The Reel Dr. Bob

MAY 7, 2015

DEAR FRIENDS:

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

FLORIDA FRIENDS CAN NOW CHECK OUT THE MOVIES AT 3 PALM BEACH COUNTY MOVIE THEATERS– SEE THE “FLORIDA” SECTION

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM– Netflix

2) MOMMY- Netflix

3) FELIX & MEIRA– At the Theater

4) THE SALT OF THE EARTH- At the Theater

5) BOY MEETS GIRL– Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) 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.

5/2/15- I enjoyed this movie whose main characters, while on the surface seemed very different, actually had more in common than first noted. TRDB.

2) THE SALT OF THE EARTH- 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “As this artfully crafted documentary proves, legendary Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado has created a spectacular body of work during his long career, capturing both the planet’s stunning beauty and humankind’s heartbreaking atrocities.”

12/12/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

5/4/15- A wonderful documentary. I felt like I was in a photographic museum with the photographer speaking in the ear phones. TRDB.

3) EX MACHINA– 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.

5/5/15- Surely a clever idea with very good reviews but I thought it was formulaic and somewhat trivial the longer it ran and, by the way, it ran too long. TRDB. .

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) 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.

5/1/15- An exhaustive description of what actually happened during those last few days before the evacuation of our embassy in Saigon. Very well done and an important piece of work. TRDB. Netflix.

2) 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.

5/2/15- A unique story, well acted and very intense. TRDB. Netflix.

3) 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.

5/6/15- A good movie that tackles a sensitive topic with finesse. TRDB. Netflix.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 12-

1) 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.

2) BELOVED SISTERS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the late 18th century, sisters Charlotte and Caroline begin an unconventional romance with poet Friedrich Schiller, who cares deeply for them both. As their situation evolves, each sister finds her life altered in ways she never imagined possible.”

1/9/15- This film received very good reviews from the critics, the NY Times being an exception. Audiences did not care for it at all. TRDB.

3) THE SLEEPWALKER– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “As Kaia and her boyfriend work to restore her childhood home, they get an unexpected visit from her estranged sister, Christine, and her fiancé. And it doesn’t take long for recriminations old and new to enter the women’s lives as well.”

11/21/14- Mixed critical reviews and excellent audience reviews. TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) SAGRADA: THE MYSTERY OF CREATION– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “One of the most iconic structures ever built, Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia is a unique and fascinating architectural project conceived by controversial genius Antoni Gaudi in the late 19th century. ”

12/19/14- Weak reviews from critics as well as audiences. TRDB.

2) JUST BEFORE I GO– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Courteney Cox makes her directorial bow with this darkly comic feature about Ted Morgan, a man contemplating suicide — but not before revisiting his hometown. As he begins to attack his bucket list, he soon realizes he’s not the only one suffering.”

4/24/15- Terrible reviews by the professionals but audiences have liked it. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK–

1) DAYS OF GRACE- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set against the fervor of the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cup games, this drama presents three stories of violence and survival in Mexico City. Each is from a unique perspective, revealing the complex nature of crime in this troubled metropolis.”5/1/15- Fair reviews from both critics and audiences. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.

2) FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this period drama based on Thomas Hardy’s classic novel, winsome Bathsheba Everdene wins the hearts of three disparate men: sheep farmer Gabriel Oak, dashing soldier Frank Troy and William Boldwood, a moneyed older man.”

5/1/15- Very good reviews from critics and audiences alike. TRDB.

3) 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.

4) GERONTOPHILIA– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After 18-year-old Lake realizes that he’s attracted to much older men, he starts working at a senior citizens home, where he begins a tender romance with a former actor. But the lovers must hit the road when their affair causes consternation.”

5/1/15- Generally poor reviews but a few critics thought it was excellent. The NY Times did not like it. I might give this one a try. TRDB.

5) MARIE’S STORY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in 1885, this absorbing drama recounts the life of Marie Heurtin, who was born deaf and blind. Still uncommunicative at age 14, Maria is sent to an institute, where a dedicated nun slowly coaxes her into the world of human interaction.”

5/1/15- Very good reviews. The NY Times felt that the movie was too heavy on the relationships and not as interested in the teaching methods. We’ll see. TRDB.

6) RIDE- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Jackie’s free-spirited son swaps college for the breakers of California, she decides to follow him west, hoping to mend fences between them. Soon after arriving, Jackie meets a young surfing instructor who helps her rediscover her sexuality.”

5/1/15- Weak reviews but I like Helen Hunt and I think I’ll give this one a try. I won’t expect too much, however. TRDB.

7) WELCOME TO ME- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When mentally unstable Alice Klieg hits the lottery, she uses her winnings to produce and star in an off-the-wall talk show. Ignoring her illness and skipping her medication, she uses the spotlight to work through her deep-rooted pain.”

