The Reel Dr. Bob

JULY 30, 2015

DEAR FRIENDS:

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

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) TANGERINES– Netflix

2) SOUTHPAW– At the Theater

3) IRRATIONAL MAN– At the Theater

4) SEVEN MINUTES IN HEAVEN- Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) SOUTHPAW– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his unique and brutally effective boxing style, Billy has become a rising star in the fighting word. But when his wife’s death sends the pugilist into a downward spiral, it will take a former boxer to intervene and remake Billy as a champion.”7/21/15- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

7/28/15- Despite the predictability of this movie and the familiar format I still enjoyed the film. The choreography of the boxing scenes was terrific. TRDB.

2) IRRATIONAL MAN– Synopsis by Netflix. “A middle-aged professor at a small Rhode Island college edges close to his breaking point, until he finds renewed purpose in his life after embarking on an unusual relationship with one of his students.”

7/14/15- As usual, Woody Allen’s reviews are all over the place– some very good and others horrible. More negative than positive but that won’t stop me from seeing it. TRDB.

7/29/15- I think that the critics have it in for Woody. While surely not one of his best I did very much enjoy the movie. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

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 as well. TRDB.

7/28/15- I enjoyed this Oscar nominated film from Estonia very much. Not to be confused with the film “Tangerine.” TRDB. Netflix.

2) SEVEN MINUTES IN HEAVEN– 2008. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A woman’s brush with death forces her to re-examine her past and present in this drama from Israel. Galia (Reymond Amsalem) was riding a city bus when a suicide bomber on board set off an explosive device. While Galia survived the bombing, she suffered severe burns and injuries and was declared clinically dead for seven minutes. While Galia’s body has been healing steadily, her mind is still struggling to make sense of what happened; she has no memory of the terrible day, and can only piece together nightmarish flashes of the chaotic events. Itzik (Benjamin Jagendorf) is a seminarian who was on hand to help the injured on the day of the explosion, and he attempts to counsel Galia, helping her put together the shards of her memory and explain his theory that the souls of people who have briefly been “dead” often have trouble reacquainting themselves after they’ve traveled outside the body. As Galia ponders these questions about her life and her spirit, she finds comfort in her new friendship with Boaz (Eldad Fribas). Sheva Dakot Be Gan Eden (aka Seven Minutes In Heaven) was the first feature film from director Omri Givon.”

No professional reviews available but audiences have liked it very much. There is an article on this film in the NY Times on Sunday, July 8, 2012. TRDB.

7/29/15- Very interesting and I liked it very much. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 4-

1) FAULTS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Desperate to free their daughter Claire from a cult, her parents hire deprogramming expert Ansel Roth, despite his checkered reputation. Roth kidnaps Claire and holds her captive in a motel room, but his real challenge has barely begun.”3/6/15- Generally good reviews from both critics and audiences with a few very negative ones thrown in as well. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) MADAME BOVARY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this faithful adaptation of Gustave Flaubert’s immortal novel, young Emma Bovary’s passions overwhelm her solemn vows of marriage when the dashing Marquis d’Andervilliers captivates her heart, ultimately leading her down the path to ruin.”6/12/15- Weak critical review and just OK audience reviews. TRDB.

2) A LITTLE CHAOS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When headstrong landscape designer Sabine De Barra is chosen to work on the gardens of King Louis XIV’s opulent new palace at Versailles, she finds herself at odds with the project’s famed chief architect — and thrust into a web of court intrigue.”

6/23/15- Weak reviews. TRDB.

3) 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.

4) JACKIE & RYAN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Happy to hop trains and entertain on street corners, musician Ryan Brenner rarely lights anywhere for long … until he meets erstwhile recording star Jackie Laurel in Ogden, Utah — a chance encounter that changes both their lives.”

7/3/15- Mediocre reviews at best from both critics and audiences. TRDB.

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MOVIES OPENING THIS COMING WEEK (7/31)- Partial List– the rest next week

1) BEST OF ENEMIES– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1968, two patrician intellectuals with opposite political views — William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal — participated in a series of televised debates that shocked America with their level of vitriol, as recounted in this riveting documentary.”7/29/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) THE END OF THE TOUR– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1996, “Rolling Stone” reporter David Lipsky accompanied acclaimed author David Foster Wallace on a five-day promotional tour, which is chronicled in this affecting drama that focuses on the bond they form through casual and profound discussions.”

7/29/15- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

3) I AM CHRIS FARLEY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Comedian Chris Farley’s public persona effectively disguised the inner demons that would lead to the star’s fatal drug overdose at age 33. This in-depth documentary offers a revealing look at the fragile soul behind the legendary funnyman’s image.”

7/29/15- Reviews are very early and mixed but I’ll put it on my “yes” list. TRDB.

4) THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When one of Nira’s kindergarten students reveals himself to be a gifted poet, she urges the 5-year-old to develop his talent. But as the young bard produces ever-more sublime verse, Nira’s relationship with him grows increasingly obsessive.”

7/29/15- Fairly good reviews from critics and audiences alike for this Israeli drama. TRDB.

5) THAT SUGAR FILM- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Damon Gameau experiments on himself in this documentary look at the ubiquitous presence of sugar in the typical diet of Americans. Under medical supervision, Gameau begins a 60-day, high-sugar regimen that produces disturbing results.”

7/29/15- OK reviews- the naysayers said that there was too little new material in the documentary. TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) JENNY’S WEDDING– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When lesbian Jenny Farrell makes the decision to marry and start a family, she faces one major complication: She’s never told her family that she’s gay. When the day finally arrives, Jenny isn’t the only who’s unsettled by the experience.”

7/29/15- Awful reviews. TRD.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW- Several new ones but only 1 that I’ll recommend:

1) THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Conducting a study on the psychology of incarceration, a Stanford professor assigns prisoner and guard roles to 24 male test subjects in a mock jail. Authority quickly escalates to abuse of power, which is allowed to continue in the name of research.”7/14/15- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) SAMBA- Clearview 100. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living in Paris illegally for nearly a decade, Senegalese refugee Samba suddenly finds himself in a detention center and on the verge of deportation. When immigration caseworker Alice steps in to help, the two are irresistibly drawn to each other.”7/24/15- Fair reviews at best but I plan on seeing it as I like the star Charlotte Gainsbourg very much. TRDB.

2) PHOENIX– Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a reconstructive facial operation, concentration-camp survivor Nelly Lenz tracks down her husband, Johnny, who believes she’s dead. Unrecognizable to Johnny, Nelly befriends him to find out whether he betrayed her to the Nazis.”

7/24/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) AMY– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though singer Amy Winehouse released only two albums during her brief and stormy career, she left an indelible mark on pop music. This affecting documentary recounts her meteoric rise to fame and the addictions that ended her life at age 27.”7/3/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/21/15- A well done documentary about a troubled jazz singer. Definitely worth seeing. TRDB.

2) THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Conducting a study on the psychology of incarceration, a Stanford professor assigns prisoner and guard roles to 24 male test subjects in a mock jail. Authority quickly escalates to abuse of power, which is allowed to continue in the name of research.”

7/14/15- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

3) IRRATIONAL MAN- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Synopsis by Netflix. “A middle-aged professor at a small Rhode Island college edges close to his breaking point, until he finds renewed purpose in his life after embarking on an unusual relationship with one of his students.”

7/14/15- As usual, Woody Allen’s reviews are all over the place– some very good and others horrible. More negative than positive but that won’t stop me from seeing it. TRDB.

4) MR. HOLMES– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk.  2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Long retired to a country farmhouse, 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes tends his apiary and reflects on his remarkable career. But the legendary sleuth, whose mental powers are fading, remains haunted by the unsolved case that caused him to call it quits.”

7/13/15- Mostly good reviews with some notable exceptions. TRDB.

5) SOUTHPAW– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his unique and brutally effective boxing style, Billy has become a rising star in the fighting word. But when his wife’s death sends the pugilist into a downward spiral, it will take a former boxer to intervene and remake Billy as a champion.”

7/21/15- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

7/28/15- Despite the predictability of this movie and the familiar format I still enjoyed the film. The choreography of the boxing scenes was terrific. TRDB.

6) LOVE & MERCY– Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This candid biopic traces the winding path of Brian Wilson, creator of the Beach Boys’ unique sound. Battling mental illness, Wilson traded stardom for an isolated existence in the 1960s but returned to the stage in the ’80s after taming his demons.”

6/2/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

6/9/15- I liked this movie very much. The acting and, of course, the music were great. TRDB.

7) TRAINWRECK– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Single and successful, Amy has no intention of settling down — or even going on a second date — until she meets the subject of her next magazine piece, a handsome doctor. Confronted with a real-life good guy, she begins to reconsider bachelorhood.”

7/14/15- Very good critical reviews. TRDB.

7/20/15- I really enjoyed this movie- funny and poignant. TRDB.

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FLORIDA-

BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH–

1) SOUTHPAW– I liked it

2) IRRATIONAL MAN– Not Woody’s best but I enjoyed it very much

3) MR. HOLMES– Mostly good reviews

4) TRAINWRECK- I enjoyed this movie

5) JIMMY’S HALL– Fairly good reviews

B) STONZEK THEATER–

1) AMY– I saw this documentary and liked it

2) TANGERINE– Very good reviews (not to be confused with the movie “Tangerines” that I saw this week

C) LIVING ROOM THEATER–

1) A BORROWED IDENTITY– Very good reviews for this movie

2) MR. HOLMES– Mostly good reviews

3) JIMMY’S HALL– Fairly good reviews by professionals and just OK ones from audiences

4) INFINITELY POLAR BEAR– I saw it and liked it very much

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB