The Reel Dr. Bob

MAY 3, 2012

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER, OLDER ONES AND PREVIOUS REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) KAREN CRIES ON THE BUS– Netflix Streaming

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) DAMSELS IN DISTRESS– 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.

4/29/12- This movie, while done in a clever manner, was way too cool for itself and I really didn’t care for it. TRDB. 

2) THE PIRATES: BAND OF MISFITS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This animated tale follows a pirate captain from the high seas to the streets of London as he strives to win the Pirate of the Year Award. But to snag the coveted prize, he’ll have to beat his dreaded rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz. Featuring an all-star cast that includes the voices of Hugh Grant, Jeremy Piven and Salma Hayek.”

4/30/12- We took our grandchildren to see this– ages 7 and 4. The animation and technique were very good and a pleasure to watch in 3D. The story is incidental. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) GAINSBOURG: A HEROIC LIFE– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Eric Elmosnino stars as Serge Gainsbourg in this foreign-language biopic about the life and career of the famed French singer-songwriter who, as a young Jew, survived the Nazi occupation of Paris and went on to create controversial music. Laetitia Casta and Lucy Gordon co-star.” Fairly good reviews. TRDB.4/30/12- I could not get into this movie no matter how hard I tried. And I did try. TRDB. Netflix.

2) KAREN CRIES ON THE BUS– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “After 10 years in a loveless marriage, a woman leaves her husband to embark on a journey of independence and self-discovery. But as she possesses no discernable job skills, friends or money, the road will be bumpy.”

5/2/12- This movie, from Colombia, held my interest and I enjoyed it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 8-

 

1) THE FRONT LINE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a South Korean commander is killed by a friendly bullet during a cease fire, investigator Kang Eun-Pyo’s trail leads him to a remote hill region. There, a once-meek 20-year-old and his small company seem to be fighting a different war.”1/20/12- Good review in today’s NY Times but mediocre reviews elsewhere. TRDB.

 

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OPENING THIS WEEK-

 

1) THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “To make the most of their meager retirement savings, a group of British seniors relocates to India to live out their golden years at the Marigold Hotel. But upon arrival, they discover that the once-lavish resort has wilted considerably.”Rotten Tomatoes said– “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of British retirees who decide to “outsource” their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past.

Very good early reviews called this film a bit schmaltzy but well done. TRDB.

2) 5 BROKEN CAMERAS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this moving documentary, a Palestinian farmer chronicles his village’s nonviolent resistance to the presence of encroaching Israeli settlers and military. As camera after camera gets shot or otherwise destroyed, the farmer continues filming.”

Some early excellent reviews. TRDB.

3) CARTAS A ELENA– 2010. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In the beautiful hills of Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, a young boy Emile is adopted by the postman Matt. As part of their daily tasks, they not only deliver the mail and read the letters to the habitants, also take dictation, since most are illiterate. The young Emilio quickly learns to read and write but is saddened by the difficult stories sent in by relatives who have migrated north of Denver, Colorado in search of a better future. One day, Emilio takes over the post and with great imagination, changes the letters so they are happy and optimistic. In just days, the town is transformed. While on duty, Emilio meets a young girl named who becomes his first love.”

No reviews yet but this does sound interesting. TRDB.

4) FIRST POSITION– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fascinating documentary follows dancers training for the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions. The stakes are high: Their performances will determine the success or failure of the young girls’ dreams.”

Very few reviews and they are OK. TRDB.

 

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) THE KID WITH A BIKE– 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. 

 

2) NATURAL SELECTION– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Asked by her dying husband to locate a boy he fathered through a sperm donation decades ago, repressed housewife Linda White sets out on a wild road trip, shedding her strict morals and making an unlikely connection with her husband’s troubled son.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.3/16/12- So-so review in today’s NY Times but it does sound interesting. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW-

 

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.”4/27/12- Very good review in todays’ NY Times and elsewhere. TRDB.

 

2) CITIZEN GANGSTER– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This crime drama based on true events profiles a WWII vet’s frustrations and eventual transformation into an eccentric bank robber in Toronto. Boyd initially steals out of necessity, but finds his new life also provides the stardom he always sought.”4/27/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. 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.”  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.

4) 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.4/20/12- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) PARIAH- 2011. Premise by Netflix. “Brooklyn teen Alike (Adepero Oduye) is a model child around her devoutly religious family, but she sheds the good-girl image to reveal a harder side during a nightclub excursion with butch pal Laura (Pernell Walker) in this coming-of-age tale of urban identity and sexual expression. With curfew looming and her parents none the wiser, Alike must catch the bus back home, where she faces the complex negotiation of her contradictory worlds.” At Sundance 2011. Great reviews. 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- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) SOUND OF MY VOICE– Bethel. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Wishing to infiltrate a California cult, curiosity seekers Peter (Christopher Denham) and Lorna (Nicole Vicius) undergo an elaborate preparation process that leads from a desolate road to an unmarked location, but the mystery only deepens when their blindfolds are removed. In this absorbing psychological thriller, the line between voyeurism and belief blurs once the pretenders shake hands with sphinx-like cult leader Maggie (Brit Marling).”4/27/12- Good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) DARLING COMPANION– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

4/20/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) ELLES– 2011. Clearview 100. Synopsis by Netflix. “While investigating a story about students who become prostitutes to pay their way through university, a middle-aged French journalist befriends two of her subjects, whose strong personalities cause her to reevaluate her own bourgeois life.”

4/27/12– Poor reviews including the one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

 

1) DAMSELS IN DISTRESS– Bethel. 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.

4/29/12- This movie, while done in a clever manner, was way too cool for itself and I really didn’t care for it. 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.

3/17/12- Take it for what it’s worth. Somewhat light and fluffy with each character basically a caricature but all in all a fun movie with some good comedy as well. TRDB.

 

3) MONSIEUR LAZHAR– Jacob Burns, Bethel, 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.

 

4) 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.

5)  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.

6) 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.

7)  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.

8) 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