Posts filed under 'Old Newsletters'
SEPT. 30, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) AFTERSCHOOL- Netflix
2) HEARTBREAKER- Theater
3) A FILM UNFINISHED- Theater
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) A FILM UNFINISHED- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “This potent documentary uses a long-lost film reel to illustrate how the Nazis controlled images of Jewish life during World War II. Though the Nazis made a propaganda movie of contented Jews in the Warsaw ghetto, the missing spool exposes the truth. Director
Yael Hersonski shows how the imagery was staged to distort historical knowledge and, with the aid of Jewish survivors’ testimony, chronicles the horrifying reality of ghetto life.”
A few reviews, all positive.9/10-
Yet one more piece of the most horrific time in history as shown by this revealing footage! Everyone should see this. TRDB. At the theater.
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) AFTERSCHOOL- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Bullied prep school loner Robert (
Ezra Miller) captures his classmates’ various escapades on video, but when he winds up filming two girls fatally overdosing on cocaine, his footage plays a role in the emotional fallout within the school community. As the students and faculty at the sheltered academy try to cope with the tragedy, many spiral into despair.
Antonio Campos directs this film, which explores the ethics of voyeurism.”
Mixed reviews, mostly positive, but all said it was different.9/10-
I agree! Different it is and I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
2) RENDITION- Premise by Netflix. “Suspected of being a terrorist, Egyptian-born Anwar El-Ibrahim (Omar Metwally) “vanishes” from an international flight and is taken to a secret prison. Now, his wife, Isabella (Reese Witherspoon), desperately tries to uncover his whereabouts — as well as his true intentions. While she looks for answers, CIA analyst Douglas Freeman (Jake Gyllenhaal) objects to the interrogation practices used on El-Ibrahim. Meryl Streep and Alan Arkin co-star.”
9/10- Heavy on the talent here makes for an enjoyable movie. TRDB. Netflix.
3) ME AND ORSON WELLES- Premise by Zap2it. “After a chance encounter, theater-loving teen Richard Samuels gets the opportunity of a lifetime when famed director Orson Welles gives him a small role in his 1937 production of “Julius Caesar.” Unexpectedly thrust into the heady world of the stage, Richard finds himself surrounded by ambition, clashing egos and sheer brilliance.”
9/10-
Described as light and frothy or the equivalent by most reviewers and I agree. I think you can skip this one. Netflix.
4) HEARTBREAKER- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Hardworking brother-and-sister team Alex (Romain Duris) and Mélanie (Julie Ferrier) don’t run a matchmaking business; rather, they get paid to break matches by splitting up unhealthy couples. But their 100 percent success rate is in serious jeopardy when their own hearts get involved. Now, falling in love could be an occupational hazard. Pascal Chaumeil directs this French-language romantic comedy.” Fair review in NY Times 9/10/10.
9/10- Incredibly ridiculous comedy but I enjoyed it very much. In theaters presently. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
5) CALVIN MARSHALL- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Though he has no athletic ability whatsoever, college student Calvin Marshall (Alex Frost) is so blindly single-minded about making the school baseball team that Coach Little (Steve Zahn) — a former minor league player — relents and lets him on the squad. But when he’s sidelined by an injury, Calvin has an opportunity to discover his true talent in life. Gary Lundgren directs this charming comedy that co-stars Michelle Lombardo.” OK review in NY Times 8/20/10.
9/10- Could have been an interesting message but went downhill as soon as the secondary actors spoke. They should have stayed with the two main characters. TRDB. Netflix.
6) BABIES- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Documentary filmmaker Thomas Balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs. Training his camera on newborns Hattie from San Francisco, Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia and Mari from Tokyo, Balmes captures every moment, from their first screaming breaths to their first tentative steps.” Fairly good reviews.
9/10- Interesting and informative documentary but could have been even shorter than the already short 79min.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, OCT. 5-
1) UDAAN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After spending eight long, lonely years in a boarding school, Rohan (Rajat Barmecha) returns to his industrial hometown in India, where he must decide whether to follow his own dreams or acquiesce to his imperious father’s (Ronit Roy) plans for his future. As he begins work at his father’s steel factory and ponders his ambition to become a writer, Rohan also tries to build a relationship with the younger half-brother he didn’t even know existed.” Good review in NY Times on 7/27/10.
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OPENING REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY-
1) TAPESTRIES OF HOPE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In present-day Zimbabwe, women and girls are routinely victimized, and an epidemic of “virgin rapes” is being fueled by the widley held misconception that men can cure themselves of HIV/AIDS by having sex with virgin women. Filmmaker Michealene Cristini Risley profiles the tireless efforts of Betty Makoni, founder and director of the 1998-established Girl Child Network, to seek basic human rights for the women of Zimbabwe.” No reviews as yet.
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FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth-
1) MESRINE: KILLER INSTINCT- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “This blistering biopic stars Vincent Cassel as notorious French gangster Jacques Mesrine. The first in a duology, the film details the genesis of Mesrine’s career, including an incident in the army that gave him his first taste of violent power. Gerard Depardieu co-stars in this commanding, stylish film (based on the autobiography Mesrine wrote shortly before breaking out of prison), which has been favorably compared to Brian DePalma’s Scarface.” OK reviews but not my kind of movie.
2) SOUL KITCHEN- Premise by Netflix. “Young restaurant owner Zinos (
Adam Bousdoukos) decides to revamp Soul Kitchen, his dumpy diner, but the customer response isn’t what he was hoping for. To make matters worse, his girlfriend (
Anna Bederke) flies off to Shanghai, and the tax collector comes knocking. But with the help of an inspired new chef (
Birol Ünel), Zinos still has a chance at redemption. German director
Fatih Akin delivers a riotous modern romantic comedy.”
The reviews I read all barely liked the movie- none liked it a lot. Also on Comcast On-Demand.
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) HEARTBREAKER- Premise by Netflix. “Hardworking brother-and-sister team Alex (
Romain Duris) and Mélanie (
Julie Ferrier) don’t run a matchmaking business; rather, they get paid to
break matches by splitting up unhealthy couples. But their 100 percent success rate is in serious jeopardy when their own hearts get involved. Now, falling in love could be an occupational hazard.
Pascal Chaumeil directs this French-language romantic comedy.”
Fair review in NY Times 9/10/10.9/10- Incredibly ridiculous comedy but I enjoyed it very much. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
3) SOLITARY MAN- Premise by Netflix. “
Michael Douglas stars as a former car dealership owner who sees his personal and professional lives take a nosedive when the repercussions of years of shady business dealings and chronic womanizing finally catch up with him.
Susan Sarandon,
Mary-Louise Parker,
Danny DeVito and
Jenna Fischer co-star in this comedic drama written and co-directed by
Brian Koppelman.”
Good review in NY Times.
6/10- Very well acted and very interesting script make this movie a winner. TRDB.
4) LETTERS TO JULIET- Premise by Netflix. “By responding to a letter addressed to Shakespeare’s tragic heroine Juliet Capulet, a young American woman (
Amanda Seyfried) vacationing in Verona, Italy, sets in motion a series of events that leads her — and the missive’s lovelorn author (
Vanessa Redgrave) — in search of romance. Directed by
Gary Winick, this deeply tender and uplifting drama also features
Gael García Bernal and
Franco Nero.
Lousy reviews but several people I know did like it for what it was.
5) I’M STILL HERE- Premise by Netflix. “In 2008, Oscar nominee
Joaquin Phoenix walked away from acting to pursue a rap career, an inexplicably bizarre detour captured in stunning detail in this documentary directed by Phoenix’s brother-in-law,
Casey Affleck. Some speculated Phoenix’s behavior was part of a well-orchestrated hoax — or, even worse, a mental breakdown. But some of the film’s graphic footage suggests it could have been a little of both.”
Mixed reviews but some really bad ones included.
REPEATS-
1) AJAMI- Well received Israeli award winner but I was disappointed
2) A PROPHET- Good reviews but I thought it was tedious
3) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
4) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
5) BABIES- Very good reviews
6) CAIRO TIME- I was disappointed but others liked it
7) CALVIN MARSHALL- OK reviews
8)CHANGE OF PLANS- Mixed reviews
9) CHLOE- Back again. I liked it
10) CITY ISLAND- I’d recommend it
11) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
12) GHOST WRITER- Recommended
13) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
14) HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBERGER- I liked it
15) INVICTUS- Just OK
16) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
17) JOHN RABE- I did not like this well reviewed film
18) KISSES- Good reviews
19) LA MISSION- I liked it
20) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
21) LIFE DURING WARTIME- Very different but I’d recommend it
22) LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND- I did not like this
23) MAKING PLANS FOR LENA- I haven’t seen it but very mixed reviews
24) MANUELA AND MANUEL- I liked this film
25) MAP OF THE SOUNDS OF TOKYO- I haven’t seen this yet
26) ME AND ORSON WELLES- I didn’t care for this
27) MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Bad!
28) MY NAME IS KHAN- I liked it
29) SOUL KITCHEN- Fair reviews
30) THAT EVENING SUN- I liked it
31) THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION- OK
32) THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO- Just OK
33) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It
34) THE WHITE RIBBON- I didn’t care much for this one
35) YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- I liked it
36) YOUTH IN REVOLT- I liked it
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-
NEW-
1) THE SOCIAL NETWORK- Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne. Premise by Netflix. “
David Fincher‘s biographical drama chronicles the meteoric rise of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (
Jesse Eisenberg) from Harvard sophomore to Internet superstar, examining his relationships with co-founder Eduardo Saverin (
Andrew Garfield) and founding president Sean Parker (
Justin Timberlake). Aaron Sorkin penned the screenplay based on Ben Mezrich’s best-seller
The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook.”
Reviews just OK.
3) WAITNG FOR SUPERMAN- 2010. Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “Dynamic documentarian
Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) weaves together the stories of students, families, educators and reformers to shed light on the failing public school system and its consequences on the future of the United States. In this Sundance Audience Award winner for Best Documentary, Guggenheim deftly examines the options to improve public education and provide America’s teachers and students with the help they need.”
Very good reviews.
5) RESTREPO- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “Sebasatian Junger, author of
The Perfect Storm, teamed with photographer
Tim Hetherington to spend a year embedded with the Second Platoon in Afghanistan, documenting the hard work, fear and brotherhood that come with repelling a deadly enemy. Hunkered down with the soldiers in one of the region’s most strategic valleys, the filmmakers uncover the dark humor, sleepless surreality and constant anxiety of war in this Best Documentary winner at Sundance.”
Very good early reviews.7/10-
Excellent documentary and clearly done by two men who won the confidence of their subjects. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) JACK GOES BOATING- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “
Philip Seymour Hoffman directs and stars in this romantic comedy about Jack, a marijuana-smoking Manhattan limo driver who begins an unlikely regimen of self-improvement to win the heart of a fellow misfit named Connie (
Amy Ryan). But as Jack learns to cook and swim for the benefit of his girl, he also witnesses the breakup of his best friends’ marriage.
John Ortiz and
Daphne Rubin-Vega co-star in this adaptation of Bob Glaudini’s play.”
Fair reviews.
2) HEARTBREAKER- 2010- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Hardworking brother-and-sister team Alex (
Romain Duris) and Mélanie (
Julie Ferrier) don’t run a matchmaking business; rather, they get paid to
break matches by splitting up unhealthy couples. But their 100 percent success rate is in serious jeopardy when their own hearts get involved. Now, falling in love could be an occupational hazard.
Pascal Chaumeil directs this French-language romantic comedy.”
Fair review in NY Times 9/10/10.9/10-
Incredibly ridiculous comedy but I enjoyed it very much. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
3) THE TOWN- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “As tenacious FBI agent Adam (
Jon Hamm) hunts him down, ingenious bank robber Doug (
Ben Affleck) pursues a risky relationship with Claire (
Rebecca Hall), one of his former hostages. But while Doug and his cohorts plan their next hit, Adam hones in on Claire and falls for her in the process. Directed by Affleck and based on Chuck Hogan’s novel
Prince of Thieves, this intricate thriller also stars
Chris Cooper,
Blake Lively and
Jeremy Renner.”
Fairly good reviews.
4) WALL STREET- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “20-plus years after he introduced us to the phrase “greed is good,” controversial filmmaker
Oliver Stone (W., World Trade Center) returns to the world of high finance, unfettered capitalism and white-collar crime.
Michael Douglas reprises his Oscar-winning role as Gordon Gekko, the deliciously diabolical money magnate who never passes up a chance to make a buck.
Shia LaBeouf also stars as a young trader embroiled in a puzzling murder.”
Poor reviews.
5) GET LOW- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “
Robert Duvall and
Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring
Bill Murray and
Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).”
Great reviews.
8/10 To my surprise I did like this movie even though it was clearly a vehicle for Duvall to shine once more. I have never liked Murray outside of the comic role and didn’t here either. TRDB.
6) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager
Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.”
Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.8/10-
Great dancing makes up for a somewhat weak story. I enjoyed the movie despite all the schmaltz. TRDB.
7) WINTER’S BONE- Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “In this noir drama set deep in Ozark territory, resilient teenager Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) goes on the trail of her missing drug-dealing father when his absence jeopardizes the safety of their family. The deadbeat dad has a critical court date pending, and Ree is determined that he make it — despite the objections of the insular Dolly clan. Director Debra Granik‘s unflinching drama won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.” Great reviews.
6/10-Very good acting in this Appalachian slice of life but I was disappointed in the film. I felt that not enough happened and what did seemed contrived to me. A friend who I saw this with spent a year in Missouri and felt that it was indeed realistic. TRDB.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
September 30th, 2010
SEPTEMBER 22, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
I just returned from a quick trip to Florida where I attended the First Annual L-Dub (Lake Worth) Film Festival. I enjoyed many of the films and was very impressed by the amount of young talent in the area. Over the next few weeks I will write about different aspects of the festival.
Today I want to mention one movie in particular from the festival that I liked very much. It’s a feature film, written, directed and starring Keri Lurtz called “LOST ANGEL.” It won the Audience Award and is about three actor friends (two women and a man) who go to LA to “make it” there. It’s painful, poignant and very well done. I can’t help thinking about it since viewing it. Ms. Lurtz has real talent– I’ll watch for this movie and let you all know when it is released.
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) HELEN- Netflix.
2) LOVELY, STILL- Theater
3) LOST ANGEL- Film Festival– see “above”
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) LOVELY, STILL- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “When his beautiful new neighbor Mary (
Ellen Burstyn) asks him out on a date, elderly bachelor Robert (
Martin Landau) suddenly finds himself swept up in the excitement and panic of new love. But as romance blossoms between the couple, an unexpected challenge arises that threatens to undermine the fledgling relationship.
Nicholas Fackler directs this touching drama that also stars
Adam Scott and
Elizabeth Banks.”
Excellent reviews in general. Only a fair review in NY Times 9/10/10.9/10-
I saw this in Florida and I thought it was excellent. Great story with great acting. TRDB.
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) HELEN- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “
Ashley Judd stars as Helen, an adored wife, mother and successful music professor who also struggles to mask her debilitating depression until a breakdown lands her in the hospital. But this apparent setback offers Helen a new perspective on life and her condition in the form of Mathilda (
Lauren Lee Smith), a fellow patient with whom Helen forms a potent bond.
Sandra Nettelbeck directs this touching drama;
Goran Visnjic and
Alexia Fast co-star.”
Good review in NY Times.9/10-
Reviews for this drama were only fair at best but I thought that it was an excellent depiction of what it’s like to be severely depressed for the individual involved and for the entire family. TRDB. Netflix.
2) JOHN RABE- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Florian Gallenberger directs this gripping drama about John Rabe (Ulrich Tukur), a German businessman living in Nanking, China, who in 1937 used his Nazi party affiliation to save some 200,000 Chinese civilians from slaughter at the hands of the Japanese army. As Rabe labors to establish an official safety zone to shelter the innocent, he forms an unlikely friendship with an American doctor (Steve Buscemi). Anne Consigny and Daniel Brühl co-star.” Very good reviews.
9/10- It was nice to learn about this man but the movie was so full of melodrama that for me it took away from the importance of the topic. TRDB. Netflix.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 28-
1) SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Music was a powerful tool in the American civil rights movement, spreading a message that was difficult for many to hear and serving as an energizing force for nonviolent protest. This documentary celebrates that intersection of movement and music. Featuring new performances of freedom songs by artists such as Mary J. Blige, Wyclef Jean and John Legend, the film also includes archival footage and interviews with civil rights leaders.” Very good reviews.
2) THE OATH- Premise by Netflix. “Oscar-nominated director Laura Poitras’s documentary tells of two men whose fateful meeting in 1996 led them on a journey that would include Osama bin Laden, the horrific events of 9/11, Guantanamo Bay and a brush with the U.S. Supreme Court. Shot in Yemen, this intriguing film is the second installment — after My Country, My Country — of Poitras’s “The New American Century” trilogy about post-9/11 America.” Very good reviews.
3)
BABIES- Premise by Netflix. “Documentary filmmaker Thomas Balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs. Training his camera on newborns Hattie from San Francisco, Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia and Mari from Tokyo, Balmes captures every moment, from their first screaming breaths to their first tentative steps.” Fairly good reviews.
4) MERCY- Premise by Netflix. “A pessimistic writer who’s never known true love struggles to pen a novel that captures that puzzling emotion’s all-consuming nature. While hunting for inspiration, the author falls for Mercy (Wendy Glenn), a woman who drastically alters his outlook on life. Scott Caan writes and stars in this enthralling romance that co-stars his father, James Caan, as well as Erika Christensen, Dylan McDermott and Troy Garity. Mixed reviews but many more negative than positive.
5) COCO CHANEL AND IGOR STRAVINSKY- Premise by Netflix. “Seven years after she was inspired by the bold debut of Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring,” famed fashion designer Coco Chanel (Anna Mouglalis) — reeling from the death of her beau, Boy Capel (Anatole Taubmann) — meets and falls for the Russian composer (Mads Mikkelsen) in 1920s Paris. A forbidden romance ensues in Jan Kounen‘s sumptuous period drama, the closing film of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.”7/10- Very well done, well photographed and really an epic about the romance between two people trying to revolutionize their respective fields. Great history lesson also. I liked it. TRDB.
6) LEGENDARY- Premise by Netflix. “Fed up with fending off bullies, bookish teen Cal Chetley (Devon Graye) joins his high school’s wrestling team with hopes that his older brother, Mike (WWE star John Cena) — a gifted athlete who wrestled in high school and college — will want to whip him into shape. Trouble is, the brothers haven’t had much of a relationship since their father was killed in a car accident and Mike left Cal and their mother behind.” I saw one review and it referred to SCHMALTZ.
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OPENING REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY THIS WEEK-
1) YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER- Premise by Netflix. “When a woman (
Naomi Watts) consults a fortune-teller to learn what fate has in store for her, she’s told she’ll meet a tall, dark stranger who will become the love of her life in this quirky romantic dramedy from iconic writer-director
Woody Allen. But the not-yet-lovestruck heroine isn’t the only character in search of answers. The ensemble cast includes
Josh Brolin,
Anthony Hopkins,
Antonio Banderas,
Freida Pinto,
Lucy Punch and
Anna Friel.”
Sad for me to say, this film has received many poor early reviews.
2) WAITNG FOR SUPERMAN- Premise by Netflix. “Dynamic documentarian
Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) weaves together the stories of students, families, educators and reformers to shed light on the failing public school system and its consequences on the future of the United States. In this Sundance Audience Award winner for Best Documentary, Guggenheim deftly examines the options to improve public education and provide America’s teachers and students with the help they need.”
Very good reviews.
3) LIKE DANDELION DUST- Premise by Netflix. “Jack (
Cole Hauser) and Molly Campbell (
Kate Levering) are horrified to learn that the biological father (
Barry Pepper) of their adopted son, Joey (
Maxwell Perry Cotton), has been released from prison and wants custody of the boy. As the legal case builds against the Campbells, the couple hatches a risky plan to save their family.
Mira Sorvino also stars in this gripping drama as Pepper’s girlfriend, Wendy.”
Only one review but it’s very good.
4) BURIED- Premise by Netflix. “While on a job in Iraq, civilian contractor Paul Conroy (
Ryan Reynolds) is attacked and kidnapped, then awakens to find himself buried alive in the middle of the desert with nothing but a lighter, a candle, a cell phone and a knife. Does Paul have the instincts he’ll need to save himself? Director
Rodrigo Cortés crafts a tense psychological thriller with sociopolitical undertones that doubles as an exercise in claustrophobic terror.”
Good reviews.
6) WALL STREET- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “20-plus years after he introduced us to the phrase “greed is good,” controversial filmmaker
Oliver Stone (W., World Trade Center) returns to the world of high finance, unfettered capitalism and white-collar crime.
Michael Douglas reprises his Oscar-winning role as Gordon Gekko, the deliciously diabolical money magnate who never passes up a chance to make a buck.
Shia LaBeouf also stars as a young trader embroiled in a puzzling murder.”
Poor reviews.
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FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinema of Lake Worth-
1) JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIET: THE RADIANT CHILD- Premise by Netflix. “Controversial, charismatic artist
Jean-Michel Basquiat is the subject of this insightful documentary from director
Tamra Davis, who has uncovered a never-before-seen interview with the artist conducted before his untimely death at the age of 27. Also featured are numerous interviews with people who knew and loved Basquiat, a survey of his thought-provoking artworks, little-seen archival materials and footage of the artist at work in his studio.”
Very good reviews.
2) CAIRO TIME- Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (
Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (
Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (
Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.”
Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.8/10-
I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the waif-like Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB.
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW to On-Demand
1) A PROPHET- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “After refusing to snitch, 18-year-old Arab Malik (Tahar Rahim) is thrown into a French prison, where the Corsican mafia rules with a firm fist. The obedient newcomer slowly rises through the organization’s ranks but soon begins to double-cross his superiors. A follow-up to his 2005 gem The Beat My Heart Skipped, French director Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.”3/09- I liked the movie but found it way too long and convoluted. TRDB.
REPEATS on On-Demand
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) AJAMI- Well received Israeli award winner but I was disappointed
3) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
4) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
5) BABIES- Very good reviews
6) CAIRO TIME- I was disappointed but others liked it
7) CALVIN MARSHALL- OK reviews
8)CHANGE OF PLANS- Mixed reviews
9) CHLOE- Back again. I liked it
10) CITY ISLAND- I’d recommend it
11) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
12) GHOST WRITER- Recommended
13) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
14) HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBERGER- I liked it
15) INVICTUS- Just OK
16) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
17) JOHN RABE- I did not like this well reviewed film
18) KISSES- Good reviews
19) LA MISSION- I liked it
20) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
21) LIFE DURING WARTIME- Very different but I’d recommend it
22) LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND- I did not like this
23) MAKING PLANS FOR LENA- I haven’t seen it but very mixed reviews
24) MANUELA AND MANUEL- I liked this film
25) ME AND ORSON WELLES- I haven’t seen this yet but plan to
26) MOTHER- I liked it
27) MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Bad!
27) MY NAME IS KHAN- I liked it
28) SOUL KITCHEN- Good reviews
29) THAT EVENING SUN- I liked it
30) THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION- OK
31) THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO- Just OK
32) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It
33) YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- I liked it
34) YOUTH IN REVOLT- I liked it
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
NEW-
1) JACK GOES BOATING- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2010. Premise by Netflix. “
Philip Seymour Hoffman directs and stars in this romantic comedy about Jack, a marijuana-smoking Manhattan limo driver who begins an unlikely regimen of self-improvement to win the heart of a fellow misfit named Connie (
Amy Ryan). But as Jack learns to cook and swim for the benefit of his girl, he also witnesses the breakup of his best friends’ marriage.
John Ortiz and
Daphne Rubin-Vega co-star in this adaptation of Bob Glaudini’s play.”
Only a few reviews available and they are mixed.
2) HEARTBREAKER- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Hardworking brother-and-sister team Alex (
Romain Duris) and Mélanie (
Julie Ferrier) don’t run a matchmaking business; rather, they get paid to
break matches by splitting up unhealthy couples. But their 100 percent success rate is in serious jeopardy when their own hearts get involved. Now, falling in love could be an occupational hazard.
Pascal Chaumeil directs this French-language romantic comedy.”
Fair review in NY Times 9/10/10.
3) A FILM UNFINISHED- 2010. Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “This potent documentary uses a long-lost film reel to illustrate how the Nazis controlled images of Jewish life during World War II. Though the Nazis made a propaganda movie of contented Jews in the Warsaw ghetto, the missing spool exposes the truth. Director
Yael Hersonski shows how the imagery was staged to distort historical knowledge and, with the aid of Jewish survivors’ testimony, chronicles the horrifying reality of ghetto life.”
A few reviews, all positive.
4) WALL STREET- 2010. Saw Mill Hawthorne, Bethel, Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “20-plus years after he introduced us to the phrase “greed is good,” controversial filmmaker
Oliver Stone (W., World Trade Center) returns to the world of high finance, unfettered capitalism and white-collar crime.
Michael Douglas reprises his Oscar-winning role as Gordon Gekko, the deliciously diabolical money magnate who never passes up a chance to make a buck.
Shia LaBeouf also stars as a young trader embroiled in a puzzling murder.”
Poor reviews.
REPEATS-
1) GET LOW- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “
Robert Duvall and
Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring
Bill Murray and
Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).”
Great reviews.
8/10 To my surprise I did like this movie even though it was clearly a vehicle for Duvall to shine once more. I have never liked Murray outside of the comic role and didn’t here either. TRDB.
2) LOVELY, STILL- Bethel. Premise by Netflix. “When his beautiful new neighbor Mary (
Ellen Burstyn) asks him out on a date, elderly bachelor Robert (
Martin Landau) suddenly finds himself swept up in the excitement and panic of new love. But as romance blossoms between the couple, an unexpected challenge arises that threatens to undermine the fledgling relationship.
Nicholas Fackler directs this touching drama that also stars
Adam Scott and
Elizabeth Banks.”
Excellent reviews in general. Only a fair review in NY Times 9/10/10.
3) THE TOWN- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Bethel, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “As tenacious FBI agent Adam (
Jon Hamm) hunts him down, ingenious bank robber Doug (
Ben Affleck) pursues a risky relationship with Claire (
Rebecca Hall), one of his former hostages. But while Doug and his cohorts plan their next hit, Adam hones in on Claire and falls for her in the process. Directed by Affleck and based on Chuck Hogan’s novel
Prince of Thieves, this intricate thriller also stars
Chris Cooper,
Blake Lively and
Jeremy Renner.”
Fairly good reviews.
4) CAIRO TIME- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (
Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (
Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (
Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.”
Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.
8/10- I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the waif-like Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB.
5) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.” Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.
8/10- Great dancing makes up for a somewhat weak story. I enjoyed the movie despite all the schmaltz. TRDB.
6) THE TILLMAN STORY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When Pat Tillman, a former pro football player and decorated U.S. soldier, was killed in Afghanistan, the military reported that he’d died battling the Taliban. But later, a much different story emerged: Tillman was killed by friendly fire. Since that day, Tillman’s family has waged their own war, fighting tirelessly with the government in order to unravel the truth behind the cover-up. Filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev documents their struggle.” Very good reviews.
9/10- Very well done and a scathing indictment of the government’s actions in this case. TRDB. Theater.
For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
September 22nd, 2010
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
Well, I’m off to the LAKE WORTH FILM FESTIVAL for a few days and I’ll report back next week.
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK- See descriptions below!
1) THAT EVENING SUN- Netflix
2) THE TILLMAN STORY- Theater
3) LEBANON- Theater
4) MANUELA AND MANUEL- Netflix
_________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) THE TILLMAN STORY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When
Pat Tillman, a former pro football player and decorated U.S. soldier, was killed in Afghanistan, the military reported that he’d died battling the Taliban. But later, a much different story emerged: Tillman was killed by friendly fire. Since that day, Tillman’s family has waged their own war, fighting tirelessly with the government in order to unravel the truth behind the cover-up. Filmmaker
Amir Bar-Lev documents their struggle.”
Very good reviews.9/10-
Very well done and a scathing indictment of the government’s actions in this case. TRDB. At the Theater (Jacob Burns).
2) LEBANON- Premise by Netflix. “In this claustrophobic drama by first-time director Samuel Maoz — a veteran of the early ’80s Israel/Lebanon conflict in which the film is set — four Israeli soldiers command a tank in a situation that becomes increasingly tense and chaotic. Like Das Boot before it, most of the action is confined to the stark interiors of that tank, as the men wrestle with fear, anger and their own consciences in the face of possible death and worse.” Very good early reviews.
9/10- Yet one more piece of evidence that war is definitely hell, this time involving a bunch of very frightened Israeli soldiers fighting in the confined space of the tank. I liked it very much but be aware that this is not for the faint of heart. TRDB. At the Clearview 100 theater.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) THAT EVENING SUN- 2009. Directed by Scott Teems. Premise by Zap2it. “Vowing not to die in a nursing home, Abner Meecham leaves the facility and returns to his Tennessee farm. There, an unpleasant surprise awaits him: Abner’s son has leased the property to ne’er-do-well Lonzo Choat and his white-trash family. Abner suspects that the Choats will not be able to afford the farm, and moves into a shack to await their departure. Tensions escalate between Abner and Lonzo, who are each determined not to give in to the other.” Great early reviews especially in relation to Hal Holbrook. 9/10- The script was a bit erratic but Hal Holbrook was very good in this film about memories and forgiveness. I liked it. TRDB. New to On-Demand also this week. Netflix.
2) SORRY, THANKS- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Although he’s in a relationship with Sara (Ia Hernandez), Max Callahan (Wiley Wiggins) develops an obsession with Kira (Kenya Miles), his recent one-night stand. While he tries to figure whether he has a conscience, Kira seriously questions her personal and professional choices. Andrew Bujalski co-stars as Max’s best friend, Mason, and Dia Sokol directs this romantic drama that explores the heart’s questionable emotions.” Fair reviews.
9/10- Not very interesting at all. TRDB. Netflix.
3) MANUELA AND MANUEL- 2007. Premise by Netflix. “When her best friend, Coca (Elena Iguina), finds herself pregnant after a casual fling, unlucky-in-love drag queen Manuela (Humberto Busto) helps Coca face her disapproving family by embracing a male identity, Manuel, and posing as the baby’s father. But things go sideways when Manuela discovers that the baby’s real daddy is a regular at the gay club where she works. Raúl Marchand Sánchez directs this screwball comedy.” OK reviews.
9/10- Very funny and poignant as well. Lots of interesting and funny secondary characters. TRDB. New to On-Demand also this week. Netflix.
4) THE LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND- 2010. Directed by Jodi Markell. Premise by Netflix. “Based on an unproduced original screenplay by Tennessee Williams, this drama follows Fisher Willow (Bryce Dallas Howard), the headstrong daughter of a Southern plantation owner. Forced to fulfill her role as a debutante, she chooses farmhand Jimmy Dobyne (Chris Evans) as her escort. As if this weren’t scandalous enough, her announcement that she’s fallen in love with Jimmy threatens to destroy the family. Ann-Margret and Ellen Burstyn co-star.” Poor reviews but I’ve included it anyway.
9/14- The poor reviews are well founded. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 21-
1) UNTITLED- Premise by Zap2it. “Adrian is an avant-garde music composer whose poorly attended concerts contrast wildly with his brother Josh’s great success as a commercial artist. Adrian’s luck appears to change when Josh introduces him to Madeleine, an art dealer who sells Josh’s work. Adrian and Madeleine begin a torrid affair, but when Josh learns about the relationship and Madeleine stops exhibiting his artwork, the stage is set for a showdown between siblings.” Very few reviews but mixed so far. Sounds interesting to me. TRDB11/4/09- I just saw this movie and for the first time in years I walked out. Miserable, attempted farce of the art industry but the movie itself was a farce. Thank me for this review now. TRDB
2) THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES- Premise by Netflix. “A startling discovery comes to light for retired Argentine criminal investigator Benjamín Espósito (Ricardo Darín) as he pens a biographical novel about the unsolved case of a young newlywed’s brutal rape and murder years ago. Past and present intertwine for Espósito and colleague Irene Menéndez Hastings (Soledad Villamil) in director Juan José Campanella’s Oscar-winning character study in which justice, pain and love collide.”
8/10- Interesting and well acted but I felt that the plot was full of holes. The back and forths were well done and not confusing. TRDB.
3) ONDINE- Premise by Netflix. “An Irish fisherman (Colin Farrell) hauls in an unexpected catch when a mysterious girl (Alicja Bachleda-Curus) gets tangled in his nets and soon affects the lives of everyone around her in this fantastical seaside tale from director Neil Jordan (Interview with the Vampire). Is it possible this beautiful stranger is a mythical sea nymph who’s been summoned from the ocean’s depths … or is she something far more common?”
6/10- A waste of time but at least now I know what a Selkie is. TRDB.
4) CALVIN MARSHALL- Premise by Netflix. “Though he has no athletic ability whatsoever, college student Calvin Marshall (Alex Frost) is so blindly single-minded about making the school baseball team that Coach Little (Steve Zahn) — a former minor league player — relents and lets him on the squad. But when he’s sidelined by an injury, Calvin has an opportunity to discover his true talent in life. Gary Lundgren directs this charming comedy that co-stars Michelle Lombardo.” OK review in NY Times 8/20/10.
OPENING REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY-
1) I AM COMIC- Premise by Netflix. “Going way beyond the funny, filmmaker
Jordan Brady crafts an eye-opening portrait of the life of a professional comedian, shadowing retired comic Ritch Shydner as he bravely returns to the stand-up stage after more than a decade out of the spotlight. With the aid of candid interviews, backstage footage and performance clips, the film also rounds up advice from many popular comedians on what makes modern audiences laugh.”
No reviews as yet.
2) JACK GOES BOATING- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “
Philip Seymour Hoffman directs and stars in this romantic comedy about Jack, a marijuana-smoking Manhattan limo driver who begins an unlikely regimen of self-improvement to win the heart of a fellow misfit named Connie (
Amy Ryan). But as Jack learns to cook and swim for the benefit of his girl, he also witnesses the breakup of his best friends’ marriage.
John Ortiz and
Daphne Rubin-Vega co-star in this adaptation of Bob Glaudini’s play.”
Only a few reviews available and they are mixed.
4) CATFISH- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “
Henry Joost and
Ariel Schulman document the strange series of events that unfolds when a gifted 8-year-old artist named Abby contacts Nev, a 24-year-old photographer (and Schulman’s brother), through Facebook. After Abby sends Nev a remarkable painting based on one of his photos, Nev begins corresponding with her family — including her seductive 19-year-old sister. Realizing that something’s not quite right, Nev sets out to uncover the truth.”
Good reviews.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinema of Lake Worth-
1) RACING DREAMS- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “From go-kart champs, NASCAR winners are bred — or so goes the thinking of the drivers (and their families) involved in the World Karting Association’s National Pavement Series. This documentary follows three of the series’ top contenders. Although small in stature, the adolescent racers harbor big dreams as they hit speeds of 60 to 70 miles per hour in their quest to ascend the first rung on their way to NASCAR in this film from
Marshall Curry.”
Great reviews.
2) LOVELY, STILL- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “When his beautiful new neighbor Mary (
Ellen Burstyn) asks him out on a date, elderly bachelor Robert (
Martin Landau) suddenly finds himself swept up in the excitement and panic of new love. But as romance blossoms between the couple, an unexpected challenge arises that threatens to undermine the fledgling relationship.
Nicholas Fackler directs this touching drama that also stars
Adam Scott and
Elizabeth Banks.”
Excellent reviews.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
COMCAST ON-DEMAND- Of Interest
NEW to On-Demand
1) JOHN RABE- Premise by Netflix. “
Florian Gallenberger directs this gripping drama about John Rabe (
Ulrich Tukur), a German businessman living in Nanking, China, who in 1937 used his Nazi party affiliation to save some 200,000 Chinese civilians from slaughter at the hands of the Japanese army. As Rabe labors to establish an official safety zone to shelter the innocent, he forms an unlikely friendship with an American doctor (
Steve Buscemi).
Anne Consigny and
Daniel Brühl co-star.”
Very good reviews. Also on Netflix.
2) THE LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND- Premise by Netflix. “Based on an unproduced original screenplay by Tennessee Williams, this drama follows Fisher Willow (Bryce Dallas Howard), the headstrong daughter of a Southern plantation owner. Forced to fulfill her role as a debutante, she chooses farmhand Jimmy Dobyne (Chris Evans) as her escort. As if this weren’t scandalous enough, her announcement that she’s fallen in love with Jimmy threatens to destroy the family. Ann-Margret and Ellen Burstyn co-star.” Poor reviews but I’ve included it anyway.
9/14- The poor reviews are well founded. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
3) MANUELA AND MANUEL- 2007. Premise by Netflix. “When her best friend, Coca (
Elena Iguina), finds herself pregnant after a casual fling, unlucky-in-love drag queen Manuela (
Humberto Busto) helps Coca face her disapproving family by embracing a male identity, Manuel, and posing as the baby’s father. But things go sideways when Manuela discovers that the baby’s real daddy is a regular at the gay club where she works.
Raúl Marchand Sánchez directs this screwball comedy.”
OK reviews.9/10-
Very funny and poignant as well. Lots of interesting and funny secondary characters. I saw this last week. TRDB. Netflix also.
4) THAT EVENING SUN- 2009. Directed by Scott Teems. Premise by Zap2it. “Vowing not to die in a nursing home, Abner Meecham leaves the facility and returns to his Tennessee farm. There, an unpleasant surprise awaits him: Abner’s son has leased the property to ne’er-do-well Lonzo Choat and his white-trash family. Abner suspects that the Choats will not be able to afford the farm, and moves into a shack to await their departure. Tensions escalate between Abner and Lonzo, who are each determined not to give in to the other.” Great early reviews especially in relation to Hal Holbrook.
9/10- The script was a bit erratic but Hal Holbrook was very good in this film about memories and forgiveness. I liked it. TRDB. I saw this last week on Netflix.
5) ME AND ORSON WELLES- Premise by Zap2it. “After a chance encounter, theater-loving teen Richard Samuels gets the opportunity of a lifetime when famed director Orson Welles gives him a small role in his 1937 production of “Julius Caesar.” Unexpectedly thrust into the heady world of the stage, Richard finds himself surrounded by ambition, clashing egos and sheer brilliance.” Described as light and frothy or the equivalent by most reviewers.
REPEATS on On-Demand
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) AJAMI- Well received Israeli award winner but I was disappointed
3) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
4) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
5) BABIES- Very good reviews
6) CAIRO TIME- I was disappointed but others liked it
7) CALVIN MARSHALL- OK reviews
8)CHANGE OF PLANS- Mixed reviews
9) CHLOE- Back again. I liked it
10) CITY ISLAND- I’d recommend it
11) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
12) GHOST WRITER- Recommended
13) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
14) HELEN- Haven’t seen it
15) HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBERGER- I liked it
16) INVICTUS- Just OK
17) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
18) JUNO- Back again- I liked it
19) KISSES- Good reviews
20) LA MISSION- I liked it
21) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
22) LIFE DURING WARTIME- Very different but I’d recommend it
23) MAKING PLANS FOR LENA- I haven’t seen it but very mixed reviews
24) MAP OF THE SOUNDS OF TOKYO- Positive reviews
25) MOTHER- I liked it
26) MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Bad!
27) MY NAME IS KHAN- I liked it
28) SOUL KITCHEN- Good reviews
29) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It
30) YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- I liked it
31) YOUTH IN REVOLT- I liked it
_________________________________________________________________________________________
BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)-
NEW-
1) LOVELY, STILL- 2008. Bethel. Premise by Netflix. “When his beautiful new neighbor Mary (
Ellen Burstyn) asks him out on a date, elderly bachelor Robert (
Martin Landau) suddenly finds himself swept up in the excitement and panic of new love. But as romance blossoms between the couple, an unexpected challenge arises that threatens to undermine the fledgling relationship.
Nicholas Fackler directs this touching drama that also stars
Adam Scott and
Elizabeth Banks.”
Excellent reviews in general. Only a fair review in NY Times 9/10/10.
2) THE TOWN- 2010. Saw Mill Hawthorne, Bethel, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “As tenacious FBI agent Adam (
Jon Hamm) hunts him down, ingenious bank robber Doug (
Ben Affleck) pursues a risky relationship with Claire (
Rebecca Hall), one of his former hostages. But while Doug and his cohorts plan their next hit, Adam hones in on Claire and falls for her in the process. Directed by Affleck and based on Chuck Hogan’s novel
Prince of Thieves, this intricate thriller also stars
Chris Cooper,
Blake Lively and
Jeremy Renner.”
Fairly good reviews.
3) I’M STILL HERE- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “In 2008, Oscar nominee
Joaquin Phoenix walked away from acting to pursue a rap career, an inexplicably bizarre detour captured in stunning detail in this documentary directed by Phoenix’s brother-in-law,
Casey Affleck. Some speculated Phoenix’s behavior was part of a well-orchestrated hoax — or, even worse, a mental breakdown. But some of the film’s graphic footage suggests it could have been a little of both.”
Mixed reviews but some really bad ones included.
REPEATS-
1) GET LOW- 2010. Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “
Robert Duvall and
Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring
Bill Murray and
Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).”
Great reviews.8/10 To my surprise I did like this movie even though it was clearly a vehicle for Duvall to shine once more. I have never liked Murray outside of the comic role and didn’t here either. TRDB.
2) CAIRO TIME- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (
Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (
Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (
Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.”
Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.
8/10- I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the waif-like Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB.
3) LEBANON- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “In this claustrophobic drama by first-time director
Samuel Maoz — a veteran of the early ’80s Israel/Lebanon conflict in which the film is set — four Israeli soldiers command a tank in a situation that becomes increasingly tense and chaotic. Like Das Boot before it, most of the action is confined to the stark interiors of that tank, as the men wrestle with fear, anger and their own consciences in the face of possible death and worse.”
Very good early reviews.9/10-
Yet one more piece of evidence that war is definitely hell, this time involving a bunch of very frightened Israeli soldiers fighting in the confined space of the tank. I liked it very much but be aware that this is not for the faint of heart. TRDB. At the Clearview 100 theater.
4) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager
Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.”
Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.8/10-
Great dancing makes up for a somewhat weak story. I enjoyed the movie despite all the schmaltz. TRDB.5) THE TILLMAN STORY- 2010. Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “When
Pat Tillman, a former pro football player and decorated U.S. soldier, was killed in Afghanistan, the military reported that he’d died battling the Taliban. But later, a much different story emerged: Tillman was killed by friendly fire. Since that day, Tillman’s family has waged their own war, fighting tirelessly with the government in order to unravel the truth behind the cover-up. Filmmaker
Amir Bar-Lev documents their struggle.”
Very good reviews.9/10-
Very well done and a scathing indictment of the government’s actions in this case. TRDB. Theater.
6) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
_______________________________________________________________________________________
September 15th, 2010
SEPTEMBER 8, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES THIS WEEK-
1) HAPPILY EVER AFTER- Netflix.
2) A FEW DAYS IN SEPTEMBER- Netflix.
3) THE EXPLODING GIRL- Netflix.
4) ANIMAL KINGDOM- Clearview 100 Theater.
________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) ANIMAL KINGDOM- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When his mother dies suddenly, a 17-year-old boy (
James Frecheville) finds himself drawn into the clutches of a diabolical criminal family, until a good-hearted detective (
Guy Pearce) makes a concerted effort to change the boy’s fate. Australian writer-director
David Michôd‘s first feature-length drama won the World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.”
Great reviews.9/10-
Violent, poignant and very well acted. I liked it. TRDB. At the Clearview 100 Theater.
________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) BOY- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Acclaimed Filipino director
Auraeus Solito brings a dreamy romanticism to this tale about a budding teenage poet (
Aeious Asin) who sells his comic book collection so he can afford to spend New Year’s Eve with Aries (
Aries Pena), a handsome male dancer. Portraying the night of passion — and the connection between the pair — as a life-changing experience for the young man, the film is part romance and part sociopolitical commentary.”
No reviews.9/2-
A colossal waste of time. TRDB. Netflix.
2) ORLANDO- 1992. Premise by Netflix. “Director Sally Potter adapts Virginia Woolf’s 1928 allegorical novel about a woman who lives for 400 years — the first half as a man — in this surrealist study of sex and gender roles throughout the ages. The transition from man to woman and from the 16th to the 20th century is realized by Tilda Swinton‘s breakthrough performance and the film’s Oscar-nominated costumes and art direction. Quentin Crisp plays Queen Elizabeth I.”
9/10- Bizarre movie and I just could not get into it and I tried. TRDB. Netflix.
3) HAPPILY EVER AFTER- 2005. Premise by Netflix. “Writer, director and actor Yvan Attal trains his lens on the vicissitudes of love, marriage and monogamy in this crisp romantic comedy. Married with children, Vincent (Attal) is cheating on his wife, Gabrielle (Charlotte Gainsbourg), who’s having thoughts of infidelity herself. Meanwhile, Georges (Alain Chabat) dreams of release from his constrictive marriage, and bachelor playboy Fred (Alain Cohen) longs for a committed relationship.”
9/10- Well acted comedy/drama with a message. One great scene when Gainsbourg and her husband have an unusual fight. TRDB. Netflix.
4) A FEW DAYS IN SEPTEMBER- 2006. Premise by Netflix. “On Sept. 1, 2001, 10 days before the events that shook the world, CIA agent Elliott (Nick Nolte) disappears. With the help of Elliott’s son David (Tom Riley), French agent Irène Montano (Juliette Binoche) scours Venice and Paris to find him, with a bizarre, poetry-reading assassin (John Turturro) on their trail. The clock ticks toward the fateful day, as the information Elliott holds threatens to keep him hidden permanently.”
9/10- I enjoyed the movie and appreciated Juliette Binoche much more than usual. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
5) THE EXPLODING GIRL- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Zoe Kazan carries this indie romance from writer-director Bradley Rust Gray with her finely nuanced performance as Ivy, a college student who uses her Brooklyn spring break sojourn to reevaluate her life and loves. With her current relationship fizzling out via cell phone, Ivy finds herself rethinking her longtime platonic friendship with best pal Al (Mark Rendall). Franklin Pipp and Maryann Urbano co-star.” Fairly good reviews.
9/10- Not much happens in this drama but the sincerity of the script and the fine natural acting made it enjoyable. TRDB. Netflix Streaming and also on DVD.
________________________________________________________________________________________
COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 14-
1) AFTERSCHOOL- Premise by Zap2it. “A prep-school student accidentally films the drug-related deaths of two classmates, then is asked to put together a memorial video.” Mixed reviews, mostly positive, but all said it was different.
2) ME AND ORSON WELLES- Premise by Zap2it. “After a chance encounter, theater-loving teen Richard Samuels gets the opportunity of a lifetime when famed director Orson Welles gives him a small role in his 1937 production of “Julius Caesar.” Unexpectedly thrust into the heady world of the stage, Richard finds himself surrounded by ambition, clashing egos and sheer brilliance.” Described as light and frothy or the equivalent by most reviewers.
3) LETTERS TO JULIET- Premise by Netflix. “By responding to a letter addressed to Shakespeare’s tragic heroine Juliet Capulet, a young American woman (
Amanda Seyfried) vacationing in Verona, Italy, sets in motion a series of events that leads her — and the missive’s lovelorn author (
Vanessa Redgrave) — in search of romance. Directed by
Gary Winick, this deeply tender and uplifting drama also features
Gael García Bernal and
Franco Nero.
Lousy reviews but several people I know did like it for what it was.
4) LOOKING FOR ERIC- Premise by Netflix. “Eric Bishop (
Steve Evets) is a soccer-loving Manchester postman on the brink of a nervous breakdown. With his work life and love life in shambles, Eric seeks advice from his hero, the famously philosophical Manchester United star
Eric Cantona (playing himself). The sports comedy-drama — in competition at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival — comes courtesy of master British director
Ken Loach.”5/10-
I found this movie somewhat trivial and contrived and not too funny. TRDB._______________________________________________________________________________________
OPENING REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY-
1) LEGENDARY- Premise by Netflix. “Fed up with fending off bullies, bookish teen Cal Chetley (
Devon Graye) joins his high school’s wrestling team with hopes that his older brother, Mike (WWE star
John Cena) — a gifted athlete who wrestled in high school and college — will want to whip him into shape. Trouble is, the brothers haven’t had much of a relationship since their father was killed in a car accident and Mike left Cal and their mother behind.”
I saw one review and it referred to SCHMALTZ.
2) LE REFUGE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When Louis (
Melvil Poupaud) dies of a drug overdose in Paris, his wealthy mother sees no other option but to take in his strung-out but pregnant girlfriend, Mousse (
Isabelle Carré). Determined to keep her child, Mousse flees Paris for a country home. Louis’ brother (
Louis-Ronan Choisy) visits, and she develops a fascination with him that is both erotic and angry.
François Ozon crafts an intimate portrait of an enigmatic woman seeking a purpose.”
Very good reviews.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinema of Lake Worth
1) LIFE DURING WARTIME- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker
Todd Solondz revisits his Happiness characters in this tale about three sisters, Trish (
Allison Janney) and Joy (
Shirley Henderson), each married to degenerate men, and estranged Helen (
Ally Sheedy), as they ponder the virtues of forgiving and forgetting. As Joy visits Trish to escape problems with her perverted, druggy husband, Trish is unaware that her own ex-husband, a pedophile whom she’s claimed is dead, is now out of prison.”
Good reviews.8/10-
This movie is so different than anything you’ve seen before. Good acting and an unusual way of handling some contemporary issues. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
2) MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON- Directed by Stephane Brize and starring Sandrine Kiberlan, Vincent Lindon and Aure Atika. Good review in NY Times 5/28/106/10- A wonderful drama about a working class man who develops an unlikely and unexpected romance with his son’s school teacher. I loved it. TRDB.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
COMCAST ON-DEMAND- Movies of Interest
NEW-
1) CALVIN MARSHALL- Premise by Netflix. “Though he has no athletic ability whatsoever, college student Calvin Marshall (
Alex Frost) is so blindly single-minded about making the school baseball team that Coach Little (
Steve Zahn) — a former minor league player — relents and lets him on the squad. But when he’s sidelined by an injury, Calvin has an opportunity to discover his true talent in life.
Gary Lundgren directs this charming comedy that co-stars
Michelle Lombardo.”
OK review in NY Times 8/20/10.
REPEATS-
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) AJAMI- Well received Israeli award winner but I was disappointed
3) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
4) A YEAR AGO IN WINTER- Haven’t Seen It
5) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
6) BABIES- Very good reviews
7) CAIRO TIME- I was disappointed but others liked it
8)CHANGE OF PLANS- Mixed reviews
9) CHLOE- Back again. I liked it
10) CITY ISLAND- I’d recommend it
11) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
12) GHOST WRITER- Recommended
13) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
14) HELEN- Haven’t seen it
15) HERE AND THERE- Recommended
16) HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBERGER- I liked it
17) INVICTUS- Just OK
18) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
19) JUNO- Back again- I liked it
20) KISSES- Good reviews
21) LA MISSION- I liked it
22) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
23) LIFE DURING WARTIME- Very different but I’d recommend it
24) MAKING PLANS FOR LENA- I haven’t seen it but very mixed reviews
25) MAP OF THE SOUNDS OF TOKYO- Positive reviews
26) MOTHER- I liked it
27) MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Bad!
28) MY NAME IS KHAN- I liked it
29) SOUL KITCHEN- Good reviews
30) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It
31) THE WHITE RIBBON- Very popular but weird and didn’t like it
32) UP IN THE AIR- Recommended
33) YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- I liked it
34) YOUTH IN REVOLT- I liked it
_________________________________________________________________________________________
BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
NEW in the Suburbs-
1) LEBANON- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “In this claustrophobic drama by first-time director
Samuel Maoz — a veteran of the early ’80s Israel/Lebanon conflict in which the film is set — four Israeli soldiers command a tank in a situation that becomes increasingly tense and chaotic. Like Das Boot before it, most of the action is confined to the stark interiors of that tank, as the men wrestle with fear, anger and their own consciences in the face of possible death and worse.”
