The Reel Dr. Bob

APRIL 26, 2012

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS AND PRIOR NEWSLETTERS AS WELL AS SEARCH FOR OLD REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) REMEMBRANCE- Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns

2) JOANNA– Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns

3) ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS– Netflix

4) MY AUSTRALIA– Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns

5) GOOD FOR NOTHING– Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) REMEMBRANCE– 2011. Synopsis by the New York Jewish Film Festival. “Inspired by actual events, Remembrance depicts a remarkable love story that blossomed in the terror and squalor of a Nazi concentration camp in 1944 Poland. In a daring escape, Tomasz, a young Polish prisoner, rescues his Jewish lover, Hannah. In the chaos of the end of the war, they are forcibly separated and each is convinced that the other has died. More than 30 years later in New York City, Hannah believes she has seen her Tomasz interviewed on television and she begins to search for him again. Anna Justice (Max Minsky and Me, NYJFF 2009) directs this powerful and artfully crafted drama.”4/19/12- An excellent movie depicting one of 6 million different stories. TRDB. At the Theater- part of the 2012 Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns.

2) JOANNA– 2010. Synopsis by IMDB. “During the Occupation, a young woman whose husband disappeared during the war decides to hide a little Jewish girl. To save the child, she gets into a romance with a German.”

4/22/12- A deeply sad and provocative movie about the German occupation of Poland. Great acting as well. TRDB. At the 2012 Westchester Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns.

3) MY AUSTRALIA– 2011. Synopsis by IMDB. “City of Lodz in Poland, after the Second World War. Two brothers, Tadek and Andrzej, grow up without a father, and their mother, so busy at work, does not notice when the boys join a rowdy and anti-Semitic organization.Only when during a fight one of the boys gets hurt, she realizes what is going on. Then she decides to leave Poland together with her family and go to… Australia. At the end of the trip it comes out that the goal was not to reach Australia but Israel. Boys become aware of their and their family roots.”

4/23/12- I liked this movie very much and the actor who played the young boy was terrific. TRDB. At the 2012 Westchester Jewish Film Festival.

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) THE DISH & THE SPOON– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Reeling with rage after learning of her husband’s infidelity, Rose departs for Delaware to find the other woman. But once she arrives, she shifts her focus to an unexpected romance with a teenage boy.”2/10/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times but weaker ones in general. TRDB.

4/20/12- Interesting characters, well written and well acted. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.

2) ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Love and chocolates may yet win the day in this delightful romantic comedy, which follows the slow-burn romance of talented chocolatier Angélique and chocolate-factory owner Jean-René, lonely souls who secretly share a debilitating anxiety disorder.”

11/26/11- An OK review in today’s NY Times and fairly good reviews in general. TRDB.

4/22/12- I enjoyed this cute, fluffy French comedy. TRDB. Netflix.

3) TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “John Le Carré’s classic thriller of Cold War espionage follows an English spy as he returns to MI-6 under a cloud of suspicion. In the years since he was sacked by the agency, some suspect he’s become an operative for the Soviet Union.”

12/9/11- Great review in today’s NY Times and from others as well. None of my friends liked it. TRDB.

4/23/12- I agree with my friends. I did not like it and decided not to stick with it to try to put together all of the scenes that bored me in the first place. TRDB.

4) THE SWELL SEASON– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Exploring the realities of fame and great expectations, this poignant documentary shadows indie folk artists Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová on a whirlwind tour in the wake of their Oscar win for the haunting anthem “Falling Slowly.”

4/23/12- I was really bored and turned this off. TRDB. Netflix.

5) 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.”  Sounds interesting. TRDB.

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

4/26/12- A cute, if slight, comedic Western that has enough to hold your interest- just enough. TRDB. Netflix.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 1-

 

1) W.E.- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Madonna directs this romantic drama that examines the parallel lives of famous divorcée Wallis Simpson and Wally Winthrop, a young 1990s housewife. Wally yearns to have a romance as dramatic as Wallis’s but discovers that history can be misleading.” Only a few reviews and they are poor. TRDB.2/3/12- Review in today’s NY Times that I could not interpret. TRDB.

 

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OPENING THIS WEEK-

 

1) BOOKER’S PLACE– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In 1965, documentary filmmaker Frank DeFelitta traveled to Mississippi to shoot a film on the subject of racism in the American South. As he went about observing life in Mississippi and interviewing the locals, Frank was introduced to an African-American waiter named Booker Wright. With utter candor and a brazen lack of concern for his own well-being, Booker appeared on tape in the documentary and spoke openly and honestly about the realities of living in a racist society. This brief interview forever changed the lives of Booker and his family, and more than 40 years later, Frank’s son Raymond DeFelitta returns to the site of his father’s film to examine the repercussions of this fateful interview.”Just a few available reviews and they are poor. TRDB.

2) INVENTING OUR LIFE: THE KIBBUTZ EXPERIMENT– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Set against the backdrop of its glorious 100-year history, Inventing Our Life: The Kibbutz Experiment reveals the heartbreak and hope of Israel’s modern kibbutz movement as a new generation struggles to ensure its survival. Can a radically socialist institution survive a new capitalist reality? How will painful reforms affect those who still believe in the kibbutz experiment, and continue to call it home?”

Just a few reviews and they are not good. TRDB.

3) THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jason Segel and Emily Blunt star in this contemporary romantic comedy as an engaged young couple who discovers that the more they get to know each other, the more unpredictable their commitment to getting married becomes.”

No professional reviews at the moment but good audience reaction. TRDB.

 

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) MONSIEUR LAZHAR– 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.

2) SURVIVING PROGRESS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This bracing documentary considers whether human “progress” stemming from the Industrial Age could be paving the way for civilization’s collapse. The film asks a range of thinkers whether the modern world might be headed for a “progress trap.”Very good reviews with a few distinct negatives as well. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

1) 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.”Good audience reviews so far. TRDB.

2) 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.4/20/12- Great review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) SHAME- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Thirtysomething New Yorker Brandon is outwardly reserved, but inside is seething with an overwhelming sexual addiction. When his tempestuous and much-loved younger sister invades his life, Brandon struggles to escape his self-destructive behavior.” Very good reviews. TRDB.12/2/11- Just a weakly positive review in today’s NY Times. 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-

 

NEW IN THE BURBS- NONE

 

REPEATS-

 

1) DAMSELS IN DISTRESS– Bethel, 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) SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne. 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.

3) WE HAVE A POPE– Bethel. 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.

4) JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI– Jacob Burns 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.

5) MONSIEUR LAZHAR– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, 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.

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) 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. 

8)BULLY– 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.

9) THE DEEP BLUE SEA– 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.

 

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