The Reel Dr. Bob

JANUARY 2, 2014

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) AMERICAN HUSTLE- At the Theater

2) THE WOLF OF WALL STREET- At the Theater

3) AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS- Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW AT THE THEATER-

1) AMERICAN HUSTLE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fictionalization of the “Abscam” scandal of the early 1980s follows con man Irving Rosenfeld and his lover, Sydney Prosser, as they help an eccentric FBI agent expose corruption among several members of Congress in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”12/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

12/20/13- Way over the top in every way but lots of fun and I liked it. TRDB.

2) THE WOLF OF WALL STREET- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Martin Scorcese’s high-rolling Wall Street drama is based on the memoirs of stockbroker Jordan Belfort, whose giddy career — involving audacious scams and confrontations with the FBI and other agencies — ended in federal prison.”

12/15/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

12/27/13- The NY Times liked this very much. TRDB.

12/29/13- Similar to American Hustle that I saw last week, this movie was way over the top and I enjoyed it. DiCaprio was great. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW AT HOME-

1) NOT FADE AWAY- 2012. “Inspired by the music of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, three 1960s high-schoolers form a rock band in the New Jersey suburbs. James Gandolfini co-stars in this debut feature from “Sopranos” creator David Chase.”12/21/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times  and elsewhere too. TRDB.

12/20/13- I found the movie boring, watched half and finally turned it off. TRDB.

2) AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After escaping prison, Bob Muldoon begins a search for his girlfriend and young daughter, but their reunion doesn’t go as planned: He took the rap for a crime she committed, but now she’s involved with a lawman from their past.”

8/6/13- Mixed reviews with some very good ones and some really poor ones too. TRDB.

8/16/13- A negative review in today’s NY Times saying that the film was unconvincing. TRDB.

12/30/13- This movie had a dreamlike quality to it which  made it a bit different but I did like it. Netflix.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JAN. 7-

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.

2) 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.

9/27/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) WE ARE WHAT WE ARE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Following a family tragedy, two teenage sisters are forced by their domineering father to keep their cannibalistic clan’s macabre traditions alive by finding — and killing — dinner. Meanwhile, local authorities begin to close in on them.”

9/27/13- Very good reviews for this spooky sounding movie. The NY Times praised it in today’s review. TRDB.

4) I’M SO EXCITED- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a flight bound for Mexico City runs into trouble, the frightened passengers aboard start sharing their deepest secrets to distract themselves from impending doom — with hilarious results.”

6/28/13- Mixed review in general and a very weak one in today’s NY Times for this latest by Almodovar. TRDB.

5) LINSANITY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Evan Jackson Leong profiles his longtime friend, Jeremy Lin, in this engrossing examination of the star basketball player’s humble beginnings, college days at Harvard, religious beliefs and high-scoring 2012 season with the New York Knicks.”

10/4/13- Mixed reviews, slightly more positive than negative. Today’s NY Times gave it a weak review. TRDB.

6) THE ACT OF KILLING- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This unique documentary recalls the bloody era in Indonesia when pro-government death squads slaughtered more than a million suspected Communists. Now in positions of power, two ex-squad leaders gleefully reenact their atrocities for the filmmakers.

7/3/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/19/13- The NY Times liked this movie very much. TRDB.

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OPENED ON DEC. 20 IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT FOR THAT DAY-

1) PERSONAL TAILOR- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This clever comedy follows a company that specializes in giving ordinary people the chance to live another life for a single day. No matter what they’re escaping, the choices each client makes reveals something about his or her inner desires.”12/20/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and from audiences as well. TRDB.

2) THE SELFISH GIANT- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two teenage boys band together to steal copper wire from power stations and railway lines to sell to a local scrap dealer in this dour drama. Their friendship sours when Kitten, the scrap dealer, begins to favor one of the boys over the other.”

12/20/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

3) ALL THE LIGHT IN THE SKY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “An aging actress living alone on the shores of Malibu spends her days pondering where her life has taken her and fearing what comes next. When her niece comes for a visit, the two find they share common ground despite generational differences.”

12/20/13- Good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

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OPENED DEC. 27-

1) AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When their father disappears, three strong-willed women return to their childhood home and to their equally strong-willed mother. As they search for their patriarch, the dysfunctional family members wind up facing difficult truths about themselves.”

12/3/13- Mixed reviews but more positive than negative. TRDB.

12/27/13- The NY Times gave this movie a poor review in today’s issue. TRDB.

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OPENING TOMORROW, JAN. 3-

1) THE BEST OFFER- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “An auction house owner who lives in seclusion amid a collection of female portraiture is hired by a woman who refuses to meet in person. But as his business relationship with his enigmatic client grows, so does his dormant libido.”12/21/13- Fair reviews so far. TRDB.

1/1/14- The NY Times liked this movie very much. TRDB.

2) AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When their father disappears, three strong-willed women return to their childhood home and to their equally strong-willed mother. As they search for their patriarch, the dysfunctional family members wind up facing difficult truths about themselves.”

12/3/13- Mixed reviews but more positive than negative. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

1) THE GREAT BEAUTY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “As charming 65-year-old journalist Jap Gambardella writes about Rome’s culture and social life, he reflects with bitterness on the passions of his lost youth, even as he paints a complex portrait of the lovely and ancient city.”

11/15/13- Very good review in today’s NY Times and equally good reviews from most other critics. TRDB.

2) IS THE MAN WHO IS TALL HAPPY- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) applies his playful imagination to animating a series of conversations with the esteemed linguist, philosopher, political commentator and activist Noam Chomsky. At the heart of these talks is Chomsky’s theory of the emergence of language. In this intellectual feast, Gondry uses drawings to make complex ideas more accessible and to expand the documentary form.”

11/22/13- Very good reviews from everybody. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

1) THE SELFISH GIANT- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two teenage boys band together to steal copper wire from power stations and railway lines to sell to a local scrap dealer in this dour drama. Their friendship sours when Kitten, the scrap dealer, begins to favor one of the boys over the other.”

12/20/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) 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 so far. TRDB.

9/27/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. TRDB

REPEATS-

1) ADORE- Fair at best reviews

2) BASTARDS- Mixed reviews

3) BEFORE MIDNIGHT- Great movie

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) HER- Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this sci-fi romantic comedy starring Joaquin Phoenix, love comes to a lonely young writer in the sleekest of packages when he finds himself falling for the advanced operating system he purchased to run his life.”

12/18/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Golden Globe-winner Idris Elba stars as Nelson Mandela in this in-depth biopic that portrays the groundbreaking South African leader from his rural childhood through his long imprisonment to his election as the country’s first black president.”

11/20/13- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

11/29/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) ) INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS- Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The Coen Brothers helm this chronicle of struggling musician Llewellyn Davis, set during the height of the folk era in the early 1960s. The drama follows Davis through a week of creative highs and lows amid a bleak New York winter.

11/21/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

12/6/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2)  DALLAS BUYERS CLUB-  Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Loosely based on true events, this drama follows Ron Woodroof, who refuses to accept he’ll die in 30 days when he’s diagnosed with AIDS in 1986. He extends his life and eventually helps many other AIDS patients by smuggling medications from abroad.”10/16/13- Very good reviews for this Indie drama. TRDB.

11/1/13- The review in today’s NY Times gave this movie an OK review but said that it lacked passion and “played it safe.” TRDB.

11/23/13- Very good reviews but not from this guy. I felt that the movie was predictable at every stage and the acting from Jennifer Gardner was weak. The story however could have been more interesting if anyone other than McConaughey showed any interest. TRDB.

3) PHILOMENA- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Floundering BBC journalist Martin Sixsmith and aging Irishwoman Philomena Lee form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son Philomena was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago.”

11/22/13- Excellent reviews all around including the NY Times. TRDB.

11/29/13- I liked this movie very much. Great and true story with great acting and very realistically done. Sad beyond sad at times. Everybody should see this. TRDB.

4) NEBRASKA- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a cantankerous old boozer thinks he’s won a magazine sweepstakes prize, his son reluctantly takes a road trip with him to claim the fortune. As they drive from Montana to Nebraska, they visit friends and relatives to whom the dad owes money.”

11/15/13- Good reviews in general and a good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

11/29/13- I liked this movie very much. Great and true story with great acting and very realistically done. Sad beyond sad at times. Everybody should see this movie. TRDB.

5) AMERICAN HUSTLE- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fictionalization of the “Abscam” scandal of the early 1980s follows con man Irving Rosenfeld and his lover, Sydney Prosser, as they help an eccentric FBI agent expose corruption among several members of Congress in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.”

12/13/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

6) THE WOLF OF WALL STREET- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Martin Scorcese’s high-rolling Wall Street drama is based on the memoirs of stockbroker Jordan Belfort, whose giddy career — involving audacious scams and confrontations with the FBI and other agencies — ended in federal prison.”

12/15/13- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

12/27/13- The NY Times liked this very much. TRDB.

12/29/13- Similar to American Hustle that I saw last week, this movie was way over the top and I enjoyed it. DiCaprio was great. TRDB.

12/13/13- Good reviews all around including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) SAVING MR. BANKS- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Walt Disney sets his sights on obtaining the rights to the children’s classic “Mary Poppins,” he reaches out to the book’s author, P.L. Travers, only to find that she proves a tough nut to crack.”

12/13/13- Good reviews all around including the review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8)  THE BOOK THIEF-   Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Young Liesel steals books to teach herself to read, giving her refuge from the horrors of Nazi Germany and her cold foster parents. When not reading, she forms a bond with the Jewish man her adoptive family is hiding in their home.”

11/8/13- A really bad review in today’s NY Times and from most critics as well. 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

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB