The Reel Dr. Bob

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

I WAS AT THE MARTHA’S VINEYARD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WITH JANE AND FRIENDS LAST WEEKEND.

I SAW JUST 2 MOVIES– ONE VERY GOOD AND THE OTHER VERY BAD. SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS.

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) PUZZLE- Theater (MVIFF)

2) THE PERFECT HOST- Netflix

3) IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT- Netflix

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

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. TRDB.

9/9/11- I found this movie very interesting and enjoyed it very much. I saw it at the 2011 Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival. TRDB.

2) THE PIANO IN THE FACTORY- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “A humble factory worker (Wang Qian-Yuan) who moonlights as a musician summons every shred of creativity he has when his estranged wife (Shin-yeong Jang) resurfaces and demands custody of their young daughter, who says she’ll live with whomever can give her a piano. With no money to buy the instrument for her, the desperate father tries to grant her wish by building the piano out of discarded scraps.”

9/10/11- I saw this at the 2011 Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival and did not like it at all. TRDB.

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) THE PERFECT HOST- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “A fugitive on the lam decides to crash a dinner party. But he seriously regrets it when the mysterious and unusual host soon has him convinced that he would have been better off hiding somewhere else. David Hyde Pierce plays the memorable Warwick Wilson; Nathaniel Parker, Clayne Crawford and Helen Reddy also star in this thriller from first-time feature writer-director Nick Tomnay. The film makes it premier at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.” Good early reviews. TRDB.9/8/11- Mostly poor reviews by the pros and OK reviews from audiences. I liked it. Just enough intrigue, cat and mouse with good acting as well. TRDB. Netflix.

2) IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmakers Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman examine the case of Daniel McGowan, a member of the radical environmental group Earth Liberation Front who was arrested for committing arson against two Oregon timber companies. Dissecting ELF’s self-described use of “economic sabotage” to stop deforestation and other damage to the planet, the film also explores the ramifications of the FBI’s decision to classify them as terrorists.” Good reviews in general and also in NY Times on 6/22/11. TRDB.

9/12/11- A good documentary, more about the “economic sabotage” than about any one man. TRDB. Netflix.

3) SYMPATHY FOR DELICIOUS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Struggling for survival on the rough streets of Los Angeles, newly paralyzed DJ “Delicious” Dean O’Dwyer (Christopher Thornton) gains the supernatural ability to heal the sick. But he uses the gift to capitalize on his dreams of rock success in this offbeat drama. Written by Thornton, Mark Ruffalo’s directorial debut also stars Orlando Bloom as the front man of a rock band and Laura Linney as the group’s persistent manager.” OK audience. The NY Times(4/29/11) didn’t care for the movie. TRDB.

9/14/11- What was the point of this movie? Just awful and I can’t believe that Laura Linney took a part in this disaster. TRDB. Netflix.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 20-

 

1) TODAY’S SPECIAL- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “After he gets passed over for promotion, haute cuisine sous chef Samir (Aasif Mandvi) quits to pursue his dream of cooking in Paris, but an emergency forces him to take over his family’s shabby Indian restaurant in Queens. Taxi driver-turned-chef Akbar (Naseeruddin Shah) shares his passion for Indian food with Samir, whose romance with fellow chef Carrie (Jess Weixler) fuels his desire to prove himself and save the restaurant.” Fair review in NY Times 11/19/10. Good reviews in general. TRDB.

 

2) CIRCO- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Mexican ringmaster Tino struggles to operate his family’s long-running traveling circus in the midst of an economic downturn, while coping with the demands of his fed-up wife and four talented young children in this fascinating documentary. Featuring music by alt-country rockers Calexico, the film explores family ties and cultural inheritance while taking viewers all across rural Mexico’s beautiful back roads.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

 

3) WIN WIN- 2010. Premise 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.

4) THE STRANGE CASE OF ANGELICA- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “In 1950s Portugal, a well-to-do family hires a young photographer named Isaac (Ricardo Trêpa) to take the last photograph of their deceased daughter, Angelica (Pilar López de Ayala). Upon seeing her, Isaac fallls deeply in love  soon finds her returning to life in his camera lens. Now, romance fills his life for the first time. Acclaimed filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira wrote and directed this Official Selection of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.” Good review in NY Times on 12/29/10.

3/11- Despite the good reviews I found this allegorical tale boring. TRDB.

5) 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.” Fairly good reviews so far and the idea sounded interesting. Not to be confused with the 2008 movie with the same title. TRDB.

6) BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living simply and using a bicycle to get around New York, 80-year-old photographer Bill Cunningham tirelessly records what people are wearing in the city — both out on the sidewalk and in the salons of the wealthy. Through his “Evening Hours” and “On the Street” photo columns in the Sunday New York Times, Cunningham has faithfully chronicled the city’s fashions and sparkling nightlife while maintaining his own unassuming charm.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

 

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OPENING THIS WEEK-

 

1) BACK DOOR CHANNELS: THE PRICE OF PEACE- 2009. “This provocative documentary draws back the curtain on the Camp David peace summit, which set the stage for the future of Middle East relations. Though each party had its own agenda, it remains a landmark confluence of modern leadership.” Sounds interesting but poor early reviews. TRDB.

 

2) CONNECTED- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tiffany Shlain explores the visible and invisible connections linking major issues of our time — including the environment, consumption and technology — while searching for her place in the world during a transformative time in her life.” Mediocre audience reviews and no professional reviews as yet. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) LIFE IN A DAY- 22011.  Synopsis by Netflix. “On July 24, 2010, thousands of people around the world joined together to document mundane and remarkable everyday life in a single day. Filmmaker Kevin MacDonald led a team of editors to condense more than 4,500 hours of footage and 80,000 clips into a portrait of life as it is lived on Earth. From dense cities to remote and forbidding landscapes, the myriad varieties of human experience are celebrated and revealed.” Fairly good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

 

2) LITTLE GIRL (LA PIVELLINA)- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Middle-aged circus performer Patti (Patrizia Gerardi) finds 2-year-old Asia (Asia Crippa) abandoned in a park on the outskirts of Rome. Patti and her German boyfriend, Walter (Walter Saabel), search for the child’s parents but can’t help falling in love with “la pivellina” (the little squirt). Italian documentarians Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel transition effortlessly into fiction with this warmly intimate gem.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

 

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) BEWARE THE GONZO- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Eddie “Gonzo” Gilman (Ezra Miller) is the head geek at his high school — and determined to do something about it. When Gavin (Jesse McCartney), the popular editor of the school paper, fires him, Eddie obtains revenge by establishing an underground paper of his own. The paper’s success surprises Eddie and the misfits he’s assembled to publish it, and Eddie soon finds himself riding a wave of acclaim that threatens to turn him into another Gavin.”9/9/11- Poor professional reviews in general and in today’s NY Times but excellent audience reaction. TRDB.

 

2) BRIGHTON ROCK- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In hopes of silencing a waitress (Andrea Riseborough) who saw him kill another criminal, a young thug (Sam Riley) decides to romance her and suss out how much she knows. But at what point does his premeditated plot blossom into true passion? And are either party’s motives 100 percent pure? John Hurt and Helen Mirren co-star in writer-director Rowan Joffe’s film adaptation of Graham Greene’s novel.” I’ve seen just a few reviews and they are not good. TRDB.8/27/11- Good review in today’s NY Tmes. TRDB.

 

3) BURKE AND HARE- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director John Landis rolls out his first feature film in more than a decade with this black comedy based on the true exploits of two 19th-century body snatchers, played by Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis. When Burke and Hare‘s successful business — selling corpses to the Edinburgh Medical College for dissection — is hampered by a supply shortage, the men are forced to take drastic measures. Isla Fisher and Tim Curry also star.”9/9/11- Only a fair review in today’s NY Times and worse elsewhere. 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 (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

 

NEW-

 

1) CIRCUMSTANCE- Jacob Burns. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Iranian teens Atafeh (Nikohl Boosheri) and Shireen (Sarah Kazemy) explore their forbidden attraction to one another against the backdrop of modern-day Tehran’s subcultures. Atafeh’s brother, Mehran (Reza Sixo Safai), returns home after drug rehab and is soon dismayed by his sister’s newfound sense of liberation. Giving up on his dreams to become a classical musician, Mehran joins the morality police, causing deeper rifts in the family.” Mentioned in NY Times on 1/22/11 re Sundance.8/27/11- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) HIGHER GROUND- Jacob Burns. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Vera Farmiga stars in and directs this sensitive and searching chronicle describing a woman’s lifetime journey of faith — one that initially leads her to join a fundamentalist sect and then leave it again years later. Adapted from the spiritual memoir This Dark World by Carolyn Briggs, the film looks deeply into human doubt and certainty, and the challenge of trying to match our lives with our spiritual beliefs.” Mentioned on 1/22/11 in NY Times re Sundance.  8/23/11- I’ve seen just a few reviews and they are weak. TRDB.

9/2/11- Just saw this film and liked it very much. Farmiga is great and also did a wonderful job directing this movie. I’d recommend it to you. TRDB.

2) LOVE CRIME- Jacob Burns. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “With a nod to the machinations of All About Eve and Dangerous Liaisons, French director Alain Corneau delivers a chilling tale of two ambitious women whose professional appetites grow dangerously personal. At first, things are fine between senior executive Christine (Kristin Scott Thomas) and her eager young assistant, Isabelle (Ludivine Sagnier). But when Christine abuses her position of power, Isabelle resorts to revenge — and insubordination.”

9/2/11- An OK review in today’s NY Times. Friends saw this and also thought it was just OK. TRDB.

3) THE TRIP- Jacob Burns. 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.

6/26/11- Great scenes of the countryside and enjoyable bantering between 2 old friends make this film worth watching. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

 

4) POINT BLANK- Bethel. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Samuel Pierret (Gilles Lellouche) is a nurse who saves the wrong guy — a thief (Roschdy Zem) whose henchmen take Samuel’s pregnant wife (Elena Anaya) hostage to force him to spring their boss from the hospital. A race through the subways and streets of Paris ensues, and the body count rises. Can Samuel evade the cops and the criminal underground and deliver his beloved to safety? Fred Cavayé directs, with nods to classic French thrillers.” Good review in NY Times on 7/29/11. TRDB.

 

5) THE HELP- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1960s Jackson, Miss., aspiring writer Eugenia Phelan crosses taboo racial lines by conversing with Aibileen Clark about her life as a housekeeper, and their ensuing friendship upsets the fragile dynamic between the haves and the have-nots. When other long-silent black servants begin opening up to Eugenia, the disapproving conservative Southern town soon gets swept up in the turbulence of changing times.” Very few reviews so far but they are OK. TRDB.

 

6) THE DEBT- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Rachel Singer (Helen Mirren) is a former Mossad intelligence agent forced to relive her unsuccessful 1965 pursuit of a notorious Nazi war criminal when the bold and dangerous fugitive is thought to have reemerged 30 years later in the Ukraine. Director John Madden’s redo of Assaf Bernstein’s 2007 Israeli suspense piece also features Jessica Chastain as the young Rachel Singer, along with Sam Worthington, Tom Wilkinson and Ciarán Hinds.” Fairly good reviews but friends said it was very violent– ? Hollywood violent. TRDB.

 

7) THE GUARD- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When tightly wound FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) invades an Irish village in pursuit of international drug dealers, wisecracking local copper Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) does his best to annoy the American and get on with his circumscribed life. But soon there’s a murder, and Boyle finds himself swept up in detective work way beyond his pay grade. John Michael McDonagh directs this action-filled comedy.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

 

8)SARAH’S KEY- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the midst of researching an article about the roundup of Jews that took place in Paris in 1942, American-born journalist Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas) uncovers a sobering connection between her story and the home she shares with her boorish French husband (Frederic Pierrot). Gilles Paquet-Brenner directs this gripping drama based on a bestselling novel of the same name that was inspired by actual events.” Excellent professional reviews and average audience reaction. TRDB.8/15/11- Great script and wonderful acting make this Holocaust movie different from others and I highly recommend it. TRDB.

9) RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “James Franco headlines the reboot of the immensely popular Planet of the Apes franchise, a prequel which boasts cutting-edge CGI effects and a gripping story set in modern-day San Francisco, where scientists are conducting genetic research on apes. The evolved primates, including Caesar (Andy Serkis), develop advanced intelligence and revolt against being used as lab rats, unleashing a war for dominion over Earth.”

8/14/11-Despite not liking  James Franco and not liking sci-fi I thoroughly enjoyed this movie that my friends Don and Sue dragged me to. Great special effects, good story and boy, you have to love those apes. TRDB.

10) HIGHER GROUND- Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Vera Farmiga stars in and directs this sensitive and searching chronicle describing a woman’s lifetime journey of faith — one that initially leads her to join a fundamentalist sect and then leave it again years later. Adapted from the spiritual memoir This Dark World by Carolyn Briggs, the film looks deeply into human doubt and certainty, and the challenge of trying to match our lives with our spiritual beliefs.” Mentioned on 1/22/11 in NY Times re Sundance. 

8/23/11- I’ve seen just a few reviews and they are weak. TRDB.

9/2/11- Just saw this film and liked it very much. Farmiga is great and also did a wonderful job directing this movie. I’d recommend it to you. TRDB.

11)THE WHISTLEBLOWER- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Sent to Bosnia to train cops in the aftermath of that country’s brutal civil war, American policewoman Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz) uncovers evidence that U.N. peacekeepers are complicit in a flourishing sex-trafficking trade. But when she brings her allegations to light, she discovers that her foes are more powerful than the law. Based on a true story, this thriller from director Larysa Kondracki co-stars Monica Bellucci and David Strathairn.” Winner at 2011 Palm Springs Film Festival.

7/21/11. I saw the coming attractions recently and I plan to see it. TRDB.

9/1/11- I just could not get into the characters and felt that the film was overly dramatic at times. I was surprised at how naive the lead character was. The NY Times called the screenplay choppy and fumbling and trying to deal with too many characters and I agree. This is an important topic and would have been better as a documentary. The 3 friends that I went with all liked the film. TRDB.

12) MIDNIGHT IN PARIS- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

13) CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE- Danbury. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) discovers that his wife (Julianne Moore) wants to end their marriage, he reluctantly faces the unwelcome prospect of single life with the counsel of the younger and smoother super-bachelor Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). Meanwhile, Cal’s adolescent son, Robbie (Jonah Bobo), has formed an unquenchable crush on his 17-year-old babysitter (Analeigh Tipton) — but is she more interested in Robbie’s recently unwed father?” Good early reviews. TRDB.

8/6/11- Crazy and stupid but lots of fun. Poignant as well. TRDB.

 

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

 

For Independent Films in Palm Beach County go to www.lakeworthplayhouse.org  

 

For Films everywhere go to- www.fandango.com