The Reel Dr. Bob

APRIL 1, 2021

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) MY OCTOPUS TEACHER– Netflix.

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK-

1) MY OCTOPUS TEACHER– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shot over ten years, filmmaker Craig Foster forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a False Bay, South Africa kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her life and world.”

3/26/21- Amazing underwater photography and a very unusual story. Highly recommended. TRDB. Netflix.

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-1) VIOLATION- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “With her marriage about to implode, Miriam returns to her hometown to seek solace in the comfort of her younger sister and brother-in-law. But one evening a tiny slip in judgement leads to a catastrophic betrayal, leaving Miriam shocked, reeling, and furious.”

3/26/21- Very good reviews for this drama but I’l probably skip it. TRDB. On Shudder

2) NINA WU– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After actress Nina Wu finally lands her first starring film role, the demands placed on her — including full nudity — push her to the brink. Making matters worse, her parents are in crisis, and a mysterious woman is shadowing her.”

Rotten Tomatoes had this to say— “Nina Wu leaves her hometown and moves to Taipei in pursuit of her dream to be an actress.”

3/26/20- OK reviews for this drama. TRDB. On Virtual Cinemas

3) TINA- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “With a wealth of never-before-seen footage, audio tapes, personal photos, and new interviews, including with the singer herself, TINA presents an unvarnished and dynamic account of the life and career of music icon Tina Turner. ”

3/31/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On HBO platforms

4) MIRACLE FISHING- KIDNAPPED ABROAD– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In 1994, Miles Hargrove’s father is kidnapped outside their home in Cali, Colombia, by the FARC. In an instant, the Hargrove family finds itself in the midst of a Colombian epidemic — the kidnap and ransom trade.”

3/26/21- Just 3 reviews so far and they are all good. TRDB. On Dicovey+

5) THEGOOD TRAITOR– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “April 9, 1940: Denmark is invaded by Nazi Germany with demands for immediate and unconditional surrender. The government surrenders after a few hours and begins cooperating with the Nazis. On the other side of the Atlantic is Denmark’s ambassador to the United States of America, a daredevil and a man of the world — Henrik Kauffmann, who is willing to put everything on the line. He refuses to follow the German directives and engineers a rebellious plan to defeat Hitler and give the Danish people their freedom back.”

3/26/21- Very few reviews so far but they are good. TRDB. On Google play, Vudu and other streaming platforms. Prime also

6) FRANCESCO– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Pope Francis addresses issues related to climate change, the refugee crisis, peace and religious tolerance, economic equality, compassion and humanity.”

3/26/21- Mixed reviews. TRDB. On Discovery+

1) NOBODY

2) BAD TRIP

3) DONNY’S BAR MITZVAH

4) SENIOR MOMENT-

5)  SHOPLIFTERS OF THE WORLD- Awful reviews. On Google+ and other streaming platforms-

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MOVIES SHOWING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) FRENCH EXIT- Weak reviews

2) SIX MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT- see last issue

3) THE COURIER- see last issue

4) THE FATHER- see last issue

MARCH 18, 2021-

DEAR FRIENDS-

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) FRANKIE– Netflix Disc

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) FRANKIE– 10/25/19. Synopsis by Netflix. “After learning that she has just months left to live, famed actress Frankie gathers three generations of her family in the picturesque town of Sintra, Portugal, for an emotionally charged final holiday.”

10/25/19- Fair reviews but it sounds interesting to  me. TRDB.

3/16/21- I enjoyed the movie. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX BY DISC AND PERHAPS STREAMING AS WELL-

NONE THAT I RECOMMEND

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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) QUO VADIS, AIDA?- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Bosnia, July 11th 1995. Aida is a translator for the United Nations in the small town of Srebrenica. When the Serbian army takes over the town, her family is among the thousands of citizens looking for shelter in the UN camp.”

3/12/21- Excellent reviews by the critics for this war drama- good ones by audiences. TRDB. On virtual cinemas- angelikaanywhere.com

2) THE INHERITANCE– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After nearly a decade exploring different facets of the African diaspora — and his own place within it — Ephraim Asili makes his feature-length debut with The Inheritance, an astonishing ensemble work set almost entirely within a West Philadelphia house where a community of young, Black artists and activists form a collective.”

3/14/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. On grasshopperfilm.com

3) STILL LIFE IN LODZ– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The lure of family mysteries lies at the heart of STILL LIFE IN LODZ, an emotionally riveting documentary that journeys to the historically tumultuous city of Lodz, Poland. Here, a surprise reunion with a painting that hung in the same apartment for 75 world-altering years becomes a probing investigation into the power of memory, art, time and resilience. What follows is a deeply personal detective story rich with twists and turns. But, equally it is an ode to the lost generations of Jewish Lodz and a look at how fragile–but also how incredibly necessary–our relationship with the past is for creating the future.”

3/13/20- Good reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On stilllifeinlodz.com

4) KID 90- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “As a teenager in the ‘90s, Soleil Moon Frye carried a video camera everywhere she went. She documented hundreds of hours of footage and then locked it away for over 20 years. After all this time, kid 90 unlocks the vault and presents a true time capsule of a group of friends growing up in Hollywood and New York City in the ‘90s, balancing childhood and fame pre-internet and social media explosion.”

3/13/21- Good reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Hulu

5) MY BEAUTIFUL STUTTER- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “My Beautiful Stutter follows five kids who stutter, ages 9 to 18, from all over the United States and all walks of life, who, after experiencing a lifetime of bullying and stigmatization, meet other children who stutter at an interactive arts-based program.”

3/13/21- Early reviews look very good. TRDB. On Discovery+

6) MARKIE IN MILWAUKEE– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Assembled from over 10 years of footage, Markie in Milwaukee tells the story of a midwestern transgender woman as she struggles with the prospect of de-transitioning under the pressures of her fundamentalist church, family and community.”

3/13/21- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.Google play and other streaming platforms

7) LONG LIVE ROCK…CELEBRATE THE CHAOS– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Long Live Rock… Celebrate the Chaos is a deep dive into the culture of hard rock music. This genre, beloved by its millions of fans, is often misunderstood and maligned by media and the music industry. In intimate interviews, the leading titans of rock discuss the genre and the special relationship they have with their audience.”

3/13/21- Just a few reviews and they are good. TRDB.  longliverockmovie

8) YES DAY– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Always feeling like they have to say NO to their kids and co-workers, Allison and Carlos decide to give their three kids a YES DAY — where for 24 hours the kids make the rules. Little did they know that they’d be going on a whirlwind adventure around Los Angeles, that would bring the family closer to each other than ever before.”

3/13/21- Poor reviews, especially by the critics, but the concept sounds OK. TRDB. On Netflix

SKIP THESE–

1)  COME TRUE– Horror movie and I’m out. In Theaters, Vudu and other platforms

2)  HONEYDEW– Horror and not my thing. In Theaters

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MOVIES SHOWING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATER AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) 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. 

2) 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.

3) 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.

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- Lots of TV advertising. TRDB.

5) 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.

MARCH 11, 2021

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE CLIMB– Netflix Disc

2) RAMS– Amazon Prime

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) THE CLIMB- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Two lifelong pals test the boundaries of their friendship when a woman comes between them.”

Netflix had this to say- “The ties that bind are examined in this comic tale about the long-term friendship of best pals Kyle and Mike. Unfolding in seven vignettes spanning a decade, the story begins with Mike’s revelation that he slept with Kyle’s fiancée.”

11/13/20- Very good reviews for this drama/comedy. TRDB.

3/6/21- I enjoyed this quirky movie. TRDB. Netflix

2) 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.

3/7/21– I liked this movie very much. TRDB. Amazon Prime

3) BOMBAY ROSE– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Escaping from child marriage, a young club dancer living in the streets of Bombay, must choose between fending for her family and finding love with a boy orphaned by the militancy.”

3/10/21- Excellent reviews for this animated drama. TRDB.

3/10/21- I really tried to enjoy this movie that has been well reviewed but I, in general do not like animated movies and this one is no exception. TRDB. Netflix

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC AND PERHAPS STREAMING ALSO-

1) ZAPPA- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “With unfettered access to the Zappa family trust and all archival footage, ZAPPA explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time.”

11/28/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

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STREAMABLE NEW MOVIES–

1) STRAY– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “STRAY explores what it means to live as a being without status or security, following three strays as they embark on inconspicuous journeys through Turkish society.”

3/5/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. In Theaters and on virtual cinemas

2) BOOGIE– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Alfred “Boogie” Chin, a basketball phenom living in Queens, N.Y., dreams of one day playing in the NBA. While his parents pressure him to focus on earning a scholarship to an elite college, Boogie must find a way to navigate a new girlfriend, high school, on-court rivals and the burden of expectation.”

3/5/21- Poor reviews for this movie but it sounds to me like there are possibilities there. TRDB. In Theaters

3) MY SALINGER YEAR– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “New York in the 90s: After leaving graduate school to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, Joanna (Margaret Qualley) gets hired as an assistant to Margaret (Sigourney Weaver), the stoic and old-fashioned literary agent of J. D. Salinger.”

3/3/21- Just a few reviews and they are fair at best. TRDB. On Google Play, Vudu, Pay for view and other streaming platforms

4) KEEP AN EYE OUT– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “An absurd all-night interrogation takes place in a 1970s police station.”

3/5/21- Very good reviews for this French drama. TRDB. In theaters and virtual cinemas.

5) THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in Northern Italy, this fascinating documentary focuses on a cadre of aging men and their trained canine companions, who search the forest at night for the white Alba truffle — an elusive delicacy that’s impossible to cultivate.”

3/6/21- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB. In Theaters

6) TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Truth or Consequences is a speculative documentary about time and how we weave the past into the present and our possible future. Set in the small desert town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, the film takes place in the shadow of the world’s first commercial Spaceport. Subtly set in a near future when space travel has begun, the film follows five residents in the town.”

3/6/21- I’ve seen just 1 review and it’s good. TRDB. On Virtual cinemas

7) ADAM– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “As she runs a bakery from her Casablanca home, widow and mother Abla sees her routine disrupted when Samia, a pregnant young woman, appears at Abla’s door seeking refuge. After reluctantly taking Samia in, Abla finds the course of her life changing.”

3/7/21- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB. On Amazon and Apple TV

8) LOST COURSE– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Embedding herself in the village of Wukan, southern China for several years starting in 2011, first time documentarian Jill Li witnessed an unprecedented experiment in local democracy. Corrupt officials had illegally sold villagers’ land, but the villagers decided to fight back.”

3/6/21- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On virtual cinemas

9) BOMBAY ROSE– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Escaping from child marriage, a young club dancer living in the streets of Bombay, must choose between fending for her family and finding love with a boy orphaned by the militancy.”

3/10/21- Excellent reviews for this animated drama. TRDB. On Netflix

3/10/21- I really tried to enjoy this movie as it has been well reviewed but in general I do not like animated movies and this one is no exception. TRDB. Netflix

1) CHAOS WALKING– Sci-fi and violent

2) THE WALRUS AND THE WHISTLEBLOWER- Poor reviews

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MOVIES SHOWING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

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) MY SALINGER YEAR– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “New York in the 90s: After leaving graduate school to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, Joanna (Margaret Qualley) gets hired as an assistant to Margaret (Sigourney Weaver), the stoic and old-fashioned literary agent of J. D. Salinger.”

3/3/21- Just a few reviews and they are fair at best. TRDB.

4) 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.

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.”

Here’s what Netflix had to say– “ Anne has always adored her impish and independent father, who’s approaching 80. But his mind is failing, and as he rejects every caregiver she brings in, Anne finds herself in an anguishing quandary about making her own life choices.”

MARCH 4, 2021-

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) PELE– Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) PELE- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This documentary feature tells the story of iconic footballer Pelé, his quest for perfection and the mythical status he attained.”

2/27/21- Fair reviews from the critics and from audiences as well. TRDB.

3/1/21- Although it was not perfect I liked this documentary very much as it was anchored by the legend himself rather than a whole load of talking heads. TRDB. Netflix.

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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “A tragic chapter in jazz great Billie Holiday’s life is candidly depicted in this affecting biopic that recounts her affair with the federal agent in charge of a sting operation designed to ensnare Holiday on drug charges.”

2/27/21- Poor reviews from critics and audiences but how can I not see this movie. TRDB. On Hulu

2) THE FATHER– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Anne has always adored her impish and independent father, who’s approaching 80. But his mind is failing, and as he rejects every caregiver she brings in, Anne finds herself in an anguishing quandary about making her own life choices.”

2/27/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. On Hulu

3) CHERRY— “Cherry” features Tom Holland in the title role as an unhinged character who drifts from dropping out of college to serving in Iraq as an Army medic and is only anchored by his one true love, Emily (Ciara Bravo). When Cherry returns home a war hero, he battles the demons of undiagnosed PTSD and spirals into drug addiction, surrounding himself with a menagerie of depraved misfits.” On Apple TV +

4) MY ZOE– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Geneticist Isabelle shares custody of her beloved daughter, Zoe, with ex-husband James. But their combative co-parenting stops when Zoe suffers a brain hemorrhage, and Isabelle takes a tissue sample to a doctor in Russia in an attempt to clone her.”

2/27/21- Weak reviews but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB. In Theaters

5) THE VIGIL– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “A former member of Brooklyn’s Hasidic Jewish community, Yakov Ronen is drawn back into the fold when he agrees to keep vigil over a recently deceased Holocaust survivor. But as the hours go by, Yakov realizes he’s dealing with a malevolent presence.”

2/27/21- Good reviews by the critics and awful ones by audiences. Horror and violence and I’d skip it. TRDB. On Apple TV and various streaming platforms

6) ‘TIL KINGDOM COME– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this provocative look at strange political bedfellows, Israeli filmmaker Maya Zinshtein (Forever Pure, DOC NYC 2016) investigates the political alliance between American evangelicals and Israel’s right wing, and their influence on the Trump administration’s foreign policy.”

2/27/21- Great reviews by most critics. TRDB. On Virtual Cinemas

7) UN FILM DRAMATIQUE– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Parisian middle school Dora Maar opened its doors, 21 students from its first class began making a movie about their experiences. As the kids mature, so does their filmmaking in this fascinating self-portrait shot over a four-year period.”

2/27/21- Really poor reviews and I’d skip it. TRDB. On cinemaguild.com

8) PELE- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This documentary feature tells the story of iconic footballer Pelé, his quest for perfection and the mythical status he attained.”

2/27/21- Fair reviews from the critics and from  audiences as well. TRDB. On Netflix

3/1/21- Although it was not perfect I liked this documentary very much as it was anchored by the legend himself rather than a whole load of talking heads. TRDB. Netflix.

 9)  MY DARLING SUPERMARKET– 2021. This documentary is about a supermarket in Sao Paulo, its customer, and employees. Critics give it positive reviews based on its quirky style. TRDB.

SKIP THIS ONE-

1)  CRISIS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Framed around the opioid crisis, this topical drama interweaves stories of a merciless drug trafficker, a recovering OxyContin addict and a university researcher who finds out the truth about his pharmaceutical company employer.”

2/27/21- Terrible reviews and you can skip it. TRDB.

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MOVIES PLAYING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) 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. 

2) MY SALINGER YEAR– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “New York in the 90s: After leaving graduate school to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, Joanna (Margaret Qualley) gets hired as an assistant to Margaret (Sigourney Weaver), the stoic and old-fashioned literary agent of J. D. Salinger.”

3/3/21- Just a few reviews and they are fair at best. 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 AFFAIR- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In 1930s Czechoslovakia, newlyweds Viktor and Liesel Landauer are filled with optimism and happiness in their new home. But all too soon, extramarital temptations bring out their darkest secrets and desires. As Liesel turns to her sensual friend Hana for the passion she lacks in her marriage, Nazi troops enter the country, threatening the Landauer’s lives and the burning desire between the two women.”

3/3/21- I’ve seen just 1 review and it is poor.  TRDB.

FEBRUARY 11, 2021-

DEAR FRIENDS:

THIS WEEK I FINISHED WATCHING THE SERIES “LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX” on Netflix and enjoyed it very much

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) MALCOLM & MARIE– Netflix

2) LITTLE BIG WOMEN– Netflix

3) LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX– Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

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.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK BY DISC AND PERHAPS BY STREAMING AS WELL-

NONE that I would recommend

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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

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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MOVIES SHOWING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERE AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

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.

February 4, 2021

Dear Friends:

NEWS: The Stonzek Theater in downtown Lake Worth is re-opening. I’m still not sure of their schedule- See below

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE DIG– Netflix Streaming

2) COLDWATER– Netflix Disc

3) PENGUIN BLOOM– Netflix Streaming

_____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) THE DIG– 2020. Synopsis by IMDB. “An archaeologist embarks on the historically important excavation of Sutton Hoo in 1938.”

1/30/21- Good early reviews- staring Carey Mulligan.

1/31/21- A bit Hollywoodish and formulaic but I  enjoyed it never-the-less. It helped that it was from a true story. TRDB.

2) PENGUIN BLOOM– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In 2013, Samantha Bloom (two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts), her husband Cameron (The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln) and their three sons left their home in Australia for a holiday in Thailand. While enjoying a view, Sam fell off of a rooftop due to what was later determined to be a rotted railing… breaking her vertebrae in two places. Paralyzed from the chest down, Sam — a lifelong outdoorswoman, surfer, and traveler — was unrecognizable to herself, and spent long months in a depression that made her question who she could be in the world and in her own family.

1/29/21- Fair reviews at best but all critics liked Naomi Watts. TRDB.

2/1/21- I liked the movie AND I liked Naomi Watts also. TRDB. Netflix.

3) COLDWATER– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This stark drama follows troubled teen Brad Lunders after he’s spirited away — at his parents’ behest — to a remote juvenile reform camp, where he finds himself in a dehumanizing situation that results in a battle for mental and physical survival.”

8/15/14- Poor reviews in general but a few good ones mixed in. TRDB.

2/4/21- I’ll go with the review above. Not great and you can skip it. A bit of an awakening regarding juvenile detention facilities.  TRDB. Netflix Disc

_____________________________________________________________________

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC AND PERHAPS STREAMING AS WELL-

NONE I CAN RECOMMEND

_____________________________________________________________________

NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES AND PERHAPS ON DISC AS WELL-

1)  PENGUIN BLOOM– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In 2013, Samantha Bloom (two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts), her husband Cameron (The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln) and their three sons left their home in Australia for a holiday in Thailand. While enjoying a view, Sam fell off of a rooftop due to what was later determined to be a rotted railing… breaking her vertebrae in two places. Paralyzed from the chest down, Sam — a lifelong outdoorswoman, surfer, and traveler — was unrecognizable to herself, and spent long months in a depression that made her question who she could be in the world and in her own family.

1/29/21- Fair reviews at best but all critics liked Naomi Watts. TRDB. On Netflix.

2/1/21- I liked the movie AND I liked Naomi Watts also. TRDB.

2) TRUE MOTHERS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Desperate to have a child, Tokyo couple Kiyokazu and Satoko are elated to be able to adopt a baby boy being given up by his teenage mom, Hikari. But when she returns six years later to claim the tyke, Satoko refuses to believe Hikari is his mother.”

1/29/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. On Virtual Cinemas- filmmovement.com

3) 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.”

4) SOFTIE- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Throwing his hat into the ring for a regional Kenyan election, activist Boniface “Softie” Mwangi finds it harder than expected to mount a clean campaign against corrupt competition as challenging the status quo puts his family and his life in peril.”

1/29/21- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On bam.org

5) SAVAGE STATE– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The American Civil War breaks out… A family of French colonists, settled in Missouri, decides to go back to France. Edmond, Madeleine, and their three daughters have to cross the whole country to reach New-York. They are led by the mysterious and dangerous mercenary, Victor.”

1/29/21- Mixed reviews, mostly poor but several good ones as well. TRDB. On Apple TV, Google Play and several other platforms.

6) THE REUNITED STATES– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “At a time when America is ripping apart at the seams, The Reunited States is a powerful and urgent documentary that follows the unsung heroes on the difficult journey of bridging our political and racial divides.”

1/30/21- Early reviews are good.  TRDB.

7) THE DIG– 2020. Synopsis by IMDB. “An archaeologist embarks on the historically important excavation of Sutton Hoo in 1938.”

1/30/21- Good early reviews- staring Carey Mulligan. TRDB. On Netflix

1/31/21- A bit Hollywoodish and formulaic but I  enjoyed it never-the-less. It helped that it was from a true story. TRDB.

8) FINDING OHANA– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Geocache champion Pilialoha “Pili” Kawena, age 12, is abruptly lifted from her busy New York life and dropped into rural O’ahu to help care for her grandfather. Initially skeptical about her new surroundings, Pili finds a cryptic pirate’s journal in her Papa’s studio hinting at a 200-year-old shipwrecked treasure hidden away in the island’s caves and mountains.”

1/30/21- Excellent reviews from the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

9)  PALMER– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After taking a wrong turn, ex-gridiron star Eddie Palmer landed in jail for 12 years. Now free and living with his grandmother, Eddie struggles to fit in to his former community until he forms a bond with an abandoned boy who’s become his charge.”

1/30/21- Fair reviews from the critics and very good ones from audiences. TRDB. On Apple TV

10) BEGINNING– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living in a primarily Orthodox Christian village, Jehovah’s Witness missionary Yana — the community leader’s wife — feels isolated. When their house of worship is firebombed, the incident kindles Yana’s inner turmoil and leaves her at a crossroads.”

1/30/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB. On Mubi.com

11) JUST DON’T THINK I’LL SCREAM– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “During a self-imposed, six-month exile from the world, French director Frank Beauvais creates a cathartic diary of his life, using snippets from hundreds of films to link his personal struggles with various world events.”

1/30/21- Great reviews from the critics and just mediocre ones from audiences. TRDB.

11) THE NIGHT– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After attending a dinner party in Los Angeles, Iranian expatriates Babak and Neda spend the night in an old hotel to avoid the drive home. But that choice turns into a nightmare when secrets from the past come back to haunt them.”

1/30/21- Mixed early reviews. TRDB.

SKIP THESE-

1) THE LITTLE THINGS

2) SAINT MAUD– Horror and I’m not interested

_____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES PLAYING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) SOME KIND OF HEAVEN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “All the packaged positivity in the world can’t mask the unhappiness of some residents of the Villages, where documentarian Lance Oppenheim trains his lens on four members of the Central Florida community dubbed the “Disneyland for Retirees.”

1/7/21- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

Very good reviews

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) 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.

STONZEK THEATER-

FEB. 12–14 SHOWING :

SAINT FRANCES– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fresh on the heels of an unplanned pregnancy and subsequent abortion, Bridget is in no mood for care-giving when she’s offered a job as a 6-year-old’s nanny. But after getting off to a rocky start, she begins to form a connection with her charge.”

2/29/20- Very good reviews. TRDB.

7/26/20- I liked this drama very much and highly recommend it. The 6 year old girl is wonderful. TRDB. Netflix (Disc.)

January 28, 2021

Dear Friends:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE WHITE TIGER– Netflix Streaming

2) JUNGLELAND– Netflix Disc

_____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK

1) THE WHITE TIGER– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hailing from a poor village, young Balram Halwai has been trained to serve — and serve he does as a driver for a wealthy couple. But when they betray him, ambitious Balram vows to rise above his caste and become an entrepreneur.”

_____________________________________________________________________

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC AND PERHAPS STREAMING AS WELL–

1) MARTIN EDEN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Moving the action from California to an Italian port city, this adaptation of Jack London’s 1909 novel follows an uneducated sailor who falls for a rich university student and attempts to remake himself as a writer to win her heart.”

10/16/20- Very good reviews. TRDB.

__________________________________________________________________ _

NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) THE SALT OF TEARS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Aspiring to follow in his father’s footsteps, handsome Luc is determined to become a cabinetmaker. As he’s learning his craft, he seduces one young woman and rekindles a romance with a former girlfriend — only to abandon them both for another.”

1/22/20- Fair reviews by most critics although the NY Times liked it very much. TRDB. On Filmforum.org

2) IDENTIFYING FEATURES– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “When her son vanishes while traveling north in an attempt to cross the U.S. border, Magdalena sets off on a courageous journey to determine his fate. Along the way, she begins traveling with a young stranger who hopes to reunite with his mother.”

1/22/21- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB. In Theaters and on KinoMarquee.com

3) THE HUMAN FACTOR– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “With unprecedented access to the foremost American negotiators, THE HUMAN FACTOR is the behind-the-scenes story from the last 25 years, of how the United States came within reach of pulling off the impossible — securing peace between Israel and its neighbors.”

1/22/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. In select theaters.

4) THE WHITE TIGER– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hailing from a poor village, young Balram Halwai has been trained to serve — and serve he does as a driver for a wealthy couple. But when they betray him, ambitious Balram vows to rise above his caste and become an entrepreneur.”

1/22/20- Very good reviews. TRDB.

1/23/21- I liked this movie very much. It portrays the rage of  the caste system. TRDB. Netflix Streaming

5) PREPARATIONS TO BE TOGETHER FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “A successful neurosurgeon, Márta abandons her career in America for a romantic tryst in Budapest with a doctor she met at a conference. But when he stands her up and later denies ever meeting her, she wonders whether she imagined their relationship.”

1/22/20- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB. Begins streaming on April 2, 2021

6) NOTTURNO– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Filmed over three years on the borders between Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria and Lebanon, Notturno captures the everyday life that lies behind the continuing tragedy of civil wars, ferocious dictatorships, foreign invasions and the murderous apocalypse of ISIS.”

1/22/20- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB. Begins streaming on Jan. 29, 2021

7) SPOOR– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A retired woman gets mixed up in a mystery when avid hunters in her mountain village begin turning up dead, and there are deer tracks next to their bodies.”

1/22/21- Weak reviews in general but a few really excellent ones also. I’d give it a try. TRDB. On Amazon Prime and various platform

8) YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Winner of the Lion of the Future Award for best Debut Feature at the Venice Film Festival, YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY is visually sumptuous “coming-of-death” fable. During her son’s naming ceremony, a Sheikh predicts that Sakina’s child will die at the age of 20. Haunted by this prophecy, Sakina becomes overly protective of her son Muzamil, who grows up knowing about his fate.”

1/22/20- Excellent reviews. TRDB. On FlmMovement.com

9) ATLANTIS- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “With the war against Russia finally over, Eastern Ukraine of 2025 is a barely habitable desert where ex-soldier Sergiy is eking out a living while battling post-traumatic stress disorder. But a ray of light emerges when he meets a young aid worker.”

1/22/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB. On Metrograph.com

10) DEREK DELGAUDIO’S IN & OF ITSELF- 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Writer and magician Derek DelGaudio brings his long-running off-Broadway show to the big screen, mixing card tricks, optical illusions and teleportation with autobiographical insights and his musings on identity.”

1/23/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB. On Hulu

SKIP–

1) NO MAN’S LAND– In theaters and on Amazon, and Vudu

2) OUR FRIEND-

_____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES SHOWING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) MY REMBRANDT– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Rembrandt, the grandmaster of intimacy rocks the art world; 350 years after his death, many people, even entire nations are obsessed with his paintings.”

1/11/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) OUR FRIEND– Skip this one

3) SOME KIND OF HEAVEN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “All the packaged positivity in the world can’t mask the unhappiness of some residents of the Villages, where documentarian Lance Oppenheim trains his lens on four members of the Central Florida community dubbed the “Disneyland for Retirees.”

1/7/21- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

4) 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.”

January 21, 2021

Dear Friends:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) CRITICAL THINKING– Netflix Disc.

_____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) YOUR NAME ENGRAVED HEREIN

1/15/21- Boring and I just could not get into the movie. TRDB.

2) ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston in 1964 to become world heavyweight champ, he celebrates at a motel in a black ward of Miami with Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and gridiron star Jim Brown in this fictionalized account of that night.”

1/7/21- Great reviews by the critics but awful ones from audiences. I’ll definitely see this movie. TRDB.

1/15/21- Well, I saw it and I was forced to turn it off. Poor acting and poorer screenplay!! TRDB. Netflix

3) 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.

1/18/21- A very good movie that was more about life in general than about chess. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

____________________________________________________________________

COMING TO NETFLIX THIS WEEK ON DISC AND PERHAPS STREAMING AS WELL-

NONE THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND

_____________________________________________________________________

NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) LOCKED DOWN– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In LOCKED DOWN, just as they decide to separate, Linda (Anne Hathaway) and Paxton (Chiwetel Ejiofor) find life has other plans when they are stuck at home in a mandatory lockdown.”

1/16/21- Really poor reviews but I think that it may be worth seeing. TRDB. On HBO Max

2) ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston in 1964 to become world heavyweight champ, he celebrates at a motel in a black ward of Miami with Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and gridiron star Jim Brown in this fictionalized account of that night.”

1/7/21- Great reviews by the critics but awful ones from audiences. I’ll definitely see this movie. TRDB.

1/15/21- Well, I saw it and I was forced to turn it off. Poor acting and poorer screenplay!! TRDB. Netflix.

3) MLK/FBI– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered today as an American hero: a bridge-builder, a shrewd political tactician, and a moral leader. Yet throughout his history-altering political career, he was often treated by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies like an enemy of the state. This documentary exposes the nature of the surveillance used by the FBI to monitor King.”

1/15/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On various platforms and in some theaters as well. TRDB.

4) ACASA, MY HOME– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A rural Romanian couple and their nine children must learn to live in the big city.”

1/16/21- Truly remarkable reviews for this documentary. TRDB. In Theaters and streamable at kinomarquee.com

5) MY LITTLE SISTER– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “As ex-playwright Lisa is living with her family in Switzerland, her twin brother — a successful actor — contracts leukemia. Returning to her native Germany to be by his side, Lisa is soon drawn back into the world of theater.”

1/16/21- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB.

6) 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.

7) SOME KIND OF HEAVEN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “All the packaged positivity in the world can’t mask the unhappiness of some residents of the Villages, where documentarian Lance Oppenheim trains his lens on four members of the Central Florida community dubbed the “Disneyland for Retirees.”

1/7/21- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

8) 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.

9)  DR. BIRD’S ADVICE FOR SAD POETS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Teen James Whitman is struggling: With his older sister exiled from the family, he has no one to talk to — so he turns a pigeon pal into an imaginary therapist. Aided by his avian analyst and his new crush, James begins a search for his sibling.”

1/17/21- Very few reviews and they are poor but the premise of this story sounds like it might be interesting nevertheless. TRDB.

10) FILM ABOUT A FATHER WHO– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this absorbing documentary, filmmaker Lynne Sachs combines love, regret and 35 years of video footage to paint a kaleidoscopic portrait of her bohemian father, Ira, a seemingly inscrutable property developer based in Park City, Utah.”

1/17/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

SKIP THESE-

1) THE MARKSMAN-

2) BLODDY HELL-

3) DON’T TELL A SOUL-

4) HUNTED-

____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES PLAYING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

See last week’s edition ( #832 ) for description of the following movies

1) I BLAME SOCIETY–

2) SOME KIND OF HEAVEN–

3) MLK/FBI-

4) MY REMBRANDT–

5) A PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN–

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) HERSELF– Amazon Prime

2) CROSS CREEK– Amazon Prime

3) ANOTHER ROUND– Amazon Prime

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) HERSELF– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Single mother Sandra (Clare Dunne) escapes her abusive partner with her two young children, only to find herself trapped in temporary accommodation. After months of struggling, she draws inspiration from one of her daughter’s bedtime stories and hits upon the idea of self-building an affordable home. ”

1/1/21- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

1/11/21- I liked this movie very much. TRDB. Amazon Prime

2) CROSS CREEK– 1983. Premise by Netflix. “Frustrated newspaper reporter Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (Mary Steenburgen) abandons her career and moves to a Florida bayou to concentrate on writing fiction. Here, Marjorie’s life is changed by a devoted servant (Alfre Woodard) who befriends her, a local businessman (Peter Coyote) who becomes her lover and the backwoods father (Rip Torn) and his daughter (Dana Hill) who become her greatest inspiration. Based on Rawlings’s best-selling memoirs.”

8/10- I saw this years ago and liked it very much. TRDB.

1/13/21- I saw this yet again (for the third time) and I still like it very much. TRDB.

3) SNOWPIERCER– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “The Earth’s remaining inhabitants are confined to a single train circling the globe as revolution brews among the class-divided cars. Based on a French graphic novel and set in a new ice age, this futuristic thriller stars a top-notch ensemble cast.”

6/27/14- Very good reviews from critics and fairly good ones from audiences as well. TRDB.

1/12/21- Junk!!!

4) 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.

1/15/21- I really enjoyed this Danish drama. Be sure you don’t miss the last scene where you get to see Mads Mikkelsen dance. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX BY DISC AND MAYBE STREAMING AS WELL-

1) MARTIN EDEN–  2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Moving the action from California to an Italian port city, this adaptation of Jack London’s 1909 novel follows an uneducated sailor who falls for a rich university student and attempts to remake himself as a writer to win her heart.”

10/16/20- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) THE CLIMB– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Two lifelong pals test the boundaries of their friendship when a woman comes between them.”Netflix had this to say-“The ties that bind are examined in this comic tale about the long-term friendship of best pals Kyle and Mike. Unfolding in seven vignettes spanning a decade, the story begins with Mike’s revelation that he slept with Kyle’s fiancée.”

11/13/20- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

______________________________________________________________________________________

NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) WHITE LIE– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A university student who fakes a cancer diagnosis for the attention and financial gain struggles to maintain her secret.”

1/8/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. On Vudu and Prime

2) 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. On Vudu and Prime

3) BEAUTIFUL SOMETHING LEFT BEHIND– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “By turns poignant and inspiring, this documentary follows a group of young children at New Jersey’s Good Grief counseling center, where they learn to cope with the traumatic loss of a parent or sibling by sharing their feelings with one another.”

1/8/21- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

4) THE REASON I JUMP– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “With Naoki Higashida’s best seller about living with autism as a guide, this illuminating documentary looks at the reality of the disorder and how it’s viewed around the globe, dispelling myths and challenging common assumptions in the process.”

1/8/21- Very good early reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Virtual Cinemas

5) MY REMBRANDT– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Rembrandt, the grandmaster of intimacy rocks the art world; 350 years after his death, many people, even entire nations are obsessed with his paintings.”

1/11/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

6) BLIZZARD OF SOULS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Enraged by the loss of his home and mother to invading Germans during World War I, Latvian teen Arturs Vanags joins his country’s national battalion — and is forever changed by the horrors that he witnesses.

_____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES PLAYING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) 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.

2) MLK/FBI– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered today as an American hero: a bridge-builder, a shrewd political tactician, and a moral leader. Yet throughout his history-altering political career, he was often treated by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies like an enemy of the state. This documentary exposes the nature of the surveillance used by the FBI to monitor King.”

1/15/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston in 1964 to become world heavyweight champ, he celebrates at a motel in a black ward of Miami with Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and gridiron star Jim Brown in this fictionalized account of that night.”

1/7/21- Great reviews by the critics but awful ones from audiences. I’ll definitely see this movie. TRDB. Amazon Prime

4) PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Nothing in Cassie’s life is what it appears to be — she’s wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she’s living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs from the past.”

5) SOME KIND OF HEAVEN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “All the packaged positivity in the world can’t mask the unhappiness of some residents of the Villages, where documentarian Lance Oppenheim trains his lens on four members of the Central Florida community dubbed the “Disneyland for Retirees.”

1/7/21- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

January 7, 2021

Dear Friends:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES THIS WEEK-

1) NIGHT MOVIES– On Netflix (Disc.) and Prime

2) PIECES OF A WOMAN– Netflix

____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) NIGHT MOVES– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “With their collective eye fixed on blowing up a hydroelectric dam, a pair of young environmentalists enlist the help of an ex-military explosives expert to carry out a dangerous act of eco-terrorism.”

5/30/14- Very good critical review but less so by audiences. TRDB.

1/7/21- I found this movie so-so, probably worth a try. Good acting by Jesse Eisenberg and Dakota Fanning. TRDB.

2) PIECES OF A WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. TRDB. “Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LaBeouf) are a Boston couple on the verge of parenthood whose lives change irrevocably when a home birth ends in unimaginable tragedy.”

1/1/21- Fair reviews at best. Many thought that the acting lifted the movie itself. TRDB.

1/7/21- Everyone praised the opening scene and the female lead. However, many did not like the movie. I DID!!!!

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK BY DISC AND PERHAPS STREAMING AS WELL

1) MINDING THE GAP– MINDING THE GAP- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Returning to his Illinois hometown, documentarian Bing Liu reconnects with a pair of skateboarding friends from his youth. At a transition point, the trio finds their outlooks changing as they struggle with their pasts and moving into adulthood.”

8/17/18- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) JUNGLELAND– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “In debt to a mob boss after a loss in the ring, bare-knuckles boxer Lion and his manager brother, Stanley, travel across the country for a tournament that may help them recoup their losses. But an unexpected traveling partner complicates their plans.”

11/6/20- Fair reviews but it sounds interesting to me and I’ll try to see it. TRDB.

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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) PIECES OF A WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. TRDB. “Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LaBeouf) are a Boston couple on the verge of parenthood whose lives change irrevocably when a home birth ends in unimaginable tragedy.”

1/1/21- Fair reviews at best. Many thought that the acting lifted the movie. TRDB. On Netflix

1/7/21- Everyone praised the opening scene and the female lead. However, many did not like the movie. I DID!!!! TRDB

2) HERSELF– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Single mother Sandra (Clare Dunne) escapes her abusive partner with her two young children, only to find herself trapped in temporary accommodation. After months of struggling, she draws inspiration from one of her daughter’s bedtime stories and hits upon the idea of self-building an affordable home. ”

1/1/21- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB. In Theaters

3) TWO WAYS HOME– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Soul-touching and moving, TWO WAYS HOME compassionately follows Kathy (Tanna Frederick), a woman newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder who is released from prison on good behavior and returns to her country home in Iowa to reconnect with her estranged 12-year-old daughter.”

1/1/21- Very few reviews and they are mixed. I’d see it. TRDB. On various streaming platforms

4) NIGHT OF THE KINGS– 2020. Synopsis by IMDB. “A young man is sent to “La Maca”, a prison of Ivory Coast in the middle of the forest ruled by its prisoners. With the red moon rising, he is designated by the Boss to be the new “Roman” and must tell a story to the other prisoners.”

1/2/21- Few reviews as of now and they seem excellent . TRDB.

5) SHADOW IN THE CLOUD– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In the throes of World War II, Captain Maude Garrett (CHLOË GRACE MORETZ) joins the all-male crew of a B-17 bomber with a top-secret package. Caught off guard by the presence of a woman on a military flight, the crew tests Maude’s every move. ”

1/2/21- Fair reviews so far. TRDB.  In theaters and for rent on Prime and Vudu

6) HAPPY FACE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his mom battling an aggressive form of cancer, 19-year-old Stan disguises his appearance to join a support group for disfigured people, desperately hoping to better understand his mother’s pain.”

1/2/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. On virtual cinemas

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MOVIES SHOWING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) HERSELF– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an attempt to find a safe home for her family, abused single mother Sandra takes on the public housing system. But when her efforts prove fruitless, she elects to build her own house — and ends up rebuilding her life.”

12/31/20- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

2) ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston in 1964 to become world heavyweight champ, he celebrates at a motel in a black ward of Miami with Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and gridiron star Jim Brown in this fictionalized account of that night.”

1/7/21- Great reviews by the critics but awful ones from audiences. I’ll definitely see this movie. TRDB.

3) THE DISSIDENT– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “When Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappears after entering Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, his fiancée and dissidents around the world are left to piece together the clues to a brutal murder and expose a global cover-up perpetrated by the very country he loved.”

4) SOME KIND OF HEAVEN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “All the packaged positivity in the world can’t mask the unhappiness of some residents of the Villages, where documentarian Lance Oppenheim trains his lens on four members of the Central Florida community dubbed the “Disneyland for Retirees.”

1/7/21- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5) PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Nothing in Cassie’s life is what it appears to be — she’s wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she’s living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs from the past.”