The Reel Dr. Bob

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

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

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) SIMON KILLER– Netflix Streaming

2) SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME– Netflix Streaming

3) ROOM 514– Netflix Streaming

4) THANKS FOR SHARING– At the Theater

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) THANKS FOR SHARING– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While making his way through a support group for sex addicts, Adam dips his toe in the dating pool to embrace a meaningful relationship. But the woman he’s attracted to has sworn off addicts altogether.”9/4/13- Mixed reviews. TRDB.

9/20/13- A “fair at best” review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9/25/13- I liked this movie very much– great acting and a realistic depiction of the life of an addict of any kind. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) 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.

9/22/13- This movie was well acted and portrayed the lead actor’s desperation very well and despite the sleazy characters I liked it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

2) SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This comic fable chronicles 35 years in the lives of good friends Sal and Max — including a love triangle with Lyla, the woman they both adore. As they make their way through major life events, a magic suitcase prevents Max from getting older.”

3/29/13- OK reviews in general and in today’s NY Times as well. TRDB.

9/22/13-This movie was just strange enough to be interesting but I can’t really recommend it in general. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

3) SOMETHING IN THE AIR– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Growing up in the wake of France’s civil crisis of May 1968, Gilles and his teen friends are determined to sustain the partisan passions of that era. But now it’s 1971, and Gilles is also beginning to think more about his other aspirations in life.”

5/3/13- Fairly good reviews in general and a very good one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9/23/13- I found this movie incredibly boring and turned it off fairly quickly. A lot of teenagers throwing firebombs and writing graffiti. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

4) FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As they push into Germany near the end of World War II, Russian troops discover that the Nazis have used the research of legendary scientist Victor Frankenstein to create monstrous new soldiers that are pieced together from body parts of the dead.”

7/16/13- Some good reviews including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9/24/13- I enjoyed the first half hour until the monsters arrived and then the movie became a “mad scientist” type movie with essentially no plot. I turned it off at 45min. TRDB. Netflix.

5) ROOM 514– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Anna, an investigator in the Israeli military, is ordered to interrogate a senior officer who is alleged to have abused an Arab family. Her questioning is greeted with sarcasm by the accused commander, while her colleagues and lover, advise her to stop the case.”

4/2/13- This movie sounds very interesting but so far the few reviews that I have seen have been weak. TRDB.

9/24/13- I liked this movie very much and I can only wonder how it was received in Israel itself. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, OCT. 1-

 

1) A FIERCE GREEN FIRE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This engaging documentary profiles the evolution of environmental movements over the past five decades, from early efforts at conservation and protests against pollution to the radical tactics of Greenpeace and concerns over global climate change.”3/1/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times saying that the film had too much restraint. TRDB.

2) THE FROZEN GROUND– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based thriller starring Nicolas Cage, an Alaska state trooper looking to bring a notorious serial killer to justice teams with a 17-year-old prostitute who escaped the predator’s clutches.”

8/9/13- Mixed reviews, more positive than negative. TRDB.

8/23/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY, SEPT. 20 IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT ON SEPT. 19-

 

1) RUSH- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic portrayal of the intense 1970s rivalry between race drivers Niki Lauda and James Hunt captures the contrasts between the two champions. While Hunt was a charming and handsome ladies’ man, Lauda was a loner with a single goal: victory.”9/4/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

9/20/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) ARISE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Daryl Hannah narrates this documentary that uses poetry, music and art to spotlight global women who share a new vision for environmental stewardship. From rainforests to cities, these women search for ways to live in balance with nature.”

9/20/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. The review said that the movie making was not as good as the subject of this documentary. TRDB.

3) AFTER TILLER– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “AFTER TILLER paints a complex, compassionate portrait of these physicians who have become the new number-one targets of the anti-abortion movement.”

9/20/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from most critics as well. TRDB.

4) JEWTOPIA- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Old friends Chris and Adam are facing opposite marriage issues: Chris is pursuing his Jewish dream girl, while Adam is having doubts about his own. When Chris asks Adam to help him pass as Jewish, comedic complications and consequences shortly ensue.”

9/20/13- Poor review in today’s NY Times and from most everybody else as well. TRDB.

5) THE MUSLIMS ARE COMING!- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hoping to counter Americans’ negative attitudes toward Islam, a clutch of Muslim-American comedians launch a national tour for laughs. This documentary chronicles their long, strange trip as they try to educate — and entertain — their audiences.”

9/20/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB.

6) MY LUCKY STAR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When she wins a trip to Singapore, Sofie never expects to cross paths with international diamond thieves, let alone become embroiled in their plot. Her involvement accidentally reveals a deeper plan — and lands her in the arms of David, a hunky spy.”

9/20/13- A “just fair” review in today’s NY Times. Mixed reviews from others. TRDB.

7) ZAYTOUN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1982 Beirut, an Israeli fighter pilot named Yoni crashes outside a camp of young Palestinian refugees, where he’s met by gun-toting orphan Fahed. In exchange for his freedom, Yoni agrees to take the boy back to the village where his parents lived.”

9/20/13- This sounds interesting but it has received weak reviews all around. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK (FRI., SEPT. 27)-

 

1) AS I LAY DYING– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Writer-director James Franco’s ambitious take on William Faulkner’s classic novel chronicles the sobering story of a poor Southern clan carrying out the family matriarch’s dying wish to be buried in a distant town”9/15/13- Poor early reviews. TRDB.

2) BAGGAGE CLAIM– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Desperate to escape her single status, flight attendant Montana Moore vows to find a spouse in 30 days or 30,000 miles in this airy romantic comedy. While several prospects look promising at first, Montana quickly discovers problems under the hood.”

9/15/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

3) DON JON– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jon Martello’s romantic exploits are legendary among his friends, but his obsession with online porn is starting to sap his enthusiasm for real sex. As he tries to regain his hunger for intimacy, Jon meets two women with vital lessons to teach him.”

9/15/13- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

4) INEQUALITY FOR ALL– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Discussing numerous issues in clear and accessible language, former U.S. labor secretary and current UC Berkeley professor Robert Reich makes a compelling case about the serious crisis the U.S. faces due to the widening economic gap.”

9/15/13- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5) MORNING– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Five days in the life of an American couple immediately following the accidental death of their child. An every day story of tragedy, loss, acceptance, hope and renewal. Morning follows the divergent paths of Mark and Alice Munroe as they circle each other in a heart-breaking pas-de-deux of grief before finally coming to grips with their shared loss.”

9/15/13- No reviews as yet but this one sounds gut-wrenching. TRDB.

6) THERESE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Trapped in a loveless marriage to her insufferable cousin, Therese Raquin seeks solace in the arms of the attentive Laurent LeClaire. But her quest for happiness may lead to tragedy in this big-screen adaptation of Emile Zola’s classic novel.”

9/15/13- Just 2 short reviews and they are both OK. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

THE ANNUAL L-DUB FILM FESTIVAL SHOWS ON FRIDAY SEPT. 27 THROUGH SUNDAY SEPT. 29!!

 

 

 THE FOLLOWING FILMS WILL SHOW FROM MONDAY SEPT. 30 THROUGH THURS. OCT.3-

 

1) EVOCATEUR: THE MORTON DOWNEY JR. MOVIE– 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.”6/7/13- An OK, interesting review in today’s NY Times. Other critics have liked it very much. TRDB.

2) FILM SOCIALISM– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Listen in on the insightful musings of a war criminal, a famous philosopher (Alain Badiou), an American singer (Patti Smith), a former spy and other compelling characters as they travel together aboard a Mediterranean cruise ship, visiting Egypt, Palestine, Odessa and Naples. Directed by legendary French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, this multifaceted drama also stars Catherine Tanvier, Christian Sinniger and Jean-Marc Stehlé.”

 

 

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) JEWTOPIA– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Old friends Chris and Adam are facing opposite marriage issues: Chris is pursuing his Jewish dream girl, while Adam is having doubts about his own. When Chris asks Adam to help him pass as Jewish, comedic complications and consequences shortly ensue.”9/20/13- Poor review in today’s NY Times and from most everybody else as well. TRDB.

2) BLUE CAPRICE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In their lead-up to the infamous 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, John Muhammad and Lee Malvo embark on a nationwide trip, forming a deadly bond along the way that distorts the definition of a father-son relationship.”

9/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

REPEATS-

 

 

 

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

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) ENOUGH SAID– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini star in this charming comedy about a divorced woman venturing into a relationship with a sweet man. But things get tricky when she discovers the man she’s dating is the hated ex-husband of her new best friend.”9/24/13- Excellent reviews from nearly everyone. TRDB.

2) RUSH– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatic portrayal of the intense 1970s rivalry between race drivers Niki Lauda and James Hunt captures the contrasts between the two champions. While Hunt was a charming and handsome ladies’ man, Lauda was a loner with a single goal: victory.”

9/4/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

9/20/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) THANKS FOR SHARING– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While making his way through a support group for sex addicts, Adam dips his toe in the dating pool to embrace a meaningful relationship. But the woman he’s attracted to has sworn off addicts altogether.”9/4/13- Mixed reviews. TRDB.

9/20/13- A “fair at best” review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9/25/13- I liked this movie very much– great acting and a realistic depiction of the life of an addict of any kind. TRDB.

2) BLUE JASMINE– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The high life leads to high anxiety for a fashionable New York City homemaker in crisis who finds herself forced to live a more modest lifestyle in San Francisco. Woody Allen directs an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.”

7/26/13- A great review in today’s NY Times and excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

8/7/13- Woody is as creative as ever as he constructs another story that most audiences can relate to. Cate Blanchett’s acting was great and I liked the movie. After the rave reviews I was a little disappointed. TRDB.

3) SALINGER- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Interviews with 150 of J.D. Salinger’s friends and colleagues shed light on the reclusive author in this absorbing documentary. High-profile writers and actors, including Martin Sheen, Gore Vidal and John Cusack, discuss how Salinger influenced them.”

9/6/13- Mostly poor reviews including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) IN A WORLD …– Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Lake Bell (“Children’s Hospital”) stars in In a World…, a hilarious romantic comedy about a struggling vocal coach who strikes it big in the cutthroat world of movie-trailer voiceovers, only to find herself in direct competition with the industry’s reigning king-her father. Written and directed by Bell, who won the Sundance 2013 Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for the script.”

8/9/13- Good reviews from today’s NY Times and from other critics as well. TRDB.

9/2/13- The movie was fun but nothing great. There were some funny situations that reminded me of early Woody Allen and I did enjoy the various relationships. TRDB.

5) PRISONERS– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When his 6-year-old daughter is abducted and the investigation stalls, carpenter Keller Dover tracks down the culprit himself. But his vigilante action pits him against the case’s lead detective and puts his own sanity at risk.”

9/4/13- Very good reviews for this suspense drama. TRDB.

6) DON JON– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jon Martello’s romantic exploits are legendary among his friends, but his obsession with online porn is starting to sap his enthusiasm for real sex. As he tries to regain his hunger for intimacy, Jon meets two women with vital lessons to teach him.”

9/15/13- Fairly good reviews so far. TRDB.

7) LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history.”

8/6/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

8/16/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8/25/13- Although I did enjoy parts of this movie, I was disappointed with the film as a whole. I thought it was a lackluster story about the butler used as a vehicle for a very powerful piece of history and it just didn’t seem to fit for me. The acting carried the movie. 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