The Reel Dr. Bob

DECEMBER 4, 2014

DEAR FRIENDS:

I AM MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER IN FLORIDA. BEGINNING THIS WEEK I WILL BE  USING A DIFFERENT COMPUTER SO PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH SOME DIFFERENCES IN FORMAT, ETC.

ALSO, WHILE I AM IN FLORIDA I MAY SKIP SOME WEEKS. WHEN I DO I WILL GIVE INFO FOR 2 WEEKS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

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

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE ATTORNEY– Netflix.

2) FOXCATCHER- At the Theater

3) BREATHING– Netflix Streaming

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) FOXCATCHER– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Preparing for the 1988 Olympics, two sibling wrestlers cross paths with a paranoid schizophrenic millionaire in this drama based on a true story. The competitive Schultz brothers soon learn their new acquaintance is a dangerous distraction.”11/14/14- Very good reviews. TRDB.

12/1/14- I liked this movie very much and highly recommend it. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1)  THE ATTORNEY– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “SONG Woo-seok has no clients, connections, or even a college degree, but his eye for business and appetite for money turn him into one of the most successful lawyers in town. But right at the peak of his success, a local teenager is falsely accused of a crime, then beaten and tortured while waiting in jail. Shocked by these conditions, SONG changes the course of his life, and takes on the case no one else will. This story is based on true events.”2/7/14- A good review in today’s NY Times and from most other critics too. TRDB.

11/30/14- Well done and poignant movie from Korea about government overstepping its bounds in the name of National Security. Sounds familiar. TRDB.

12/1/14- I liked this movie very much and highly recommend it. TRDB.

3) BREATHING– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A probationary job at a morgue leads a rootless teen delinquent to question his origins and launch a search for the mother he never knew. It all begins with the lifeless body of a woman who shares his family name but turns out to be a stranger.”

8/31/12- Excellent reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

12/4/14- I really enjoyed this movie. Acting was excellent and the story was an original way of handling a topic that has been worked before. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, DEC. 9-

1) SALVO- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Salvo is a dead-cold Mafia hit man who invades a rival gangster’s home to off him and encounters his target’s sister, the attractive but blind Rita. Unwilling to take Rita’s life, Salvo takes her hostage instead, growing ever more fascinated by her.”8/22/14- Mostly good reviews from the critics and less so from audiences. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “The journey of legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel), who took the De La Salle High School Spartans from obscurity to a 151-game winning streak that shattered all records for any American sport.”

8/22/14- Poor reviews from the critics and OK ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) FRANK– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “An aspiring musician joins a band of eccentrics led by an enigmatic singer — who wears a fake head — and his unstable girlfriend. Creative tension mounts as the group retreats to the woods to cut an album.”

8/15/14- Excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

9/30/14- Definitely one of the weirdest films I have seen in a long time. By the way, I hated it and turned it off. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY, NOV. 28-

1) THE IMITATION GAME– Synopsis by Netflix. “Chronicling mathematical wizard Alan Turing’s key role in Britain’s successful effort to crack Germany’s Enigma code during World War II, this historical biopic also recounts how his groundbreaking work helped launch the computer age.”11/29/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) ANTARCTICA: A YEAR ON ICE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Spending long stretches in Antarctica for more than a decade, documentarian Anthony Powell uses his camera to capture the extremes of human and animal existence, as well as the polar landscape’s icy beauty.”

11/28/14- Very good critical review and audiences have liked it very much. TRDB.

3) THE BABADOOK– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Sam’s frequent tantrums turn sinister when a creepy children’s book called Mister Babadook mysteriously appears in his room, and he asks his mother, “Do you want to die?” Is Sam losing his mind, or is a real monster lurking in the house?”

11/28/14- Excellent reviews and despite the “horror” the movie sounds very interesting. TRDB.

4) BEFORE I DISAPPEAR– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “As he’s about to commit suicide, downcast Richie is interrupted by his estranged sister asking him to babysit her daughter. When events force Richie to spend more time with his niece than expected, she prompts him to reassess his dark views of life.”

11/28/14- Weak critical review but audiences have liked it quite a bit. TRDB.

5) THE HISTORIAN– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A troubled, young history professor tries to escape his past by taking a job at a new university, where he struggles with an entrenched and equally-troubled department chair, rampant student apathy, and new relationships that complicate and challenge his world-view.”

11/28/14- Just 2 professional reviews so far– 1 down and 1 mixed. Audiences have uniformly liked it. TRDB.

6) THE IMMORTALISTS– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “‘Cure ageing… or die trying.’ So goes the rallying call of Bill Andrews, the American scientist searching for a solution to the great inevitable.”

11/28/14- Fair reviews from critics but good ones from audiences. TRDB.

7) THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS AND MADNESS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Granted near-unfettered access to the notoriously insular Studio Ghibli, director Mami Sunada follows the three men who are the lifeblood of Ghibli: the eminent director Hayao Miyazaki, the producer Toshio Suzuki, and the elusive and influential ‘other director’ Isao Takahata over the course of a year as the studio rushes to complete two films, Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises and Takahata’s The Tale of The Princess Kaguya.”

11/28/14- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

8) REMOTE AREA MEDICAL– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “During the U.S. debate about healthcare reform, the media-reporters and news crews and filmmakers-failed to put a human face on what it means to not have access to healthcare. This documentary fills that gap-it is a film about people, not policy.”

11/28/14– Good critical review and audiences have uniformly liked it. The NY Times did not, feeling that the documentary did not take any stand.  TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) TOUCH THE WALL– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “TOUCH THE WALL is the story of two Olympic swimmers – Gold-Medalist Missy Franklin and Silver-Medalist Kara Lynn Joyce – and their journey to the 2012 London Olympics.”

11/28/14- Just 2 professional reviews and they are both bad. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

1) ELSA & FRED–  2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “ELSA AND FRED is the story of two people who, at the end of the road, discover that it’s never too late to love. After losing his wife, Fred (Christopher Plumer) feels disturbed, confused and alone, so his daughter (Marcia Gay Harden) helps move him into a small apartment where he meets Elsa (Shirley Maclaine).”11/7/14- Awful professional reviews but audiences have given this movie average reviews. TRDB.

2) VIVA LA LIBERTA– 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this elegant and chilling story about world politics, the great Toni Servillo defies expectations playing two roles, imbuing each character with brilliant nuance and astonishing attention to detail. In the first, he personifies political failure in the role of the disgraced ideologue and party leader, Enrico Oliveri. In the second, he embodies the shrewd genius of a madman as Oliveri’s unhinged twin brother who seizes control of the nation amidst the void of his brother’s disappearance.”11/7/14- I’ve seen just 4 reviews and they are all poor. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

1) BEFORE I DISAPPEAR– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “As he’s about to commit suicide, downcast Richie is interrupted by his estranged sister asking him to babysit her daughter. When events force Richie to spend more time with his niece than expected, she prompts him to reassess his dark views of life.”11/28/14- Weak critical review but audiences have liked it quite a bit. TRDB.

2) CALVARY- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “An anonymous man comes to Father James in confession and vows to kill him in one week, simply because the priest is himself a good man. The father spends the week contemplating good and evil, viewing his small Irish community with new eyes.”7/27/14- Very good reviews. TRDB.

8/20/14- A wonderful drama with enough tension to keep you on edge. TRDB.

3) BEYOND THE EDGE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Edmund Hillary’s 1953 ascent of Mt. Everest was an event that amazed the world and led to a new age of mountaineering and ambitious exploration. Hilary’s triumphant saga is retold using both modern footage, and recordings and photos from the time.”7/4/14- Mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. The NY Times liked it very much. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

REPEATS-

1)THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING– Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his body progressively ravaged by ALS, world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking must rely on his wife, Jane, to continue his life’s work as he faces various challenges. This affecting biographical drama centers on the couple’s fertile partnership.”11/7/14- Good reviews from critics and audiences alike. TRDB.

2) WHIPLASH– Jacob Burns,Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Driven by his demanding music teacher, drummer Andrew is determined to succeed as a jazz musician — even if it destroys his personality. Under the shadow of his father’s failed artistic attempts, Andrew practices until his hands bleed.”

10/10/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

11/7/14- Great acting, great music and a very good story. I liked the movie a lot despite a bit of Hollywood at the end. TRDB.

3) THE HOMESMAN– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a frontier town in the Nebraska Territory, self-reliant spinster Mary Bee Cuddy is tasked with escorting a trio of deranged women to a sanctuary in Iowa. Joining her on the arduous trek is George Briggs, an Army deserter Mary rescued from hanging.”

4)  BIRDMAN– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100.- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Michael Keaton delivers a winking performance in this dark comedy about a cinematic superhero trying to forge a comeback with a Broadway play. With none of the super-powers of his former character, the actor struggles to rebuild his career and life.”

10/17/14- Excellent reviews from nearly all critics and audiences have liked it as well. The NY Times loved it. TRDB.

10/31/14- Very original and interesting mixing fact and fantasy. Keaton was excellent and I enjoyed the movie. Labeled a comedy, it surely isn’t. TRDB.

5) ST. VINCENT– Bethel, Danbury. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his parents preoccupied with their divorce, lonely 12-year-old Oliver strikes up a friendship with his war-veteran neighbor Vincent. A hard-drinking gambler with a fondness for hookers, Vincent finds his life changed by the boy’s presence.”

10/10/14- Just fair professional reviews but audiences have liked it more. Most said that Bill Murray made the movie. TRDB.

6) ROSEWATER– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. ” The film marks the directorial debut of “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart, and stars Gael García Bernal. Rosewater follows the Tehran-born Bahari, a broadcast journalist with Canadian citizenship. In June 2009, Bahari returned to Iran to interview Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who was the prime challenger to president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As Mousavi’s supporters rose up to protest Ahmadinejad’s victory declaration hours before the polls closed, Bahari endured personal risk by sending footage of the street riots to the BBC.”

9/17/14- Very good reviews in general. TRDB.

7) FOXCATCHER– Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Preparing for the 1988 Olympics, two sibling wrestlers cross paths with a paranoid schizophrenic millionaire in this drama based on a true story. The competitive Schultz brothers soon learn their new acquaintance is a dangerous distraction.”

11/14/14- Very good reviews. TRDB.

12/1/14- I liked this movie very much and highly recommend it. TRDB.

8) GONE GIRL– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name, this unsettling thriller follows the mercurial Nick Dunne, who finds himself dogged by police and caught in a media maelstrom after he becomes the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance.”

9/26/14- Very good reviews. The NY Times did not like it. TRDB.

10/9/14- Very well done mystery with interesting characters. A bit too long but I liked it. TRDB.

For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com

ENJOY!!