The Reel Dr. Bob

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND PAST REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

 

1) RETURN– Netflix

2) SHAME– Netflix

 

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

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.

5/4/12- Today’s NY Times gave this an OK review. TRDB.

5/11/12- I agree with the reviewers. A few good lines, a great photographic travelogue and not a heck of a lot much more. TRDB.

 

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) 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.

5/14/12- An ok story about the effects of military duty on those deployed and their loved ones. TRDB. Netflix.

2) 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.

5/15/12- Ridiculous and I turned it off quickly. TRDB. Netflix.

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.

5/12- Here’s what Rotten Tomatoes had to say—“Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a New Yorker who shuns intimacy with women but feeds his desires with a compulsive addiction to sex. When his wayward younger sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment stirring memories of their shared painful past, Brandon’s insular life spirals out of control.

5/16/12- An interesting study of yet one more type of addiction with all of the heartaches in brings for friends and relatives. TRDB. Netflix.

4) MY PIECE OF THE PIE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Arrogant Parisian millionaire Steve hires single mother France to clean his apartment in this dramatic comedy. Unbeknownst to them both, Steve is the reason France lost her job at a factory and had to seek menial work in the first place.”

12/9/11- Luke warm review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere. TRDB.

5/17/12- A French type of “Pretty Woman” and although it had some good parts and some cute characters it left something to be desired. Just OK. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 22-

 

1) 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.

 

2) EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Believing that his father left him a message before dying in the September 11 attacks, young Oskar Schell embarks on an emotional odyssey through New York City to find the lock that matches a key he found among his father’s belongings.” Weak reviews in general although some of my friends liked it very much. TRDB.

 

3) NEWLYWEDS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “The honeymoon is short-lived for newlywedsBuzzy and Katy. His wild younger sister drops in unannounced, and her ex keeps asking to borrow money. Meanwhile, they watch helplessly as their best friends’ marriage of 19 years starts to come undone.” Better than average reviews– a few very good ones also. TRDB.2/9/12- I love Edward Burns’ movies and this was no exception. Clever, well acted and insightful. TRDB.

4) CERTIFIED COPY– 2010. Premise by Netflix. “Renowned Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami serves up an elegant rumination about art and love in this story about British writer James Miller (William Shimell), who meets an art dealer named Elle (Juliette Binoche) in Tuscany and begins — or possibly continues — a romance with her. As James and Elle wander through a small town, their playful conversations reveal an intimacy that leads locals to suspect that they are actually longtime spouses.” Some good reviews and some bad ones as well. TRDB. Good review in NY Times on 3/11/11.

3/11- An interesting idea keeps this movie going as you wonder what will evolve. One reviewer said it was like a virtual date with Juliette Binoche. I did enjoy it. TRDB.

5) THE FIRST BEAUTIFUL THING– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Featuring superb cinematography, Italian director Paolo Virzi’s ambitious tale stars Valerio Mastandrea as Bruno Michelucci, an embittered teacher who grudgingly returns to his parochial hometown to see his estranged, terminally ill mother (Stefania Sandrelli). But what was intended to be a brief visit to say farewell instead becomes an opportunity for Bruno to come to terms with the turbulent past — and his wayward parent.” Very good early reviews. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK-

 

1) FOLLOW ME: THE YONI NETANYAHU STORY– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Two story arcs that will tragically and heroically connect. The first is the dramatic Entebbe hijack and rescue, 8 days when a nation held its breath and executed a military miracle that redefined the Jewish Nation’s call “Never Again!” The second is the remarkable life story of Jonathan Netanyahu, a young soldier who struggled to find the balance between the people and the Nation he loved. This film is about Jonathan’s life, and what led these two dramatic story arcs to intersect on that fateful day.”4/21/12- An excellent documentary that dealt with a complex man living in a complex time. I liked it very much. At the 2012 Westchester Jewish Film Festival at Jacob Burns Film Center.

2) VIRGINIA– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A single mother struggles to raise her son Emmett while dreaming of escaping her small Southern boardwalk town. Her long time affair with the very married, Mormon Sheriff Richard Tipton is thrown into question when he decides to run for public office. Things are further complicated when Emmett begins a romantic relationship with Tipton’s daughter. Virginia and the town-populated by Amy Madigan, Toby Jones, Yeardley Smith-are full of secrets and everyone knows Virginia can only keep things together for so long. VIRGINIA is a funny, touching drama that looks at the American Dream and what it takes to keep it together.” Good audience reviews so far. TRDB.

3) NEVER STAND STILL– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Legendary dancers and choreographers Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Suzanne Farrell, Mark Morris, Judith Jamison and Bill Irwin appear alongside new innovators to reveal the passion, discipline and daring of the world of dance.” Weak early reviews. TRDB.

4) POLISSE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This French drama presents a fictionalized but well-researched portrait of the juvenile protection division of the Paris court system, following a documentarian as she films the employees in the department and the children under its authority.” Good early reviews. TRDB.

 

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) THIS IS NOT A FILM– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “When the Iranian government banned director Jafar Panahi from making a film for 20 years, he titled his next project This Is Not a Film. The resulting documentary covers a day in Panahi’s life as he reflects on his unhappy situation.” Excellent reviews. TRDB.

 

2) LOST BOHEMIA–  2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “For over 100 years, the most significant 20th century artists and performers have lived and worked in the 165 landmark Studios atop Carnegie Hall, including Marilyn Monroe, Isadora Duncan, Barnett Newman, Norman Mailer, Marlon Brando and George Balanchine. In 2001, the Carnegie Hall Corporation began to systematically evict the artists (some in residence for over forty years), destroy the Studios and convert the spaces into offices. Alarmed by the situation, photographer Josef Astor, a resident of the Carnegie Hall Studios for over twenty years, began to film his neighboring artists, the ballet school, drama classes, dancers, singing teachers, sculptors, painters and writers. Over a period of eight years, first-time director Astor filmed several hundred hours of the remaining artist tenants as they fought to preserve the Studios for future generations. LOST BOHEMIA is Astor’s intimate, affectionate portrait of these extraordinary people and chronicles the pleasures and struggles of working artists in New York City. LOST BOHEMIA is the only film documentation of the Carnegie Studios, the artists and the Studio’s significant history. Vintage film, photographs, television footage, materials from the artist’s private collections and music complete the documentary’s story.” Excellent reviews. TRDB.

 

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

 

NEW ON DEMAND-

 

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.

5/14/12- I was watching this and it was OK and then the disc malfunctioned. I’m waiting for a replacement and  then I’ll review it. TRDB.

 

2) NESTING– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Feeling like they’ve become boring, thirtysomethings Neil and Sarah take a trip down memory lane. They soon wind up breaking into the apartment they shared in their twenties — and throwing a party there that gets out of hand.”5/11/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times and other professional reviews as well. So far audiences seem to have liked it. TRDB.

3) SLEEPLESS NIGHT– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Vincent is one of two French cops whose bold drug heist goes bad, leading the mobster whose cocaine they’ve snatched to kidnap his son. Given one night to return the drugs to their owner, Vincent desperately tries to save the boy’s life.”

5/11/12- Very good professional reviews and OK audience ones. 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) FOLLOW ME: THE YONI NETANYAHU STORY– Jacob Burns. 2012. An excellent documentary about the older brother of the Prime Minister that dealt with a complex man living in a complex time. I liked it very much. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

 1) FIRST POSITION– Bethel. 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.

5/4/12- A good review in today’s NY Times that brought up a bit of controversy in the making of this documentary. TRDB.

2) THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

5/4/12- Today’s NY Times gave this an OK review. TRDB.

5/11/12- I agree with the reviewers. A few good lines, a great photographic travelogue and not a heck of a lot much more. TRDB.

3) BERNIE– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this black comedy inspired by real-life events, affable Texas mortician Bernie befriends the small town’s wealthiest widow and then kills her. But despite the suspicious nature of her death, no one wants to think anything but the best of Bernie.”

4/27/12- Good reviews in general and a difficult to interpret review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) MONSIEUR LAZHAR– 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.

 

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