The Reel Dr. Bob

MAY 15, 2014

DEAR FRIENDS:

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

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE EAST– Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

I’ve seen most of the local movies that I plan on seeing so I hope that a new crop comes quickly.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) 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.

5/8/14- If you can suspend reality a bit this movie definitely has some merit. Patricia Clarkson had a small part that should have been smaller. TRDB. Netflix

2) ESCAPE FROM TOMORROW– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “On the last day of a family vacation at Disney World, Jim White learns that he’s lost his job. Soon thereafter, he begins to lose his mind, wandering through the artificial phantasmagoria and becoming obsessed with two perky French girls.”

10/11/13- Mixed reviews, more positive than negative in general but the NY Times did not like it. TRDB.

5/11/14- Definitely ranks as one of the 10 weirdest movies I’ve seen. I kind of enjoyed the first half but then lost interest totally. TRDB. Netflix.

3) THE DOUBLE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jesse Eisenberg plays the dual roles of a timid office worker and his charismatic doppelganger in this cinematic adaptation of a Dostoevsky tale. First spotted on the bus, then at work, Simon’s double may share his looks, but he’s no carbon copy.”

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 20-

1) GOD LOVES UGANDA– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This powerful documentary examines the evangelical campaign to spread the values of America’s Christian right in Uganda, including a fierce fight against sexual immorality taken on by both American and Ugandan fundamentalist religious leaders.”10/7/13- Just a few reviews and they are all good. TRDB.

10/11/13- The NY Times gave this documentary a very good review today. TRDB.

2) LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This meditative drama focuses on an encounter between two strangers in Tokyo: a young woman working as a call girl and a retired college professor. The two soon form a bond beyond their initial meeting, which begins to confuse the girl’s boyfriend.”

2/15/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/24/13- This latest work by Abbas Kiarostami, the Iranian director, is what one reviewer called the cinematic equivalent of a short story. Well acted and leaving most everything to the viewer to interpret. I enjoyed it but it is clearly not for everyone. TRDB.

3) ABOUT LAST NIGHT– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a couple’s flirtation quickly moves from the bar to the bedroom, they test if their physical chemistry is enough to carry a real relationship. The pair consult their skeptical best friends along the way in this remake of an ’80s rom-com.”

2/1614- Good reviews in general and the NY Times liked it. TRDB.

4) GRAND PIANO– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “A pianist returning to the stage five years after a public meltdown learns that a sniper will shoot him and his wife if he plays just one wrong note. But the gunman’s twisted motives go far deeper than anyone suspects.”

3/7/14– Good reviews all around including the one calling it fun in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) STAY- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ex-professor Dermot and his girlfriend, Abbey, are forced to reevaluate their feelings about family when she becomes pregnant. Facing an uncertain future, Abbey revisits her roots in Canada, while Dermot forges a tentative bond with a local boy.”

3/21/14- Poor reviews in general but it did sound interesting to me. The NY Times was “so-so” on this one. TRDB.

6) IN SECRET– 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.”

5/8/14- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

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OPENED THIS WEEK-

1) BREASTMILK– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “With unexpected humor, with an unflinching camera, with some guilt and some pain, this film takes the unusual risk of examining what breast milk truly means.”5/8/14- A very good review for this documentary in today’s NY Times. I’ve seen a few other reviews and they are all positive. Audiences have liked it as well. TRDB.

2) CHAPMAN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a life-changing letter calls him home to the Colorado mountains, Alex Fletcher is forced to confront the tragic past he left behind. But coming face to face with his mistakes stirs painful memories.”

5/9/14- Poor professional reviews and so-so audience reviews. TRDB.

3) CHEF- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “When chef Carl Casper’s plans for opening a restaurant in Los Angeles fail to pan out, he returns home to Miami and debuts a food truck instead. While trying to regain his zest for cookery, Carl also tries to mend his fractured family ties”

5/9/14- Very good professional and audience reviews. TRDB.

4) DAMNATION– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades of dam-building projects in the United States have taken a toll on animals and plants in dozens of river systems from coast to coast. This alarming documentary examines those effects and the continued deterioration of the nation’s waterways.”

5/9/14- Early professional reviews are mixed (the NY Times negative) but audiences have loved it. TRDB.

5) DEVIL’S KNOT– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Frothing for vengeance after three 8-year-olds are slain, the community of West Memphis, Ark., directs blame at a trio of teens suspected of Satanism. Atom Egoyan directs Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth in this fact-based tale of justice gone awry.”

5/9/14- Awful reviews despite this good cast. TRDB.

6) THE DOUBLE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jesse Eisenberg plays the dual roles of a timid office worker and his charismatic doppelganger in this cinematic adaptation of a Dostoevsky tale. First spotted on the bus, then at work, Simon’s double may share his looks, but he’s no carbon copy.”

5/9/14- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5/9/14- This movie seemed more like a creative bad dream than anything else. I did watch the whole thing. TRDB.

7) FARMLAND– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Most Americans have never stepped foot on a farm or ranch or even spoken with the people who grow and raise the food we eat. FARMLAND takes an intimate look at the lives of several farmers and ranchers, all in their 20’s, and all responsible for running their own agriculture businesses.”

5/9/14- Awful professional reviews but audiences have uniformly liked this documentary. TRDB.

8) FED UP– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Childhood obesity has become an ever-more serious medical issue in the United States. This eye-opening documentary examines the underlying causes behind the epidemic, including the marketing strategies of major U.S. food producers.”

5/9/14- Good reviews from both critics and audiences. TRDB.

9) GOD’S POCKET– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Blue collar worker Mickey tries to cover things up when his stepson is killed in a suspicious construction accident, but a local reporter senses that something’s amiss. As he’s backed into a corner by the truth, Mickey struggles to find a way out.”

5/9/14- Even with Philip Seymour Hoffman this drama received really weak reviews. TRDB.

10) NEIGHBORS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “New parents Mac and Kelly Radner love their neighborhood — until a rowdy fraternity moves next door and changes the block into party central. As Mac tries to restore a baby-friendly environment, an epic battle ensues.”

5/9/14- The movie sounds silly but received some very good reviews. TRDB.

11) PALO ALTO– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on a collection of short stories by James Franco (who also stars), this perceptive drama follows a group of disaffected teens in a wealthy California town who have money to burn but little parental supervision — and even less direction.”

5/9/14- Very good reviews. The NY Times liked it also. TRDB.

12) STILL I STRIVE– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Still I Strive is a story of transcendence through compassion, unity and hope. At one orphanage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the performing arts are the path to healing and transformation.”

5/9/14- Uniformly excellent reviews. TRDB.

13) THE RESCUERS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This searing historical documentary reveals the little-recounted saga of a group of diplomats during World War II. Thanks to their efforts, thousands of Jews escaped capture and extermination via the Nazis’ chilling “final solution.”

5/9/14- The NY Times said that this film was a good idea but a poor movie. Other critics agree. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

1) ALAN PARTRIDGE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Legendary blowhard Alan Partridge, made famous by funnyman Steve Coogan, has become an obscure radio host in this new page from his demented life. When Alan finds out he may be laid off, his response is to try to get a colleague fired instead.”4/4/14- Good reviews all around including the NY Times. TRDB.

2) IN BLOOM– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In post-Soviet Georgia, teen pals Eka and Natia live with their families in decaying high-rises and a social landscape rife with crime and despair. Sticking together in this bleak world, the girls use their nascent sexuality to gain the upper hand.”Very good reviews. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

1) THE DOUBLE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jesse Eisenberg plays the dual roles of a timid office worker and his charismatic doppelganger in this cinematic adaptation of a Dostoevsky tale. First spotted on the bus, then at work, Simon’s double may share his looks, but he’s no carbon copy.”5/9/14- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5/9/14- This movie seemed more like a creative bad dream than anything else. I did watch the whole thing. TRDB.

2) SMALL TIME– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “While enduring a devastating mid-life crisis, used car dealer Al is thrilled when his estranged son decides to skip college and join the business. But it doesn’t take long for Al to realize that both he and his son deserve more than this job.”

4/14/14– I found just 1 review and it was good. TRDB.

4/18/14– The NY Times liked this film. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) IDA– Jacob Burns. 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Raised in a Catholic orphanage during the Nazi occupation of Poland, Anna is poised to join the order when she learns she has a surviving aunt. But visiting the woman before taking her vows uncovers some inconvenient truths about her heritage.”5/2/14- Excellent reviews all around including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) THE RAILWAY MAN– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades after his brutal captivity under the Japanese during World War II, Eric Lomax still has nightmares about the ordeal. But when he unexpectedly meets and falls for Patti, a bizarre coincidence brings his past back into focus.”4/11/14- Mixed reviews for this war related movie, more good than bad. TRDB.

4/18/14- A good movie that dealt well with revenge and reconciliation. I could have done well without the amount of torture portrayed. TRDB.

2) FADING GIGOLO– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Middle-aged Fioravante and Murray are an unlikely gigolo and pimp in this farce about two cash-strapped friends who turn to the sex trade to make ends meet. Their new enterprise is fruitful, but things get complicated when romance enters the picture.”4/12/14- Mixed reviews but more positive than negative. I’ll see it just to see Woody Allen in a movie that’s not his. TRDB.

4/18/14- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5/1/14- I really liked this movie which was written by John Turturo and had to be written with Woody Allen in mind. TRDB.

3) BELLE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwak. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This period drama based on fact traces the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle, a biracial girl born in 1761 to a British admiral father and an African mother. Raised by her great-uncle, Dido finds her place in society despite her mixed ethnicity.”5/2/14- Fairly good reviews and the NY Times liked it. TRDB.

4) LOCKE– Bethel. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Over the space of 90 minutes, Ivan Locke’s life spins out of control via a series of phone calls made while he drives down the highway to London. On the brink of a career-making moment, Ivan faces a personal decision that could cost him everything.”

4/25/14- Very good reviews all around. TRDB.

5/5/14- A very good thriller with an unconventional ending. TRDB.

5) GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Between the world wars, Gustave H, the concierge at a prestigious European hotel, takes a bellboy named Zero as a trusted protégé. Meanwhile, the upscale guests are involved in an art theft and a dispute over a vast family fortune.”

3/7/14- Good reviews all around and I really enjoyed it. 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