The Reel Dr. Bob

FEBRUARY 19, 2015

DEAR FRIENDS:

I DIDN’T PLAN ON SENDING AN ISSUE THIS WEEK BUT HERE IT IS–

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

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITE OF THE WEEK-

1) GETT- THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE ANSALEM– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW AT THE THEATER THIS WEEK-

1) GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM- 2005. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this intense courtroom drama, Viviane Amsalem faces an uphill five-year battle as she seeks a divorce from her intractable spouse, who opposes the dissolution of the marriage — and holds all the cards under Israeli law.”2/13/15- Great reviews from everybody. TRDB. 

2/13/15- A very well done drama/expose of the Gett system and the basic denial of woman’s rights that is truly an embarrassment for Israelis. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW AT HOME THIS WEEK- NONE

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, FEB. 24–

THESE WERE ALSO IN LAST WEEK’S EDITION!

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK, MARCH 3-

I’LL REPEAT THEM NEXT WEEK

RECOMMENDED-

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.

2) BLACK NOVEMBER– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Outraged at the Nigerian government’s decision to let a giant energy corporation drill on their lands, a group of rebels abducts a U.S. oil executive — an act that leads to explosive consequences in this tense drama based on real events.”

1/9/15- Poor professional reviews but very good audience ones. Probably worth a try. TRDB.

NOT RECOMMENDED-

1) THE LAST OF ROBIN HOOD– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Kevin Kline stars as an aging Errol Flynn in this biopic that chronicles the womanizing actor’s relationship with teenager Beverly Aadland. The film examines Beverly’s mother’s role in the affair and the private demons behind Flynn’s reputation.”9/3/14- Very weak professional reviews and audiences give mixed reviews- about equal up and down. TRDB.

2) THE BETTER ANGELS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Revisiting the many hardships of Abraham Lincoln’s youth, this biographical epic also highlights the influences that helped shape his personality — including the role played by Lincoln’s stepmother, Sarah, in developing his beliefs.”11/7/14- Weak professional reviews– audiences have been a bit more generous. TRDB.

3) LIFE PARTNERS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Although Paige and Sasha aren’t on the same page sexually — one is straight, the other is gay — they’re deeply committed to each other. But when Paige begins dating a young dermatologist, Sasha fears losing her place her best friend’s life.”12/5/14- Critics and audiences are about 50/50 on this one. TRDB.

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OPENED ON FRIDAY, FEB. 13–

1) GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM- 2005. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this intense courtroom drama, Viviane Amsalem faces an uphill five-year battle as she seeks a divorce from her intractable spouse, who opposes the dissolution of the marriage — and holds all the cards under Israeli law.”2/13/15- Great reviews from everybody. TRDB. 

2/13/15- A very well done drama/expose of the Gett system and the basic denial of woman’s rights that is truly an embarrassment for Israelis. TRDB.

2) COSTA DA MORTE (COAST OF DEATH)- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Capturing the wild and windswept beauty of Galicia’s rocky shoreline, this elegantly crafted documentary looks at the adversarial relationship between the region’s inhabitants and their surroundings, and the age-old legends that shape their lives.”

2/14/15- I’ve seen just 3 professional reviews and they are all good. Audiences have liked it also. TRDB.

3) THE LAST 5 YEARS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Telling their story through song, novelist Jamie and his actress wife Cathy retrace the blossoming and decay of their five-year romance from opposite ends of the timeline and meeting in the middle — with Jamie’s marriage proposal.”

2/13/15- Fair reviews from critics and audiences but the timelines here sound very interesting. TRDB.

4) QUEEN AND COUNTRY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1952, Bill Rohan’s carefree teenage years are cut short when he’s conscripted for service in the Korean War. At boot camp, Bill soon forges a bond with a fellow draftee: rabble-rousing prankster Percy Hapgood.”

2/18/15- Very good reviews from critics and audiences alike. TRDB. Opened 2/18.

NOT RECOMMENDED-

1) HITS– 2015. “Plumbing the depths of American culture in the Internet age, this mordant comedy takes its humor from the trials of a municipal worker named Dave. After a video of his tirades reaches the Internet, Dave is astounded by his sudden notoriety.”

2/14/15- Weak reviews. TRDB.

2) THE REWRITE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Once upon a time, Keith Michaels was an award-winning Hollywood screenwriter, but divorce and a string of unsuccessful films have left him with nothing but bad debts and blank pages. So when his agent arranges a job, a desperate Keith can’t say no. Keith unexpectedly finds himself becoming invested in his students lives, including Holly, a single mom looking to start her own new chapter.”

2/13/15- Weak reviews and even the ones that didn’t pan it weren’t crazy about it. TRDB.

3) WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Three roommates deal with the usual give and take of sharing space — but since they’re vampires, things are a bit more complicated. For one thing, they must adapt to contemporary society, not to mention sunlight crises and fang emergencies.”

2/13/15- I don’t do Vampires. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

SEE LAST WEEK’S EDITION-

1) THE HUMBLING

2) TALE OF WINTER

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HOTWIRE ON DEMAND- FROM LAST WEEK

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

REPEATS-

1) STILL ALICE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “When 50-year-old linguistics professor Alice Howland begins having trouble remembering words, her symptoms ultimately lead to a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s — which forces Alice and her family to make radical changes in their lives.”12/5/14- Mostly very good reviews but a few really did not like it at all calling it a TV type movie. TRDB.

2) THE IMITATION GAME– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

12/31/14- This movie was very well done with excellent acting and a basically true story. I enjoyed it very much but why did they need to sprinkle the schmaltz late in the movie- it was doing fine without? TRDB.

3) AMERICAN SNIPER– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on his memoir of the same name, this military biopic centers on legendary sniper Chris Kyle, who amassed a record number of kills on the battlefield during his 10-year career as a Navy SEAL.”

12/25/14- Fairly good reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.

1/26/15- I enjoyed the movie, especially the very realistic war scenes but I thought it was about a half hour too long and the hackneyed theme of men returning from war damaged both physically and emotionally a bit too familiar. TRDB.

4) TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT– Bethel, Clearview 100. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “On the verge of losing her job, Sandra comes up with a last-ditch strategy: get her workmates to give up their bonuses so that she can stay on. With a single weekend to make it work, Sandra and her husband take her crusade for sympathy all over town.”

12/24/14- Excellent reviews for this drama starring Marion Cotillard. TRDB.

1/31/15- I liked this movie very much and highly recommend it. TRDB.

5) WHIPLASH– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, 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.”

An excellent drama with a bit of schmaltz at the end. TRDB.

6) BIRDMAN–  Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 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.

7) TIMBUKTU– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100.  2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this piercing tale of oppression set in 2012 A, fear grips Timbuktu after the Malian city is seized by Islamic rebels determined to impose their extreme beliefs on the moderate Muslim populace.”

1/30/15- Excellent reviews from critics and very good ones from audiences. TRDB.

2/9/15- A fascinating drama that really gave the viewer a picture of what it’s like living or trying to live under these circumstances. TRDB.

8) MR. TURNER– Jacob Burns (part of the week only,) Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This incandescent biographical portrait of famed 19th-century painter J.M.W. Turner spotlights his artistic genius, along with the eccentric and frequently insensitive behavior that he exhibited in his private life.”

12/19/14 Excellent reviews by critics and just OK ones from audiences. TRDB.

9) THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB