The Reel Dr. Bob

FILM REVIEWS #385

September 22nd, 2011

  SEPT. 22, 2011 DEAR FRIENDS:   TO MY FLORIDA READERS:   DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE L-DUB FILM FESTIVAL THAT RUNS FROM FRIDAY, SEPT. 30 TO SUNDAY, OCT. 2 AT THE STONZEK THEATER LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE ON LAKE AVE. IN DOWNTOWN LAKE WORTH   QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-  

1) CIRCUMSTANCE- Theater

2) THE DEBT-  (The original Israeli version) Comcast On-Demand

3) UP THE YANGTZE- Netflix 4) MEEK’S CUTOFF- Netflix   _________________________________________________________________________________________   MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-  

1) CIRCUMSTANCE- 2011. Premise 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.

9/19/11- A very good drama that clearly depicts the dangers of living in such a repressive society. Good acting and the movie seemed real. TRDB.

  _________________________________________________________________________________________   MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-  

1) THE DEBT- 2007. This is the original movie called “The Debt” from Israel. Directed by Assaf Bernstein and starring Gila Almagor this thriller is about an Israeli woman in her 60’s, a former Mosad agent, who is summoned to kill a Nazi war criminal that she came close to killing decades ago. TRDB.

9/15/11- I enjoyed the movie and from what I hear it was much less violent than the newer version with Helen Mirren. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

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.

9/15/11- When the reviews said that the movie was “wordless” they weren’t kidding. I guess I like dialogue because I hated this well received movie. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

3) CHERRY- 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Brilliant but naïve Ivy League freshman Aaron (Kyle Gallner) becomes enchanted by free-spirited older student Linda (Laura Allen) — and when she invites him for dinner, he hopes they hook up. But it turns out Linda’s spunky 14-year-old daughter, Beth (Brittany Robertson), takes a liking to him. As he fends off Beth’s aggressive advances, Aaron finds himself in the middle of an unusual emotional triangle that teaches him some unexpected lessons.” OK review in NY Times on 11/5/10.

9/16/11- Formulaic for most of the movie but surprisingly interesting at times, particularly the young daughter’s part. I have to say that I did like it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

4) UP THE YANGTZE- 2007. Synopsis by Netflix. “When the Three Gorges Dam makes life hard for the Yu family, daughter Yu Shui must take a job aboard a cruise ship, where she enters into a dizzying microcosm of modern China. Meanwhile, her parents face the rising waters of the Yangtze. Chinese Canadian filmmaker Yung Chang’s beautifully photographed film of China’s peasant life and cultural upheaval was nominated for Best Documentary for the Independent Spirit Awards.”

9/18/11- I saw this a few years ago and again yesterday. First time I loved it. Second time I liked it a lot. Beautiful scenery and well done movie. It bothered me that they made Western tourists look simplistic. TRDB. Netflix.

5) MEEK’S CUTOFF- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in 1845, this drama follows a group of settlers as they embark on a punishing journey along the Oregon Trail. When their guide leads them astray, the expedition is forced to contend with the unforgiving conditions of the high plain desert. Inspired by a true story, this effort from director Kelly Reichardt (Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy) illustrates the harsh difficulties, monotony and desperation endured by covered-wagon travelers.” Good review in NY Times on 4/8/11. TRDB.

9/20/11-  I liked this one a lot. A reviewer called it more of an experience than a story and I agree. I can still smell the earth. TRDB. Netflix.

6) ROAD TO NOWHERE- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a reach for authenticity, filmmaker Mitch (Tygh Runyan) casts an unknown actress (Shannyn Sossamon) to star in his upcoming film, the true story of a puzzling political scandal involving a North Carolina senator. But then he learns the actress may have actually been involved. Before long, Mitch finds himself helplessly ensnared in a deadly web of intrigue. Dominique Swain and Waylon Payne round out the cast.” OK review in NY Times on 6/10/11 and in general better professional reviews than audience ones. TRDB.

9/21/11- A somewhat confusing storyline where the whole was much less than it’s parts. It held my interest intermittently. TRDB. Netflix.

  _________________________________________________________________________________________   COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 27-  

1) L’AMOUR FOU- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Yves Saint-Laurent — synonymous with Le Smoking suit, the safari jacket and Studio 54 — met Pierre Bergé in 1958, and this intimate documentary pays tribute to their extraordinary 50-year friendship. The pair were lovers, then partners in fashion and in art collecting, and when they weren’t rocking haute couture with prêt-à-porter or the first black runway models, they were acquiring the objets d’art from which the designer drew inspiration.” Mediocre reviews. TRDB.  

2) SKATELAND- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Anthony Burns and screenwriter brothers Heath and Brandon Freeman tell the story of 19-year-old Ritchie Wheeler (Shiloh Fernandez), who finds his life at a crossroads when the Texas roller rink where he works is forced to shut its doors. Set in the early 1980s, this is a coming-of-age tale in which the hapless but hopeful protagonist must contend with his parents’ divorce, shifting friendships and making choices on the path to adulthood.” Fairly good audience reaction so far. OK review in NY Times on 5/13/11. TRDB.  

3) GOOD NEIGHBORS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an apartment complex nestled in Montreal’s Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood, everyone is nervous with a serial killer on the loose. Meanwhile, waitress Louise (Emily Hampshire) and widower Spencer (Scott Speedman) bond with new resident Victor (Jay Baruchel), which could prove dangerous. Staying alive may well mean figuring out who to trust. Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky) writes and directs this mystery thriller.” OK review in NY Times on 7/29/11. TRDB.  

4) THE LEDGE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This unusual, character-driven thriller follows young hotel manager Gavin (Charlie Hunnam), who steps out onto a high ledge to commit suicide. World-weary police officer Hollis (Terrence Howard) is assigned to talk him down but is tormented by traumatic issues of his own. The men find themselves debating atheism, faith and the meaning of life, and soon are embroiled in a battle of wills that has each man questioning his commitment to his chosen path.” Only a fair review at best in today’s NY Times (7/8/11). TRDB.  

5) VIVA RIVA!- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hustler Riva (Patsha Bay) hopes to make a fortune by smuggling large quantities of gasoline and selling it for high prices in fuel-starved Kinshasa, but he’s not the only one with his eye on the lucrative prize. Riva’s plan gets complicated when he falls for Nora (Manie Malone), the girlfriend of local crime kingpin Azor (Diplome Amekindra), but the stunning Nora is also scheming for a big payday in this sleek thriller.” Fair review in NY Times on 6/10/11 but good reviews in general. TRDB. _________________________________________________________________________________________   OPENING THIS WEEK- Not much and I’m stretching it here—  

1) MACHINE GUN PREACHER- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Gerard Butler stars in this true-life story of Sam Childers, a drug dealer who turns his life around to become a spiritual warrior. His mission? Rescuing child soldiers in the Sudan from lives ruined by their forced participation in bloody conflict.” A few good reviews so far. TRDB.  

2) MONEYBALL- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “An all-star cast brings to life the true story of Billy Beane, a former jock turned general manager who uses unconventional methods to bring the best players to the Oakland A’s, a major league baseball team struggling against financial hardship.” No reviews yet. TRDB.  

3) PUNCTURE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Drug-addicted attorney Mike and his business partner Paul take on a case involving an emergency room nurse who has been pricked by an infected needle. Uncovering a web of corporate conspiracies, Mike and Paul quickly find themselves outmatched.” No reviews yet. TRDB.   

4) WEEKEND- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Russell visits a local gay bar on a Friday night, hoping to meet Mr. Right Now. Instead, he finds Glen, and they spend an intimate weekend learning each other’s innermost secrets. Though neither expected to, both men may have found a soul mate.” I read one review and it’s good. TRDB.  

5) THUNDER SOUL- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Mark Landsman totes his cameras to a tight-knit North Houston community in this poignant documentary, which celebrates an inner-city high school band leader’s lasting influence on his now-grown students. When Conrad “Prof” Johnson took the reins of the jazz band at Kashmere High School in the 1970s, he had a group that was mediocre at best. But before anyone knew it, the school had a funk powerhouse on its hands. The film picked up awards at both the L.A. Film Festival and South by Southwest.” A few fair reviews. TRDB.       _________________________________________________________________________________________   FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-  

1) TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Everyday life in 1980s Romania under Ceausescu takes on an air of comic surrealism in this whimsical collection of shorts written by award-winning filmmaker Cristian Mungiu and helmed by several acclaimed Romanian directors. A lighthearted take on the urban myths that persisted throughout the late communist era, the comedy anthology recalls a time when laughing in the face of absurdity and oppression was the only way to survive.”

8/27/11- OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

  2) 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.   _________________________________________________________________________________________   COMCAST ON-DEMAND-  

NEW-  

1) A SCREAMING MAN- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Adam (Youssouf Djaoro) was a security guard at a posh Chad hotel until its new owners replaced him with his son (Dioucounda Koma). In this nation torn apart by civil war, citizens are called upon to help. But Adam only has one thing to give, forcing him to make a devastating choice. Emile Abossolo M’bo and Djénéba Koné co-star in this powerful drama, winner of the Jury Prize at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.” Great professional reviews and average audience reviews. TRDB.

8/3/11- A very slow but very moving drama about the effects of war on one family in particular. Definitely recommended. TRDB.

  2) LOURDES- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Confined to a wheelchair for most of her life, lonely Christine (Sylvie Testud) devises a plan to change her circumstances by journeying to Lourdes, the small town in the foothills of the Pyrenees, where many flock to be healed. The journey yields startling results for our isolated hero in director Jessica Hausner‘s Austrian drama, an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.” Great reviews.  

3) 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.  

4) TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Everyday life in 1980s Romania under Ceausescu takes on an air of comic surrealism in this whimsical collection of shorts written by award-winning filmmaker Cristian Mungiu and helmed by several acclaimed Romanian directors. A lighthearted take on the urban myths that persisted throughout the late communist era, the comedy anthology recalls a time when laughing in the face of absurdity and oppression was the only way to survive.”

8/27/11- OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

  REPEATS-   1) ANOTHER YEAR- I liked it but friends did not

2) ARTHUR- This is the re-make– fair reviews at best

3) AUTO EROTIC- Good review in NY Times

4) BARNEY’S VERSION- I liked this very much. Back On-Demand

5) BEWARE THE GONZO- Haven’t seen this yet

6) BLACK SWAN- Very good

7) BLUE VALENTINE- I thought this was a very good movie with lots of raw emotion. Not for everyone

8)BRIGHTON ROAD- OK reviews

9) BURKE AND HARE- Fair reviews

10) CARBON NATION- I haven’t seen this yet

11) CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS- Very good reviews but I haven’t seen it yet

12) CONSPIRATOR- I found this one just OK. Would have been a better documentary

13) FAIR GAME- I liked it very much

14) FLYPAPER- OK reviews

15) IF A TREE FALLS- An interesting documentary, I saw it and liked it

16) JANE EYRE- OK reviews– I haven’t seen it yet

17) LIMITLESS- An OK sci-fi film

18)LINCOLN LAWYER- Good movie

19) LOVE CRIME- OK reviews- I haven’t seen it yet

20) MAO’S LAST DANCER- Very good movie–a tearjerker as well

21) MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER- Good reviews

22) QUEEN TO PLAY- I liked this very much

23) SKATELAND- Mediocre reviews

24) SMALL TOWN MURDER SONGS- I liked it a lot

25) SOMEWHERE- I enjoyed the movie- it’s slow so beware

26) SOURCE CODE- OK reviews

27) THE KING’S SPEECH- I liked it with a few complaints

28)TRUST- I liked it

29) WIN WIN- Very good and highly recommended

30) WINTER IN WARTIME- I enjoyed it  

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

  _________________________________________________________________________________________   BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)  

NEW IN THE SUBURBS-  

1) SILENT SOULS- Jacob Burns. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Paul Hanganu (Mimi Branescu) is in love with two women: Adriana (Mirela Oprisor), his wife of 10 years, and Raluca (Maria Popistasu), his mistress of the past several months. Now, at a crossroads, Paul is forced to choose between them in this drama from Romanian director Radu Muntean. Combining careful staging and emotionally intense dialogue, the film presents an unblinking profile of a man in crisis and the women whose lives he’s ensnared.” Very good reviews. TRDB.   

2) MOZART’S SISTER- Jacob Burns. 2011. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “A speculative account of Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart (Marie Feret), five years older than Wolfgang (David Moreau) and a musical prodigy in her own right. Originally the featured performer, she has given way to Wolfgang as the main attraction, as their strict but loving father Leopold (Marc Barbe) tours his talented offspring in front of the royal courts of pre-French revolution Europe. Approaching marriageable age and now forbidden to play the violin or compose, Nannerl chafes at the limitations imposed on her gender but a friendship with the son and daughter of Louis XV offers an alternative.”

8/19/11- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) MY AFTERNOONS WITH MARGUERITE- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “An illiterate handyman named Germain (Gérard Depardieu) befriends Margueritte (Gisèle Casadesus), a highly educated 95-year-old woman. The two couldn’t be more different, with the oafish Germain bewildered by the literature that gives Margueritte such pleasure. Slowly the two form an unusual and intense bond, leading them to a greater understanding of their place in the world, and in each other’s lives.” Early professional reviews are positive but weak for audiences. TRDB.

9/16/11- Weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

  REPEATS-  

1) CIRCUMSTANCE- Bethel. 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.

9/19/11- A very good drama that clearly depicts the dangers of living in such a repressive society. Good acting and the movie seemed real. TRDB.

2) THE DEBT- Bethel, Clearview 100, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 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.

3) 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.

4) 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.” Good reviews. TRDB.

5) 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.

6)  LOVE CRIME- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

7) SARAH’S KEY- 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.

8)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.

9) WARRIOR- Danbury. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in the violent and merciless world of mixed martial arts combat, director Gavin O’Connor’s tale of two brothers at war with each other features plenty of wild ring action as well as emotional family drama. Tom Conlon (Tom Hardy) and older brother Brendan (Joel Edgerton) have pursued separate lives, but when Tom returns home to ask his father’s help in preparing for a championship bout, events lead the siblings back into each other’s paths.”

9/9/11- Good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. 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

 —
THE REEL DR. BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob

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