FILM REVIEWS #541
April 23rd, 2015
4/20/15- Very well acted- Juliette Binoche was wonderful- and an interesting story as well. TRDB.
4/16/15- Miserable– I don’t know what the NY Times was thinking. TRDB. Netflix.
2) A MOST VIOLENT YEAR– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Amid New York City’s crime-filled winter of 1981, immigrant Abel Morales and his wife try to operate a successful business, only to see their efforts threatened by the lawless atmosphere permeating the streets.
12/31/14- Excellent critical review. TRDB.
4/16/15- I liked this movie very much. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
3) GOODBYE TO LANGUAGE– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “From legendary auteur Jean-Luc Godard comes this allusive drama that puts an adulterous couple in the midst of a chorus of voices and kaleidoscopic images denouncing the ills of modern society.”
10/29/14- Good professional reviews and average audience ones. TRDB.
4/16/15- An irritating, pretentious pile of nothing as far as I’m concerned. TRDB. Netflix.
4) ALEX OF VENICE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Devastated by her husband’s abrupt departure, hard-driving attorney Alex must try to pick up the pieces of her life as best she can. With an important case looming and a son and father to look out for, Alex is forced to reappraise her priorities.”
4/17/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
4/17/15- An enjoyable light drama with fun characters and good acting The sum of the scenes was even better than the entire movie. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
5) FAR FROM MEN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1954 rural Algeria, French teacher Daru is given the task of escorting an Arab man accused of murder to the town where the trial is to take place. Along the way, the two develop a rapport that forces Daru to make some consequential moral choices.”
4/17/15- From the Tribeca Film Festival, this was an interesting and unusual drama starring Vigo Mortensen. Somewhat glacial in its movement but I’d definitely recommend it. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
5) HAWKING– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking narrates his own story via the voice-synthesis device that he has used since ALS silenced his speech. Hawking’s memories capture his youth and college years as well as his extraordinary scientific career.”
9/13/13- A good review in today’s NY Times and by nearly all critics as well. TRDB.
4/19/15- An interesting and thought provoking documentary about Stephen Hawking, mostly through his own words. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
6) BEYOND THE LIGHTS– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unprepared for the demands of fame and the conflicts that success generates, rising musical star Noni Jean finds herself in a moment of suicidal despair — until she’s rescued by a young policeman who’s destined to become her lover.”
11/14/14- Generally good reviews but several said it was VERY cheesy and one said if it was any cheesier they could pour it on macaroni. TRDB.
4/40/15- Definitely lots of cheese as noted above but there were still some positives to this film and I managed to see the entire thing. Can’t say I recommend it, however. TRDB. Netflix.
7) MONK WITH A CAMERA– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This inspiring documentary charts the journey of photographer Nicholas Vreeland, grandson of fashion icon Diana Vreeland, who left behind the jet-set world he was born into and turned toward a spiritual path that led to his becoming a Buddhist monk.”
11/21/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
4/22/15- A fascinating documentary but I couldn’t help wondering if the movie would have been as interesting if the subject had not been from a famous family. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
8) GOD HELP THE GIRL– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This musical by Stuart Murdoch — of the indie band Belle and Sebastian — follows Eve, whose gift for songwriting sees her through a troubled life. Her talent takes her to Glasgow, where she finally meets others who share her passion.”
9/7/14- Reviews are mixed for this movie– from critics and from audiences alike. The NY Times did not care for it. TRDB.
4/23/15- A delightful musical about some troubled young adults and one in particular. TRDB. Netflix.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 28-
ALL OF THESE ARE RECOMMENDED–
1) BOY MEETS GIRL– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Growing up in conservative Kentucky, Ricky has always regarded himself as a woman in a male’s body but isn’t able to make a connection with the right man. Then he meets the stunning Francesca, who compels Ricky to reevaluate what love means to him.”
2/6/15- Excellent reviews from critics and audiences alike. The NY Times did not like it and felt that the characters were too hackneyed to match the seriousness of the topic. TRDB.
2) LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary recounts the Vietnam War’s final days, when unexpected roadblocks threatened the evacuation of America’s South Vietnamese allies. Witnesses and rare footage reveal the heroism and sacrifice that played out amid the chaos.”
9/5/14- Excellent reviews including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3) MOMMY– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Diane Després is a flamboyant middle-aged widow and mother to Steve, an adolescent with severe emotional and behavioral problems. As Diane struggles with Steve’s radical mood swings, she begins receiving help from a solicitous new neighbor.”
1/23/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
4) APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a bisexual Iranian-American, Shirin doesn’t quite fit in to her perfect Persian family — and she can’t make a relationship work. So she goes on a journey of self-discovery and sexual adventure in an effort to come to terms with her identity.”
1/16/15- Excellent reviews from critics and very good ones from audiences as well. TRDB.
1/25/15- I found this movie enjoyable and very different from other break-up gay stories. TRDB. Hotwire On-Demand.
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OPENED LAST WEEK-
Recommended-
1) TANGERINES– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “During the vicious Georgian-Abkhazian conflict of the 1990s, two Estonian tangerine farmers refuse to leave their homes as the fighting grows ever closer. After each one rescues a wounded soldier from the opposite side, a very personal battle ensues.
4/17/15- Very good critical review and audiences have liked it very much. TRDB.
2) ALEX OF VENICE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Devastated by her husband’s abrupt departure, hard-driving attorney Alex must try to pick up the pieces of her life as best she can. With an important case looming and a son and father to look out for, Alex is forced to reappraise her priorities.”
4/17/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
4/17/15- An enjoyable light drama with fun characters and good acting The sum of the scenes was even better than the entire movie. TRDB. (Also can be seen on Comcast On-Demand– see “above” for review)
3) CLOSER TO THE MOON- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in postwar Romania, a group of Jewish friends lose their prominent positions within the Communist party and retaliate by robbing a bank, even though their act of political provocation will likely result in their conviction and a death sentence.”
4/17/15- I’ve seen just 4 reviews– 1 up and 3 down, including the NY Times, but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB.
4) BELOW DREAMS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After seeing their dreams and prospects dashed, three struggling young adults — Elliott, Leanne and Jamaine — search for a new path in life amid the colorful and sometimes confusing world of New Orleans.”
4/17/15- Just 4 reviews with 1 down and 3 up, including the NY Times. TRDB.
5) FELIX & MEIRA– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After their lives intersect at a Montreal pizzeria, a stifled young Hasidic wife and an atheist grappling with his father’s demise embark on a tentative romance that must bridge their two disparate worlds.”
4/17/15- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
6) MONKEY KINGDOM– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This all-ages nature documentary follows the perilous lives of a monkey and her newborn daughter in the jungles of southern Asia. As part of a larger group, mom and baby risk starvation if they fail to abide by the stringent social rules.”
4/17/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
7) SALAD DAYS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fast, creative and loud are just a few of the descriptions used in this comprehensive documentary about the Washington, D.C., punk rock scene of the 1980s — a cultural and musical explosion that questioned the era’s “feel good” politics.”
4/17/15- I’ve note just 3 reviews and they are all good. TRDB.
8) ANTARCTIC EDGE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Accompanied by a documentary film crew, an elite group of scientists sets out to investigate the rapid melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet, making a long journey to the region to better understand the factors driving the disturbing phenomenon.”
4/17/15– Just 4 reviews so far– 2 up and 2 down. The NY Times was one of the ups. TRDB.
9) 1915– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Haunted by the Armenian Genocide that began in 1915, a Los Angeles theater director sets out to call attention to the long-forgotten tragedy — and soon finds himself drawn into unexpected intrigue.”
4/22/15- I’ve seen just 5 professional reviews– 3 up and 2 down (including the NY Times). Audiences have liked it. TRDB.
10) EMPTYING THE SKIES– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Inspired by novelist Jonathan Franzen’s essay of the same name, this eye-opening documentary looks at the devastating effect of wild songbird poaching in Southern Europe, where gastronomic delicacies are pushing a variety of species into extinction.”
4/22/15- Very good professional reviews and so-so reviews by audiences. TRDB.
Not Recommended–
1) CHILD 44– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in Stalinist-era Russia, this gritty drama centers on Leo Demidov, a dutiful member of the secret police who becomes a government target when he begins investigating a string of brutal child murders.”
4/17/15- Awful reviews. TRDB.
2) UNFRIENDED– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “A year after high-schooler Laura Barnes kills herself, the six classmates whose cyberabuse drove her to suicide look back on the tragedy. During their video chat, they realize that someone else is listening in — someone with a lethal agenda.”
4/17/15- Critics were OK with this movie and audiences liked it even more. I’ll skip it. TRDB.
3) THE HUMAN EXPERIMENT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “While activists attempt to raise awareness about the profusion and detrimental health effects of untested chemicals in everyday products, their efforts are hampered by industry lobbyists, as chronicled in this eye-opening documentary.”
4/17/15- Just 6 reviews– 3 up and 3 down. Sounds boring to me. TRDB.
4) BEYOND THE REACH– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After hiring Ben as a hunting guide, a wealthy tycoon looking to bag a bighorn sheep in the Mojave Desert accidentally shoots a prospector. When Ben refuses to help cover up the crime, he becomes the hunter’s prey and is forced to run for his life.”
4/17/15- Awful reviews by critics and just fair ones from audiences. TRDB.
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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-
1) ’71– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a young British soldier is separated from his unit in Belfast at the height of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, he must survive the night alone in a city that’s swarming with would-be enemies.”
2/27/15- Excellent reviews from nearly everybody. TRDB
3/20/15- Excellent reviews but NOT from me. One reviewer said- “If you are in the mood for a confusing and thoroughly depressing immersion into Irish history, you can’t do better.” I AGREE!! TRDB.
2) OF HORSES AND MEN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This action drama lets viewers imagine the world of humans through a horse’s eyes, spotlighting the ancient two-way bond between the species. Deep in the wild, events unreel that will test both the horses and their complex human partners.”
3/12/15- Great reviews from the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) ALEX OF VENICE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Devastated by her husband’s abrupt departure, hard-driving attorney Alex must try to pick up the pieces of her life as best she can. With an important case looming and a son and father to look out for, Alex is forced to reappraise her priorities.”
4/17/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.
4/17/15- An enjoyable light drama with fun characters and good acting The sum of the scenes was even better than the entire movie. TRDB.
REPEATS-
DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp
Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-
NEW IN THE BURBS-
1) DIOR AND I- Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Asked to fill the shoes of iconic designer John Galliano, Raf Simons is given two months to prepare his inaugural fashion collection for Christian Dior in this behind-the-scenes look at the high-pressure world of haute couture.”
4/10/15- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
2) EX MACHINA– Bethel. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After winning a chance to spend a week at his boss’s Alaskan compound, tech whiz Caleb Smith finds he’s been selected to help evaluate a sentient humanoid dubbed Ava — whose feminine wiles prove more formidable than expected.
4/10/15- Good reviews for this strange sounding movie. TRDB.
3) THE WATER DIVINER– Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Following the carnage of the Gallipoli campaign, an Australian farmer travels from his home Down Under to the battlefields of Turkey in an attempt to find his three sons, all of whom went missing during the conflict.”
4/21/15- More good reviews than poor although nearly all of the good ones had something negative to add. I’d take a chance. TRDB.
4) CHILD 44– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in Stalinist-era Russia, this gritty drama centers on Leo Demidov, a dutiful member of the secret police who becomes a government target when he begins investigating a string of brutal child murders.”
4/17/15- Awful reviews. TRDB.
5) LITTLE BOY– Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “An 8-year-old boy with developmental challenges is devastated when his devoted father — and lone friend — is drafted during World War II. With his dad out of the picture, the youngster is determined to fight the bullies who torment him at school.”
4/21/15- Terrible reviews. TRDB.
6) THE AGE OF ADALINE– Danbury.2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After 29-year-old Adaline recovers from a nearly lethal accident, she inexplicably stops growing older. As the years stretch on and on, Adaline keeps her secret to herself — till she meets a man who changes her life.”
4/21/15- OK reviews. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) DANNY COLLINS– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Clinging to memories of his 1970s heyday, former rock star Danny Collins gets a wake-up call when his manager finds an unopened 40-year-old missive written to Danny by John Lennon. Newly inspired, Danny decides to reinvent his future.”
3/20/15- An interesting premise but poor reviews all around plus I’ve never been an Al Pacino fan. TRDB.
2) TRUE STORY– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on true events, this cat-and-mouse thriller follows the complex relationship between accused murderer Christian Longo and disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel, whose identity Longo had usurped until he was captured by the FBI.”
4/14/15- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
3) WOMAN IN GOLD– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthoren, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Nowalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Six decades after World War II, Jewish octogenarian Maria Altmann begins a quest to reclaim the artwork confiscated from her family by the Nazis — including a famed Gustav Klimt masterpiece.”
4/1/15- Poor reviews!! Everyone I know who has seen this has loved it!! TRDB.
4) THE CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Twenty years after her breakthrough role as a young woman who beguiles and ultimately destroys her mentor, Maria Enders is invited — in an ironic twist — to play the part of the older woman in a stage production of the same drama.”
4/10/15- Excellent reviews from critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.
4/20/15- Very well acted- Juliette Binoche was wonderful- and an interesting story as well. TRDB.
5) WHILE WE’RE YOUNG– Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Documentary filmmaker Josh Srebnick is up against a creative wall when he meets an attractive and quirky young couple, Jamie and Darby, who bring new vigor and energy to the lives of Josh and his wife — until a professional conflict arises.”
3/27/15– Mostly good professional reviews– the NY Times gave it a good review with some qualifications. Audiences have been luke warm to the film. TRDB.
4/12/15- Overall I’ll give this movie a passing grade but I was not overly impressed. Come in mid-way and see the better second half. TRDB.
For Independent Films in Palm Beach County go to www.lakeworthplayhouse.org
For Films everywhere go to- www.fandango.com
ENJOY!!
THE REEL DR. BOB
Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters
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