE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This social documentary highlights Coney Island’s unique charms and the efforts of residents and other advocates to save the area from redevelopment. Among the concerned locals is Eddie Miranda, who’s being forced to close his legendary Zipper ride.”

8/9/13- Good reviews all around. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK (AUG. 16)-

 

1) THE PATIENCE STONE– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes said- “Author Atiq Rahimi’s adapts his own bestselling novel about a Muslim woman whose paralyzed husband unconsciously assumes the role of a magical force, which shields her from the sorrows of life in her war-torn village. Her unnamed Middle Eastern country caught up in an insurrection, the loyal, thirtysomething wife faithfully sits watch over her vegetative husband, who has been all but forgotten by his brothers and fellow Jihadists. Over time, she gathers the courage to tell her husband all of the things she had remained silent about during their 10 years of marriage. Throughout the course of these missives, she speaks frankly of the disappointments, sorrows, and sacrifices that have made her life so difficult throughout the previous decade. Only weeks later, when the isolated wife enters into a relationship with a young soldier, does she begin to reveal the woman who she had kept locked up deep inside ever since the day she was married.”8/6/13- Very good early reviews and I’ll definitely try to see this one. TRDB.

2) AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After escaping prison, Bob Muldoon begins a search for his girlfriend and young daughter, but their reunion doesn’t go as planned: He took the rap for a crime she committed, but now she’s involved with a lawman from their past.”

8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

3) AUSTENLAND– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jane Hayes is so taken with Jane Austen’s novels that she decides to splurge on a trip to an English resort that caters to Austen fans. But when the authentic period romance Jane was promised proves unacceptable, she acts to alter her fate.”

8/6/13- Mixed early reviews. TRDB.

4) CUTIE AND THE BOXER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Explore the work and marriage of Ushio and Noriko Shinohara, who took America’s art scene by storm after leaving Japan for New York. Each has created their own unique space, both in style … and in their 40-year relationship.”

8/6/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5) HAUTE CUISINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on real characters and lives, this food-rich drama recounts Hortense Laborie’s experiences as personal chef for the president of France. After reluctantly accepting the job, Hortense braves the intimidating atmosphere of the Elysee Palace.”

8/6/13- Very good early reviews for this film. TRDB.

6) JOBS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ashton Kutcher delivers a tour de force performance as Apple founder Steve Jobs in this biopic that spans three decades of the entrepreneur’s life. The story follows Jobs from the obscurity of a Palo Alto garage to global fame as a technology icon.”

8/6/13- Early reviews are weak. TRDB.

7) LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history.”

8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This cautionary documentary looks into the consumer implications of pushing the “I Agree” button on commercial and social websites. As more information about us is shared ever more widely, former notions of privacy are becoming obsolete.”6/27/13- Just a few reviews at this time and they are all good. TRDB.

7/12/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

2) 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.”5/14/13- Mixed early reviews. TRDB.

8/6/13- Good reviews all over. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) 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.

2) COCKNEYS VS. ZOMBIES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an attempt to save their granddad’s old age home, slacker Cockneys Terry and Andy team up with three friends to rob a bank. But their caper goes awry when they run afoul of a horde of hungry zombies, who then do battle with the feisty pensioners.”

8/2/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and OK reviews in general. TRDB.

3) MUD- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two Mississippi teens, Ellis and Neckbone, meet a mysterious drifter named Mud hiding on a deserted river island and get caught up in his tangled web of tall tales about bounty hunters, crimes of passion, lost love and a perfect woman named Juniper.”

4/19/13- Very good reviews so far. TRDB.

4/26/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/27/13- As far as I’m concerned this movie could have been titled “Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn Meet Rambo. What a waste! TRDB.

4) PRINCE AVALANCHE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While repainting traffic lines along a burnt-out stretch of rural highway, a mismatched pair — straightlaced Alvin and his girlfriend’s harebrained brother, Lance — form an unlikely bond that builds upon their differences.”

8/3/13- Good reviews all around. TRDB.

8/9/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) 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.

 

REPEATS-

 

 

 

 

 

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history.”8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) IN A WORLD…- Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Lake Bell (“Children’s Hospital”) stars in In a World…, a hilarious romantic comedy about a struggling vocal coach who strikes it big in the cutthroat world of movie-trailer voiceovers, only to find herself in direct competition with the industry’s reigning king-her father. Written and directed by Bell, who won the Sundance 2013 Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for the script.”

8/9/13- Good reviews from today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

3) THE SPECTACULAR NOW–  Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When high school loner Aimee Finicky finds her classmate Sutter Keely passed-out drunk on a lawn, it marks the start of an unlikely friendship. After deciding to help Aimee raise her social confidence, Sutter finds himself falling for his creation.”

7/15/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

8/2/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) THE ARTIST AND THE MODEL– Jacob Burns. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1943, disillusioned by the horrors of two world wars, sculptor Marc Cros gives up his art to live quietly in occupied France. When his wife brings home a young Spanish refugee, her beauty inspires the 80-year-old man to return to work.”

8/2/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews elsewhere. TRDB.

REPEATS-

 

1) BLUE JASMINE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great but after the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. Good but not great. TRDB.

2) THE WAY WAY BACK- Jacob Burns, Bethel.  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.

3) FRUITVALE STATION– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic rendering of a real-life tragedy recounts the final hours of Oscar Grant, shot by San Francisco transit police on New Year’s Day, 2009. In portraying the energy Oscar brought to life, the film mourns the tragic loss of a unique soul.”

6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/12-13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/4/13- An excellent movie with great acting taken from a true story a few years ago. My only objection was some difficulty understanding the conversation at times. TRDB.

4) STILL MINE– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “His home in disrepair, elderly farmer Craig Morrison must build a better shelter for his wife, whose health is deteriorating rapidly. He faces the wrath of an overzealous government inspector but refuses to back down.”

 

 

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB

 

 

AUGUST 8, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLD REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

I’M BACK AFTER A FEW WEEKS AWAY. THIS ISSUE, IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR MATERIAL, WILL INCLUDE MOVIES THAT OPENED DURING THE LAST 3 WEEK THAT I HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN ABOUT.

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES SINCE THE LAST ISSUE-

 

1) THE HUNT– At the Theater

2) GRACELAND– Netflix

3) WOODY ALLEN: A DOCUMENTARY– Netflix Streaming

4) FRUITVALE STATION– At the Theater

5) BLUE JASMINE– At the Theater

 

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MOVIES I SAW AT THE THEATER SINCE THE LAST ISSUE-

 

1) THE HUNT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Lucas is rebuilding his life after a bitter divorce: He has a new job and a girlfriend, and is working on his relationship with his teenage son. But an unfounded accusation of pedophilia changes everything as his community turns against him.”6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/12/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7/27/13- I liked this movie very much but it was one of the most troubling films I’ve ever sat through. TRDB.

2) FRUITVALE STATION– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic rendering of a real-life tragedy recounts the final hours of Oscar Grant, shot by San Francisco transit police on New Year’s Day, 2009. In portraying the energy Oscar brought to life, the film mourns the tragic loss of a unique soul.”

6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/12-13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/4/13- An excellent movie with great acting from a true story a few years ago. My only objection was some difficulty understanding the conversation at times. TRDB.

3) BLUE JASMINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”

7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great but after the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. Good but not great. TRDB.

 

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MOVIES I SAW AT HOME SINCE THE LAST ISSUE-

 

1) THE CALL- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an abducted teenage girl makes a frantic call from the trunk of a serial killer’s speeding car, she connects with a sympathetic 911 operator who’s dealt with the perpetrator in the past.”Mixed early reviews, more negative than positive. TRDB.

3/15/13- The NY Times liked this movie in today’s review but most critics did not. TRDB.

7/24/13- I just couldn’t get into this movie and turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.

2) INTO THE WHITE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the early days of World War II, two military airplanes — one British and one German — are shot down over Norway. Now, the crews of both aircraft are forced to work together in a desperate attempt to survive the harsh winter conditions.”

3/30/13- Mixed reviews but none said that it was very good. TRDB.

7/24/13- I did not like this movie and I turned it off quickly. TRDB. Netflix.

3) GRACELAND– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When criminals accidentally abduct the daughter of chauffeur Marlon Villar instead of the daughter of his longtime boss Manuel Chango, a corrupt Filipino politician, Marlon finds himself caught up in a nightmare of deception and betrayal.”

4/26/13- Very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

7/29/13- A very tense, well acted drama that exposes the sex trade in Manila along with the corruption in daily life. TRDB. Netflix.

4) WOODY ALLEN: A DOCUMENTARY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Iconic and influential director-writer-comedian Woody Allen granted unprecedented access for this in-depth profile of his award-winning career and controversial personal life. Highlights include interviews with collaborators and noted film critics.”

8/1/13- I really enjoyed this documentary and I laughed a lot as well. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

5) NEIGHBORING SOUNDS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A disparate group of upper-middle-class neighbors, including a lonely housewife and a proud grandfather, fear that their apartment building will be overrun by criminals and hire a private security firm, but the watchmen only heighten the problem.”

Here’s what IMDB had to say– “Life in a middle-class neighborhood in present day Recife, Brazil, takes an unexpected turn after the arrival of an independent private security firm. The presence of these men brings a sense of safety and a good deal of anxiety to a culture which runs on fear. Meanwhile, Bia, married and mother of two, must find a way to deal with the constant barking and howling of her neighbor’s dog. A slice of ‘Braziliana’, a reflection on history, violence and noise.”

Very good reviews for this Brazilian movie that was described (not reviewed) in the Arts and Leisure section of the 8/19/12 NY Times. TRDB.

8/5/13- A good cross section of life in Recife, Brazil and the movie was enjoyable if not great. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

6) CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) met in high school, married young and are growing apart. Now thirty, Celeste is the driven owner of her own media consulting firm, Jesse is once again unemployed and in no particular rush to do anything with his life. Celeste is convinced that divorcing Jesse is the right thing to do — she is on her way up, he is on his way nowhere, and if they do it now instead of later, they can remain supportive friends. Jesse passively accepts this transition into friendship, even though he is still in love with her. As the reality of their separation sets in, Celeste slowly and painfully realizes she has been cavalier about their relationship, and her decision, which once seemed mature and progressive, now seems impulsive and selfish. But her timing with Jesse is less than fortuitous…”

Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

8/3/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/8/13- This movie had a few interesting ideas but it was mainly stupid and annoying and I eventually turned it off. TRDB.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 13-

 

1) EMPEROR– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As World War II ends, Gen. MacArthur oversees Japan’s surrender, an act that dispels the nation’s centuries-old beliefs about its emperor. With the eyes of the world — and history — upon them, MacArthur and his protégé will change Japan forever.”3/8/13- Weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

2) I KILLED MY MOTHER– 2009. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Hubert Minel, a brash 17 year old, dislikes his mother intensely. He gauges her with contempt, only seeing her out-of-date sweater, her kitschy décor and the vile bread crumbs that lodge in the corners of her noisy mouth. Below the surface of these irritating traits, lie the ingrained mechanisms that his mother has always cultivated so dearly – manipulation and guilt. Hubert, confused and torn by a love-hate relationship that obsesses him more and more each day, wanders in and out of an adolescence that is both marginal an typical, combining artistic discovery, openness to friendship, ostracism, and sex. All the while, he is consumed by his all encompassing contempt for this woman he somehow once loved.”

3/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. Other critics have liked it as well. TRDB.

3) REALITY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jovial fishmonger and small-time con artist Luciano hopes to enrich his humble family by participating in the Italian version of “Big Brother,” but his obsession with appearing to be an ideal contestant soon has his family doubting his sanity.”

3/15/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

4) THE COMPANY YOU KEEP– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Robert Redford stars as Jim Grant, a lawyer and single dad who has to go on the lam after a reporter identifies him as a long-sought U.S. terrorist. As the journalist locates more of Grant’s old contacts, his guilt begins to appear less certain.”

3/21/13- Fairly good reviews for this Robert Redford movie. TRDB.

4/5/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/19/13- I liked the movie but I felt that there was very little new information here and that I had seen this all before. I think that the talent (and plenty of it) was better than the screenplay.  And what’s with the Hollywood ending? TRDB.

5) 42– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This biopic focuses on the relationship between baseball icon Jackie Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson and in 1947 made him the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era.”

4/12/13- Today’s NY Times gave this movie an OK review basically saying that the movie was good but that it fell into the “hero worship” category. TRDB.

4/19/13- Very disappointed! I really wanted to like this movie but, as written by one critic, it was a superficial historical tribute with very little about the man himself. TRDB.

6) ERRORS OF THE HUMAN BODY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After his infant son dies from a rare genetic mutation, Dr. Geoff Burton moves to Germany to continue his work on a regenerative drug that might have saved the boy’s life. But he soon suspects that something is afoot with his new colleagues.”

4/9/13- I read just 2 reviews and they were both good. TRDB.

7) THE BIG WEDDING– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A long-divorced couple feigns years of wedded bliss to please a special guest at their son’s nuptials: his birth mother. As the hoax spins out of control among family and friends, it leaves behind a poignant and funny tale about the ties that bind.”

4/26/13- A miserable review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8)WHAT MAISIE KNEW– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this updated rendering of the timeless Henry James novel, a perceptive 6-year-old girl becomes a bargaining tool when she gets caught in the midst of a toxic custody fight between her self-seeking, childish parents.”

5/3/13- Great review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews in general. TRDB.

6/21/13- This very good movie was also very difficult to watch most of the time. It was well acted and you have to enjoy the spirit of Maisie who always seemed to “go with it” despite what went on around her. A bit of a Hollywood ending! TRDB.

9) A BAND CALLED DEATH– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blending a larger-than-life family story and a rock documentary, this film follows David, Bobby and Dannis Hackney, three teenage brothers from Detroit who founded the band Death, commonly regarded as the first black punk group, in the early 1970s”

6/14/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

6/28/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews from almost all critics as well. TRDB.

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OPENED DURING THE LAST 3 WEEKS IN ADDITION TO THOSE I’VE WRITTEN ABOUT-

 

JULY 19-

 

1) BIG WORDS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Set in Brooklyn on the eve of Obama’s history-making election, three former members of a promising hip-hop crew cross paths again to discover that some things never change. Former frontman John, once known as Big Words, is now a working class guy who raps only to himself. James is a publicist living with his boyfriend, far removed from the days when he rhymed about getting girls. While DJ Malik still spins records with a longing for the glory days. Together again on the day of a landmark election, the friends reckon with dreams deferred and new hopes.”7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and positive reviews from the few critics who have weighed in. TRDB.

2) BORN TO ROYALTY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this insightful documentary, we celebrate the birth of William and Kate’s baby, the great-grandchild of Elizabeth II with a fascinating portrait of the life that lies ahead for the child who is born to reign.”

7/19/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) BROKEN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this poignant coming-of-age tale, Skunk, a precocious and diabetic 11-year-old, lives happily with her brother and widower father in a suburban English neighborhood until an act of violence initiates her into the often-baffling world of adulthood.”

7/19/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from others. TRDB.

4) CENTRO HISTORICO– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This new omnibus film, a remarkably successful example of a famously cursed form, brings together short films by four renowned and legendary filmmakers – Aki Kaurismäki, Pedro Costa, Víctor Erice, and Manoel de Oliveira. Though unified by a common theme – the producers asked each filmmaker to take their inspiration from the Portuguese city of Guimarães, the European Cultural Capital for 2012, and in particular to reflect on “the stories the city has to tell” – these four short films are radically different from each other. As a whole, CENTRO HISTÓRICO encompasses four unique and varied perspectives on an ancient European city, as well as demonstrating the thrillingly varied range of sensibilities of these visionary filmmakers.”

7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

5) COLOSSUS– 2013. CLARK LARSON (played by Hendrickson), who spent the last 17 years wheeling and dealing in Russia’s twilight of commerce and graft. Now, at the top of his game and before his soul has completely vanished, he decides to “give back” something in return for all he has taken: a film as cautionary tale to illustrate and instruct the audience in “the power of bullshit, lies and intimidation”. To teach this lesson and post this warning, Hendrickson sets out (with no money) to invent a heavy-metal artificial rock band, launch its first national tour across Russia, and make a film to tell the tale.”

7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6) COPPERHEAD– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Believing that the North can’t win the Civil War, upstate New York farmer Abner Beech advocates for a negotiated peace with the South. Though Beech earns the violent disapproval of his neighbors, he demands his right to free speech.”

7/19/13- Poor review in today’s NY Times and from most others as well. TRDB.

7) EVIDENCE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A massacre has just occurred in the desert outside of Los Angeles. With no other evidence, two detectives must analyze the found footage collected from the victims’ personal electronic devices to piece together the identity of the killer.”

7/19/13- Poor reviews from everyone including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8)ONLY GOD FORGIVES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ryan Gosling stars as British gangster Julian, who runs a Bangkok fight club, and Kristin Scott Thomas plays his crime-boss mom in this action thriller. When a cop kills Julian’s brother, the family matriarch flies in from London to oversee revenge.”

7/19/13- Awful review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

9) NICKY’S FAMILY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Prior to World War II, Briton Nicholas Winton masterminded the rescue of more than 600 Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Prague. This emotional documentary recounts Winton’s selfless heroics as well as his 50-year silence about his efforts.”

7/19/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

10) ICEBERG SLIM: PORTRAIT OF A PIMP– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blending archival elements with recent interviews, this biographical portrait tells the remarkable tale of pimp turned author Iceberg Slim, whose gritty books based on his life became bona fide literature.”

7/19/13- Mixed reviews at best including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

11) LA PLAYA D.C.- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Driven from their hometown by civil war, three young Colombian brothers make their way to the capital city of Bogota to try and survive there. One of them, Tomas, learns the barbershop trade while doing his best to keep his brothers out of trouble.”

7/19/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

12) THE ROMEOS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Meet the ROMEOWS (Retired Older Men Eating Out Wednesdays), college buddies now in their 70s who refuse to grow old gracefully. This spirited doc joins the guys as they share a meal, give one another grief and defy every aging myth in the book.”

7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times for this documentary. TRDB.

13) THE ROOFTOP- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Gao and his friends are the happiest kids in the city of Galilee. Living on the rooftops of this bustling metropolis, sometimes life can be tough – but they still churn out songs all day, and dance under the stars at night. But when Gao meets his dream girl, a billboard beauty named Sian, fate takes him on a wild ride through romance, friendship, and gang rivalry, all told through enchanting melodies and stunning dance numbers.”

7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

14) WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Twelve-year-old Sam has a long list of things he want to learn and do — and not much time to accomplish them, thanks to a leukemia diagnosis. This warm-hearted drama follows Sam as he unravels the secrets of his life and his approaching death.”

7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

JULY 26-

1) BREAKING THE GIRLS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “College sophomores Sara and Alex, roommates who’ve become intimate, idly joke about killing each other’s enemies. But now someone’s been murdered. Was one of them taking things too far, or is someone else playing a deadly game with the lovers?”

7/26/13- Poor reviews all around, including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) BLUE JASMINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”

7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great but after the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. Good but not great. TRDB.

3) DRUG WAR– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an illegal-drug manufacturer gets arrested after a wild attempt to evade capture, police captain Zhang Lei senses an opportunity. But after convincing the man to betray his own cronies, Zhang wonders if he’s not the one being played.”

7/26/13- This movie really sounded stupid but it’s actually gotten some good reviews including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As they push into Germany near the end of World War II, Russian troops discover that the Nazis have used the research of legendary scientist Victor Frankenstein to create monstrous new soldiers that are pieced together from body parts of the dead.”

7/16/13- Some good reviews including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) NEANDER-JIN: THE RETURN OF THE NEANDERTHAL MAN– Synopsis by Netflix. “When a Neanderthal man suddenly appears in her back yard, Barbara realizes his importance and strives to protect him from exploitation. But things get a bit complicated when she discovers that she has romantic feelings for the big lug.”

7/26/13- An awful review in today’s NY Times but other critics have liked it. TRDB.

6) POSTALES– 2010- Synopsis by Netflix. “This cross-cultural drama brings together the lives of two very different families — American and Peruvian — in the dusty village of Cusco, Peru, via an encounter between a local street urchin and a young American tourist.”

7/26/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) RED TIDE– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Red tide, a toxic algae bloom, infiltrates a small Florida town leaving its economy in ruin, and forcing the local fishermen and divers to do whatever they can to make a living. Alex Nikoladis returns home from prison to find that his older brother is wrapped up in a world of drugs, lies and denial. Now Alex’s only hope for redemption from his rebellious past is to rescue his brother and return to the family trade of sponge diving, that is, without drowning in the red tide himself.”

7/26/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8)STRANDED– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being bombarded by a meteor shower, the crew of a lunar space station discovers the meteors harbor alien spores, which replicate and mutate into a shape-shifting predatory life form hell-bent on destroying the astronauts one by one.”

7/26/13- Poor review in today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

9) THE TO DO LIST– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this racy ensemble comedy, sexually inexperienced high school graduate Brandy Klark comes up with a list of erotic activities she’d like to work her way through before heading off to college in the fall.”

7/26/13- A surprisingly good review good review in today’s NY Times but only fair ones in general. TRDB.

10) WASTELAND– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Looking for seed money for a business venture — and some retribution — recent parolee Harvey Miller teams with his three best friends to rob Steven Roper, the drug lord responsible for Harvey’s stint behind bars.

7/26/13- A decent review in today’s NY Times but other critics have not been as kind. TRDB.

11) THE WOLVERINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Enigmatic superhero Wolverine travels to the Land of the Rising Sun in this kaleidoscopic battle epic based on the Marvel Comics character. There, Wolverine confronts his long-time adversary Logan in a spectacular battle that rattles the universe.”

7/26/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

AUGUST 2-

1) THE CANYONS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While calculating young movie producer Christian makes films to keep his trust fund intact, his actress girlfriend, Tara, hides an affair. But a chance meeting thrusts them into a violent, sexually-charged tour through the dark side of human nature.”

8/2/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and similar reviews elsewhere. TRDB.

2) BREAKUP AT A WEDDING– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “On the eve of their wedding, Alison gets cold feet and decides to break up with her fiancé Phil. But rather than face the embarrassment of calling off the ceremony, Alison suggests to Phil that they proceed with a sham wedding.”

8/2/13- A barely OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) COCKNEYS VS. ZOMBIES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an attempt to save their granddad’s old age home, slacker Cockneys Terry and Andy team up with three friends to rob a bank. But their caper goes awry when they run afoul of a horde of hungry zombies, who then do battle with the feisty pensioners.”

8/2/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and OK reviews in general. TRDB.

4) JAMEL SHABAZZ STREET PHOTOGRAPHER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “New York street culture photographer Jamel Shabazz’s images defined the visual impact of hip-hop culture, a style that quickly led to mainstream success. This character-rich documentary includes interviews with musicians and historians of the 1970s.”

8/2/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and a few good reviews from other sources. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK (AUG. 9)-

 

1) ASHLEY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “At age 17, Ashley isn’t connecting with anyone — not her estranged mother and certainly not the other kids at school. So she starts cutting herself. But an online relationship with an older woman offers hope of acceptance for the isolated teen.”8/3/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

2) I GIVE IT A YEAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this romantic comedy, newlyweds Nat and Josh find their marriage beginning to fall apart almost immediately after their fairy tale wedding. The couple seeks the advice of a counselor, but both are also tempted by old and new lovers.”

8/3/13- I’ve seen several reviews and they are mixed. TRDB.

3) 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.”

8/2/13- Mixed reviews. TRDB.

4) PRINCE AVALANCHE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While repainting traffic lines along a burnt-out stretch of rural highway, a mismatched pair — straightlaced Alvin and his girlfriend’s harebrained brother, Lance — form an unlikely bond that builds upon their differences.”

8/3/13- Good reviews all around. TRDB.

5) WE’RE THE MILLERS– Synopsis by Netflix. “When a small-time pot dealer gets mugged, he needs to find a way to pay back his supplier. Agreeing to smuggle in a major stash from Mexico, he rounds up a fake family to act as his cover, and they head for the border in an RV.”

8/7/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and from nearly everyone else as well. TRDB.

 

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse- (Aug. 9)

 

1) BLACKFISH– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fascinating documentary examines the life of performing killer whale Tilikum — who has caused the deaths of several people while in captivity — and questions the safety and humaneness of confining these intelligent creatures.”7/3/13- Just a few reviews and they are all good. TRDB.

7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) BROKEN- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this poignant coming-of-age tale, Skunk, a precocious and diabetic 11-year-old, lives happily with her brother and widower father in a suburban English neighborhood until an act of violence initiates her into the often-baffling world of adulthood.”7/19/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from others. TRDB.

 

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) BROKEN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this poignant coming-of-age tale, Skunk, a precocious and diabetic 11-year-old, lives happily with her brother and widower father in a suburban English neighborhood until an act of violence initiates her into the often-baffling world of adulthood.”7/19/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from others. TRDB.

2) THE CANYONS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While calculating young movie producer Christian makes films to keep his trust fund intact, his actress girlfriend, Tara, hides an affair. But a chance meeting thrusts them into a violent, sexually-charged tour through the dark side of human nature.”

8/2/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and similar reviews elsewhere. TRDB.

3) I GIVE IT A YEAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this romantic comedy, newlyweds Nat and Josh find their marriage beginning to fall apart almost immediately after their fairy tale wedding. The couple seeks the advice of a counselor, but both are also tempted by old and new lovers.”

8/3/13- I’ve seen several reviews and they are mixed. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) ADMISSION- Weak reviews 

 

Cablevision Link– http://www.optimum.net/VOD/movies?cat=Movies+On+Demand%2FIndependent+Films%2FIFC+In+Theaters

 

DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp

Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com

 

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) LOVELACE– Bethel, Clearview 100.  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.”8/2/13- Mixed reviews. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) BLUE JASMINE–  Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great but after the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. Good but not great. TRDB.

2) STILL MINE– Bethel. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “His home in disrepair, elderly farmer Craig Morrison must build a better shelter for his wife, whose health is deteriorating rapidly. He faces the wrath of an overzealous government inspector but refuses to back down.”

6/27/13- Great reviews. TRDB.

7/19/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) THE WAY WAY BACK- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100.  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.

4) FRUITVALE STATION– Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic rendering of a real-life tragedy recounts the final hours of Oscar Grant, shot by San Francisco transit police on New Year’s Day, 2009. In portraying the energy Oscar brought to life, the film mourns the tragic loss of a unique soul.”

6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/12-13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/4/13- An excellent movie with great acting from a true story a few years ago. My only objection was some difficulty understanding the conversation at times. TRDB.

5) BLACKFISH– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fascinating documentary examines the life of performing killer whale Tilikum — who has caused the deaths of several people while in captivity — and questions the safety and humaneness of confining these intelligent creatures.”

7/3/13- Just a few reviews and they are all good. TRDB.

7/19/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) THE ATTACK– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “An Arab Israeli physician offers assistance at the scene of a gruesome suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and then learns that the bomber was his own wife. Stunned and furious, he sets out to confront the people who encouraged her deadly decision.”

6/7/13- Only a few reviews so far but they are all excellent. TRDB.

6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/30/13- A riveting thriller that according to one critic is about politics, love and betrayal. I can’t agree more. TRDB.

 

 

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB

JULY 18, 2913

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLD REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

 

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) ELENA– Netflix Streaming

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) MUSEUM HOURS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Anne arrives in Vienna to visit an ailing relative, she takes refuge in the Kunsthistorisches Museum and befriends Johann, a guard. Director Jem Cohen blends fiction and documentary in this meditation on how art and the world shape each other.”6/28/13- Great reviews all around including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7/17/13- While parts of this movie were both novel and interesting the movie itself was a bit boring and the one relationship in the film went nowhere. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) ELENA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Middle-aged Elena is a meek wife to her emotionally distant second husband, Vladimir. When he decides to leave his riches to his estranged daughter, Elena chooses to take drastic action to provide for her own adult son.”Rotten Tomatoes had this to say– “Winner of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize, Elena is a gripping, modern twist on the classic noir thriller. Sixty-ish spouses Vladimir and Elena uneasily share his palatial Moscow apartment-he’s a still-virile, wealthy businessman; she’s his dowdy former nurse who has clearly “married up.” Estranged from his own wild-child daughter, Vladimir openly despises his wife’s freeloading son and family. But when a sudden illness and an unexpected reunion threaten the dutiful housewife’s potential inheritance, she must hatch a desperate plan. Very good early reviews. TRDB.

7/16/13- Well acted, slow paced and I found it interesting. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JULY 23-

 

1) THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt’s growing ego. But lately the duo’s greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they’ve grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there’s still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act-both onstage and off-if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.”3/15/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times and mostly negative reviews from others as well. TRDB.

2) THE JEFFREY DAHMER FILES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Stripping away the headlines and hype, this documentary spotlights the people who surrounded serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer during and after his arrest. Comments by neighbors and police create a portrait of Dahmer that’s disturbingly normal.”

2/15/13– A fairly good review for this documentary in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) LOOSE CANNONS– 2009. Premise by Netflix. “This fiery comedy from director Ferzan Ozpetek finds young Tommaso (Riccardo Scamarcio) about to reveal to his large, frenetic Italian family that he’s gay. But he’s beaten to the punch by his older brother, who is promptly disinherited by their furious father. Tommaso is then put in charge of the family’s pasta factory, and while he tries hard to be a successful businessman, it’s difficult for him to hide his true feelings.”

Winner at 2011 Palm Springs Film Festival.

4) VEHICLE 19– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Recent parolee Michael Woods unsuspectingly rents a car that ends up entangling him in a dangerous web of corruption involving the local police. With his future freedom at stake, Michael has to decide whether to flee or to try and be a good citizen.”

6/14/13- Weak reviews all around including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) THE SILENCE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When 13-year-old Sinikka goes missing from the same spot where another girl was murdered 23 years earlier, a retired investigator teams up with a younger colleague to unravel the parallel mysteries.”3/8/13- Good reviews all around including today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6) PIETA– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Kang-do, an enforcer for a loan shark in a destitute area of Seoul, is unrelentingly brutal in his collection of debts. But when a mysterious woman appears and claims that she is his mother, Kang-do finds himself developing a hunger for human warmth.”

5/4/13- Early reviews look pretty good. TRDB.

5/17/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times although most people will shun the film because of its violence. TRDB.

5/20/13- Yes, it was at times violent and yes, it was strange as well but this Korean movie was also riveting and I couldn’t turn it off. Certainly not for everyone. TRDB.

7) GRACELAND– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When criminals accidentally abduct the daughter of chauffeur Marlon Villar instead of the daughter of his longtime boss Manuel Chango, a corrupt Filipino politician, Marlon finds himself caught up in a nightmare of deception and betrayal.”

4/26/13- Very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

8)LOVE AND HONOR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dalton, serving in Vietnam, gets a “Dear John” letter and turns a week’s furlough into a desperate (and illegal) trip home to win back his girl. Joined by his friend and fellow soldier Mickey, Dalton’s move could land them both in the stockade.”

3/14/13- Just a few early reviews and they are mixed. TRDB.

3/22/13- An awful review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9) GINGER & ROSA– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “With the Cold War looming over them, teen best pals Ginger and Rosa share everything in early 1960s London — until betrayal drives them apart. Sally Potter directs this intimate period drama steeped in the anxieties of the dawning nuclear age.”

3/3/13- Mixed early reviews. TRDB.

3/15/13- Good review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.

3/31/13- Despite being slow paced, good acting and some interesting characters made this movie enjoyable. TRDB.

10) STARBUCK- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A fortysomething slacker’s life is turned upside down when he learns that his many sperm donations have resulted in more than 500 children — 100 of whom are now suing to meet their father, who’s desperate to keep his identity a secret.”

Friends saw this at the Palm Springs Film Festival and loved it. TRDB.

3/22/13- Today’s NY Times gave this an OK review. TRDB.

4/7/13- A fun screenplay with very good acting made this movie most enjoyable. I liked it very much. TRDB.

11) ARCADIA- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A coming-of-age story set in a vast, cross-country landscape, Arcadia begins when twelve-year-old Greta’s dad Tom (Academy Award nominated actor John Hawkes) wakes her up before dawn and crams her and her two siblings into a dented station wagon. They set off on a 3,000 mile journey from the New England woods to the California desert. On the way, Tom tells enchanting stories, paints pictures of a California paradise, and assures the kids that Mom will soon join them.”

4/12/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, JULY 30-

1) FILLY BROWN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Offered a chance to be a star, a young rapper must decide whether to go for the gold or remain true to herself and the friends who’ve helped her. Meanwhile, her family struggles, with her mom in jail and her ex-gangbanger dad trying to go straight.”

4/19/13- Mixed professional reviews but audiences have liked this movie. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 6-

1) MUD– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two Mississippi teens, Ellis and Neckbone, meet a mysterious drifter named Mud hiding on a deserted river island and get caught up in his tangled web of tall tales about bounty hunters, crimes of passion, lost love and a perfect woman named Juniper.”

4/19/13- Very good reviews so far. TRDB.

4/26/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/27/13- As far as I’m concerned this movie could have been titled “Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn Meet Rambo. What a waste! TRDB.

2) THE STORY OF LUKE– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A comedy about Luke, a young man with autism who embarks on a quest for a job and a girlfriend. Starring Lou Taylor Pucci, Seth Green, Cary Elwes and Kristin Bauer. Written and Directed by Alonso Mayo, based on his experiences at Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú, as seen in his research documentary “Just Like Anyone”. Winner of Best Film at Irvine International Film Festival & San Diego Film Festival, and Audience Awards at Fort Lauderdale Film Festival & Bahamas International Film Festival”

7/15/13- Good reviews. TRDB.

3) 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.

4) PARADISE: LOVE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Teresa, a 50-year-old Austrian, vacations on Kenya’s sun-kissed shores looking for love among the local beach boys who survive on European “sugar mamas.” She falls for Munga, but soon realizes that his false sincerity is part of the sex tourism game.”

7/15/13- Mixed reviews but all said it was a disturbing movie. TRDB.

5) ADMISSION– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While scouting applicants at an experimental high school, Ivy League admissions officer Portia Nathan discovers that the school’s founder is her former college classmate John Halsey — and that she may have a connection to one of his students.”

3/14/13- Mixed reviews at best. TRDB.

3/22/13- A barely OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6) THE SAPPHIRES–  2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “The spirit and vitality of 1960s soul music are at the core of this film about a real-life Australian aborigine singing group and their bumpy career. Three sisters and a cousin are brought together as the Sapphires by a talent scout with a plan”

3/14/13- Excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

3/22/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) ON THE ROAD– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “At the height of the Beat era, New York writer Sal Paradise, his freewheeling buddy Dean, and Dean’s wife set out on a journey of self-discovery. Their cross-country quest for answers reflects the American character, attitudes and values of the time.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5/27/12- A mention about this movie in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

12/21/12- A weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY, JULY 12, IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT ON JULY 11-

 

1) ASSAULTED- CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER FIRE– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A documentary that brings audiences to the center of the controversy over the issue that is dividing our nation – gun control. Narrated by Ice-T, critically acclaimed rapper and actor, the film takes a critical look at current gun laws and the rising movement to restrict the rights guaranteed by our Second Amendment.”7/12/13- Today’s NY Times review said that this documentary was too one-sided to be good and most other reviewers agreed. TRDB.

2) BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Award-winning filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (writer/director of the BAFTA-nominated Rang De Basanti starring Aamir Khan) returns with his newest film BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG telling the true story of the “Flying Sikh” – world champion runner and Olympian Milkha Singh. Played by acclaimed actor Farhan Akhtar, Singh overcame the bloody massacre of his family, civil war during the India-Pakistan partition, and homelessness to become one of India’s most iconic athletes.”

7/12/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) 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.

4) EXIT ELENA– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “With no place to call home, 19-year-old Elena takes a job as a live-in aide. She finds herself thrust into the middle of a family in crisis: all the things that go on between a father, grandmother, mother, and cat. Eventually, Elena strikes something of a balance though… That is, until the prodigal son returns home. Placing fictional characters alongside real people, ‘Exit Elena’ is shot through with all the rough edges inherent to family life and home movie form – in short, it’s a dark comedy.”

7/12/13- A pretty good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) THE HOT FLASHES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A group of middle-aged women — all former basketball champs — come together to challenge the current all-star high school team in a fun-filled, fast-paced tournament to raise money for breast cancer prevention.”

7/12/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

6) KILLING SEASON– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tormented by memories of combat in the Bosnian War, American vet Benjamin Ford seeks peace of mind deep in the Appalachian Mountains. But when a Bosnian vet of the same war comes to settle a score, a new war erupts in the American wilderness.”

7/12/13- Poor reviews all around including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

7) PAWN SHOP CHRONICLES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. The stories of a man searching for his abducted wife, a couple of white-supremacist meth heads and a sad sack Elvis impersonator find a common link through items in a small Southern town’s local pawn shop … and a wild goose chase ensues.”7/12/13- Awful reviews all over. TRDB.

8)THE SHINE OF DAY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Philipp Hochmair is a serious young actor who absorbs himself so fully in his stage characters that he begins to lose touch with his own reality. When his uncle comes to visit, the two men slowly shed their differences and develop a strong bond.”

7/12/13- A fairly good review in today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

9) VIOLA– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Viola, a bike courier in Buenos Aires, unexpectedly joins an all-female Shakespeare troupe that’s rehearsing for a production of “Twelfth Night.” As she grows comfortable with her fellow actresses, the line between life and art begins to blur.”

7/12/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK- JULY 19-

 

1) 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.

2) THE ACT OF KILLING– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This unique documentary recalls the bloody era in Indonesia when pro-government death squads slaughtered more than a million suspected Communists. Now in positions of power, two ex-squad leaders gleefully reenact their atrocities for the filmmakers.

7/3/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

3) BLACKFISH- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fascinating documentary examines the life of performing killer whale Tilikum — who has caused the deaths of several people while in captivity — and questions the safety and humaneness of confining these intelligent creatures.”

7/3/13- Just a few reviews and they are all good. TRDB.

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OPENING JULY 26-

 

1) THE TIME BEING– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Awash in seductive cinematography, this engrossing drama explores the enigmatic relationship between a struggling young artist and his testy, reclusive benefactor who’s trying to come to terms with his mortality.”Here’s what Rotten Tomatoes had to say– “Daniel (Wes Bentley) is a struggling young artist whose ambitions have pushed his marriage to the brink. When a reclusive millionaire named Warner (Frank Langella) purchases one of his pieces, he hopes for additional commissions from a new benefactor. Instead, Werner offers him a series of increasingly bizarre surveillance assignments. As Daniel starts to unravel the secrets behind the requests, he must determine if Warner is out to further his career or ruin his life.”

7/15/13- A few good early reviews. TRDB.

2) BLUE JASMINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”

7/15/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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OPENING AUGUST 2-

1) THE ARTIST AND THE MODEL– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1943, disillusioned by the horrors of two world wars, sculptor Marc Cros gives up his art to live quietly in occupied France. When his wife brings home a young Spanish refugee, her beauty inspires the 80-year-old man to return to work.”

7/15/13- A few early OK reviews. TRDB.

2) EUROPA REPORT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this nail-biting thriller, a private space-exploration company sends six astronauts to determine whether Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, can sustain life — and what they find terrifies and transforms them.”

6/28/13- Reviews are fairly good for this sci-fi thriller. TRDB.

3) OUR CHILDREN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on a true story, this intense drama follows young Belgian Murielle, who marries Moroccan-born Mounier. As their four children arrive in rapid succession and Mounier’s intrusive guardian runs their lives, Murielle grows increasingly desperate.”

7/15/13- Early reviews are good for this movie. TRDB.

4) THE SPECTACULAR NOW- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When high school loner Aimee Finicky finds her classmate Sutter Keely passed-out drunk on a lawn, it marks the start of an unlikely friendship. After deciding to help Aimee raise her social confidence, Sutter finds himself falling for his creation.”

7/15/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5) RISING FROM ASHES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This film follows Rwanda’s first national cycling team as they struggle to move past their country’s horrific genocide and make it to the 2012 Olympics. Coached by cycling legend Jock Boyer, the eclectic group fights against huge obstacles.”

7/15/13- Early reviews appear good. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Upon the death of a celebrated playwright, his actor friends gather to view a recording of his play in which they’ve all appeared over the years. As they watch, memories take them back to their stage roles, and each reflects on life, love and death.”5/25/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

6/7/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) WHAT MAISIE KNEW-  2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this updated rendering of the timeless Henry James novel, a perceptive 6-year-old girl becomes a bargaining tool when she gets caught in the midst of a toxic custody fight between her self-seeking, childish parents.”4/21/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5/3/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/21/13- This very good movie was also very difficult to watch most of the time. It was well acted and you have to enjoy the spirit of Maisie who always seemed to “go with it” despite what went on around her. A bit of a Hollywood ending! TRDB.  

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) 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.

REPEATS-

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) THE HUNT– Jacob Burns. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Lucas is rebuilding his life after a bitter divorce: He has a new job and a girlfriend, and is working on his relationship with his teenage son. But an unfounded accusation of pedophilia changes everything as his community turns against him.”

6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/12/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) STILL MINE– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “His home in disrepair, elderly farmer Craig Morrison must build a better shelter for his wife, whose health is deteriorating rapidly. He faces the wrath of an overzealous government inspector but refuses to back down.”

6/27/13- Great reviews. TRDB.

3) GIRL MOST LIKELY– Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Synopsis by Netflix. 2013. After staging an unsuccessful suicide to get her boyfriend’s attention, a struggling playwright moves back home to live with her mother, her mother’s boyfriend and a handsome lodger who sings with a Backstreet Boys cover band.”

7/16/13- Bad reviews from most critics. TRDB.

4) RED 2– 2013. Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ex-CIA agent Frank Moses and his crew return for another high-stakes mission, scouring the globe for a missing nuclear device. Along the way, they’ll face off against assassins, terrorists and corrupt government officials.”

7/16/13- Poor reviews for this stupid sounding movie. What’s Bethel Cinema coming to? TRDB.

5) I’M SO EXCITED– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a flight bound for Mexico City runs into trouble, the frightened passengers aboard start sharing their deepest secrets to distract themselves from impending doom — with hilarious results.”

6/28/13- Mixed review in general and a very weak one in today’s NY Times for this latest by Almodovar. TRDB.

REPEATS-

 

1) THE WAY WAY BACK– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

2) THE ATTACK– Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “An Arab Israeli physician offers assistance at the scene of a gruesome suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and then learns that the bomber was his own wife. Stunned and furious, he sets out to confront the people who encouraged her deadly decision.”

6/7/13- Only a few reviews so far but they are all excellent. TRDB.

6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/30/13- A riveting thriller that according to one critic is about politics, love and betrayal. I can’t agree more. TRDB.

3) 20 FEET FROM STARDOM– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of backup vocalists in this documentary that weaves interviews with legendary singers like Bruce Springsteen and Bette Midler with the comments of those whose voices support them.”

6/5/13- A few early reviews for this documentary, some positive and some negative. TRDB.

6/14/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) FILL THE VOID– Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Eighteen-year-old Shira (Hada Yaron) is the youngest daughter of the family and is about to be married off to a very promising young man of the same age. On Purim, her twenty-eight-year-old sister, Esther (Renana Raz), dies during childbirth, leaving her husband to care for the child and postponing Shira’s promised match. When the girls’ mother finds out that Yochay may leave the country with her only grandchild, she proposes a match between Shira and the widower, which leaves Shira to choose between her heart’s wish and her family’s wish to keep the child with them.

5/14/13- I saw this excellent movie as part of  a Jewish Film Festival this year. I definitely recommend it. TRDB.

5) BEFORE MIDNIGHT– Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Before Midnight is an upcoming American romance drama film and the sequel to Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004). Like its predecessors, the film was directed by Richard Linklater. As with the previous film, Linklater shares screenplay credit with both actors from the movies, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy”

5/13/13- Uniformly excellent reviews. TRDB.

5/24/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/11/13- An excellent movie that beautifully depicted the tensions that exist between spouses even when they deeply love each other. TRDB.

 

 

JULY 11, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLDER REVIEWS AT www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) A HIJACKING– Theater

2) UNFINISHED SONG– Theater

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) A HIJACKING– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tension mounts when a Danish cargo ship bound for harbor is hijacked by Somali pirates and held for a hefty ransom in the millions, prompting the shipping company’s CEO to hire a professional negotiator.”6/7/13- Uniformly good reviews. TRDB.

6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7/5/13- A well done suspenseful drama. I liked it very much. TRDB. A HIJACKING– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tension mounts when a Danish cargo ship bound for harbor is hijacked by Somali pirates and held for a hefty ransom in the millions, prompting the shipping company’s CEO to hire a professional negotiator.”

6/7/13- Uniformly good reviews. TRDB.

6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7/5/13- A well done suspenseful drama. I liked it very much. TRDB.

2) UNFINISHED SONG– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his wife Marion terminally ill, 72-year-old Arthur sees a future that’s nothing but grim. But when he takes Marion’s place in their church’s very unconventional choir, he begins to find joy in life again.”

6/7/13- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

6/21/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7/7/13- A very enjoyable movie about an older couple and their adjustment to old age. A bit schmaltzy at times but definitely worth seeing. TRDB.

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME- NONE

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JULY 16-

 

1) THE END OF LOVE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After the mother of his 2-year-old son dies, a struggling actor must grow up as he grapples with his new responsibilities — and meeting a young mother forces him to face up to the things he’s been avoiding.”3/1/13- Today’s NY Times gave this movie a weak review. TRDB.

6/27/13- Mostly good reviews but a few poor ones. TRDB.

2) HUNKY DORY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Minnie Driver plays a drama teacher who challenges her listless students to put on a pop-musical version of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” Set in 1976, the film features plenty of teen angst as well as the teacher’s search for a substitute Prospero.”

3/14/13- Early reviews are mixed but more positive than negative. TRDB.

3/22/13- The NY Times gave this movie an OK review today. TRDB.

 

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OPENED LAST WEEK (JULY 5) IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT ON JULY 4-

 

1) A GIRL AND A GUN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A symbol of power and danger, the gun has served as an American cultural icon since the nation’s founding — but nearly always in the hands of men. This documentary moves the focus to women and their changing attitudes about guns in society.”7/5/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

2) THE LOOK OF LOVE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This bittersweet biopic chronicles the over-the-top life of Paul Raymond, England’s Hugh Hefner, from nightclub mind reader to burlesque impresario. When not putting nude women on stage, he indulges in every excess and nearly destroys his family.”

