The Reel Dr. Bob

NOVEMBER 26, 2015

DEAR FRIENDS:

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND PAST REVIEWS AT MY WEBSITE-

www.thereeldrbob.com–

Beginning with this issue (#570) I will be using a different computer until mid-April and the format of the Newsletter may be a bit different–

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) BEST OF ENEMIES– Netflix.

2) LIKE SUNDAY, LIKE RAIN- Netflix

3) BUEN DIA, RAMON– Netflix Streaming

4) THE PEANUTS MOVIE– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) THE PEANUTS MOVIE– 2015.

11/25/15- I saw this today with 2 of my grandchildren and we all enjoyed it. Very clever. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) 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.

11/21/15- An interesting documentary with lots of original footage. TRDB. Netflix.

2) LIKE SUNDAY, LIKE RAIN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When struggling musician Eleanor takes a position as nanny to 12-year-old cello prodigy Reggie, she’s thrust into the role of parent, mentor and confidant — giving rise to a friendship that has profound effects for them both.”

3/13/15- Reviews are 50/50 from both critics and audiences. There were a few interesting reviews as well and I’ll probably see this movie. TRDB.

11/21/15- I enjoyed this movie quite a bit despite getting a bit irritated with all of the wisdom spouting from the mouth of a 12 year old. TRDB. Netflix.

3) BUEN DIA, RAMON– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Determined to escape his poverty-stricken circumstances in Mexico, Ramon tries repeatedly to reach the United States before heading to Germany instead. There, he’s forced to scratch out a living on his own until he forms a bond with a retired nurse.”

11/23/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

11/24/15– A delightful feel-good movie that while very enjoyable lacked a whole lot of suspense.  A few of the scenes with the 2 lead characters talking to each other with neither understanding what the other was saying were excellent. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, DEC. 1-

1) GOODNIGHT MOMMY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After plastic surgery, a mother returns home to her 10-year-old identical twin sons with her face swathed in bandages. But as she recovers, her increasingly odd behavior fuels the boys’ fears about the identity of the woman behind the gauze.”9/11/15- Fairly good reviews from audiences and critics. TRDB.

2) THE YES MEN ARE REVOLTING– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Going by the pseudonyms Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno, infamous duo the Yes Men continues to expose company shills and government stooges through phony events and prankster activism — this time focusing on global warming.”

6/11/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

3) MISSISSIPPI GRIND– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Deeply in debt because of his compulsive gambling, 44-year-old Gerry hopes to change his luck by teaming with a slick young poker ace and heading to New Orleans to buy into a renowned high-stakes poker game.”9/22/15- Very good reviews by critics and ok reviews by audiences. TRDB.

10/16/17– I found the movie generally interesting, particularly the relationship between the two guys. I had some trouble understanding their speech, especially at the beginning of the movie. It’s worth seeing. TRDB.

4) 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.

5) THE HUNTING GROUND– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Focusing on the epidemic of sexual assaults at U.S. colleges, this often-harrowing documentary combines the recollections of victims with disturbing statistics demonstrating the depth of the problem, while officials continue to downplay the issue.”2/27/15- Excellent reviews all around. TRDB.

11/23/15- This controversial documentary was shown last night on CNN. TRDB.

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OPENED ON FRIDAY, NOV. 20 IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES I WROTE ABOUT LAST WEEK-

1) DRONE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Surveying drone technology’s rapid evolution and expansion, this sobering documentary examines the downside of the U.S. effort to combat terrorism with targeted drone strikes in Pakistan and other nations.”

11/20/15- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) MEDITERRANEA– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unlike many of the African migrants trying to reach the coast of Italy, Burkina Faso natives Ayiva and Abas aren’t escaping horrors: They simply want to better their financial lots. Unfortunately, life in Europe turns out to be anything but easy.”

11/20/15– Fairly good reviews for this timely drama. TRDB.

3) MUSTANG- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Enraged by her granddaughters’ flirtations with some male classmates, a strict Turkish grandma refuses to let her young charges out of the house to keep them from ruining their marriage chances. But the girls find ways to circumvent the restraints.”

11/20/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4) SUMMER OF SANGAILE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though 17-year-old Sangaile is fascinated by the feats of aerobatic pilots, her fear of heights prevents her from taking wing — until her relationship with the audacious young Auste inspires the boldness that Sangaile needs.”

11/20/15- Mixed reviews– more positive than negative. TRDB.

5) SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT- 2015.  Synopsis by Netflix.” In the wake of the devastating Haitian earthquake of 2010, the nation’s presidential election pits the current regime’s handpicked candidate against famed musician Michel Martelly, who gets strong support from renowned American rapper Pras Michel.”

11/20/15- Just 4 reviews- 3 up and 1 down. Audiences have liked it. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1)  LEGEND- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Among the most notorious characters in Britain’s gangster history, identical twins Reginald and Ronald Kray frustrated authorities while transfixing and terrifying the public with untold criminal exploits, as recounted in this riveting biopic.”

11/2/0/15- Weak reviews from the critics but audiences have liked it. TRDB.

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OPENING ON FRIDAY, NOV. 27 (Partial List)

Recommended-

1) THE DANISH GIRL– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1930, Danish painter Einar Wegener elects to have gender-reassignment surgery, with the blessing of his wife, Gerda. This true-life narrative of personal courage also sheds light on the medical origins of transsexual surgery.”

11/24/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) JANICE: LITTLE GIRL BLUE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this insightful portrait of 1960s rock legend Janis Joplin, private letters and interviews with her family, friends and colleagues reveal a fragile soul whose overpowering voice made her a superstar before her death from a drug overdose at age 27.”

11/24/15- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) STINK– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When he notices an offensive odor emanating from his child’s pajamas, filmmaker Jon Whelan tracks down the source, discovering in the process that thousands of products on U.S. store shelves contain chemicals whose safety remains unproved.”

11/24/15- All reviews that I’ve seen are positive although not terrific. TRDB.

Not Recommended– NONE

Too Soon To Tell-

1) TAMASHA– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “While marooned on the island of Corsica, young Tara is aided by a backpacker named Ved and they form an attachment — but decide to mask their true identities during their time together. When they meet again years later, Tara finds the magic missing.”

11/24/15- No reviews yet. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW-

1) MAN UP– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a romantic turn of fate, perennially single Nancy is standing under a train station clock when a stranger named Jack arrives and mistakes her for his blind date. Sensing an opportunity, Nancy decides to go with the flow to see where things lead.”

11/11/15- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) MEDITERRANEA– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unlike many of the African migrants trying to reach the coast of Italy, Burkina Faso natives Ayiva and Abas aren’t escaping horrors: They simply want to better their financial lots. Unfortunately, life in Europe turns out to be anything but easy.”

11/20/15– Fairly good reviews for this timely drama. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

1) BY THE SEA– Clearview 100. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hoping to save their crumbling marriage, Vanessa and Roland take a trip a French seaside resort. After forming friendships with some of the town’s residents, including a pair of newlyweds, Vanessa and Roland begin to confront their unresolved issues.”11/10/15- Early reviews are really poor. TRDB.

2) TRUMBO- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Bryan Cranston stars as famed 1940s screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, whose refusal to testify before the congressional House Un-American Activities Committee resulted in a prison sentence and being blacklisted as a communist.”

11/6/15- Not to be confused by the movie from 2007 with the same name, this drama got fair to good reviews. TRDB.

Repeats-

1) SPOTLIGHT- Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Bethel, Clearview 100. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Revealing a string of cover-ups stretching back decades, a team of “Boston Globe” reporters exposes the Catholic Archdiocese’s history of keeping reports about child molestation and other priest-initiated abuse under wraps.”

10/28/15- Great reviews for this drama. TRDB.

11/13/15- The great reviews were well deserved. A very good drama and very realistic as well. TRDB.

2) BROOKLYN– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After emigrating from Ireland, Eilis Lacey readily adapts to the vastly different New York City, where she falls for a young Italian. But when tragedy pulls her back to her hometown, she finds her loyalties divided between two nations — and two men.”

10/28/15- Great reviews. TRDB.

11/14/15- I really liked this movie very much. Great acting and a very interesting story with some humor thrown in as well. TRDB.

3) ROOM– Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being abducted, raped and imprisoned in a small windowless room, a young woman gives birth and is forced to raise her son, Jack, in the same improvised space. But after five years, Jack’s mother begins planning their escape.”

10/11/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

10/26/15- A splendid movie with wonderful acting and a great screenplay. The movie is fiction but there is ample precedent for this scenario. TRDB. 

4) SUFFRAGETTE– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dreaming of the right to vote, working-class Maud eagerly joins the early feminist movement. But when the peaceful protests of the suffragettes accomplish nothing, they’re driven to more radical methods of effecting change.”

10/20/15- Fairly good reviews from most critics. TRDB.

5) BRIDGE OF SPIES– Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “At the height of the Cold War in 1960, the downing of an American spy plane and the pilot’s subsequent capture by the Soviets draws Brooklyn attorney James Donovan Tom Hanks) into the middle of an intense effort to secure the aviator’s release.”

10/11/15- Excellent reviews for this drama/mystery. TRDB.

10/17/15- I enjoyed this cold war spy thriller, even with the few touches of Hollywood thrown in by Steven Spielberg. Also, I read that the Tom Hanks character, portrayed as a novice, actually had been involved in the Nuremberg trials. TRDB. 

6) SECRET IN THEIR EYES– Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Thirteen years after a colleague’s daughter is savagely murdered, former FBI investigator Ray remains haunted by the unsolved case. But as he gets close to nabbing the killer, Ray unearths a shocking truth that casts a different light on past events.”

11/18/15- Early reviews are not so good. TRDB.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH AND DELRAY-

1) SECRET IN THEIR EYES– Early reviews are not so good

2) SPOTLIGHT– I liked it very much

3) TRUMBO– Good reviews and I plan on seeing it

4) BROOKLYN- I saw it and liked it a lot

5) SUFFRAGETTE– Mostly good reviews

6) LABYRINTH OF LIES– A good movie and I enjoyed it

B) STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) THE WONDERS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “At age 12, Gelsomina is being groomed to inherit a beekeeping kingdom in rural Italy. But despite her family’s efforts to preserve their pastoral existence, modern life intervenes by way of a TV contest and the arrival of a juvenile delinquent.”

10/23/15- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

11/9/15- It beats me as to what all of the critics saw in this movie. Aside from it being a slice of life if anyone can tell me what this was about— please do. Miss this movie. TRDB. 

2) THEEB– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this adventure tale set in the far corners of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, a Bedouin boy who comes from a family of pilgrim guides must use all of his acquired skills to survive a desert journey gone seriously awry.”

11/2/15- Terrific reviews. TRDB.

C) LIVING ROOM THEATER AT FAU IN BOCA-

1) LABYRINTH OF LIES– I liked this movie very much

2) RUN BOY RUN– Very good reviews

3) THEEB- Terrific reviews

4) TRUTH- I liked this one very much

5) TRUMBO– Very good reviews

6) THE WONDERS– I did NOT like this one

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB

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