The Reel Dr. Bob

JUNE 4, 2015

DEAR FRIENDS:

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND OLDER REVIEWS AT MY WEBSITE- www.thereeldrbob.com

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “With her well-ordered life thrown out of balance by the death of her beloved canine companion, aging widow Carol Petersen — who hasn’t dated in 20 years — unexpectedly finds herself involved with two very different men.”5/15/15- Excellent reviews for this movie and for Blythe Danner as well. TRDB.

5/30/15- A delightful comedy/romance movie with a very good and accurate script. Blythe Danner was wonderful. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) MR. TURNER– 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.

6/3/15- I’m with the audiences on this one. I had big trouble getting into this slow moving whatever and finally turned it off after an hour. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 9-

Recommended-

1) EASTERN BOYS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “A middle-aged Frenchman gets more than he bargained for when he cruises the Gare du Nord train station for a lover and invites an attractive young Eastern European hustler back to his apartment.”2/27/15- Very good reviews from critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) CUPCAKES– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When six friends gather in a Tel Aviv suburb to watch a televised song competition, little do they know that they’ll soon become celebrities. But that’s exactly what happens when the tune they record to cheer up a chum becomes Israel’s entry.”

3/27/15- Fairly good reviews for this Israeli comedy. TRDB.

3) RED ARMY– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Captain of the Red Army hockey team during its glory years in the 1970s and ’80s, “Slava” Fetisov recalls the pride and constant pressure felt by the players on the squad during a turbulent political era in the Soviet Union.”

11/14/14- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

4) ALL RELATIVE– 2014.  Synopsis by Netflix. “What begins as natural attraction turns into love after graduate student Harry meets fellow New Yorker Grace. But their romantic voyage takes an unexpected turn for the absurd when Harry is introduced to Grace’s parents.”

11/21/14- Miserable critical review but audiences have liked it. TRDB.

5) RICH HILL– 2014. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two filmmaker cousins return to their decaying hometown of Rich Hill, Mo., to film this affecting documentary about the lives of three local boys. Each of the youngsters reveals his hopes and dreams amid a landscape of poverty and desperation.”

8/1/14- Fairly good reviews although the NY Times did not like it. TRDB.

6) COOPER AND HEMINGWAY: THE TRUE GEN- 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Celebrating the friendship between renowned actor Gary Cooper and legendary writer Ernest Hemingway, this absorbing documentary traces their sometimes contentious bond that lasted until their deaths a few weeks apart in 1961.”

10/11/13- Very few reviews but the NY Times liked it. TRDB.

 

Not Recommended-

1) SERENA– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “As most of America is mired in the Depression, George Pemberton and his wife, Serena, build a booming timber business together. But the family legacy becomes a knotty issue after Serena learns that she’s barren — and George has an illegitimate son.”

3/27/15- Poor reviews all around. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT– Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on Arielle Holmes’ memoir of life in New York City’s drug underground, this harrowing drama follows a 19-year-old heroin addict and her mercurial, obsessive relationship with an abusive junkie boyfriend.”5/30/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Transported from her imaginative fantasy world and swept into her first romantic attachment, naïve teen Davina is so happy that she fails to detect signs of trouble in her boyfriend’s increasingly cruel behavior.”

5/30/15- Very good reviews from the critics but audiences have not rated it well. TRDB.

3) RESULTS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Pursuing personal renewal in the wake of an ugly divorce, the wealthy but unhappy Danny takes himself to the neighborhood gym and soon develops an unusual relationship with the gym’s owner, Trevor, and captivating trainer, Kat.”

5/30/15- Very good reviews from the critics and just OK reviews from audiences. TRDB.

4) SUNSET EDGE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “As four rudderless teens spend their days skateboarding and scavenging in the dilapidated remnants of a rural North Carolina trailer park, they cross paths with a young stranger who’s come looking for clues about his father’s death.”

5/30/15- About one half of the critics liked this movie and the ones that did had something bad to say as well. Audiences have unanimously liked this film. TRDB.

5) THE TRUE COST– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Laying the global clothing industry’s fiscal facts on the table, this illuminating documentary reveals the links between consumer pressure for low-cost apparel and the meager existences of the sweatshop workers who produce those goods.”

5/30/15- Weak professional reviews but audiences have liked it very much- I’ll give it a chance. TRDB.

6) TU DORS NICOLE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After her parents leave her at home while they embark on a summer holiday, 22-year-old Nicole is enjoying a peaceful and aimless life when her rocker brother, Remi, and his mates arrive with plans to turn the house into a recording studio.”

5/30/15- Great professional reviews and fairly good audience reviews as well. TRDB.

7) UNCERTAIN TERMS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After her parents leave her at home while they embark on a summer holiday, 22-year-old Nicole is enjoying a peaceful and aimless life when her rocker brother, Remi, and his mates arrive with plans to turn the house into a recording studio.”

5/30/15- Very good critical review and audiences have liked it even more. TRDB.

8) EVERY LAST CHILD– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the curtain rises on this topical documentary about the threat of a disease once nearly eradicated, Pakistani police begin armoring themselves to protect health workers who face Taliban attacks while trying to administer the polio vaccine.”

6/3/15- Just a few reviews, including the NY Times, and they are all very good. TRDB.

9) A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Connecting a succession of absurdist vignettes through running jokes and a pair of unsuccessful traveling salesmen, director Roy Andersson wraps up his comic existential trilogy about being human.”6/3/15- Excellent reviews except for 1 reviewer who said that it was “absurdism to the point of incoherence.” TRDB.

1) GEMMA BOVARY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living in a Norman village when British couple Gemma and Charlie Bovery settle nearby, urban exile Martin Joubert — a fan of the novel “Madame Bovary” — soon discovers that the pair’s name isn’t all they share with Gustave Flaubert’s famous tale.”5/30/15- Weak reviews in general. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.

2) SURVIVOR– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After surviving a terrorist bombing in London, a U.S. embassy employee ends up on the run when she’s framed for crimes. Learning a New Year’s Eve attack is planned for Times Square, she must foil the plot while eluding authorities and an assassin.”

5/30/15- Awful reviews. TRDB.

3) UNFREEDOM– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This riveting drama juxtaposes two tales, one involving a Muslim fundamentalist who travels to New York City to abduct and kill an Islamic scholar, while the other follows a closeted lesbian who’s halfway across the world facing an arranged marriage.”

5/30/15- Terrible professional reviews but it has faired somewhat better with audiences. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

1) RESULTS- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Pursuing personal renewal in the wake of an ugly divorce, the wealthy but unhappy Danny takes himself to the neighborhood gym and soon develops an unusual relationship with the gym’s owner, Trevor, and captivating trainer, Kat.”5/30/15- Very good reviews from the critics and just OK reviews from audiences. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN THE NORTHERN SUBURBS- (Westchester and Fairfield Counties)

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) LOVE AND MERCY– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “This candid biopic traces the winding path of Brian Wilson, creator of the Beach Boys’ unique sound. Battling mental illness, Wilson traded stardom for an isolated existence in the 1960s but returned to the stage in the ’80s after taming his demons.”6/2/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) THE CONNECTION– Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Pierre Michel goes from serving as a court magistrate to investigating the Marseille crime cartel that controls the city’s heroin trade. In the process, he becomes obsessed with bringing down the operation’s powerful and feared leader, Gaëtan Zampa.”

5/15/15- Weak reviews in general. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “With her well-ordered life thrown out of balance by the death of her beloved canine companion, aging widow Carol Petersen — who hasn’t dated in 20 years — unexpectedly finds herself involved with two very different men.”5/15/15- Excellent reviews for this movie and for Blythe Danner as well. TRDB.

5/30/15- A delightful comedy/romance movie with a very good and accurate script. Blythe Danner was wonderful. TRDB.

 2) 5 FLIGHTS UP– Bethel. 2015.  Synopsis by Netflix. “Married for four decades, New Yorkers Ruth and Alex have had a wonderful life together — most of it spent in their cherished Brooklyn walk-up. But now that it’s time to sell, the universe seems determined to thwart them.”

5/5/15- Reviews were more negative than positive but I did read a more extensive review and I will recommend the movie. TRDB.

5/18/15- A wonderful drama/comedy starring Morgan Freeman, Diane Keaton and Cynthia Nixon, all of whom play very well with each other. TRDB.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH- on Lake Worth Rd.

1) ALOHA- Weak reviews

2) 5 FLIGHTS UP– I saw it and liked it

3) IN THE NAME OF MY DAUGHTER– Weak reviews

4) THE 100 YEAR OLD MAN– I saw it and didn’t care for it at all

5) FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD– Good reviews and most have liked it

B) THE STONZEK THEATER– in downtown Lake Worth

1) EX MACHINA- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After winning a chance to spend a week at his boss’s Alaskan compound, tech whiz Caleb Smith finds he’s been selected to help evaluate a sentient humanoid dubbed Ava — whose feminine wiles prove more formidable than expected.4/10/15- Good reviews for this strange sounding movie. TRDB.

5/5/15- Surely a clever idea with very good reviews but I thought it was formulaic and somewhat trivial the longer it ran and, by the way, it ran too long. TRDB.

2) GOOD KILL– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Sitting in an operations facility 7,000 miles away, U.S. Air Force pilot Tommy Egan directs strikes from an armed drone deployed over Afghanistan. But eventually, the moral quandaries raised by Egan’s job begin to gnaw at his psyche.”5/15/15- Good reviews by the critics. The NY Times liked it but the WSJ did not. Audiences were divided. TRDB.

5/26/15- Basically a fairly weak script but the visuals and the “anti-war” messages make the film enjoyable. Ethan Hawke was very good– the women leads not so good. TRDB.

C) THE LIVING ROOM THEATER– in Boca at FAU

1) 5 FLIGHTS UP– I saw it and liked it

2) LOVE AND MERCY– Very good reviews

3) IN THE NAME OF MY DAUGHTER– Weak reviews

4) MARIE’S STORY– Very good reviews

5) SAINT LAURENT– Good reviews

6) THE 100 YEAR OLD MAN– I saw it and I didn’t like it at all

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB