The Reel Dr. Bob

APRIL 19, 2012

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND SEARCH FOR PREVIOUS REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL AT THE JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER IN PLEASANTVILLE, NY CONTIUES THIS WEEK.

ABSOLUTELY WORTH A VISIT!!

 

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) KADDISH FOR A FRIEND– Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns Film Center

2) FREE MEN– Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns Film Center

3) WE HAVE A POPE– Comcast On-Demand

4) BULLY– Theater

5) STANDING SILENT– Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns Film Center

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) KADDISH FOR A FRIEND– About a young refugee and his family from Lebanon living in Germany who befriends an old Jewish man living in the apartment above him.

4/13/12- I saw this as part of the 2012 Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns. A very interesting and appealing plea for rapprochement between Arab and Jew on a 1 to 1 basis. TRDB.

2) FREE MEN– 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In German-occupied Paris, a young unemployed Algerian named Younes (played by break-out star, Tahar Rahim) earns his living as a black marketeer. Arrested by the French police but given a chance to avoid jail, Younes agrees to spy on the Paris Mosque. The police suspect the Mosque authorities, including its rector Ben Ghabrit, of aiding Muslim Resistance agents and helping North African Jews by giving them false certificates. At the Mosque, Younes meets the Algerian singer Salim Halali, and is moved by Salim’s beautiful voice and strong personality. When Younes discovers that Salim is Jewish, he stops collaborating with the police and gradually transforms from a politically ignorant immigrant into a fully-fledged freedom fighter.”

3/16/12- Mixed reviews in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/14/12- I saw this as part of the 2012 Jewish Film Festival at the Jacob Burns Film Center and liked it very much. TRDB.

 

3) BULLY– 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Directed by Sundance and Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, The Bully Project is a beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of America’s bullying crisis. The Bully Project follows five kids and families over the course of a school year. Stories include two families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year-old daughter who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus. With an intimate glimpse into homes, classrooms, cafeterias and principals’ offices, the film offers insight into the often cruel world of the lives of bullied children.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.3/31/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/17/12- A very powerful documentary that should be required viewing for all parents. TRDB.

4) STANDING SILENT– 2010. Synopsis from the Jacob Burns Film Center web site. “Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has been in the news for years, but it’s taken longer for similar revelations to emerge from the Orthodox Jewish world. Journalist Phil Jacobs was one of the first to take it on. Bravely focusing on his own community in Baltimore, he encountered denial, hostility, and—most painfully—ostracism along the way. His very personal story is the subject of this powerful, important documentary.”

Very few reviews but they’re all good. TRDB.

4/18/12- Seen as part of the Westchester Jewish Film Festival and I liked it very much. TRDB.

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) WE HAVE A POPE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “The newly elected Pope suffers a panic attack just as he is due to appear on St Peter’s balcony to greet the faithful, who have been patiently awaiting the conclave’s decision. His advisers, unable to convince him he is the right man for the job, seek help from a renowned psychoanalyst (and atheist). But his fear of the responsibility suddenly thrust upon him is one that he must face on his own.” Generally poor reviews. TRDB.4/6/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/15/12- Despite the fair to poor reviews I enjoyed this film about a man suffering with the awesome responsibility placed on him and his questions about being able to do the job. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

CAME TO NETFLIX ON APRIL 17 WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE-

 

1) COOK COUNTY– 2008. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Sonny (Xander Berkeley) returns home after serving time in prison, he tries to reestablish a relationship with his downtrodden son, Abe (Ryan Donowho), who is overcoming a methamphetamine habit while living in a house harboring other addicts. This searing cautionary tale also stars Anson Mount as Bump, Sonny’s wheeling and drug-dealing younger brother, and Makenna Fitzsimmons as Deandra, Sonny’s young niece whose safety is often endangered.” Poor early reviews. TRDB.12/16/11- Awful review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, APRIL 24-

 

1) THE TIME THAT REMAINS– 2011. Streaming only!!  Premise by Netflix. “From the creation of Israel in 1948 all the way through the early 21st century, a single Palestinian family endures many triumphs and tragedies over the course of several generations in this sweeping drama. Writer-director Elia Suleiman also stars in this semiautobiographical film, the third installment in a trilogy that also includes the critically acclaimed Chronicle of a Disappearance and Divine Intervention.” Good review in NY Times on 1/8/11. At Sundance 2011.1/11- I don’t know what the critics were thinking. I found this movie of NO value and fairly stupid at that. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand straight from Sundance 2011.

2) YOUNG GOETHE IN LOVE– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “The love life of aspiring young poet Johann Goethe is the subject of this period biopic. As Goethe strains against his family’s expectation that he study law, he falls in love with Lotte, who is to be wed to another.”

11/4/11- Just an OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

3) 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.

4) 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.

3/9/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) GARBO: THE SPY– 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Using interviews, archival footage and clips from old movies, director Edmon Roch tells the fascinating tale of Juan Pujol, a Spaniard who, under the codename Garbo, worked as a double agent during World War II and helped the Allies win the war.”

11/18/11- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

1/4/12- Just saw this in Florida and I liked it. TRDB.

6) THE LAST RITES OF JOE MAY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Low-stakes hustler Joe May returns home from the hospital to find his landlord assumed he’d died, and rented his apartment out to a single mom and her daughter. Joe‘s life takes surprising turns when he agrees to let the woman and her child stay.”

11/4/11- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

11/18/11- I enjoyed this movie and the 3 main characters. TRDB. On-Demand.

7) CRIME AFTER CRIME– 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Convicted of killing her brutally abusive boyfriend in 1983, Deborah Peagler languished in prison for 20 years. When California legislation allowing incarcerated domestic-violence survivors to reopen their cases becomes law, a pair of novice attorneys agree to take on her case. Armed with evidence of their client’s innocence, the two encounter a bewildering maze of bureaucratic procedures and political corruption as they seek justice.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.

8)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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

OPENING THIS WEEK-

 

1) DARLING COMPANION– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dealing with an empty nest and self-absorbed husband Joseph, Beth develops a deep bond with a dog she rescues — and when Joseph loses the dog after a wedding, Beth joins forces with wedding guests in a search that takes some unexpected turns.” Good early reviews. TRDB.

 

2) THE LUCKY ONE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This romantic drama tells the story of a Marine vet who credits his good-luck charm — a photo of an unknown woman — for saving his skin in Iraq. Back in North Carolina, he sets out to find the woman behind the smile that steered his fate.” Good early reviews. TRDB.

 

3) GOODBYE FIRST LOVE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this lyrical drama, 15-year-old Camille must deal with her devastation when an older boy with whom she’s fallen in love leaves to travel through South America. Over the next few years, she grows into a young woman and tries to love again.” Fair early reviews. TRDB.

 

4) DOWNTOWN EXPRESS– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Set in the world of Russian immigrants living in New York City, Downtown Express uses music to explore the clash of old world values against the lure and excitement of a new country. Under the watch of his loving but overbearing father, virtuoso violinist and Juilliard student Sasha (Grammy nominee Philippe Quint) prepares for a critical recital meant to launch his career. Yet, he is increasingly drawn to the rhythms of the streets of New York, and when he meets singer-songwriter Ramona (acclaimed recording artist Nellie McKay), he joins her band, falls in love, and begins to lead a double life, careening frantically between two worlds. As his classical debut nears, Sasha must decide whether to break with his father and forge his own destiny.” Just a few reviews and they are poor. TRDB.

 

5) MARLEY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Featuring dozens of interviews, electrifying concert performances and rare footage, this documentary explores the music, life and legacy of reggae icon Bob Marley, from his birth in 1945 to his death from cancer at age 36.” Excellent reviews. TRDB.

 

6) JESUS HENRY CHRIST– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Too-smart-for-his-own-good 10-year-old Henry James Herman sets out to locate his father, an anonymous sperm donor, in this quirky comedy. Along the way, Henry uncovers family secrets that only deepen his existential quandary.” Fair early reviews. TRDB.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) THE SALT OF LIFE– 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.3/11/12- A delightful comedy with a cute story. TRDB.

2) THE DEEP BLUE SEA–   2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This remake of the original 1955 film, adapted from a Terence Rattigan play, stars Rachel Weisz as a wedded woman who falls hard for a younger man. Her determination and emotional obsession lead her into tragic conflict with the morals of the day.”3/23/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) WE HAVE A POPE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “The newly elected Pope suffers a panic attack just as he is due to appear on St Peter’s balcony to greet the faithful, who have been patiently awaiting the conclave’s decision. His advisors, unable to convince him he is the right man for the job, seek help from a renowned psychoanalyst (and atheist). But his fear of the responsibility suddenly thrust upon him is one that he must face on his own.” Generally poor reviews. TRDB.

 

2) ALBERT NOBBS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Having for decades disguised herself as a man while working as a butler in a posh 19th-century Dublin hotel, a woman calling herself Albert Nobbs reconsiders her charade when a handsome painter arrives on the scene.” Weak professional reviews but good audience reaction. TRDB.

 

3) CONQUEST– – 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fact-based drama recounts the events surrounding the 2007 election of French president Nicolas Sarkozy through an ironic lens, contrasting Sarkozy’s dynamic public profile with his inability to save his marriage to his second wife, Cécilia.” A few poor reviews. TRDB.11/11/11- Poor review in today’s NY Times but OK reviews in general. 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

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS-

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) DAMSELS IN DISTRESS– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In Whit Stillman’s offbeat comedy, three pretty friends plan to use music, dance and perfume to brighten the lives of their fellow college students. But before long, the girls find themselves busy dealing with problems of their own.”This sounds silly but it’s received good early reviews. TRDB.

4/6/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) MONSIEUR LAZHAR– Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an Algerian immigrant seeking asylum in Montreal takes a job replacing an elementary school teacher who committed suicide, he finds that his own secret, tragic background enables him to help the children deal with their loss.”

I saw this at the Palm Springs Film Festival 2012 and loved it. TRDB.

4/13/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) CHIMPANZEE– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Spinning documentary footage into family-friendly fare, this Disneynature film follows an orphaned chimp named Oscar on his quest to find a home. In the end, he finds a new family in the unlikeliest of places.” Good early reviews. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Siblings Jay and Mark Duplass direct this stoner comedy focusing on two brothers — one a moderate success, the other still living with Mom. A trip to the store for glue, however, turns into an encounter with destiny for the stay-at–home slacker.” Mostly very good reviews. TRDB.

 

2) THE DEEP BLUE SEA–  Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This remake of the original 1955 film, adapted from a Terence Rattigan play, stars Rachel Weisz as a wedded woman who falls hard for a younger man. Her determination and emotional obsession lead her into tragic conflict with the morals of the day.”3/23/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. 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.

3/9/12- Fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) IN DARKNESS– Bethel. 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.”

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.

5) THE RAID: REDEMPTION– Bethel. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an elite SWAT team goes after a drug lord holed up in Jakarta’s most notorious tenement building, they find themselves trapped and forced to fight their way out through brutal gangsters loyal to the kingpin they were trying to assassinate.” Very good reviews but this movie sounds violent as hell and I think I’ll skip it. TRDB.

6)  FOOTNOTE– Clearview 100. 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.

3/9/12- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) WE HAVE A POPE– Clearview 100. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “The newly elected Pope suffers a panic attack just as he is due to appear on St Peter’s balcony to greet the faithful, who have been patiently awaiting the conclave’s decision. His advisers, unable to convince him he is the right man for the job, seek help from a renowned psychoanalyst (and atheist). But his fear of the responsibility suddenly thrust upon him is one that he must face on his own.” Generally poor reviews. TRDB.

4/6/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/15/12- Despite the fair to poor reviews I enjoyed this film about a man suffering with the awesome responsibility placed on him and his questions about being able to do the job. TRDB.

8)THE KID WITH A BIKE– Clearview 100. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being abandoned by his father, preteen Cyril fills with rage, and when good-hearted hairdresser Samantha tries to help him, the disillusioned boy is torn between his need to lash out at the world and his desire for love and stability.” Great early reviews. TRDB.

3/16/12- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/2/12- The actor who played the kid was great and the story was a heartening act of love. There were also a few terrific scenes like the scene in a car when the boy is very upset. A better understanding of the woman’s motivation would have helped me but the movie was excellent never-the-less. TRDB. 

 9) BULLY– Jacob Burns, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Directed by Sundance and Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, The Bully Project is a beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of America’s bullying crisis. The Bully Project follows five kids and families over the course of a school year. Stories include two families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year-old daughter who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus. With an intimate glimpse into homes, classrooms, cafeterias and principals’ offices, the film offers insight into the often cruel world of the lives of bullied children.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.3/31/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4/17/12- A very powerful documentary that should be required viewing for all parents. TRDB.

10) JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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 reviews. 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