July 29th, 2010
JULY 29, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS- Netflix.
2) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Theater.
3) CRIA CUERVOS- Netflix.
4) HOME- Netflix.
5) STRANGERS- Netflix Streaming.
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (
Annette Bening) and Jules (
Julianne Moore), Joni (
Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (
Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (
Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.”
Excellent reviews.7/10-
Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through the problems of life, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB. ________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) MY WINNIPEG- Directed by Guy Maddin. A fantasy documentary about Maddin’s hometown of Winnipeg. Interesting for about 20min. and then just plain weird. So novel that I’d recommend trying it and then turning it off as I did. Netflix Streaming only at this time.
2) THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS- Premise by Netflix. “Revisit a pivotal point in American history in this documentary that chronicles Pentagon insider Daniel Ellsberg’s daring endeavor to leak top-secret government papers that disclosed shocking truths about the Vietnam War and Nixon’s presidency. Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith direct this absorbing, Oscar-nominated account that features compelling interviews with Ellsberg, retired New York Times editor Max Frankel and other key figures.” Great reviews.7/10- Very good documentary that describes a tumultuous period in our country’s history. Highly recommended. TRDB. Netflix.
3) 101 REYKJAVIC- Premise by Netflix. “Hlynur, an Icelandic slacker who would rather watch porn and get drunk than work, still lives at home with his sympathetic mother. He has a brief fling with the beautiful Hofy, but is too disinterested to actively pursue the relationship. The arrival of his mother’s flamenco-dancing friend Lola (Victoria Abril), however, changes all of that. Can you say tryst?”
7/10- Slow as the glaciers and very little happens. Just OK. TRDB. Netflix.
4) SEE THE SEA- Directed by Francois Ozon. Premise by Netflix. “Sasha is a young mother staying in an isolated French beach community with her baby, awaiting her husband’s return. Her solitude is broken by the appearance of Tatiana, a brooding backpacker who asks to camp outside her cottage. Sasha grows increasingly fascinated with her mysterious visitor … even as Tatiana becomes increasingly ominous and insinuates herself into Sasha’s home.”7/10- A weird movie that had me unnerved but I watched to the end. TRDB. Netflix.
5) CRIA CUERVOS- 1976. Premise by Netflix. “Director Carlos Saura‘s haunting tale — part psychological drama and part political parable — features a mesmerizing turn by Ana Torrent. After watching her mother (Geraldine Chaplin) succumb to cancer, 9-year-old Ana (Torrent) blames the death on her womanizing father (Héctor Alterio) and tries to poison him. When he dies of a heart attack while in bed with a lover, Ana mistakenly assumes she’s responsible for his demise.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Very interesting psychological mix of reality and fantasy with great acting, especially the middle daughter, Ana Torrent. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
6) THE RUNAWAYS- Premise by Netflix. “Dakota Fanning stars in this musical biopic as Cherie Currie, lead singer of the 1970s all-girl rock group the Runaways, whose meteoric rise up the charts was saturated with drugs and other excesses of the era. Though the Runaways start out as a novelty act, the rock ‘n’ roll chops of Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart), Lita Ford (Scout Taylor-Compton) and the other girls lift the group to international stardom. Floria Sigismondi directs.” Reviews were just OK.
7/10- I could not get into this movie at all and turned it off fairly quickly. TRDB.
7) VIBRATOR- 2003. Japan. Premise by Netflix. “After meeting a handsome truck driver (Nao Omori) in the midst of an urban mini-mart, a 30-something freelance writer (Shinobu Terajima) embarks on a life-changing emotional journey of sexual self-discovery. Ryuichi Hiroki (I Am an S&M Writer, Tokyo Trash Baby) directs this critically acclaimed road movie based on the novel by Mari Akasaka.”
7/10- Not what you are thinking but actually quite an interesting movie about an emotionally disturbed 31yr. old woman. TRDB.
8)HOME- 2008. France. Premise by Netflix. “When an unused highway next to their home is put back to use, Michel (Olivier Gourmet) and Marthe (Isabelle Huppert) soon discover it’s an affront to their once peaceful life, adding din and dust to their daily existence. Their extroverted son, Julien (Kacey Mottet Klein), grows more introspective; their daughter, Marion (Madeleine Budd), turns obsessive; and Julie (Adélaïde Leroux) is a near lost cause. But how can they fight back?” Fairly good reviews.
7/10- Interesting drama and very good acting, especially the wonderful Isabelle Hupert. I liked it. TRDB.
9) STRANGERS- Premise by Netflix. “At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Palestinian Rana (Lubna Azabal) and Israeli Eyal (Liron Levo) meet on the Berlin underground and soon fall in love. Taking place over six intense days, this film follows their emotional journey to connect and find happiness together. When Rana is suddenly called back home to Paris, Eyal must quickly decide whether he should continue to pursue the fledgling romance.”
7/10- An interesting drama with very good acting and despite a few weaknesses in the story I liked it a lot. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 3-
1) A PROPHET- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “After refusing to snitch, 18-year-old Arab Malik (Tahar Rahim) is thrown into a French prison, where the Corsican mafia rules with a firm fist. The obedient newcomer slowly rises through the organization’s ranks but soon begins to double-cross his superiors. A follow-up to his 2005 gem The Beat My Heart Skipped, French director Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.”3/09- I liked the movie but found it way too long and convoluted. TRDB.
2) SWEETGRASS- Premise by Netflix. “As much a work of cultural anthropology as it is a documentary, this unique film traces the path of a family of Montana sheepherders as they drive their flock down from the treacherous and beautiful Absaroka Beartooth mountain range. With no guiding narration, filmmakers Ilisa Barbash and Lucien Castaing-Taylor let the natural images speak for themselves, capturing the danger, pathos and humor in this haunting elegy to a bygone way of life.” Very good reviews.
3) THE GHOST WRITER- Premise by Netflix. “A writer (Ewan McGregor) stumbles upon a long-hidden secret when he agrees to help former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) complete his memoirs on a remote island after the politician’s assistant drowns in a mysterious accident. In director Roman Polanski‘s tense drama, the author realizes that his discovery threatens some very powerful people who will do anything to ensure that certain episodes from Lang’s past remain buried.”
3/10- A political thriller and fairly good at that. TRDB.
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OPENING LOCALLY, REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY THIS WEEK-
1) CHARLIE ST. CLOUD- Premise by Netflix. “Ben Sherwood’s intriguing novel is the basis of this ghost story about Charlie (
Zac Efron), who is devoted to his brother, Sam, even after Sam’s death. As the caretaker of the cemetery where Sam is buried, Charlie has lots of time to commune with the dead. Sam visits frequently to hang out with Charlie, but when Charlie meets a mysterious young woman (
Amanda Crew), he must decide whether to move forward or remain trapped in the past.”
A few reviews and they’re not so good.
2) THE DRY LAND- Premise by Netflix. “American soldier Raymond Gonzales (
Wilmer Valderrama) returns home to Texas after his tour of duty, unsure how to reconcile what he’s seen and experienced with the everyday mundanities of home and family life. This drama, from first-time writer-director
Ryan Piers Williams, takes a head-on approach to confronting the conflicted emotions of the modern warrior. The stellar cast includes
America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”),
Melissa Leo and
Ethan Suplee.”
Reviews are 50/50.
3) DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS- Premise by Netflix. “Tim Conrad (
Paul Rudd) hosts a weekly dinner party where he invites his friends to bring along the saddest, most pathetic loser they can find. But when the ultimate schmuck (
Steve Carell) arrives, his actions somehow turn everyone else into the losers. Comic heavy hitters
Zach Galifianakis and
Ron Livingston lend able support in director
Jay Roach‘s (Austin Powers) darkly humorous film, an adaptation of the French comedy The Dinner Game.”
Very good early reviews although this is not usually my kind of movie.
4) ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE- Premise by Netflix. “A Cambodian whose family was among the 2 million victims slain by the Khmer Rouge,
Thet Sambath patiently spends his time, energy and money gaining the trust of the regime’s cold-blooded murderers in hopes of capturing their confessions on tape. Several years in the making, this powerful documentary showcases horrific stories told by the culprits themselves, including the notorious
Nuon Chea, Pol Pot’s second-in-command dubbed “Brother Number 2.”
I saw only one review and it’s great.
5) THE EXTRA MAN- Premise by Netflix. “Forced to quit his prep school job after a humiliating incident, would-be dramatist Louis Ives (
Paul Dano) heads to New York City, where he rents a room from has-been playwright Henry Harrison (
Kevin Kline) — who earns a living escorting rich dowagers about town. Despite their huge age difference, the two develop a bond as Henry takes Louis under his wing and leads him on a series of wild adventures.
Katie Holmes and
John C. Reilly also star.”
Mixed reviews, more plus than minus. There’s a write-up in the NY Times Arts and Leisure section from last Sunday, July 25. TRDB.
6) SMASH HIS CAMERA- Premise by Netflix. “While profiling the controversial life and career of pioneering paparazzo
Ron Galella, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker
Leon Gast raises intriguing questions about the freedom of the press, the right to privacy and our celebrity-obsessed culture. A great risk taker who never backed down, Galella suffered a broken jaw at the hands of Marlon Brando and fought two major lawsuits filed by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.”
I’ve seen 2 reviews, both very good.
7) GET LOW- Premise by Netflix. “
Robert Duvall and
Sissy Spacek team up to tell the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, a Tennessee loner who planned his own funeral in 1938 while he was still around to attend — and enjoy — the proceedings. Also starring
Bill Murray and
Lucas Black as the co-proprietors of the funeral home, the dramatic thriller was penned by the screenwriting team of C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond) and Chris Provenzano (“Mad Men”).
Great reviews.__________________________________________________________________________________________
FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth-
1) THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO- I liked it– did not love it.
2) THE CITY OF YOUR FINAL DESTINATION- I haven’t seen it yet. Will come to Netflix on 8/17 .
3) THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN- I liked this movie a lot. It’s also on Comcast On-Demand.
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) THE GREATEST- Premise by Netflix. “
Pierce Brosnan and
Susan Sarandon star as parents still mourning the accidental death of their teenage son, Bennett, when the boy’s girlfriend reveals that she is carrying his baby. Now Bennett’s parents and brother must find a way to release their denial, obsession and anger to make room for the new life coming their way.
Shana Feste directs this moving drama, while
Carey Mulligan,
Aaron Johnson and
Johnny Simmons co-star.”
Fairly good early reviews.7/10
Not a great movie but definitely worth watching if only for the fine acting. TRDB.REPEATS-
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) A CALL GIRL- Just OK
3) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
4) A YEAR AGO IN WINTER- Haven’t Seen It
5) AN EDUCATION- Recommended
6) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
7) BLUEBEARD- Haven’t Seen It
8)BROTHERS- Recommended
9) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
10) CREATION- Recommended
11) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
12) GREENBERG- Haven’t Seen It
13) HERE AND THERE- Recommended
14) INVICTUS- Just OK
15) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
16) JUNO- Recommended
17) KISSES- Haven’t Seen It
18) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
19) LOOKING FOR ERIC- Just OK
20) MERCY- Haven’t Seen It
21) ONDINE- Didn’t like it.
22) PIRATE RADIO- Just OK
23) PRECIOUS- Recommended
24) THE BLIND SIDE- Recommended
25) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It- but it’s opening regionally this weekend.
26) THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN- Recommended
27) THE HURT LOCKER- Recommended
28) THE MAID- Recommended
29) THE YOUNG VICTORIA- Recommended
30) UP IN THE AIR- Recommended
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
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
1) CYRUS- Bethel, Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “Indie favorites Jay and Mark Duplass co-direct this wry look at modern love and family dysfunction. John C. Reilly plays a recently divorced man who thinks he’s found just the right woman (Marisa Tomei) to help him recover and move on. Unfortunately, the woman’s son, played by Jonah Hill, has no interest in allowing another man into their lives — a stance he proceeds to demonstrate in a variety of obnoxious ways.” Very good early reviews.
2) THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Disaster hits Millennium magazine when publisher Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) launches an exposé of the Swedish sex trade, leading to the deaths of two staffers and then to the police pursuit of a third — tech expert Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) — as the prime suspect. In Part 2 of the trilogy, based on the action novels of Stieg Larsson, the vampiric Salander vanishes as Blomkvist digs deep into a possible conspiracy.” Mostly good reviews.7/10- I was bored as hell. It was initially hard to tell who was who and I never recovered. See “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” twice instead. TRDB.
3) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, with frequently comical results. With his arrival, the household dynamics quickly become complicated, and nobody’s quite sure where or how he fits in, if at all.” Excellent reviews.
7/10- Great acting, great script and great idea make this a must see. Really about how couples slog through life at times, gay or straight. I loved the movie. TRDB.
4) WINTER’S BONE- Bethel. Premise by Netflix. “In this noir drama set deep in Ozark territory, resilient teenager Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) goes on the trail of her missing drug-dealing father when his absence jeopardizes the safety of their family. The deadbeat dad has a critical court date pending, and Ree is determined that he make it — despite the objections of the insular Dolly clan. Director Debra Granik‘s unflinching drama won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.” Great reviews.
6/10-Very good acting in this Appalachian slice of life but I was disappointed in the film. I felt that not enough happened and what did seemed contrived to me. A friend who I saw this with spent a year in Missouri and felt that it was indeed realistic. TRDB.
5) DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS- Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne. Premise by Netflix. “Tim Conrad (
Paul Rudd) hosts a weekly dinner party where he invites his friends to bring along the saddest, most pathetic loser they can find. But when the ultimate schmuck (
Steve Carell) arrives, his actions somehow turn everyone else into the losers. Comic heavy hitters
Zach Galifianakis and
Ron Livingston lend able support in director
Jay Roach‘s (Austin Powers) darkly humorous film, an adaptation of the French comedy The Dinner Game.”
Very good early reviews although this is not usually my kind of movie.
6) I AM LOVE- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Oscar winner
Tilda Swinton shows off her multilingual skills in this Italian melodrama, in which family dissension, unbidden desire and other tensions bubble to the surface during the patriarch’s birthday party. When the seemingly picture-perfect Recchi family gathers at the family manse to celebrate the great old man, the veneer of civility falls quickly away in director
Luca Guadagnino‘s lush, atmospheric film.”6/10-
Beautifully photographed, very good story with good acting. I enjoyed this one very much. Highly recommended!! TRDB.7) JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “Documentarians Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg provide an uncompromising glimpse into the personal and professional life of comedian and red-carpet mainstay Joan Rivers, a woman clinging stubbornly and steadfastly to the pop-culture bandwagon. Stern and Sundberg — whose previous film, The Devil Came on Horseback, covered the Darfur genocide — take a no-less-intensive approach to their subject here, taking a hard look at fame’s bitter toll.” Fairly good reviews.
8)CITY ISLAND- Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2009. Premise by Netflix. “When he recognizes his son Tony (Steven Strait), whom he hasn’t seen in over 20 years, among a crop of new inmates in the jail he works at, Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) decides to bring the troubled young man home with him, much to the surprise of his wife and kids. Helmed by writer-director Raymond De Felitta, this offbeat comedy also stars Julianna Margulies, Emily Mortimer, Dominik Garcia-Lorido and Oscar winner Alan Arkin.” Generally good reviews.
4/10- It’s about people in families and the secrets they keep from each other. Know that this is a comedy despite some serious issues. I liked it. TRDB.
9) CHARLIE ST. CLOUD- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “Ben Sherwood’s intriguing novel is the basis of this ghost story about Charlie (Zac Efron), who is devoted to his brother, Sam, even after Sam’s death. As the caretaker of the cemetery where Sam is buried, Charlie has lots of time to commune with the dead. Sam visits frequently to hang out with Charlie, but when Charlie meets a mysterious young woman (Amanda Crew), he must decide whether to move forward or remain trapped in the past.” A few reviews and they’re not so good.
For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com
For all films go to- www.fandango.com
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
Entry Filed under: All Reviews,Old Newsletters
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