The Reel Dr. Bob

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

DEAR FRIENDS:

I WILL BE AWAY FROM MY “MOVIE DESK” FOR A WEEK. THIS ISSUE WILL HAVE INFORMATION FOR THE NEXT 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) LILTING– Netflix Streaming

2) STILL ALICE– At the Theater

3) THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING– Hotwire On-Demand

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) A TALE OF WINTER– 1992. Synopsis by Netflix. “A young couple, Félicie and Charles, meet while on holiday and fall deeply in love. In a fatal slip, she gives him the wrong address, and, as a result, he disappears from her life. Five years later, at Christmas time, Félicie is a hairdresser in the Paris suburbs with a daughter (Charles’) and two lovers. The plot centers on Félicie’s shifting allegiances to the three men in her life, in a roundabout journey that finally brings her face to face with the most basic issues of destiny and faith.”2/12/15– Great reviews for this movie. TRDB.

2/21/15- Part of Eric Rohmer’s collection, this movie has a good premise and good acting but I found the movie way too long. Several scenes could have been eliminated and more could have been shortened. It seemed endless. TRDB.

2) STILL ALICE– 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.

2/23/15- I thought that this was an excellent movie with very good acting and a really special screenplay. Very scary!! TRDB.

3) THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING– 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.

2/23/15- A great performance by Eddie Redmayne helped this drama immensely. I think that the movie couldn’t decide if it should stress the character or his theories and may have gotten a bit lost trying. I did, however, like the movie. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) THE STRANGE LITTLE CAT- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this quirky drama, three generations of a middle-class clan gather in a Berlin flat during the course of a day. A series of unspectacular moments, as the family cat comes and goes, sheds light on the world of a typical family.”8/1/14– Fairly good critical reviews but audiences have been luke warm. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.

2/19/15- One of the most boring movies I’ve seen in a long time. I turned it off quickly. TRDB.

2) LILTING–  2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the wake of her son’s untimely death, a grieving mother reaches out to her son’s roommate in an attempt to understand more about who he was. But she’s surprised to learn the roommates were actually lovers.”

9/26/14- Very good reviews from critics and audiences as well. The NY Times did not like it. TRDB.

2/21/15- I enjoyed this movie about 2 polar opposite type people grieving about the loss of a young man and trying to connect with each other. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

3) THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING– 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.

2/23/15- A great performance by Eddie Redmayne helped this drama immensely. I think that the movie couldn’t decide if it should stress the character or his theories and may have gotten a bit lost trying. I did, however, like the movie. TRDB. Hotwire On-Demand.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 3-

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OPENED THIS WEEK-

1) APPROACHING THE ELEPHANT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “At the Teddy McArdle Free School in New Jersey, students take only the classes they want, and school regulations are determined by democratic vote. This thought-provoking documentary examines the school’s innovative approach to elementary education.”2/20/15- Excellent reviews from critics and audiences alike. TRDB.

2) FAREWELL TO HOLLYWOOD– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ambitious 17-year-old Regina Nicholson sees her hopes of producing a film dashed by terminal cancer — until filmmaker Henry Corra dedicates himself to helping her fulfill her dream, as chronicled in this affecting documentary.”

2/25/15- Great reviews by critics and audiences alike. TRDB.

1) ALL THE WILDERNESS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Keeping to himself in the wake his father’s death, James Charm finds refuge in solitary walks and creating morbid sketches — until a charismatic new friend and a quirky young woman begin to draw him out of his shell.”2/20/15- OK critical review but terrible reviews from audiences. The NY Times seems to have liked it. TRDB.

2) McFARLAND USA–  2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Track coach Jim White’s search for work leads him to a high school in California’s Central Valley with a largely Latino student body. After White and his determined athletes establish a bond of trust, remarkable achievements are on the horizon.”

2/20/15- Although this movie got OK reviews the movie sounds corny and I can’t recommend it. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

FEB. 27 through MAR. 5-

1) THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When dedicated butterfly collector Cynthia hires a new housekeeper, Evelyn, the relationship soon turns sexual. In time, their role-playing encounters transform Evelyn’s role from employee to personal slave — even though she’s the real boss.”

1/23/15- Excellent reviews from critics and very good ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) THE HOMESMAN– 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.”

11/14/14- Good professional reviews and weak audience ones. I’d see anything with Hilary Swank. TRDB.

MARCH 6 through March 12- ??? Not listed yet.

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HOTWIRE ON-DEMAND–

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) LEVIATHAN- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100.  2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living with his family in a village on Russia’s northern fringe, auto-shop owner Kolya finds himself in a jam when the corrupt mayor insists on acquiring his property. Loath to concede defeat, Kolya secures an attorney, and a battle of wills ensues.”

12/25/14- Great reviews. TRDB.

2) WILD TALES– Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Inequality, injustice and the demands of the world we live in cause stress and depression for many people. Some of them, however, explode. This is a movie about those people. Vulnerable in the face of a reality that shifts and suddenly turns unpredictable, the characters of Wild Tales cross the thin line that divides civilization and barbarism. TRDB.

2/16/15- An article in yesterday’s NY Times about this movie sounds very interesting. The film just won a Golden Bear in Berlin. TRDB.

2/26/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) TIMBUKTU– 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.

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB