May 23rd, 2012
MAY 24, 2012
DEAR FRIENDS:
I WILL BE ON VACATION SO THAT THE NEXT REGULAR ISSUE OF THE NEWSLETTER, #415, WILL BE SENT ON THURSDAY, JUNE 14.
THE CURRENT ISSUE WILL COVER 3 WEEKS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) ALBERT NOBBS– Netflix.
2) THE LITTLE GIRL– Netflix Streaming
3) FIRST POSITION– Comcast On-Demand
4) RAMPART- Netflix
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) 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 AlbertNobbs reconsiders her charade when a handsome painter arrives on the scene.” Mediocre reviews. TRDB.5/19/12- Despite the “fair at best” reviews I found the movie compelling. TRDB. Netflix.
2) THE LITTLE GIRL (LA PIVELLINA)- 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Middle-aged circus performer Patti (Patrizia Gerardi) finds 2-year-old Asia (Asia Crippa) abandoned in a park on the outskirts of Rome. Patti and her German boyfriend, Walter (Walter Saabel), search for the child’s parents but can’t help falling in love with “la pivellina” (the little squirt). Italian documentarians Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel transition effortlessly into fiction with this warmly intimate gem.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
5/20/12- A real sleeper!! I enjoyed this movie that was really about everybody else as much as this adorable child. See it!! TRDB. Netflix Streaming.
3) 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.
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.
5/22/12- A well done and interesting documentary about what it takes to make it in this field and what it’s like to be a child competitor. The controversy with this movie was related to the fact that the competition organizers had a hand in the making of the movie. In particular they helped select the subjects to be followed and were involved in other aspects as well. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
4) RAMPART– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dave Brown is a dirty cop with a mile-wide mean streak. As he roams the streets meting out “justice,” the LAPD sinks into a corruption scandal. The countdown to Brown’s judgment is on in this fact-based film co-written by crime novelist James Ellroy.” Fairly good reviews including a few very good ones. TRDB.
Rotten Tomatoes had this to say— “Los Angeles, 1999 – Officer Dave Brown (Harrelson) is a Vietnam vet and a Rampart Precinct cop, dedicated to doing “the people’s dirty work” and asserting his own code of justice, often blurring the lines between right and wrong to maintain his action-hero state of mind. When he gets caught on tape beating a suspect, he finds himself in a personal and emotional downward spiral as the consequences of his past sins and his refusal to change his ways in light of a department-wide corruption scandal seal his fate.
5/23/12- A very interesting drama about a “bad” cop with a terrific acting job by Woody Harrelson. Despite his miserable character it was painful to watch him spiral downward. TRDB. Netflix.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 29-
1) SING YOUR SONG– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix.”Hoping to inspire a new generation of activists, entertainer Harry Belafonte allows director Susanne Rostock intimate access to his life to document his many decades as a performer and as a tireless advocate for human rights around the world. As a supporter of Martin Luther King Jr. and the victim of racism during his tours of the South, Belafonte was deeply committed to social change in the U.S. and later worked to end apartheid in South Africa.” Great audience reaction. TRDB.
2) CORIOLANUS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Actor Ralph Fiennes makes his directorial debut with this modern update of Shakespeare’s tale about the arrogant general who is banished by the republic he has protected at all costs, provoking him to ally with former foes and wreck a bloody revenge.”12/2/11- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
3) WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “The strained relationship between a mother and her teenage son turns tragic when the boy engineers a massacre at his high school, and the mother is forced to ask how much blame she deserves for the heartbreaking event.” Great early reviews. TRDB.
12/9/11- Excellent review in today’s NY Times and very good ones elsewhere. TRDB.
2/8/12- This movie was extremely difficult to watch and was very depressing at many levels but was very well done with great acting and really packed a punch. Call me before you see it!!! TRDB.
4) HELLO LONESOME– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “An isolated voice-over artist (Harry Chase) befriends a local deliveryman (Kamel Boutros), an elderly widow (Lynn Cohen) develops unexpected feelings for her young neighbor (James Urbaniak), and a new couple (Nate Smith and Sabrina Lloyd) struggles to cope with devastating news in this intimate triptych. Written and directed by Adam Reid, this touching tale explores what happens when six lonely souls make meaningful connections.”
Good review in NY Times on 5/27/11 and fairly good reviews in general. TRDB.
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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, JUNE 5-
1) 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.
2) TOMBOY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Uncomfortable living as a girl, 10-year-old Laure decides to spend her childhood as Michael. When Michael’s family moves to rural France, the child wins friends and comes to understand the complexities of gender.”
1/16/11- Very good review in today’s NY Times and great reviews in general. TRDB.
3) PRIVATE ROMEO– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” gets an update in this provocative drama, which sets the tale in an all-male military school where rival groups of cadets clash with one another — and find desire in unexpected quarters.”
2/10/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, JUNE 12-
1) THE GREY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After narrowly surviving a deadly plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, a band of oil riggers must fend for their lives in the ice and snow. But thanks to wolves that view their presence as a threat, they aren’t alone.”1/27/12- A fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
2) BORN TO BE WILD– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmed in IMAX 3D, this documentary captures the unique and intimate connections that developed between two scientists and two species — orangutans and elephants — as the men worked to save the orphaned beasts and return them to the wild. Primatologist Birute Galdikas and renowned elephant authority Daphne Sheldrick pursue their pioneering efforts on the plains of Kenya and in the jungles of Borneo, respectively.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
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OPENING THIS WEEK-
1) THE INTOUCHABLES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this compelling story based on true events, affluent quadriplegic Phillipe hires Driss — a young Parisian petty criminal — to be his caregiver, and the two form an unexpected bond that changes both their lives.” Fairly good reviews. TRDB.5/6/12- An article in today’s NY Times talks about the movie and the lead actor. Apparently this has become a “hot” topic in France. TRDB.
2) MOONRISE KINGDOM– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Wes Anderson’s quirky drama follows the frantic search that ensues in a small New England town when two 12-year-olds fall in love and run away together. As the townsfolk hunt for the vanished kids, a storm causes even more profound communal upheaval.”
Very good early reviews, especially from the professionals. TRDB.
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OPENING NEXT WEEK- JUNE 1-
1) A CAT IN PARIS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this Oscar-nominated animated feature, little Zoe discovers that her cat, Dino, moonlights as the companion to Nico, a burglar with a heart of gold. Soon Zoe is drawn into a thriller filled with gangsters, jewels and the rooftops of Paris.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
2) FOR GREATER GLORY– 2012. Synopsis by IMDB. “A chronicle of the Cristeros War (1926-1929), which was touched off by a rebellion against the Mexican government’s attempt to secularize the country.” Very good early audience reviews but no professional reviews as yet. TRDB.
3) HIGH SCHOOL– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “After getting stoned with a school pothead (Sean Marquette) for the first time, a high school valedictorian (Matt Bush) unexpectedly faces a drug test that threatens his scholarship. Now the two concoct a scheme to get the entire student body high so everyone will fail. Co-stars in this indie comedy include Colin Hanks, Yeardley Smith, Adrien Brody as a drug dealer and Michael Chiklis as the school principle.”Sounds kind of dumb but this movie has received good early reviews. TRDB.
4) PINK RIBBONS, INC.- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Who really benefits from the pink ribbon campaigns: the cause or the company? In showing the real story of breast cancer and the lives of those who fight it, this film reveals the co-opting of what marketing experts have labeled a “dream cause.”
Fair early reviews. TRDB.
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OPENING IN 2 WEEKS- JUNE 8-
1) DARK HORSE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Now in his 30s but emotionally stuck in his early teens, a vintage-toy enthusiast strikes up an unlikely but successful relationship with a woman who has some adjustment troubles of her own — until a secret threatens to undermine the whole affair.” Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
2) BEL AMI– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Bel Ami is the story of Georges Duroy, who travels through 1890s Paris, from cockroach ridden garrets to opulent salons, using his wits and powers of seduction to rise from poverty to wealth, from a prostitute’s embrace to passionate trysts with wealthy beauties, in a world where politics and media jostle for influence, where sex is power and celebrity an obsession.” Weak professional reviews but good audience reaction so far. TRDB.
3) LOLA VERSUS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When her fiancé dumps her right before the wedding, 29-year-old Lola finds herself single for the first time in almost a decade. Desperate to figure out where her life goes next, quirky Lola seeks advice from her two best friends and hippie parents.”An article about the actress Greta Gerwig in the NY Times on 5/6/12. TRDB.
4) SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A team of journalists is dispatched to find out who’s behind a classified advertisement seeking a companion for time travel, with payment on return. After tracking down their oddball prey, the team has to decide how best to approach their subject.”
Very good early reviews. TRDB.
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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-
MAY 25–MAY 31-
1) THEY CALL IT MYANMAR: LIFTING THE CURTAIN– Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Shot clandestinely over a 2-year period by best-selling novelist and filmmaker, Robert H. Lieberman, this film provides a rare look at the second-most isolated country on the planet. It lifts the curtain to expose the everyday life in a country that has been held in the iron grip of a brutal military regime for 48 years. This unique feature length documentary, culled from over 120 hours of striking images, is an impressionistic journey. Interviews and interactions with more than 100 people throughout Burma, including an interview with the recently released Aung San Suu Kyi, are interwoven with spectacular footage of this little seen nation and its people.
Good audience reviews so far. TRDB.
2) 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.
JUNE 1– JUNE 6- Not published yet
JUNE 7– JUNE 13- Not published yet
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
NEW-
1) 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 AlbertNobbs reconsiders her charade when a handsome painter arrives on the scene.” Mediocre reviews. TRDB.5/19/12- Despite the “fair at best” reviews I found the movie compelling. TRDB. Netflix.
2) 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.
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.
5/22/12- A well done and interesting documentary about what it takes to make it in this field and what it’s like to be a child competitor. The controversy with this movie was related to the fact that the competition organizers had a hand in the making of the movie. In particular they helped select the subjects to be followed and were involved in other aspects as well. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.
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.
4) RAMPART– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dave Brown is a dirty cop with a mile-wide mean streak. As he roams the streets meting out “justice,” the LAPD sinks into a corruption scandal. The countdown to Brown’s judgment is on in this fact-based film co-written by crime novelist James Ellroy.” Fairly good reviews including a few very good ones. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) 4:44 LAST DAY ON EARTH- Good reviews
2) 50/50- A fun movie despite the heavy premise
3) BOOKER’S PLACE- Very good reviews
4) CARNAGE- I liked it
5) CHASING MADOFF- Just so-so.
6) CITIZEN GANGSTER- Weak reviews
7) CONQUEST- I didn’t care for it
8)A DANGEROUS METHOD- Just “so-so” in my book
9) THE DEBT- Good reviews. I saw the Israeli version from 3 years ago and liked it
10) DESCENDANTS- I liked it very much
11) THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD- A great movie and a “must see”
12) GOOD FOR NOTHING- I liked it
13) GOODBYE FIRST LOVE- I liked it
14) HUGO- Great movie for ALL ages
15) IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY- I did not care for this movie
16) THE IRON LADY- Weak movie but worth seeing just for Meryl Streep
17) J. EDGAR- I enjoyed the movie- great DiCaprio
18)JESUS HERNY CHRIST- Weak professional reviews but audiences have liked it
19) LET THE BULLETS FLY- OK reviews but a poor one in the NY Times
20) MAN ON A MISSION- Fair reviews
21) MARLEY- Great reviews
22) MY WEEK WITH MARILYN- I liked this very much
23) PARIAH- Good reviews
24) PINA- I liked it very much
25) QUEEN OF THE SUN- Very good documentary
26) RETURN- Good reviews
27) SARAH’S KEY- Very good
28) SHAME- Generally good reviews
29) TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY- Fair reviews at best
30) WE HAVE A POPE- I liked this very much
31) WOMEN ON THE 6th. FLOOR- I enjoyed this movie very much
32) YOUNG ADULT- I thought this was good but not nearly as good as the critics said
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BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
NEW IN THE BURBS-
1) HEADHUNTERS– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living way beyond his means, corporate recruiter Roger Brown steals rare artworks to maintain his lavish lifestyle. But when he plans to boost an especially valuable painting, he targets a man who has headhunting skills of a different variety.”4/27/12- Good reviews in general but a weak one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) BERNIE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, 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.
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 pictoral travelogue and not a heck of a lot much more. TRDB.
3) DARLING COMPANION- Bethel. 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.
4) MONSIEUR LAZHAR– Clearview 100. 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.
THE REEL DR. BOB
Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters
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