MOVIE NEWSLETTER #291
August 31st, 2009
AUGUST 27, 2009
DEAR FRIENDS:
NO NEW movies this week for me but I did see a few at-
HOME-
1) GIGANTIC- 2008. Starring Paul Dano and Zooey Deschanel with small parts for Ed Asner, Jane Alexander and John Goodman. About a 28 year old man who has always wanted to adopt a Chinese child. He develops a relationship with a young woman who is floundering. Poor reviews but I liked it. Netflix Streaming.
2) THE FREE WILL- 2006. Germany. Directed by Matthias Glasner and starring Jurgen Vogel and Sabine Timoteo. About a convicted rapist who leaves prison after 9 years and develops a relationship with a young woman. Very realistic view of the torment for the victim and the victimizer as well. Difficult to watch and not for the squeamish but a very good movie. Netflix.
3) TYSON-2008. Directed by James Toback. Mike Tyson speaks for 90 minutes about his life, his fights and his relationship with his mentor Cus Damato. No questions asked on camera except for old newsreels. Very good movie and it’s easy to forget what a low-life Tyson is. Netflix.
4) THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE- 1942. Directed by Tay Garnett and starring Lana Turner and John Garfield. About a drifter who takes a job at a small restaurant and falls for the wife (Turner), a femme fatale. I saw this many years ago and decided to see it again before the release of Jerichow, another remake that I plan to see soon. Dated, of course, but I liked it. Netflix.
COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 1,
1) TAKE OUT- Premise by Netflix. “When an illegal immigrant (Charles Jang) finds himself behind on a large debt due to crooks who smuggled him into the country, he must come up with the payment in one day by hustling tips as he delivers Chinese food around New York City. Shot in vérité style, this provocative and grimly humorous look at a day in the life of the working poor also stars Jeng-Hua Yu and Justin Wan and was nominated for the John Cassavetes Independent Spirit Award.” I saw this and liked it.
2) SIN NOMBRE- Premise by Netflix. “Play Preview Fleeing retaliation from the violent Central American street gang he has deserted, young hood Casper boards a northbound train, where he takes refuge on top of the moving freight cars and hopes for a fresh start in a new country. Dodging authorities and other dangers, he finds a new friend in Sayra (Paulina Gaitan), a Honduran girl also making a run for the American border. Cary Fukunaga directs this exciting thriller.” I saw this and it was just so-so.
3) SUGAR- Premise by Netflix. ” After he catches the eye of a scout while playing in his native Dominican Republic, baseball prospect Miguel “Sugar” Santos (Algenis Perez Soto) is recruited to play in the minor leagues in the Midwest, where he has difficultly adapting both on and off the field. As much a story about the promise of the American dream as it is about America’s national pastime, this film dramatizes the hard lessons learned when hope and reality clash.” Very well done and I liked it.
4) STATE OF PLAY- Premise by Netflix. ” When his mistress is found dead, Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) tries desperately to protect his name and career. As journalists Cal (Russell Crowe) and Della (Rachel McAdams) investigate further, they uncover an intricate web of lies that stretches to the highest levels of power. Based on the critically acclaimed BBC miniseries, this intriguing political thriller co-stars Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman. OK reviews and I plan on seeing this movie.
5) GOOD DICK- Premise by Netflix. “Habitually isolated in her quiet apartment, a vulnerable girl (Marianna Palka) ventures out to a local video store, where she meets a charming store clerk (Jason Ritter) who immediately falls for her and tries to win her affections. Leading actress and screenwriter Palka makes her directorial debut with this appealing story about finding love and handling new relationships.” OK reviews and I’ll see it.
OPENING THIS WEEK-
1) STILL WALKING- Premise by Zap2it. “A man bears the brunt of his parents’ disapproval at an annual gathering to honor the memory of his long-deceased brother.” I saw the coming attractions for this film and it looked great.
2) TAKING WOODSTOCK- By Ang Lee. Premise by Zap2it. “In the summer of 1969, Elliot Tiber divides his time between New York and the El Monaco, his Old-World parents’ ramshackle motel in the Catskills. When the proposed venue for the upcoming Woodstock concert falls through, Elliot steps in to play a pivotal role in the generation-defining event by helping organizers secure Max Yasgur’s nearby farm and offering the El Monaco as their home base.” Mixed reviews.
3) THE OPEN ROAD- Premise by Zap2it. “The estranged son of a famous baseball player tries to bring his father home to see his sick mother.” No early reviews as yet.
FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth
1) EASY VIRTUE- Received mixed reviews.
2) DEPARTURES- Departures follows Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and who is suddenly left without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work and start over. He answers a classified ad entitled Departures thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a “Nokanshi” or “encoffineer,” a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. While his wife and others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art of “Nokanshi,” acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, between the departed and the family of the departed. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living. Mostly good reviews.
BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-
1) ADAM- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Clearview 100
2) INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS- Bethel, Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne
3) JULIE AND JULIA- Bethel, Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne
4) TAKING WOODSTOCK- Bethel, Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne
5) (500) DAYS OF SUMMER- Garden Cinema Norwalk, Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne
6) MY ONE AND ONLY- Garden Cinema Norwalk
7) YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG- Clearview 100
THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters