The Reel Dr. Bob

OCTOBER 20, 2009

DEAR FRIENDS-

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE AT  thereeldrbob.com

I’ll be out of town for a few days and so this issue will be sent out a few days early and some of the films playing locally will not be included. I saw ONE new film at the-

THEATER-

1) A SERIOUS MAN- 2009. By Joel and Ethan Coen. A caricature of a man whose life seems to be falling apart. Problems with his wife (she’s leaving him for a friend of theirs), his kids, and also at work. He consults with various rabbis in a vain attempt to understand what life is all about and what God wants from him. I found the film way over the top, even for a caricature, and not very funny as all the “funny” parts were at someone’s expense. I think that the film will be offensive to many people, Jews AND non-Jews alike. 10/09

VIEWED AT HOME-

1) SAVE ME- 2007. Premise by Netflix. “Mark (Chad Allen) is a young gay man who’s hit rock bottom. Gayle (Judith Light) and her husband, Ted (Stephen Lang), welcome him to Genesis House, a Christian haven for men like Mark to get on the right path — the straight path. When Mark’s mentor, Scott (Robert Gant), becomes too intimate, Gayle and Ted must face some uncomfortable realities. Only Mark and Scott know where their future lives will take them beyond Genesis House.” I liked the movie and found it very believable. TRDB. Netflix. 10/09

2) THE PROPOSAL- 2009. Directed by Anne Fletcher. With Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Bullock plays a high powered big city editor and he her assistant. When she is threatened with deportation to Canada she coerces him to marry her so she can stay in the US. Perhaps I’m a sap but as trivial as this movie was at times, I laughed out loud a few times and I think it’s worth watching. Netflix. 10/09

3) VANAJA- 2006. India. Directed by Rajnesh Domalpalli and starring Mamatha Bhukya. About a very poor 15yr. old girl who goes to work as a servant to for a wealthy mistress. After she is raped and becomes pregnant by her patron’s son all of the relationships change. Very good acting, some good Burra Katha dancing but ultimately a story about the caste system. I liked the movie a lot. Netflix. 10/09

4) KILOMETRE ZERO- 2005. Directed by Hiner saleem and starring Nazmi Kirik. About a man who is taken from his family in Iraqi Kurdistan and forced to fight with the Iraqi army. He is selected to deliver the body of a fallen comrade to his family and he and a driver go on a surreal journey. Very good movie and certainly another profound anti-war film. 10/09

5) WHITE NIGHT WEDDING- 2008. The movie takes place in northern Iceland where it remains light all day in the summer. The story is about a couple about to be married where the man is much older than the woman and her parents are dead set against the union. The story is told with many flashbacks to his first marriage. An unusual cast of characters. I liked it. Netflix. 10/09

6) PARAISO TRAVEL- Directed by Simon Brand and starring Aldemar Correa. About a young man who leaves Colombia with his girl friend and comes to NY illegally. They are separated shortly after arrival and he must fend for himself for the first time. An excellent depiction of what it’s like traveling here illegally and what life is like for illegal immigrants in general. Good movie. Netflix Streaming. 10/09

________________________________________________________________________________________

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, OCT. 27-

1) MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY- Premise by Netflix. “Waking from a one-night stand that neither remembers, Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Joanne (Tracey Heggins) find themselves wandering the streets of San Francisco, sharing coffee and conversation and discovering that they share an unexpected deep connection. Barry Jenkins (nominated for a Best First Feature Independent Spirit Award) directs this poetic tale of love and sex that blends the elements of old-fashioned romance with the sensibilities of modern-day relationships.” Excellent reviews.

2) IL DIVO- Premise by Netflix. “Paolo Sorrentino directs this superbly entertaining docudrama about the colorful life and political career of Italy’s Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti and his party’s decades-long throttlehold on Italian politics. Highlighting accusations of mafia ties, Sorrentino pulls no punches as he lays any number of corruption scandals and even political assassinations at the politician’s feet, all with a sly sense of humor. Toni Servillo stars as Andreotti.” Great reviews.

3) JERICHOW- Premise by Netflix. “While in his hometown for his mother’s funeral, broke Afghan-Soviet war veteran Thomas (Benno Fürmann) winds up meeting and working for passionate Turk Ali (Hilmi Sözer), who needs a driver to help him keep tabs on his chain of snack bars. But when Thomas meets Ali’s gorgeous German wife (Nina Hoss) and the sparks fly, he enters a passionate affair with her that threatens his new livelihood and friendship with the perpetually jealous Ali.” Very good reviews.

4) AFTERWARDS- Premise by Netflix. “Hotshot New York attorney Nathan Del Amico (Romain Duris) is skeptical when the strange Doctor Kay (John Malkovich) claims that he can sense when someone is about to die — until inexplicable events cause Nathan to change his mind. Now believing that he sees signs of his own death, Del Amico takes the doctor’s advice and begins making amends with his ex-wife (Evangeline Lilly) before it’s too late. Gilles Bourdos directs this stylish thriller.” No reviews as yet.

5) WHATEVER WORKS- Premise by Netflix. “While falling for a young Southern belle (Evan Rachel Wood), an aging New York City eccentric (Larry David) finds himself caught in a series of bizarre situations involving the girl’s parents and his own Greenwich Village group of pals. Written and directed by legendary filmmaker Woody Allen, this romantic comedy also stars Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley Jr., Kristen Johnston, Michael McKean and Henry Cavill.” I saw this and did not find it funny at all. A bad one for Woody.

______________________________________________________________________________________

OPENING THIS WEEK-

1) UNTITLED- Premise by Zap2it. “Adrian is an avant-garde music composer whose poorly attended concerts contrast wildly with his brother Josh’s great success as a commercial artist. Adrian’s luck appears to change when Josh introduces him to Madeleine, an art dealer who sells Josh’s work. Adrian and Madeleine begin a torrid affair, but when Josh learns about the relationship and Madeleine stops exhibiting his artwork, the stage is set for a showdown between siblings.” Very few reviews but mixed so far. Sounds interesting to me.

2) AMELIA- Premise by Zap2it. “In the summer of 1937, famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart journeys into history in her attempt to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.” No early reviews.

3) KILLING KASZTZNER: THE JEW WHO DEALT WITH NAZIS- Premise by Zap2it. “Right-wing extremists murder a Budapest lawyer who negotiated with the Nazis to save the lives of more than 1,600 Jews during World War II.” I read only one review and it was very good.

4) THE WEDDING SONG- Premise by Zap2it. “The Nazi occupation of Tunisia strains the friendship between two women, one a Muslim and one Jewish, who are preparing for their upcoming marriages.” I found a single review and it was very good.

5) MOTHERHOOD- Premise by Zap2it. “A bitter New York mom faces unexpected challenges while preparing for her daughter’s birthday.” One review and it was poor.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth

1) YO HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- About the early TV show. Good reviews.

2) TETRO- Francis Ford Coppola’s first film based on his own original screenplay since “The Conversation” in 1974, “Tetro” is about the tensions within an Italian immigrant family living in Argentina. Vincent Gallo plays the title character, a writer; Alden Ehrenreich is his younger brother; Maribel Verdú is his girlfriend; Klaus Maria Brandauer is the formidable paterfamilas. Good reviews.

8)TYSON- Very good documentary.

5) CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY- Clearview 100, Jacob Burns. OK if you take Moore’s films as expose rather than documentary.