The Reel Dr. Bob

1) THE OVERNIGHT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Transplants from Seattle, Alex and Emily feel like fish out of water in Los Angeles until a meeting at a park leads to a play date for their son and a dinner date for them. But they soon discover that their hosts have more in mind than friendship.”6/15/15- Fairly good reviews for this comedy. TRDB.

2) THE SEVEN FIVE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the 1980s and ’90s, cop Michael Dowd terrorized New York City’s drug dealers, shaking them down at gunpoint for cash and cocaine. This riveting documentary looks at his fall from grace and the biggest police corruption scandal in Gotham’s history.”5/8/15- Good reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.

3) 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.

4) LOVE & MERCY– 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.

6/9/15- I liked this movie very much. The acting and, of course, the music were great. TRDB.

Not Recommended- 

1) CLOSER TO THE MOON–  2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in postwar Romania, a group of Jewish friends lose their prominent positions within the Communist party and retaliate by robbing a bank, even though their act of political provocation will likely result in their conviction and a death sentence.”9/4/15– Mostly poor reviews. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY, SEPT. 4 IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT IN THE LAST ISSUE-

1) BLIND– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When she loses her sight, Ingrid retreats to her apartment and senses that her husband may not always leave when he says he’s going to work. As her loneliness and uncertainty grow, she also comes to worry about a neighbor’s motivations.”9/4/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) THE GOLDEN DREAM– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Guatemalan teenager Juan decides to hop a train to make the long journey to the U.S. border, which he hopes to cross to find work. Along the way, he and his companions, Sara and Samuel, must navigate through a world filled with danger.”

9/4/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

3) A SINNER IN MECCA– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Risking arrest and prison, gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma smuggles an iPhone and two miniature cameras into the sacred Islamic city of Mecca, allowing him to capture astonishing glimpses of the massive influx of pilgrims during the hajj.”

9/4/15- Great reviews!! TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) DIRTY WEEKEND– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When their flight out of Albuquerque, N.M., is delayed, business colleagues Les Moore and Natalie Hamilton start a conversation that soon has them trading personal revelations — leading to an unscheduled trip into Moore’s past.”

9/4/15- Terrible professional reviews but audiences have liked it. TRDB.

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OPENING THIS FRIDAY, SEPT. 11-

Recommended-

1) COMING HOME– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the waning days of China’s Cultural Revolution, dissident Lu Yanshi returns home after he’s released from a labor camp, only to find his wife suffering from amnesia. But Lu is determined to bring back her lost memory.”9/8/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) WELCOME TO LEITH– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Planning to take over the city government, white supremacist Craig Cobb moved to tiny Leith, N.D., and began terrifying residents with armed patrols and a neo-Nazi rally. This unsettling documentary charts the community’s fight to reclaim the town.”

9/8/15- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) THE WOMAN INSIDE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Woo-jin’s life enters the supernatural realm after he begins waking up in a different body each day while remaining the same person inside. Though the woman he loves knows his secret, will Woo-jin’s endless transformations doom their relationship?”

9/8/15- A hit in Cannes this year, I’ll recommend it. TRDB.

4) BREATHE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When the worldly and charismatic Sarah enrolls at Charlie’s high school, they soon become the best of friends — until a holiday at the beach leads to emotional complications and misunderstandings between the two girls.”

9/8/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

5) PAUL TAYLOR: CREATIVE DOMAIN- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After creating 132 dances over a period of more than 50 years, choreographer Paul Taylor decided at age 80 to let the world in on his process. This in-depth documentary chronicles the creation, casting and rehearsal of his “Three Dubious Memories.”

9/8/15- I’ve seen just 1 review and it is great. TRDB.

6) A BRILLIANT YOUNG MIND– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though Nathan Ellis possesses exceptional talent with numbers, he struggles with his social skills — until a caring new teacher helps him step outside of his shell and fully realize his potential as a mathematician.”

9/9/15- Very good reviews from most reviewers. TRDB.

 

Not Recommended-

1) THE CHALLENGER– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Not a fighter by nature, Jaden Miller nonetheless turns to his fists when he and his mother face eviction. With help from trainer Duane Taylor, Miller hones the boxing skills that make him a local hero and earn him a shot at becoming a champ.”

9/8/15- Poor early reviews. TRDB.

2) SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Lainey and Jake were each other’s first lovers in college but quickly split, with both trying to bury their one-night stand in the past. Years later, they meet by chance in a support group for sex addicts — and sparks start to fly again.”

8/28/15- Weak reviews. TRDB.

3)  WOLF TOTEM– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Sent from Beijing to the wilds of Inner Mongolia to educate the children of nomadic shepherds, young Chen Zhen instead learns about the bond between the herders and the region’s wolves — a relationship being endangered by a government official.”

9/10/15- More positive reviews than negative but most of them had something negative to say as well. TRDB.

 

Too early to tell-

1) 12 ROUNDS 3: LOCKDOWN– Synopsis by Netflix. “Champion grappler Dean Ambrose heads the cast of this gritty thriller about an honest cop who finds himself hunted by his fellow officers after he discovers evidence that implicates them in a killing.”

9/8/15- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

1) STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Focusing on the harsher side of Apple’s mercurial CEO Steve Jobs, this unflinching documentary examines the demanding work environment he created for the company’s employees and his cultlike influence on technology culture.”9/1/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

9/4/15- A very good documentary that kept my interest throughout although I would have enjoyed knowing more about his personal life. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

2) BREAK POINT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Doubles tennis player Jimmy Price’s poor on- and off-court behavior has cost him his partner, along with his spot on the professional circuit. In a last grab at glory, Jimmy persuades his estranged brother to team with him for a major tournament.”9/4/15- Fairly good reviews.  TRDB.

3) BOULEVARD–  2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Accustomed to his comfortable life and sexless marriage, unassuming bank employee Nolan Mack finds himself at a crossroads as he’s forced to confront his long-suppressed desires after meeting a troubled young hustler.”7/10/15- Mediocre reviews from both critics and audiences. It’s Robin Williams’ last film and I’ll probably see it. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS- “CONTEMPORARY ARAB CINEMA FESTIVAL” AT JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER”

REPEATS-

1) A WALK IN THE WOODS– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Returning to America after living abroad many years, aging travel writer Bill Bryson decides to focus on his native land by hiking the length of the Appalachian Trail with his long-estranged pal Stephen Katz — a tottering, wisecracking ex-alcoholic.
9/1/15- Reviews are 50/50 and the positive ones have qualifiers but despite the reviews I will probably see this movie just to see Robert Redford act. TRDB.

2) MERU- Jacob Burns, Bethel. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taking on one of the most extreme challenges in mountaineering, three elite climbers set out to scale the imposing Shark’s Fin on India’s Mount Meru. This high-altitude documentary follows the tenacious team as they experience heartbreak and triumph.”8/10/15- Great reviews. TRDB.

3) LEARNING TO DRIVE– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When soon-to-be-divorced Wendy Shields signs up for driving lessons, her instructor is Darwan, a Sikh immigrant to America. Though their cultural perspectives are poles apart, the two begin to develop a bond that transcends their differences.”8/18/15- Mostly poor reviews with a few good ones thrown in. TRDB.

4) GRANDMA–  Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Clearview 100. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Urgently in need of $600 to pay for an abortion, 18-year-old Sage seeks help from her acerbic grandmother, Elle Reid — who has no extra money. Setting off to raise the cash from Elle’s erstwhile friends and exes, the two instead dredge up the past.”8/18/15– Excellent reviews for this comedy. TRDB.

5) STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE– Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Focusing on the harsher side of Apple’s mercurial CEO Steve Jobs, this unflinching documentary examines the demanding work environment he created for the company’s employees and his cultlike influence on technology culture.”

9/1/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

9/4/15- A very good documentary that kept my interest throughout although I would have enjoyed knowing more about his personal life. TRDB.

6)  MR. HOLMES– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Long retired to a country farmhouse, 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes tends his apiary and reflects on his remarkable career. But the legendary sleuth, whose mental powers are fading, remains haunted by the unsolved case that caused him to call it quits.”

