FILM REVIEWS #404

March 8th, 2012

 

MARCH 8, 2012
DEAR FRIENDS:
 
YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND MY PREVIOUS REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com
 
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
 
1) THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD– Theater
2) PROJECT NIM- Netflix
3) SALLAH– From a friend
 
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
 
1) THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD– 2012. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “The powerful and richly textured second feature from Joshua Marston focuses on an Albanian family caught up in a blood feud. Nik (Tristan Halilaj) is a carefree teenager in a small town with a crush on the school beauty and ambitions to start his own internet café. His world is suddenly up-ended when his father and uncle become entangled in a land dispute that leaves a fellow villager murdered. According to a centuries-old code of law, this entitles the dead man’s family to take the life of a male from Nik’s family as retribution. His uncle in jail and his father in hiding, Nik is the prime target and confined to the home while his younger sister Rudina (Sindi Laçej) is forced to leave school and take over their father’s business.” Good early reviews. TRDB.2/24/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times but very good reviews in general. TRDB.

3/3/12- I thought this movie was great! TRDB.

 
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
 
1) MISS BALA– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Determined to escape the poverty of her hometown, Laura enters a beauty pageant. But after she inadvertently witnesses a gangland massacre, she becomes a pawn in a violent game between the gang’s brutal leader, his rivals and American DEA agents.”1/15/12- An article about this film in today’s NY Times. Sounds interesting. TRDB.

1/20/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/2/12- Good acting and some tension make this easier to watch but it was too long and not very involving for me. TRDB.  Comcast On-Demand.

2) PROJECT NIM– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oscar-winning filmmaker James Marsh (Man on Wire) peers inside the landmark 1970s experiment for an unflinching look at Nim, the chimp whom scientists raised as human and taught sign language to prove that apes can communicate like humans. Firsthand accounts, previously unseen archival footage and powerful images tell of Nim‘s life in a human bubble. The result is a fascinating exposé on Nim‘s true nature — and a glimpse into our own.” Great reviews. TRDB.

3/4/12- A remarkable documentary that said as much about the humans involved as it did about the chimp. TRDB. Netflix.

3) SALLAH– 1964. Synopsis by Netflix. “After immigrating to the promised land — the new state of Israel — Sallah clashes with government officials and his kibbutz community in this 1964 comedy directed by Ephraim Kishon and starring Topol. Disgusted by overbearing bureaucracy and what he feels are unrealistic communal expectations, Sallah (Topol) butts heads with leaders and neighbors as he tries to acquire housing for his family. Gila Almagor and Arik Einstein also star.”

3/5/12- A funny satire of early life in the new State of Israel. TRDB. I borrowed it from a friend but it’s also available from Netflix.

4) THE RUM DIARY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Eager to flee his humdrum life in 1950s New York, booze-loving journalist Paul (Johnny Depp) moves to Puerto Rico and begins writing for a local rag, but his life becomes unhinged when he falls for a gorgeous woman (Amber Heard) and clashes with her shifty fiancé (Aaron Eckhart). Written and directed by Bruce Robinson, this adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s early novel also stars Richard Jenkins as Paul’s editor.”

10/28/11- Barely OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/5/12- Most reviews were bad but not as bad as the movie. I turned it off. What was Johnny Depp thinking? TRDB. Netflix.

5) A WEEK ALONE– 2007. Synopsis by Netflix. “An affluent Buenos Aires couple goes on vacation, leaving their children at home with only the family maid to keep an eye on them. But the peaceful dynamic the parents expect is upended when the maid’s teenage brother shows up unexpectedly.”

3/6/12- So this is what happens when you have an idle, unsupervised group of kids? Miserable movie. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

 
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 13-
 
1) MY WEEK WITH MARILYN– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “While filming a movie in England, Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe slips away with a young Brit for a week of self-discovery and frivolity. The story that ensues is based on the real-life memoirs of Colin Clark, once assistant to Sir Laurence Olivier.” Good audience reaction and mixed professional reviews. TRDB.11/28/11- I liked the movie, loved Michelle Williams as the breathless Monroe but the screenplay was just mediocre. TRDB. 

2) MY JOY– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a wrong turn takes truck driver Georgy (Viktor Nemets) into unfamiliar Russian countryside, he’s drawn into the mix of strange locals, including corrupt cops, a war veteran, a prostitute and a mysterious Gypsy woman — all of whom may lead him to a dead end. Russian documentary filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa directs this drama, a Cannes festival entry that co-stars Olga Shuvalova and Vlad Ivanov.”

9/30/11- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) YOUNG ADULT– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taken aback when she receives a letter from an old boyfriend announcing that he’s just had a baby with his wife, divorced fiction writer Mavis Gary decides to return to her small hometown and reconnect with her former lover.” Great audience reviews but no professional ones as yet. TRDB.

12/9/11- Great review in today’s NY Times and very good ones elsewhere– both professional and audience. TRDB.

12/16/11- Great, no. But an OK comedic drama that almost makes us like an unlikable character. TRDB.  

4) HOUSE OF TOLERANCE–  2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Bertrand Bonello makes life in an upscale Parisian bordello at the beginning of the 20th century the focus of this drama, which revolves around the working girls who ply their trade there — including one who’s been disfigured by a client.” Mixed reviews. TRDB.

5) LOOSIES– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A New York City pickpocket is forced to reexamine his choices when he crosses paths with a one-night stand who informs him she’s having his baby. At the same time, he’s trying to stay one step ahead of the detective whose badge he stole.” Weak professional reviews and some weak audience reviews also. TRDB.

6) STUCK BETWEEN STATIONS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this romantic tale of second glances, war-weary soldier Casper is on a brief leave when he bumps into childhood friend Rebecca at a packed party, and the pair set off on a Minneapolis night crawl that sends them through their own bittersweet past.”

11/4/11- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) MELANCHOLIA– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This inventive drama charts the disintegrating relationship between newly married twentysomething Justine and her melancholy sister, Claire, just as Earth hurtles toward certain collision with a newly discovered planet.”

9/18/11- An article (not a review) about this in today’s NY Times. Starring Kirsten Dunst. TRDB.

10/11- Great reviews but my friends hated it and called it pretentious. TRDB.

8)THE SWELL SEASON– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “To cope with his father’s terminal cancer, a troubled high schooler begins telling everyone — including his new girlfriend — that he has the same disease. But keeping up the ruse proves just as difficult as dealing with real life.”

10/21/11- Fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK-
 
1) FOOTNOTE- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Long-buried tensions erupt in this witty drama, which follows the strained relationship between a reserved Talmudic scholar and his ambitious son — both professors at the same university — when the father wins a prestigious award the son covets.”I saw this at the Palm Springs Film Festival 2012 and loved it. It was one of the 5 nominees for Best Foreign Film. TRDB.

2) FRIENDS WITH KIDS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Best friends Jason and Julie decide that the way to have kids without sacrificing their social lives or careers is to raise a child together platonically. But romance and other complications interfere with their perfect plan.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

3) GOOD FOR NOTHING– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “After kidnapping a spirited English woman with plans to have his way with her, a Wild West outlaw with performance issues seeks remedies for his impotence from Chinese and Indian healers while the two run from a posse on their tail.” Good audience reviews but I haven’t seen any professional ones as yet. Sounds interesting. TRDB.

4) JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This delectable documentary profiles sushi chef Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old master whose 10-seat, $300-a-plate restaurant is legendary among Tokyo foodies. Ono is also a father, whose sons struggle to live up to his legacy and make their own marks.” Good early reviews. TRDB.

5) SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A sheik with a love for the sport hopes to introduce fly-fishing to the Middle East and turns to uptight fisheries expert Fred Jones for help. Buoyed by the sheik’s enthusiasm (and his comely English aide), Fred sets out to achieve the impossible.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.

 
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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-
 
1) ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “A body has been buried in the grasslands of rural Turkey. Over the course of one night, a doctor and a detective from a nearby town join a search effort in which the desolate landscape comes to symbolize their own solemn, insular lives.” Very good professional reviews but so far audiences just so-so. TRDB.1/4/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
 
2) DECLARATION OF WAR– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix.  “Fatefully named actors Roméo and Juliette fall in love and have a baby. But the stars in their eyes are dimmed when their son falls gravely ill. As they desperately cling to their image of the perfect family, they can’t ignore the devastating truth.” Average audience reviews and no professional reviews as yet. TRDB.1/27/12- Fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
 
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
 
NEW-
 
1) BLACK BUTTERFLIES–  2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This passionate biopic profiles South African poet Ingrid Jonker, whose exuberant nature is destroyed by her repeated betrayals of her supportive lover and her complex relationship with her disapproving father, the minister of censorship.”3/2/12- Generally good reviews. TRDB.
2) DETACHMENT– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “An emotionally detached substitute teacher floats from class to class without forming any bonds. But when he takes a new assignment at an inner city school, he unexpectedly finds himself becoming involved in the lives of his colleagues and students.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.
 
3) FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN– 2008. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the wake of an unexpected family tragedy, novelist Michael Taylor (Ryan Reynolds) is forced to confront his fractured relationship with his father (Willem Dafoe) while dealing with painful memories of his mother (Julia Roberts), a woman who moved mountains to protect him. Emily Watson, Hayden Panettiere, Ioan Gruffudd and Carrie-Anne Moss also star in this semiautobiographical tale of rage and redemption from writer-director Dennis Lee.”
 
10/14/11- A weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2/13/12- Perhaps I’m a sucker for movies with intense family issues but I enjoyed this fairly well panned drama. TRDB. Netflix.

 
4) THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD– 2012. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “The powerful and richly textured second feature from Joshua Marston focuses on an Albanian family caught up in a blood feud. Nik (Tristan Halilaj) is a carefree teenager in a small town with a crush on the school beauty and ambitions to start his own internet café. His world is suddenly up-ended when his father and uncle become entangled in a land dispute that leaves a fellow villager murdered. According to a centuries-old code of law, this entitles the dead man’s family to take the life of a male from Nik’s family as retribution. His uncle in jail and his father in hiding, Nik is the prime target and confined to the home while his younger sister Rudina (Sindi Laçej) is forced to leave school and take over their father’s business.” Good early reviews. TRDB.2/24/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times but very good reviews in general. TRDB.

3/3/12- I thought this movie was great! TRDB.

5) HELL AND BACK AGAIN– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this unvarnished documentary set on the Afghan front line, U.S. Marine Sgt. Nathan Harris is wounded by Taliban machine-gun fire, then returns to his North Carolina home to grapple with the stress of civilian life. Embedded with Harris’s company on the battlefield, filmmaker Danfung Dennis discovers that for the 25-year-old veteran, recovering from a bullet to the head is no tougher than regaining a foothold in an apathetic homeland.” At Sundance 2011. Fair audience reviews and a few professional reviews– all good. TRDB.1/24/12- Another reminder that war is hell. Very well done and highly recommended. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
6) LET THE BULLETS FLY– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this comedic Western set in 1920s China, outlaw Zhang hijacks a train carrying the governor and a whole lot of loot. When the train derails, Zhang hatches a scheme to impersonate the governor with the help of the official’s shady assistant.” Excellent early reviews. TRDB.3/2/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) RETURN- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a tour of duty in the Middle East, Kelli expects her life to return to normal when she rejoins her husband and two children at home. But she finds herself unable to fit in as she realizes her family and friends have changed during her absence.”

2/10/12- OK reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

REPEATS-
 
1) ANONYMOUS- Fair reviews at best and I didn’t like it
2) ANOTHER EARTH- Good reviews but I did not like it
3) BEGINNERS- I liked this very much
4) A BETTER LIFE- I enjoyed this one very much
5) CRAZY, STUPID LOVE- I actually enjoyed this movie
6) THE DEBT- Good reviews
7) DECLARATION OF WAR- Good reviews
8)DIRTY GIRL- A few good reviews but the NY Times hated it
9) DRIVE- I liked it
10) THE GUARD- Very good reviews. I thought it was OK
11) THE HELP- Good reviews- I’ll see it eventually
12) HIGHER GROUND- I liked this very much
13) I’M GLAD MY MOTHER IS ALIVE- The NY Times gave it a good review and I liked it as well
14) THE IDES OF MARCH- I enjoyed the movie
15) THE LIE- Very good reviews and I just saw it and liked it- see “above”
16) LIFE, ABOVE ALL- I enjoyed this movie much and highly recommend it
17) MAN ON A MISSION- Fair reviews
18)MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE- I liked this film
19) MIDNIGHT IN PARIS- Great movie
20) MISS BALA- I found this one interesting at times and boring at times but overall OK. See “above”
21) MONEYBALL- I liked it
22) MOZART’S SISTER- I saw this months ago and enjoyed it
23) SARAH’S KEY- Very good
24) SIDEWALLS- Can’t say I really liked it but it was different. I liked the ending
25) TAKE SHELTER- An excellent movie- you should definitely see this one
26) THUNDER SOUL- An OK documentary- worth seeing
27) THE TREE OF LIFE- I did not like this one at all
28) URBANIZED- Great review in NY Times
29) WARRIOR- I liked this one very much
 

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 IN THE BURBS-

  

1) FRIENDS WITH KIDS– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Best friends Jason and Julie decide that the way to have kids without sacrificing their social lives or careers is to raise a child together platonically. But romance and other complications interfere with their perfect plan.” Very good reviews. TRDB.

  

2) IN DARKNESS– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by RottenTomatoes. “From acclaimed director Agnieszka Holland, In Darkness is based on a true story. Leopold Socha, a sewer worker and petty thief in Lvov, a Nazi occupied city in Poland, one day encounters a group of Jews trying to escape the liquidation of the ghetto. He hides them for money in the labyrinth of the town’s sewers beneath the bustling activity of the city above. What starts out as a straightforward and cynical business arrangement turns into something very unexpected, the unlikely alliance between Socha and the Jews as the enterprise seeps deeper into Socha’s conscience. The film is also an extraordinary story of survival as these men, women and children all try to outwit certain death during 14 months of ever increasing and intense danger.”

  

REPEATS-

  

1) A SEPARATION– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “An Iranian husband and wife split up over his decision to stay and care for his aging father instead of leaving the country with his family. But his fateful choice to hire a stranger to do most of the caretaking breeds unexpected consequences.” Very good reviews and indeed on the top ten list of at least one reviewer I’ve read. 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  

 

 

12/30/11- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

1/13/12- I saw this at the Palm Springs Film Festival 2012 and liked it but not as much as most of my friends. TRDB.

2/26/12- Just won Best Foreign Film Oscar. TRDB.

2) THE DESCENDANTS– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “When his wife is killed in a Waikiki boating accident, distant father Matt King (George Clooney) begins an iffy journey to repair his fractured relationship with his two daughters. But he’s also trying to decide whether to let go of some valuable family real estate. Judy Greer, Beau Bridges and Matthew Lillard co-star in this tragic-comic tale of legacy and unexpected loss based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.

11/26/11- A very thoughtful and well acted family drama. Humor interspersed with all of the serious material lightened up an otherwise overwhelming drama. Recommended highly. TRDB.

3) THE ARTIST– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This modern-day silent film artfully recounts the poignant end of the silent-movie era in the late 1920s. The story contrasts the declining fortunes of a silent-screen superstar with his lover’s rise to popularity as a darling of the “talkies.”

11/26/11- Great reviews including one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

12/24/11- I liked this movie very much. Very creative, well acted and an interesting story as well. TRDB.

2/26/12- Just won Best Picture Oscar. TRDB.

4)  THE IRON LADY– Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Meryl Streep provides a subtle and nuanced portrait of Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister of Britain, whose political career and determination changed the rules that had limited women’s opportunities for leadership.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.

5)  MY WEEK WITH MARILYN– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “While filming a movie in England, Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe slips away with a young Brit for a week of self-discovery and frivolity. The story that ensues is based on the real-life memoirs of Colin Clark, once assistant to Sir Laurence Olivier.” Good audience reaction and mixed professional reviews. TRDB.

11/28/11- I liked the movie but loved Michelle Williams as the breathless Monroe. The screenplay was just mediocre. TRDB.  

12/30/11- A weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6) HUGO 3D– Danbury. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When his father dies, 12-year-old orphan Hugo takes up residence behind the walls of a Parisian train station. There, he meets Isabelle, the daughter of filmmaker Georges Méliès, who holds the key to Hugo‘s destiny.” Great reviews. TRDB.

2/18/12- A delightful story and wonderful in 3D as well. TRDB. For ALL ages. Go see it or rent it at home!! TRDB.

12/4/11- An article (not a review) about this movie in the NY Times today. TRDB.

12/9/11- Fair review in today’s NY Times but excellent ones from others. TRDB.

3) THE SALT OF LIFE– Jacob Burns. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Rather than living the good life he’d imagined, newly retired Gianni spends his days running errands for those around him. Bemoaning his fate, he decides to take a mistress — a task that proves easier said than done in this wistful comedy.” Very good reviews including the NY Times. TRDB.

 

THE REEL DR. BOB

The Reel Dr. Bob

Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters

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