The Reel Dr. Bob

MARCH 28, 2013

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF LAST WEEK-

 

1) LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE– Comcast On-Demand

2) FOUND MEMORIES– Netflix Streaming

3) HAVA NAGILA (THE MOVIE)- Theater

4) IN OUR NATURE– Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

1) HAVA NAGILA (THE MOVIE)- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Morphing from Hasidic prayer to party staple, “Hava Nagila” carries with it more than a century of Jewish culture — all of it captured here. Everyone from Harry Belafonte to Leonard Nimoy weighs in on the song as the filmmakers chart its evolution.”3/1/13- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/26/13- An interesting documentary with numerous famous talking heads most of whom are not Jewish. Cleverly presented as well with enough humor to keep things light. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) THE MASTER– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “A heavy-drinking loaner 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. TRDB.

9/14/12- Great review in today’s NY Times but many of my friends did not like this movie. TRDB.

3/21/13- As far as I’m concerned a great performance by Joachin Phoenix and a very good one by Philip Seymour Hoffman saved this movie from oblivion. You can safely skip it. TRDB. Netflix.

2) LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This meditative drama focuses on an encounter between two strangers in Tokyo: a young woman working as a call girl and a retired college professor. The two soon form a bond beyond their initial meeting, which begins to confuse the girl’s boyfriend.”

2/15/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/24/13- This latest work by Abbas Kiarostami, the Iranian director, is what one reviewer called the cinematic equivalent of a short story. Well acted and leaving most everything to the viewer to interpret. I enjoyed it but it is clearly not for everyone. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

3) HELLO I MUST BE GOING– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “When her husband decides that he wants a divorce, 35-year-old Amy Minsky is faced with the humiliation of moving back into her parents’ home. Despite her battered self-image, Amy manages to inspire the ardor of a determined teenage boy.”

1/21/12- An article (not a review) in today’s NY Times about this film showing at Sundance. Sounds interesting. TRDB.

9/7/12- Mixed reviews in general and an OK one in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/26/13- This film had some good ideas but was hobbled by poor screen writing. TRDB. Netflix.

4) FOUND MEMORIES– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Life in a quiet village rolls slowly from one day to the next with little excitement — until a young photographer named Rita arrives. Intent on capturing the town on film, Rita forms a profound bond with Madalena, an elderly baker.”

A very good review from the NY Times on 6/1/12 and excellent reviews in general. TRDB.

3/25/13- One of the slowest but ultimately engaging movies I’ve seen in a long time. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

5) IN OUR NATURE– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Seth and Andie had the perfect weekend getaway planned, until a booking error put Seth’s estranged father and his girlfriend in the same condo. The four agree to make the best of the unexpected arrangement, with unexpected consequences for all.”

Fair early reviews. TRDB.

12/7/12- The NY Times called it a bit dull in today’s review but it did sound interesting to me. TRDB.

3/27/13- I enjoyed the movie and felt it was a good depiction of a dysfunctional family, even though the characters were not all related. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 2-

 

1) LUV- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “This indie drama portrays a single day shared by an 11-year-old boy and his uncle, who’s recently rejoined the world after eight years in prison. When the older Vincent brings young Woody along on business, fresh lessons in life await them both.”1/18/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) SNOW ON THA BLUFF– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in urban Atlanta, this hyperreal gangster drama centers on kinetic dope dealer Curtis Snow, who nabs a video camera off a pair of college kids, then begins recording the deals, deliveries and shoot-outs that comprise his daily operation. Whether outrunning the police or caring for his 2-year-old son, Snow takes the constant hustle in stride, but the fast-moving gangster feels real heat after crossing a revenge-minded rival dealer.”

4/20/12- Very good reviews in general and in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK (March 22) IN ADDITION TO THOSE I WROTE ABOUT ON MARCH 21-

 

1) GIMME THE LOOT– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two talented graffiti artists from the Bronx are stung when a rival outfit covers their own illustration with a portrait of the Mets’ Home Run Apple. They turn their outrage into a daring plan to tag the real Home Run Apple at the Mets ballpark.”3/22/13- Good review in today’s NY Times and everyone  else liked it also. TRDB.

2) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Antoine Fuqua’s action thriller stars Gerard Butler as a disgraced Secret Service agent who must come to the rescue when Korean terrorists descend on the White House and take the president hostage.”

3/22/13- An awful review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3) NEW WORLD– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “After the head of Korea’s largest crime syndicate dies, undercover cop Ja-seong, who is exhausted and conflicted by his lengthy assignment, is ordered by his potentially corrupt boss to help the number two man in the organization become its leader.”

3/22/13- An OK review in today’s NY Times and mixed reviews in general. TRDB.

4) LEONIE– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “This biopic celebrates the life of Leonie Gilmour, an accomplished editor and educator and the mother of famed sculptor Isamu Noguchi. After her affair with a renowned Japanese poet leads to pregnancy, Leonie flees New York to raise her son alone.”

3/22/13- The NY Times did not like this movie but other critics have and so have audiences. TRDB.

5) EVERYBODY HAS A PLAN– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Viggo Mortensen stars in this thriller as twin brothers Agustín, a doctor living a comfortable but mundane life, and Pedro, who has a criminal past. When Pedro dies, Agustín adopts his identity and gets a taste of Argentina’s underworld.”

3/22/13- A good review in today’s NY Times that put more emphasis on the moods created and acting than on the story itself. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS WEEK (March 29)-

 

1) RENOIR- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1915, elderly painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir is crippled by both loss and arthritis, but when vibrant teenager Andrée brightens his life, he finds new purpose — as does his son Jean, a wounded soldier who is inspired by Andrée’s love of cinema.”3/18/13- A few early reviews and they are very good. TRDB.

2) ROOM 237- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Exploring various theories about hidden meanings in Stanley Kubrick’s classic film The Shining, this fascinating documentary presents fans’ and conspiracy theorists’ ideas about messages regarding genocide, government conspiracy and history.”

3/18/13- Very good reviews. TRDB.

3) VIOLETTA WENT TO HEAVEN– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Chile’s answer to Bob Dylan, Violeta Parra brought folk to the masses. This dramatized biography combines her music and life into a unique pastiche. The result reveals Parra’s conviction and passion as no conventional documentary could.”

3/18/13- Very good early reviews. TRDB.

4) WHITE ELEPHANT– 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two fellow priests and friends, Julian and Nicolas, join together on a project to complete construction of a hospital in the slums of Buenos Aires. The unfinished “White Elephant” challenges their efforts to do virtuous work amid social chaos.”

3/20/13- Just a few reviews so far and they are good. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- At the Stonzek Theater Lake Worth Playhouse-

 

1) WAR WITCH- 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “In sub-Saharan Africa, 12-year-old Komona is kidnapped by rebel soldiers who force her to kill her parents and join their ranks. Over the next two years, Komona clings to life despite her horrific experiences and tries to pacify her parents’ ghosts.”3/1/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/6/13- Very difficult to watch this moving drama of a girl who amazingly survives war and superstition but it should be a “must-see.” TRDB.

2) MOLLY’S THEORY OF RELATIVITY– 2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “”Molly’s Theory of Relativity” is a sexy, funny, surreal, and devastating portrait of a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old astronomer who, having unexpectedly lost her job, is poised to make perhaps the first reckless decision of her life. Her story unfolds during an eighteen hour period, on Halloween.”

3/1/13- A good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

 

1) LES MISERABLES–  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.

2) SOUND CITY–  2013. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Deep in the San Fernando Valley, amidst rows of dilapidated warehouses, was rock n’ roll’s best kept secret: Sound City. America’s greatest unsung recording studio housed a one-of-a-kind console, and as its legend grew, seminal bands and artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, Metallica and Nirvana all came out to put magic to tape. Directed by Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and featuring interviews and performances from iconic musicians.”Great reviews all around. TRDB.

3) ZERO DARK THIRTY–  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 early reviews. TRDB.

1/29/13- I enjoyed the last 45 min. during the raid on Bin Laden’s compound because of its historical significance and suspense despite knowing the outcome. The first hour and a half was for me well summed up by a reviewer when he said– “A silly film that never remotely deserved an Oscar nomination.” 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) GIMME THE LOOT– Jacob Burns. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two talented graffiti artists from the Bronx are stung when a rival outfit covers their own illustration with a portrait of the Mets’ Home Run Apple. They turn their outrage into a daring plan to tag the real Home Run Apple at the Mets ballpark.”3/22/13- Good review in today’s NY Times and everyone else liked it also. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) NO- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012- Synopsis by Netflix. “In this engaging drama from Chile, Gael García Bernal portrays René Saavedra, a hot-shot ad executive who creates a controversial media campaign opposing military dictator Augusto Pinochet during the referendum on his presidency in 1988.”Very good reviews so far. TRDB.

2/15/13- A very good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

2) QUARTET– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, 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.

3/3/13-  A good, if somewhat predictable, movie with lots of good music to boot. TRDB.

3) GINGER & ROSA– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk.  2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “With the Cold War looming over them, teen best pals Ginger and Rosa share everything in early 1960s London — until betrayal drives them apart. Sally Potter directs this intimate period drama steeped in the anxieties of the dawning nuclear age.”

3/3/13- Mixed early reviews. TRDB.

3/15/13- Good review in today’s NY Times and from many others as well. TRDB.

4) EMPEROR- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “As World War II ends, Gen. MacArthur oversees Japan’s surrender, an act that dispels the nation’s centuries-old beliefs about its emperor. With the eyes of the world — and history — upon them, MacArthur and his protégé will change Japan forever.”

3/8/13- Weak review in today’s NY Times and elsewhere as well. My friends have enjoyed the historical portion of the movie but nothing else. TRDB.

5) ADMISSION– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “While scouting applicants at an experimental high school, Ivy League admissions officer Portia Nathan discovers that the school’s founder is her former college classmate John Halsey — and that she may have a connection to one of his students.”

3/14/13- Mixed reviews at best. TRDB.

3/22/13- A barely OK review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

6) THE GATEKEEPERS– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Meet six leaders of Israel’s secret service, the Shin Bet, which has dealt with conflict amid the quest for peace for nearly 50 years. For the first time, these men discuss the challenging truths and consequences of their counterterrorism mission.”

Excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

3/10/13- I liked this movie very much but it did seem unusual to me that each of the men seemed to distance himself from Israeli tactics. Were there any heads of Shin Bet that agreed with the policies even if they don’t appear to have worked in retrospect? TRDB.

7) LORE– Clearview 100. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “After her Nazi parents are imprisoned, Lore leads her younger siblings across a war-torn Germany in 1945. Amid the chaos, she encounters a mysterious refugee named Thomas, who shatters her fragile reality with hatred and desire.”

2/8/13- Very good reviews in general with just a few critics saying that the film was a bit slow. The NY Times liked it as well. TRDB.

3/16/13- Yet another extremely powerful  movie related to the Holocaust. Well done and should be a must see! TRDB.

8)SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 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.

9) THE CALL– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “When an abducted teenage girl makes a frantic call from the trunk of a serial killer’s speeding car, she connects with a sympathetic 911 operator who’s dealt with the perpetrator in the past.”

Mixed early reviews, more negative than positive. TRDB.

3/15/13- The NY Times liked this movie in today’s review but most critics did not. TRDB.

10) HAVA NAGILA (THE MOVIE)- Jacob Burns. 2012. Synopsis by Netflix. “Morphing from Hasidic prayer to party staple, “Hava Nagila” carries with it more than a century of Jewish culture — all of it captured here. Everyone from Harry Belafonte to Leonard Nimoy weighs in on the song as the filmmakers chart its evolution.”

3/1/13- Good review in today’s NY Times. TRDB.

3/26/13- An interesting documentary with numerous famous talking heads most of whom are not Jewish. Cleverly presented as well with enough humor to keep things light. 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