The Reel Dr. Bob

APRIL 25, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

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

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) FOR ELLEN– Netflix Streaming

 2) THE COMPANY YOU KEEP– At the Theater

3) THE ANGELS’ SHARE– Comcast On-Demand

4) DJANGO UNCHAINED– Netflix

5) A SIMPLE LIFE- Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) 42- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This biopic focuses on the relationship between baseball icon Jackie Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson and in 1947 made him the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era.”3/30/13- No reviews as yet but I can’t wait to see this movie. TRDB.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) FOR ELLEN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Would-be rock star Joby is forced to duel for joint custody of his 6-year-old daughter, Ellen, when his wife decides to end their marriage. Long absent from his daughter’s life, he must now convince the court that he deserves to share in her future.”OK professional reviews with some critics calling the movie moving and poignant. TRDB.

9/7/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/17/13-The movie began a bit slow but became better with time especially the scene at the end with Dano and his daughter. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

2) HOLY MOTORS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This surreal drama from France follows DL, who becomes many different individuals living very different lives over a 24-hour period — switching effortlessly from man to woman, impoverished to affluent, young to old, and even assassin to family man.”

Excellent reviews so far. TRDB.

4/18/13- A weird blending of reality and fantasy that was just too much for me and I turned it off quickly. TRDB.

3) THE ANGELS’ SHARE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After avoiding jail, Robbie vows to turn his life around for his newborn son. He has a talent for discerning fine whiskeys, and he and his community service cohorts hatch a plan to lift a few expensive bottles to buy themselves a better future.”

3/30/13- Very good reviews so far. TRDB.

4/12/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/22/13- A thoroughly enjoyable movie from Scotland. Luckily that there were sub-titles. TRDB.

4) DJANGO UNCHAINED– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Accompanied by a German bounty hunter, a freed slave named Django travels across America to free his wife from a sadistic plantation owner. Quentin Tarantino directs this modern-day spaghetti Western.”

Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4/23/13- A way over the top Western by the master of violence. It took me a while to get used to this movie but in the end I thought it was OK. TRDB.

5) A SIMPLE LIFE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “After working for the Leung family for decades, aservant still takes care of filmmaker Roger Leung — but when she falls sick, the tables are turned as Roger looks after her in this heartwarming tale inspired by a true story.”

4/14/13- Very good review in yesterday’s NY Times and from various other sources as well. TRDB.

4/24/13- A thoughtful, very well acted and inspirational movie that I highly recommend.  TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 30-

 

1) SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a four-year stay in a psychiatric institution, former teacher Pat Peoples has no choice but to move back in with his mother. While he’s trying in vain to reunite with his wife, Pat meets another woman fated to change his life.”Very good reviews. TRDB.

11/16/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

12/4/12- A very enjoyable piece of fluff that had a few lessons about life as well. TRDB.

2) THE DETAILS– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After ten years of marriage, Jeff and Nealy Lang (Tobey Maguire and Elizabeth Banks) have an idyllic suburban home… and a relationship on the skids. But, when a family of hungry raccoons ransacks their perfectly manicured backyard, Jeff becomes single-mindedly obsessed with eradicating the pests by any means necessary. Soon the relentless rodents aren’t merely uprooting the lawn, but also overturning the Langs’ entire bourgeois existence, as the man-versus-beast battle leads into an absurd mess of infidelity, extortion, organ donation and other assorted mayhem.”

11/2/12- An OK review in today’s NY Times but other reviews are mediocre at best. The movie sounds weird and I’ll probably skip it for now. TRDB.

3) ONLY THE YOUNG– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this poetic documentary, teens Garrison and Kevin use their love of skateboarding and devotion to Christianity to cope with their sometimes-troubled friendship with their female pal Skye and the severe economic slump of their California community.”

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

4) TCHOUPITOULAS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Join three young men for an unforgettable night in New Orleans as they explore the vibrant city streets and visit places many tourists never see. Along the way, they encounter the memorable people who make the Crescent City such a special place.”

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

1/5/13- What a disappointment after all of the good reviews. I couldn’t understand a word they were saying and after a while I didn’t care. I walked out!! TRDB.

5) NOT FADE AWAY– 2012. “Inspired by the music of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, three 1960s high-schoolers form a rock band in the New Jersey suburbs. James Gandolfini co-stars in this debut feature from “Sopranos” creator David Chase.”

12/21/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere too. TRDB.

6) THE REVISIONARIES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary looks at a pitched cultural conflict over school textbook standards in Texas, as determined by the state’s Board of Education. For many, the creationist views of the board’s chairman run counter the findings of modern science.”

4/12/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK (APRIL 19) IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT ON APRIL 18-

 

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

2) IN THE HOUSE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Moved by mesmerizing prose, a teacher pushes a student with extraordinary gifts to keep on writing — even though he knows the young author’s research methods involve a serious invasion of privacy.”

4/19/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

3) LOVE SICK LOVE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When ladies’ man Norman meets gorgeous, cosmopolitan Dori, he embarks on a weekend of romance that soon turns to terror. The reason: Dori demands that they compress five holidays into one weekend so that a trapped Norman can prove his devotion.”

4/19/13- An awful review in today’s NY Times but apparently most audiences have liked it. TRDB.

4) OBLIVION– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “High above a war-torn future Earth, Cmdr. Jack Harper is maintaining the planet’s defensive drones when a crippled starship enters his territory. Its sole occupant, a mysterious woman, leads Harper to shocking truths about humankind’s legacy.”

4/19/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times and from nearly everyone else as well. TRDB.

5) OCONOMOWOC– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “OCONOMOWOC is an absurd comedy about Lonnie Washington, a confused adult who moves back in with his boozing mother and reluctantly teams up with his friend’s mishandled t-shirt business in hopes of finding a little direction.”

4/19/13- A miserable review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6) WAR ON WHISTLEBLOWERS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “War Costs is a project of Brave New Foundation, highlighting the ongoing human and financial costs of U.S. militarism. Our mission is to champion social justice issues by using a model of media, education, and grassroots volunteer involvement that inspires, empowers, motivates and teaches civic participation and makes a difference.”

4/19/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK (APRIL 26)-

 

1) AT ANY PRICE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. In this father-vs.-son drama, Dean Whipple is fixated on auto racing, while his dad, Henry, wants him to take over the family’s farm business. However, Henry’s penchant for shady deals and bribery unexpectedly puts the whole empire at risk.”4/19/13- Mixed early reviews with more positive than negative. TRDB.

2) ARTHUR NEWMAN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Abandoning an ex-wife, a hateful son and a bored mistress, a discontented man fakes his own death and is reborn as Arthur Newman, golf pro. But his new identity is a non-starter until he meets a spirited woman who’ll supercharge his reinvented life.”

4/19/13- I’ve seen just 2 reviews and they are both negative. TRDB.

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

4/19/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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

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

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

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

6) MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on the acclaimed novel by Salman Rushdie, this epic drama tells the story of two infants switched at birth in 1947, the year of India’s independence from Great Britain. One boy is wealthy, the other poor, and their lives become intertwined.”

4/19/13- Poor reviews in general with a few good ones tossed in. TRDB.

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

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

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

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

9) AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When the comely and intriguing Namik stands him up for a date, filmmaker Terence documents his confusion in a short film that he later shows to her. When Namik isn’t impressed, Terence decide to turn the movie into a full exploration of his feelings.”

4/21/13- Mixed early reviews but many more positive than negative. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) A PLACE AT THE TABLE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Using personal stories, this powerful doc illuminates the plight of the 49 million Americans struggling with food insecurity. A single mother, a small-town policeman and a farmer are among those for whom putting food on the table is a daily battle.”3/1/13- A “just OK” review in today’s NY Times with the reviewer saying that the movie had too much restraint and none of the deserved outrage. I’ll skip this one. TRDB.

2) UPSTREAM COLOR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A woman is abducted and hypnotized with material harvested from a flower. When she falls for a man, the two realize they have been subjected to the same process. Together they search for a place of safety and struggle to reassemble their wrecked lives.”

3/22/13- Sounds strange but very good reviews from lots of critics. TRDB.

4/5/13- Today’s NY Times liked the movie but also found it strange. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) THE IMPOSSIBLE–  2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tracking one family’s harrowing experiences, this gripping drama depicts the chaos generated by the massive 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. On December 26, Maria, Henry and their sons are vacationing in Thailand when unthinkable disaster strikes.”12/21/12- Basically a good review of the movie itself in today’s NY Times but the reviewer noted that the story was about wealthy tourists and had little to do with the thousands of native Asians who suffered. TRDB.

2) PROMISED LAND– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taking advantage of hard economic times, two salespeople for a natural gas company come to a small town to buy drilling rights from the residents. To their surprise, a local schoolteacher mobilizes a campaign aimed at blocking the company’s plans.”Fair early reviews. TRDB.

12/28/12- A mixed review in today’s NY Times but, overall, the reviewer did like it. TRDB.

3) THE ENGLISH TEACHER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Devoted small-town English teacher Linda yearns for love. Enter Jason, a former student whose career as a Broadway playwright didn’t pan out. When she persuades him to stage his play at the school before giving up, love — and controversy — arise.”4/23/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

4) SIMON KILLER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Young and heartbroken, a New Yorker travels to Paris to escape his romantic woes but soon falls into another all-consuming attraction. Hopelessly smitten with a young prostitute, he finds himself drawn into her dark and alien world.”

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

5) TO THE WONDER– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Soon after returning to his native Oklahoma with a beautiful woman he met in Paris, Neil finds himself drifting toward an old friend. Meanwhile, the woman he brought back with him has unfinished business with her first husband.”

4/12/13- Weak reviews in general and a just OK one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

1) THE ANGELS’ SHARE- I liked this movie very much

 

 

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

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) THE BIG WEDDING- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A long-divorced couple feigns years of wedded bliss to please a special guest at their son’s nuptials: his birth mother. As the hoax spins out of control among family and friends, it leaves behind a poignant and funny tale about the ties that bind.”4/19/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

2) MUD- Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two Mississippi teens, Ellis and Neckbone, meet a mysterious drifter named Mud hiding on a deserted river island and get caught up in his tangled web of tall tales about bounty hunters, crimes of passion, lost love and a perfect woman named Juniper.”

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

REPEATS-

 

1) THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Luke is a professional motorcycle rider who turns to bank robberies to support his newborn son, but when he crosses paths with a rookie police officer, their violent confrontation spirals into a tense generational feud.”3/28/13- A mixed review in today’s NY Times but  better reviews from other critics. TRDB.

2)  THE COMPANY YOU KEEP– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Robert Redford stars as Jim Grant, a lawyer and single dad who has to go on the lam after a reporter identifies him as a long-sought U.S. terrorist. As the journalist locates more of Grant’s old contacts, his guilt begins to appear less certain.”

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

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

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

3) 42- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This biopic focuses on the relationship between baseball icon Jackie Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson and in 1947 made him the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era.”

3/30/13- No reviews as yet but I can’t wait to see this movie. TRDB.

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

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

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

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

5) RENOIR- Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1915, elderly painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir is crippled by both loss and arthritis, but when vibrant teenager Andrée brightens his life, he finds new purpose — as does his son Jean, a wounded soldier who is inspired by Andrée’s love of cinema.”

3/18/13- A few early reviews and they are very good. TRDB.

3/29/13- A good review in today’s NY Times emphasizing the visual aspect of the film. TRDB.

4/5/13- I enjoyed the story, the acting and the beautiful photography. TRDB.

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

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

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

 

For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com

For Independent Films in Palm Beach County go to www.lakeworthplayhouse.org  

For Films everywhere go to- www.fandango.com

 

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB