FILM REVIEWS #433

October 25th, 2012

 

OCTOBER 25, 2012
DEAR FRIENDS:
 
YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLDER REVIEWS AT- www.thereeldrbob.com
 
JUST BACK FROM VACATION! I’VE INCLUDED ALL OF THE MOVIES THAT HAVE OPENED IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SEVERAL NEW FILMS IN THE BURBS THAT BEGIN THIS WEEK-
 
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
 
1) SISTER– Theater
2) THE WAITING ROOM– Netflix Streaming
 
_________________________________________________________________________________________
 
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
 
1) SISTER– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Every day, impoverished 12-year-old Simon sneaks into a posh Swiss ski resort, where he helps himself to the gear of wealthy tourists. Benefitting from his thievery is his lazy older sister, Louise, who refuses to live up to her responsibilities.”Rotten Tomatoes said- “Simon (Kacey Mottet Klein) lives with his older sister (Léa Seydoux) in a housing complex below a luxury Swiss ski resort. With his sister drifting in and out of jobs and relationships, twelve-year-old Simon takes on the responsibility of providing for the two of them. Every day, he takes the lift up to the opulent ski world above, stealing equipment from rich tourists to resell to the local kids down in the valley. He is able to keep their little family afloat with his small-time hustles and his sister is thankful for the money he brings in. But, when Simon partners with a crooked British seasonal worker, he begins to lose his boundaries, affecting his relationship with his sister and plummeting him into dangerous territory.

10/5/12- Very good reviews from the NY Times and from most other critics as well. TRDB.

10/24/12- This movie gave a good depiction of the despair of the characters and therefore was a bit difficult to watch at times. All in all I’d say that I did like it. TRDB. At the Theater.

 
_________________________________________________________________________________________
 
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME (or on an airplane)
 
1) 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.

10/21/12- Of course this movie was ridiculous but the interaction between the characters made it just OK. If I wasn’t in an airplane I would have turned it off. TRDB. Compliments of Delta Airlines.

2) HYSTERIA- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Hysteria is a romantic comedy with an accomplished cast led by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, Felicity Jones and Rupert Everett, that tells an untold tale of discovery – the surprising story of the birth of the electro-mechanical vibrator at the very peak of Victorian prudishness.”

5/18/12- Poor review in today’s NY Times and weak reviews in general. TRDB.

10/22/12- Not very funny and a weak dialogue in general!! I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.

3) THE WAITING ROOM– 2007. Premise by Netflix. “Single mom Anna (Anne-Marie Duff) breaks off a self-destructive affair with her friend’s husband (Rupert Graves) when she meets the man of her dreams — Stephen (Ralf Little), a handsome nursing home orderly — in a chance encounter at a train station. The feeling is mutual for Stephen, who loses interest in his tepid relationship with Fiona (Christine Bottomley) when Anna comes into the picture. Roger Goldby directs this romance set in London.”

Very good reviews. TRDB.

10/24/12- I saw this by mistake when, at first, I thought I was watching the new documentary with the same name but fortunately I did enjoy it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

 
_________________________________________________________________________________________
 
COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, OCT. 30-
 
1) 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.

2) ELENA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Middle-aged Elena is a meek wife to her emotionally distant second husband, Vladimir. When he decides to leave his riches to his estranged daughter, Elena chooses to take drastic action to provide for her own adult son.”

Rotten Tomatoes had this to say– “Winner of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize, Elena is a gripping, modern twist on the classic noir thriller. Sixty-ish spouses Vladimir and Elena uneasily share his palatial Moscow apartment-he’s a still-virile, wealthy businessman; she’s his dowdy former nurse who has clearly “married up.” Estranged from his own wild-child daughter, Vladimir openly despises his wife’s freeloading son and family. But when a sudden illness and an unexpected reunion threaten the dutiful housewife’s potential inheritance, she must hatch a desperate plan. Very good early reviews. TRDB.

3) CRAIGSLIST JOE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Setting out to explore whether America still has a sense of community, with people helping each other through hard times, 29-year-old Joseph Garner spends a month depending on the goodness of Craigslist posters for his survival.”

Good audience reviews but no professional ones. 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.

10/21/12- Of course this movie was ridiculous but the interaction between the characters made it just OK. If I weren’t in an airplane I would have turned it off. TRDB.

5) 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.

5/18/12- Good review in today’s NY Times and very good reviews by almost all critics. Audiences have liked it too. TRDB.

6) AMERICANO- Premise by Netflix. “Joshua Jackson moves on from the teenage angst of “Dawson’s Creek” in this coming-of-age drama from first-time director Kevin Noland. Before beginning a conservative career as a buttoned-up businessman, a recent college graduate (Jackson) decides to participate in the world-famous running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, where he meets a beautiful local (Leonor Varela) and an expatriate barkeep (Dennis Hopper) who change his life forever.”

7/10- A travelogue of Pamplona and very little else. TRDB.

7) SOUND OF MY VOICE– 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.

 
_________________________________________________________________________________________
 
OPENED IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS WHILE I WAS AWAY IN ADDITION TO THOSE I WROTE ABOUT ON OCT.11-
 
OCTOBER 19-
 
1) BROOKLYN CASTLE– 2012. “Brooklyn’s I.S. 318 is home to America’s best junior high school chess team, but budget cuts are threatening to undermine the team’s success. This inspiring documentary goes inside the fight to keep chess alive and well at the struggling school.”10/19/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “While Bebe floats around in the first flush of new love, her best friend DeeDee is bitter and self-destructive after a breakup. When they meet Clementine, who’s also dealing with relationship issues, the three go on a zany New York escapade together.”

10/19/12- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) BAD 25– 2012- “Spike Lee toasts the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s monumental “Bad” album with exclusive footage and an assortment of celebrity interviews, from those who worked closely with the King of Pop to those whose careers proudly bear his influence.”

10/19/12-Good early reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) WE ARE LEGION: THE STORY OF THE HACKTAVISTS– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists is a documentary that takes us inside the world of Anonymous, the radical “hacktivist” collective that has redefined civil disobedience for the digital age. The film explores the historical roots of early hacktivist groups like Cult of the Dead Cow and Electronic Disturbance Theater and then follows Anonymous from 4chan to a full-blown movement with a global reach, one of the most transformative of our time.”

10/19/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

5) THE FIRST TIME– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This romantic comedy charts the course of young love when a chance encounter between high schoolers Dave and Aubrey sends them over the moon for each other. Over the course of a weekend, the two discover the intensity of genuine emotional intimacy.”

10/19/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times but just fair reviews elsewhere. TRDB.

6) QUESTION ONE– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “On May 6th, 2009 Maine became the first state in this country to legislatively grant same-sex couples the right to marry. Seven months later, on November 3rd 2009 Maine reversed, becoming the thirty-first state in this country to say “no” to gay and lesbian marriage. Filmed from within both campaigns, “Question One” chronicles the fierce and emotional battle that took place in Maine during that time, a battle whose political symbolism is a bellwether for the greater ideological battlefield in American politics.”

10/19/12- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

7) THE FLAT- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Arnon Goldfinger’s grandmother died at 98, he was charged with cleaning out her Tel Aviv apartment, where he made a shocking discovery. The filmmaker plays detective as he sorts through decades of the Holocaust survivor’s letters and photos.”

10/19/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

8) UNMASKED JUDEOPHOBIA– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Exploring anti-Semitism in Europe, North America and Israel, filmmaker Gloria Greenfield makes the case that anti-Jewish ideology is on the rise. Interviews feature U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman and attorney Alan Dershowitz, among others.”

10/19/12- A fair review in today’s NY Times. Audiences have liked this film very much. TRDB.

9) LA VIE AU RANCH– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A group of young women are determined to enjoy their freedom while it lasts in this loosely plotted comedy drama from director Sophie Letourneur. Lola (Eulalie Juster), Pam (Sarah-Jane Sauvegrain), and Manon (Mahault Mollaret) are three college students who share a flat they call “the Ranch” with several of their friends. Most of what happens at the Ranch takes place on the couch, and while academics are a part of the picture, so is drinking, hanging out, partying, and endless conversations about the past, present, and future, covering everything from philosophy to bladder infections. Lola, Pam, Manon and their friends are young enough to enjoy the glories of youthful irresponsibility and get away with it, but the farther they go into their college careers, the more they realize that the demands of the real world are creeping up on them. La Vie au Ranch (aka Chicks) was an official selection at the 2010 Rotterdam International Film Festival.”

10/19/12- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

10) SEXY BABY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This provocative documentary examines what it’s like to be female in today’s sex-obsessed culture, from a pre-teen battling with her parents over social media to a young woman undergoing plastic surgery and an ex-porn star teaching exotic dancing.”

10/19/12- Mixed critical reviews but audiences have liked this one very much. TRDB.

11) YOGAWOMAN– 2012. Synopsis  by Rotten Tomatoes. “Yoga was brought to the west from India by a lineage of male teachers. Now there’s a generation of women who are leading the way and they’re radically changing people’s lives. From the busy streets of Manhattan to the dusty slums of Kenya, from the golden beaches of Australia Yogawoman uncovers a global phenomenon that has changed the face of yoga forever.”

10/19/12- Just fair reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

12) ALL TOGETHER– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Instead of living in a retirement home, five aging friends decide to move in together after one of them suffers a heart attack. The two couples and one widower are joined by a young caregiver, an ethnology student who is studying the group.”

10/19/12-Fairly good reviews in general and a “just OK” one in the NY Times. TRDB.

13) MY WORST NIGHTMARE– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “François and Agathe have it all, but their marriage needs help. Enter Patrick, an uncouth contractor, who does more than spruce up the house. He inspires new zest in both François and Agathe’s lives — just not with each other.”

10/19/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere but the review sounded interesting. TRDB.

14) THE SESSIONS– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After spending years in an iron lung, a man decides he wants to explore his sexuality for the first time, and hires a surrogate to aid the goal. Through their intensifying relationship, this indie drama illustrates the many forms love can take.”

10/19/12- Excellent review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

This movie was included in the last edition (#432) but will actually open this Friday and the NY Times has given it an excellent review. TRDB.

  

OCTOBER 12-

1) 3, 2, 1… FRANKIE GO BOOM– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Frank has long been the victim of his brother Bruce’s filmed pranks and ambushes, yet he finds the worst is yet to come after he beds a new lady. Bruce secretly films their lovemaking and puts it on the Internet, with viral and ruinous results.”

10/12/12- This movie got a fairly good review in the NY Times. TRDB.

2) GAYBY– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When yoga teacher Jenn and her gay friend Matt find themselves thirtysomething, single and childless, they decide to parent a baby together. But trouble arises when they discover they have differing ideas about the method of the child’s conception.”

10/12/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times but critics and audiences alike have enjoyed it. TRDB.

3) SIMON AND THE OAKS– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “An epic drama spanning the years 1939 to 1952, this is the gripping story of Simon (Bill Skarsgaard), who grows up in a loving working class family on the outskirts of Gothenburg but always feels out of place. He finally convinces his father to send him to an upper-class grammar school, where he meets Isak, the son of a wealthy Jewish bookseller who has fled Nazi persecution in Germany. Simon is dazzled by the books, art and music he encounters in the home of Isak’s father Ruben (Jan Josef Leifers), which makes Simon long to know more about his own family background. Isak, on the other hand, draws comfort from learning to do something with his hands, helping Simon’s dad (Stefan Godicke) make boats. When Isak faces trouble at home, he is taken in by Simon’s family and the two households slowly merge, connecting in unexpected ways as war rages all over Europe.”

10/12/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times but just average ones in general. TRDB.

4) THE IRAN JOB- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This eye-opening documentary follows American basketball player Kevin Sheppard during his 2008-09 season playing for a professional team in Iran. Although Kevin is nervous, he makes many friends, including several politically active Iranian women.”

