The Reel Dr. Bob

FILM REVIEWS #317

March 24th, 2010

2) THE GHOST WRITER- Premise by Netflix. “A writer (Ewan McGregor) stumbles upon a long-hidden secret when he agrees to help former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) complete his memoirs on a remote island after the politician’s assistant drowns in a mysterious accident. In director Roman Polanski‘s tense drama, the author realizes that his discovery threatens some very powerful people who will do anything to ensure that certain episodes from Lang’s past remain buried.”

3/10- A thriller and fairly good at that. TRDB.

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2) A WORLD APART- Premise by Netflix. “This powerful examination of apartheid stars Barbara Hershey as South African journalist Diana Roth, a white woman jailed for her political activism. Diana’s fierce commitment to the cause is unfathomable to her 13-year-old daughter (Jodhi May), who feels hurt by and resentful of her mother’s intense focus on issues outside the family. Escalating events push mother and daughter into a climactic confrontation in this drama based on true events.”

3/10- I liked this movie especially knowing that it was a basically true story. TRDB. Netflix.

3) FIREWORKS WEDNESDAY- Premise by Netflix. “As fireworks light the sky on the eve of the Persian New Year, a young Iranian maid named Rouhi begins a new job working for a middle-class couple whose marriage is on the verge of implosion. The tension mounts when Rouhi’s employer decides to use her as a spy to determine whether her husband is being unfaithful. Asghar Farhadi directs this Farsi-language drama that offers a rare glimpse of private life in modern-day Iran.”

3/10- Another interesting slice of life from Iran and I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.

4) THE BLACK BALLOON- Premise by Netflix. “Australian model Gemma Ward makes her feature film debut in this family drama starring Rhys Wakefield as a 16-year-old trying to make his way in a new town and at a new school — while also charged with keeping tabs on his autistic older brother (Luke Ford). Toni Collette plays the pregnant mother of the clan, and Erik Thomson is the cricket-obsessed dad in this Berlin Film Festival award winner from first-time feature director Elissa Down.”

3/10- This movie was worth seeing although I had the feeling I’d seen it before. TRDB. Netflix.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 30-

1) AFGHAN STAR- Premise by Netflix. “Director Havana Marking’s eye-opening documentary captures the resurgence of pop culture in Afghanistan after three decades of Taliban rule. Following four “American Idol”-type contestants from auditions to finals in Kabul, Marking reveals a precedent in this suppressed and war-torn nation: all ethnicities, genders and age groups are equal — but everyone competing risks their lives to sing for enthused audiences.” Great reviews and I look forward to seeing this movie.

2) AN EDUCATION- Premise by Netflix. “Jenny’s (Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan) Oxford-bound teen life is undistinguished in 1961 London until she’s given a different kind of education after being immersed in the beguiling but hazardous world of cultured and much-older David (Peter Sarsgaard). Even Jenny’s father, Jack (Alfred Molina), is intrigued by him, but her school’s unimpressed headmistress (Emma Thompson) works to keep Jenny’s entire future from crumbling under David’s influence.”

3/10- I liked this movie very much. A few people thought that it was Anti-Semitic but this is a true story taken from memoirs. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK-

1) CHLOE- Netflix had this to say–“Suspecting her husband, David (Liam Neeson), of infidelity, doctor Catherine (Julianne Moore) hires sexy escort Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce him and test his faithfulness. But as Catherine checks in on Chloe’s encounters with David, Chloe’s reports become increasingly lurid. Soon, the relationships between all three intensify in unexpected ways. Renowned filmmaker Atom Egoyan directs this psychological drama.” Only fair reviews for this film, called by one reviewer a B- List film with an A- List cast.

2) DANCING ACROSS BORDERS- Premise by Netflix. “Art enthusiast and philanthropist Anne Bass makes her first foray into filmmaking with this moving documentary that traces the journey of a talented young Cambodian man in his transformation from street performer to classically trained ballet dancer. Discovered by Bass in his native land, Sokvannara “Sy” Sar must learn to assimilate to the rigid structures of Western ballet to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional dancer.” No early reviews.

3) JUST SAY LOVE- Premise by Zap2it. “Two lovers explore the nature of their relationship.” No reviews as yet.

4) MANUELA AND MANUEL- Premise by Zap2it. “A flamboyant drag queen exchanges gown and heels for a suit and tie to help a pregnant friend.” No early reviews.

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FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth

1) A TOWN CALLED PANIC- Premise by Netflix. “Tag along for the small-town adventures of plastic toys Cowboy (voiced by Stéphane Aubier), Indian (Bruce Ellison) and Horse (Vincent Patar) when they buy 50 million bricks, setting into motion a crazy chain of events at their rambling rural home. Now trekking across distant lands, they end up in another world pludged under water in this film based on the Belgian television series of the same name. Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar direct.” Very good reviews.

2) FISH TANK- Premise by Netflix. “The life of hot-tempered teen outcast Mia (Katie Jarvis) takes an unexpected turn when her mother, Joanne (Kierston Wareing), brings home a handsome and mysterious boyfriend named Connor (Michael Fassbender), who pledges to bring sweeping positive changes to the household. British writer-director Andrea Arnold‘s sophomore feature won Best British Film at the 2010 BAFTAs.” I liked this movie.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

1) VINCERE- Premise by Netflix. “Ida Dalser (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) falls for young Benito Mussolini (Filippo Timi) in Milan and sells everything she has to help the future dictator fund his newspaper, Popolo d’Italia. But when World War I separates the newly wedded couple, Mussolini marries another woman. Ida demands to retain her rights as Mussolini’s wife and the mother of his son, but the Fascists have other plans for the dictator’s dark secret in this gripping biopic.” Just opened nationally and has received great reviews.

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- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

For independent movies near you go to-   http://www.emergingpictures.com/exhibition.htm

For all movies go to- www.fandango.com

1) CHLOE- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Saw Mill Hawthorne. See “above” in Opening section.

2) GREENBERG- Jacob Burns, Bethel. Premise by Netflix. “At a crossroads in his life in New York, Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) takes some time to figure things out and travels to Los Angeles, where he house-sits for his brother and forges an unlikely bond with his brother’s assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig). Acclaimed writer-director Noah Baumbach‘s finely observed relationship comedy also stars Rhys Ifans as Roger’s best friend and Brie Larson as a seductive coed.” Very mixed reviews, more positive than negative.

3) THE GHOST WRITER- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. I saw this and liked it. Nothing earthshaking but a good thriller. TRDB.

4) A PROPHET- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Clearview 100. I saw this and it’s just “so-so.” TRDB.

5) THE HURT LOCKER- Garden Cinema Norwalk. Very good movie that took “Best Picture” this year. TRDB.

6) CRAZY HEART- Garden Cinema Norwalk, Saw Mill Hawthorne. I liked the movie but as I’ve said before it reminded me too much of “The Wrestler.” TRDB.

7) VINCERE- Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Ida Dalser (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) falls for young Benito Mussolini (Filippo Timi) in Milan and sells everything she has to help the future dictator fund his newspaper, Popolo d’Italia. But when World War I separates the newly wedded couple, Mussolini marries another woman. Ida demands to retain her rights as Mussolini’s wife and the mother of his son, but the Fascists have other plans for the dictator’s dark secret in this gripping biopic.” Just opened nationally and has received great reviews. THIS FILM IS ON COMCAST ON-DEMAND ALSO.

8)GREEN ZONE- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. Good war movie that packed an important message. TRDB.

9) THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) and rebellious computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) team up to investigate the unsolved disappearance of wealthy Henrik Vanger’s (Sven-Bertil Taube) teen niece (Ewa Fröling), only to uncover dark secrets about Vanger’s powerful family. Niels Arden Oplev directs this Swedish thriller based on the first novel from Stieg Larsson’s best-selling trilogy.” Very good early reviews. 

10) THE LAST STATION- Clearview 100. About the last year in the life of Leo Tolstoy. I didn’t particularly like this movie. TRDB.

11) MOTHER- Clearview 100. Premise by Netflix. “A murder rocks a South Korean town and suspicion quickly falls on a reclusive, mentally challenged — and alibi-free — young man (Bin Won). When an inept public defender botches the boy’s case, his mother (Hye-ja Kim) sets out to prove her son’s innocence. Acclaimed director Joon-ho Bong (Memories of Murder) explores the lengths a mother will go to protect her child in this atmospheric crime thriller.” OK review in the NY Times.

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