The Reel Dr. Bob

JUNE 1, 2011

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

As many of you know, I was happily in Florida with my family most of last week which accounts for the paucity of films for me. I did manage a few—

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) SOMEWHERE- Netflix

2) THE OTHER WOMAN- Netflix

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) SOMEWHERE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Set amid the hallowed grounds of Hollywood’s legendary Chateau Marmont, this atmospheric dramedy centers on a hard-living actor (Stephen Dorff) whose life is thrown for a loop when his 11-year-old daughter (Elle Fanning) pays him a surprise visit. Written and directed by Academy Award-nominee Sofia Coppola (Lost In Translation, Marie Antoinette), this character-driven film also features Benicio Del Toro and Chris Pontius of MTV’s “Jackass.” Some very good reviews along with some really bad ones too. Very good review in NY Times on 12/22/10.5/30/11- The film had some extended camera shots of essentially very little happening but it was a good portrayal of the loneliness that being famous can not cure. I’d recommend it. TRDB. Netflix.

2) THE OTHER WOMAN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Romance becomes reality for Emilia Greenleaf (Natalie Portman), who wins the heart of the handsome object of her affection (Scott Cohen), only to find that the relationship comes with some very real baggage — including her new beau’s troubled son (Charlie Tahan). Don Roos directs the film adaptation of Ayelet Waldman’s compelling novel, co-starring Lisa Kudrow, Lauren Ambrose and Elizabeth Marvel.” Only fair reviews for this movie although all said that Portman was very good. TRDB.

5/31/11- This movie was not well received but count me as a fan. I thought that Portman was very good and portrayed the grief in a very convincing manner. TRDB. Netflix.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 7-

 

1) CARANCHO- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “A car accident on the streets of Argentina brings Luján (Martina Gusman) and Sosa (Ricardo Darín) together: she’s a doctor caring for the critically wounded driver, he’s a smooth-talking ambulance chaser with an eye on the dying man’s money. Passion draws them together, but in a nation rife with such accidents, love alone may not conquer their differences. Pablo Trapero’s thoughtful film is an Official Selection of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.” Very good early reviews.

 

2) TRUE GRIT- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After her father is murdered by drifter Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), hires Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), an alcoholic U.S. Marshal, to help her exact vengeance. The disreputable Rooster still has grit though, and mounts an epic search. The pair is joined on their quest by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who is also hunting for Chaney, in this updated Western from Joel and Ethan Coen. Very good review in NY Times on 12/22/10.1/11- To be honest I thought that the film was not nearly as good as the critics said it was. I also needed sub-titles for a good portion of the dialogue. Bring back “The Duke.”

3) THE HOUSEMAID- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “A wealthy family’s new maid, Eun-yi (Do-yeon Jeon), attracts the attention of Hoon (Jung-Jae Lee), the man of the house, and a fiery affair develops between them. But although Hoon signs Eun-yi’s checks, he’s not the one controlling the relationship. One secret leads to another, until Eun-yi threatens to destroy the entire family. This update of the 1960 chiller was an Official Selection of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.” Fair review in NY Times on 1/21/11.

2/11- Very well done until the ending which seemed incomprehensible to me. Worth seeing however. TRDB.

4) WHEN WE LEAVE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Umay, 25, is torn between two cultures when she leaves her abusive husband and takes their young son, Cem, from Istanbul to her family home in Germany. Seeking refuge with her parents, Umay hopes to start anew, but her family disapproves. She finds work in a restaurant and falls in love with a German co-worker, Stipe, who happily welcomes her and Cem into his life, but turmoil erupts when Umay’s family decides to return Cem to his father.” Article about this movie in NY Times on 1/23/11 Mostly very good reviews. TRDB.

1/11- OK review in NY Times on 1/28/11. TRDB.

5) 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.

6) THE COMPANY MEN- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Written, directed and produced by John Wells (“The West Wing”), this indie drama stars Ben Affleck as a successful businessman who comes face-to-face with America’s downsizing epidemic when he loses his job and is forced to take a construction gig. Rounding out the all-star cast are Kevin Costner as Affleck’s brother-in-law, Tommy Lee Jones as a conflicted corporate bigwig and Chris Cooper as a struggling blue-collar worker.” Good review in NY Times on 12/9/10 and enjoyed by audiences so far. TRDB.

7) ANOTHER YEAR- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Over the course of a tumultuous year, contented medical counselor Gerri (Ruth Sheen) and her geologist husband, Tom (Jim Broadbent), see their friends and relations through a series of happy events and heartbreaks — including a birth and a death. Imelda Staunton and Oliver Maltman co-star in this character-driven ensemble dramedy from writer-director Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky, Vera Drake, Secrets & Lies).”

12/10- Very good review in NY Times on 12/29/10.

1/11- A slice of  life of a well adjusted and content older couple who spend time with family and friends over the course of a year. I liked it. TRDB.

8)SHADOWS AND LIES- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Four years after leaving New York City for good, William Vincent (James Franco) finds himself back in Manhattan, attempting to save the woman he loves from organized criminals following a series of unusual events. Written and directed by Jay Anania — a professor at New York University’s graduate school of film, which Franco attended at the time of filming — this indie drama co-stars Josh Lucas, Julianne Nicholson and Martin Donovan.” Fairly good audience reviews. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY-

 

1) BEGINNERS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on indie director Mike Mills’s relationship with his father, this intriguing drama tells the story of Oliver (Ewan McGregor), a graphic artist coming to grips with the imminent death of his father (Christopher Plummer), who, at 75, has one last secret: He’s gay. Both inspired and confused by his father’s determination to find true love at last, Oliver tentatively pursues a romance with commitment-shy French actress Anna (Mélanie Laurent).” Good early reviews. TRDB.

 

2) BRIDE FLIGHT- 2011- Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A forbidden love, an impossible choice, a secret pact. Eager to escape the damp and suffocating atmosphere of post-war Holland, Dutch beauties Marjorie, Ada and Esther meet each other on the immigration flight to New Zealand, en route to join their future husbands, who are already settled there.” Only fair reviews so far but the idea sounded interesting. Not to be confused with the 2008 movie with the same title. TRDB.

 

3) SOCIALISM (FILM SOCIALISME)- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Listen in on the insightful musings of a war criminal, a famous philosopher (Alain Badiou), an American singer (Patti Smith), a former spy and other compelling characters as they travel together aboard a Mediterranean cruise ship, visiting Egypt, Palestine, Odessa and Naples. Directed by legendary French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, this multifaceted drama also stars Catherine Tanvier, Christian Sinniger and Jean-Marc Stehlé.” Poor early reviews but it did sound a bit different and interesting. TRDB.

 

4) LOVE, WEDDING, MARRIAGE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a newly wedded marriage counselor learns that her seemingly happy parents are serious candidates for divorce, she throws all the rules out the window to repair their fractured relationship.” Very good audience reviews but no professional ones yet. TRDB.

5) THE LAST MOUNTAIN- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Bill Haney sounds the alarm in this penetrating documentary about the impact of coal mining on the citizens of West Virginia’s Coal River Valley, who are trying to prevent the plundering of one of the last untouched mountains in Appalachia. Aided by environmentalist Bobby Kennedy Jr., the townspeople protest against an energy conglomerate that uses ruinous mountain top removal techniques, despite the dangers to health and the environment.” Fair audience reaction so far. TRDB.

6) SMALL TOWN MURDER SONGS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tormented by his past and seeking redemption, Walter (Peter Stormare), the police chief of a Canadian Mennonite community, tries to solve a startling murder for which Steve (Stephen Eric McIntyre), the creepy boyfriend of Walter’s bitter ex-lover (Jill Hennessy), is the chief suspect. Although he has a new, supportive girlfriend (Martha Plimpton), Walter is overwhelmed by the case and his stern family’s disapproval in this intriguing thriller.” Good early reviews. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theater-

THE SCHEDULE IS NOT AVAILABLE AS OF NOW

 

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) PUZZLE- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “On her 50th birthday, an unassuming housewife (The Headless Woman’s Maria Onetto) receives a present and discovers she’s an ace at puzzles. Without telling anyone, she takes on a training partner and begins to compete. But her new passion quickly threatens her old life, and she must decide where her true self lies.”Fair reviews in general but good review in NY Times on 5/27/11. This movie just opened in NY. TRDB.

 

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- Fairfield and Westchester Counties

 

NEW-

 

1) THE TREE OF LIFE- 2011.  Jacob Burns. Synopsis by Netflix. “Brad Pitt and Sean Penn star in Terrence Malick’s 1950s adventure about a confused man named Jack, who sets off on a journey to understand the true nature of the world. Growing up in the Midwest with two brothers, Jack has always been torn between his mother’s guidance to approach everything he encounters with an open heart and his father’s advice to look after his own interests. Now, Jack must find a way to regain purpose and perspective.” Good audience reviews so far but no professional ones as yet. TRDB. The movie won best picture at Cannes 2011.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) MIDNIGHT IN PARIS- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this bittersweet dramatic comedy, legendary director Woody Allen focuses his lens on a young engaged couple whose experiences traveling together in Paris make them begin to question the kind of life they want to live as a couple.” Very good audience reviews but no professional reviews as yet. Fair review in NY Times from Cannes on 5/13/11. TRDB. Good review in NY Times on 5/20/11. I’ll definitely see it. TRDB.

 

2) INCENDIES- Bethel, Clearview 100. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “When their mother’s (Lubna Azabal) will implores them to deliver letters to the father they thought was dead and a brother they never knew about, twins Jeanne (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin) and Simon (Maxim Gaudette) journey to the Middle East and attempt to reconstruct their family’s hidden history. Adapted from a Wajdi Mouawad play, director Denis Villeneuve’s drama flashes back to intense scenes set during the Lebanese Civil War in the 1970s.” Showed at HIFF 2010. Great professional reviews and very good audience response as well. TRDB.5/15/11- This movie was done in a most realistic fashion with great acting and superb direction. While it was often difficult to watch I thought that it was a great movie. TRDB. 

 

3) CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS- Bethel. 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.

 

4) THE BIG UNEASY- Bethel. 2010. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “Almost five years ago, a disaster struck New Orleans. The media said it was a natural disaster primarily affecting poor black people. On both counts, the media was wrong. In his feature-length documentary The Big Uneasy, humorist and New Orleans resident Harry Shearer gets the inside story of a disaster that could have been prevented from the people who were there.” Fairly good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

 

5) THE DOUBLE HOUR- Clearview 100. 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.5/11/11- A real thriller and I’d like to watch it again to figure out what actually happened. It’s fun and recommended. TRDB.

6) BRIDESMAIDS- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Kristen Wiig leads the cast as Annie, a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and a group of colorful bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down the road to matrimony.” Fairly good reviews so far but a fair number of negative ones as well.  A surprisingly good review from the NY Times on 5/13/11. TRDB.

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

 

For all films go to- www.fandango.com