10/12/12- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 5) MADRID, 1987– Synopsis by Netflix. “During the political unrest of 1987, Ángela meets elderly journalist Miguel for an interview and ends up his captive, locked with him in his bathroom. Over the next 24 hours, they engage in verbal sparring that parallels the nation’s upheaval.”

Here’s what Rotten Tomatoes had to say– “Madrid, 1987 …is a two-character story with a verbose discourse on writing, journalism, careerism, aging and politics. Shot mostly within a very constricted space, the story follows an older, celebrated journalist Miguel (José Sacristán) who meets the beautiful and coy journalism-student Angela (María Valverde) to give an interview – but becomes intent upon seducing her. They end up spending time in the most unusual manner …discussing literature, prose and career trajectories …gradually divulging little insights into their own selves as we start to understand the old journalist’s cynicism and the young protégé’s intentions.

10/12/12- A good review in the NY Times. TRDB.

6) LEAST AMONG SAINTS– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Returning home to a broken marriage and an uncertain future, combat veteran Anthony Hayward (Papazian) believes there is no hope for himself. Yet when a troubled ten year-old neighbor, Wade (Tristan Lake Leabu), calls out for help, Anthony cannot turn away. To the dismay of the boy’s social worker (Laura San Giacomo), Anthony sets out on a fool’s quest to help this heartbroken and hard-to-reach child find his long-lost father. In the midst of this new mission – the first that seems to matter since his return – Anthony begins to come to grips with both the costs of war and the universal power of human connection.”

10/12/12- Weak reviews in general. TRDB.

7) JANEANE FROM DES MOINES– 2012. Synopsis by Rottten Tomatoes. “Janeane Wilson is a conservative Iowa housewife who works as a home health aide, keeps busy in her garden, and attends a local women’s bible study group. But as the 2012 presidential election draws near, she is determined to find a Republican candidate who will take America back from the Democrats, repeal Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood and get rid of gay marriage – issues that she feels are destroying the country she loves. She dives into Iowa Tea Party politics and the lead-up to the Iowa caucus, but a crumbling economy causes her to lose everything she holds dear — her job, her marriage, her health, and her home. As Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich criss-cross Iowa during her hour of need, Janeane presses them for answers that she and many of her fellow Americans would like to hear.”

10/12/12- Fairly good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

8) THE PROSECUTION OF AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This electrifying film documents the efforts of Vincent Bugliosi, one of our nation’s foremost prosecutors, as he presents his case that former president George W. Bush should be prosecuted for the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq because he deliberately took our nation to war under false pretenses. Based on Bugliosi’s New York Times bestseller, the movie discloses shocking hidden details of how Bush and his people systematically lied to Congress and the country. He shows incontrovertible evidence that Bush, Cheney, Rice, et al committed a monumental crime under our constitution and the laws of this land. He leads us through a legal understanding of what is needed to bring a formal prosecution, setting the stage for what would be the biggest and most important trial in U.S. history.”

10/12/12- Good review of this film in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9) A WHISPER TO A ROAR– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This rousing documentary examines how protesters dedicated to democracy and nonviolence have changed the political landscapes in five tumultuous countries — Venezuela, Egypt, Malaysia, Ukraine and Zimbabwe — that have been ruled by corrupt regimes.”

10/12/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

10) SPLIT: A DEEPER DIVIDE– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. ” Split: A Deeper Divide carries the riveting investigation into the partisanship paralyzing our politics initiated by the critically-acclaimed SPLIT: A Divided America – further revealing a shocking political portrait of a nation even more profoundly polarized and deeply divided than before. The thought-provoking documentary explores the historically unprecedented partisan rancour plaguing our country and our politics through extraordinary access to some of the sharpest minds analyzing politics and society today including Senator Bayh (D-IN), Senator Hagel (R-NE), Lawrence Lessig (Director, Foundation of Ethics; Harvard), Grover Norquist (American for Tax Reform) Jacob Hacker (Director, Institution for Social and Policy Studies; Yale), Ezra Klein (MSNBC), Robert Kaiser (Washington Post), Norm Ornstein (AEI), Thomas Frank (Wall Street Journal), Noam Chomsky (MIT), Robert Putnam (Harvard), Jesse Jackson (Rainbow/PUSH Coallition), Nicholas Kristof (NY Times), Tucker Carlson (Fox News), Amy Goodman (Democracy Now) among others – for commentary as insightful as it is entertaining. The film moves beyond the headlines of sound-bite battles pitting conservatives vs. liberals to the deeper questions of why – why have we become two Americas? what are the forces – social, cultural, economic – that divide our nation so deeply that we are unable to even discuss our differences? SPLIT: A Deeper Divide is an unflinching look at our fractured nation that offers a much needed non-partisan perspective on what lies beneath the divides splitting the country. The documentary is an absolute must-see before the election.”

10/12/12- A fair at best review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

11) SMASHED– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Married couple Kate and Charlie love to party and drink together. But when Kate’s drinking gets out of hand, threatening her teaching job, she decides to get sober. Now Kate and Charlie struggle as they learn a new way of being together.”

Great early reviews. TRDB.

10/12/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

 12) PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Filmmaker Ross McElwee finds himself in frequent conflict with his son, a defiant young adult who seems addicted to and distracted by the virtual worlds of the internet. To understand the growing distance between himself and his son, McElwee travels back to St. Quay-Portrieux in Brittany for the first time in decades to retrace his own journey into adulthood. He also hopes to track down his first employer, a photographer named Maurice, and Maud, a woman with whom he was romantically involved. Photographic Memory is a meditation on the passing of time, the praxis of photography and film, digital versus analog, and the fractured love of a father for his son.”10/12/12- A good review in today’s NY Times– I think! TRDB.

13) THE BIG PICTURE– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Successful Paris attorney Paul Exben (Romain Duris) has everything going for him, including power, wealth and a picture-perfect family. But the mirror suddenly cracks when Paul discovers that his wife, Sarah, is carrying on an affair with a photographer. After a tragic error closes the door on all that he’s achieved, Paul makes a fateful decision to escape, fleeing abroad to try and begin a new life as someone else altogether.”

10/12/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

_________________________________________________________________________________________
 
OPENING THIS WEEK-
 
1) THE OTHER SON– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “”The Other Son” is the moving and provocative tale of two young men — one Israeli, the other Palestinian — who discover they were accidentally switched at birth, and the complex repercussions facing them and their respective families. Joseph (Jules Sitruk), an 18-year-old musician preparing to join the Israeli army for his mandatory military service, lives at home in a comfortable suburb of Tel Aviv with his parents, France-born physician Orith (Emmanuelle Devos) and Israel-born army commander Alon Silbers (Pascal Elbé). A blood test for Joseph’s military service reveals that he is not their biological son. During the Gulf War Joseph was evacuated from a clinic along with another baby, and the pair were given back to the wrong families. While Palestinian Joseph went to Tel Aviv with the Silbers, their actual Jewish son, Yacine (Medhi Dehbi), was brought to the West Bank by an Arab couple, Said (Khalifa Natour) and Leila (Areen Omari). The revelation turns the lives of the two families upside-down, forcing them to reassess their respective identities, values, and beliefs.”Only fair reviews but this sounds interesting to me. TRDB.

2) PUSHER– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Based on the edgy and explosive series by visionary director Nicolas Winding Refn, Pusher stars Richard Coyle as a drug dealer who grows increasingly desperate over the course of a week after a botched deal lands him in the merciless clutches of a ruthless crime lord. The more desperate his behavior, the more isolated he becomes until there is nothing left standing between him and the bullet his debtors intend to fire his way.”

A few good early reviews but a some said that it wasn’t as good as the original. TRDB.

3) MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN– 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Based on the acclaimed novel by Salman Rushdie, this epic drama tells the story of two infants switched at birth in 1947, the year of India’s independence from Great Britain. One boy is wealthy, the other poor, and their lives become intertwined.”

