The Reel Dr. Bob

MAY 5, 2011

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

SADLY, NONE

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

None this week as I’ve seen most of what’s around that I want to see. Next week seems a bit weak also.

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) JOLENE- 2008. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on a short story by celebrated novelist E.L. Doctorow, this character study tracks the itinerant exploits of the titular character (Jessica Chastain) as she sets off on an aimless, decade-long journey filled with romance, heartbreak, tumult and inspiration. Boasting an all-star cast — including Dermot Mulroney, Michael Vartan and Chazz Palminteri — this indie effort is helmed by director Dan Ireland.” Reviews are mixed with some very good and some very bad. TRDB.4/11- Count me as one who, despite a good deal of cliche, enjoyed the movie. TRDB. Netflix.

2) IF I WANT TO WHISTLE, I WHISTLE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Just days before his scheduled release from a reformatory, teenage delinquent Silviu (George Pistereanu) takes a pretty social worker (Ada Condeescu) hostage and threatens to kill her unless his estranged mother (Clara Voda) promises not to separate him from his younger brother. Will Silviu’s desperate act to protect his sibling cost him his freedom? Marian Bratu also stars in this engrossing drama from director Florin Serban.” Fair reviews on average but including a few very good ones. TRDB.

4/11- Very slow Romanian drama that I thought was just OK. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

3) THE WAY BACK- 2010. Premise 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.

4/11- Zero passion in this flimsy drama with a whole load of guys speaking with a fake accent. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.

4) STONEWALL UPRISING- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Through eyewitness interviews and archival footage, documentary filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner recapture a pivotal moment in time that mobilized a generation of gay activists and marked the dawn of the modern Gay Rights Movement. Much like Rosa Parks’s symbolic refusal to move to the back of the bus, gay bar patrons’ refusal to comply with a police raid at Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Inn in 1969 would change the course of history.” I saw two reviews, one up, one down.

4/11- Generally good portrayal of a piece of history but I felt that after 45min I had seen it and then got bored and turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.

 

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CAME TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, MAY 3 WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE-

 

1) I’LL COME RUNNING- 2008. Co-written and directed by Spencer Parsons. Starring Melonie Diaz as a young Texan woman who has a brief romantic fling with a young man from Denmark shortly before he is due to return home. Tragic circumstances compel her to visit Denmark shortly after. Very good acting, an interesting story and I liked it. TRDB.

 

2) FLY AWAY- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Single mother Jeanne (Beth Broderick) is dedicated to enriching the life of her teenage daughter, Mandy (Ashley Rickards), who has severe autism, although as Mandy matures, the challenges of her condition grow too extreme for Jeanne to be able to manage on her own. When Mandy’s dad suggests that she attend a residential school, Jeanne resists, even though her stressful home life impinges on work and a romance with a new neighbor (Greg Germann).” Good review in NY Times on 4/15/11. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, MAY 10-

 

1) BHUTTO- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Duane Baughman and Johnny O’Hara’s documentary is an in-depth and at times incendiary look at the epic life and tragic death of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, whose 2007 assassination sent her country’s political system into a tailspin. As a passionate and outspoken voice of reason and democracy, Bhutto‘s return to the seat of power seemed inevitable; but as a deeply divisive figure, her death was perhaps inescapable as well.” Very good early reviews.

 

2) BLUE VALENTINE- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Once crazy about each other, Cindy (Michelle Williams) and David (Ryan Gosling) have now grown apart. Cindy is bored and disenchanted with her life while David languishes in the emotional emptyness of their sexless, routine life in rural Pennsylvania. As they muddle through their marriage, they hearken back to the golden days when life was filled with possibility and romance. Derek Cianfrance writes and directs this drama.” Very good reviews and good review in NY Times on 12/29/10.1/11- About the dissolution of a relationship in about as raw a form as I’ve seen in a while. Great movie. TRDB.

3) COUNTRY STRONG- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “While out on tour to revive her stalled career, once-popular country singer Kelly (Gwyneth Paltrow) falls for emerging newcomer Beau (Garrett Hedlund) and tries desperately to hide their burgeoning romance from her ever-present husband and manager, Ed (Tim McGraw). Written and directed by Shana Feste, this musical drama co-stars Leighton Meester as a former beauty queen trying to break out as a songstress.” Fair reviews at best.

4) HOW I ENDED THIS SUMMER- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “At an isolated science station in the Arctic, meteorologist Sergei and young intern Pavel face the impending closure of the now-irrelevant base. While Sergei eagerly anticipates returning to his family, Pavel still hopes for a grand adventure. Time is distorted so far north, where the never-setting summer sun can make a day stretch into weeks, and this engrossing thriller examines how altered perceptions affect the two men.” Mostly good reviews.

5) BUDRUS- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Documentarian Julia Bacha delves into the fraught world of Palestinian-Israeli relations in this amazing account of one family’s leadership of a movement to prevent Israel’s Separation Barrier from slicing the Palestinian village of Budrus in half. Ayed Morrar inspires nonviolent protests of the giant barrier by numerous factions, and his 15-year-old daughter, Iltezam, leads a women’s group. Archival footage and interviews illuminate the action.” Excellent reviews.

6) THE ILLUSIONIST- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Compelled to perform in obscure venues as his profession becomes overshadowed by rock stars, a magician gets an emotional boost when a girl from a remote Scottish village believes he possesses real magic in this animated film. She comes with him to the city and takes care of his domestic chores while he performs. Delighted by her enthusiasm, the Illusionist begins “magically” acquiring generous presents for her in spite of his limited finances.” Good professional reviews but only fair audience reviews.

2/11- What were they thinking? Boring for sure and I’d suggest you don’t see it. TRDB.

 

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OPENING THIS WEEK REGIONALLY, NATIONALY OR LOCALLY-

 

1) CATERPILLAR- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1940, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the people of a rural Japanese village eagerly await a hero’s return. But Lt. Kurokawa’s wife, Shigeko, receives a horrifying shock: Her husband has lost his arms and legs. Nevertheless, the villagers depend on Shigeko to do her duty to her country by caring for her mutilated husband. Shinobu Terajima, Keigo Kasuya and Emi Masuda star in this historical drama about the grim aftermath of war.” Good audience reviews and I’ve seen only one professional review and it’s great. TRDB.

 

2) DAYDREAM NATION- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “City girl Caroline Wexler (Kat Dennings) feels like she’s spinning her wheels when she moves to a small rural town, where she’s got nothing in common with anyone — except her disarmingly handsome teacher, Mr. Anderson (Josh Lucas). But when Wexler tires of their clandestine affair, Mr. Anderson isn’t ready to let her go. Andie MacDowell co-stars in this humorous dark romance from writer-director Michael Goldbach.” Good audience reviews and a few OK professional reviews as well. TRDB.

 

3) AN INVISIBLE SIGN OF MY OWN- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a puzzling disease devastates her beloved father, math prodigy Mona Gray deals with the pain by isolating herself from the rest of the world and turning for comfort to the reliable world of mathematics. But when she later teaches math to troubled grade school kids, Mona discovers that her gift can be a route back from her long emotional exile. Marilyn Agrelo directs and Jessica Alba stars in this adaptation of the book by Aimee Bender.” OK audience reviews. TRDB.

 

4) OCTOBER- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “While trying to track down the missing prostitute who left her newborn at his doorstep, solitary loan shark Clemente (Bruno Odar) forms unexpected attachments to the baby — which might be his — and Sofia (Gabriela Velasquez), the single neighbor helping him care for the child. Written and directed by brothers Daniel and Diego Vega, this bittersweet Peruvian drama also stars Carlos Gasols, Maria Carbajal and Sheryl Sánchez Mesco.” No reviews as yet but did sound interesting and I plan to see it. TRDB.

 

5) SOMETHING BORROWED- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When successful single lawyer Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) learns that her best friend, Darcy (Kate Hudson), is engaged to Dex (Colin Egglesfield) — the same guy she’s pined after for years — she’s determined to maintain her loyalty. But things don’t go quite as planned. Instead, she and Dex wind up in bed on the night of her 30th birthday party. Not surprisingly, the fallout from their romantic “slip” generates awkwardness for all concerned.” No reviews yet but I’ll keep track of this one. TRDB.

 

6) VITO BONAFACCI-  Synopsis by Zap2it. “A successful businessman explores the meaning of faith after his late mother appears to him in a dream and implores him to abandon his pursuit of wealth.” Sounds interesting but I couldn’t find any mention of this film. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theater-

 

1) 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. Theater.

 

2) KORKORO- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on the real-life experiences of a Gypsy family living in Nazi-occupied France, this poignant drama explores the broader definition of freedom through the eyes of characters who see permanency as punishment.” Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) 13 ASSASSINS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “To stop a tyrant from murdering and exploiting innocent civilians, 13 samurai warriors unite and prepare to end his life. But to kill the evildoer, the assassins must contend with an army of deadly bodyguards who outnumber them by a wide margin. Directed by acclaimed and prolific Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, this action-packed samurai remake features Yusuke Iseya, Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada and Tsuyoshi Ihara.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

 

2) THE PARANOIDS- 2008. Synopsis by Netflix. “Luciano (Daniel Hendler) is devastated to learn that his friend, Manuel (Walter Jakob), is creating a television series featuring an uncomfortably familiar character named Luciano. But life changes for the narcoleptic hypochondriac when he gets a houseguest: Manuel’s girlfriend (Jazmín Stuart). Set in Argentina, director Gabriel Medina’s comedy follows Luciano as he reveals his softer side to his beautiful boarder.”4/11- Mixed reviews but despite being very slow I did enjoy it. TRDB. Netflix.

 

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) THERE BE DRAGONS- Bethel, Clearview 100. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Roland Joffé directs this epic tale of love and betrayal set during the Spanish Civil War. When a present-day journalist (Dougray Scott) investigates Opus Dei founder Josemaría Escrivá (Charlie Cox), he uncovers a surprising link to his own father, Manolo (Wes Bentley). Manolo and Josemaría were childhood friends who followed different paths when the war broke out. Josemaría pursued his faith, while Manolo joined the rebels to fight Franco.” Poor reviews. TRDB.

 

2) CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS- Jacob Burns. 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.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) JANE EYRE- Bethel, 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) 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.

 

3) THE CONSPIRATOR- Bethel, Clearview 100, Saw Mill Hawthorne, 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.

 

4) 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.

5)  WIN WIN- 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.

6) POTICHE- 2010. Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

7) IN A BETTER WORLD- (Haevnen) . 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.

8)WINTER’S BONE- Premise by Netflix. “In this noir drama set deep in Ozark territory, resilient teenager Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) goes on the trail of her missing drug-dealing father when his absence jeopardizes the safety of their family. The deadbeat dad has a critical court date pending, and Ree is determined that he make it — despite the objections of the insular Dolly clan. Director Debra Granik‘s unflinching drama won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.” Great reviews.

6/10-Very good acting in this Appalachian slice of life but I was disappointed in the film. I felt that not enough happened and what did seemed contrived to me. A friend who I saw this with spent a year in Missouri and felt that it was indeed realistic. TRDB.

9) 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.

 

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

 

For all films go to- www.fandango.com