The Reel Dr. Bob

FILM REVIEWS #443

January 24th, 2013

JANUARY 24, 2013
DEAR FRIENDS:

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

SINCE MY LAST NEWSLETTER 3 WEEKS AGO I SPENT 5 DAYS AT THE PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WHERE I SAW 9 MOVIES–  6 THAT I LIKED VERY MUCH, 2 THAT WERE GOOD AND 1 THAT I REALLY DID NOT CARE FOR. I’LL LIST THEIR NAMES AND AS THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED INTO THEATERS (HOPEFULLY) I’LL LET YOU KNOW.

1) ALLEZ, EDDY- Great
2) IN THE FOG- Didn’t like it
3) IMAGINE- Loved it
4) ENGLISH VINGLISH- Liked this Bollywood movie a lot
5) DANDELIONS- Excellent
6) FILL THE VOID- Very good movie from Israel
7) 80 MILLION- Just OK political thriller
8) RUST AND BONE- (Already released and I liked it very much)
9) BWAKAW- Just OK movie from the Philippines

THIS WEEK I ATTENDED 2 SCREENINGS FROM THE PALM BEACH JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL AND THEY WERE BOTH EXCELLENT–BOTH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW.
NEXT YEAR I WILL GIVE MY READERS AN EARLY HEADS-UP ON THIS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE SO THAT THOSE OF YOU IN FLORIDA CAN ENJOY THIS FESTIVAL AS WELL!

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) LITTLE BIRDS- Netflix
2) TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE- Netflix
3) WHO SHOT MY FATHER?- Palm Beach Jewish FF
4) ONE DAY AFTER PEACE- Palm Beach Jewish FF

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MOVIES I’VE SEEN SINCE LAST WRITING- AT THE THEATER-

1) TCHOUPITOULAS- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Join three young men for an unforgettable night in New Orleans as they explore the vibrant city streets and visit places many tourists never see. Along the way, they encounter the memorable people who make the Crescent City such a special place.”12/7/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB. 1/5/13- What a disappointment after all of the good reviews. I couldn’t understand a word they were saying and after a while I didn’t care. I walked out!! TRDB.

2) WHO SHOT MY FATHER?- 2011. Synopsis by IMDB. “Col. Joe Alon, the Israeli Air Force Attache was assassinated in 1973 in MARYLAND . An FBI investigation revealed nothing. 38 years later, the case remains unsolved and Joe’s three daughters are searching for the truth. Did he know something he shouldn’t have? The film opens with this theory and then goes on to raise personal, forensic, political and national questions and dilemmas: Why didn’t Israel cooperate with the FBI? Was Alon an undercover Mossad (Israeli undercover intelligence organization) agent? Why did the FBI destroy the evidence against protocol? Is it a part of the Yom Kippur War conspiracy theory (Dayan and Kissinger)? Includes interviews of FBI agents, Mossad chiefs, former American Air Force Chief Commander and others key personnel.” 1/21/13- I saw this at the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival and found it interesting and provocative. TRDB.

3) ONE DAY AFTER PEACE- 2012. This is a documentary about an Israeli woman who lost her son to a Palestinian sniper and is now seeking reconciliation with both the killer and the situation by drawing from the experience of the people of South Africa and their ability to forgive the apartheid government there through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. TRDB. 1/23/13- I saw this as part of the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival and thought it was excellent both in terms of the message and the movie itself. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SEEN SINCE LAST WRITING- AT HOME-

1) THE DAY HE ARRIVES- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dreamlike, meandering narrative — shot in black and white and set in the Korean capital of Seoul — follows the movements of university professor Sungjoon, who’s supposed to meet a male colleague but comes across an old actress friend instead.” 4/20/12 Excellent review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB. 1/5/13- Boring as hell and I turned it off quickly. TRDB. Netflix.

2) LITTLE BIRDS- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Lily (Juno Temple) and Alison (Kay Panabaker) struggle to overcome the boredom of being teenagers in a small town in this drama directed by Elgin James. Lily yearns to escape the confines of her surroundings, while Alison finds comfort in the familiar. When they meet three street kids and follow them to Los Angeles, the girls learn just how far they’re willing to go to find their freedom and remain friends.” 8/29/12- Just a fair review in today’s NY Times. TRDB. 1/19/13-  A weak plot story but it was difficult to not get involved  with these characters and their plight with boredom and dysfunctional families and where it can lead. TRDB. Netflix.

3) TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE- 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. 1/19/13- A generally pleasant film with a formulaic screenplay. Just OK. TRDB.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JAN. 29-

1) SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS- 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.
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MOVIES THAT OPENED IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS IN ADDITION TO THOSE I WROTE ABOUT ON JAN. 3.

1) A BOTTLE IN THE GAZA SEA- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Tal is a 17-year-old Frenchwoman who has settled in Jerusalem with her family. She writes a letter expressing her refusal to accept that only hatred can reign between Israelis and Palestinians. She slips the letter into a bottle, and her brother throws it into the sea near Gaza, where he is carrying out his military service. A few weeks later, Tal receives an e-mail response from a mysterious “Gazaman,” a young Palestinian named Naïm. And thus begins a turbulent but tender long-distance friendship between two young people that are separated by a history they are trying both to understand and change. This engrossing and hopeful drama starring Hiam Abbas is based on the award-winning novel by Valérie Zenatti.” 11/8/12- There is an article in today’s NY Times about this film that is playing in the “Other Israel Film Festival” in NY. TRDB. 1/4/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) CLANDESTINE CHILDHOOD- 2011. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Argentina, 1979. After years of exile, Juan (12) and his family come back to Argentina under fake identities. Juan’s parents and his uncle Beto are members of the Montoneros Organization, which is fighting against the Military Junta that rules the country. Because of their political activities they are being tracked down relentlessly, and the threat of capture and even death is constant. However, Juan’s daily life is also full of warmth and humor, and he quickly and easily integrates into his new environment. His friends at school and the girl he has a gigantic crush on, Maria, know him as Ernesto, a name he must not forget, since his family’s survival is at stake. Juan accepts this and follows all of his parents’ rules until one day he is told that they need to move again immediately, and leave his friends and Maria behind without an explanation. This is a story about militancy, undercover life, and love. The story of a clandestine childhood.” 1/11/13- Mixed reviews in today’s NY Times and in general. Some were very good and some were just fair. TRDB.

3) LET MY PEOPLE GO- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A sweet and hilarious fusion of gay romantic comedy, Jewish family drama and French bedroom farce, Mikael Buch’s Let My People Go! follows the travails and daydreams of the lovelorn Reuben (Nicolas Maury), a French-Jewish gay mailman living in fairytale Finland (where he got his MA in “Comparative Sauna Cultures”) with his gorgeous Nordic boyfriend. But just before Passover, a series of mishaps and a lovers’ quarrel exile the heartbroken Reuben back to Paris and his zany family-including Almodovar goddess Carmen Maura as his ditzy mom, and Truffaut regular Jean-François Stévenin as his lothario father. Scripted by director Mikael Buch and renowned arthouse auteur Christophe Honoré (Love Songs), Let My People Go! both celebrates and upends Jewish and gay stereotypes with wit, gusto and style to spare. 1/11/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

4) UPRISING- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In January 2011, millions of Egyptians took to the streets in a spontaneous eruption against thirty years of oppression under the regime of Hosni Mubarak. Communicating via Facebook and Twitter, the largely peaceful protesters braved tear gas, beatings, and live bullets in the hope of facing down security forces and overthrowing the government. Over eight hundred lost their lives, and several thousand were arrested and tortured by security forces. UPRISING tells the story of the Egyptian revolution from the perspective of its leadership and key organizers, their struggle for freedom against tremendous odds, their sacrifice, and the courage and ingenuity that allowed them to succeed.” 1/11/13- A very good review for this documentary in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

5) FRACKNATION- 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “There are two sides of every story and then there is the truth. FrackNation is the film that will tell the truth about fracking. People across the US told us that everything we had heard about fracking was wrong. They say that anti-fracking campaigns, one-sided media coverage and moratoriums and bans have damaged the lives of thousands of people who are now desperate to have their voices heard.” 1/11/13- A good review in today’s NY Times saying that the film described the complexity of the situation very well. Others called it too one-sided. TRDB.

6) FAIRHAVEN- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jon is on a journey of introspection and launching a writing career when an unexpected visit from two old pals derails his train of thought. As the three travel down memory lane, Jon learns more about himself than he ever could as a writer.” 1/11/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. Others have not been as good. TRDB.

7) GANGSTER SQUAD- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When notorious East Coast mob boss Mickey Cohen looks to set up his operations in L.A., it’s up to a group of hard-nosed LAPD cops to take him down. Based on true events, this ’40s-era crime drama is directed by Ruben Fleischer.” 1/11/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and everywhere else as well. TRDB.

