August 18th, 2010
AUGUST 18, 2010
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) VITUS- Netflix.
2) WELCOME- Netflix.
See “below” for details and use my Web site for information about movies in this Newsletter-
www.thereeldrbob.com
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1) CAIRO TIME- Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (
Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (
Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (
Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.”
Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.8/10-
I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the emotion free Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Also too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB. _________________________________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1)
MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Premise by Netflix. “In 1979, architect Gabriel (Timothy Hutton) begins questioning his existence, avoiding work and escaping into the fictional world of movies. When he starts writing a play examining the choices he’s made, it creates issues with his wife (Dana Delany), daughter (India Ennenga) and friends. Meanwhile, he tries to convince a brassy literary agent (Stockard Channing) to represent him and confides in his best friend (Mira Sorvino) in this indie drama.” Reviews are awful.8/10- Terrible reviews are accurate for this boring as hell movie that I turned off. TRDB. Netflix.2) MY NAME IS KHAN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Rizwan Khan (Shahrukh Khan), a Muslim man with Asperger syndrome, lives happily with his wife, Mandira (Kajol), in San Francisco until a tragedy drives her away after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now he is on a quest to recapture the heart of the woman he loves. Traveling across America, Rizwan faces prejudice because of his religion and unusual behavior, but he also inspires the people he meets with his unique outlook on life.” The reviews were mostly very good.
8/10- I can’t believe that I liked this schmaltz infested piece of Bollywood, but I did. TRDB. Netflix.
3) VITUS- 2006. Premise by Netflix. “Pushed to succeed and live up to his parents’ ambitions at an early age, young Vitus (played by Fabrizio Borsani and Teo Gheorghiu) is a virtual genius and a prodigy at the piano. But as Vitus grows older, he decides on a different path: one that leads to an ordinary childhood. Julika Jenkins and Urs Jucker co-star in writer-director Fredi M. Murer‘s heartfelt tale, which won the Swiss Film Prize for Best Film of 2007.”
8/10- I saw this almost three years ago and said then as now that despite numerous poor reviews I thought that this was a wonderful story about a child prodigy and his quest to be “normal.” Also an excellent performance by Bruno Ganz as the grandfather and the savior of this boy. TRDB. At the Heritage Hills Film Club and also available from Netflix.
4)
THE THORN IN THE HEART- Premise by Netflix. “Oscar-winning director and writer Michel Gondry(Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) turns the camera on his own family in this documentary about his aunt Suzette, a teacher in rural France from 1952 to 1986. Raised in Versailles in a family of musicians and educated in Paris, Gondry is keen on understanding a life very different from his own. In the process, he stumbles on a wealth of new stories about the family he thought he knew.” A few great reviews and a few miserable reviews. I’ll give it a try.8/10- The biggest complaint about this movie is that nobody cares about Gondry’s aunt Suzette but I think that misses the larger point of the movie which is a depiction through narrative and film of life in rural France. As for the family stuff, you can fast-forward through lots of it. Over all I liked the movie. TRDB. Netflix.5) WELCOME- 2009. Directed by Philippe Lioret. Premise by Netflix. “When authorities forbid young Kurdish refugee Bilal (Firat Ayverdi) from crossing the English Channel to reunite with his girlfriend in England, the 17-year-old resolves to swim to his love — and finds an unlikely ally in the form of swim instructor Simon (Vincent Lindon). Facing an inevitable divorce from his wife (Audrey Dana), the middle-aged teacher takes the resolute youth under his wing in this stirring, beautifully acted French drama.”
8/10- A very good drama about the issues of illegal immigrants, the hurdles they must overcome and the brave few that help them. I liked the film. TRDB. Netflix.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 24-
1) AJAMI- Premise by Netflix. “When their uncle wounds an important clan member, 13-year-old Nasri (Fouad Habash) and his older brother, Omar (Shahir Kabaha), fear he has put their whole family in terrible danger in this moving, Oscar-nominated drama set on the West Bank. A truce is arranged, but Omar must start selling drugs to pay the fine he now owes. Meanwhile, a number of other locals struggle to negotiate the political and social tinderbox of Jaffa’s Ajami neighborhood.”Very good reviews but I found it fairly sterile and could not get into the main characters. TRDB.
2) CITY ISLAND- 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.
3) YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- Premise by Netflix. “The history of “The Goldbergs” — and the massive appeal and influence of its Jewish American main character — is explored in this fascinating documentary from filmmaker Aviva Kempner. Though she is not a household name today, Molly Goldberg — the indelible creation of writer and performer Gertrude Berg — was one of the most popular characters on radio and television from the 1930s to the ’50s.” Good reviews.
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OPENING LOCALLY, REGIONALLY OR NATIONALLY THIS WEEK-
1) HIDING DIVYA- Premise by Zap2it. “An Indian woman’s bipolar disorder has consequences for herself, her daughter and granddaughter.” Only one review so far and it’s great!
2) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Premise by Netflix. “A delegation from Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager
Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China’s greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin’s autobiography.”
Fairly good reviews but a few said the movie was too timid. TRDB.
3) THE TILLMAN STORY- Premise by Netflix. “When
Pat Tillman, a former pro football player and decorated U.S. soldier, was killed in Afghanistan, the military reported that he’d died battling the Taliban. But later, a much different story emerged: Tillman was killed by friendly fire. Since that day, Tillman’s family has waged their own war, fighting tirelessly with the government in order to unravel the truth behind the cover-up. Filmmaker
Amir Bar-Lev documents their struggle.”
Very good reviews.
4) SOUL KITCHEN- Premise by Netflix. “Young restaurant owner Zinos (
Adam Bousdoukos) decides to revamp Soul Kitchen, his dumpy diner, but the customer response isn’t what he was hoping for. To make matters worse, his girlfriend (
Anna Bederke) flies off to Shanghai, and the tax collector comes knocking. But with the help of an inspired new chef (
Birol Ünel), Zinos still has a chance at redemption. German director
Fatih Akin delivers a riotous modern romantic comedy.”
The reviews I read all barely liked the movie- none liked it a lot.
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FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth. CLOSED AUG. 4 THROUGH AUG. 19 FOR RENOVATIONS OF PROJECTION SYSTEM.
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBERGER- Premise by Netflix. “A total outcast at her private school, Esther (
Danielle Catanzariti) suffocates under her mother’s (
Essie Davis) constant pressure at home. But after forming an unlikely friendship with well-liked Sunni (
Keisha Castle-Hughes), Esther starts taking daring risks and suddenly becomes popular. A smart, good-natured comedy about learning to be yourself, this Australian coming-of-age story also features
Toni Collette.”5/10-
Esther is a 13yr. old Jewish girl in Australia who just does not fit in. Interesting story with good acting and it held my interest. TRDB.
2) LA MISSION- Premise by Netflix. “Ultra-macho ex-con Che Rivera (
Benjamin Bratt) learns the true meaning of being a father when he discovers his son (
Jeremy Ray Valdez) is gay. Rivera turns violent at first, but when a beautiful neighbor (
Erika Alexander) helps him see through his anger, he begins to reconcile his long-held beliefs.
Peter Bratt (Benjamin’s brother) writes and directs this compelling drama, while
Max Rosenak and
Talisa Soto co-star.”
Weak reviews.
3) MY NAME IS KHAN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Rizwan Khan (Shahrukh Khan), a Muslim man with Asperger syndrome, lives happily with his wife, Mandira (Kajol), in San Francisco until a tragedy drives her away after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now he is on a quest to recapture the heart of the woman he loves. Traveling across America, Rizwan faces prejudice because of his religion and unusual behavior, but he also inspires the people he meets with his unique outlook on life.” The reviews were mostly very good.8/10- I can’t believe that I liked this schmaltz infested piece of Bollywood, but I did. TRDB. Netflix.
4) THE WHITE RIBBON- Premise by Netflix. “At a rural school in northern Germany in 1913, a form of ritual punishment has major consequences for students and faculty. But the practice may have bigger repercussions on the German school system — and maybe even on the growth of fascism. Celebrated Austrian filmmaker
Michael Haneke helms this searing and sumptuously photographed black-and-white drama that stars
Susanne Lothar,
Ulrich Tukur and
Theo Trebs.”3/10-
I saw this in Palm Springs and did not particularly care for it. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) 8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION- Haven’t Seen It
2) A SINGLE MAN- Recommended
3) A YEAR AGO IN WINTER- Haven’t Seen It
4) AVATAR- Haven’t Seen It
5) BLUEBEARD- Haven’t Seen It
6) BROTHERS- Recommended
7) CRAZY HEART- Recommended
8)CREATION- Recommended
9) FOR MY FATHER- OK
10) THE GHOST WRITER- Recommended
11) GREEN ZONE- Recommended
12) GREENBERG- OK
13) HELEN
14) HERE AND THERE- Recommended
15) INVICTUS- Just OK
16) IT’S COMPLICATED- Recommended
17) LET IT RAIN- Just OK
18) MOTHER- I liked it
19) MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Bad!
20) ONDINE- Didn’t like it but others did
21) PIRATE RADIO- Just OK
22) THE BLIND SIDE- Recommended
23) THE EXTRA MAN- Haven’t Seen It
24) THE GREATEST- Recommended
25) THE YOUNG VICTORIA- Recommended
26) 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)
NEW-
1) GET LOW- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 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.
2) FAREWELL- Bethel. 2009. Premise by Netflix. “In this thinking man’s spy thriller, KGB agent Sergei Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica) plans to hand over hard evidence that proves the depth of his agency’s penetration of U.S. intelligence, in a one-man crusade to bring down the Soviet empire. French engineer Pierre Froment (Guillaume Canet) is drawn into this web of espionage against his will, but proves a surprisingly resourceful operative in the process.” Mostly good reviews.
3) THE CONCERT- Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “The winner of two César Awards, this uplifting comedy focuses on Andrei Filipov (Aleksei Guskov), a Russian conductor whose music career was cut short by politics. Now an alcoholic janitor, Filipov seizes a chance to reunite his orchestra and reclaim his life. Using a purloined invitation to a Parisian festival as incentive, Filipov gathers his rag-tag musicians and a French violinist (Mélanie Laurent) to realize his long-cherished dream.” A few very positive reactions but more fairly negative ones. The story sounds interesting and I’ll give it a try. TRDB.
OTHERS-
1) CAIRO TIME- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “When magazine editor Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.” Mostly good reviews. NY Times felt it was good but a bit timid.8/10- I felt that the movie was poorly scripted and the characters weak, particularly the waif-like Patricia Clarkson whose acting I generally enjoy. Too many lessons about the Muslim culture. TRDB.
2) THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Saw Mill Hawthorne, 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.
3) THE EXTRA MAN- Clearview 100. 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. TRDB.
4) THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE- Clearview 100. 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.
For all films go to- www.fandango.com
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
Entry Filed under: All Reviews,Old Newsletters
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