The Reel Dr. Bob

1) THE LAST VERMEER– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, a former Dutch resistance fighter investigating the disappearance of art during World War II follows a trail that leads to flamboyant painter Han van Meegeren. But all may not be as clear-cut as it seems.”

11/22/20- Fair reviews from the critics and very good ones from audiences.” TRDB.

3/21/21- Hollywoodish and boring at the same time. TRDB.

2) PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a traumatic event causes 30-year-old Cassie to drop out of medical school, her life appears to be at a standstill. But she’s living a double life, and her apparent inertia turns into vengeance when night falls.”

12/25/20- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

3/21/21- I liked this drama/mystery starring Carey Mulligan very much. I still have a knot in my stomach. TRDB.

3) STYX– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Prepared for the adventure of a lifetime, emergency room doctor Rieke sets off on a 5,000-mile solo voyage to Ascension Island in the Atlantic. But when she encounters a foundering refugee boat, she finds herself caught in a moral dilemma.”

2/27/19- Excellent reviews by the critics but just fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

3/23/21- I liked this movie but be warned that it is very slow and don’t forget the dramamine. TRDB.

1) MARTHA: A PICTURE STORY– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Selina Miles’ film is a vibrant portrait of photographer Martha Cooper, who in 1970s New York, captured the first images of graffiti appearing on the city’s subway carriages. Decades later, Martha realizes she’s become an unusual icon of the street art world — her joyous and eagle-eyed photography having inspired the spread of graffiti around the globe.”

3/20/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Amazon and other streaming platforms

2) CITY OF LIES– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Based on the book, LAByrinth, by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Randall Sullivan, this compelling crime-thriller follows the investigation into the infamous murder of iconic rap artist Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G. Oscar® nominee Johnny Depp stars as determined LAPD detective Russell Poole, who spent nearly 20 years trying to solve the murder, and Oscar® and Primetime Emmy® winner Forest Whitaker as Jack Jackson, a journalist who teams up with Poole in search of the elusive truth.”

3/20/21- Poor reviews by the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB. In Theaters-

3) HAPPILY– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After 14 years of marriage, Tom and Janet still can’t keep their hands off each other. When they discover their friends are resentful of their constant public displays of affection, the couple start to question the loyalty of everyone around them. Then, a visit from a mysterious stranger thrusts them into an existential crisis, leading to a dead body, a lot of questions and a very tense vacation.”

3/20/21- Fair reviews at best from critics and audiences. TRDB. In Theaters and on streaming platforms. On Prime

4) THE FEVER– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Justino, a 45-year-old security guard at the Manaus harbor, is overcome by a mysterious fever as his daughter prepares to study medicine in Brasilia.”

3/20/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB.  On virtual cinemas

5) WOJNAROWICZ- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Filmmaker Chris McKim examines the life and work of artist, writer, photographer and AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz.”

3/20/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB. On virtual cinemas

6) BEFORE THE DYING OF THE LIGHT– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The seventies were the last Moroccan period in which struggles and dreams for change were a reality. Also known as “Years of Lead” due to the violent repression that came along, this was the most important artistic and cultural period which shaped the first generation of Moroccan post-colonial artists. Through a socio-political approach “Before the Dying of the Light” exhumes archives of great creativity, this atmosphere of revolt had succeeded in setting free and which had long been censored or marginalized.”

3/20/21- I’ve seen just 1 review and it is very good. TRDB. On virtual cinemas

7) THE COURIER  2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “During the Cold War, an English businessman is tapped to help execute a covert operation for the CIA and MI6, acting as a messenger to pass leaked information from a senior Russian intelligence officer to prevent a nuclear war.”

3/17/21- Fair to good reviews. TRDB. In Theaters

8) ROSE PLAYS JULIE– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Rose (Ann Skelly) is at university studying veterinary science. An only child, she has enjoyed a loving relationship with her adoptive parents. However, for as long as Rose can remember she has wanted to know who her biological parents are and the facts of her true identity. After years trying to trace her birth mother, Rose now has a name and a number.”

3/20/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. On Prime

9) GROOMED– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Filmmaker Gwen van de Pas returns to her hometown in search of answers about the man who sexually abused her as a child.”

3/20/21- Very good early reviews. TRDB. On Discovery +

10) AFTER THE MURDER OF ALFRED LIMA– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Award-winning documentary AFTER THE MURDER OF ALBERT LIMA tells the story of a son obsessed with capturing his father’s killer. Paul Lima has spent over a decade seeking justice for his slain father, Albert. Though convicted, Albert’s murderer has remained free in Honduras.”

3/21/21- Just a few reviews so far and they are all good. TRDB.

11) SEASPIRACY– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “From the co-creator who brought you the groundbreaking documentary Cowspiracy comes Seaspiracy, a follow up that illuminates alarming — and not widely known — truths about the widespread environmental destruction to our oceans caused by human behavior.”

3/24/21- No reviews yet but the topic is certainly pertinent. TRDB. Netflix

SKIP THIS–

1) LEONA– 2020. Synopsis by IMDB. “A young Jewish woman from Mexico City finds herself torn between her family and her forbidden love with a non-Jewish man.”

3/11/21- Very good early reviews.

2) MINARI– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. ”

Netflix had this to say– The patriarch of a Korean family living in Michigan during the 1980s wants to be a farmer in Arkansas, but his family experiences severe culture shock as they try to assimilate and become part of the community.

2/11/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. 

3) NOMADLAND– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “When her rural Nevada company town goes belly up, Fern packs up her van and starts driving. Becoming a modern-day nomad, she finds work and adventure along the way as she travels across the West.”

2/16/21- Excellent reviews by the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

4) THE COURIER– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “During the Cold War, an English businessman is tapped to help execute a covert operation for the CIA and MI6, acting as a messenger to pass leaked information from a senior Russian intelligence officer to prevent a nuclear war.”

3/17/21- Fair to good reviews. TRDB.

5) THE FATHER- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Led by stellar performances and artfully helmed by writer-director Florian Zeller, The Father presents a devastatingly empathetic portrayal of dementia.”

3/11/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. Limited screenings

1) MALCOLM & MARIE– 2021- Synopsis by Netfllix. “When director Malcolm and his girlfriend, Marie, return home from the premiere of his latest film, they settle in to happily await the critics’ reviews. But the night takes an unexpected turn as revelations about their past relationships emerge.”

2/5/21- Fair reviews. TRDB.

2/7/21–  It’s difficult to say that you liked a movie like this but I did– both brilliant and infuriating  and certainly not for everyone. Lots of dirty laundry and a real slugfest!!! TRDB. Netflix.

2) LITTLE BIG WOMEN- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Family members grapple with the passing of their estranged father and the remnants of the life he led during his absence.”

2/6/21- One review noted (from the NY Times) and it is really bad. Never-the-less it does sound interesting to me. TRDB.

2/8/21- I liked this movie even though it was very, very slooooooow.TRDB. Netflix.

3)  STRIP DOWN, RISE UP– Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In an effort to reclaim their bodies and lives, a group of women explores the intersections of movement and meaning in a powerful pole dancing program.”

2/6/21- I’ve seen just 4 reviews and they are all very good. TRDB.

2/11/21- I watched about 20 minutes and turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.

1) STRIP DOWN, RISE UP– Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In an effort to reclaim their bodies and lives, a group of women explores the intersections of movement and meaning in a powerful pole dancing program.”

2/6/21- I’ve seen just 4 reviews and they are all very good. TRDB.

2/11/21- I watched about 20 minutes and turned it off

2) LITTLE BIG WOMEN– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Family members grapple with the passing of their estranged father and the remnants of the life he led during his absence.”

2/6/21- One review noted (from the NY Times) and it is really bad. Never-the-less it does sound interesting to me and I’ll probably see it eventually. TRDB. On Netflix

2/8/21- I liked this movie even though it was very, very slooooooow.TRDB

3) LIFE IN A DAY– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “For this sequel to the 2011 documentary “Life in a Day,” director Kevin Macdonald pared down 15,000 hours of footage submitted from 192 countries, capturing events of a single day — July 25, 2020 — on our changed planet.”

2/6/21- Mixed reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On YouTube,

4) FALLING– 2021, Synopsis by Netflix. “Now living in Los Angeles with his husband and adopted child, John Peterson has worked hard to distance himself from his conservative upbringing. But when his dad — who’s suffering from dementia — moves in with John’s family, old wounds resurface.”

2/7/21- Fair reviews from the critics and weak ones from audiences. Sounds interesting to me and I’ll see it if only because of Laura Linney and Vigo Mortensen.  TRDB. On Vudu and Prime

5) RAMS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Brothers Colin and Les haven’t spoken in decades despite laboring side by side on their family’s sheep ranch. But when a disease in the flocks leads to a call to slaughter every sheep in the valley, the two must come together to save their legacy.”

2/7/21- Very good reviews from the critics and weak ones from audiences. TRDB. On Vudu, Prime, Google Play and several other streaming platforms.

6) LITTLE FISH– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a world where a pandemic is robbing people of their memories, young and old feel the horror of dementia — including newlyweds Emma and Jude, who struggle to keep recollections of their love alive after Jude contracts the illness.”

2/7/21- Fairly good reviews for this sci-fi movie. TRDB. On Amazon

7) TWO OF US– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Two retired women, Nina and Madeleine, have been secretly in love for decades. Everybody, including Madeleine’s family, thinks they are simply neighbors, sharing the top floor of their building. They come and go between their two apartments, enjoying the affection and pleasures of daily life together, until an unforeseen event turns their relationship upside down and leads Madeleine’s daughter to gradually unravel the truth about them.”

2/4/20- Excellent reviews for this drama from France. TRDB. On Virtual Cinemas

SKIP THIS ONE-

1) BLISS– Awful reviews for this -fi

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1) LITTLE FISH– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a world where a pandemic is robbing people of their memories, young and old feel the horror of dementia — including newlyweds Emma and Jude, who struggle to keep recollections of their love alive after Jude contracts the illness.”

2/4/20- Excellent reviews for this sci-fi movie. TRDB

2) SUPERNOVA– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Sam (Academy Award winner Colin Firth) and Tusker (Academy Award nominee Stanley Tucci), partners of twenty years, are traveling across England in their old camper van visiting friends, family and places from their past. Following a life-changing diagnosis, their time together has become more important than ever until secret plans test their love like never before.”

3) TWO OF US– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Two retired women, Nina and Madeleine, have been secretly in love for decades. Everybody, including Madeleine’s family, thinks they are simply neighbors, sharing the top floor of their building. They come and go between their two apartments, enjoying the affection and pleasures of daily life together, until an unforeseen event turns their relationship upside down and leads Madeleine’s daughter to gradually unravel the truth about them.”

2/4/20- Excellent reviews for this drama from France. TRDB.

4) MINARI– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. ”

Netflix had this to say– “The patriarch of a Korean family living in Michigan during the 1980s wants to be a farmer in Arkansas, but his family experiences severe culture shock as they try to assimilate and become part of the community.”

2/11/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.