The Reel Dr. Bob

APRIL 28, 2011

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) POTICHE- Theater

2) IN A BETTER WORLD- Theater

 

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LAST WEEK I DIDN’T SEE ANY MOVIES AT THE THEATER AND PROMISED TO DO BETTER THIS WEEK SO HERE GOES—

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) POTICHE- 2010. Synopsis 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 this movie has received very good professional reviews and average audience reviews. TRDB.4/11- A delightful French farce and I recommend it. DeNeuve is magnifique. TRDB.

Two friends, Dianne and Paul, commented on this movie and I’ve edited their reviews a bit-

Dianne– We saw Potiche Friday night and really enjoyed this film- all four of us. Potiche was simply delightful and uplifting. Dianne

Paul- Hi Bob! Saw Potiche @ Burns.  If you want to have some laughs from a frothy comedy, OK.  I was a bit disappointed – with it’s attractive actors it’s like a Hollywood movie with French “morality.” Some characters are stereotypes. Paul
2) WATER FOR ELEPHANTS- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he’s transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon). An affinity for elephants brings together the young pair, but the warmth between them sends Marlena’s cruel husband, animal trainer August (Christoph Waltz), into a frightening fury.” Mediocre professional reviews  but good audience reactions. TRDB.

4/11- A soap opera type of movie with a weak screenplay that was a disappointment for me. TRDB.

3)  IN A BETTER WORLD- (Haevnen)- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Danish director Susanne Bier delves into the realm of fathers, sons and their perceived burden of male responsibility with this Golden Globe-winning drama about the interplay between two dysfunctional families. With his father (Mikael Persbrandt) working abroad, bullied Elias (Markus Rygaard) finds solace in a budding friendship with a volatile new student (William Jøhnk Nielsen). But the boys’ shared revenge only seems to invite more violence.” Won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. TRDB.

4/11- A wonderful movie, difficult to watch at times, with several important messages. In particular about the different ways of handling conflict and the limits of each manner. TRDB.

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) MARWENCOL- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a terrible beating left Mark Hogancamp brain damaged, he began creating models of a fictional town, Marwencol, to process the trauma. Jeff Malmberg’s documentary explains how Hogancamp uses the elaborate dioramas as stand-ins for real life. When Hogancamp’s work attracts the attention of a prestigious New York art gallery, however, he’s forced to leave the safety of his make-believe world and reconnect with the real one.” Great reviews.4/11- Despite the uniformly rave reviews I had trouble getting into this film and although I found the idea clever and finally turned the movie off. TRDB. Netflix.

2) THE TOURIST- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Watery, enchanted Venice provides the setting for this thriller starring Johnny Depp as an American tourist seeking solace there for his shattered heart — only to find it in danger once again after encountering a beautiful Interpol agent (Angelina Jolie). Little does the poor Yank know that the artful agent has gone to great lengths to arrange their “chance” meeting and is using him to trap a criminal who also happens to be her ex-lover.” Poor reviews but I love Venice so I’ll see it. TRDB.

4/11- The lousy reviews were well deserved but somehow, loving Venice, I managed to watch all of the film. It should have been classified a comedy. TRDB. Netflix.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 3-

 

1) GUY AND MADELINE ON A PARK BENCH- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Black-and-white verité meets the charm of the classic Hollywood musical in writer-director Damien Chazelle’s romantic drama about a jazz trumpeter named Guy (Jason Palmer) who’s perennially falling in and out of love. After connecting with the shy Madeline (Desiree Garcia), Guy embarks on a quest for a more gregarious paramour, but through a series of twists and turns punctuated by an original score, the two lovers reunite in the end.” Mixed reviews but a few said it was very interesting and very different.

 

2) CASINO JACK- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Kevin Spacey stars in this drama as disgraced political lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who defrauded Native American tribes out of tens of millions of dollars in his efforts to peddle influence in Washington’s corridors of power. As justice closes in on Abramoff and his associates, the audacious scope of his scams comes to light. Based on true events, this film from director George Hickenlooper co-stars Kelly Preston and Barry Pepper.” OK reviews.

 

3) THE BUTCHER’S SON (LA SOGA)- Synopsis by Netflix. “Making his screenwriting debut, Manny Perez stars in this tough chronicle of Luisito, a young man walking the line between honesty and the corruption he sees all around him in the Dominican Republic. As a child he was called “sensitive” by his butcher father, but as an adult, Luisito has been hardened by the brutal life on the streets — and by his obsessive thirst to avenge his father’s murder. Denise Quiñones co-stars in this gritty actioner.” Good early reviews.

 

4) A SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN- Synopsis by Netflix. “With revenge on his mind, a gangster (Stellan Skarsgård) who spent 12 years in prison for murder sets out to kill the man (Henrik Mestad) who put him there. But the promise of a normal life — and news that he’s on the brink of becoming a grandfather — proves a tempting distraction. Suddenly, seeking vengeance doesn’t seem nearly as important. Hans Petter Moland directs this Norwegian drama about sons and second chances.” Good review in NY Times on 1/14/11.

 

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OPENING THIS WEEK REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY-

 

1) THE ARBOR- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this experimental look at the life and work of British playwright Andrea Dunbar, director Clio Barnard asks her actors to lip-synch to an audio “screenplay” she created using interviews conducted with members of the Dunbar family. But Barnard also relies heavily on documentary techniques, blending archival footage with theatrical elements and shooting scenes in Dunbar’s actual neighborhood in Buttershaw estate.” Very good professional reviews and OK audience reaction. TRDB.

 

2) CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Celebrated documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog offers this unprecedented examination of Chauvet Cave, a cavern in southern France that contains the oldest human-painted images yet to be found on Earth. Besides presenting stunning cinematography of the exquisite paintings themselves, Herzog interviews experts who describe the context and reflect on the existential meaning of this artwork, which is some 30,000 years old.” Very good professional reviews and poor audience ones. TRDB.

  

3) LEBANON, PA- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Urbane Philadelphia ad man Will (Josh Hopkins) heads to small-town Lebanon for his father’s funeral, and the road leads not only to closure but to a revelation when the 35-year-old meets his precocious teenage cousin, CJ (Rachel Kitson), and her winsome teacher, Vicki (Samantha Mathis). As his friendship with CJ deepens and his warmth for the married Vicki grows, Will comes to realize that life can’t always be summed up in a catchphrase.” Excellent reviews. TRDB.

 

4) THAT’S WHAT I AM- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A 12-year-old boy is convinced he’s been pushed toward social suicide when his teacher pairs him up for a project with the school’s biggest reject. But the boys form an unexpected bond when bullies turn their attention to an unlikely target.” No reviews as yet. TRDB.

 

5) PROM- 2011. Synopsis by IMDB. “A group of teenagers get ready for their high school prom.” No reviews as yet. TRDB.

 

 

 

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FLORIDA- At the Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theater-

 

1) 7 DAYS IN SLOW MOTION- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “When young Ravi (Teja) comes into possession of a state-of-the-art camera, it seems his dreams of being a filmmaker will come true, but there’s a catch — he has just seven days to finish his movie and return the camera. This portrait of middle-class life examines the archaic and contemporary aspects of Indian society that pull at Ravi and his domineering mother (Rajeshwari Sachdev). Will Ravi defy his expected path and choose to pursue his dream?” Two reviews, one fair and the other very good. TRDB.

 

2) EVEN THE RAIN- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this provocative film-within-a-film, director Sebastián (Gael García Bernal) heads to Cochabamba, Bolivia, to shoot a film about Christopher Columbus’s trespasses in the New World, only to find the locals protesting present-day exploitation of the poor. Sebastián is sympathetic to the cause, but realities collide when lead actor Daniel (Carlos Aduviri), cast as a rebel against the Spanish, becomes a key figure in the current demonstrations.” Winner at 2011 Palm Springs Film Festival.3/11- An excellent depiction of the moral conflicts involved in this type of situation. Well acted and I loved the movie. TRDB.

 

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) THE KING’S SPEECH- 2010. Synopsis 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. Academy Award winner. TRDB. 12/10- While I enjoyed this film I felt the “Hollywood Effect” throughout most of the nearly 2 hours. TRDB.

 

2) THE WAY BACK- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “After narrowly escaping from a wretched World War II Siberian labor camp, a small band of multinational soldiers desperately undertakes a harrowing journey to traverse Siberia, the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas on foot. Directed by Peter Weir, this exciting drama about courage and endurance — based on a true story — stars Colin Farrell, Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong and Gustaf Skarsgård.” OK reviews in general but only a fair one in the NY Times on 1/21/11.

 

REPEATS-

 

 

 

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) I AM- Bethel. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hollywood comedy director Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective) gets contemplative in this documentary, which finds him conversing with prominent philosophers and spiritual leaders about what ails our world and how we can improve it. Traveling the globe to conduct his in-depth interviews, Shadyac finds insights and inspiration from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, historian Howard Zinn, philosopher Noam Chomsky and other luminaries.” Winner at 2011 Palm Springs Film Festival. OK review in NY Times on 3/18/11.

 

2) THE DOUBLE HOUR- Jacob Burns. 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this constantly twisting Italian thriller, Sonia (Kseniya Rappoport) is a newly arrived Slovenian immigrant who is in the wrong place at the wrong time during a violent art robbery. Surviving a bullet in the head, Sonia is haunted by visions after the crime. Her mysterious past, meanwhile, comes to light under the watchful eye of a suspicious policeman. Rappoport won the Best Actress award at the 2009 Venice Film Festival for her turn as Sonia.” Very good professional reviews but only average audience reaction. TRDB.

3) BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK- Jacob Burns. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living simply and using a bicycle to get around New York, 80-year-old photographer Bill Cunningham tirelessly records what people are wearing in the city — both out on the sidewalk and in the salons of the wealthy. Through his “Evening Hours” and “On the Street” photo columns in the Sunday New York Times, Cunningham has faithfully chronicled the city’s fashions and sparkling nightlife while maintaining his own unassuming charm.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) JANE EYRE- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Synopsis 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.

 

2) THE CONSPIRATOR- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Danbury. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Robert Redford directs this gripping historical drama that follows the efforts of young lawyer Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy) as he defends Mary Surratt (Robin Wright Penn), a Confederate sympathizer accused of conspiring to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Realizing that Surratt may in fact be innocent, Aiken defies public opinion and risks everything to get her acquitted. The stellar cast also includes Tom Wilkinson, Kevin Kline and Alexis Bledel.” Very good audience reviews. TRDB.

 

3) WATER FOR ELEPHANTS- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he’s transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon). An affinity for elephants brings together the young pair, but the warmth between them sends Marlena’s cruel husband, animal trainer August (Christoph Waltz), into a frightening fury.” Mediocre professional reviews  but good audience reactions. TRDB. 4/11- A soap opera type movie with a weak screenplay that was a disappointment for me. TRDB.

4) IN A BETTER WORLD- (Haevnen) Clearview 100. Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Danish director Susanne Bier delves into the realm of fathers, sons and their perceived burden of male responsibility with this Golden Globe-winning drama about the interplay between two dysfunctional families. With his father (Mikael Persbrandt) working abroad, bullied Elias (Markus Rygaard) finds solace in a budding friendship with a volatile new student (William Jøhnk Nielsen). But the boys’ shared revenge only seems to invite more violence.” Won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. TRDB.

4/11- A wonderful movie, difficult to watch at times, with several important messages. TRDB.

5) WIN WIN- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Paul Giamatti stars as bush-league lawyer Mike Flaherty, who agrees to become an aging client’s legal guardian as a way to pay the bills. But his visions of an easy stipend begin to fade when the man’s teenage grandson suddenly appears on the scene. Just when the attorney thinks he’s found a way to make this new development work for him, the boy’s mother shows up and puts Flaherty’s dreams of a big score in jeopardy.” Very good reviews. Good review in NY Times on 3/18/11. TRDB.

4/11- Well acted, very funny at times and very poignant at times as well. I liked it a lot. TRDB.

 

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

 

For all films go to- www.fandango.com