MARTIN MARGIELA: IN HIS OWN WORDS- 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “One of the most revolutionary and influential fashion designers of his time, Martin Margiela has remained an elusive figure the entirety of his decades-long career. From Jean Paul Gaultier’s assistant to creative director at Hermès to leading his own House, Margiela never showed his face publicly and avoided interviews, but reinvented fashion with his radical style through forty-one provocative collections. Now, for the first time, the “Banksy of fashion” reveals his drawings, notes, and personal items in this exclusive, intimate profile of his vision.”
8/14/20- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Virtual Cinemas.
August 14th, 2020
CERTIFIED COPY- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Binoche plays a gallery owner living in a Tuscan village who attends a lecture by a British author (opera star William Shimell) on authenticity and fakery in art. Afterward, she invites him on a tour of the countryside, during which he is mistaken for her husband. They keep up the pretense and continue on their afternoon out, discussing love, life and art.”
8/9/20- Very good reviews from the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
August 9th, 2020
THE SECRET GARDEN- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “THE SECRET GARDEN starring Colin Firth, Julie Walters and Dixie Egerickx is a new take on the beloved classic novel of the same name written by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Set in England during a new time period in 1947, the film follows a young orphan girl who, after being sent to live with her uncle, discovers a magical garden on the grounds of his estate.”
8/8/20-
Tags: drama
August 9th, 2020
PSYCHOMAGIC, A HEALING ART- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Alejandro Jodorowsky’s new documentary Psychomagic, A Healing Art is an intimate exploration of the visionary director’s theory of trauma therapy. His unique concept of healing uses performance art as a vehicle to counter deep, debilitating psychic suffering with literal ‘acts of confrontation’ in real world applications.”
8/8/20-
August 8th, 2020
AN AMERICAN PICKLE- Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Seth Rogen stars as Herschel Greenbaum, a struggling laborer who immigrates to America in 1919 with dreams of building a better life for his beloved family. One day, while working at his factory job, he falls into a vat of pickles and is brined for 100 years. The brine preserves him perfectly and when he emerges in present day Brooklyn, he finds that he hasn’t aged a day. But when he seeks out his family, he is troubled to learn that his only surviving relative is his great grandson, Ben Greenbaum (also played by Rogen), a mild-mannered computer coder whom Herschel can’t even begin to understand.”
8/7/20- Fairly good reviews by the critics and weak ones from audiences. TRDB.
Tags: Comedy, drama
August 7th, 2020
LA LLORONA- 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Indignant retired general Enrique finally faces trial for the genocidal massacre of thousands of Mayans decades ago. As a horde of angry protesters threatens to invade their opulent home, the women of the house–his haughty wife, conflicted daughter, and precocious granddaughter–weigh their responsibility to shield the erratic, senile Enrique against the devastating truths being publicly revealed and the increasing sense that a wrathful supernatural force is targeting them for his crimes.”
8/7/20- Excellent reviews from the critics and weak ones from audiences. TRDB.
Tags: drama
August 7th, 2020
AUGUST 6, 2020
DEAR FRIENDS:-
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) CORPUS CHRISTI- Netflix Disc.
2) A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING– Netflix Stream
3) THE LAST DANCE– Netflix- Netflix Stream
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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT HOME-
1) CORPUS CHRISTI– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “As 20-year-old Daniel is serving time in a youth detention center, he finds God. But after being released on parole, Daniel is unable to enter seminary school because of his violent past — prompting him to pose as a parish priest.”
3/11/20- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.
7/31/20- I enjoyed this unusual movie from Poland. Great acting by the main character. TRDB. Netflix Disc.
2) A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This uplifting documentary details the story of the first black high-school rowing team in the United States, formed in the 1990s at Chicago’s Manley High School — and which included young men from rival gangs.”
7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On X-finity On Demand
7/31/20- An excellent documentary that might offer some ideas for police departments around the nation. TRDB.
3) RADIOACTIVE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This engrossing biopic chronicles the singular path of legendary scientist Marie Curie, who — with her husband, Pierre — achieves global fame and wins a Nobel Prize for the 1903 discovery of the radioactive element radium.”
7/24/20- Weak reviews for this drama but I’ll see it eventually because of my interest in Curie. TRDB.
8/1/20- This movie earned its weak reviews. Skip it. TRDB. Amazon Prime.
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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC.-
1)
A WHITE, WHITE DAY– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After his wife dies in a mysterious car crash, police chief Ingimundur falls into a deep emotional crisis. Torn apart by grief, he grows more bitter and unbalanced, and begins stalking a man who may have had an affair with Ingimundur’s wife.”
4/17/20- Very good reviews. TRDB.
2)
HOW TO BUILD A GIRL– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “To escape her dull life, teen Johanna Morrigan creates a new identity for herself as Dolly Wilde, an acid-tongued, randy music critic. Taking her act to London, she elbows her way to the top of the rock scene — but her nastiness catches up with her.”
5/8/20– Fairly good reviews for this comedy. TRDB.