5/1/15- OK reviews from critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) CAS & DYLAN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “At 61, Dr. Cas Pepper is facing terminal cancer when he decides to give a lift to 22-year old Dylan, whose own unmoored life soon turns Cas’s world upside down. Soon, they’re both on the lam through the heartlands of Canada.”5/1/15- Poor critical review, most calling it tired and clichéd. Audiences have enjoyed it, however. TRDB.

2) HYENA– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After years of rubbing shoulders with London’s underworld, detective Michael Logan has made more than his share of shady deals. But this time, his maneuvering lands him in the crosshairs of his gangster confederates — and makes him a police target.”

5/1/15- OK reviews but the NY Times did not like it and from what I’ve read I don’t think I will either.

I’m going to skip it. TRDB.

3) NATURAL RESISTANCE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Reprising the theme of his 2004 documentary Mondovino, wine authority Jonathan Nossiter visits Italy’s vineyards to chronicle independent vintners’ efforts to resist regulatory and commercial pressures to modernize their production methods.”

5/1/15- I’ve seen just 1 review (from the NY Times) and it’s good. Sounds boring to me. TRDB.

4) REALITY- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “While working as a cameraman on an execrable cooking show, Jason pursues investors for a horror film he’s dying to direct. He finds a producer willing to fund the movie but with one proviso: Jason must first come up with the perfect cinematic groan.”

5/1/15- Good reviews for what sounds like a fairly stupid idea. TRDB.

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FLORIDA-

Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse

1) WELCOME TO ME– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When mentally unstable Alice Klieg hits the lottery, she uses her winnings to produce and star in an off-the-wall talk show. Ignoring her illness and skipping her medication, she uses the spotlight to work through her deep-rooted pain.”

5/1/15- OK reviews from critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) FELIX AND 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.

5/2/15- I enjoyed this movie whose main characters, while on the surface seemed very different, actually had more in common than first noted. TRDB.

 

MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH–

1) DANNY COLLINS– OK reviews. I don’t like Al Pacino

2) WOMAN IN GOLD– Everybody I know liked this movie despite weak reviews

3) 5 FLIGHTS UP- Reviews were more negative than positive but I did read an extensive review and I will recommend the movie.

4) THE AGE OF ADALINE– Fair reviews

5) FELIX & MEIRA- I enjoyed this movie very much

 

LIVING ROOM THEATER- In Boca

1) THE CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA– I saw this and liked it

2) GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANNE ANSELEM– I liked this movie very much

3) FELIX & MEIRA- I enjoyed this movie very much

4) WILD TALES– Very interesting, creative and I recommend seeing it

5) 24 DAYS– OK reviews by critics but audiences have not liked this movie at all

6)  IT FOLLOWS– Good professional reviews and OK audience reaction. It sounds scary and stalking and I will not see this one. Good luck!

7) 5 FLIGHTS UP- Reviews were more negative than positive but I did read an extensive review and I will recommend the movie.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND

NEW-

1) RIDE- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Jackie’s free-spirited son swaps college for the breakers of California, she decides to follow him west, hoping to mend fences between them. Soon after arriving, Jackie meets a young surfing instructor who helps her rediscover her sexuality.”

5/1/15- Weak reviews but I like Helen Hunt and I think I’ll give this one a try. I won’t expect too much, however. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this period drama based on Thomas Hardy’s classic novel, winsome Bathsheba Everdene wins the hearts of three disparate men: sheep farmer Gabriel Oak, dashing soldier Frank Troy and William Boldwood, a moneyed older man.”

5/1/15- Very good reviews from critics and audiences alike. TRDB.

2) IRIS– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “At 93, fashion legend Iris Apfel is clearly still at the top of her game — supervising the dress selections for a tour, advising models and negotiating with buyers — in this affectionate documentary by Albert Maysles, himself an octogenarian.”

4/29/15- Excellent reviews by all critics and by audiences as well. TRDB.

3) WELCOME TO ME– Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When mentally unstable Alice Klieg hits the lottery, she uses her winnings to produce and star in an off-the-wall talk show. Ignoring her illness and skipping her medication, she uses the spotlight to work through her deep-rooted pain.”

5/1/15- OK reviews from critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) DANNY COLLINS– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 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) WOMAN IN GOLD- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

3) FELIX & MEIRA– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

5/2/15- I enjoyed this movie whose main characters, while on the surface seemed very different, actually had more in common than first noted. TRDB.

4) CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA– Clearview 100. 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 make for an enjoyable viewing.

5) WHILE WE’RE YOUNG– Clearview 100. 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.

6) THE WATER DIVINER– Danbury. 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.

7) EX MACHINA– Danbury. 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.

5/5/15- Surely a clever idea with very good reviews but I thought it was formulaic and somewhat trivial the longer it ran and, by the way, it ran too long. TRDB.

8) MOMMY-Jacob Burns. May 8th. and 9th. only. 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.

5/2/15- A unique story, well acted and very intense. TRDB.

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB