June 22nd, 2011
JUNE 22, 2011
DEAR FRIENDS:
I have just returned from a wonderful vacation in the UK with good friends from home and with family from the UK. Now I’ll try to catch up.
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE- Available on Netflix but I saw this on the plane flying home a few days ago
2) WHEN WE LEAVE- Netflix
3) CARANCHO- 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) LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE- 2006. Synopsis by Netflix. “Convinced their
little Olive (Abigail Breslin) is beauty queen material, parents Richard (Greg Kinnear) and Sheryl (Toni Collette) load the rest of the family into a van and embark on a life-altering road trip to a California pageant. Richard pushes Olive to win while her silent brother (Paul Dano), depressed uncle (Steve Carell) and nursing-home reject grandpa (Alan Arkin, in an Oscar-winning role) add their own quirks to the mix.”
One of the funniest movies I’ve seen. One reviewer said it was a combination of farce and heart and I agree. I saw this one a plane a few days ago. TRDB.
2) CEDAR RAPIDS- 2011. 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.
6/8/11- I saw this on a plane while flying to the UK. Stupid and I turned it off even though there was nothing else to see. TRDB.
3) 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.
6/20/11- I did like this film but it was way too long and the ending left me wondering what the director was thinking what with the melodrama. TRDB.
4) 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. TRDB.
6/21/11- A little too long and way too many car crashes but the story is interesting and definitely a slice of life. TRDB.
5) 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.
6/22/11- A look at the human side of downsizing in a cliche filled drama that should have been on TV. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 28-
1) BLOODWORTH- PROVINCES OF NIGHT- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Kris Kristofferson is E.F. Bloodworth, an impoverished aging musician who returns to his Tennessee hometown to make amends with the family he abandoned for 20 years of roaming, only to find their lives have disintegrated into a troubled mess. One bright spot, though, is E.F.’s grandson Fleming (Reece Thompson) and his budding romance with Raven (Hilary Duff.) Val Kilmer and Dwight Yoakam co-star as Bloodworth’s bitter and troubled sons.” Very good audience reaction so far. TRDB.
2) MAX MANUS- Directed by Espen Sandberg and Joachim Roenning. Premise by Netflix. “Dismayed by Norway’s swift capitulation to Nazi Germany during World War II, Max Manus (
Aksel Hennie) — who would become one of Norway’s greatest war heroes — immediately joined the Resistance. This biographical drama tells his story. From his audacious escapes from German captivity (one from a military hospital) to his bold acts of sabotage (which included blowing up warships), the film chronicles all Manus’s derring-do.”8/10-
A very good docudrama about a resistance fighter most people know nothing about. TRDB.
3) BARNEY’S VERSION- 2010. “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.
4) 3 BACKYARDS- 2009. Premise by Netflix. “Elias Koteas, Edie Falco and Rachel Resheff star as neighbors in this slice-of-life suburban drama that follows their separate stories over the course of one long and emotionally trying autumn afternoon. A businessman and his wife find their marriage unraveling, a housewife obsesses over a minor celebrity who lives down the block, and an 8-year-old girl stumbles across a disturbing scene. Eric Mendelsohn directs.” A few good reviews. TRDB.
5) GUILTY HEARTS- 2006. Synopsis by Netflix. “Over the course of this drama’s six separate stories, a variety of couples struggle with the infidelity, dishonesty and heartbreak that plagues their varied pasts. In overcoming their challenges, these diverse individuals embrace a brighter future.” Generally poor reviews but it did sound interesting. TRDB.
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OPENING THIS WEEK REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY, OR LOCALLY-
1) LEAP YEAR (ANO BISIESTO)- Synopsis by Netflix. “Journalist Laura Lopez (Mónica del Carmen) leads an isolated life in Mexico, her only social interactions being sexual encounters with strangers. With February 29th mysteriously circled on her calendar, Laura uses wild sex with Arturo (Gustavo Sánchez Parra) to hasten her unspoken goal. The questions of who is controlling whom and for what purpose loom large as Laura and Arturo’s encounters grow increasingly more violent and depraved.” Very good early professional reviews but only fair audience reaction. TRDB.
2) A BETTER LIFE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This candid social drama tracks the relationship and conflicts between Mexican immigrant gardener Carlos and his teenage son Luis, whom he’s trying to interest in earning an honest living rather than drifting into the East L.A. gang scene.” Poor early reviews. TRDB.
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FLORIDA- At the Lake Worth Playhouse Stonzek Theater-
JUNE 24–30
1) CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Chuan Lu pulls off a rare feat by providing a clear-eyed drama about an event in Chinese-Japanese history — the 1937 Rape of Nanking following that city‘s capture by Japan — that still casts a shadow over relations between the countries. Shot in black and white, the film chronicles the six-week period through the eyes of multiple characters — including a Japanese soldier, a refugee camp supervisor, a resistance fighter and others.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
2) LE QUATTRO VOLTE- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “This visual poem brings to life Pythagoras’s theory that the soul moves from human to animal to vegetable to mineral in its evolutionary journey. Wordlessly, the film follows an elderly Italian goat herder as he makes the remarkable transition. Director Michelangelo Frammartino captures the essence of everyday life in the Italian countryside as the man transforms into a baby goat, a giant tree and a lump of coal.” Many terrific reviews. TRDB.
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) 3 BACKYARDS- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Elias Koteas, Edie Falco and Rachel Resheff star as neighbors in this slice-of-life suburban drama that follows their separate stories over the course of one long and emotionally trying autumn afternoon. A businessman and his wife find their marriage unraveling, a housewife obsesses over a minor celebrity who lives down the block, and an 8-year-old girl stumbles across a disturbing scene. Eric Mendelsohn directs.” A few good reviews. TRDB.
2) UNDERTOW- (CONTRACORRIENTE)- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Writer-director
Javier Fuentes-León sets this offbeat romantic ghost story on the rough-hewn but gorgeous Peruvian coast, where a married fisherman must come to terms with his love for another man, despite the strict moral codes of his homeland. This winner of the World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic at Sundance is a vivid examination of the ways in which affairs of the heart supersede social strictures and all other forms of logic.”
Very good reviews.I saw this at the Palm Springs Int. Film Festival and liked it very much. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) 127 HOURS- Very good reviews– I did not like it
2) A SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN- A very good movie
3) BLACK SWAN- Very good
4) BLUE VALENTINE- I thought this was a very good movie with lots of raw emotion. Not for everyone
5) COUNTRY STRONG- I liked it, especially the music
6) CONVICTION- I love Hilary Swank and I liked the movie
7) CYRUS- Barely OK
8)DAYDREAM NATION- Fair at best
9) EVEN THE RAIN- Great movie
10) FAIR GAME- I liked it very much
11) FAREWELL- A fairly good spy thriller
12) FLY AWAY- I liked this movie
13) IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY- OK reviews
14) KINGS OF PASTRY- I didn’t care for this one
15) LA SOGA- I liked this film
16) MAD BASTARDS- I did not like this one but it received good reviews
17) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Very good movie–a tearjerker as well
18) MONOGAMY- OK reviews
19) RABBIT HOLE- I liked this one
20) PUZZLE- Good reviews and I want to see this one
21) SOMEWHERE- I enjoyed the movie- it’s slow so beware
22) THAT’S WHAT I AM- I liked the movie
23) THE COMPANY MEN- I’ll see it very soon
24) THE FIGHTER- Great movie
25) THE KING’S SPEECH- I liked it with a few complaints
26) THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER- OK reviews. Playing in NY now.
27) UNCLE KENT- OK reviews
28) THE TOWN- I enjoyed this film
29) WAITING FOR SUPERMAN- Good but not great as some have said
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-
NEW- NONE
REPEATS-
1) MIDNIGHT IN PARIS- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Danbury. 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.6/3/11- A good story, good acting and of course great Paris. Not one of Woody’s best but it was good and I enjoyed it. TRDB.
2) THE TRIP- Bethel, Clearview 100. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, the stars of the 2005 comedy Tristram Shandy, reunite with director Michael Winterbottom for this mockumentary about a pair of actors — handily named Steve and Rob — who embark on a foodie road trip across England. Mostly improvised and highlighting the duo’s penchant for dueling impressions of famous actors, the film follows them as they test their friendship while sampling the best restaurants in Northern England.” Good review in NY Times on 6/10/11. TRDB.
3) THE TREE OF LIFE- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. 2011. 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. 6/6/11-
While grand in scale I felt that I was watching a series of coming attractions, each lasting 1 or 2 minutes. What a waste of time. My friend Sue said it well– “Judging by the award of Best Picture at Cannes I feel like I am watching “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” I agree. TRDB.
4) BEGINNERS- Clearview 100. 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.
Mixed review in NY Times on 6/3/22. TRDB.
5) 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.
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob
Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters
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