The Reel Dr. Bob

MAY 5, 2010,

DEAR FRIENDS:

PLEASE ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES FOR THE WEEK- See “below” for details.

 

1) MAN ON WIRE

2) MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT

 

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MOVIES I’VE SEEN AT THE THEATER-

 

1) PRANZO DI FERRAGOSTO (MID-AUGUST LUNCH)- Premise by Netflix. “As the Italian holiday of Pranzo di Ferragosto approaches, cash-strapped Gianni (Gianni Di Gregorio) gets help from his landlord, his friend and his doctor, who offer financial relief in exchange for Gianni looking after their elderly relatives over the holiday. Four mismatched Italian mamas at the same table make for an awkward, hilarious and touching mid-August lunch in this film festival favorite from Di Gregorio, who also wrote and directed.” Excellent reviews.

 

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MOVIES I’VE VIEWED AT HOME-

 

1) MAN ON WIRE- Premise by Netflix. “Philippe Petit captured the world’s attention in 1974 when he successfully walked across a high wire between New York’s Twin Towers. This Oscar winner for Best Documentary explores the preparations that went into the stunt as well as the event and its aftermath. Obsessed with the towers even before they were fully constructed, Petit sneaked into the buildings several times to determine the equipment he needed to accomplish his daring feat.”

4/10- I loved this movie. Suspenseful even though we know the outcome. See it!! TRDB. Netflix.

2) THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS- Premise by Netflix. “Christopher Plummer and Heath Ledger star in this quirky fantasy from director Terry Gilliam. When a deal with the devil comes due, the immortal Doctor Parnassus (Plummer) must renegotiate the pact to save his daughter. Now, with the help of his mystical theater troupe and a mysterious stranger, Parnassus attempts to right the wrongs of his past. The film is Ledger’s last, with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law all completing his role.”

5/10- Even though I tried I just could not get into this fantasy movie and I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.

3) MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT- Premise by Netflix. “Rehearsal footage, backstage action and interviews comprise this moving Michael Jackson experience. He is shown here preparing for a series of 50 sold-out London shows, which were scheduled to kick off in late summer 2009. Singing his numerous hits at the Staples Center in Los Angeles during the days leading up to his untimely death, Jackson is also seen refining cues, delving into dance details and working with director Kenny Ortega.”

5/10- If you like MJ this movie is great. I do and it is!! A very different view of the master and his interaction with the crew to improve the production. Nothing about the man himself in the movie. Great dancing as expected. TRDB. Netflix.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, MAY 11-

 

1) NORTH FACE- Premise by Netflix. “In 1936, young German climbers Toni Kurz (Benno Fürmann) and Andreas Hinterstoisser (Florian Lukas) face off against a rival Austrian duo in an attempt to be the first team to scale the infamous north face of the Eiger in the Swiss Alps. As the men make the treacherous climb, journalist Luise (Johanna Wokalek) — Toni’s childhood love — covers the biggest story of her career. Philipp Stölzl helms this drama based on a true story.“ Very good reviews.

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OPENING THIS WEEK-

 

1) BABIES- Premise by Netflix. “Documentary filmmaker Thomas Balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs. Training his camera on newborns Hattie from San Francisco, Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia and Mari from Tokyo, Balmes captures every moment, from their first screaming breaths to their first tentative steps.” Fairly good reviews. 

 

2) MOTHER AND CHILD- Premise by Netflix. “A stellar cast heads this emotional drama about motherhood, romance and self-fulfillment. Embittered matron Karen (Annette Bening) regrets having given up her daughter, Elizabeth (Naomi Watts), for adoption, and 35 years later, Elizabeth is questioning her own approach to life. Their stories intersect with that of Lucy (Kerry Washington), who hopes to fulfill her dreams of motherhood through adoption, even though her need for a child jeopardizes her marriage.” Very good early reviews.

 

3) MULTIPLE SARCASMS- Premise by Netflix. “In 1979, architect Gabriel (Timothy Hutton) begins questioning his existence, avoiding work and escaping into the fictional world of movies. When he starts writing a play examining the choices he’s made, it creates issues with his wife (Dana Delany), daughter (India Ennenga) and friends. Meanwhile, he tries to convince a brassy literary agent (Stockard Channing) to represent him and confides in his best friend (Mira Sorvino) in this indie drama.” I saw only one review and it’s fair at best.

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FLORIDA- At the Emerging Cinemas of Lake Worth- 

 

1) BREAKING UPWARDS- About a young couple who have been together for 4 years. They become bored with each other and plan their breakup in stages. I found the movie both interesting and sad as they genuinely appeared to love each other.

 

2) 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.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) BROKEN EMBRACES- Premise by Netflix. “Aging filmmaker Mateo Blanco (Lluís Homar) — aka screenwriter Harry Caine — tells his assistant (Tamar Novas) about life before the accident that left him blind, when he became embroiled in a torrid affair with aspiring actress Lena (Penélope Cruz). Harry’s story involves his agent, Judit (Blanca Portillo), and deceitful financier Ernesto Martel (José Luis Gómez). Pedro Almodovar writes and directs this colorful, romantic and tragic thriller.”

 

2) MERCY-  Premise by Netflix. “A pessimistic writer who’s never known true love struggles to pen a novel that captures that puzzling emotion’s all-consuming nature. While hunting for inspiration, the author falls for Mercy (Wendy Glenn), a woman who drastically alters his outlook on life. Scott Caan writes and stars in this enthralling romance that co-stars his father, James Caan, as well as Erika Christensen, Dylan McDermott and Troy Garity. Mixed reviews but many more negative than positive.

 

3) DISGRACE- 2008. Directed by Steve Jacob. Premise by Netflix. “After an imprudent affair with a student, Cape Town professor David Lurie (John Malkovich) flees to his daughter’s remote farm to escape the scandal, only to find tragedy when a trio of black youths brutally assaults them. But Lurie is forced to face apartheid’s lasting repercussions when he discovers that one of the attackers is related to a trusted employee (Eriq Ebouaney) in this pensive drama based on J.M. Coetzee’s novel.”

4) ROAD, MOVIE- Premise by Netflix. “Reluctant to take over his father’s flailing hair-oil business, young Vishnu (Abhay Deol) becomes the sole proprietor of a traveling cinema after he happens upon an abandoned truck containing a library of film reels and a film projector. During his odyssey across small-town India, he befriends a young runaway, a gorgeous gypsy, a wandering minstrel and others in this funny and romantic adventure, a hit at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.” Very good reviews.

 

5) IT’S COMPLICATED- Premise by Netflix. “Ten years after their divorce, Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) enjoy an amicable friendship. When the two unite for their son’s college graduation, their romance is rekindled. But Jake is married, and Jane’s architect, Adam (Steve Martin), has a thing for her. Now cheating on the younger woman for whom he left Jane, Jake wants his ex-wife back. But Jane’s busy getting to know Adam. Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give) wrote and directed this Golden Globe-nominated comedy.” Not my usual type of movie but this film got a few good reviews. Just a few. Coming to Netflix on 5/25.

 

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 Films in Your Neighborhood go to- http://lakeworthplayhouse.org/indie_films.html

 

For all films go to- www.fandango.com

 

 

1) BABIES- Danbury, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “Documentary filmmaker Thomas Balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs. Training his camera on newborns Hattie from San Francisco, Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia and Mari from Tokyo, Balmes captures every moment, from their first screaming breaths to their first tentative steps.” Fairly good reviews. 

 

2) THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES- Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Premise by Netflix. “A startling discovery comes to light for retired Argentine criminal investigator Benjamín Espósito (Ricardo Darín) as he pens a biographical novel about the unsolved case of a young newlywed’s brutal rape and murder years ago. Past and present intertwine for Espósito and colleague Pablo Sandoval (Guillermo Francella) in director Juan José Campanella’s suspenseful character study in which justice, pain and love collide.” This entry from Argentina won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. I plan to see it this week.

 

3) CITY ISLAND- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Danbury. About families and the secrets they keep. I liked the film. TRDB.

 

4) THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO- Saw Mill Hawthorne. Good thriller.

 

5) THE GHOST WRITER- Saw Mill Hawthorne. A political thriller. OK. 

 

6) EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP- Jacob Burns. Premise by Netflix. “Filmmaker Thierry Guetta had been casually documenting the underground world of street art for years, but when he encounters Banksy, an elusive British stencil artist, his project takes a fascinating twist. Unimpressed with Guetta’s footage, Banksy takes over filmmaking duties and Guetta reinvents himself as a street artist named Mr. Brainwash — and, much to Banksy‘s surprise, immediately becomes a darling of the Los Angeles art scene.” Great reviews.”

 

 7) DANCING ACROSS BORDERS- Jacob Burns. 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.” Good reviews.

 

 

THAT’S IT FOR NOW-
THE REEL DR BOB
The Reel Dr. Bob

 

4/10- Somewhat weak script but the usual great acting by Malkovich makes the movie. Great vistas of the mountains. TRDB. On Netflix.

12/25/09- I liked this movie a lot. Beautiful photography and beautiful Cruz as well. You’ll probably have questions and lots of discussion at the end. TRDB. On Netflix also.

5/10- Despite the wonderful reviews I felt that this very short feature film (1hr. and 15min.) was just OK. A slice of Italian life with some bonding between the old biddies and between them and Di Gregorio. Something about being an Italian movie made this better. TRDB.