October 28th, 2009
OCTOBER 28, 2009
DEAR FRIENDS-
PLEASE CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE AT thereeldrbob.com
I was in Florida for 4 days and managed to see 3 movies that I’ve been looking for, all in our town of Lake Worth.
1) SERAPHINE- 2009. Directed by Martin Provost and starring Yolande Moreau and Ulrich Tukur. The artist Seraphine Louis is working as a maid at a guest home when her painting is discovered by the German art critic Wilhelm Unde who then takes her under his wing. Good movie but not great as some had said as I found it a bit too slow. 10/09
2) LORNA’S SILENCE- Directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and starring Arta Dobroshi. About a woman from Albania who has just become a Belgian citizen and has married a junky in a sham marriage in order to raise money for a dream of hers. I felt that the movie was just OK. 10/09
3) CLOUD 9- 2008. Germany. Directed by Andreas Dresen and starring Steffi Kuhnert and Horst Rehbert. Sixty year old Inge begins an affair with a much older man and insists on telling her long time lover (30 years) about it. Lots of very naked geriatric sex, certainly a new frontier for the cinema. Very good. 10/09
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VIEWED AT HOME-
1)
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. TRDB.
**** I just saw this one and here’s what I said- ” One critic said that the movie should come with a set of Cliff Notes to explain what was going on in Italy at the time and I AGREE. I turned it off halfway.” TRDB. Netflix Streaming. 10/09
2) 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. TRDB.
**** I just saw this remake of “The Postman Always Rings Twice” and l liked the movie yet one more time. Netflix Streaming. 10/09 TRDB
3) DON’T LOOK DOWN– 2008. Argentina. Directed by Eliseo Subiela (Man Facing Southeast) and starring Antonella Costa and Leandro Stivelman. A young man meets a somewhat older woman by accident when he sleepwalks and literally falls into her bed. She educates him in the ways of love and sex through spirituality. I liked the movie. Netflix. 10/09
4) SHOW ME LOVE– 1998. Premise by Netflix. “Elin (Alexandra Dahlstrom) and Agnes (Rebecka Liljeberg) are social opposites. While Elin is gorgeous, lively and wildly popular at school, Agnes is sullen, lonely and rejected as a nerdy lesbian. But when Agnes develops a crush on Elin, the exploration of love between them alleviates Elin’s perpetual boredom. This Swedish award-winner reflects the joy and pain of relationships, the insecurity of youth and the courage it takes to be different.”
Here’s my review- SHOW ME LOVE- 1998. Sweden. Directed by Lukas Moodysson and starring Alexandra Dahlstrom and Rebecca Liljeberg. About two teenage girls in Sweden dealing with sexual feelings, fitting in with peers, and their feelings for each other. Very good depiction of teen angst in general, Swedish or otherwise. Netflix Streaming. 10/09
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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, NOV. 3-
1)
LEMON TREE– Premise by Netflix. “A Palestinian widow (
Hiam Abbass) fights to keep her lemon grove from being uprooted when Israeli security forces declare it a threat to the Israeli defense minister living next door (
Doron Tavory) in this foreign-language drama based on a true story. Teaming with a young lawyer (
Ali Suliman), the widow takes her case to the Israeli Supreme Court. But in the process of seeking justice, she’s forced to hide the forbidden bond growing between them.”
I saw this movie a few months ago and would recommend it highly.
2)
THE ENGLISH SURGEON– Premise by Netflix. “Get acquainted with the work of British brain surgeon
Henry Marsh, who, since his haunting first visit to a Russian hospital in the early 1990’s, has been devoted to founding a quality brain surgery clinic in the former Soviet Union. Marsh cobbles together secondhand tools and used equipment from hospitals in the U.K. to treat patients in need, such as Marian, a Ukrainian man for whom Marsh is his greatest hope.”
Excellent reviews for this documentary.
3)
UNMISTAKEN CHILD– Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker
Nati Baratz follows the spellbinding journey of Tibetan Buddhist monk
Tenzin Zopa as he travels far and wide to identify the child who is the reincarnation of his deceased master, Lama Konchog. Acting on instructions from the Dalai Lama, the shy Zopa relies on astrology, dreams and other signs to locate the child, knowing that if he succeeds, he must also convince the boy’s parents to release their child into his care.”
Very good reviews and highly recommended.
4)
WHERE GOD LEFT HIS SHOES– Premise by Netflix. “A tight-knit family is forced onto the streets of New York City and into a homeless shelter in this heartfelt Tribeca Film Festival selection from director
Salvatore Stabile. With Christmas Eve fast approaching, an ex-boxer (
John Leguizamo) is buoyed by the prospect of moving his wife (
Leonor Varela) and two children (
David Castro and
Samantha M. Rose) into the relative warmth of a nearby housing project. But first, he’ll need a miracle.”
Very good reviews.
5)
FOOD, INC.- Premise by Netflix. “Drawing on
Eric Schlosser‘s
Fast Food Nation and
Michael Pollan‘s
The Omnivore’s Dilemma, director
Robert Kenner‘s documentary explores the food industry’s detrimental effects on our health and environment. Kenner spotlights the men and women who are working to reform an industry rife with monopolies, questionable interpretations of laws and subsidies, political ties and rising rates of
E. coli outbreaks.”
Good documentary for anybody who eats.
6)
THE ANSWER MAN– Premise by Netflix. “He wants to be left alone, but Arlen Faber (
Jeff Daniels), author of a best-selling book about spirituality, finds himself harassed by single mom Elizabeth (
Lauren Graham) and recovering addict Kris (
Lou Taylor Pucci), who think Arlen can solve their problems. Arlen knows he has no real answers, but as he and Elizabeth fall in love, they all discover hope in unexpected places.
John Hindman directs this romantic drama.”
This film got generally POOR reviews BUT a few very good ones.
7)
PARAISO TRAVEL– Premise by Netflix. “After a long journey from Colombia to a new life in New York City, Marlon (
Aldemar Correa) is separated from his beloved, Reina (
Angelica Blandon), and must fend for his own in the dangerous streets of Queens, where he gets a menial job in a restaurant. While flashbacks reveal details of the couple’s trek to America, Marlon starts to fall for an aspiring singer (
Margarita Rosa de Francisco) in this gripping drama that also stars
John Leguizamo.”
I saw this last week on Netflix Streaming and liked it very much._____________________________________________________________________________________
OPENING NEXT WEEK-
1) LOOKING FOR PALLADIN– Premise by RottenTomatoes. Josh Ross (David Moscow), a self-absorbed Hollywood talent agent in his 30s, lands in Guatemala, “looking for Palladin,” Jack “Jake” Palladin (Ben Gazzara), a two-time Oscar-winning movie star of the 1960s and 70s who has dropped out of the entertainment business. No specific reviews yet but I’ve heard through the grapevine that it’s good.
2) STORM– Premise by RottenTomatoes- ” Hannah Maynard, prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, is leading a trial against a former commander of the Yugoslavian National Army who is accused of the deportation and later killing of dozens of Bosnian-Muslim civilians. When a key witness commits suicide, it looks like the case will unravel, however Hannah refuses to give in.” I saw 2 reviews, one up and one down. The down one said it was too self righteous.
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FLORIDA- at the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth-
1) BIG FAN- Premise by Netflix. “Parking attendant and New York Giants fanatic Paul Aufiero (Patton Oswalt) must reexamine his life after he’s beaten up by his favorite player in this comedy written and directed by Robert D. Siegel, a former editor-in-chief of “fake news” paper The Onion. Also starring Kevin Corrigan as Sal, Michael Rapaport as Philadelphia Phil and Marcia Jean Kurtz as Theresa, the film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.” I’d see this if I was in Florida.
2) FRANKENSTEIN- The original from 1931.
3) THE INVISIBLE MAN- Original from 1933.
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW ADDITIONS-
1) RUDO Y CURSI– About 2 brothers who come from rural Mexico and aspire to be professional soccer players. Good movie and definitely worth seeing. On Netflix also.
2) THE 25th. HOUR– Starring Edward Norton, I saw this a few years ago and LOVED the film. Norton is due to go to prison in one day and the film is about his life in the last day. See This! On Netflix also.
3) DISENGAGEMENT– About an Israeli officer who is in charge of the mission to remove the last Israeli settlers from Gaza, Israel. Juliette Binoche plays his sister and they travel together to Avignon when their father dies. I saw this at the Palm Springs Film Festival in Jan. ’08 and liked it very much and highly recommend it.
REPEATS- MOST OF THESE ON NETFLIX ALSO
1) FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN
2) AMERICAN VIOLET
3) AWAY WE GO-
4) LYMELIFE-
5) PARIS
6) TYSON-
7) IN THE LOOP
8)GOODBYE SOLO- Ends 10/30
9) JULIA
10) UNMISTAKEN CHILD- Will be on Netflix on 11/3
Cablevision Link-
The Reel Dr. Bob
http://www.optimum.net/VOD/movies?cat=Movies+On+Demand%2FIndependent+Films%2FIFC+In+Theaters.
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-
1) A SERIOUS MAN- Bethel, Clearview 100, Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I saw this and did not like it.
2) COCO BEFORE CHANEL- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Good reviews.
3) TRUCKER- Bethel. About a woman whose 11yr. old son shows up to live with her. Good reviews.
4) CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. An expose and not very subtle.
5) NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU- Clearview 100. Still around for a reason- lots of people have liked this.
6) (UNTITLED)- Jacob Burns. Sounds like an interesting love triangle and received good reviews.
7) THE MAID- Jacob Burns. Good reviews.
USE THIS LINK TO SEE WHICH INDEPENDENT FILMS ARE PLAYING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
http://www.emergingpictures.com/exhibition.htm
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters
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