7/5/13- Very mixed reviews- more negative than positive. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.

3) OF BY FOR– 2013. Synopsis by IMDB. “A journey across America’s Route 66 finds a country united in disappointment with the status quo in Washington. Citizens from all walks of life discuss money in politics, divisive campaign tactics, broken promises and the helpless feeling that as the election nears they must choose between the lesser of two evils”

7/5/13- Reviewed in today’s NY Times with a weak review. I couldn’t find any others. TRDB.

 

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OPENING THIS WEEK (JULY 12)-

 

1) DEALIN’ WITH IDIOTS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Comedian Max Morris decides to take on the challenge of managing his son’s youth baseball team, which also means taking on the kids’ parents. Jeff Garlin directs and stars in this semi-improvised comedy about youthful and grown-up ambition.”6/27/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

2) FRUITVALE STATION– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic rendering of a real-life tragedy recounts the final hours of Oscar Grant, shot by San Francisco transit police on New Year’s Day, 2009. In portraying the energy Oscar brought to life, the film mourns the tragic loss of a unique soul.”

6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

3) THE HUNT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Lucas is rebuilding his life after a bitter divorce: He has a new job and a girlfriend, and is working on his relationship with his teenage son. But an unfounded accusation of pedophilia changes everything as his community turns against him.”

6/27/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4) STILL MINE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “His home in disrepair, elderly farmer Craig Morrison must build a better shelter for his wife, whose health is deteriorating rapidly. He faces the wrath of an overzealous government inspector but refuses to back down.”

6/27/13- Great reviews. TRDB.

5) TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This cautionary documentary looks into the consumer implications of pushing the “I Agree” button on commercial and social websites. As more information about us is shared ever more widely, former notions of privacy are becoming obsolete.”

6/27/13- Just a few reviews at this time and they are all good. TRDB.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) PIETA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Kang-do, an enforcer for a loan shark in a destitute area of Seoul, is unrelentingly brutal in his collection of debts. But when a mysterious woman appears and claims that she is his mother, Kang-do finds himself developing a hunger for human warmth.”5/4/13- Early reviews look pretty good. TRDB.

5/17/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times although most people will shun the film because of its violence. TRDB.

5/20/13- Yes, it was at times violent and yes, it was strange as well but this Korean movie was also riveting and I couldn’t turn it off. Certainly not for everyone. TRDB.

2) AUGUSTINE-  2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When teenager Augustine — diagnosed as a “hysteric” — is incarcerated in a hospital for the mentally ill in 1885, she becomes the pet patient of prominent neurologist Professor Charcot in this drama based on the real relationship between the two.”5/4/13- Just a few early reviews and they are all very good. TRDB.

5/17/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW- NONE THAT I CAN RECOMMEND

 

REPEATS-

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

 

THERE ARE NO MOVIES AT EITHER THE SAW MILL HAWTHORNE OR THE DANBURY MULTIPLEX TO RECOMMEND.

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) THE WAY WAY BACK– Jacob Burns. 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.

 

REPEATS-

 

1)  UNFINISHED SONG– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his wife Marion terminally ill, 72-year-old Arthur sees a future that’s nothing but grim. But when he takes Marion’s place in their church’s very unconventional choir, he begins to find joy in life again.”6/7/13- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

6/21/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7/7/13- A very enjoyable movie about an older couple and their adjustment to old age. A bit schmaltzy at times but definitely worth seeing. TRDB.

2) THE ATTACK– Bethel, Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “An Arab Israeli physician offers assistance at the scene of a gruesome suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and then learns that the bomber was his own wife. Stunned and furious, he sets out to confront the people who encouraged her deadly decision.”

6/7/13- Only a few reviews so far but they are all excellent. TRDB.

6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/30/13- A riveting thriller that according to one critic is about politics, love and betrayal. I can’t agree more. TRDB.

3) 20 FEET FROM STARDOM– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of backup vocalists in this documentary that weaves interviews with legendary singers like Bruce Springsteen and Bette Midler with the comments of those whose voices support them.”

6/5/13- A few early reviews for this documentary, some positive and some negative. TRDB.

6/14/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4)  A HIJACKING– Bethel. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tension mounts when a Danish cargo ship bound for harbor is hijacked by Somali pirates and held for a hefty ransom in the millions, prompting the shipping company’s CEO to hire a professional negotiator.”

6/7/13- Uniformly good reviews. TRDB.

6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7/5/13- A well done suspenseful drama. I liked it very much. TRDB.

5) FILL THE VOID– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Eighteen-year-old Shira (Hada Yaron) is the youngest daughter of the family and is about to be married off to a very promising young man of the same age. On Purim, her twenty-eight-year-old sister, Esther (Renana Raz), dies during childbirth, leaving her husband to care for the child and postponing Shira’s promised match. When the girls’ mother finds out that Yochay may leave the country with her only grandchild, she proposes a match between Shira and the widower, which leaves Shira to choose between her heart’s wish and her family’s wish to keep the child with them.

5/14/13- I saw this excellent movie as part of  a Jewish Film Festival this year. I definitely recommend it. TRDB.

6)  BEFORE MIDNIGHT– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Before Midnight is an upcoming American romance drama film and the sequel to Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004). Like its predecessors, the film was directed by Richard Linklater. As with the previous film, Linklater shares screenplay credit with both actors from the movies, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy”

5/13/13- Uniformly excellent reviews. TRDB.

5/24/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/11/13- An excellent movie that beautifully depicted the tensions that exist between spouses even when they deeply love each other. TRDB.

7) THE BLING RING– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on fact, this comic thriller tracks the saga of the Hollywood Hills Burglar Bunch, who used the Web to time their robberies of stars’ homes. The teenage band stole millions in cash, jewelry and other items from victims including Paris Hilton.”

6/14/13- Mixed reviews in general and a weak one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

 

 

 

JULY 4, 2013

JUNE 27, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLDER REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) WHAT MAISIE KNEW– At theTheater

2) SUPPORTING CHARACTERS– Netflix Streaming

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) WHAT MAISIE KNEW– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this updated rendering of the timeless Henry James novel, a perceptive 6-year-old girl becomes a bargaining tool when she gets caught in the midst of a toxic custody fight between her self-seeking, childish parents.”4/21/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5/3/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/21/13- This very good movie was also very difficult to watch most of the time. It was well acted and you have to enjoy the spirit of Maisie who always seemed to “go with it” despite what went on around her and to her. A bit of a Hollywood ending! TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) THE TASTE OF MONEY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this suspenseful erotic drama, the private male secretary and lover of Madam Baek, a Korean conglomerate’s middle-aged matriarch, falls for her more genuine daughter. Meanwhile, Madam Baek’s husband has an affair with the Filipino nanny.”1/25/13- Mostly negative reviews but the NY Times liked this film very much. TRDB.

6/21/13- I have to agree with the “NO” votes. Bad, bad and I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.

2) DOWN THE SHORE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Susan (Maria Dizzia) dies from a terminal illness in Paris, her tour guide journeys to New Jersey to deliver Susan’s ashes and a letter to her brother, Bailey (James Gandolfini). The letter triggers revelations of dark secrets, murder and betrayal. The shocking news shakes up the lives of Bailey, his old friend, Wiley (Joe Pope), and Wiley’s wife — and Bailey’s ex-lover — Mary (Famke Janssen) in this gritty drama.”

4/5/13- Fair professional reviews in general and in today’s NY Times but audiences have liked this film very much. TRDB. Netflix.

6/24/13- If James Gandolfini (the star of this movie) hadn’t died last week I would have turned this movie off. Ridiculous screenplay made only somewhat believable by Gandolfini’s acting. TRDB. Netflix.

3) SUPPORTING CHARACTERS– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Crack film editors Nick and Darryl are hired to save a movie in desperate need of their skills, a gig that turns out to be filled with bad luck. Both men’s relationships are upended and their partnership is tested by the film’s delusional director.”

1/25/13- Good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

6/25/13-  I enjoyed this low budget movie about personal relationships and professional relationships. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JULY 2-

 

1) THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NICOLAE CEAUSESCU– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Track the rise and fall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu through this innovative historical documentary, which constructs his portrait by only using archival footage from speeches, pubic appearances, international visits and home movies. Culling more than 1,000 hours of recordings, director Andrei Ujica spent four years creating this detailed epic, which strives to reveal the powerful leader’s true character.”9/9/11- Good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) THE GIRL- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “While transporting illegal immigrants across the Texas border, a cash-strapped single mother finds herself caring for a young Mexican girl. Along the way, she’s forced to reexamine her life with a critical eye.”

12/14/12- Fair reviews in today’s NY Times and by other professional critics as well. Audiences have not liked this film but it does sound interesting. TRDB.

3) 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.

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OPENED LAST WEEK (JUNE 21) IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT ON JUNE 20-

 

1) DOWNLOADED– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Discover the history of Napster, which began as an unassuming bit of computer code in 1998 and would eventually change the nature of music sales. This film spotlights the site’s teenage founders and reveals its unexpected and earth-shattering legacy.”6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from other critics. TRDB.

2) BERT AND ARNIE’S GUIDE TO FRIENDSHIP– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Helmed by first time director, Jeff Kaplan, “Bert and Arnie’s Guide to Friendship” follows the romantic misadventures of Bert Sheering (Matt Oberg – Comedy Central’s “Ugly Americans”), a sophisticated, yet sexually repressed author and Arnie Hubert (Stephen Schneider – NBC’s “Best Friends Forever”), a no-nonsense executive and unabashed ladies man. When Bert discovers that Arnie is sleeping with his wife, this modern day odd couple are launched into a journey filled with comedy, romance and ultimately, friendship.”

6/21/13- Miserable professional reviews but audiences have liked it. TRDB.

3) KUICHISAN– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this earnest drama, a 10-year-old island boy wanders through the tumbledown streets of Koza, Japan, looking for the meaning of life. At the same time, an American tourist adrift in the city embarks on a similar quest for answers.”

6/21/13- Just a few reviews and they are mixed. Today’s NY Times liked it but thought it was too long and wilted at the end. TRDB.

4) THE LOTTERY OF BIRTH– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This intriguing documentary examines society and the path to its future, starting with the notion that none of us asks to be born. Top minds discuss how our personal needs affect our choices, which in turn shape culture as a whole.”

6/21/13- A poor review of the movie if not the topic in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) RUSHLIGHTS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Young lovers Billy and Sarah journey from L.A. to Texas with plans to make a false claim to the valuable assets left behind by a dead friend. But when their voyage brings them to Tremo, Texas, they find a bizarre and sinister world awaiting them.”

6/21/13- Uniformly miserable reviews. TRDB.

6) SOMM– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmed in six countries over a two-year period, this documentary follows four sommeliers as they embark on an all-consuming course of study for the prestigious (and nearly impossible to pass) Master Sommelier exam.”

6/21/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and mixed professional reviews at best. Audiences, however, have liked the movie. TRDB.

7) THREE WORLDS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A fatal hit-and-run accident leaves a man with crushing guilt, a grieving wife with anger and a witness caught between the two. As tragedy connects the disparate lives of three people, each must come to terms with a new reality and one another.”

6/21/13- This movie got a good review in today’s NY Times. Others haven’t been as good. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK (JUNE 28)-

 

1) A BAND CALLED DEATH– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blending a larger-than-life family story and a rock documentary, this film follows David, Bobby and Dannis Hackney, three teenage brothers from Detroit who founded the band Death, commonly regarded as the first black punk group, in the early 1970s”6/14/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

2) COPPERHEAD– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Believing that the North can’t win the Civil War, upstate New York farmer Abner Beech advocates for a negotiated peace with the South. Though Beech earns the violent disapproval of his neighbors, he demands his right to free speech.”

6/14/13- No Reviews as yet. TRDB.

3) MUSEUM HOURS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Anne arrives in Vienna to visit an ailing relative, she takes refuge in the Kunsthistorisches Museum and befriends Johann, a guard. Director Jem Cohen blends fiction and documentary in this meditation on how art and the world shape each other.”

6/14/13- No reviews as yet but this sounds interesting. TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. A shy sound engineer who normally works on documentaries agrees to do a depraved horror film crafted by an Italian film master, only to discover that the dysfunction surrounding the project blurs fiction and reality.”6/14/13- Fairly good professional reviews. TRDB.

2) AIN’T IN IT FOR MY HEALTH: A FILM ABOUT LEVON HELM– Synopsis by Netflix. “As a drummer and vocalist for The Band, Levon Helm contributed to some of rock’s most enduring classics. This eye-opening documentary examines what happened after the group dissolved, and the demons that haunted Helm until his solo comeback in 2007.”4/19/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times saying that it may be a gift primarily to fans. TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW- NONE

 

REPEATS-

 

 

 

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) THE ATTACK– Bethel, Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “An Arab Israeli physician offers assistance at the scene of a gruesome suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and then learns that the bomber was his own wife. Stunned and furious, he sets out to confront the people who encouraged her deadly decision.”6/7/13- Only a few reviews so far but they are all excellent. TRDB.

6/21/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) 20 FEET FROM STARDOM– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of backup vocalists in this documentary that weaves interviews with legendary singers like Bruce Springsteen and Bette Midler with the comments of those whose voices support them.”

6/5/13- A few early reviews for this documentary, some positive and some negative. TRDB.

6/14/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) SONG FOR MARION (UNFINISHED SONG)- Jacob Burns. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his wife Marion terminally ill, 72-year-old Arthur sees a future that’s nothing but grim. But when he takes Marion’s place in their church’s very unconventional choir, he begins to find joy in life again.”

6/7/13- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

6/21/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) THE KINGS OF SUMMER– Bethel. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Chafing under his widowed father’s control, Joe Toy invites a friend and an offbeat new kid to help him build his own house in the nearby woods. Now that the trio is finally free from parents and responsibility, what’s next?”5/14/13- Great reviews!! TRDB.

5/31/13- Just an OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In Joss Whedon’s modern take on the Shakespearean comedy, Claudio’s love for the beautiful Hero makes him a target of his friend Benedick’s mockery. But as Benedick trades barbs with Hero’s cousin Beatrice, he just may be falling in love.”

6/7/13- Very good reviews from multiple sources including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) BEFORE MIDNIGHT– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Before Midnight is an upcoming American romance drama film and the sequel to Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004). Like its predecessors, the film was directed by Richard Linklater. As with the previous film, Linklater shares screenplay credit with both actors from the movies, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy”

5/13/13- Uniformly excellent reviews. TRDB.

5/24/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/11/13- An excellent movie that beautifully depicted the tensions that exist between spouses even when they deeply love each other. TRDB.

4) FILL THE VOID– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Eighteen-year-old Shira (Hada Yaron) is the youngest daughter of the family and is about to be married off to a very promising young man of the same age. On Purim, her twenty-eight-year-old sister, Esther (Renana Raz), dies during childbirth, leaving her husband to care for the child and postponing Shira’s promised match. When the girls’ mother finds out that Yochay may leave the country with her only grandchild, she proposes a match between Shira and the widower, which leaves Shira to choose between her heart’s wish and her family’s wish to keep the child with them.

5/14/13- I saw this excellent movie as part of  a Jewish Film Festival this year. I definitely recommend it. TRDB.

5) THE BLING RING– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on fact, this comic thriller tracks the saga of the Hollywood Hills Burglar Bunch, who used the Web to time their robberies of stars’ homes. The teenage band stole millions in cash, jewelry and other items from victims including Paris Hilton.”

6/14/13- Mixed reviews in general and a weak one in today’s NY Times. 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

JUNE 20, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER OR OLDER REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS– Comcast On-Demand

2) THE BIG PICTURE– Netflix

3) MOSQUITA AND MARI– Netflix

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) WE STEAL SECRETS: THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Acclaimed documentarian Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) takes the reins for this no-holds-barred look at one of the most unusual phenomena of early 21st century media. In 2006, an Iceland-based outfit called The Sunshine Press launched the web site WikiLeaks.org. As run by Australian Internet activist Julian Assange, the site’s mandate involved regularly publishing top-secret documents and covert information, often regarding governments and their respective military operations.”5/24/13- Very good review by everyone, including the NY Times today. TRDB.

6/13/13- A very timely documentary in our nation’s history. I liked the movie but I thought that the movie was a bit too long and I would have liked to understand Assange’s real psychological motivation for the risks he has taken. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

2) THE BIG PICTURE– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Successful Paris attorney Paul Exben (Romain Duris) has everything going for him, including power, wealth and a picture-perfect family. But the mirror suddenly cracks when Paul discovers that his wife, Sarah, is carrying on an affair with a photographer. After a tragic error closes the door on all that he’s achieved, Paul makes a fateful decision to escape, fleeing abroad to try and begin a new life as someone else altogether.”

10/12/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/16/13- A moving drama about a successful man whose life is falling apart and the decisions he makes at the time. TRDB. Netflix.

3) MOSQUITA Y MARI– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Neighbors but by no means friends, high schoolers Yolanda and Mari discover a bond and an attraction when they‘re made study partners. One a star student, the other more focused on work — both are rocked to the core by their growing connection.”

8/3/12- Great review in today’s NY Times and by others as well. TRDB.

6/18/13- This movie received very good reviews but I found it just OK. I might have liked it more if I understood the attraction between the two young girls. TRDB. Netflix.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 25-

 

1) THE CALL– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an abducted teenage girl makes a frantic call from the trunk of a serial killer’s speeding car, she connects with a sympathetic 911 operator who’s dealt with the perpetrator in the past.”Mixed early reviews, more negative than positive. TRDB.

3/15/13- The NY Times liked this movie in today’s review but most critics did not. TRDB.

2) A PLACE AT THE TABLE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Using personal stories, this powerful doc illuminates the plight of the 49 million Americans struggling with food insecurity. A single mother, a small-town policeman and a farmer are among those for whom putting food on the table is a daily battle.”

3/1/13- A “just OK” review in today’s NY Times with the reviewer saying that the movie had too much restraint and none of the deserved outrage. I’ll skip this one. TRDB.

3) INTO THE WHITE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the early days of World War II, two military airplanes — one British and one German — are shot down over Norway. Now, the crews of both aircraft are forced to work together in a desperate attempt to survive the harsh winter conditions.”

3/30/13- Mixed reviews but none said that it was very good. TRDB.

4) NO– 2012- Synopsis by Netflix. “In this engaging drama from Chile, Gael García Bernal portrays René Saavedra, a hot-shot ad executive who creates a controversial media campaign opposing military dictator Augusto Pinochet during the referendum on his presidency in 1988.”

Very good reviews so far. TRDB.

2/15/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/12/13-I enjoyed the basic premise of voter empowerment and of course the history lesson but I felt that the movie was a bit tedious at times and I also agree with one critic who called the movie “gimmicky.” TRDB.

5) SUPPORTING CHARACTERS– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Crack film editors Nick and Darryl are hired to save a movie in desperate need of their skills, a gig that turns out to be filled with bad luck. Both men’s relationships are upended and their partnership is tested by the film’s delusional director.”

1/25/13- Good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

OPENED LAST WEEK (JUNE 14) IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT ON JUNE 13-

 

1) BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. A shy sound engineer who normally works on documentaries agrees to do a depraved horror film crafted by an Italian film master, only to discover that the dysfunction surrounding the project blurs fiction and reality.”6/14/13- Fairly good professional reviews. TRDB.

2) ALIYAH– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Low-level drug dealer Alex dreams of a better life away from his needy older brother and distant father, but before he can leave France to join a cousin in Tel Aviv, Alex must make a lot of money and come to terms with his complicated relationships.”

4/10/13- Seen as part of the Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns this drama was not as good as the individual scenes especially one scene near the end in a restaurant, but the lead actor and his girlfriend were appealing. TRDB.

6/14/13- A fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) VEHICLE 19- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Recent parolee Michael Woods unsuspectingly rents a car that ends up entangling him in a dangerous web of corruption involving the local police. With his future freedom at stake, Michael has to decide whether to flee or to try and be a good citizen.”

6/14/13- Weak reviews all around including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) IN THE FOG– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “An innocent man accused of treason by Russian partisans fighting the German occupation is marked for death by two of his fellow countrymen. When the trio is ambushed, the man, eager to clear his name, faces a moral choice under immoral circumstances.”

6/14/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times as well as good reviews from most critics. TRDB.

5) THE BLING RING– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on fact, this comic thriller tracks the saga of the Hollywood Hills Burglar Bunch, who used the Web to time their robberies of stars’ homes. The teenage band stole millions in cash, jewelry and other items from victims including Paris Hilton.”

6/14/13- Mixed reviews in general and a weak one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6) FUKREY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Four young male friends tackle the challenges and unexpected catastrophes of growing up clueless in this music-packed Bollywood teen drama. Each has his own dream to pursue, but all four are fated to get into trouble while pursuing their goals.”

6/14/13- A barely “fair” review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) THE STROLLER STRATEGY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After suddenly becoming the surrogate parent of an infant boy, Thomas Platz has to learn the ropes quickly in this babies-and-romance French comedy. When Thomas poses as the baby’s real father to win back his ex-lover, various complications ensue.”

6/14/13- An awful review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8)MY BEST DAY– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Small-town life is far from dull in this indie charmer that follows refrigerator repair company receptionist Karen in pursuit of her long-lost dad. After fielding a service call from the almost-stranger, Karen convinces a pal to pose as a mechanic.”

6/14/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times but audiences have liked the film. TRDB.

9) STORM SURFERS 3D– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Now in their 40s, surfing legends Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll team with meteorologist and surf forecaster Ben Matson to track down and conquer the biggest, most dangerous waves in Australia. Actress Toni Collette narrates.”

6/14/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

OPENING THIS WEEK (JUNE 21)-

 

1) THE ATTACK– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “An Arab Israeli physician offers assistance at the scene of a gruesome suicide bombing in Tel Aviv and then learns that the bomber was his own wife. Stunned and furious, he sets out to confront the people who encouraged her deadly decision.”6/7/13- Only a few reviews so far but they are all excellent. TRDB.

2) A HIJACKING– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tension mounts when a Danish cargo ship bound for harbor is hijacked by Somali pirates and held for a hefty ransom in the millions, prompting the shipping company’s CEO to hire a professional negotiator.”

6/7/13- Uniformly good reviews. TRDB.

3) SONG FOR MARION (UNFINISHED SONG)- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his wife Marion terminally ill, 72-year-old Arthur sees a future that’s nothing but grim. But when he takes Marion’s place in their church’s very unconventional choir, he begins to find joy in life again.”

6/7/13- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

4) THIS IS MARTIN BONNER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Eschewing his old East Coast life, Martin Bonner moves to Nevada and goes to work for a program that prepares prisoners for life on the outside. But when he meets ex-convict Travis Holloway, they forge a bond that surprises them both.”

6/7/13- Just a few reviews as of now but they are very good. TRDB.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) SIGHTSEERS- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Newly coupled Chris and Tina embark on an RV road trip to take in England’s unique sights and rolling countryside. But as events and people inadvertently raise Chris’s ire, the trip takes a gory wrong turn.”6/16/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) WHAT RICHARD DID-  2002. Synopsis by Netflix. “After embarking on a summer fling with pretty Lara Hogan, privileged teen Richard Karlsen senses competition for Lara from one of his rugby teammates. But when Richard’s jealousy surfaces at a party, it gives rise to tragic repercussions.”4/28/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5/10/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5/14/13- A very good drama with especially good acting by the lead actor. Be advised that there are no sub-titles and the Irish English is a bit difficult to understand. TRDB.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) VEHICLE 19- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Recent parolee Michael Woods unsuspectingly rents a car that ends up entangling him in a dangerous web of corruption involving the local police. With his future freedom at stake, Michael has to decide whether to flee or to try and be a good citizen.”6/14/13- Weak reviews all around including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) DIRTY WARS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Exploring America’s covert operations in the war on terror, investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill takes viewers on a revealing journey through drone strikes, night raids, kill lists that include U.S. citizens and secret government-condoned torture.”

5/25/13- I’ve seen just one review and it was good. TRDB.

6/7/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.

3) AS COOL AS I AM– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “About to turn 16, Lucy realizes that her parents’ marriage is on shaky ground — and that theirs is not the only relationship that’s in trouble. After her longtime boyfriend leaves town, Lucy opts to ditch her tomboy image and restyle her life.”

6/7/13- Awful reviews by everybody. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

 

Cablevision Link– http://www.optimum.net/VOD/movies?cat=Movies+On+Demand%2FIndependent+Films%2FIFC+In+Theaters

 

DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp

Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) FILL THE VOID– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Eighteen-year-old Shira (Hada Yaron) is the youngest daughter of the family and is about to be married off to a very promising young man of the same age. On Purim, her twenty-eight-year-old sister, Esther (Renana Raz), dies during childbirth, leaving her husband to care for the child and postponing Shira’s promised match. When the girls’ mother finds out that Yochay may leave the country with her only grandchild, she proposes a match between Shira and the widower, which leaves Shira to choose between her heart’s wish and her family’s wish to keep the child with them.5/14/13- I saw this excellent movie as part of  a Jewish Film Festival this year. I definitely recommend it. TRDB.

5/24/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) THE BLING RING– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on fact, this comic thriller tracks the saga of the Hollywood Hills Burglar Bunch, who used the Web to time their robberies of stars’ homes. The teenage band stole millions in cash, jewelry and other items from victims including Paris Hilton.”

6/14/13- Mixed reviews in general and a weak one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) THE KINGS OF SUMMER– Bethel, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Chafing under his widowed father’s control, Joe Toy invites a friend and an offbeat new kid to help him build his own house in the nearby woods. Now that the trio is finally free from parents and responsibility, what’s next?”5/14/13- Great reviews!! TRDB.

5/31/13- Just an OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In Joss Whedon’s modern take on the Shakespearean comedy, Claudio’s love for the beautiful Hero makes him a target of his friend Benedick’s mockery. But as Benedick trades barbs with Hero’s cousin Beatrice, he just may be falling in love.”

6/7/13- Very good reviews from multiple sources including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) MUD- Bethel. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two Mississippi teens, Ellis and Neckbone, meet a mysterious drifter named Mud hiding on a deserted river island and get caught up in his tangled web of tall tales about bounty hunters, crimes of passion, lost love and a perfect woman named Juniper.”

4/19/13- Very good reviews so far. TRDB.

4/26/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/27/13- As far as I’m concerned this movie could have been titled “Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn Meet Rambo. What a waste! TRDB.

4) FRANCES HA- Bethel. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Determined to make it as a modern dancer in New York, young Frances Ha pursues her unlikely goal with more enthusiasm than natural talent. The rest of the time, she and her sardonic best friend, Sophie, put off growing up for as long as they can.”

9/5/12- Mentioned briefly in the NY Times as being shown at the Telluride Film Festival this September. TRDB.

5/4/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5/17/13- Fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5/25/13- I liked this movie very much. Very good acting and an insightful screenplay. TRDB.

5) BEFORE MIDNIGHT– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Before Midnight is an upcoming American romance drama film and the sequel to Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004). Like its predecessors, the film was directed by Richard Linklater. As with the previous film, Linklater shares screenplay credit with both actors from the movies, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy”

5/13/13- Uniformly excellent reviews. TRDB.

5/24/13- An excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/11/13- An excellent movie that beautifully depicted the tensions that exist between spouses even when they deeply love each other. TRDB.

6) THE EAST– Bethel, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As an agent for a private intelligence firm, Sarah Moss is charged with infiltrating an anarchist group whose attacks threaten her corporate clients. But after penetrating the organization, she finds herself drawn to its charismatic leader.”

5/31/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and positive reviews from others as well for this thriller. TRDB.

7) WHAT MAISIE KNEW– Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this updated rendering of the timeless Henry James novel, a perceptive 6-year-old girl becomes a bargaining tool when she gets caught in the midst of a toxic custody fight between her self-seeking, childish parents.”

4/21/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5/3/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8)MAN OF STEEL– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.”

6/5/13- No reviews as yet but I can’t imagine NOT seeing this movie. TRDB.

 

 

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB