The Reel Dr. Bob

MAY 16, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

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

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) PLANET OF SNAIL– Netflix

2) WHAT RICHARD DID– Comcast On-Demand

3) BROOKLYN CASTLE– Netflix Streaming

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) PLANET OF SNAIL– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A deaf, blind recluse with few ties to the outside world finds an ideal mate in a disabled woman, who expands his universe and inspires his passions. Their life together might not be grand, but it’s beautiful in its simplicity.”Excellent reviews. TRDB.

5/13/13- A very different type of documentary, more like a drama that was a tribute to the characters involved. The movie itself seemed repetitive to me and perhaps would have worked better as a short but still I enjoyed it. TRDB.

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

4/28/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

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

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

3) BROOKLYN CASTLE– 2012. “Brooklyn’s I.S. 318 is home to America’s best junior high school chess team, but budget cuts are threatening to undermine the team’s success. This inspiring documentary goes inside the fight to keep chess alive and well at the struggling school.”

10/19/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5/14/13- This documentary lacked the passion of some other documentaries involving kids trying to succeed by competing but it still was very good and informative. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 21-

 

1) NEIGHBORING SOUNDS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A disparate group of upper-middle-class neighbors, including a lonely housewife and a proud grandfather, fear that their apartment building will be overrun by criminals and hire a private security firm, but the watchmen only heighten the problem.”Here’s what IMDB had to say– “Life in a middle-class neighborhood in present day Recife, Brazil, takes an unexpected turn after the arrival of an independent private security firm. The presence of these men brings a sense of safety and a good deal of anxiety to a culture which runs on fear. Meanwhile, Bia, married and mother of two, must find a way to deal with the constant barking and howling of her neighbor’s dog. A slice of ‘Braziliana’, a reflection on history, violence and noise.”

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

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) YOSSI- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “While driving through a remote part of Israel, a closeted gay doctor crosses paths with a group of soldiers who inspire him to live life in the open. Ohad Knoller reprises the title role in this sequel to Yossi & Jagger.”

1/25/13- Very good reviews in general but a poor one from the NY Times today. TRDB.

4/16/13- I did like the movie but I felt it was a bit hard to believe at a few points. Nowhere as good as “Yossi and Jagger” from 11 years ago. TRDB.

4) GREGORY CREWDSON: BRIEF ENCOUNTERS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This offbeat portrait of portrait artist Gregory Crewdson captures his oddly elaborate creative process while sharing details of his fascinating past. Highlights include interviews with contemporaries Rick Moody, Russell Banks and Laurie Simmons.”

Very good reviews. TRDB.

5) SCHEHERAZADE, TELL ME A STORY–  (came to Netflix on 5/14 without notice)  2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “When her husband (Hassan Saeed) asks her to tone down the subversive political rhetoric on her program, Egyptian talk show host Hebba (Mona Zaki) draws even more heat by beginning a series that explores the experience of women in contemporary Egypt. As three women speak out about the mistreatment they’ve suffered in a deeply patriarchal society, Hoda must contend with her own disintegrating marriage. Yousry Nasrallah directs this drama.”

Very good review in NY Times on 8/12/11. TRDB.

 

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OPENED LAST WEEK (MAY 10) IN ADDITION TO THOSE I WROTE ABOUT ON MAY 9-

 

1) AFTERSHOCK (2013)- Synopsis by Netflix. “A dim American tourist traveling in Chile convinces three attractive young women to accompany him and his friends to party in a coastal city, but the fun stops when a major earthquake devastates the area and they must fight for survival.”5/10/13- A lousy review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

2) AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a strange mental affliction causes genius advertising exec Adan Kundle to speak only in commercial slogans, he faces a coup from within his own company. Meanwhile, nurse and single mom Karen’s life is changed when she takes Adan under her wing.”

5/10/11- Poor review in today’s NY Times and everywhere else as well. TRDB.

3) THE GIRLS IN THE BAND– 2010. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “They wiggled, they jiggled, they wore low cut gowns and short shorts, they kowtowed to the club owners and smiled at the customers…and they did it all, just to play the music they loved. THE GIRLS IN THE BAND tells the poignant, untold stories of female jazz and big band instrumentalists and their fascinating, groundbreaking journeys from the late 30?s to the present day. These incredibly talented women endured sexism, racism and diminished opportunities for decades, yet continued to persevere, inspire and elevate their talents in a field that seldom welcomed them. Today a new breed of gifted young women is taking their rightful place in the world of jazz which can no longer deny their talents.”

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

4) HE’S WAY MORE FAMOUS THAN YOU– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “When once-up-and-coming indie film starlet Halley Feiffer loses her boyfriend, her agent and her career in one fell swoop she finally realizes that something has got to change…she has to become WAY MORE FAMOUS! Armed with a stolen script and two pitchers of sangria, Halley enlists the help of her brother Ryan and his boyfriend to make a movie, starring herself (of course), and any A-list celebrity she can land. She will stop at nothing, even if it means hurting the only people who truly care about her.”

5/10/13- Early reviews are mixed. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.

5) HOW SWEET IT IS– 2003. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “”How Sweet It Is” is about an alcoholic theater owner who produces a successful musical to pay off his mob debt, but problems arise when the wise guys cast people that owe them money.”

5/12/13- Awful reviews from everybody. TRDB.

6) THE PAINTING– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this wryly inventive parable, a kingdom is divided into the three castes: the impeccably painted Alldunns who reside in a majestic palace; the Halfies who the Painter has left incomplete; and the untouchable Sketchies, simple charcoal outlines who are banished to the cursed forest.”

5/10/13- This animated movie got a wonderful review in today’s NY Times saying that it was suitable for adults as well as children. TRDB.

7) PILGRIM SONG– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After losing his job teaching music, James decides to flee that disappointment and a few others by taking a long hike through Kentucky’s backcountry. As his journey unfolds, the trail involves him with a host of strange characters.”

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

8)THE SECOND MEETING– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Twelve years after Zoltan Dani, commander of a Serbian anti-aircraft unit, shot down American pilot Dale Zelko’s stealth aircraft in 1999, the two meet again — and this poignant film documents their emotional journey to their second encounter.”

5/10/13- Poor reviews all around including today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9) RELEASED– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this unforgettable story four extraordinary people–three men and a woman, each a convicted felon, who, by force of their own will, deep good nature, profound change in attitude and access to the finely tuned prisoner re-entry system of the Fortune Society, overcome a brutal past and defy the grim statistic that two out of every three prisoners released in the United States today will be back in prison within three years.”

5/10/13- Good review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from others. TRDB.

10) THREE SISTERS– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In stark contrast to governmental claims that life in rural China is improving, three young sisters, ages 10, 6 and 4, live largely alone in their impoverished village, struggling with grueling field labor while their father works in a nearby town.”

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

 

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OPENING THIS WEEK (MAY 17)-

 

1) 33 POSTCARDS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “For ten years, Chinese orphan Mei Mei (Zhu Lin) dreams of meeting her Australian sponsor – Dean Randall (Guy Pearce) – and his ‘perfect family’. When her orphanage travels to Australia to attend the Australian Choir Festival, Mei Mei takes the opportunity to look him up. What she finds, however, is far from the idyllic life he depicted in his postcards. Initially mismatched and disconnected, the two begin a journey in search of belonging, family, redemption, love and acceptance.”5/4/13- Weak early reviews but this does sound interesting. TRDB.

2) AUGUSTINE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When teenager Augustine — diagnosed as a “hysteric” — is incarcerated in a hospital for the mentally ill in 1885, she becomes the pet patient of prominent neurologist Professor Charcot in this drama based on the real relationship between the two.”

5/4/13- Just a few early reviews and they are all very good. TRDB.

3) BIDDER 70– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary relates the saga of Tim DeChristopher, who brazenly bid $1.7 million to win 12 land parcels at a federal oil lease auction. With no intention of paying — and determined to protect the land — the activist begins a long legal battle.”

5/4/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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

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

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

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

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

6) STATE 194– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This fascinating question lies at the heart of STATE 194, a vital and revealing look deep inside Israel and Palestine at the men and women trying to seize an historic opportunity to end the conflict and make implementing the two-state solution a reality right now. From the halls of power, across youthful social networks and on the streets, it is a remarkable story of those who are attempting to transform an endangered thread of hope into something tangible.”

5/4/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

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

2) MY BROTHER THE DEVIL–  2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a 14-year-old Arab living in London, Mo is desperate to make friends and worships his older brother, Rashid, a gregarious local gang member. But Mo eventually makes an ill-fated play to fit in that changes both brothers’ lives forever.”3/14/13- Great reviews. TRDB.

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

 

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW- NONE

 

REPEATS-

 

 

 

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

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

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

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

2) IN THE HOUSE– Clearview 100. 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.

 

REPEATS-

 

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

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

2) MUD- Bethel, 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.

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

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

3) KON-TIKI– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “With five loyal friends in tow, explorer Thor Heyerdal sails a fragile balsa wood raft along an ancient path some 4,300 miles across the Pacific. Along the way, they’re attacked by tidal waves, sharks and all the dangers the ocean can muster.”4/19/13- Fairly good early reviews. TRDB.

4) RENOIR– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

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

5) THE GREAT GATSBY– Bethel Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Leonardo DiCaprio stars as literary icon Jay Gatsby in this adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. Fascinated by the mysterious, affluent Gatsby, his neighbor Nick Carraway bears witness to the man’s obsessive love and spiral into tragedy.”

 

5/10/13- The reviewer in today’s NY Times said that the movie was enjoyable but it didn’t seem to me as if he enjoyed it. Mixed reviews from other critics but audiences seem to have liked it. TRDB.