8)BROKEN CITY- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After private detective Billy Taggart informs the mayor of New York that his wife is having an affair, the woman’s lover turns up dead. In short order, the PI learns that his mayor boss is at the center of some very shady real estate dealings.” 1/181/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times calling it a solid B movie. Others have disliked it. TRDB.

9) BRIEF REUNION- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Successful businessman Aaron Clark has his 40th birthday wrecked by his no-good former classmate Teddy, who also begins stalking Aaron and his wife. Unable to contain Teddy’s sinister invasion of his life, Aaron finally arrives at his breaking point.” 1/18/13- A weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. TRDB.

10) HORS SATAN (OUTSIDE SATAN)- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this allegorical drama, a homeless man who may be more than he seems relentlessly wanders the open countryside — often accompanied by a teenage girl who feeds him — and indulges in an uneasy mixture of prayer and random violence.” 1/18/13- This movie received an OK review from the NY Times today and mixed reviews in general. TRDB.

11) GREENWICH VILLAGE: MUSIC THAT DEFINED A GENERATION- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “GREENWICH VILLAGE: MUSIC THAT DEFINED A GENERATION is a feature-length documentary about the Greenwich Village music scene and how it sparked everlasting political, social and cultural changes. For the first time, the greatest singer-songwriters, authors and performers from Greenwich Village reflect on how they collectively became the voice of a generation.” 1/18/13- I found only 2 reviews at this time, one positive and one negative. TRDB.

12) STOLEN SEAS- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Utilizing exclusive interviews and unparalleled access to real pirates, hostages, ship-owners, pirate negotiators and experts on piracy, Stolen Seas presents a chilling exploration of the Somali pirate phenomenon. Stolen Seas is an eye opening refutation of preconceived ideas on how or why piracy has become the world’s most frightening multi-million dollar growth industry.” 1/18/13- This movie was one of the “best of the fest” at the Palm Springs International Film Festival this year and was praised in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

13) OUR SCHOOL- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmed over a four-year period in Transylvania, this poignant documentary chronicles the desegregation of a local school and the effect it has on three Roma — or “Gypsy” — children, as the kids face prejudice from their peers and the school system.” 1/18/13- A very good review for this documentary in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

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MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEK (JAN. 25)-

1) HAPPY PEOPLE: A YEAR IN THE TAIGA- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Venerated documentarian Werner Herzog teams with director Dmitry Vasyukov for this observant look at life along the River Yenisei in northern Russia, where the industrious inhabitants of a rural village truly live off the land.” A few mixed reviews so far. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

1) ANY DAY NOW- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Rudy and Paul take in their neighbor’s teenage son Marco, who has Down syndrome, when his neglectful mother throws him out of her apartment. Their attempt to legally adopt Marco sparks a court battle over gay rights in this powerful true story. “A few reviews and they are very good. TRDB.

2) THE LOVING STORY- 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “This riveting documentary profiles Mildred and Richard Loving, who were arrested hours after their 1958 wedding for breaking Virginia’s laws against interracial marriage. In 1967, their case was heard before the Supreme Court and changed the nation.” 1/31/12- I saw this at a special showing with the director Nancy Biurski at the Jacob Burns Film Center. A great documentary with an impressive trove of archival footage. The movie was thought provoking and has analogies to life today in various parts of society both here and abroad. TRDB.
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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

1) THE MULBERRY TREE- 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “While fulfilling his court-ordered community service in the state hospital, Mickey Loren meets Samuel Freeman, a convicted murderer dying of AIDS, whose remaining days on “hospital detail” give him the opportunity for redemption through conversations with Mickey about their own family issues.” Very good reviews. TRDB.
REPEATS-

1) ARBITRAGE- I liked this movie a lot
2) BACHLORETTE- Fair reviews at best
3) BALLPLAYER: PELOTERO- A fairly good documentary that could have been better
4) BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD- I enjoyed the film
5) CENTRAL PARK FIVE- Very good reviews
6) DEADFALL- Mixed reviews
7) THE FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMAS- I liked this movie very much
8)THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT- OK reviews
9) HOPE SPRINGS- I liked this movie very much
10) THE LONELIEST PLANET- Lots of bad reviews. I saw 10 minutes for free On-Demand and did not like it
11) MOONRISE KINGDOM- I liked it
12) MY BEST ENEMY- A good movie
13) NESTING- Audiences have liked this more than the critics
14) OCTOBER BABY- Awful professional reviews
15) PEOPLE LIKE US-  I enjoyed the movie despite some light fluff. Some good dialogue as well
16) THE PUSHER- OK reviews but critics said the original was better
17) SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN- Most liked this a lot but I found it full of Hollywood
18)SAVE THE DATE- Mixed reviews
19) THE SHEIK AND I- Good reviews
20) WAITING FOR LIGHTNING- The NY Times called this movie boring
21) WALK AWAY RENEE- Weak reviews from most critics
22) WOMAN IN THE FIFTH- I liked it
23) THE WORDS- I enjoyed this movie
24) YELLING TO THE SKY- Mixed reviews

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-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) RUST AND BONE- Bethel, Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “To support his young son, faded boxer Ali takes a job as a bouncer and meets the free-spirited Stéphanie, who trains whales at a water park. After Stéphanie suffers a devastating accident, Ali begins a poignant and unexpected relationship with her.”Great early reviews. TRDB. 1/23/12- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB. 1/25/13- I saw this recently at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and I thought it was great. TRDB.

2) LOVE (AMOUR)- Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this 2012 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner, Georges and Anne, retired music teachers in their eighties, have a time-tested love. But as Anne’s health fails, Georges becomes her caregiver, and the couple’s bond is tested like never before.” 12/19/12- Great reviews all around and especially in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) BARBARA- Jacob Burns. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1980 East Germany, Barbara, a doctor, is reassigned to a small rural hospital as punishment for trying to find work in the West. Biding time until her lover can help her defect, Barbara begins to suspect that her new boss knows of her plans.” 12/21/12- Great review in today’s NT Times and elsewhere too. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) ZERO DARK THIRTY- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. Zero Dark Thirty reunites the Oscar winning team of director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker) for the story of history’s greatest manhunt for the world’s most dangerous man.” Great reviews and audiences have liked it too. TRDB.

2) SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a four-year stay in a psychiatric institution, former teacher Pat Peoples has no choice but to move back in with his mother. While he’s trying in vain to reunite with his wife, Pat meets another woman fated to change his life.”Very good reviews. TRDB. 11/16/12- Very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB. 12/4/12- A very enjoyable piece of fluff that had a few lessons about life as well. TRDB.

3) HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In June 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and his wife Eleanor (Olivia Williams) host the King and Queen of England (Samuel West and Olivia Colman) for a weekend at the Roosevelt home at Hyde Park on Hudson, in upstate New York – the first-ever visit of a reigning English monarch to America. With Britain facing imminent war with Germany, the Royals are desperately looking to FDR for support. But international affairs must be juggled with the complexities of FDR’s domestic establishment, as wife, mother, and mistresses all conspire to make the royal weekend an unforgettable one.” Mediocre early reviews. TRDB. 12/7/12- Weak review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

4) QUARTET- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “A trio of retired opera singers’ annual celebration of Verdi’s birthday sours when their estranged fourth member shows up but refuses to sing. Tensions rise and diva drama erupts — will personal problems prevent the show from going on?” Early reviews are very good. TRDB.

5) LIFE OF PI- Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel, this coming-of-age tale recounts the adventures of Pi, an Indian boy who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with only some zoo animals for company.” Excellent reviews. TRDB. 1/2/13- I enjoyed this movie very much especially the creative cinematography. See it in 3D if you can. TRDB.

6) LES MISERABLES- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “The musical version of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of love and sacrifice, first produced for the stage in 1985, now receives the big-screen treatment. The bloody era of the French Revolution is the backdrop to Jean Valjean’s long struggle for redemption.”Fairly good reviews even as some critics complained that the movie was poorly directed. TRDB. 12/25/12- I enjoyed this movie very much even though I generally have trouble getting into musicals on the screen. TRDB.

7) LINCOLN-  Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Steven Spielberg takes on the towering legacy of Abraham Lincoln, focusing on his stewardship of the Union during the Civil War years. The biographical saga also reveals the conflicts within Lincoln’s cabinet regarding the war and abolition.”11/9/12- The NY Times gave this a great review today. TRDB. 11/18/12- There have been many critics raving about this movie. Day-Lewis gave a wonderful performance but I found the movie uninspiring and I felt that it was too long, too preachy and that there were too many characters to keep track of. TRDB.

8)ARGO- 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. 10/25/12- A fascinating and apparently true story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. TRDB.

9) DJANGO UNCHAINED- Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Accompanied by a German bounty hunter, a freed slave named Django travels across America to free his wife from a sadistic plantation owner. Quentin Tarantino directs this modern-day spaghetti Western.” Excellent reviews. 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: All Reviews,Old Newsletters