FILM REVIEWS #307
December 31st, 2009
DEC. 31, 2009
DEAR FRIENDS:
I WILL BE LEADING A DISCUSSION OF THE FILM “THE MAID” ON THE AFTERNOON OF MONDAY, JAN. 18 AFTER THE LATE AFTERNOON (4PM) SHOWING AT THE EMERGING CINEMAS OF LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA ON LAKE AVE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN COME.
PLEASE TRY OUT MY NEW WEBSITE AT- thereeldrbob.com
I’ve seen several movies since last week, a few in the-
THEATER-
1) UP IN THE AIR- Premise by Netflix. “Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) racks up major miles flying around the country firing employees on behalf of companies. But he faces losing the job he savors to Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) — and losing the ability to escape emotional ties to anything. A connection he builds with Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), however, might change his outlook on the future. Jason Reitman‘s smart comedy also stars Jason Bateman as Bingham’s boss, Craig.
12/09- A good story with some funny but also some poignant moments and I liked it. Golden Globe- I don’t think so. TRDB.
2) BROKEN EMBRACES- Premise by Netflix. “Aging filmmaker Mateo Blanco (Lluís Homar) — aka screenwriter Harry Caine — tells his assistant (Tamar Novas) about life before the accident that left him blind, when he became embroiled in a torrid affair with aspiring actress Lena (Penélope Cruz). Harry’s story involves his agent, Judit (Blanca Portillo), and deceitful financier Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez). Pedro Almodovar writes and directs this colorful, romantic and tragic thriller.
12/09- Great story, great photography and great Cruz. Be ready for lots of conversation after it’s over. I highly recommend this movie. TRDB.
3) A SINGLE MAN- Premise by Netflix. “This stream-of-consciousness, 1960s-era drama centers on a day in the life of George Falconer (Colin Firth), an English-born, Los Angeles college professor reeling from the recent death of his lover of 16 years. Fashion designer Tom Ford makes his directorial debut with this luminous film, which is based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel. Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Ginnifer Goodwin, Lee Pace and Nicholas Hoult co-star.
12/09- Great acting and a great story and I liked it a lot. Very, Very sad! TRDB.
4) THE YOUNG VICTORIA- Premise by Netflix. “Eighteen-year-old British royal Victoria (Emily Blunt) ascends to the throne and is romanced by future husband Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) in this lush period film that chronicles the early years of the British monarch’s larger-than-life reign. Produced by Martin Scorsese and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, the film also stars Miranda Richardson as the Duchess of Kent, Jim Broadbent as King William and Paul Bettany as Lord Melbourne.”
12/09- The movie was interesting, informative with just enough suspense to keep me interested. I liked it. TRDB
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VIEWED AT HOME-
1) CHE- 2008. Starring Benicio Del Toro as the legendary guerilla fighter Che Guevara.
Very well done and I liked it. Netflix Streaming. 12/09
2) LE PETIT LIEUTENANT- 2006. Premise by Netflix. “Rookie detective Antoine Derouère (Jalil Lespert) accepts a position with Paris’s elite homicide division, where his first days as a new lieutenant are routine. But when the body of a drifter is found on the banks of the Seine, the entire squad is thrown into turmoil. Led by a recovering alcoholic unit commander (Nathalie Baye), Antoine and the seasoned investigative team unravel a case of shocking violence that will change their lives forever.”
Very interesting movie, really about his relationships with his job, his wife and his co-workers. Nathalie Baye is brilliant as usual, this time as a cop. Netflix Streaming. 12/09
3) INTO TEMPTATION- 2009. Written and directed by Patrick Coyle. Premise by Netflix. “After prostitute Linda (Kristin Chenoweth) confesses she’s going to kill herself on her birthday, jaded priest John Buerlein (Jeremy Sisto) becomes obsessed with saving the mysterious beauty. As he searches for her, he finds himself drawn into the seamy underbelly of the city. His quest has him haunting strip clubs and brothels, while he faces the doubts of his congregation and his mentor (Brian Baumgartner) in this gripping drama.”
Very good and touching movie despite a few Hollywood touches. Netflix Streaming. 12/09
4) ELECTRIC SHADOWS- Premise by Netflix. 2005. “Set in modern-day Beijing and 1970s Ningxia, director Xiao Jiang’s debut feature explores the power of movies in launching dreams and creating memories. After a bicycle collision leaves Mao Dabing (Xia Yu) with a lump on his head, he promises Ling Ling (Qi Zhongyang), the girl he hit, that he’ll care for her fish while she’s recuperating. When he stumbles across her diary, he learns the truth about her past — which rekindles his love of cinema.”
12/09- I found this to be a charming story and I liked it a lot. Netflix Streaming.
5) SEQUINS- Premise by Netflix. 2004. “After learning she’s five months pregnant, 17-year-old Claire (Lola Naymark) leaves her former life behind to give birth in anonymity. An excellent embroiderer, Claire finds work with a professional in the business, Madame Melikian (Ariane Ascaride). Both women bear a heavy burden — the Madame can’t cope with her son’s death, and Claire doesn’t want to have a child. As they pour themselves into the work they love, the two develop a strong bond.”
A very interesting story with character growth of all. TRDB. 12/09
6) BLACK GIRL- 1966. Premise by Netflix. “Working as a governess for a wealthy French family, a young Senegalese woman (Mbissine Therese Diop) accompanies her charges on a vacation to the French Riviera, where her white mistress (Anne-Marie Jelinek) suddenly expects her to do the work of a common maid. This racially charged drama from Senegalese writer-director Ousmane Sembene is often recognized as one of the seminal works of African cinema.”
Very good movie with obvious racial overtones, especially for 1966. I liked it a lot. TRDB. 12/09
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JAN. 5-
1) LORNA’S SILENCE- Premise by Netflix. “While saving up to open her own snack bar in the Belgian city of Liège, Albanian immigrant Lorna (Arta Dobroshi) is given a shot at citizenship when local mobster Fabio (Fabrizio Rongione) arranges a sham marriage to drug addict Claudy (Jérémie Renier). But when Fabio plots to kill Claudy, Lorna gets dragged into the mobster’s sordid plan in this gripping drama from the acclaimed Belgian directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.” I felt that this movie was just OK.
2) ADAM- Premise by Netflix. “When beautiful teacher Beth (Rose Byrne) moves into a nearby apartment, strangely awkward Adam (Hugh Dancy), who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, breaks through his limited social abilities and flirts with the young woman in this moving romance. Beth responds to Adam’s unusual courtship, and as they overcome the obstacles to intimacy, they learn how to face life’s other challenges. Max Mayer directs, while Peter Gallagher and Amy Irving co-star.” The movie was somewhat fluffy but I enjoyed it anyway. The acting was very good and the film stimulated conversation the entire car ride home.
3) LAILA’S BIRTHDAY- Premise by Netflix. “Caught up in a morass of red tape while trying to work in Palestine, judge Abu Laila (Mohammed Bakri) resorts to driving a taxi to make a living. On his daughter Laila’s seventh birthday, his only goal is to get home early with a present and a cake. But he’s confronted with numerous difficulties as he navigates passengers through the occupied territory. Filmmaker Rashid Masharawi grew up in the Gaza Strip’s Shati refugee camp.” I saw this film last summer at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival and LOVED it. Highly recommended.
4) TRUCKER- Premise by Netflix. “Self-involved trucker Diane (Michelle Monaghan) contends with more than she thinks she wants to when her ex (Benjamin Bratt) is laid up in the hospital, forcing their 11-year-old son, Peter (Jimmy Bennett), to suddenly show up in her life — and need her. James Mottern writes and directs this unconventional take on motherhood, estrangement and family; Joey Lauren Adams, Mika Boorem and Franklin Dennis Jones co-star.” I got to speak both before and after this movie when it was shown in November in Florida. I loved the movie and I think you will as well. See it.
5) 50 DEAD MEN WALKING- Premise by Netflix. “Belfast hood Martin (Jim Sturgess) is recruited by a British agent (Ben Kingsley) to infiltrate the IRA during the height of the Northern Irish conflict and quickly becomes embroiled in a dangerous game that could cost him his life if his secret is found out. As other informers are brutally murdered, Martin starts to look for a way out, but his handler urges him to stay undercover in this taut political thriller based on a true story.” I haven’t seen this but it has received good reviews and I plan to.
6) LOREN CASS- Premise by Netflix. “Set in the wake of the 1996 race riots in St. Petersburg, Fla. — which erupted when a white cop killed a black motorist during a traffic stop — this episodic drama follows three rudderless adolescents trying to make sense of their world. Amid a landscape churning with intolerance and violence, punk rocker Jason (Travis Maynard), auto mechanic Cale (Lewis Brogan) and promiscuous waitress Nicole (Kayla Tabish) connect — and disconnect.” Sounds interesting and I plan to see it.
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OPENING THIS WEEK-
1) THE LOSS OF A TEARDROP DIAMOND- Premise by Zap2it. “Romance, jealousy and suspicion come into play after a rebellious heiress loses a costly earring while in the company of a man she hired to escort her to a party.” Good reviews.
2) THE WHITE RIBBON- Premise by Zap2it. “An undercurrent of malice runs through a German village as a series of misfortunes plagues its citizens in the year prior to the outbreak of World War I.” Sounds interesting. I am seeing this in Palm Springs next week.
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FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth.
1) END GAME- About the toppling of the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Good reviews.
2) PARIS- A film about a person’s love affair with the city. Good reviews.
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) (500) DAYS OF SUMMER- A romance about a woman not interested in a permanent relationship and the guy who falls for her. Cute story with very creative writing and I enjoyed it. TRDB. Available on Netflix.
2) THE COVE- A documentary about mass capture and killing of dolphins in a protected cove in Taijii, Japan. Very well done and with great cinematography. Available on Netflix.
3) POLICE, ADJECTIVE- Premise by Netflix. “Undercover cop Cristi (Dragos Bucur) trails suspected pot dealer Victor (Radu Costin) through the decrepit streets of Vasliu, but when he learns that the suspect is just a teen who sometimes gets high with his pals, he refuses to make an arrest. Unfortunately, Cristi’s boss (Ioan Stoica) isn’t quite as forgiving. The Romanian New Wave rolls on strongly with this complex drama from writer-director Corneliu Porumboiu. I haven’t seen this yet but I plan to see it today.
REPEATS-
1) A WOMAN IN BERLIN- Based on a true story, it’s about how one woman from Berlin survives the rapes by the occupying Russian soldiers. Very good and I recommend it.
2) SUGAR- About a young Dominican man who is being groomed for a career in baseball at a Dominican baseball academy. Very good and I recommend it.
3) AWAY WE GO- Interesting premise and OK film. On Netflix.
4) BALLAST- A good movie about the south. On Netflix also.
5) EVERY LITTLE STEP- About the auditioning process for the return of “A Chorus Line.” Great documentary. Available on Netflix also.
6) FOOD, INC.- Good documentary. About the food we eat and in particular, the corporate aspect of food development. Very good documentary. On Netflix also.
7) I’LL COME RUNNING- About a man who has a one night stand in Austin, Texas and is then visited by the woman after he has gone back to Europe. I saw this and liked it a lot. Very good reviews also.
8)JULIE AND JULIA- Two parallel stories. One about Julia Child and the other about a young woman trying to find herself and finds Julia Child. I liked the movie.
9) MAMMOTH- Story about a man, his wife, and their Filipino nanny. Good reviews but I haven’t seen it yet.
10) THE MERRY GENTLEMAN- About a woman running from an abusive husband. I liked this one a lot. On Netflix too.
11) UNCERTAINTY- About a young couple who are trying to decide where to spend July 4th. The movie simultaneously follow them after two different decisions. Like “Sliding Doors” and others but unique in it’s own way, very well done and I liked it.
Cablevision Link– 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) INVICTUS- Bethel, Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. About Nelson Mandela. I saw this and was the only one of my group who did not like it.
2) UP IN THE AIR- Bethel, Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne. I saw this and liked it. See “above.”
3) IT’S COMPLICATED- Bethel, Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne. Good reviews. Called “cute.” Meryl Streep’s performance has been talked about.
4) THE YOUNG VICTORIA- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Clearview 100. Very good reviews.
5) BROTHERS- Danbury. About two brothers. When one is missing in action the other takes over his roles and when he returns their lives are turned upside down. I liked this one very much and highly recommend it.
6) BROKEN EMBRACES- Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Clearview 100. I liked it. See “above.”
7) AN EDUCATION- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. About a young girl who is swept off her feet by an older man. I saw this and liked it although some friends felt that it was an anti-Semitic story.
8)ME AND ORSON WELLES- Garden Cinema Norwalk. About a guy who lands a job with the legend. Very good reviews and I plan to see it soon.
9) A SINGLE MAN- Jacob Burns. See “above.” I liked it.
For independent movies near you go to- http://www.emergingpictures.com/exhibition.htm
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
Entry Filed under: All Reviews,Old Newsletters
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