FILM REVIEWS #294
September 17th, 2009
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
DEAR FRIENDS-
I returned home Sunday night after attending the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival with my wife Jane and our friends Sol and Donna. This is just the 5th year for the festival, very young for a festival, but it was very well organized and their selection of films was wonderful. I had a great time and saw 3 international films at the-
THEATRE-
1) LAILA’S BIRTHDAY- 2008. Ramallah. Directed by Rashid Masharawi and starring Mohammed Bakri. About a former judge who is working as a taxi driver. The film goes through his day as he works and tries to navigated the difficulties and frustrations of life in a Palestinian town and at the same time prepare for his daughter’s 7th. birthday. I loved the movie. At the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival. 9/09
2) CAPTAIN ABU RAED- 2008. Jordan. Directed by Amin Mataqa and starring Nadim Sawalha. A story about an older man who works as a janitor at Amman airport. He lost his wife 9 yrs. ago and feels that life is meaningless. When a group of children mistakes him for an airline pilot he tries only briefly to dissuade them and then makes up stories about his adventures. He becomes involved in a few of their lives in meaningful way. The movie was very good but at times was a little more theatrical then needed. I still liked it a lot. At the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival. 9/09
3) DEPARTURES- (OKURIBITO)- 2008. Directed by Yojiro Takita and starring Masahiro Motoki. A Japanese film about an unemployed cellist who trains (without his new wife’s knowledge) as a Nakanshi, someone who prepares the dead for burial. Great acting, great story and a great movie. This film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film of 2008. A MUST SEE! At the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival. 9/09
HOME-
1) SILENT LIGHT- 2007. Directed by Carlos Reygadas and starring Cornelio Wall and Miriam Toews. About a Menonite family with lots of children living in Mexico. The husband is having a long term affair. He has told his wife and best friend the truth but the family lives on. Great scene between the husband and his own father and a very moving scene of the wife crying hysterically while lying under a tree in the pouring rain. The film won the Jury Prize at Cannes in 2007. Despite the slow pace of the film I liked it very much. Netflix. 9/09
2) LOCAL COLOR- 2006. Written and directed by George Gallo. A formulaic film about a young artist (Gallo) who is inspired by his relationship with a cantankerous older artist. I just couldn’t continue watching this boring movie and turned it off. Netflix. 9/09
3) ADVENTURELAND-2008. Written and directed by Greg Mottola and starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart. Eisenberg plays a recent college graduate whose European vacation is canceled for lack of funds. He works in an amusement park and the story is about his summer, the people he meets, and how he learns about himself. Occasionally interesting but more like high school than college graduates. A comedy/drama but not very funny and not very dramatic either. Great sound track however. Netflix. 9/09
4) APRES LUI- 2007. Directed by Gael Morel and starring the great Catherine Deneuve. About a woman who becomes obsessed with the young man (her son’s best friend) who was driving the car when her son was killed. A study of grief and it’s unpredictable nature well played by the master. I’d predict that you’ll like it or hate it. I liked it. Netflix. 9/09
COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, SEPT. 22-
1) LYMELIFE- “Set in 1970s suburbia, this coming-of-age tale revolves around the exploits of a pair of Long Island families grappling with complex relationships, financial woes and an outbreak of lyme disease that’s “terrorizing” their community. Brothers Derick Martini and Steven Martini helmed this quirky dramedy that features a stellar cast, including Alec Baldwin, Rory Culkin, Kieran Culkin, Cynthia Nixon, Timothy Hutton and Jill Hennessy.” Mixed reviews.
2) TULPAN- “Freshly discharged from the Russian navy, young Asa (Askhat Kuchencherekov) returns to the arid Kazakh steppe to find a bride and become a shepherd. But his plans go awry when Tulpan, the only eligible bachelorette around, rejects him because his ears are too big. What’s more, Asa turns out to be a lousy shepherd. Can his persistence win Tulpan’s love, the respect of his flock and the life he dreams of? Documentarian Sergei Dvortsevoy directs.” Excellent reviews.
OPENING THIS WEEK-
1) MAIN AUR MRS. KHANNA- Premise by Zap2it. “A counselor must help a feuding couple save their marriage.” No early reviews.
2) THE BOYS ARE BACK- Premise by Zap2it. “After the untimely passing of his second wife, Joe must not only deal with his own grief, but try to find a way to raise his two sons alone. With Joe in unfamiliar territory and the boys Artie and Harry trying to cope with their own personal baggage, the three decide to throw convention to the wind and live by the words “just say yes.” But when things go wrong, Joe must find a way to behave more like a parent without losing the joy of a more childlike lifestyle.” Very good early reviews.
3) CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY- Premise by Zap2it. “Filmmaker Michael Moore explores corporate greed and the global economic meltdown, and their disastrous effect on American lives. As he travels from America’s heartland to the financial epicenter of New York and the halls of government in Washington, D.C., Moore delves into the price America pays for its love of capitalism.” Very good early reviews.
4) BLIND DATE- Premise by RottenTomatoes. “Don and Janna’s relationship has been on the verge of collapse since the death of their daughter, and they’re trying to reconnect with each other through role-playing, so each evening they pretend they’re meeting for the first time on a blind date after discovering one another through personal ads.” No early reviews.
5) THE BLUE TOOTH VIRGIN- Premise by Zap2it. “Two writers have to re-evaluate their motivation.” No early reviews.
COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
1) A QUIET MARRIAGE- OK reviews.
2) FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN- OK reviews.
3) FLAME & CITRON- Saw it and liked it.
4) IN THE LOOP- OK reviews.
5) JULIA- I saw it and liked it.
6) STILL WALKING- Also at Jacob Burns. Great reviews.
Those of you with Cablevision can use the following link to gain access-
BOB’S PICKS IN THE BURBS-
1) THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Saw Mill Hawthorne. I saw it and it was just OK.
2) MY ONE AND ONLY- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Clearview 100. Good reviews.
3) JULIE AND JULIA- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. You all know about this one. I’m waiting for the DVD.
4) (500) DAYS OF SUMMER- Garden Cinema Norwalk, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. I saw this and liked it.
5) AMREEKA- Garden Cinema Norwalk, Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. RottenTomatoes said, “A divorced Palestinian woman and her teenage son find their lives changing in ways they never anticipated upon relocating to rural Illinois.” Only fair reviews but the premise sounds interesting.
6) ADAM- Clearview 100. Saw it and liked it.
7) THE OTHER MAN- Clearview 100. Miserable reviews. Miss it!
8) STILL WALKING- Jacob Burns. Great reviews. Also on Comcast On-Demand.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters
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