The Reel Dr. Bob

AUGUST 2, 2012

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

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

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

  

1) LAST RIDE– Comcast On-Demand

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In a forgotten but defiant bayou community cut off from the rest of the world by a sprawling levee, a six-year-old girl exists on the brink of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism and extraordinary imagination, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the universe until a fierce storm changes her reality. Desperate to repair the structure of her world in order to save her ailing father and sinking home, this tiny hero must learn to survive unstoppable catastrophes of epic proportions.”6/11/12- Great review in the NY Times last week. TRDB.

7/30/12- I’ll start off by saying that I enjoyed the film except for the dialogue which was realistic but difficult to understand on many occasions. The acting and the individual scenes of this movie were unforgettable but I felt that the sum total of these scenes far outweighed the movie itself. Still, I’d recommend seeing it. TRDB.

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) BULLHEAD– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tortured by his past and despairing of his stultifying present life, Belgian cattle farmer Jacky becomes entangled in a violent web of deceit involving local mobsters and determined policemen after he uses illegal growth hormones on his herd.” Very well liked by audiences and I read only 1 professional review and it was terrific. TRDB.2/17/12- Good review in today’s NY Times for this Oscar nominated (Best Foreign Film) movie. TRDB.

7/30/12- Can’t say that I liked it but the cinematography and acting did keep me involved and despite trying to turn this off a few times I kept coming back for more. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

2) LAST RIDE– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In Last Ride, a desperate father takes his ten year old son, Chook, on the run after committing a violent crime. As the two journey into the desert and an unknown future, their troubled relationship and the need to survive sees them battling the elements and each other. Chook eventually takes control and the choice he is forced to make has a devastating effect on both their lives.”

7/6/12– Good review in today’s NY Times and by the critics in general. Audiences have liked it as well. TRDB.

7/31/12- An interesting Australian drama with beautiful scenery and I’d recommend it. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

 

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 7-

 

1) 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.

2) GIRLFRIEND– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Evan (Evan Sneider), a genial young man with Down syndrome, lives with his adoring mother, Celeste (Amanda Plummer), but is self-sufficient, holding a job and longing for a real relationship with the object of his high school crush: a single mother named Candy (Shannon Woodward). When he suddenly comes into some money, Evan begins to support Candy, who is still entangled with her abusive ex, Russ (Jackson Rathbone), as well as a married lover.” OK review in NY Times on 7/15/11 but awful reviews in general. TRDB.

3) MARGARET– 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “After witnessing a fatal bus crash, New York City high school student Margaret (Anna Paquin) believes she was an accidental factor in the tragedy. As she tries to deal with her feelings, Margaret becomes emotionally abusive to those around her — and to herself. The stellar cast of this moving drama includes Matt Damon, Matthew Broderick, Mark Ruffalo, Allison Janney, Jean Reno, Rosemarie DeWitt and Kieran Culkin.” Very good audience reviews but no professional ones as yet. TRDB.

9/30/11- OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) BEING FLYNN- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A young man employed at a Boston homeless shelter comes upon his long-lost, destitute and alcoholic father while at work one evening in this subtle, emotionally charged drama based on the acclaimed memoir by poet and playwright Nick Flynn.”

3/2/12- Good audience reaction and somewhat weak professional reviews including a fair review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

5) BLUE LIKE JAZZ– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Life in a devout family has given Don a unique view of religious hypocrisy, so when choosing a college, he picks “the most godless campus in America.” This rebellion against his upbringing changes Don, often in ways he never sees coming.”

4/13/12- OK review in today’s NY Times and excellent audience reactions so far. TRDB.

6) ON THE ICE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “The beauty and austerity of Barrow, Alaska, inform this gripping thriller about two Iñupiaq teenagers, Qalli (Josiah Patkotak) and Aivaaq (Frank Qutuq Irelan), whose decision to cover up the accidental death of their friend James, for which they are responsible, tears them apart. As the townsfolk try to reveal the truth, guilt weighs heavily on Qalli and Aivaaq, making them lash out against their families and question their traditional lifestyle.”

2/17/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times but the premise did sound interesting and I’ll probably see this eventually. Other critics have liked it. TRDB.

7) ALL IN: THE POKER MOVIE– 2009. Synopsis by Netflix. “Celebrities such as actors Matt Damon and Jennifer Tilly and National Public Radio’s Ira Glass discuss poker’s popularity resurgence in filmmaker Douglas Tirola’s documentary. The glitz of Las Vegas and the chance to win a colossal payout have made poker a bona fide phenomenon in recent years. Revealing the smoke-filled rooms of the game’s rich history, this film also explores how the Internet put poker back in the public eye.”

3/23/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews in general. TRDB.

 

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OPENED LAST WEEK IN ADDITION TO THOSE I WROTE ABOUT ON 7/26-

 

1) KILLER JOE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dimwitted drug dealer Chris hires Killer Joe to ice his mother for her insurance. But Chris is broke, so Joe demands his sister Dottie as collateral. Dottie’s not about to be treated as chattel, and Killer Joe soon wishes he’d never taken the job.”7/27/12- Good reviews in general but a bad, bad one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) ABENDLAND– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Nikolaus Geyrhalter’s penetrating documentary takes a nocturnal look at the contemporary Western world — explicitly its wealth and exclusivity — illuminating patterns of isolation and conformity through an array of sequences.”

7/27/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 

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OPENING THIS WEEK-

 

1) 360– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this remake of the 1950 classic La Ronde, an all-star cast weaves through interrelated stories about love, passion and loneliness. From London and Denver to Phoenix and Vienna, people are haunted by their need to connect, despite the consequences.”Mediocre professional reviews but OK audience reaction. TRDB.

2) CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) met in high school, married young and are growing apart. Now thirty, Celeste is the driven owner of her own media consulting firm, Jesse is once again unemployed and in no particular rush to do anything with his life. Celeste is convinced that divorcing Jesse is the right thing to do — she is on her way up, he is on his way nowhere, and if they do it now instead of later, they can remain supportive friends. Jesse passively accepts this transition into friendship, even though he is still in love with her. As the reality of their separation sets in, Celeste slowly and painfully realizes she has been cavalier about their relationship, and her decision, which once seemed mature and progressive, now seems impulsive and selfish. But her timing with Jesse is less than fortuitous…”

Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

3) YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED– 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this David and Goliath tale for the 21st Century, a group of proud Scottish homeowners take on Donald Trump, as the tycoon prepares to destroy one of Britain’s last stretches of coastal wilderness by building a luxury golf resort. As the locals make their last stand in the face of security harassment, legal threats and the cutting off of water and electricity supplies, director Anthony Baxter is thrown in jail as he seeks out the truth.”

Very good early reviews. TRDB.

 

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FLORIDA– At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) YOUR SISTER’S SISTER– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jack, who is mourning the death of his brother, has a complicated relationship with his best friend, Iris, who used to date his brother. Their chaotic situation becomes even more tangled when Jack has a drunken tryst with Iris’s flighty sister.” Excellent reviews. TRDB.An article about the director in the NY Times on 5/6/12. TRDB.

6/15/12- Mixed review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6/26/12- I liked this movie, especially the relationship between the sisters. TRDB. At the Theater.

2) LAST RIDE- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In Last Ride, a desperate father takes his ten year old son, Chook, on the run after committing a violent crime. As the two journey into the desert and an unknown future, their troubled relationship and the need to survive sees them battling the elements and each other. Chook eventually takes control and the choice he is forced to make has a devastating effect on both their lives.”7/6/12- Good review in today’s NY Times and by the critics in general. Audiences have liked it as well. TRDB.

7/31/12- An interesting Australian drama with beautiful scenery and I’d recommend it. TRDB.

 

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND

NEW-

 

1) KLOWN- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two wildly inappropriate pals run amok through the countryside plowing through social taboos, unspeakable debaucheries and absurd sexual encounters. Kidnapping, canoeing and cathouses all factor into this riotous escapade where chaos rules the day.”No professional reviews as yet and OK audience reaction. TRDB.

7/27/12- A review in today’s NY Times like this movie but said that it bordered on child porn. Go figure!! 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) THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES- Jacob Burns. 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Directed by lauded filmmaker and photographer Lauren Greenfield, who won the U.S. Directing Award for Documentary Film at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for this film, The Queen of Versailles is a character-driven documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis. With epic proportions of Shakespearean tragedy, the film follows two unique characters, whose rags-to-riches success stories reveal the innate virtues and flaws of the American Dream. The film begins with the family triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America, a 90,000 sq. ft. palace. Over the next two years, their sprawling empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis. Major changes in lifestyle and character ensue within the cross-cultural household of family members and domestic staff.”Very good reviews in general and in the NY Times on 7/20/12. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) THE INTOUCHABLES– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

5/25/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times, but good reviews in general.  TRDB.

6/28/12- Despite a few good scenes I was very disappointed by this movie. It proves that Hollywood can slide effortlessly into Paris. TRDB. 

2)  MOONRISE KINGDOM– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

6/11/12- A sweet, charming, quirky love story. See it!!! TRDB.

3) BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In a forgotten but defiant bayou community cut off from the rest of the world by a sprawling levee, a six-year-old girl exists on the brink of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism and extraordinary imagination, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the universe until a fierce storm changes her reality. Desperate to repair the structure of her world in order to save her ailing father and sinking home, this tiny hero must learn to survive unstoppable catastrophes of epic proportions.”

6/11/12- Great review in the NY Times last week. TRDB.

7/30/12- I’ll start off by saying that I enjoyed the film except for the dialogue which was realistic but difficult to understand on many occasions. The acting and the individual scenes of this movie were unforgettable but I felt that the sum total of these scenes far outweighed the movie itself. Still, I’d recommend seeing it. TRDB.

4) TO ROME WITH LOVE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Woody Allen plays a father meeting his daughter’s Italian in-laws to-be in this ensemble comedy that interweaves four tales set in Rome. Other cast members include Roberto Benigni as a man mistaken for a film star.”

6/22/12- Good review in today’s NY Times but only fair critical reviews in general. TRDB.

7/2/12- While there was no magical excitement in this movie I found it funny, clever and a great travelogue of the Eternal City. TRDB.  

5) BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 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.

 

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

 

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB