The Reel Dr. Bob

3/8/15- A bit slow but an interesting premise and excellent acting contribute to make this well worth seeing. TRDB.

2) DELI MAN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Arriving in the United States with 19th-century Jewish immigrants, deli cuisine quickly found its way into the nation’s mainstream appetite. This affectionate documentary celebrates Jewish delicatessens and their place in American history.”

3/6/15- Good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) FAULTS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Desperate to free their daughter Claire from a cult, her parents hire deprogramming expert Ansel Roth, despite his checkered reputation. Roth kidnaps Claire and holds her captive in a motel room, but his real challenge has barely begun.”

3/6/15- Generally good reviews from both critics and audiences with a few very negative ones thrown in as well. TRDB.

4) AN HONEST LIAR– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This revealing documentary profiles magician and escape artist James Randi, who after retiring set about exposing faith healers, psychics and others as frauds. But all the while, Randi was carrying out a deception of his own.”

3/6/15- Good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5) THE MAFIA KILLS ONLY IN SUMMER– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Covering two turbulent decades in Sicilian history, this sorrow-tinged comedy recalls the Mafia’s iron grip on the region as seen through the eyes of Arturo, who grows up in Palermo during the mob’s infamous campaign of bombings and assassinations.”

3/6/15– No reviews as yet but I’d give it a try. TRDB.

6) MERCHANTS OF DOUBT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This revealing documentary examines the network of scientific “experts” paid by major corporations to spread disinformation about looming environmental threats, including chemical pollution and global climate change.”

3/6/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

7) THE MIND OF MARK DeFRIEST– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Convicted on dubious robbery charges, Mark DeFriest first entered prison when he was 19. In the following years, DeFriest staged 18 breakout attempts, many highly creative — but all of which have prolonged his stay behind bars.”

3/6/15- Very good professional reviews. TRDB.

8) ROAD HARD– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Bruce Madsen’s success as a stand-up comedian led to TV and movie roles, but those have long since dried up — along with his marriage. To pay his daughter’s college fees, he reluctantly returns to the rigors of life as a touring comic.”

3/6/15- Critics are 50/50 on this one but audiences have liked it a lot. TRDB.

9) OF HORSES AND MEN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This action drama lets viewers imagine the world of humans through a horse’s eyes, spotlighting the ancient two-way bond between the species. Deep in the wild, events unreel that will test both the horses and their complex human partners.”

3/12/15- Great reviews from the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.

NOT RECOMMENDED-

1) EARTH’S GOLDEN PLAYGROUND– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hidden deep within the earth lies untold millions in treasure. Follow modern-day precious-metal miners through the Yukon’s legendary Klondike gold fields as they pray for the next mother lode and risk it all to re-create the 1890s gold rush.”

3/6/15- Poor early reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) KIDNAPPING MR. HEINEKEN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In November 1983, the brazen kidnapping of beer magnate Alfred “Freddy” Heineken made headlines around the world. As recounted in this tense crime drama, Heineken’s abductors then made the biggest ransom demand in history.”

3/6/15- Awful reviews. TRDB.

3) OCTOBER GALE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shattered by her husband’s accidental death, Helen Matthews travels to her family’s vacation cabin to recover. But her solitude is interrupted when a man suffering from a gunshot wound arrives — with his assailant on the way to finish him off.”

3/6/15- Bad, bad reviews. TRDB.

3/6/15- Very good professional reviews. TRDB.

2)  MR. TURNER- Bethel. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “This incandescent biographical portrait of famed 19th-century painter J.M.W. Turner spotlights his artistic genius, along with the eccentric and frequently insensitive behavior that he exhibited in his private life.”

12/19/14 Excellent reviews by critics and just OK ones from audiences. TRDB.

3) THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw  Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a sequel to the Golden Globe-nominated film, hotel owner Sonny is overwhelmed with the task of finding a second property to accommodate the influx of new residents, while his upcoming wedding plans may be too much for the hotel’s staff to handle.”

3/3/15- Good reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.

4) STILL ALICE– Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “When 50-year-old linguistics professor Alice Howland begins having trouble remembering words, her symptoms ultimately lead to a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s — which forces Alice and her family to make radical changes in their lives.”

12/5/14- Mostly very good reviews but a few really did not like it at all calling it a TV type movie. TRDB.

2/23/15- I thought that this was an excellent movie with very good acting and a really special screenplay. Very scary!! TRDB.

5) WHIPLASH– Saw Mill Hawthorne, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Driven by his demanding music teacher, drummer Andrew is determined to succeed as a jazz musician — even if it destroys his personality. Under the shadow of his father’s failed artistic attempts, Andrew practices until his hands bleed.”

An excellent drama with a bit of schmaltz at the end. TRDB.

6) WILD TALES– Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Inequality, injustice and the demands of the world we live in cause stress and depression for many people. Some of them, however, explode. This is a movie about those people. Vulnerable in the face of a reality that shifts and suddenly turns unpredictable, the characters of Wild Tales cross the thin line that divides civilization and barbarism. TRDB.

2/16/15- An article in yesterday’s NY Times about this movie sounds very interesting. The film just won a Golden Bear in Berlin. TRDB.

2/26/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7) AMERICAN SNIPER– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on his memoir of the same name, this military biopic centers on legendary sniper Chris Kyle, who amassed a record number of kills on the battlefield during his 10-year career as a Navy SEAL.”

12/25/14- Fairly good reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.

1/26/15- I enjoyed the movie, especially the very realistic war scenes but I thought it was about a half hour too long and the hackneyed theme of men returning from war damaged both physically and emotionally a bit too familiar. TRDB.

8) )  IMITATION GAME– Saw Mill Hawthorne. Synopsis by Netflix. “Chronicling mathematical wizard Alan Turing’s key role in Britain’s successful effort to crack Germany’s Enigma code during World War II, this historical biopic also recounts how his groundbreaking work helped launch the computer age.”

11/29/14- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

12/31/14- This movie was very well done with excellent acting and a basically true story. I enjoyed it very much but why did they need to sprinkle the schmaltz late in the movie- it was doing fine without? TRDB.

9) )  BIRDMAN- Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Michael Keaton delivers a winking performance in this dark comedy about a cinematic superhero trying to forge a comeback with a Broadway play. With none of the super-powers of his former character, the actor struggles to rebuild his career and life.”

10/17/14- Excellent reviews from nearly all critics and audiences have liked it as well. The NY Times loved it. TRDB. 

10/31/14- Very original and interesting mixing fact and fantasy. Keaton was excellent and I did like the movie. Labeled a comedy, it surely isn’t, and I don’t think it was worth an Academy Award. TRDB.