The Reel Dr. Bob

FEBRUARY 6, 2014

DEAR FRIENDS:

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

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) RUN & JUMP- Comcast On-Demand

2) THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NICOLOLAE CEAUSESCU- Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) RUN & JUMP- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Struggling to support her family after her husband, Conor, is fundamentally changed by a stroke, Vanetia accepts a grant from a brain researcher named Ted. As Ted studies Conor, he and Vanetia form an unexpected bond.”1/24/14- A very good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

1/31/14- Despite the sadness of the basic topic I liked this movie very much. Comcast On-Demand. TRDB.

2) THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NICOLAE CEAUSESCU- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Track the rise and fall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu through this innovative historical documentary, which constructs his portrait by only using archival footage from speeches, pubic appearances, international visits and home movies. Culling more than 1,000 hours of recordings, director Andrei Ujica spent four years creating this detailed epic, which strives to reveal the powerful leader’s true character.” 9/9/11- Good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2/5/14-A masterful documentary that has NO talking heads or narration of any kind but exists only from archival footage that traces his political path. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, FEB. 11-

1) ALL IS LOST- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this harrowing drama — which has no dialogue — Robert Redford portrays a man stranded alone at sea, courageously battling a ferocious storm as he struggles to survive with just a sextant and maritime maps to guide him.”9/29/13- Very good reviews from all critics. TRDB.

10/18/13- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

10/29/13- I enjoyed this movie a lot as the understated Redford pulled this solo off. TRDB.

2) THE SUMMIT- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Combining interviews, archival footage and recreations, filmmaker Nick Ryan sets out to uncover what went wrong when 11 people died on their way up the infamous K2 — the deadliest day in modern mountaineering history.”10/4/13- Fairly good reviews and the NY Times liked it very much. TRDB.

3) HOW I LIVE NOW- 2013.  Synopsis by Netflix. “While on vacation in rural England, American teen Daisy slowly comes to appreciate the people around her and soon falls in love with local boy Edmund. Daisy’s summer idyll comes to an abrupt end when rumors of World War III become a reality.”10/16/13- Mixed reviews, more positive than negative. TRDB.

11/8/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) GRACE UNPLUGGED- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Every Sunday, 18-year-old Grace performs at church with her ex-rock star father, but she longs to share her talent with the rest of the world. Heading for the bright lights of Los Angeles, she soon must choose between stardom and faith.”10/4/13- A few early reviews and they are poor. TRDB.

5) THE ARTIST AND THE MODEL- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1943, disillusioned by the horrors of two world wars, sculptor Marc Cros gives up his art to live quietly in occupied France. When his wife brings home a young Spanish refugee, her beauty inspires the 80-year-old man to return to work.”8/2/13- A poor review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews elsewhere. TRDB.

6) AUSTENLAND- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jane Hayes is so taken with Jane Austen’s novels that she decides to splurge on a trip to an English resort that caters to Austen fans. But when the authentic period romance Jane was promised proves unacceptable, she acts to alter her fate.”8/6/13- Mixed early reviews. TRDB.

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

7) WADJDA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Persistent 10-year-old Wadjda would like nothing more than a new bicycle so she can beat her friend (a boy) in a race. But it’s going to take some ingenuity to get one — especially in her culture, which sees bikes as a threat to a girl’s virtue.”8/26/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

10/6/13- I enjoyed this movie about a young woman from an Arab country and her quest to follow her passion in an all male activity. TRDB.

8) ENOUGH SAID- 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.

9/29/13- With a very good script, very good acting and with great chemistry between the two main actors this movie seemed like real life with all of  its conflicts. TRDB.

9) THE ARMSTRONG LIE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filming cyclist Lance Armstrong as he trained for the 2009 Tour de France, director Alex Gibney had intimate access to the racer’s team. Gibney’s cameras were also rolling for Armstrong’s startling 2012 confession of performance-enhancing drug use.”10/16/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

11/8/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY (1/31) IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT ON 1/30-

1) BREAKING THE FRAME- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Envelope-pushing artist Carolee Schneeman talks about her disarming aesthetic — and her cats — in this all-encompassing documentary portrait that boasts a soundtrack of music by her late companion and collaborator, James Tenney.”1/31/14- A good review in today’s NY Times. Other critics have liked it also. TRDB.

2) BRIGHTEST STAR- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A young man nurses a hangover in a kind stranger’s apartment as he reflects on his first relationship, which broke up just the day before. As he struggles to start life anew, he meets an astronomer whose wisdom helps him put things into perspective.”

1/31/14- An awful review in the NY Times and from most others as well. TRDB.

3) HANK: FIVE YEARS FROM THE BRINK- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “From Joe Berlinger, the director of the “Paradise Lost” trilogy, comes this documentary about U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and his efforts to convince Congress that only a trillion dollar bailout of Wall Street would prevent economic ruin.”

1/31/14- A weak review in today’s NY Times. Just a few others noted and they are mixed. TRDB.

4) LOVE IS IN THE AIR– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fate and the same flight reservations bring two ex-lovers together for the first time in years — an unpleasant situation for both of them. During the trip from New York City to Paris, they have plenty of time to argue the past and the present.”

1/31/14- Mixed reviews. The NY Times didn’t care for it. TRDB.

5) MISS GRANNY- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “After learning that her family plans to send her to a nursing home, elderly widow Oh Mal-soon goes for a walk and wanders into a photo studio. When she emerges, Mal-soon miraculously finds herself transformed into a 20-year-old again.”

1/31/14- Just a few reviews– the NY Times liked it- 2 others did not. TRDB.

6) PETER BROOK: THE TIGHTROPE- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Famed theater director Peter Brook reveals his approach to teaching and working with actors in this documentary filmed by his son, Simon Brook. The passionate Brook guides a cast of stage veterans through exercises meant to hone their onstage skills.”

1/31/14- Just a few reviews as of now. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.

7) SOMEWHERE SLOW- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After landing in the midst of a deadly convenience-store robbery, a 40-year-old cosmetics saleswoman sees an opportunity to change her unfulfilling existence and makes a split-second decision to leave it behind, altering her life forever.”

1/31/14- Good audience reaction- mixed reviews so far from critics. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.

8) THAT AWKWARD MOMENT- 2014.  Synopsis by Netflix. “When Jason’s relationship crumbles, his three best friends decide to show their solidarity by staying single until he’s ready to get back in the game. But the pact is put to the test when fate presents all three with their ideal ladies.”

1/31/14- Awful reviews all over. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK- FEB. 7-

There are a whole load of movies opening today but I could find only one that sounded at all interesting—– and it got lousy reviews-

1) THE MONUMENTS MEN- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a race against time, a crew of art historians and museum curators unite to recover renown works of art stolen by Nazis before Hitler destroys them. Written, directed and starring George Clooney.”2/1/14- Poor reviews. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

1) OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS

2) THE LAST OF THE UNJUST- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dark documentary examines the history of Theresienstadt, the Nazis’ model ghetto created to counter rumors about mistreatment of interned Jews. Director Claude Lanzmann interviews Benjamin Murmelstein, one of the ghetto’s last living witnesses.”

Good reviews. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

1) AT MIDDLETON- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When uptight surgeon George and free-spirited retailer Edith accompany their teenagers on a tour of Middleton University, their initial dislike of each other turns into a possible romance as they split from the group on their own adventures.”2/5/14- Mixed reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) 20 FEET FROM STARDOM- Good reviews

2) ALL IS LOST- I liked it very much

Cablevision Link– http://www.optimum.net/VOD/movies?cat=Movies+On+Demand%2FIndependent+Films%2FIFC+In+Theaters

DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp

Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) THE MONUMENTS MEN- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a race against time, a crew of art historians and museum curators unite to recover renown works of art stolen by Nazis before Hitler destroys them. Written, directed and starring George Clooney.”2/1/14- Poor reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) HER- Bethel. 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.

1/12/14- One of the most creative movies I’ve seen in a while, this film is definitely worth seeing but I have trouble actually recommending it. It did stimulate a lot of discussion. TRDB.

2) PHILOMENA- Bethel, 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.

3 THE INVISIBLE WOMAN- Bethel, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in this drama about the affair Charles Dickens began with a teen actress while at the height of his career. Felicity Jones plays the young thespian who catches Dickens’s eye, and Kristin Scott Thomas plays her mom.” 12/3/13- Mixed reviews but more good than bad. TRDB.

4) INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS- Bethel. 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.

5) DALLAS BUYERS CLUB-  Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

6) GLORIA– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A middle-aged divorcée looking to fill the void in her life sees an opportunity for a permanent relationship when she meets a charming former naval officer. But baggage from the past may derail their romance.”

1/24/14- Great reviews in general and also from the NY Times in today’s review. TRDB.

7)  12 YEARS A SLAVE- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “The autobiography of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was abducted from New York state and sold into slavery in the mid-1800s, serves as the basis for this historical drama. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Northup, and Brad Pitt plays an abolitionist.”

9/29/13- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

10/18/13- A glowing review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

11/6/13- Overall I enjoyed this movie as this is clearly a story needing to be told. The acting was wonderful. Throughout the movie I couldn’t help thinking about this as another Holocaust movie with the dehumanizing, the oppression, the splitting of families and the often random nature of the violence inflicted on the victims, in this case Blacks. My only objection was that too many scenes seemed the same to me, each showing the difficult daily life on the plantation in one form or another. TRDB.

8) NEBRASKA- Saw Mill Hawthorne, 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.

9) THE GREAT BEAUTY– Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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. My friends have hated it. TRDB.

10) THE WOLF OF WALL STREET- 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.”

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

12/29/13- Similar to American Hustle that I saw last week- way over the top but I liked it. TRDB.

11)  AMERICAN HUSTLE- 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.

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