Very good early reviews.
2) THE TILLMAN STORY- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “When
Pat Tillman, a former pro football player and decorated U.S. soldier, was killed in Afghanistan, the military reported that he’d died battling the Taliban. But later, a much different story emerged: Tillman was killed by friendly fire. Since that day, Tillman’s family has waged their own war, fighting tirelessly with the government in order to unravel the truth behind the cover-up. Filmmaker
Amir Bar-Lev documents their struggle.”
Very good reviews.
3) THE EDGE OF HEAVEN- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “When his father accidentally kills a prostitute, Nejat Aksu (
Baki Davrak) seeks out her 27-year-old daughter, Ayten (
Nurgül Yesilcay), to make amends. Nejat focuses his search in Turkey, but Ayten, who’s part of a closely watched activist group, has fled to Germany. The lives of four Turks and two Germans are soon entwined as a result of circumstances beyond their control in this compelling drama, which earned Best Screenplay honors at Cannes.”
I saw this 2 years ago and liked it very much. TRDB.
4) FLIPPED- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “From director Rob Reiner comes a multigenerational family saga about the highs and lows of love. Bryce and Juli first meet as second graders, with Juli having a crush on the uncertain Bryce, and as they mature, it appears their love may blossom. As they wrestle with the problems of adolescence, their parents cope with an assortment of issues of their own. Aidan Quinn, Rebecca De Mornay and Anthony Edwards co-star in this poignant romantic comedy.” Reviews were just OK, more positive than negative for this well meaning family movie.
REPEATS-
1) THE AMERICAN- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2010. Premise by Netflix. “On the heels of a rough assignment, assassin Jack (
George Clooney) declares that his next job will be his last. Dispatched to a small Italian town to await further orders, Jack embarks on a double life that may be more relaxing than is good for him. Although duty will surely call, Jack becomes friends with Father Benedetto (
Paolo Bonacelli) and falls for villager Clara (
Violante Placido) in this suspense thriller directed by
Anton Corbijn.”
Good press reviews but friends have not liked it.
2) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Bethel, Clearview 100. Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2009. Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager
Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.”
Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.8/10-
Great dancing makes up for a somewhat weak story. I enjoyed the movie despite all the schmaltz. TRDB.3) CAIRO TIME- Bethel. Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (
Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (
Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (
Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.”
Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.
8/10- I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the waif-like Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB.
4) GET LOW- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. Premise by Netflix. “
Robert Duvall and
Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring
Bill Murray and
Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).”
Great reviews.
8/10 To my surprise I did like this movie even though it was clearly a vehicle for Duvall to shine once more. I have never liked Murray outside of the comic role and didn’t here either. TRDB.
5) ANIMAL KINGDOM- 2010. Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “When his mother dies suddenly, a 17-year-old boy (
James Frecheville) finds himself drawn into the clutches of a diabolical criminal family, until a good-hearted detective (
Guy Pearce) makes a concerted effort to change the boy’s fate. Australian writer-director
David Michôd‘s first feature-length drama won the World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.”
Great reviews.9/10-
Violent, poignant and very well acted. I liked it. TRDB.6) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Saw Mill Hawthorne. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com
For all films go to- www.fandango.com
September 9th, 2010
SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
PLEASE ACCESS MY NEWSLETTER AT www.thereeldrbob.com
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) MAO’S LAST DANCER- THEATER
2) MAX MANUS- Privately owned DVD
3) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Netflix
4) YOO-HOO MRS. GOLDBERG- Netflix _________________________________________________________________________________________ MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) MAO’S LAST DANCER- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.” Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.
8/10- Great dancing makes up for a somewhat weak story. I enjoyed the movie despite the schmaltz. TRDB.
________________________________________________________________________________________ MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) CHLOE- 2009. Netflix had this to say–“Suspecting her husband, David (Liam Neeson), of infidelity, doctor Catherine (Julianne Moore) hires sexy escort Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce him and test his faithfulness. But as Catherine checks in on Chloe’s encounters with David, Chloe’s reports become increasingly lurid. Soon, the relationships between all three intensify in unexpected ways. Renowned filmmaker Atom Egoyan directs this psychological drama.” Only fair reviews for this film, called by one reviewer a B- List film with an A- List cast.
8/10- A mediocre story with top talent makes this film somewhat enjoyable. TRDB. Netflix.
2) MAX MANUS- Directed by Espen Sandberg and Joachim Roenning. Premise by Netflix. “Dismayed by Norway’s swift capitulation to Nazi Germany during World War II, Max Manus (Aksel Hennie) — who would become one of Norway’s greatest war heroes — immediately joined the Resistance. This biographical drama tells his story. From his audacious escapes from German captivity (one from a military hospital) to his bold acts of sabotage (which included blowing up warships), the film chronicles all Manus’s derring-do.”
8/10- A very good docudrama about a resistance fighter most people know nothing about. TRDB. Privately owned DVD.
3) YOUTH IN REVOLT- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Nick Twisp (Michael Cera), a cynical, sex-deprived teenager living a less-than-satisfactory existence, is pushed by the manifestation of his debonair, rebellious id (also Cera) to bed his dream girl, Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday). Miguel Arteta directs this irreverent, dark comedy based on the popular novel series by C.D. Payne. Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, Justin Long, Fred Willard, Jean Smart, M. Emmet Walsh and Zach Galifianakis co-star.”
8/10- At times silly but still enjoyable. TRDB. Netflix.
4) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker and ex-Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints member Reed Cowan examines that church’s nationwide efforts to prevent the legalization of gay marriage — including California’s Proposition 8, which was passed by voters in 2008. Confidential church documents, statements by high-ranking church officials and other sources detail 30 years of efforts to turn back gay rights, particularly by the Mormon-sponsored National Organization for Marriage.” Fairly good early reviews.
8/10- What more can I say– the film was well done and also addresses the many conflicts that families of gay people wrestled with on dual loyalties to their family and to the Church. TRDB. Netflix.
5) YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “The history of “The Goldbergs” — and the massive appeal and influence of its Jewish American main character — is explored in this fascinating documentary from filmmaker Aviva Kempner. Though she is not a household name today, Molly Goldberg — the indelible creation of writer and performer Gertrude Berg — was one of the most popular characters on radio and television from the 1930s to the ’50s.” Good reviews.
8/10- A good portrait of this pioneer of radio and TV. It places her well in the context of U.S. society at the time. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
6) BANGKOK GIRL- 2005. Premise by Netflix. “This poignant documentary explores Thailand’s thriving sex tourism industry by examining the life of 19-year-old bar girl Pla. Though she’s worked in bars since the age of 13, Pla has — amazingly — avoided prostitution so far, but it’s unlikely she’ll be able to continue holding out. Filmmaker Jordan Clark provides a searing look at how the influx of foreigners has changed Thailand’s economy and culture.”
8/10- The movie was OK but I had to wonder why this Canadian film maker had to go to Thailand when there are plenty of similar stories in North America. TRDB. Netflix Streaming. Available by DVD also.
7) A QUIET LITTLE MARRIAGE- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “With her dad descending into an Alzheimer’s haze and a junkie for a brother-in-law, happily married Olive (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) decides that the answer to life’s problems is a baby — too bad her spouse (Cy Carter) doesn’t agree. But with the missus poking holes in her diaphragm and hubby spiking her coffee with birth control pills, love may not conquer all in this Slamdance Film Festival award winner. Jimmi Simpson and Charlie Day also star.” Good reviews.
8/10- An OK film until a disappointing ending. TRDB. Netflix.
________________________________________________________________________________________ COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 7-
1) THAT EVENING SUN- Premise by Netflix. “Frustrated with being confined to a nursing facility, Abner Meecham (Hal Holbrook) breaks out and walks all the way back to his farm. When he realizes his biggest enemy (Ray McKinnon) now lives in his house, Abner devises a plan to reclaim what rightfully belongs to him. Based on William Gay’s short story, this Southern drama co-stars Walton Goggins as Abner’s son, Paul, and Holbrook’s real-life wife, Dixie Carter, as Abner’s spouse, Ellen. “Great early reviews, especially in relation to Hal Holbrook.
2) THE LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND- Premise by Netflix. “Based on an unproduced original screenplay by Tennessee Williams, this drama follows Fisher Willow (Bryce Dallas Howard), the headstrong daughter of a Southern plantation owner. Forced to fulfill her role as a debutante, she chooses farmhand Jimmy Dobyne (Chris Evans) as her escort. As if this weren’t scandalous enough, her announcement that she’s fallen in love with Jimmy threatens to destroy the family. Ann-Margret and Ellen Burstyn co-star.” Poor reviews but I’ve included it anyway.
3) JOHN RABE- Premise by Netflix. “Florian Gallenberger directs this gripping drama about John Rabe (Ulrich Tukur), a German businessman living in Nanking, China, who in 1937 used his Nazi party affiliation to save some 200,000 Chinese civilians from slaughter at the hands of the Japanese army. As Rabe labors to establish an official safety zone to shelter the innocent, he forms an unlikely friendship with an American doctor (Steve Buscemi). Anne Consigny and Daniel Brühl co-star.” Very good reviews.
4) SORRY, THANKS- Premise by Netflix. “Although he’s in a relationship with Sara (Ia Hernandez), Max Callahan (Wiley Wiggins) develops an obsession with Kira (Kenya Miles), his recent one-night stand. While he tries to figure whether he has a conscience, Kira seriously questions her personal and professional choices. Andrew Bujalski co-stars as Max’s best friend, Mason, and Dia Sokol directs this romantic drama that explores the heart’s questionable emotions.” Fair reviews.
5) THE EXPLODING GIRL- Premise by Netflix. “Zoe Kazan carries this indie romance from writer-director Bradley Rust Gray with her finely nuanced performance as Ivy, a college student who uses her Brooklyn spring break sojourn to reevaluate her life and loves. With her current relationship fizzling out via cell phone, Ivy finds herself rethinking her longtime platonic friendship with best pal Al (Mark Rendall). Franklin Pipp and Maryann Urbano co-star.” Fairly good reviews.
6) SOLITARY MAN- Premise by Netflix. “Michael Douglas stars as a former car dealership owner who sees his personal and professional lives take a nosedive when the repercussions of years of shady business dealings and chronic womanizing finally catch up with him. Susan Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Danny DeVito and Jenna Fischer co-star in this comedic drama written and co-directed by Brian Koppelman.” Good review in NY Times. 6/10- Very well acted and very interesting script make this movie a winner. TRDB.
7) A CALL GIRL- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “This insightful, allegorical drama follows Aleksandra (Nina Ivanisin), a student, as she travels from a small town to the big city. A cynical and callous young woman, Aleksandra uses the move to transform herself into a well-paid call girl. Her self-imposed isolation and guilt-free life end, however, when a politician client dies. As the police pursue her, Aleksandra must figure out how to finish growing up without losing her soul.”
7/10- This movie, about an isolated woman, was only mildly interesting to me. TRDB. Netflix.
8)MANUELA AND MANUEL- Premise by Netflix. “When her best friend, Coca (Elena Iguina), finds herself pregnant after a casual fling, unlucky-in-love drag queen Manuela (Humberto Busto) helps Coca face her disapproving family by embracing a male identity, Manuel, and posing as the baby’s father. But things go sideways when Manuela discovers that the baby’s real daddy is a regular at the gay club where she works. Raúl Marchand Sánchez directs this screwball comedy.” OK reviews.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ OPENING LOCALLY, REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY THIS WEEK-
1) WO AI NI MOMMY- Premise by Netflix. “Exploring the multifaceted meanings of love and family, filmmaker Stephanie Wang-Breal traces an 8-year-old girl’s emotional journey from her homeland in China to her new home in the United States, where she’ll live with her adoptive Jewish parents. Born Fang Sui Yong, she’s now known as Faith. But her new name isn’t the only unfamiliar element in the strange — yet undeniably comfortable — situation she now finds herself in.” Only one review but it’s great.
2) HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE- Premise by Netflix. “On the way to meet a publisher, aspiring novelist Sam (Josh Radnor) encounters 6-year-old Rasheen (Michael Algieri) alone on the subway. While struggling to decide whether to send him back to foster care, Sam looks after Rasheen and learns a few important life lessons. Meanwhile, Sam’s friends deal with various romantic tribulations. Radnor wrote and directed this coming-of-age comedy, which won the Best Drama Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.” Just OK reviews. __________________________________________________________________________________________ FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth-
1) WINNEBAGO MAN- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “This entertaining documentary explores the phenomenon of Jack Rebney, who became an Internet sensation after a grainy, nearly 20-year-old video of him furiously swearing up a storm while filming a Winnebago sales video made the rounds online. Traveling to a mountaintop, filmmaker Ben Steinbauer tracks down Rebney — who’s become known in underground circles as the “Angriest Man in the World” — and tries to discover what makes the loner tick.” Very good reviews.
2) THE EXTRA MAN- Premise by Netflix. “Forced to quit his prep school job after a humiliating incident, would-be dramatist Louis Ives (Paul Dano) heads to New York City, where he rents a room from has-been playwright Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline) — who earns a living escorting rich dowagers about town. Despite their huge age difference, the two develop a bond as Henry takes Louis under his wing and leads him on a series of wild adventures. Katie Holmes and John C. Reilly also star.” Mixed reviews, more plus than minus. TRDB. _________________________________________________________________________________________ COMCAST ON-DEMAND- NEW-
1) AJAMI- Premise by Netflix. “When their uncle wounds an important clan member, 13-year-old Nasri (Fouad Habash) and his older brother, Omar (Shahir Kabaha), fear he has put their whole family in terrible danger in this moving, Oscar-nominated drama set on the West Bank. A truce is arranged, but Omar must start selling drugs to pay the fine he now owes. Meanwhile, a number of other locals struggle to negotiate the political and social tinderbox of Jaffa’s Ajami neighborhood.”
Very good reviews but I found it fairly sterile and could not get into the main characters. TRDB.
2) A CHANGE OF PLANS- Premise by RottenTomatoes. “CHANGE OF PLANS (LE CODE A CHANGÉ), is a delicious comedy of manners from acclaimed Oscar- and César-nominated writer/director Danièle Thompson… CHANGE OF PLANS (LE CODE A CHANGÉ), is a delicious comedy of manners from acclaimed Oscar- and César-nominated writer/director Danièle Thompson (COUSIN COUSINE, LA BÛCHE, JET LAG, AVENUE MONTAIGNE). The film centers around a summer dinner party where ten acquaintances, each attempting to mask their own personal troubles, come together for an evening of food, wine and friendship. It’s not long before the couples begin revealing their dissatisfaction with their partners and it becomes obvious that they are planning or having affairs. The all-star ensemble cast includes Dany Boon (MICMACS), Emanuelle Seigner (THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY), Karin Viard (PARIS), and Marina Hands (LADY CHATTERLEY). Poor early reviews.
REPEATS-
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
3) A YEAR AGO IN WINTER- Haven’t Seen It
4) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
5) BABIES- Very good reviews
6) BLUEBEARD- Haven’t Seen It
7) CAIRO TIME- I was disappointed but others liked it
8)CHLOE- Back again. I liked it
9) CITY ISLAND- I’d recommend it
10) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
11) GHOST WRITER- Recommended
12) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
13) GREENBERG- I liked it
14) HELEN- Haven’t seen it
15) HERE AND THERE- Recommended
16) HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBERGER- I liked it
17) INVICTUS- Just OK
18) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
19) JUNO- Back again- I liked it
20) KISSES- Good reviews
21) LA MISSION- I liked it
22) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
23) LIFE DURING WARTIME- Very different but I’d recommend it
24) MAKING PLANS FOR LENA- I haven’t seen it but very mixed reviews
25) MAP OF THE SOUNDS OF TOKYO- Positive reviews
26) MOTHER- I liked it
27) MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Bad!
28) MY NAME IS KHAN- I liked it
29) PIRATE RADIO- Just OK
30) SOUL KITCHEN- Good reviews
31) THE EXPLODING GIRL- Haven’t seen it
32) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It
33) THE GREATEST- Recommended
34) THE WHITE RIBBON- Very popular but I found it weird and didn’t like it
35) UP IN THE AIR- Recommended
36) YOUTH IN REVOLT- I liked it
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 (Westchester and Fairfield Counties) NEW-
1) ANIMAL KINGDOM- Clearview 100. 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When his mother dies suddenly, a 17-year-old boy (James Frecheville) finds himself drawn into the clutches of a diabolical criminal family, until a good-hearted detective (Guy Pearce) makes a concerted effort to change the boy’s fate. Australian writer-director David Michôd‘s first feature-length drama won the World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.” Great reviews.
2) THE AMERICAN- 2010. Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “On the heels of a rough assignment, assassin Jack (George Clooney) declares that his next job will be his last. Dispatched to a small Italian town to await further orders, Jack embarks on a double life that may be more relaxing than is good for him. Although duty will surely call, Jack becomes friends with Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and falls for villager Clara (Violante Placido) in this suspense thriller directed by Anton Corbijn.” Good reviews.
3) SOUL KITCHEN- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “Young restaurant owner Zinos (Adam Bousdoukos) decides to revamp Soul Kitchen, his dumpy diner, but the customer response isn’t what he was hoping for. To make matters worse, his girlfriend (Anna Bederke) flies off to Shanghai, and the tax collector comes knocking. But with the help of an inspired new chef (Birol Ünel), Zinos still has a chance at redemption. German director Fatih Akin delivers a riotous modern romantic comedy.” The reviews I read all barely liked the movie- none liked it a lot.”
4) FAREWELL- Jacob Burns. 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In this thinking man’s spy thriller, KGB agent Sergei Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica) plans to hand over hard evidence that proves the depth of his agency’s penetration of U.S. intelligence, in a one-man crusade to bring down the Soviet empire. French engineer Pierre Froment (Guillaume Canet) is drawn into this web of espionage against his will, but proves a surprisingly resourceful operative in the process.” Mostly good reviews.
REPEATS-
1) CAIRO TIME- Bethel, Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.” Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.
8/10- I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the waif-like Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB.
2) GET LOW- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring Bill Murray and Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).” Great reviews. 8/10 To my surprise I did like this movie even though it was clearly a vehicle for Duvall to shine once more. I have never liked Murray outside of the comic role and didn’t here either. TRDB.
3) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2009. Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.” Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.
8/10- Great dancing makes up for a somewhat weak story and I enjoyed the movie despite all the schmaltz as well. TRDB.
4) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Clearview 100, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
5) THE CONCERT- Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The winner of two César Awards, this uplifting comedy focuses on Andrei Filipov (Aleksei Guskov), a Russian conductor whose music career was cut short by politics. Now an alcoholic janitor, Filipov seizes a chance to reunite his orchestra and reclaim his life. Using a purloined invitation to a Parisian festival as incentive, Filipov gathers his rag-tag musicians and a French violinist (Mélanie Laurent) to realize his long-cherished dream.” A few very positive reactions but more fairly negative ones. The story sounds interesting and I’ll give it a try. TRDB.
For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com
For all films go to- www.fandango.com
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
September 1st, 2010
AUGUST 25, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
Please use www.thereeldrbob for information about individual movies.
NEWS– I WAS ASKED TO BE A JUDGE AT THE FIRST L-DUB (LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA) FILM FESTIVAL AT THE STONZEK THEATER OF THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE IN A FEW WEEKS. THE FESTIVAL WILL CONSIST OF FEATURES, SHORTS, ANIMATED AND DOCUMENTARIES. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND I’LL REPORT BACK AFTERWARDS. CHECK IT OUT AT www.lakeworthplayhouse.org. AND-
PLEASE CONSIDER COMING IF YOU’RE IN FLORIDA.
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES FOR THE WEEK-
1) LA MISSION- Netflix.
2) OFF AND RUNNING- Netflix Streaming.
3) THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION- Netflix. ________________________________________________________________________________________ MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) GET LOW- Premise by Netflix. “Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring Bill Murray and Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).” Great reviews.
8/10 To my surprise I did like this movie even though it was clearly a vehicle for Duvall to shine once more. I have never liked Murray outside of the comic role and didn’t here either. TRDB. _________________________________________________________________________________________ MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) LA MISSION- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Ultra-macho ex-con Che Rivera (Benjamin Bratt) learns the true meaning of being a father when he discovers his son (Jeremy Ray Valdez) is gay. Rivera turns violent at first, but when a beautiful neighbor (Erika Alexander) helps him see through his anger, he begins to reconcile his long-held beliefs. Peter Bratt (Benjamin’s brother) writes and directs this compelling drama, while Max Rosenak and Talisa Soto co-star.” Weak reviews.
8/10- While portions of this movie were cliched there were some very interesting and poignant moments. Worth a look. TRDB. Netflix.
2) OFF AND RUNNING- Premise by Netflix. “African American teen Avery Klein-Cloud has white Jewish lesbian parents, an older Puerto Rican brother and a younger Korean brother. As she tries to contact her biological mother, Avery risks alienating the adoptive family she’s always loved. Examining the complexities of race, identity and family, filmmaker Nicole Opper’s compelling documentary follows Avery as she wrestles with the consequences of researching her roots.” Very good reviews.
8/10- An interesting documentary, in particular the difficulty this young Black woman had in understanding being black after being raised in a Jewish family. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
3) THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION- Premise by Netflix. “After duping school officials into awarding him a grant to write a biography on novelist Jules Gund, grad student Omar Razaghi (Omar Metwally) is forced to travel to Uruguay to get legitimate authorization from the late author’s three executors. Directed by James Ivory (A Room with a View), this moving adaptation of author Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name also stars Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney and Charlotte Gainsbourg.” Very good reviews.
8/10- The “old world” that Omar gets himself into is the most interesting part of the film. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
4) THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD- Premise by Netflix. “On a train crossing the Manchurian desert, an unlikely trio — good bounty hunter Park Do-won (Woo-sung Jung), bad gangster Park Chang-yi (Byung-hun Lee) and weird train robber Yoon Tae-goo (Kang-ho Song) — unite to find a treasure map’s promised loot. Racing through the unforgiving landscape, they stay one step ahead of rivals and the Japanese army. Ji-woon Kim directs this Sergio Leone-inspired adventure.” Mixed reviews, more good than bad.
8/10- A comedy that was bad and weird and I turned it off rather than suffer for 2 hours. TRDB. Netflix.
5) SPRING 1941- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “After Germany invades Poland and the Nazis order the confinement of all local Jews in the ghetto, medical doctor Artur Planck (Joseph Fiennes) manages to flee with his family, seeking refuge at the farm of Emilia (Kelly Harrison), their former grocer. With the Planck family hiding in her attic, Emilia finds her feelings for the physician growing stronger than she wants, or can control — despite the dangers of the situation.”
8/10- One of the worst Holocaust movies I’ve seen. Poor acting, poor obvious script and terrible accents turned me off so I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
_________________________________________________________________________________________ COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 31-
1) A QUIET LITTLE MARRIAGE- Premise by Netflix. “With her dad descending into an Alzheimer’s haze and a junkie for a brother-in-law, happily married Olive (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) decides that the answer to life’s problems is a baby — too bad her spouse (Cy Carter) doesn’t agree. But with the missus poking holes in her diaphragm and hubby spiking her coffee with birth control pills, love may not conquer all in this Slamdance Film Festival award winner. Jimmi Simpson and Charlie Day also star.” Good reviews. _________________________________________________________________________________________ OPENING LOCALLY, REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY THIS WEEK-
1) THE MILK OF SORROW- Premise by Netflix. “Stricken with a pathological fear she contracted from her mother’s breast milk — the “milk of sorrow,” a condition suffered by women who were raped during Peru’s civil wars — Fausta (Magaly Solier) goes to extreme lengths to protect her own sexuality and safety. But when her anguished mother finally dies, Fausta finds herself compelled to embark on a frightening journey that could lead her to freedom and wholeness. Claudia Llosa directs this Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Film.” Good reviews. _________________________________________________________________________________________ FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth
1) NORA’S WILL- Premise by Rotten Tomatoes. “Before dying, Nora hatches a plan to make her ex-husband José take care of her corpse, but she is missing something. The only flaw in the plan–a… Before dying, Nora hatches a plan to make her ex-husband José take care of her corpse, but she is missing something. The only flaw in the plan–a mysterious photograph forgotten under the bed–will lead to an unexpected outcome.” I’ve seen only 2 reviews but both were positive.
2) WILD GRASS- Premise by Netflix. “When the bag of amateur pilot Marguerite Muir (Sabine Azéma) is stolen and its contents are strewn over a parking lot, fate sets into motion an intriguing sequence of events involving the pilot, a dentist and a mysterious man (André Dussollier) who finds her wallet. French new wave pioneer Alain Resnais adapts the Christian Gailly novel into a stirring drama, which screened in competition at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.” Fair reviews. _________________________________________________________________________________________ COMCAST ON-DEMAND— MOVIES OF INTEREST
NEW-
1) BABIES- Premise by Netflix. “Documentary filmmaker Thomas Balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs. Training his camera on newborns Hattie from San Francisco, Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia and Mari from Tokyo, Balmes captures every moment, from their first screaming breaths to their first tentative steps.” Fairly good reviews.
2) CAIRO TIME- Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.” Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.
8/10- I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the waif-like Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB.
3) THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION- Premise by Netflix. “After duping school officials into awarding him a grant to write a biography on novelist Jules Gund, grad student Omar Razaghi (Omar Metwally) is forced to travel to Uruguay to get legitimate authorization from the late author’s three executors. Directed by James Ivory (A Room with a View), this moving adaptation of author Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name also stars Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney and Charlotte Gainsbourg.” Very good reviews.
8/10- The “old world” life that Omar gets himself into is the most interesting part of the film. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
4) LIFE DURING WARTIME- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker Todd Solondz revisits his Happiness characters in this tale about three sisters, Trish (Allison Janney) and Joy (Shirley Henderson), each married to degenerate men, and estranged Helen (Ally Sheedy), as they ponder the virtues of forgiving and forgetting. As Joy visits Trish to escape problems with her perverted, druggy husband, Trish is unaware that her own ex-husband, a pedophile whom she’s claimed is dead, is now out of prison.” Good reviews.
8/10- This movie is so different than anything you’ve seen before. Good acting and an unusual way of handling some contemporary issues. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
5) SOUL KITCHEN- Premise by Netflix. “Young restaurant owner Zinos (Adam Bousdoukos) decides to revamp Soul Kitchen, his dumpy diner, but the customer response isn’t what he was hoping for. To make matters worse, his girlfriend (Anna Bederke) flies off to Shanghai, and the tax collector comes knocking. But with the help of an inspired new chef (Birol Ünel), Zinos still has a chance at redemption. German director Fatih Akin delivers a riotous modern romantic comedy.” The reviews I read all barely liked the movie- none liked it a lot.
6) YOO-HOO MRS. GOLDBERG- Premise by Netflix. “The history of “The Goldbergs” — and the massive appeal and influence of its Jewish American main character — is explored in this fascinating documentary from filmmaker Aviva Kempner. Though she is not a household name today, Molly Goldberg — the indelible creation of writer and performer Gertrude Berg — was one of the most popular characters on radio and television from the 1930s to the ’50s.” Good reviews.
7) MAP OF THE SOUNDS OF TOKYO- Premise by Netflix. “When the daughter of prominent Tokyo businessman Mr. Nagara (Takeo Nakahara) commits suicide, Nagara’s heartbroken employee Ishida (Hideo Sakaki) hires part-time hit woman Ryu (Rinko Kikuchi) to kill the man (Sergi López) perceived as responsible for the daughter’s death. Meanwhile, a curious sound engineer becomes obsessed with Ryu and her life in this lyrical and mysterious drama from acclaimed Spanish director Isabel Coixet.” Fair early reviews at best.
REPEATS-
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
3) A YEAR AGO IN WINTER- Haven’t Seen It
4) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
5) BLUEBEARD- Haven’t Seen It
6) CITY ISLAND- Back again and I’d recommend it
7) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
8)CREATION- Recommended
9) THE GHOST WRITER- Recommended
10) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
11) GREENBERG- OK
12) HELEN- Haven’t seen it
13) HERE AND THERE- Recommended
14) HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBERGER- I liked it
15) INVICTUS- Just OK
6) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
17) JUNO- Back again- I liked it
18) KISSES- Good reviews
19) LA MISSION- Back again- I liked it
20) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
21) MOTHER- I liked it
22) MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Bad!
23) MY NAME IS KHAN- I liked it
24) PIRATE RADIO- Just OK
25) THE EXPLODING GIRL- Haven’t seen it
26) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It
27) THE GREATEST- Recommended
28) THE WHITE RIBBON- Very popular but I found it weird and didn’t like it
29) UP IN THE AIR- Recommended
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- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
NEW-
1) THE CONCERT- Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The winner of two César Awards, this uplifting comedy focuses on Andrei Filipov (Aleksei Guskov), a Russian conductor whose music career was cut short by politics. Now an alcoholic janitor, Filipov seizes a chance to reunite his orchestra and reclaim his life. Using a purloined invitation to a Parisian festival as incentive, Filipov gathers his rag-tag musicians and a French violinist (Mélanie Laurent) to realize his long-cherished dream.” A few very positive reactions but more fairly negative ones. The story sounds interesting and I’ll give it a try. TRDB.
2) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.” Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) GET LOW- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring Bill Murray and Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).” Great reviews. 8/10 To my surprise I did like this movie even though it was clearly a vehicle for Duvall to shine once more. I have never liked Murray outside of the comic role and didn’t here either. TRDB.
2) CAIRO TIME- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.” Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.
8/10- I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the waif-like Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB.
3) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Clearview 100, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
4) FAREWELL- Bethel. 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In this thinking man’s spy thriller, KGB agent Sergei Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica) plans to hand over hard evidence that proves the depth of his agency’s penetration of U.S. intelligence, in a one-man crusade to bring down the Soviet empire. French engineer Pierre Froment (Guillaume Canet) is drawn into this web of espionage against his will, but proves a surprisingly resourceful operative in the process.” Mostly good reviews.
5) THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “Disaster hits Millennium magazine when publisher Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) launches an exposé of the Swedish sex trade, leading to the deaths of two staffers and then to the police pursuit of a third — tech expert Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) — as the prime suspect. In Part 2 of the trilogy, based on the action novels of Stieg Larsson, the vampiric Salander vanishes as Blomkvist digs deep into a possible conspiracy.” Mostly good reviews.
7/10- I was bored as hell. It was initially hard to tell who was who and I never recovered. See “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” twice instead. TRDB.
For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com
For all films go to- www.fandango.com
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
August 25th, 2010
AUGUST 18, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) VITUS- Netflix.
2) WELCOME- Netflix.
See “below” for details and use my Web site for information about movies in this Newsletter-
www.thereeldrbob.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) CAIRO TIME- Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (
Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (
Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (
Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.”
Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.8/10-
I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the emotion free Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Also too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB. _________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1)
MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Premise by Netflix. “In 1979, architect Gabriel (Timothy Hutton) begins questioning his existence, avoiding work and escaping into the fictional world of movies. When he starts writing a play examining the choices he’s made, it creates issues with his wife (Dana Delany), daughter (India Ennenga) and friends. Meanwhile, he tries to convince a brassy literary agent (Stockard Channing) to represent him and confides in his best friend (Mira Sorvino) in this indie drama.” Reviews are awful.8/10- Terrible reviews are accurate for this boring as hell movie that I turned off. TRDB. Netflix.2) MY NAME IS KHAN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Rizwan Khan (Shahrukh Khan), a Muslim man with Asperger syndrome, lives happily with his wife, Mandira (Kajol), in San Francisco until a tragedy drives her away after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now he is on a quest to recapture the heart of the woman he loves. Traveling across America, Rizwan faces prejudice because of his religion and unusual behavior, but he also inspires the people he meets with his unique outlook on life.” The reviews were mostly very good.
8/10- I can’t believe that I liked this schmaltz infested piece of Bollywood, but I did. TRDB. Netflix.
3) VITUS- 2006. Premise by Netflix. “Pushed to succeed and live up to his parents’ ambitions at an early age, young Vitus (played by Fabrizio Borsani and Teo Gheorghiu) is a virtual genius and a prodigy at the piano. But as Vitus grows older, he decides on a different path: one that leads to an ordinary childhood. Julika Jenkins and Urs Jucker co-star in writer-director Fredi M. Murer‘s heartfelt tale, which won the Swiss Film Prize for Best Film of 2007.”
8/10- I saw this almost three years ago and said then as now that despite numerous poor reviews I thought that this was a wonderful story about a child prodigy and his quest to be “normal.” Also an excellent performance by Bruno Ganz as the grandfather and the savior of this boy. TRDB. At the Heritage Hills Film Club and also available from Netflix.
4)
THE THORN IN THE HEART- Premise by Netflix. “Oscar-winning director and writer Michel Gondry(Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) turns the camera on his own family in this documentary about his aunt Suzette, a teacher in rural France from 1952 to 1986. Raised in Versailles in a family of musicians and educated in Paris, Gondry is keen on understanding a life very different from his own. In the process, he stumbles on a wealth of new stories about the family he thought he knew.” A few great reviews and a few miserable reviews. I’ll give it a try.8/10- The biggest complaint about this movie is that nobody cares about Gondry’s aunt Suzette but I think that misses the larger point of the movie which is a depiction through narrative and film of life in rural France. As for the family stuff, you can fast-forward through lots of it. Over all I liked the movie. TRDB. Netflix.5) WELCOME- 2009. Directed by Philippe Lioret. Premise by Netflix. “When authorities forbid young Kurdish refugee Bilal (Firat Ayverdi) from crossing the English Channel to reunite with his girlfriend in England, the 17-year-old resolves to swim to his love — and finds an unlikely ally in the form of swim instructor Simon (Vincent Lindon). Facing an inevitable divorce from his wife (Audrey Dana), the middle-aged teacher takes the resolute youth under his wing in this stirring, beautifully acted French drama.”
8/10- A very good drama about the issues of illegal immigrants, the hurdles they must overcome and the brave few that help them. I liked the film. TRDB. Netflix.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 24-
1) AJAMI- Premise by Netflix. “When their uncle wounds an important clan member, 13-year-old Nasri (Fouad Habash) and his older brother, Omar (Shahir Kabaha), fear he has put their whole family in terrible danger in this moving, Oscar-nominated drama set on the West Bank. A truce is arranged, but Omar must start selling drugs to pay the fine he now owes. Meanwhile, a number of other locals struggle to negotiate the political and social tinderbox of Jaffa’s Ajami neighborhood.”Very good reviews but I found it fairly sterile and could not get into the main characters. TRDB.
2) CITY ISLAND- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “When he recognizes his son Tony (Steven Strait), whom he hasn’t seen in over 20 years, among a crop of new inmates in the jail he works at, Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) decides to bring the troubled young man home with him, much to the surprise of his wife and kids. Helmed by writer-director Raymond De Felitta, this offbeat comedy also stars Julianna Margulies, Emily Mortimer, Dominik Garcia-Lorido and Oscar winner Alan Arkin.” Generally good reviews.
4/10- It’s about people in families and the secrets they keep from each other. Know that this is a comedy despite some serious issues. I liked it. TRDB.
3) YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- Premise by Netflix. “The history of “The Goldbergs” — and the massive appeal and influence of its Jewish American main character — is explored in this fascinating documentary from filmmaker Aviva Kempner. Though she is not a household name today, Molly Goldberg — the indelible creation of writer and performer Gertrude Berg — was one of the most popular characters on radio and television from the 1930s to the ’50s.” Good reviews.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
OPENING LOCALLY, REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY THIS WEEK-
1) HIDING DIVYA- Premise by Zap2it. “An Indian woman’s bipolar disorder has consequences for herself, her daughter and granddaughter.” Only one review so far and it’s great!
2) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager
Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.”
Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.
3) THE TILLMAN STORY- Premise by Netflix. “When
Pat Tillman, a former pro football player and decorated U.S. soldier, was killed in Afghanistan, the military reported that he’d died battling the Taliban. But later, a much different story emerged: Tillman was killed by friendly fire. Since that day, Tillman’s family has waged their own war, fighting tirelessly with the government in order to unravel the truth behind the cover-up. Filmmaker
Amir Bar-Lev documents their struggle.”
Very good reviews.
4) SOUL KITCHEN- Premise by Netflix. “Young restaurant owner Zinos (
Adam Bousdoukos) decides to revamp Soul Kitchen, his dumpy diner, but the customer response isn’t what he was hoping for. To make matters worse, his girlfriend (
Anna Bederke) flies off to Shanghai, and the tax collector comes knocking. But with the help of an inspired new chef (
Birol Ünel), Zinos still has a chance at redemption. German director
Fatih Akin delivers a riotous modern romantic comedy.”
The reviews I read all barely liked the movie- none liked it a lot.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth. CLOSED AUG. 4 THROUGH AUG. 19 FOR RENOVATIONS OF PROJECTION SYSTEM.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBERGER- Premise by Netflix. “A total outcast at her private school, Esther (
Danielle Catanzariti) suffocates under her mother’s (
Essie Davis) constant pressure at home. But after forming an unlikely friendship with well-liked Sunni (
Keisha Castle-Hughes), Esther starts taking daring risks and suddenly becomes popular. A smart, good-natured comedy about learning to be yourself, this Australian coming-of-age story also features
Toni Collette.”5/10-
Esther is a 13yr. old Jewish girl in Australia who just does not fit in. Interesting story with good acting and it held my interest. TRDB.
2) LA MISSION- Premise by Netflix. “Ultra-macho ex-con Che Rivera (
Benjamin Bratt) learns the true meaning of being a father when he discovers his son (
Jeremy Ray Valdez) is gay. Rivera turns violent at first, but when a beautiful neighbor (
Erika Alexander) helps him see through his anger, he begins to reconcile his long-held beliefs.
Peter Bratt (Benjamin’s brother) writes and directs this compelling drama, while
Max Rosenak and
Talisa Soto co-star.”
Weak reviews.
3) MY NAME IS KHAN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Rizwan Khan (Shahrukh Khan), a Muslim man with Asperger syndrome, lives happily with his wife, Mandira (Kajol), in San Francisco until a tragedy drives her away after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now he is on a quest to recapture the heart of the woman he loves. Traveling across America, Rizwan faces prejudice because of his religion and unusual behavior, but he also inspires the people he meets with his unique outlook on life.” The reviews were mostly very good.8/10- I can’t believe that I liked this schmaltz infested piece of Bollywood, but I did. TRDB. Netflix.
4) THE WHITE RIBBON- Premise by Netflix. “At a rural school in northern Germany in 1913, a form of ritual punishment has major consequences for students and faculty. But the practice may have bigger repercussions on the German school system — and maybe even on the growth of fascism. Celebrated Austrian filmmaker
Michael Haneke helms this searing and sumptuously photographed black-and-white drama that stars
Susanne Lothar,
Ulrich Tukur and
Theo Trebs.”3/10-
I saw this in Palm Springs and did not particularly care for it. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
3) A YEAR AGO IN WINTER- Haven’t Seen It
4) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
5) BLUEBEARD- Haven’t Seen It
6) BROTHERS- Recommended
7) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
8)CREATION- Recommended
9) FOR MY FATHER- OK
10) THE GHOST WRITER- Recommended
11) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
12) GREENBERG- OK
13) HELEN
14) HERE AND THERE- Recommended
15) INVICTUS- Just OK
16) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
17) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
18) MOTHER- I liked it
19) MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Bad!
20) ONDINE- Didn’t like it but others did
21) PIRATE RADIO- Just OK
22) THE BLIND SIDE- Recommended
23) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It
24) THE GREATEST- Recommended
25) THE YOUNG VICTORIA- Recommended
26) UP IN THE AIR- Recommended
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
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
NEW-
1) GET LOW- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. Premise by Netflix. “Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring Bill Murray and Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).” Great reviews.
2) FAREWELL- Bethel. 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In this thinking man’s spy thriller, KGB agent Sergei Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica) plans to hand over hard evidence that proves the depth of his agency’s penetration of U.S. intelligence, in a one-man crusade to bring down the Soviet empire. French engineer Pierre Froment (Guillaume Canet) is drawn into this web of espionage against his will, but proves a surprisingly resourceful operative in the process.” Mostly good reviews.
3) THE CONCERT- Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The winner of two César Awards, this uplifting comedy focuses on Andrei Filipov (Aleksei Guskov), a Russian conductor whose music career was cut short by politics. Now an alcoholic janitor, Filipov seizes a chance to reunite his orchestra and reclaim his life. Using a purloined invitation to a Parisian festival as incentive, Filipov gathers his rag-tag musicians and a French violinist (Mélanie Laurent) to realize his long-cherished dream.” A few very positive reactions but more fairly negative ones. The story sounds interesting and I’ll give it a try. TRDB.
OTHERS-
1) CAIRO TIME- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.” Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.8/10- I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the waif-like Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB.
2) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (
Annette Bening) and Jules (
Julianne Moore), Joni (
Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (
Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (
Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.”
Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
3) THE EXTRA MAN- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “Forced to quit his prep school job after a humiliating incident, would-be dramatist Louis Ives (Paul Dano) heads to New York City, where he rents a room from has-been playwright Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline) — who earns a living escorting rich dowagers about town. Despite their huge age difference, the two develop a bond as Henry takes Louis under his wing and leads him on a series of wild adventures. Katie Holmes and John C. Reilly also star.” Mixed reviews, more plus than minus. TRDB.
4) THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “Disaster hits Millennium magazine when publisher Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) launches an exposé of the Swedish sex trade, leading to the deaths of two staffers and then to the police pursuit of a third — tech expert Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) — as the prime suspect. In Part 2 of the trilogy, based on the action novels of Stieg Larsson, the vampiric Salander vanishes as Blomkvist digs deep into a possible conspiracy.” Mostly good reviews.
7/10- I was bored as hell. It was initially hard to tell who was who and I never recovered. See “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” twice instead. TRDB.
For all films go to- www.fandango.com
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
August 18th, 2010
AUGUST 12, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
My children and grandchildren have all gone home and we’re back to the empty nest and of course I’m getting back into the movies. I’ve seen most of what’s around in theaters right now but some new films are due out now. I’ll keep you posted.
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) TOOTS- Netflix.
2) CHILDREN OF INVENTION- Netflix.
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
NONE, ALTHOUGH “LIFE DURING WARTIME” IS CURRENTLY SHOWING IN THEATERS.
I SAW IT “ON-DEMAND.”
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) THE SPIRIT OF THE BEHIVE- 1973. Premise by Netflix. “In this mesmerizing allegorical tale set in post-Civil War Spain, precocious young Ana (Ana Torrent) becomes obsessed with finding the spirit of Frankenstein’s monster after watching director James Whale’s 1931 classic. When she happens upon a wounded military deserter, Ana believes that she’s evoked the cinematic creature. Helmed by Victor Erice, the film also stars Fernando Fernan Gomez and Teresa Gimpera as Ana’s disengaged parents.”8/10- Great reviews but I had trouble getting into the film. The child actress Ana Torrent is special. TRDB. Netflix.
2) TOOTS- 2006. Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker Kristi Jacobson celebrates the life of her sharp-tongued grandfather, Toots Shor, a colorful Manhattan restaurateur who counted among his clientele scores of celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio and Dwight Eisenhower. Interviews with Shor’s pals, such as Lauren Bacall, Walter Cronkite and Yogi Berra, recall the post-World War II days when regular folk mingled at the bar with movie stars, sports heroes and politicians.”
8/10- A very good documentary as much about Toot’s friends and New York as about Toots himself. I recommend it. TRDB. Netflix.
3) LIFE DURING WARTIME- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker Todd Solondz revisits his Happiness characters in this tale about three sisters, Trish (Allison Janney) and Joy (Shirley Henderson), each married to degenerate men, and estranged Helen (Ally Sheedy), as they ponder the virtues of forgiving and forgetting. As Joy visits Trish to escape problems with her perverted, druggy husband, Trish is unaware that her own ex-husband, a pedophile whom she’s claimed is dead, is now out of prison.” Good reviews.
8/10- This movie is so different from anything you’ve seen before. Good acting and an unusual way of handling some contemporary issues. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
4) TOI ET MOI- 2006. France. Premise by Netflix. “Lena (Marion Cotillard) and her sister Ariane (Julie Depardieu) are both single girls weary of looking for Mr. Right. At least Ariane’s job writing captions for romantic photo stories gives her an outlet, as she uses her dreams for inspiration. But she’s also idealized love beyond reality. When the perfect guy finally shows up, will either woman be prepared? Jonathan Zaccaï, Eric Berger and Chantal Lauby co-star in this knowing romantic comedy”
8/10- A bit simple at times but I did like the characters, especially Marion Cotillard and I’d recommend the movie. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
5) GREENBERG- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “At a crossroads in his life in New York, Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) takes some time to figure things out and travels to Los Angeles, where he house-sits for his brother and forges an unlikely bond with his brother’s assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig). Acclaimed director Noah Baumbach‘s (The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding) finely observed relationship comedy also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rhys Ifans.” Fairly good reviews and this film stayed in theaters for a while with good attendance. TRDB.
8/10- A quirky drama that held my interest and I’d recommend it. TRDB. Netflix.
6) CHILDREN OF INVENTION- Premise by Netflix. “Evicted from their home, the Cheng family squats in a model apartment in an unfinished Boston building. But when mother Elaine (Cindy Cheung) is arrested for her accidental involvement in a pyramid scheme, young Raymond (Michael Chen) and Tina (Crystal Chiu) are left to fend for themselves. Now, Raymond must devise a plan to take care of his little sister in this stirring drama, an official selection at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.” Mostly good reviews and a few very good ones.
8/10- A very good drama with wonderful acting, especially the children. I liked it a lot. TRDB. Netflix.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 17-
1) OFF AND RUNNING- Premise by Netflix. “African American teen Avery Klein-Cloud has white Jewish lesbian parents, an older Puerto Rican brother and a younger Korean brother. As she tries to contact her biological mother, Avery risks alienating the adoptive family she’s always loved. Examining the complexities of race, identity and family, filmmaker Nicole Opper’s compelling documentary follows Avery as she wrestles with the consequences of researching her roots.” Very good reviews. Also to Netflix Streaming.
2) THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD- Premise by Netflix. “On a train crossing the Manchurian desert, an unlikely trio — good bounty hunter Park Do-won (
Woo-sung Jung), bad gangster Park Chang-yi (
Byung-hun Lee) and weird train robber Yoon Tae-goo (
Kang-ho Song) — unite to find a treasure map’s promised loot. Racing through the unforgiving landscape, they stay one step ahead of rivals and the Japanese army.
Ji-woon Kim directs this Sergio Leone-inspired adventure.”
Mixed reviews, more good than bad.
3) THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION- Premise by Netflix. “After duping school officials into awarding him a grant to write a biography on novelist Jules Gund, grad student Omar Razaghi (
Omar Metwally) is forced to travel to Uruguay to get legitimate authorization from the late author’s three executors. Directed by
James Ivory (A Room with a View), this moving adaptation of author Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name also stars
Anthony Hopkins,
Laura Linney and
Charlotte Gainsbourg.”
Very good reviews.________________________________________________________________________________________
OPENING LOCALLY, REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY THIS WEEK-
1) ANIMAL KINGDOM- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When his mother dies suddenly, a 17-year-old boy (
James Frecheville) finds himself drawn into the clutches of a diabolical criminal family, until a good-hearted detective (
Guy Pearce) makes a concerted effort to change the boy’s fate. Australian writer-director
David Michôd‘s first feature-length drama won the World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.”
Great reviews.
2) EAT PRAY LOVE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “
Julia Roberts stars in the adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir about coping with a traumatic divorce. After failing to conceive a child and deciding to reshape her life, Elizabeth (Roberts) travels the world in search of direction. She heads to Italy, India and Indonesia, seeking the perfect pasta, a route to self-enlightenment and the true meaning of faith. Along the way she meets a bevy of odd characters and, possibly, her true love.”
No reviews yet.
3) THE BUTCHER’S SON (LA SOGA)- Premise by Netflix. “Making his screenwriting debut,
Manny Perez stars in this tough chronicle of Luisito, a young man walking the line between honesty and the corruption he sees all around him in the Dominican Republic. As a child he was called “sensitive” by his butcher father, but as an adult, Luisito has been hardened by the brutal life on the streets — and by his obsessive thirst to avenge his father’s murder.
Denise Quiñones co-stars in this gritty actioner.”
Good early reviews.
4) A FILM UNFINISHED- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “This potent documentary uses a long-lost film reel to illustrate how the Nazis controlled images of Jewish life during World War II. Though the Nazis made a propaganda movie of contented Jews in the Warsaw ghetto, the missing spool exposes the truth. Director
Yael Hersonski shows how the imagery was staged to distort historical knowledge and, with the aid of Jewish survivors’ testimony, chronicles the horrifying reality of ghetto life.”
A few reviews, all positive.
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FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth. CLOSED AUG. 4 THROUGH AUG. 19 FOR RENOVATIONS OF PROJECTION SYSTEM.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) THE GHOST WRITER- Premise by Netflix. “A writer (
Ewan McGregor) stumbles upon a long-hidden secret when he agrees to help former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (
Pierce Brosnan) complete his memoirs on a remote island after the politician’s assistant drowns in a mysterious accident. In director
Roman Polanski‘s tense drama, the author realizes that his discovery threatens some very powerful people who will do anything to ensure that certain episodes from Lang’s past remain buried.”3/10-
A political thriller and fairly good at that. TRDB. On Netflix also.
2) LIFE DURING WARTIME- Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker
Todd Solondz revisits his Happiness characters in this tale about three sisters, Trish (
Allison Janney) and Joy (
Shirley Henderson), each married to degenerate men, and estranged Helen (
Ally Sheedy), as they ponder the virtues of forgiving and forgetting. As Joy visits Trish to escape problems with her perverted, druggy husband, Trish is unaware that her own ex-husband, a pedophile whom she’s claimed is dead, is now out of prison.”
Good reviews.
8/10- This movie is so different than anything you’ve seen before. Good acting and an unusual way of handling some contemporary issues. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
3) MOTHER- Premise by Netflix. “A murder rocks a South Korean town and suspicion quickly falls on a reclusive, mentally challenged — and alibi-free — young man (
Bin Won). When an inept public defender botches the boy’s case, his mother (
Hye-ja Kim) sets out to prove her son’s innocence. Acclaimed director
Joon-ho Bong (Memories of Murder) explores the lengths a mother will go to protect her child in this atmospheric crime thriller.”
OK review in NY Times.3/10-
While a bit slow, the wonderful acting and the story itself made this a very good movie. TRDB. On Netflix also.
4) THE THORN IN THE HEART- Premise by Netflix. “Oscar-winning director and writer
Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) turns the camera on his own family in this documentary about his aunt Suzette, a teacher in rural France from 1952 to 1986. Raised in Versailles in a family of musicians and educated in Paris, Gondry is keen on understanding a life very different from his own. In the process, he stumbles on a wealth of new stories about the family he thought he knew.”
A few great reviews and a few miserable reviews. I’ll give it a try. On Netflix also.
REPEATS-
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) A CALL GIRL- Just OK
3) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
4) A YEAR AGO IN WINTER- Haven’t Seen It
5) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
6) BLUEBEARD- Haven’t Seen It
7) BROTHERS- Recommended
8)CRAZY HEART- Recommended
9) CREATION- Recommended
10) FOR MY FATHER- OK
11) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
12) GREENBERG- OK
13) HERE AND THERE- Recommended
14) INVICTUS- Just OK
15) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
16) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
17) LOOKING FOR ERIC- Just OK
18) ONDINE- Didn’t like it but others did
19) PIRATE RADIO- Just OK
20) THE BLIND SIDE- Recommended
21) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It
22) THE GREATEST- Recommended
23) THE YOUNG VICTORIA- Recommended
24) UP IN THE AIR- Recommended
________________________________________________________________________________________
BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
NEW-
1) EAT PRAY LOVE- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Bethel, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “
Julia Roberts stars in the adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir about coping with a traumatic divorce. After failing to conceive a child and deciding to reshape her life, Elizabeth (Roberts) travels the world in search of direction. She heads to Italy, India and Indonesia, seeking the perfect pasta, a route to self-enlightenment and the true meaning of faith. Along the way she meets a bevy of odd characters and, possibly, her true love.”
No reviews yet.
2) CAIRO TIME- Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (
Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (
Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (
Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.”
Mostly good reviews.
REPEATS-
1) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (
Annette Bening) and Jules (
Julianne Moore), Joni (
Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (
Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (
Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.”
Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
2) THE EXTRA MAN- Bethel, Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “Forced to quit his prep school job after a humiliating incident, would-be dramatist Louis Ives (
Paul Dano) heads to New York City, where he rents a room from has-been playwright Henry Harrison (
Kevin Kline) — who earns a living escorting rich dowagers about town. Despite their huge age difference, the two develop a bond as Henry takes Louis under his wing and leads him on a series of wild adventures.
Katie Holmes and
John C. Reilly also star.”
Mixed reviews, more plus than minus. TRDB.
3) I AM LOVE- Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Oscar winner
Tilda Swinton shows off her multilingual skills in this Italian melodrama, in which family dissension, unbidden desire and other tensions bubble to the surface during the patriarch’s birthday party. When the seemingly picture-perfect Recchi family gathers at the family manse to celebrate the great old man, the veneer of civility falls quickly away in director
Luca Guadagnino‘s lush, atmospheric film.”
6/10- Beautifully photographed, very good story with good acting. I enjoyed this one very much. Highly recommended!! TRDB.
4) THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Disaster hits Millennium magazine when publisher Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) launches an exposé of the Swedish sex trade, leading to the deaths of two staffers and then to the police pursuit of a third — tech expert Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) — as the prime suspect. In Part 2 of the trilogy, based on the action novels of Stieg Larsson, the vampiric Salander vanishes as Blomkvist digs deep into a possible conspiracy.” Mostly good reviews.
7/10- I was bored as hell. It was initially hard to tell who was who and I never recovered. See “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” twice instead. TRDB.
5) LIFE DURING WARTIME- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker Todd Solondz revisits his Happiness characters in this tale about three sisters, Trish (Allison Janney) and Joy (Shirley Henderson), each married to degenerate men, and estranged Helen (Ally Sheedy), as they ponder the virtues of forgiving and forgetting. As Joy visits Trish to escape problems with her perverted, druggy husband, Trish is unaware that her own ex-husband, a pedophile whom she’s claimed is dead, is now out of prison.” Good reviews.
8/10- This movie is so different than anything you’ve seen before. Good acting and an unusual way of handling some contemporary issues. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
6 )MIDDLE MEN- Clearview 100, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “After spotting a big financial opportunity in the future of Internet pornography, straightlaced entrepreneur Jack Harris (Luke Wilson) enlists his pals Buck (Gabriel Macht) and Wayne (Giovanni Ribisi) to help him develop an online billing company specializing in adult entertainment. But as the firm takes off, Jack finds some unexpected kinks in the business of kink — including mobsters, the FBI, con men and terrorists.” Very good reviews.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
August 13th, 2010
JULY 29, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS- Netflix.
2) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Theater.
3) CRIA CUERVOS- Netflix.
4) HOME- Netflix.
5) STRANGERS- Netflix Streaming.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (
Annette Bening) and Jules (
Julianne Moore), Joni (
Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (
Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (
Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.”
Excellent reviews.7/10-
Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through the problems of life, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB. ________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) MY WINNIPEG- Directed by Guy Maddin. A fantasy documentary about Maddin’s hometown of Winnipeg. Interesting for about 20min. and then just plain weird. So novel that I’d recommend trying it and then turning it off as I did. Netflix Streaming only at this time.
2) THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS- Premise by Netflix. “Revisit a pivotal point in American history in this documentary that chronicles Pentagon insider Daniel Ellsberg’s daring endeavor to leak top-secret government papers that disclosed shocking truths about the Vietnam War and Nixon’s presidency. Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith direct this absorbing, Oscar-nominated account that features compelling interviews with Ellsberg, retired New York Times editor Max Frankel and other key figures.” Great reviews.7/10- Very good documentary that describes a tumultuous period in our country’s history. Highly recommended. TRDB. Netflix.
3) 101 REYKJAVIC- Premise by Netflix. “Hlynur, an Icelandic slacker who would rather watch porn and get drunk than work, still lives at home with his sympathetic mother. He has a brief fling with the beautiful Hofy, but is too disinterested to actively pursue the relationship. The arrival of his mother’s flamenco-dancing friend Lola (Victoria Abril), however, changes all of that. Can you say tryst?”
7/10- Slow as the glaciers and very little happens. Just OK. TRDB. Netflix.
4) SEE THE SEA- Directed by Francois Ozon. Premise by Netflix. “Sasha is a young mother staying in an isolated French beach community with her baby, awaiting her husband’s return. Her solitude is broken by the appearance of Tatiana, a brooding backpacker who asks to camp outside her cottage. Sasha grows increasingly fascinated with her mysterious visitor … even as Tatiana becomes increasingly ominous and insinuates herself into Sasha’s home.”7/10- A weird movie that had me unnerved but I watched to the end. TRDB. Netflix.
5) CRIA CUERVOS- 1976. Premise by Netflix. “Director Carlos Saura‘s haunting tale — part psychological drama and part political parable — features a mesmerizing turn by Ana Torrent. After watching her mother (Geraldine Chaplin) succumb to cancer, 9-year-old Ana (Torrent) blames the death on her womanizing father (Héctor Alterio) and tries to poison him. When he dies of a heart attack while in bed with a lover, Ana mistakenly assumes she’s responsible for his demise.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Very interesting psychological mix of reality and fantasy with great acting, especially the middle daughter, Ana Torrent. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
6) THE RUNAWAYS- Premise by Netflix. “Dakota Fanning stars in this musical biopic as Cherie Currie, lead singer of the 1970s all-girl rock group the Runaways, whose meteoric rise up the charts was saturated with drugs and other excesses of the era. Though the Runaways start out as a novelty act, the rock ‘n’ roll chops of Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart), Lita Ford (Scout Taylor-Compton) and the other girls lift the group to international stardom. Floria Sigismondi directs.” Reviews were just OK.
7/10- I could not get into this movie at all and turned it off fairly quickly. TRDB.
7) VIBRATOR- 2003. Japan. Premise by Netflix. “After meeting a handsome truck driver (Nao Omori) in the midst of an urban mini-mart, a 30-something freelance writer (Shinobu Terajima) embarks on a life-changing emotional journey of sexual self-discovery. Ryuichi Hiroki (I Am an S&M Writer, Tokyo Trash Baby) directs this critically acclaimed road movie based on the novel by Mari Akasaka.”
7/10- Not what you are thinking but actually quite an interesting movie about an emotionally disturbed 31yr. old woman. TRDB.
8)HOME- 2008. France. Premise by Netflix. “When an unused highway next to their home is put back to use, Michel (Olivier Gourmet) and Marthe (Isabelle Huppert) soon discover it’s an affront to their once peaceful life, adding din and dust to their daily existence. Their extroverted son, Julien (Kacey Mottet Klein), grows more introspective; their daughter, Marion (Madeleine Budd), turns obsessive; and Julie (Adélaïde Leroux) is a near lost cause. But how can they fight back?” Fairly good reviews.
7/10- Interesting drama and very good acting, especially the wonderful Isabelle Hupert. I liked it. TRDB.
9) STRANGERS- Premise by Netflix. “At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Palestinian Rana (Lubna Azabal) and Israeli Eyal (Liron Levo) meet on the Berlin underground and soon fall in love. Taking place over six intense days, this film follows their emotional journey to connect and find happiness together. When Rana is suddenly called back home to Paris, Eyal must quickly decide whether he should continue to pursue the fledgling romance.”
7/10- An interesting drama with very good acting and despite a few weaknesses in the story I liked it a lot. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 3-
1) A PROPHET- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “After refusing to snitch, 18-year-old Arab Malik (Tahar Rahim) is thrown into a French prison, where the Corsican mafia rules with a firm fist. The obedient newcomer slowly rises through the organization’s ranks but soon begins to double-cross his superiors. A follow-up to his 2005 gem The Beat My Heart Skipped, French director Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.”3/09- I liked the movie but found it way too long and convoluted. TRDB.
2) SWEETGRASS- Premise by Netflix. “As much a work of cultural anthropology as it is a documentary, this unique film traces the path of a family of Montana sheepherders as they drive their flock down from the treacherous and beautiful Absaroka Beartooth mountain range. With no guiding narration, filmmakers Ilisa Barbash and Lucien Castaing-Taylor let the natural images speak for themselves, capturing the danger, pathos and humor in this haunting elegy to a bygone way of life.” Very good reviews.
3) THE GHOST WRITER- Premise by Netflix. “A writer (Ewan McGregor) stumbles upon a long-hidden secret when he agrees to help former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) complete his memoirs on a remote island after the politician’s assistant drowns in a mysterious accident. In director Roman Polanski‘s tense drama, the author realizes that his discovery threatens some very powerful people who will do anything to ensure that certain episodes from Lang’s past remain buried.”
3/10- A political thriller and fairly good at that. TRDB.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
OPENING LOCALLY, REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY THIS WEEK-
1) CHARLIE ST. CLOUD- Premise by Netflix. “Ben Sherwood’s intriguing novel is the basis of this ghost story about Charlie (
Zac Efron), who is devoted to his brother, Sam, even after Sam’s death. As the caretaker of the cemetery where Sam is buried, Charlie has lots of time to commune with the dead. Sam visits frequently to hang out with Charlie, but when Charlie meets a mysterious young woman (
Amanda Crew), he must decide whether to move forward or remain trapped in the past.”
A few reviews and they’re not so good.
2) THE DRY LAND- Premise by Netflix. “American soldier Raymond Gonzales (
Wilmer Valderrama) returns home to Texas after his tour of duty, unsure how to reconcile what he’s seen and experienced with the everyday mundanities of home and family life. This drama, from first-time writer-director
Ryan Piers Williams, takes a head-on approach to confronting the conflicted emotions of the modern warrior. The stellar cast includes
America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”),
Melissa Leo and
Ethan Suplee.”
Reviews are 50/50.
3) DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS- Premise by Netflix. “Tim Conrad (
Paul Rudd) hosts a weekly dinner party where he invites his friends to bring along the saddest, most pathetic loser they can find. But when the ultimate schmuck (
Steve Carell) arrives, his actions somehow turn everyone else into the losers. Comic heavy hitters
Zach Galifianakis and
Ron Livingston lend able support in director
Jay Roach‘s (Austin Powers) darkly humorous film, an adaptation of the French comedy The Dinner Game.”
Very good early reviews although this is not usually my kind of movie.
4) ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE- Premise by Netflix. “A Cambodian whose family was among the 2 million victims slain by the Khmer Rouge,
Thet Sambath patiently spends his time, energy and money gaining the trust of the regime’s cold-blooded murderers in hopes of capturing their confessions on tape. Several years in the making, this powerful documentary showcases horrific stories told by the culprits themselves, including the notorious
Nuon Chea, Pol Pot’s second-in-command dubbed “Brother Number 2.”
I saw only one review and it’s great.
5) THE EXTRA MAN- Premise by Netflix. “Forced to quit his prep school job after a humiliating incident, would-be dramatist Louis Ives (
Paul Dano) heads to New York City, where he rents a room from has-been playwright Henry Harrison (
Kevin Kline) — who earns a living escorting rich dowagers about town. Despite their huge age difference, the two develop a bond as Henry takes Louis under his wing and leads him on a series of wild adventures.
Katie Holmes and
John C. Reilly also star.”
Mixed reviews, more plus than minus. There’s a write-up in the NY Times Arts and Leisure section from last Sunday, July 25. TRDB.
6) SMASH HIS CAMERA- Premise by Netflix. “While profiling the controversial life and career of pioneering paparazzo
Ron Galella, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker
Leon Gast raises intriguing questions about the freedom of the press, the right to privacy and our celebrity-obsessed culture. A great risk taker who never backed down, Galella suffered a broken jaw at the hands of Marlon Brando and fought two major lawsuits filed by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.”
I’ve seen 2 reviews, both very good.
7) GET LOW- Premise by Netflix. “
Robert Duvall and
Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring
Bill Murray and
Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).
Great reviews.__________________________________________________________________________________________
FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth-
1) THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO- I liked it– did not love it.
2) THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION- I haven’t seen it yet. Will come to Netflix on 8/17 .
3) THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN- I liked this movie a lot. It’s also on Comcast On-Demand.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) THE GREATEST- Premise by Netflix. “
Pierce Brosnan and
Susan Sarandon star as parents still mourning the accidental death of their teenage son, Bennett, when the boy’s girlfriend reveals that she is carrying his baby. Now Bennett’s parents and brother must find a way to release their denial, obsession and anger to make room for the new life coming their way.
Shana Feste directs this moving drama, while
Carey Mulligan,
Aaron Johnson and
Johnny Simmons co-star.”
Fairly good early reviews.7/10
Not a great movie but definitely worth watching if only for the fine acting. TRDB.REPEATS-
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) A CALL GIRL- Just OK
3) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
4) A YEAR AGO IN WINTER- Haven’t Seen It
5) AN EDUCATION- Recommended
6) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
7) BLUEBEARD- Haven’t Seen It
8)BROTHERS- Recommended
9) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
10) CREATION- Recommended
11) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
12) GREENBERG- Haven’t Seen It
13) HERE AND THERE- Recommended
14) INVICTUS- Just OK
15) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
16) JUNO- Recommended
17) KISSES- Haven’t Seen It
18) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
19) LOOKING FOR ERIC- Just OK
20) MERCY- Haven’t Seen It
21) ONDINE- Didn’t like it.
22) PIRATE RADIO- Just OK
23) PRECIOUS- Recommended
24) THE BLIND SIDE- Recommended
25) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It- but it’s opening regionally this weekend.
26) THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN- Recommended
27) THE HURT LOCKER- Recommended
28) THE MAID- Recommended
29) THE YOUNG VICTORIA- Recommended
30) UP IN THE AIR- Recommended
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
_________________________________________________________________________________________
BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
1) CYRUS- Bethel, Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “Indie favorites Jay and Mark Duplass co-direct this wry look at modern love and family dysfunction. John C. Reilly plays a recently divorced man who thinks he’s found just the right woman (Marisa Tomei) to help him recover and move on. Unfortunately, the woman’s son, played by Jonah Hill, has no interest in allowing another man into their lives — a stance he proceeds to demonstrate in a variety of obnoxious ways.” Very good early reviews.
2) THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Disaster hits Millennium magazine when publisher Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) launches an exposé of the Swedish sex trade, leading to the deaths of two staffers and then to the police pursuit of a third — tech expert Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) — as the prime suspect. In Part 2 of the trilogy, based on the action novels of Stieg Larsson, the vampiric Salander vanishes as Blomkvist digs deep into a possible conspiracy.” Mostly good reviews.7/10- I was bored as hell. It was initially hard to tell who was who and I never recovered. See “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” twice instead. TRDB.
3) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
4) WINTER’S BONE- Bethel. Premise by Netflix. “In this noir drama set deep in Ozark territory, resilient teenager Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) goes on the trail of her missing drug-dealing father when his absence jeopardizes the safety of their family. The deadbeat dad has a critical court date pending, and Ree is determined that he make it — despite the objections of the insular Dolly clan. Director Debra Granik‘s unflinching drama won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.” Great reviews.
6/10-Very good acting in this Appalachian slice of life but I was disappointed in the film. I felt that not enough happened and what did seemed contrived to me. A friend who I saw this with spent a year in Missouri and felt that it was indeed realistic. TRDB.
5) DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS- Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne. Premise by Netflix. “Tim Conrad (
Paul Rudd) hosts a weekly dinner party where he invites his friends to bring along the saddest, most pathetic loser they can find. But when the ultimate schmuck (
Steve Carell) arrives, his actions somehow turn everyone else into the losers. Comic heavy hitters
Zach Galifianakis and
Ron Livingston lend able support in director
Jay Roach‘s (Austin Powers) darkly humorous film, an adaptation of the French comedy The Dinner Game.”
Very good early reviews although this is not usually my kind of movie.
6) I AM LOVE- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Oscar winner
Tilda Swinton shows off her multilingual skills in this Italian melodrama, in which family dissension, unbidden desire and other tensions bubble to the surface during the patriarch’s birthday party. When the seemingly picture-perfect Recchi family gathers at the family manse to celebrate the great old man, the veneer of civility falls quickly away in director
Luca Guadagnino‘s lush, atmospheric film.”6/10-
Beautifully photographed, very good story with good acting. I enjoyed this one very much. Highly recommended!! TRDB.7) JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “Documentarians Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg provide an uncompromising glimpse into the personal and professional life of comedian and red-carpet mainstay Joan Rivers, a woman clinging stubbornly and steadfastly to the pop-culture bandwagon. Stern and Sundberg — whose previous film, The Devil Came on Horseback, covered the Darfur genocide — take a no-less-intensive approach to their subject here, taking a hard look at fame’s bitter toll.” Fairly good reviews.
8)CITY ISLAND- Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2009. Premise by Netflix. “When he recognizes his son Tony (Steven Strait), whom he hasn’t seen in over 20 years, among a crop of new inmates in the jail he works at, Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) decides to bring the troubled young man home with him, much to the surprise of his wife and kids. Helmed by writer-director Raymond De Felitta, this offbeat comedy also stars Julianna Margulies, Emily Mortimer, Dominik Garcia-Lorido and Oscar winner Alan Arkin.” Generally good reviews.
4/10- It’s about people in families and the secrets they keep from each other. Know that this is a comedy despite some serious issues. I liked it. TRDB.
9) CHARLIE ST. CLOUD- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “Ben Sherwood’s intriguing novel is the basis of this ghost story about Charlie (Zac Efron), who is devoted to his brother, Sam, even after Sam’s death. As the caretaker of the cemetery where Sam is buried, Charlie has lots of time to commune with the dead. Sam visits frequently to hang out with Charlie, but when Charlie meets a mysterious young woman (Amanda Crew), he must decide whether to move forward or remain trapped in the past.” A few reviews and they’re not so good.
For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com
For all films go to- www.fandango.com
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
July 29th, 2010
JULY 21, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
PLEASE USE MY WEBSITE TO CHECK OUT INDIVIDUAL MOVIES AT www.thereeldrbob.com
With this issue I will be simplifying the format of my recommendations for Comcast On-Demand. If you want information about any of the movies that I’ve listed On-Demand you can find it on my web site. Just type in the name of the movie.
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) TERRIBLY HAPPY- Netflix.
2) SAVING MARRIAGE- Netflix.
3) NEW YORK STREET GAMES- By purchase only. ________________________________________________________________________________________ MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE- Premise by Netflix. “Disaster hits Millennium magazine when publisher Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) launches an exposé of the Swedish sex trade, leading to the deaths of two staffers and then to the police pursuit of a third — tech expert Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) — as the prime suspect. In Part 2 of the trilogy, based on the action novels of Stieg Larsson, the vampiric Salander vanishes as Blomkvist digs deep into a possible conspiracy.” Mostly good reviews.
7/10- I was bored as hell. It was initially hard to tell who was who and I never recovered. See “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” twice instead. TRDB.
_________________________________________________________________________________________ MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) TERRIBLY HAPPY- Directed by Ruben Ganz. Premise by Netflix. “When Copenhagen cop Robert (Jakob Cedergren) winds up in the isolated town of Skarrild, he plans to bide his time recovering from his disreputable past so he can return to the city. But life in Skarrild is anything but peaceful in this tense thriller set in Denmark. As Robert becomes drawn into the odd local happenings, he also finds himself protecting mysterious beauty Ingerlise (Lene Maria Christensen) from her abusive husband.” 7/10- A mystery thriller from Denmark that had me on the edge of my seat. Somewhat creepy and definitely not for everybody. TRDB. Netflix.
2) THE GREATEST- Premise by Netflix. “THE GREATEST- Premise by Netflix. “Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon star as parents still mourning the accidental death of their teenage son, Bennett, when the boy’s girlfriend reveals that she is carrying his baby. Now Bennett’s parents and brother must find a way to release their denial, obsession and anger to make room for the new life coming their way. Shana Feste directs this moving drama, while Carey Mulligan, Aaron Johnson and Johnny Simmons co-star.” Fairly good early reviews.
7/10 Not a great movie but definitely worth watching, if only for the fine acting. TRDB. Netflix.
3) SEASIDE- Premise by Netflix. “Marie (Helene Fillieres) lives in the small seaside town of Cayeux, so renowned for its pebbly beach that it has a factory that cleans the stones. An employee at the factory, Marie’s become restless with her job and her life and dreams of exploring the world; just as the town has a seasonal life — popular in the warmer climes, isolated in winter — so, too, must its residents ebb and flow with the seasons. Will Marie leave to find her dreams?”
7/10- This movie was as boring as the town of Cayeux was portrayed to be. Small town ennui. TRDB. Netflix.
4) SAVING MARRIAGE- 2006. Directed by Mike Roth and John Henning. Premise by Netflix. “In the recent intense debate over same-sex marriage, Massachusetts emerged as a key battleground state. Mike Roth and John Henning’s documentary follows progressive politicians, lobbyists and civil rights activists who brought attention to the issue. Along the way, the filmmakers meet ordinary people whose passion for this controversial topic helped them make state history and expand national awareness.”
7/10- Excellent documentary. The message is that the fight is not over. TRDB. Netflix.
5) PRODIGAL SONS- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “In high school, Kimberly Reed was male, a straight-A student and captain of the football team. But since leaving his rural Montana hometown, he’s become a woman — and a filmmaker whose documentary could not be any more personal. Half the story involves her attending her high school reunion as a transgendered female; the other half involves reuniting with her siblings, including her estranged adopted brother.” Very good reviews for this documentary. Netflix Streaming also.”
7/10- An interesting documentary with a few scenes that were actually pretty scary. TRDB. Netflix.
6) NEW YORK STREET GAMES- Directed by Matt Levy. Premise by Rotten Tomatoes. “Through interviews with dozens of prominent New Yorkers including Ray Romano, Regis Philbin, Hector Elizondo, Joe Pantoliano, Curtis Sliwa and experts including former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop (a Brooklyn boy), New York Street Games takes us back to a simpler time when the rules of the game were?.well, the rules of the game. Their stories offer an intriguing and often humorous portrait of how things used to be, how they have changed, and how to recapture some of the positives of a simpler time.”
7/10- About the games we used to play e.g. punchball, stoopball, stickball, etc. Very good documentary. TRDB. Purchased by a friend.
_________________________________________________________________________________________ COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JULY 27-
1) HOME- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “When an unused highway next to their home is rebuilt and put back to use, Michel (Olivier Gourmet) and Marthe (Isabelle Huppert) soon discover it’s an affront to their once peaceful life, adding din and dust to their daily existence. Their extroverted son, Julien (Kacey Mottet Klein), grows more introspective; their daughter, Marion (Madeleine Budd), turns obsessive; and Julie (Adélaïde Leroux) is a near lost cause. But how can they fight back?” Fairly good reviews.
2) PRODIGAL SONS- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “In high school, Kimberly Reed was male, a straight-A student and captain of the football team. But since leaving his rural Montana hometown, he’s become a woman — and a filmmaker whose documentary could not be any more personal. Half the story involves her attending her high school reunion as a transgendered female; the other half involves reuniting with her siblings, including her estranged adopted brother.” Very good reviews for this documentary. Netflix Streaming also.
7/10- An interesting documentary with a few scenes that were actually pretty scary. TRDB. Netflix.
3) THE ART OF THE STEAL- Premise by Netflix. “A gripping tale of intrigue and mystery in the art world, this film traces the history of the Barnes collection of Post-Impressionist paintings, which was worth billions and became the subject of a power struggle after the 1951 death of the owner. Dr. Albert Barnes collected 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos and many other valuable paintings. But the political wrangling over the collection eventually led to its division.” I enjoyed this movie very much. TRDB.
4) VINCERE- Directed by Marco Bellocchio. Premise by Netflix. “Ida Dalser (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) falls for young Benito Mussolini (Filippo Timi) in Milan and sells everything she has to help the future dictator fund his newspaper, Popolo d’Italia. But when World War I separates the newly wedded couple, Mussolini marries another woman. Ida demands to retain her rights as Mussolini’s wife and the mother of his son, but the Fascists have other plans for the dictator’s dark secret in this gripping biopic.” Just opened nationally and has received great reviews.
3/10- I saw this and felt that the acting was superb. Mezzogiorno passionately portrayed a women with an obsession for IL Duce and was probably a metaphor for the country at the time. The film itself was enjoyable if a bit too long and I understand that the director played with the facts a bit. TRDB.
5) THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN- Premise by Netflix. “After 35 years of shipyard work in the French port town of Sète, Tunisian immigrant Slimane (Habib Boufares) takes his severance pay and pursues his impossibly expensive dream of opening a couscous restaurant. His only hope lies in his fractured family, including his mistress, Lilia (Leila D’Issernio), her entrepreneurial daughter, Rym (Hafsia Herzi), and his ex-wife and ace couscous cook, Souad (Bouraouïa Marzouk), in this César-winning drama.”
7/10- I saw this about a year ago and I liked it a lot. TRDB. Netflix Streaming also.
_________________________________________________________________________________________ OPENING THIS WEEK REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY-
1) THE CONCERT- Premise by Netflix. “The winner of two César Awards, this uplifting comedy focuses on Andrei Filipov (Aleksei Guskov), a Russian conductor whose music career was cut short by politics. Now an alcoholic janitor, Filipov seizes a chance to reunite his orchestra and reclaim his life. Using a purloined invitation to a Parisian festival as incentive, Filipov gathers his rag-tag musicians and a French violinist (Mélanie Laurent) to realize his long-cherished dream.” A few very positive reactions but more fairly negative one. The story sounds interesting and I’ll give it a try. TRDB.
2) COUNTDOWN TO ZERO- Premise by Netflix. “Since the first atomic bomb exploded in 1945, scientists and world leaders have grappled with the apocalyptic dangers and paradoxes posed by nuclear weapons. Lucy Walker‘s documentary presents an unblinking look at humanity’s lethal predicament. The film outlines current threats posed by a growing list of nuclear-armed states and weighs the prospects for global disarmament, soliciting insights from a gallery of world leaders and policy experts.” Just a few reviews and they are good.
3) LIFE DURING WARTIME- Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker Todd Solondz revisits his Happiness characters in this tale about three sisters, Trish (Allison Janney) and Joy (Shirley Henderson), each married to degenerate men, and estranged Helen (Ally Sheedy), as they ponder the virtues of forgiving and forgetting. As Joy visits Trish to escape problems with her perverted, druggy husband, Trish is unaware that her own ex-husband, a pedophile whom she’s claimed is dead, is now out of prison.” Good reviews.
4) SPOKEN WORD- Premise by Netflix. “Drawn back home by his dying father (Ruben Blades), spoken word superstar Cruz (Kuno Becker) falls back into his old habits of all-night partying and drug abuse. As his life spins out of control, Cruz realizes he must regain his voice and earn his family’s forgiveness. Directed by Victor Nunez, this New Mexico-based drama co-stars Miguel Sandoval as a local crime boss who tempts the talented poet with easy money.” No reviews yet.
5) SALT- Premise by Netflix. “After she’s accused of being a Russian sleeper spy, rogue CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) goes on the run, using every tactic, accent and disguise she knows to elude her pursuers, clear her name and protect her husband. Her supervisor, Winter (Liev Schreiber), buys her story, while counterintelligence officer Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) decidedly does not and will do anything to stop her in this fast-paced, intrigue-filled spy adventure.” More positive reviews than negative but even the good ones weren’t very good. I’ll wait for the DVD. TRDB. _________________________________________________________________________________________ FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth
1) BREATHLESS- 1960. Premise by Netflix. “After shooting a cop, young thief Michel (Jean-Paul Belmondo) meets and shacks up with Patricia (Jean Seberg), an American who sells the International Herald Tribune on the streets of Paris. Hiding out in her hotel room, Michel tries to sell Patricia on a plan to go with him to Italy. But, she doesn’t know that includes a foray into criminal life. Director Jean-Luc Godard shot to cinematic stardom with this benchmark film of the French new wave. Great reviews and I liked this a lot each time I saw it.
2) MICMACS- Premise by Netflix. “French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet takes a satirical look at the global arms trade with this foreign-language comedy starring Dany Boon as Bazil, who rallies his friends to take down weapons manufacturers responsible for his father’s death. Bazil also discovers a dump into an underground haven for cool tools and sculptures crafted from discarded junk. Dominique Pinon, André Dussollier and Jean-Pierre Marielle co-star.” Fair reviews. ________________________________________________________________________________________ COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) KISSES- Premise by Netflix. “In this incisive Irish import, best friends Dylan (Shane Curry) and Kylie (Kelly O’Neill) find urban beauty — and peril — when they flee their dysfunctional homes in a squalid housing project after Dylan has a terrible row with his tosspot father. Arriving in Dublin to hunt for Dylan’s older brother, the youngsters embark on a shopping spree using cash Kylie stole from her sister. But as night falls, the city takes on a menacing air.” Very good reviews.
REPEATS- See www.thereeldrbob.com for information on any of these choices-
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) A CALL GIRL- Just OK
3) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
4) A YEAR AGO IN WINTER- Haven’t Seen It
5) AN EDUCATION- Recommended
6) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
7) BLUEBEARD- Haven’t Seen It
8)BROTHERS- Recommended
9) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
10) CREATION- Recommended
11) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
12) GREENBERG- Haven’t Seen It
13) HERE AND THERE- Recommended
14) INVICTUS- Just OK
15) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
16) JUNO- Recommended
17) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
18) LOOKING FOR ERIC- Just OK
19) MERCY- Haven’t Seen It
20) ONDINE- Didn’t like it.
21) PIRATE RADIO- Just OK
22) PRECIOUS- Recommended
23) THE BLIND SIDE- Recommended
24) THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN- Recommended
25) THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN- Recommended
26) THE HURT LOCKER- Recommended
27) THE MAID- Recommended
28) THE MESSENGER- Recommended
29) THE YOUNG VICTORIA- Recommended
30) UP IN THE AIR- Recommended
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 (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
1) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.” Excellent reviews.
2) THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Disaster hits Millennium magazine when publisher Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) launches an exposé of the Swedish sex trade, leading to the deaths of two staffers and then to the police pursuit of a third — tech expert Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) — as the prime suspect. In Part 2 of the trilogy, based on the action novels of Stieg Larsson, the vampiric Salander vanishes as Blomkvist digs deep into a possible conspiracy.” Mostly good reviews.
7/10- I was bored as hell. It was initially hard to tell who was who and I never recovered. See “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” twice instead. TRDB.
3) WINTER’S BONE- Bethel, Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “In this noir drama set deep in Ozark territory, resilient teenager Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) goes on the trail of her missing drug-dealing father when his absence jeopardizes the safety of their family. The deadbeat dad has a critical court date pending, and Ree is determined that he make it — despite the objections of the insular Dolly clan. Director Debra Granik‘s unflinching drama won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.” Great reviews.
6/10-Very good acting in this Appalachian slice of life but I was disappointed in the film. I felt that not enough happened and what did seemed contrived to me. A friend who I saw this with spent a year in Missouri and felt that it was indeed realistic. TRDB.
4) CYRUS- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “Indie favorites Jay and Mark Duplass co-direct this wry look at modern love and family dysfunction. John C. Reilly plays a recently divorced man who thinks he’s found just the right woman (Marisa Tomei) to help him recover and move on. Unfortunately, the woman’s son, played by Jonah Hill, has no interest in allowing another man into their lives — a stance he proceeds to demonstrate in a variety of obnoxious ways.” Very good early reviews.
5) I AM LOVE- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Oscar winner Tilda Swinton shows off her multilingual skills in this Italian melodrama, in which family dissension, unbidden desire and other tensions bubble to the surface during the patriarch’s birthday party. When the seemingly picture-perfect Recchi family gathers at the family manse to celebrate the great old man, the veneer of civility falls quickly away in director Luca Guadagnino‘s lush, atmospheric film.”
6/10- Beautifully photographed, very good story with good acting. I enjoyed this one very much. Highly recommended!! TRDB.
6) JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “Documentarians Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg provide an uncompromising glimpse into the personal and professional life of comedian and red-carpet mainstay Joan Rivers, a woman clinging stubbornly and steadfastly to the pop-culture bandwagon. Stern and Sundberg — whose previous film, The Devil Came on Horseback, covered the Darfur genocide — take a no-less-intensive approach to their subject here, taking a hard look at fame’s bitter toll.” Fair reviews and good reviews in equal number.
7) COCO CHANEL AND IGOR STRAVINSKY- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “Seven years after she was inspired by the bold debut of Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring,” famed fashion designer Coco Chanel (Anna Mouglalis) — reeling from the death of her beau, Boy Capel (Anatole Taubmann) — meets and falls for the Russian composer (Mads Mikkelsen) in 1920s Paris. A forbidden romance ensues in Jan Kounen‘s sumptuous period drama, the closing film of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.”
7/10- Very well done, well photographed and really an epic about the romance between two people trying to revolutionize their respective fields. Great history lesson also. I liked it. TRDB.
8)CITY ISLAND- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “When he recognizes his son Tony (Steven Strait), whom he hasn’t seen in over 20 years, among a crop of new inmates in the jail he works at, Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) decides to bring the troubled young man home with him, much to the surprise of his wife and kids. Helmed by writer-director Raymond De Felitta, this offbeat comedy also stars Julianna Margulies, Emily Mortimer, Dominik Garcia-Lorido and Oscar winner Alan Arkin.” Generally good reviews.
4/10- It’s about people in families and the secrets they keep from each other. Know that this is a comedy despite some serious issues. I liked it. TRDB.
9) SALT- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “After she’s accused of being a Russian sleeper spy, rogue CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) goes on the run, using every tactic, accent and disguise she knows to elude her pursuers, clear her name and protect her husband. Her supervisor, Winter (Liev Schreiber), buys her story, while counterintelligence officer Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) decidedly does not and will do anything to stop her in this fast-paced, intrigue-filled spy adventure.” More positive reviews than negative but even the good ones weren’t very good. I’ll wait for the DVD. TRDB.
For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com
For all films go to- www.fandango.com
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
July 21st, 2010
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