The Reel Dr. Bob

FILM REVIEWS #459

June 12th, 2013

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

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

3) I DO– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. ” I Do is the deeply affecting story about a man forced by discrimination to make an impossible choice. Yet while both sides of the issue passionately state their cases, what’s left in the balance are families and couples often split apart, especially those with bi-national makeups. Immigration, which most heterosexual couples take for granted as a given, complicates same-sex relationships, even in states where marriage is now legal.”

5/31/13- A poor review from everybody, including today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) THE HISTORY OF FUTURE FOLK– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Although Trius has been sent to begin the colonization of Earth, he abandons his mission upon hearing music for the first time. When an assassin from his home world arrives, Trius persuades him to join his bluegrass band and save his adopted planet.

5/31/13- The plot sounds a bit ridiculous but almost all reviews of this film, including the one in today’s NY Times have been positive. TRDB.

5) NOW YOU SEE ME– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Brainy magicians Atlas and Henley lead a troupe of illusionists who specialize in robbing from the rich, in the form of banks, and giving to the poor, their audiences, all while trying to outwit a team of FBI agents determined to bring them down.”

5/31/13- Weak reviews in general and in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.

6) SIRIUS– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The Earth has been visited by advanced Inter-Stellar Civilizations that can travel through other dimensions faster than the speed of light. What we have learned from them about energy propulsion can bring us to a new era, but those in power have suppressed this information in order to keep us at their mercy. It is time for you to know.”

5/31/13- Uniformly critical reviews from the pros but audiences have liked it. TRDB.

7) STUDENT– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this update of Crime and Punishment, a philosophy student in Kazakhstan is so stricken by loneliness and the country’s economic uncertainties that he commits murder. He is then wracked with guilt until he confesses his crimes to the police.”

5/31/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

8)TRIUMPH OF THE WALL– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Bill Stone sets out to document a novice stonemason’s construction of a 1,000-foot wall in rural Quebec, but his plans soon begin to unravel. When the mason realizes he’s in over his head, the film becomes a comic chronicle of determination.”

5/31/13- Miserable reviews all over, including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9) THE WALL– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Vacationing with a couple in their mountain retreat, a woman finds herself alone at the cabin one afternoon, inexplicably trapped by an invisible wall. Her isolation behind the barrier grows more surreal as hours, then days, then weeks pass.”

5/31/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews from others. TRDB.

2) AS COOL AS I AM– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Teenager Lucy Diamond of Great Falls, Montana, struggles with the onset of womanhood on her own, while her immature, self-centered parents, having married very young, try to recapture the youth they feel they missed.”

5/25/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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

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

4) FINDING JOY– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A self-absorbed writer, stuck in more ways than one, rediscovers himself, his offbeat family, and what it means to be happy when he meets Joy–a spirited young woman who asks him to write her obituary.”

5/25/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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

5/25/13- Very good reviews from multiple sources. TRDB.

6) SYRUP– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Scat, an unmotivated slacker with unapplied genius potential, hatches a million-dollar idea for an energy drink. But in order to see it through, he has to learn to trust his attractive corporate counterpart, who may be out to steal his idea.”

5/25/13- Just a few reviews so far and they are all bad. TRDB.

7) TIGER EYES- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Tiger Eyes marks the first major motion picture adaptation from the work of iconic author Judy Blume, whose books have sold more than 82 million copies in 41 countries. Davey is a 17 year-old girl abruptly relocated by her grieving mother to the strange “atom bomb” town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. With the sudden and violent death of her father, the displaced Davey no longer knows who to be or how to fit in.”

5/25/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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

5/25/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

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

5/25/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

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

5/25/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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

5/14/13- Very good reviews in general. TRDB.

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

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

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

For Films everywhere go to- www.fandango.com

ENJOY!!

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