Terrible reviews– skip it! TRDB.

 
________________________________________________________________________________________
 
FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-
 
1) COMPLIANCE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on a true incident, this tense drama unfolds as a prank caller pretends to be a cop and convinces a restaurant manager to interrogate her teenaged employee about a supposed theft from a customer — a situation that soon spins out of control.” Very good early reviews. There is an article in the NY Times on 5/6/12 about this movie and about the lead actor, Ann Dowd, and about the controversy when it was shown at Sundance this year. TRDB.8/17/12- An interesting and intriguing review in today’s NY Times that details the controversy regarding this movie at Sundance 2012. TRDB.

 
_________________________________________________________________________________________
 
COMCAST ON-DEMAND-
 
NEW-
 
1) ALL TOGETHER– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Instead of living in a retirement home, five aging friends decide to move in together after one of them suffers a heart attack. The two couples and one widower are joined by a young caregiver, an ethnology student who is studying the group.”Fairly good reviews in general. 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.

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

 
REPEATS-
 
1) ARBITRAGE- I liked this movie a lot
2) BABYMAKERS- The NY Times liked it. Most critics did not!
3) BACKWARDS- Awful reviews
4) BALLPLAYER: PELOTERO- A fairly good documentary that could have been better
5) BEING FLYNN- I thought it was “so-so”
6) BURNING MAN- Fair reviews
7) BUTTER- Good reviews
8)CASA DE MI PADRE- Just fair reviews but I liked it
9) CRAIGSLIST JOE- Good early reviews
10) ESCAPE FIRE: THE FIGHT TO RESCUE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE-  Good reviews
11) FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT- OK reviews
12) FOR ELLEN- Weak reviews
13) FRIENDS WITH KIDS- Very good
14) THE GOOD DOCTOR- Mixed reviews
15) THE IRON LADY- Weak movie but worth seeing just for Meryl Streep
16) LIBERAL ARTS- I liked this romantic movie.
17) MY WEEK WITH MARILYN- I liked this very much
18)NESTING- Audiences have liked this more than the critics
19) NOBODY WALKS- Reviews are weak
20) OCTOBER BABY- Awful professional reviews
21) PEOPLE LIKE US- Mostly very good reviews
22) RED TAILS- I disliked this movie and turned it off
23) SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN- Most liked this a lot but I found it full of Hollywood
24) A SEPARATION- Most liked this- I found it just OK
25) SIDE BY SIDE- Great reviews
26) SLEEPWALK WITH ME- I found this one disappointing- it was just OK
27) WOMAN IN THE FIFTH- I liked it
28) YOUR SISTER’S SISTER- I liked this movie very much
 

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

 
_________________________________________________________________________________________
 
BOB’S PICKS IN THE SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)
 
NEW IN THE BURBS-
 
1) CLOUD ATLAS– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this star-studded drama, six seemingly disparate stories take viewers from a South Pacific Island in the 19th century to 1980s America to a dystopian future, exploring the complicated links that humans share through the generations.”

Good reviews. TRDB.

2) THE OTHER SON– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “”The Other Son” is the moving and provocative tale of two young men — one Israeli, the other Palestinian — who discover they were accidentally switched at birth, and the complex repercussions facing them and their respective families. Joseph (Jules Sitruk), an 18-year-old musician preparing to join the Israeli army for his mandatory military service, lives at home in a comfortable suburb of Tel Aviv with his parents, France-born physician Orith (Emmanuelle Devos) and Israel-born army commander Alon Silbers (Pascal Elbé). A blood test for Joseph’s military service reveals that he is not their biological son. During the Gulf War Joseph was evacuated from a clinic along with another baby, and the pair were given back to the wrong families. While Palestinian Joseph went to Tel Aviv with the Silbers, their actual Jewish son, Yacine (Medhi Dehbi), was brought to the West Bank by an Arab couple, Said (Khalifa Natour) and Leila (Areen Omari). The revelation turns the lives of the two families upside-down, forcing them to reassess their respective identities, values, and beliefs.”

No reviews yet but this sounds interesting. TRDB.

3) BROOKLYN CASTLE– Jacob Burns. 2012. “Brooklyn’s I.S. 318 is home to America’s best junior high school chess team, but budget cuts are threatening to undermine the team’s success. This inspiring documentary goes inside the fight to keep chess alive and well at the struggling school.”

10/19/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) THE BIG PICTURE– Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Successful Paris attorney Paul Exben (Romain Duris) has everything going for him, including power, wealth and a picture-perfect family. But the mirror suddenly cracks when Paul discovers that his wife, Sarah, is carrying on an affair with a photographer. After a tragic error closes the door on all that he’s achieved, Paul makes a fateful decision to escape, fleeing abroad to try and begin a new life as someone else altogether.”

10/12/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

REPEATS-
 
1) ARGO- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1979, when Iranian militants seize the American embassy, six Americans slip into the Canadian embassy for protection, prompting the CIA to concoct an elaborate plot to rescue them by pretending that they are filmmakers rather than diplomats.”

Excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this engaging coming-of-age tale based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, a shy freshman struggling with depression deals with his best friend’s suicide and his first love — and finds help from two seniors who take an interest in him.”

Mixed reviews, mostly good. TRDB.

9/21/12- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE– Bethel. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Slowed by age and failing eyesight, crack baseball scout Gus Lobel takes his grown daughter along as he checks out the final prospect of his career. Along the way, the two renew their bond, and she catches the eye of a young player-turned-scout.”

Fair reviews for this movie starring Clint Eastwood. TRDB.

9/21/12- The NY Times today called this movie “safe” and reserved praise for Amy Adams, Eastwood’s daughter in the film. TRDB.

4) THE INTOUCHABLES– Clearview 100. 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 that proves Hollywood can slide effortlessly into Paris. TRDB.

5) SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS– Jacob Burns, Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Marty, a struggling writer, needs inspiration to finish his screenplay Seven Psychopaths. He gets plenty of it when his oddball friends nab a crazed gangster’s beloved pooch and he inadvertently gets caught up in all the action.”

Very good reviews. TRDB.

10/12/12- Fair review at best in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6) ARBITRAGE- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis  by Netflix. “It’s financial whiz Robert Miller’s day of reckoning. As he struggles to divest his empire before his fraud is brought to light, fate takes a nasty turn. Now desperate and running out of options, Miller turns to an unlikely source for help.”

Great early reviews. I saw the coming attractions for this and it looked very good. TRDB.

9/14/12- Fair review at best in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9/19/12- A suspenseful and well acted financial thriller. I recommend it. TRDB.

7) THE PAPERBOY– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Convinced by a death row inmate’s female pen pal that the convict is innocent, a reporter and his brother investigate and discover a case marred by deceit, seduction and betrayal. Meanwhile, one brother falls for the convict’s mysterious confidant.”

Fair early reviews. TRDB.

10/5/12- A very interesting review in today’s NY Times and it’s both + and-. TRDB.

8) SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk.. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades after Detroit singer-songwriter Rodriguez disappeared following the failure of his two critically praised records in the 1970s, two fans from South Africa, where Rodriguez was a huge hit, try to track down their idol, with intriguing results.”

Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

7/27/12- A confusing but good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

9/3/12- A well structured suspenseful documentary about a legend coupled with great music, great interviews, a likable subject and a thought provoking screenplay make this a GREAT DOCUMENTARY. TRDB. 

9) THE MASTER– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A heavy-drinking loner named Freddie finds some semblance of a family when he stumbles onto the ship of Lancaster Dodd, the charismatic leader of a new “religion” — some say cult — he forms after World War II.”

A few early reviewers said this was a great piece of work. Friends have hated it and 2 asked for their money back. 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

Entry Filed under: Newsletter from 3 weeks ago

Leave a Comment

hidden

Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed


All Movie Reviews

What’s New!

Find out what's playing near you

What's playing at Independent theaters near you

Archives of Past Reviews