7/13/15- Mostly good reviews with some notable exceptions. TRDB.

7) TRAINWRECK– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Single and successful, Amy has no intention of settling down — or even going on a second date — until she meets the subject of her next magazine piece, a handsome doctor. Confronted with a real-life good guy, she begins to reconsider bachelorhood.”

7/14/15- Very good critical reviews. TRDB.

7/20/15- I really enjoyed this movie- funny and poignant. TRDB.

8) RICKI AND THE FLASH- Saw Mill Hawthorne. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Abandoning her family to chase — and ultimately attain — her dream of rock stardom, guitarist Ricki Rendazzo returns years later to try to mend fences. Unfortunately, her estranged sons and daughter want little to do with her … at first.”

8/4/15- OK reviews. TRDB.

9)  PHOENIX– Clearview 100. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a reconstructive facial operation, concentration-camp survivor Nelly Lenz tracks down her husband, Johnny, who believes she’s dead. Unrecognizable to Johnny, Nelly befriends him to find out whether he betrayed her to the Nazis.”

7/24/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

8/9/15– Another beautifully done German movie, this one post Holocaust with yet a new twist. TRDB.

10) THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL– Clearview 100. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Life and love are complicated — a lesson that aspiring comic-book artist Minnie Goetze learns at the age of 15 when she embarks on an affair with her mother’s handsome boyfriend, Monroe Rutherford.”

8/4/15- Very good reviews including some great ones. TRDB.

9/2/15- An unusual coming of age story that honestly depicts the female side of young sexuality. Worth seeing but I did not think it was as wonderful as did the critics. TRDB.

11) IRRATIONAL MAN– Clearview 100. Synopsis by Netflix. “A middle-aged professor at a small Rhode Island college edges close to his breaking point, until he finds renewed purpose in his life after embarking on an unusual relationship with one of his students.”

7/14/15- As usual, Woody Allen’s reviews are all over the place– some very good and others horrible. More negative than positive but that won’t stop me from seeing it. TRDB.

7/29/15- I think that the critics have it in for Woody. While surely not one of his best I did very much enjoy the movie. TRDB.

12) AMERICAN MISTRESS – Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Feeling disconnected from and underwhelmed by New York City, misfit college freshman Tracy is plodding through life until Brooke, her spirited future stepsister, sweeps her into a heady world — and a crazy scheme.”

8/10/15- Very good reviews for this comedy. TRDB.

8/23/15- I liked many of the scenes more than I liked the entire movie but it’s well worth seeing. It reminded me of a Woody Allen movie. TRDB.

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FLORIDA- BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH AND DELRAY-

1) THE ART DEALER (L’ANTIQUAIRE)- About a young woman who is searching in Paris for the collection of paintings stolen from her Jewish family during WWII.

2) PHOENIX– I liked it very much

3) GRANDMA- Very good reviews

4) BEST OF ENEMIES– Very good reviews

5) A WALK IN THE WOODS– Fair reviews at best

B) STONZEK THEATER- in downtown Lake Worth at the Lake Worth Playhouse

1) AMY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though singer Amy Winehouse released only two albums during her brief and stormy career, she left an indelible mark on pop music. This affecting documentary recounts her meteoric rise to fame and the addictions that ended her life at age 27.”7/3/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/21/15- A well done documentary about a troubled jazz singer and well worth seeing. TRDB.

2) BEST OF ENEMIES– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1968, two patrician intellectuals with opposite political views — William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal — participated in a series of televised debates that shocked America with their level of vitriol, as recounted in this riveting documentary.”7/29/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

C) LIVING ROOM THEATER- at FAU in Boca

1) LISTEN TO ME MARLON– Great reviews

2) A BORROWED IDENTITY– Good reviews

3) IRRATIONAL MAN– I enjoyed this new Woody Allen movie

4) BEST OF ENEMIES– Very good reviews

5) PHOENIX– I liked this one very much

6) GRANDMA– Very good reviews

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB