The Reel Dr. Bob

MARCH 24, 2011

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

PLEASE ACCESS MY WEBSITE AT www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) DEPARTURES- Netflix

 

2) OF GODS AND MEN- Theater

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) OF GODS AND MEN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Awarded Grand Prix honors at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, this compelling historical drama relates the ordeal of seven French Trappist monks in the mountains of Algeria who are taken captive by Islamic fundamentalists. Before the monks’ abduction, they have ample reason to believe they may be in danger, but their assumption that there can and must be common ground between Islam and Christianity leads them to remain at the monastery.” Great reviews. Opens in NY on 2/25/11.3/11- Very well done and well acted but a bit too long and definitely not for a general audience. TRDB. At the theater.

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) INSIDE JOB- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Uncover the root of the 2008 global economic crisis with this documentary that combines extensive research, convincing interviews and cogent arguments to single out a rogue industry that’s tainted every sector of the financial system. Narrated by actor Matt Damon, this complex yet comprehensible film — an Official Selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival — features discussions with influential politicians, academics and journalists.” Great reviews and a nominee for Best Picture for 2010.3/11- A well done documentary but I’ve seen it all before and got bored pretty quickly. TRDB. Netflix.

2) KITES- Premise by Netflix. “Although Mexican bombshell Natasha (Barbara Mori) and Indian hunk Jay (Hrithik Roshan) don’t speak the same language, they quickly develop an intense, mutual attraction. But after they brazenly run off together, the sexy couple encounters severe danger and trouble with the law. Anurag Basudirects and co-writes this big budget Bollywood action movie that was filmed on location in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Santa Fe.” Reviews are more positive than negative. TRDB.

3/11- Yet another Bollywood with exaggerated credentials. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.

3) FOUR LIONS- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Comedy writer Christopher Morris makes his feature directorial debut with this outrageous comedy about a group of young Islamic Brits who fancy themselves bloodthirsty jihadis of the first order. Co-written with Simon Blackwell, the film showcases Morris’s satirical talents at their vicious best in a scathingly hilarious indictment of true believers and the social systems that create them. Viewers took note and bestowed it the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the L.A. Film Festival.” Very good reviews.

3/11- Good reviews but I had trouble understanding the “English” and was of no interest to me. TRDB. Netflix.

 4) DEPARTURES- (OKURIBITO)- 2008. Directed by Yojiro Takita and starring Masahiro Motoki. A Japanese film about an unemployed cellist who trains (without his new wife’s knowledge) as a Nakanshi, someone who prepares the dead for burial. Great acting, great story and a great movie. This film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film of 2008. A MUST SEE!  I saw this originally at the Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival in 9/09 and just saw it for the 2nd time and again loved it. TRDB. Private Copy.

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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, MARCH 29-

 

1) FAIR GAME- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson (Sean Penn), writes op-ed columns accusing the Bush administration of misleading the public to justify invading Iraq, Valerie Plame Wilson’s (Naomi Watts) status as a covert CIA agent is leaked by administration officials. Based on events described in Plame Wilson’s memoir, this drama explores the political scandal that led to the conviction of Lewis “Scooter” Libby.” Fair review in NY Times on 11/5/10.11/10- This movie was very well done and packed a wallop. I liked it a lot. TRDB.

2) THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “When a man who seemingly has everything takes his own life, the question on everyone’s mind is, why? This drama penned and helmed by Mia Hansen-Løve explores that quandary by recounting the weeks before and after a film producer’s suicide. With an adoring family, a job that fulfills him completely and a charismatic bearing that masks all woes, producer Grégoire Canvel appears at the top of his game. But underneath the surface, trouble is brewing.” Very good review in NY Times.

6/10- A sad drama about a loving family and the grief process. Very well done and I liked it. TRDB.

3) ONE WEEK- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Joshua Jackson stars in this bittersweet odyssey as Ben, a young man who’s just received news of his terminal illness. Leaving his perplexed fiancée, Samantha (Liane Balaban), Ben buys a 1973 Norton motorcycle and heads for the Pacific. His journey takes him through nature, introduces him to interesting fellow travelers, brings him unexpected romance and begins to put his impending fate in perspective.” Mixed reviews.

9/10- I saw most of this movie (tuned in late) and thought it was OK. TRDB.

4) 127 HOURS- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) re-teams with writer Simon Beaufoy and producer Christian Colson to tell the harrowing story of real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco), who literally cut himself loose from danger — and lived to tell about it. When sliding rock pinned his right forearm under a boulder during a climb in the Utah mountains, Ralston resorted to his basest survival instincts to stay alive.” Very good reviews. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. TRDB.

5) COOL IT- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “A provocative voice vilified by pundits on both ends of the political spectrum, Bjørn Lomborg (author of The Skeptical Environmentalist) challenges prevailing ideas on climate change and explores scientific and technological advances that may help avert a global warming crisis. Directed by Ondi Timoner, the film gives Lomborg a platform to scrutinize a number of claims made by Al Gore in An Inconvenient Truth.” OK review in NY Times on 11/12/10.

6) MADE IN DAGENHAM- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Sally Hawkins stars in this cheeky dramatization of the landmark 1968 labor strike initiated by hundreds of women who rebelled against discrimination and demanded the same pay as men for their work in a London automobile manufacturing plant. During one march, a banner that reads “We Want Sexual Equality” inadvertently becomes shortened to “We Want Sex.” Nigel Cole directs this film that co-stars Miranda Richardson and Richard Schiff.” Very good professional reviews but not from audiences so far.

7) LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Pharmaceutical representative Jamie Reidy (Jake Gyllenhaal) becomes a player in the big game of male-performance-enhancement-drug sales and, along the way, finds unexpected romance with a woman (Anne Hathaway) suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Based on the real-life Jamie Reidy’s memoir, Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman, this satirical look inside the culture of Big Pharm is directed by Edward Zwick.” Fair reviews at best.

8)BURLESQUE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After club owner Tess (Cher) hires her to wait tables in an old-school Los Angeles burlesque joint, starry-eyed Ali (Christina Aguilera) sets her sights on taking the stage and blowing patrons away with her soaring voice. But she faces a lot of resistance. Ali’s hot performances have other performers seething with jealousy. Steve Antin directs this drama that co-stars Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, Peter Gallagher and Kristen Bell.” Fair reviews by professionals but good audience reaction. TRDB.

9) ALL GOOD THINGS- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When David Marks (Ryan Gosling), the heir to a New York real estate fortune, gets entangled in the mystery of Katie McCarthy’s (Kirsten Dunst) disappearance, he risks everything in this drama set in the 1980s and inspired by the true story of real estate scion Robert Durst. While unexpected evidence turns up and increases political heat, people with ties to the case begin to die. Andrew Jarecki (“Felicity”) directs.” Generally poor reviews.

10) TOPSY-TURVY (1999)- Premise by Netflix. “After their production of “Princess Ida” tanks, Arthur Gilbert (Allan Corduner) and William Sullivan (Jim Broadbent) start a cold war that threatens to end their long-lasting partnership — but friends and associates work overtime to bring them back together. The result is their classic play “The Mikado.” Mike Leigh’s thoughtful musical comedy-drama garnered four Academy Award nominations and won for costume design and makeup.” Very good reviews.TRDB.

11) THE SWIMSUIT ISSUE- Premise by Netflix. “Unfortunately for the guys on Sweden’s only all-male synchronized swim team, a passion for their sport does not necessarily equal a proficiency in it. But that’s not going to stop them in their quest for gold in this comedy from Mans Herngren. Determined to prove naysayers wrong, the middle-aged mermen work first to improve their swimming and then synchronize it as they fervently pursue their ultimate goal — the world championship.” Weak reviews. TRDB.
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MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEK NATIONALLY, REGIONALLY OR LOCALLY-

 

1) ILLEGAL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Olivier Masset-Depasse directs this drama that follows the story of Tania (Anne Coesens) and her teenage son, Ivan (Alexandre Gontcharov), Russian immigrants who are in Belgium illegally. Tania lives in fear of being found out — and one day, her worst nightmare becomes a reality. During a routine police check, Tania is apprehended — but she refuses to accept the fact that she’ll be deported and separated from her son.” Reviews not so good so far but it did sound interesting. TRDB.

 

2) MY PERESTROIKA- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “An intimate look at five longtime friends who grew up shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, this documentary sheds light on how Russians have adapted to post-Soviet society and their nation’s continually shifting political landscape. Interweaving decades-old home movie footage with captivating tales of contemporary life, director Robin Hessman’s enlightening movie illustrates the stark contrast between Moscow then and now.” Good review in NY Times on 3/22/11. TRDB.

 

3) MIRAL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After she rescues dozens children who survived a massacre in Jerusalem in 1948, Palestinian Hind Husseini (Hiam Abbass) establishes an orphanage that helps thousands of other children left homeless by violence. But the success of her peace-through-education institution is tested when pupil Miral (Freida Pinto) gets a taste of radical politics in the region’s refugee camps. Julian Schnabel directs this film that co-stars Willem Dafoe.” Uniformly poor reviews and the film has been controversial. TRDB.

 

4) PEEP WORLD- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “When four siblings gather to celebrate their father’s 70th birthday, the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan because one of them has penned a novel populated by characters who strongly resemble his nearest and dearest. How will this dysfunctional family keep it together after everyone has seemingly been hung out to dry? Barry W. Blaustein’s ensemble-cast comedy stars Rainn Wilson, Ron Rifkin, Michael C. Hall and Sarah Silverman.” No reviews as yet. TRDB.

 

5) POTICHE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Director François Ozon spins a deft social comedy of the French bourgeoisie starring some of that country’s most celebrated actors, including Gérard Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve and Fabrice Luchini. After Suzanne Pujol’s (Deneuve) husband has a heart attack, she must take charge of the umbrella factory he manages. The resulting clashes between the genteel Suzanne and the Marxist union boss (Depardieu) generate plenty of riotous class conflict.” Winner at 2011 Palm Springs Film Festival.

 

6) WHITE IRISH DRINKERS- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In a blue-collar Irish section of 1970s Brooklyn, brothers Danny (Geoff Wigdor) and Brian Leary (Nick Thurston) come of age in a family dominated by their longshoreman father, Patrick (Stephen Lang), whose hard-drinking leaves them scrambling for a way out. As delinquent Danny and dejected mom Margaret (Karen Allen) take the brunt of Patrick’s assaults, aspiring artist Brian hides his dreams. But desperate acts will threaten them all.” A few reviews and they’re OK. TRDB.

 

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FLORIDA- At The Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theatre

MARCH 28–31-

 

1) MAKING THE BOYS- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Revered by some for breaking new ground and reviled by others for reinforcing stereotypes, The Boys in the Band was the first gay-themed film to reach a mainstream audience. This documentary paints a vivid picture of how it got there. Through interviews with Tony Kushner, Edward Albee and more — plus wonderful period footage of Hollywood’s gay past (think Roddy MacDowell and Sal Mineo) — the film reveals The Boys in the Band’s enduring legacy.” Very good reviews. TRDB. Good review in NY Times on 3/11/11.

 

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) ILLEGAL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Olivier Masset-Depasse directs this drama that follows the story of Tania (Anne Coesens) and her teenage son, Ivan (Alexandre Gontcharov), Russian immigrants who are in Belgium illegally. Tania lives in fear of being found out — and one day, her worst nightmare becomes a reality. During a routine police check, Tania is apprehended — but she refuses to accept the fact that she’ll be deported and separated from her son.” Reviews not so good so far but it did sound interesting. TRDB.

 

2) THE FIGHTER- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Mark Wahlberg stars as boxer “Irish” Mickey Ward and Christian Bale as half brother and trainer Dicky Eklund in this inspiring drama based on the fighter’s rise from working-class Lowell, Mass., to world-class welterweight champion. After a string of defeats, Mickey rediscovers his fighting will with support from Dicky, himself a once talented fighter now battling drug addiction. Together, they aim to clinch boxing glory.” Very good reviews. Good review in NY Times on 12/9/10. 12/10- Very realistic portrayal of the family relationships and the conflicts involved. I liked it. TRDB.

 

 

Cablevision Link– http://www.optimum.net/VOD/movies?cat=Movies+On+Demand%2FIndependent+Films%2FIFC+In+Theaters

 

DirecTV- www.directv.com/DTVAPP/listing/ppvMovies.jsp

 

Time Warner Link- www.twondemand.com

 

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

 

NEW-

 

1) JANE EYRE- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “Driven from her post at Thornfield House by her brooding employer Edward Rochester’s (Michael Fassbender) impenetrable personality, young governess Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska) takes time to reflect on her childhood and the events that led her to the misty moors. Little does she know that Rochester’s mood is largely due to a dark secret. Judi Dench, Jamie Bell and Sally Hawkins co-star in this artful adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) CERTIFIED COPY- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Renowned Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami serves up an elegant rumination about art and love in this story about British writer James Miller (William Shimell), who meets an art dealer named Elle (Juliette Binoche) in Tuscany and begins — or possibly continues — a romance with her. As James and Elle wander through a small town, their playful conversations reveal an intimacy that leads locals to suspect that they are actually longtime spouses.” Some good reviews and some bad ones as well. TRDB. Good review in NY Times on 3/11/11.

 

2) THE KING’S SPEECH- Bethel, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Tom Hooper directs this drama based on the true story of Britain’s King George VI (Colin Firth), a man who for years struggled with a nervous disposition and an embarrassing stutter — until he seeks help from unorthodox Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Logue’s pioneering treatment and unlikely friendship give the royal leader a sense of confidence that serves him and his country well during the dark days of World War II. Very good reviews.

 

3) OF GODS AND MEN- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Awarded Grand Prix honors at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, this compelling historical drama relates the ordeal of seven French Trappist monks in the mountains of Algeria who are taken captive by Islamic fundamentalists. Before the monks’ abduction, they have ample reason to believe they may be in danger, but their assumption that there can and must be common ground between Islam and Christianity leads them to remain at the monastery.” Great reviews. Opens in NY on 2/25/11.

 

4) CEDAR RAPIDS- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. Premise by Netflix. “Terrified of leaving his tiny town for the first time, sheltered insurance salesman Tim (Ed Helms) nervously sets out for the bright lights of bustling Cedar Rapids, where he attends a chaotic insurance convention and learns how to survive in the real world. Miguel Arteta directs this delightful fish-out-of-water comedy that also features Sigourney Weaver, Rob Corddry, John C. Reilly and Anne Heche.” Excellent reviews.

 

5) THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “A congressman (Matt Damon) who’s a rising star on the political scene finds himself entranced by a beautiful ballerina (Emily Blunt), but mysterious circumstances ensure that their love affair is predestined to be a non-starter. Screenwriter George Nolfi (The Bourne Ultimatum) makes his directorial debut with this romantic adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s classic sci-fi short story “Adjustment Team.” Fair to poor professional reviews. TRDB.

 

6) BARNEY’S VERSION- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti stars as Barney Panofsky, a Jewish Canadian television producer who reflects in flashbacks on three strange decades — and three wives — in this adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s acclaimed novel. There’s Clara (Rachelle Lefevre), a free-spirited proponent of free love; “Mrs. P” (Minnie Driver), a self-centered princess; and Miriam (Rosamund Pike), the right woman who comes along at the wrong time.” Good reviews.2/11- Great acting and a magnificent screenplay make this a terrific movie. Highly recommended. TRDB.

7) THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED- Jacob Burns. Clearview 100.  Premise by Netflix. “Nearly 20 years after Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci) ran away from home, his father, Henry Sawyer (J.K. Simmons), and mother, Helen (Cara Seymour), discover that the no longer young man is now living in a hospital due to a brain tumor that blocks him from recording fresh memories. Desperate to connect with his son, Henry soon realizes that the best way to do so is through music — specifically the classic rock tunes Gabe loves and he despises.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

8)THE LINCOLN LAWYER- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Premise by Netflix. “Matthew McConaughey stars in the big-screen adaptation of Michael Connelly’s best-selling novel about struggling lawyer Mickey Haller, who conducts business from his Lincoln Town Car. When Mickey finally lands a big case, it has deadly consequences. Tasked with defending rich lothario Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), who’s been charged with assault, Mickey finds himself and his family in danger when he deduces that the sinister Louis may be guilty.” Good review from NY Times on 3/18/11 and fairly good reviews in general. TRDB.

  

For Independent Films in Your Neighborhood go to- www.emergingpictures.com 

 

For all films go to- www.fandango.com