3)
LUCKY GRANDMA– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ornery Grandma Wong isn’t about to give up her independence and move in with her son. Taking a fortuneteller’s advice, she heads to Atlantic City and goes all in at a casino — but when her escapade goes awry, she ends up in the midst of a gang war.”
5/22/20- Very good reviews! TRDB.
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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-
1)
GORDON LIGHTFOOT: IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind is an exploration of the career, music, and influence of legendary Canadian musical icon Gordon Lightfoot. With unprecedented access to the artist, the documentary follows Lightfoot’s evolution from Christian choirboy to troubled troubadour to international star and beloved Canadian icon.”
7/30/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
2)
THE HATER- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A duplicitous young man finds success in the dark world of social media smear tactics – but his virtual vitriol soon has violent real-life consequences.”.
7/30/20- Fair reviews at best for this movie from Poland. TRDB. On Netflix.
3) THE FIGHT– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “President Donald Trump’s 2016 election and persistent attacks on civil rights have ushered in new challenges for American Civil Liberties Union attorneys. This absorbing documentary centers on four key legal battles confronting them.”
7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Google Play, Amazon Prime and others
4) REBUILDING PARADISE-2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Claiming 85 lives and laying to waste the town of Paradise, California, the 2018 Camp Fire was the most destructive blaze in the state’s history. Director Ron Howard, who has ties to the community, follows a group of refugees as they try to rebuild.”
7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary by Ron Howard. TRDB. On some virtual platforms.
5) THE SHADOW OF VIOLENCE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his boxing career behind him, Douglas Armstrong ekes out a living as an enforcer for the drug-dealing Devers clan in his depressed Irish community. But a conflict emerges just as he begins to make headway with his autistic young son.”
7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. In theaters Only! ? I don’t know where.
6) A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This uplifting documentary details the story of the first black high-school rowing team in the United States, formed in the 1990s at Chicago’s Manley High School — and which included young men from rival gangs.”
7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On X-finity On Demand
7/31/20- An excellent documentary that might offer some ideas for police departments around the nation. TRDB.
7) THE CUBAN– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Academy award winner Louis Gossett Jr. expands his repertoire of exceptional performances in the role of Luis, an elderly Cuban musician who is brought out of his shell by his care worker, a young Afghan immigrant named Mina. Mina’s attempts to get through to Luis, even just to feed him, are futile. That is, until she discovers the music. A poster of Benny More inspires Mina to hum a jazz tune that, to her surprise, ignites a spark inside him. As each day passes the music awakens Luis more and more until the colorful world of his past becomes vibrant and real again. Mina comes into her own as she gets to know him and their friendship blossoms.”
7/31/20- Fair reviews for this drama. TRDB. On Virtual cinemas
8) SUMMERLAND– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nursing a broken heart, Alice isolates herself in her coastal cottage in Southern England to work on her thesis as World War II rages across Europe. But her seclusion ends when she’s forced to take in young Frank, an evacuee from London.”
7/31/20- Fair reviews for this drama BUT it sounds good to me. TRDB. Prime Video
9) A GIRL MISSING– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Home-care nurse Ichiko has tended to the matriarch of the Oishos clan for years, growing ever closer to the family. But that relationship is imperiled when the clan’s teen daughter Saki is kidnapped, and Ichiko’s nephew turns out to be the culprit.”
7/31/20- Mixed reviews– more OK. TRDB. On Virtual Cinemas
10) SERIOUSLY SINGLE– Very good review from the NY Times- others not so good.
11) HOST- Horror and I’m not interested.
12) THE LAST DANCE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “A compelling and comprehensive portrait of one of basketball’s great teams, The Last Dance‘s blend of archival footage and candid interviews confirms there’s nobody quite like Mike or the team he led to victory.
8/5/20- Great reviews and I’ve watched the first 5 of 10 episodes and I liked it very much. TRDB.
ENJOY!!
THE REEL DR. BOB
August 6th, 2020
SUMMERLAND- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nursing a broken heart, Alice isolates herself in her coastal cottage in Southern England to work on her thesis as World War II rages across Europe. But her seclusion ends when she’s forced to take in young Frank, an evacuee from London.”
7/31/20- Fair reviews for this drama BUT it sounds OK to me. TRDB.
4/27/21- An OK movie that held my interest most of the time. TRDB.
Tags: drama
July 31st, 2020
REBUILDING PARADISE- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Claiming 85 lives and laying to waste the town of Paradise, California, the 2018 Camp Fire was the most destructive blaze in the state’s history. Director Ron Howard, who has ties to the community, follows a group of refugees as they try to rebuild.”
7/31/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary by Ron Howard. TRDB.
July 31st, 2020
RETALIATION- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Working as a laborer on razing the church where he was molested as a boy, middle-aged Malky gets a jolt when the priest who abused him shows up in the local pub — setting Malky off on a mission of revenge.”
7/24/20- Fair to good reviews. On VUDU and other platforms as well.
July 24th, 2020