The Reel Dr. Bob

Dr. Bob’s Latest Movie Reviews

March 21st, 2008

March 20, 2008
DEAR FRIENDS:

There has not been much of a turnover in films playing around and I
think it’s because there are so many good ones available. I did see some at-
HOME-
1) CAYO- 2005. About a native Puerto Rican living in NY who develops a fatal
disease. He goes back to PR with his wife and spends time on a special island
(cay) with reported “healing powers.” Good movie. Netflix.
2) METALLIC BLUES- 2004. About 2 Israelis who buy an American stretch limo in
Tel Aviv and travel to Germany with the car to sell it for a profit. Really
about friendship between the men and about the lingering and ever present
trauma of the Holocaust. I liked it. Netflix.
3) DESPERADO SQUARE- 2001. Israel. About a family dealing with the first
anniversary of the patriarch’s death. One of the sons has a dream that the father
asks him to re-open the movie theater he operated years ago. Very good.
Netflix.
4) AMERICAN HEART- 1993. Starring Jeff Bridges and Edward Furlong. Bridges
gets out of prison and reattaches with his son and tries to steer him in a
better direction. OK but a poor ending turned me off. Netflix.

My daughter Lisa saw 2 movies this week and here are her views-
1) Vantage point (2008): Vantage point tells the story of the attempted
assassination of the president from several different perspectives.
Basically, the movie shows the same 25 minutes from the “vantage point” of
each of the essential players. There’s some pretty good action scenes, some
great character twists and definitely not predictable. Also, it steps
outside of the standard American viewpoint, which is a nice change for an
international traveler like me.
I would definitely recommend seeing it. I have to confess that, given that
it takes place in Salamanca, Spain and I studied there, I took a second to
detach and think fondly of my time there. I even saw a store that I shopped
in! That’s not the only reason, but definitely fun anyway.
2) Horton Hears a Who (2008): I will admit up front that Jonathan and I did
not
pay to see this movie. Long story made very short, it was a free event that
we were invited to. We figured, “why not?”. That said, it was fun to watch.
It is a kids movie, based on the Dr. Suess book. As is the case with all his
books, they are designed for kids and laced frequently with very adult
jokes. Jim Carey does a great job with the character and it definitely had
some existential themes as well. If you want to go to a movie with a kid,
or go to a movie and feel like a kid, not a bad matinee. Don’t pay full
price, though.
THANKS LISA!!

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 25-
1) THE KITE RUNNER- Premise by Netflix. “Years after fleeing the Taliban and
immigrating to the United States, an Afghan man (Khalid Abdalla) returns to
his war-ravaged homeland to try to repay his debt to a childhood friend whose
trust he betrayed. Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball) directs this
touching story of family, friendship and bravery, based on the best-selling
novel by Khaled Hosseini.” Mixed reviews but nobody thought it was as good as
the book.
2) WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY- Premise by Netflix. “Trapped in an alternate
world populated by suicide victims, a band of souls tries to find an escape
route in Goran Dukic’s quirky fantasy. Although he took his own life, Zia
(Patrick Fugit) isn’t ready for such a grim hereafter, particularly when he learns
that his ex-girlfriend also killed herself. On a quest to find her, he befriends
a jaded hitchhiker and a Russian rocker, and together, they set out in search
of a more appealing afterlife.” Despite the morbid topic this film actually
got some positive reviews.
3) JIMMY CARTER: MAN FROM PLAINS- Premise by Netflix. “Prolific Hollywood
director Jonathan Demme tackles the documentary form in this intimate portrait of
Jimmy Carter that explicates the former president’s view of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict by shadowing him on his national book tour. During this
publicity junket, Carter is accused of being a liar, bigot and anti-Semite. But it’s
his candid responses to the controversy and criticism that reveal the Nobel
Peace Prize winner’s true character.” Mixed reviews on this film.

OPENING THIS WEEK-
1) UNDER THE SAME MOON- Premise by Zap2it. “After his grandmother dies, a
Mexican boy sets out to join his mother in the United States.” Most early reviews
described this film as warm and touching. A few thought it was manipulating a
complex subject. NY Times did not like it.
2) MEET THE BROWNS- Premise by Zap2it. “Soon after losing her job, a single
mother takes her brood to Georgia for her father’s funeral and meets his
uproarious clan for the first time. Based on the play by Tyler Perry.” I’ve seen a
few early reviews and none sounded particularly interesting to me.
3) 21- Premise by Zap2it. “Six MIT students who were trained to become
experts in card counting take Vegas casinos for millions in winnings. Based on a
true story.” Poor early reviews.
4) LOVE SONGS- Premise by Zap2it. “A modernist musical about love and loss in
Paris. The tales of three lovers are told in three sections and features 14
songs by composer Alex Beaupain.” Mixed early reviews. Fairly good review from
the NY Times.
5) IRINA PALM- Premise by Zap2it. “A 50-year-old widow, desperate for money
to pay for a medical treatment for her dying grandson, becomes a hostess at
“Sexy World,” an adult nightclub.” This film was at Palm Springs. Great early
reviews.
6) BOARDING GATE- Premise by Zap2it. “A London-based Italian woman has an
affair with a financial heavyweight.” Poor early reviews.
7) TOWARDS DARKNESS- Premise by Zap2it. “In 90 minutes of a kidnapped
hostage’s life, a special ops team, the victim’s family, and the man tasked with
dropping off the ransom all go through gut-wrenching drama.” Awful early reviews.

FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinema of Lake Worth
1) ROMULUS, MY FATHER- March 21 to March 27
2) PERSEPOLIS- March 21 to March 27

BURBS-
1) MISS PETTIGREW- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Saw Mill Hawthorne
2) THE COUNTERFEITERS- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk
3) THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne
4) THE BAND’S VISIT- Garden Cinema Norwalk, Clearview 100
5) FUNNY GAMES- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk
6) THE YEAR MY PARENTS WENT ON VACATION- Clearview 100
7) JUNO- Saw Mill Hawthorne
8) CARAMEL- Bethel.

HOPE THIS HELPS-
ENJOY THE MOVIES!!
THE REEL DR BOB

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