MALCOLM AND MARIE- 2021- Synopsis by Netflix. “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 have liked a movie like this but I did– both brilliant and infuriating and certainly not for everyone. Lots of dirty laundry!!! TRDB.
Tags: drama
February 5th, 2021
AMERICAN SKIN- 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A war veteran seeks justice when police kill his unarmed son during a routine traffic stop.”
1/16/21- Weak reviews in general for this film. There are a couple of OK ones as well. TRDB.
Tags: drama
January 16th, 2021
CRACK: COCAINE, CORRUPTION & CONSPIRACY- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In the early 1980s, the crack epidemic tore through America’s inner cities like a tsunami, ravaging all in its wake. Decades later, the destructive effects on people’s lives, families and communities are still deeply felt. Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy examines not only the personal devastation caused by the drug, but also the shadowy origins of the crisis and the resultant, ongoing marginalization of Black and Brown people trapped by the U.S. prison and healthcare systems.”
1/16/21- Weak reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
January 16th, 2021
I BLAME SOCIETY- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The lines between art and real life begin to blur when an ambitious filmmaker realizes she’s good at getting away with murder.”
1/14/21- Fairly good reviews for this drama/comedy. TRDB.
January 14th, 2021
IF NOT NOW, WHEN?- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Friends since they were 14, Tyra, Suzanne, Patrice and Deidre have had their spats over the years. But when Tyra faces a crisis in the form of an opioid addiction, the women all reunite to help her — and one another.”
1/8/21- Weak reviews for this drama. A few critics did recommend it. TRDB.
January 8th, 2021
THE PROM- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Down-on-their-luck Broadway stars shake up a small Indiana town as they rally behind a teen who wants to go to the prom with her girlfriend.”
12/11/20- Fair reviews from the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.
12/15/20- I enjoyed this musical drama very much. TRDB.
Tags: drama, musical
December 11th, 2020
DECEMBER 11, 2020
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) SOUND OF METAL– On Prime
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-
1)
SOUND OF METAL– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “For heavy metal drummer Ruben, the discovery that he’s losing his hearing is an ironic and devastating blow. Finding respite in a group home with roommates who are also deaf, Ruben slowly begins to accept his new reality.”
11/22/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.
12/4/20- Excellent movie!!! TRDB.
2) MANK- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Orson Welles calls upon hard-drinking screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz to pen the script for “Citizen Kane,” he seizes the chance, drawing on all of his industry experience to tell the thinly veiled story of William Randolph Hearst.”
11/28/20- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
12/8/20- I don’t know what all the hoopla is about but this movie was boring as hell. TRDB.
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COMING TO NETFLIX BY DISC +/- STREAMING ALSO-
1)
THE CAVE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this harrowing documentary set in war-ravaged Syria, medical care literally goes underground in a hospital composed of tunnels and subterranean rooms, where a female doctor leads the way in treating a constant stream of casualties.”
10/18/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
2)
CRITICAL THINKING– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Making his directorial debut with this fact-based drama, John Leguizamo stars as a dedicated teacher who — against all odds — leads a team of underprivileged kids from one of Miami’s toughest high schools to the national chess championship.”
9/5/20- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-
1)
I’M YOUR WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in the 1970s, this gritty drama follows young mom Jean, who’s living comfortably in suburbia till her hubby runs afoul of his criminal cohorts and disappears. With his foes closing in on Jean, she’s forced to go on the run with the couple’s baby.”
12/4/2020- Fair reviews in general but some of the reviews were pretty good and I would try to see it. TRDB. Begins streaming on 12/11/20- ?where
2) 76 DAYS– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A raw, fly-on-the-wall recounting of hospital life in Wuhan in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, 76 Days is an engrossing and potent documentary – and a surprisingly comforting portrait of humanity.”
12/4/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. I’m not sure where you can stream this movie
3) ANOTHER ROUND– 2020. Synopsis by IMDB. “Four friends, all high school teachers, test a theory that they will improve their lives by maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their blood.”
12/4/2020- Excellent reviews for this movie from Denmark. TRDB. In theaters.
4) MAYOR– 2020. “The movie deals with the possibility of Palestinian statehood. About the working of government at the city level.” TRDB.
12/4/20- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On various platforms.
5) BLACK BEAR– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A filmmaker plays a calculated game of desire and jealousy in pursuit of a work of art that blurs the boundaries between autobiography and invention.”
12/4/20- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.
6) BILLIE– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Over 8 years, she tracked down and tape-recorded over 200 hours of interviews with the extraordinary characters that populated the iconic singer’s short, tumultuous life. However, Linda’s book was never finished and the tapes never heard — until now.”
12/2/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
7) CROCK OF GOLD: A FEW ROUNDS WITH SHANE MacGOWAN– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Filmmaker Julien Temple dives deep into the life of Shane MacGowan, the tortured vocalist best known as the lead singer and songwriter of the Pogues, who famously combined traditional Irish music with the visceral energy of punk rock.”
12/5/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. Prime Video
8) FAREWELL AMOR– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “An Angolan woman and her daughter reunite with her husband after spending 17 years in exile. Now strangers, they find common ground in their shared love of dance.”
12/10/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.
9) LET THEM ALL TALK- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The story of a celebrated author (Meryl Streep) who takes a journey with some old friends (Candice Bergen and Dianne Wiest) to have some fun and heal old wounds. Her nephew (Lucas Hedges) comes along to wrangle the ladies as well as her literary agent (Gemma Chan) who is desperate to find out about her next book.”
12/10/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. Streaming on HBO Max
SKIP THESE
1) MINOR PREMISE- Premise sounds ridiculous
2) HALF BROTHERS- Terrible reviews
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SHOWING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATER AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-
1)
BILLIE– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Over 8 years, she tracked down and tape-recorded over 200 hours of interviews with the extraordinary characters that populated the iconic singer’s short, tumultuous life. However, Linda’s book was never finished and the tapes never heard — until now.”
12/2/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
2)
I’M YOUR WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in the 1970s, this gritty drama follows young mom Jean, who’s living comfortably in suburbia till her hubby runs afoul of his criminal cohorts and disappears. With his foes closing in on Jean, she’s forced to go on the run with the couple’s baby.”
12/4/2020- Fair reviews in general but some of the reviews were pretty good and I would try to see it. TRDB.
3) THE MIDNIGHT SKY– Poor reviews
4) WILD MOUNTAIN THYME– Awful reviews
ENJOY!!
THE REEL DR. BOB
December 11th, 2020
I’M YOUR WOMAN- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in the 1970s, this gritty drama follows young mom Jean, who’s living comfortably in suburbia till her hubby runs afoul of his criminal cohorts and disappears. With his foes closing in on Jean, she’s forced to go on the run with the couple’s baby.”
12/4/2020- Fair reviews in general but some of the reviews were pretty good and I would try to see it. TRDB.
12/18/20- A few interesting scenes but not really worth spending two hours with this drama. TRDB.
Tags: drama
December 4th, 2020
HAPPIEST SEASON- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “With Christmas approaching, Abby decides to add to the season’s joy by proposing to her girlfriend, Harper, at her family’s annual holiday party. But before Abby can pop the question, she discovers that Harper’s parents don’t know she’s gay.”
11/28/20- Very good reviews from the critics and audiences as well. TRDB.
November 28th, 2020
OVERSEAS- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The portrait of an almost invisible female economic migration, that of the young Filipino women who go live abroad to work for rich foreigners in order to feed their families.”
11/28/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
November 28th, 2020