The Reel Dr. Bob

JANUARY 7, 2016

DEAR FRIENDS:

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

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) MR. HOLMES– Netflix

2) THE BIG SHORT– At the Theater

3) CAROL– At the Theater

4) MERU- Netflix

5) JOY– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) THE BIG SHORT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Before the housing and credit bubble of 2007 triggers an international economic meltdown, a handful of financial outsiders sees the crash coming and bets against the big banks in a daring play that could reap them huge profits.”

12/11/15- Very good reviews for this Wall Street drama. TRDB.

12/31/15- This movie was done in a very clever manner and managed to make the recent near collapse of the world economy understandable at the same time. I liked the movie a lot. TRDB.

2) CAROL– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living in a 1950s society that considers lesbian romance taboo, two women from disparate backgrounds — young store clerk Therese Belivet and wealthy socialite Carol Aird — develop an attachment to each other that ultimately turns passionate.”

10/18/15- Excellent reviews for this drama starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. TRDB.

1/4/16- Great reviews as noted and I did like the movie. I feel that the love affair, as portrayed, lacked the emotional intensity that I expected. I’ve also seen Cate Blanchett do much better in other roles. TRDB. 

3) JOY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After 10 years of trying to mass-market the revolutionary floor mop she had invented, housewife Joy Mangano strikes gold with a personal pitch on QVC that turns her Miracle Mop into an overnight marketing miracle.”

12/22/15- Mixed reviews so far. TRDB.

1/6/16- Surprisingly enough I found myself enjoying this movie thanks mostly to the acting of Jennifer Lawrence, a character that we can all root for. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) MR. HOLMES– 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.

12/31/15- Enjoyable, especially the acting. Certainly not a great work of art. TRDB. Netflix.

2) MERU– 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.

1/6/16- One more thing that I never want to do no matter how long I live. A well done documentary with some good insight into why and how people continue to place themselves in such danger. Also, a big question for me is why they attempted the final climb with a handicapped partner. TRDB. Netflix.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, JAN. 12-

1) IRRATIONAL MAN-  2015. 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.

2) THE LOOK OF SILENCE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Through the companion documentary The Act of Killing, a family learned how their son was murdered in the 1960s Indonesian genocide. Now, the victim’s kin confronts the culprits — an unthinkable act in a country where the killers remain in power.”

7/17/15- Excellent reviews from everyone. TRDB.

3) THE LOOKING GLASS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After her mom’s death, 13-year-old Julie is sent to Indiana to live with her Grandmother Karen, who’s in the first stages of Alzheimer’s. Stuck in an unfamiliar environment, Julie repeatedly clashes with Karen — until they discover a mutual talent.”

10/23/15- I’ve seen 4 reviews– 2 very good and 2 very bad. For now, I’d recommend it. TRDB.

1/4/16- Mixed reviews continue. TRDB.

4) IN THE BASEMENT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Behind their manicured yards and ordinary façades, all the houses in this documentary have basements, and it’s here that the occupants satisfy their obsessions — from belting out arias to collecting Nazi memorabilia to acting out sexual fantasies.”

5) HE NAMED ME MALALA– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Vividly portraying the obstacles Pakistani women face in getting an education because of prohibitions by the Taliban, this affecting documentary chronicles the story of Malala Yousafzai, a 15-year-old who was shot because of her advocacy efforts.”

10/2/15- Just OK reviews. Most said it was too timid and it felt like everything was rehearsed. I would see it just for the history. TRDB.

6) HOW TO SMELL A ROSE: A VISIT WITH RICKY LEACOCK IN NORMANDY-2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this documentary about a documentarian, filmmaker Les Blank visits cinema verité pioneer Richard Leacock in Normandy, France, to talk movies, food and life. Footage from Leacock’s films and his personal reminiscences round out the portrait.”

8/12/15- I’ve seen just 4 reviews and they are all excellent. TRDB.

7) UNCLE JOHN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taking a spur-of-the-moment trip to his small hometown with his pretty new boss, graphic designer Ben arrives to learn that the recent disappearance of a local man has created a cloud of suspicion around Ben’s beloved Uncle John.”

9/18/15- OK critical review but excellent audience reviews. TRDB.

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OPENED ON FRIDAY, JAN. 1-

1) YOSEMITE– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in 1985 California, this engaging drama follows three suburban fifth-graders as they navigate shifting friendships, grapple with death for the first time in their young lives and encounter danger after a mountain lion is spotted in town.”

1/1/16- Fairly good reviews from the critics and audiences have liked it a lot. TRDB.

2) ONLY YESTERDAY– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “A lifetime resident of bustling Tokyo, 27-year-old Taeko decides to get away and visit her family in the country. But as her trip stirs memories of her childhood, Taeko begins to wonder whether she’s taken the wrong path in life.”

1) OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Struggling after the death of her father — a famed artist — documentarian Samantha Trassler throws herself into her work. Turning her camera on a group of homeless young people, Samantha soon falls for their charismatic leader.”

1/1/16- Awful reviews. TRDB.

2) THE HIMALAYAS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a disastrous end to a 2005 Mount Everest expedition, climber Hong-gil Um returns to try to recover the bodies of those who died on the mountain, including his friend and protégé, Moo-taek Park.”

1/1/16- Just 4 reviews– 3 down including the NY Times and 1 up. We’ll see. TRDB.

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HOTWIRE ON-DEMAND-

NEW- NONE Recommended

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) THE REVENANT– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in the 1820s American frontier, this snowy thriller follows fur trapper Hugh Glass as he relentlessly seeks retribution against the companions who left him for dead in the Missouri River’s icy waters after he was mauled by a bear.”

1/5/16- Fairly good reviews although several of my friends have seen this and not liked it. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) JOY- Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After 10 years of trying to mass-market the revolutionary floor mop she had invented, housewife Joy Mangano strikes gold with a personal pitch on QVC that turns her Miracle Mop into an overnight marketing miracle.”

12/22/15- Mixed reviews so far. TRDB.

2) THE BIG SHORT– Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Before the housing and credit bubble of 2007 triggers an international economic meltdown, a handful of financial outsiders sees the crash coming and bets against the big banks in a daring play that could reap them huge profits.”

12/11/15- Very good reviews for this Wall Street drama. TRDB.

12/31/15- This movie was done in a very clever manner and managed to make the recent near collapse of the world economy understandable at the same time. Liked the movie a lot. TRDB. 

3) THE DANISH GIRL– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Saw Mill Hawthorne, Danbury, Clearview 100,  Garden Cinema Norwalk. 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.

12/29/15- This movie is more of a love story than about the transgender issue and it’s definitely worth seeing. TRDB.

4) YOUTH- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “On vacation in the Alps, two friends on the verge of turning 80 look to each other for support as both rush to face potentially momentous career landmarks, realizing that time is no longer on their side.

12/4/15- Fairly good reviews for this film starring Sir Michael Caine . TRDB.

5) TRUMBO– Clearview 100. 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.

11/28/15– I enjoyed this movie very much and would not be surprised at a nomination for best actor for Bryan Cranston. TRDB. 

6) CAROL– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living in a 1950s society that considers lesbian romance taboo, two women from disparate backgrounds — young store clerk Therese Belivet and wealthy socialite Carol Aird — develop an attachment to each other that ultimately turns passionate.”

10/18/15- Excellent reviews for this drama starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. TRDB.

1/4/16- Great reviews as noted and I did like the movie. I feel that the love affair, as portrayed, lacked the emotional intensity that I expected. I’ve also seen Cate Blanchett do much better in other roles. TRDB. 

7) BROOKLYN– Jacob Burns, Saw Mill Hawthorne, 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. 

8) 45 YEARS– Jacob Burns. 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Geoff and Kate Mercer’s plans for a 45th anniversary party are upset by some unexpected news: A body found in the Swiss Alps has been identified as Geoff’s long-ago love Katya, who perished in an accident 50 years earlier.”

12/23/15- Great reviews. TRDB.

9) SPOTLIGHT– Saw Mill Hawthorne. 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.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH AND DELRAY-

1) JOY– Mixed reviews

2) THE REVENANT– Generally good reviews

3) CAROL- I liked this one but do not feel it’s the Best Picture of the year

4) THE BIG SHORT– Very good and very understandable

5) THE DANISH GIRL–  I liked it very much

B) STONZEK THEATER AT LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) ROOM–  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. 

2) HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “Movie history was changed forever when director François Truffaut published his 1966 book “Cinema According to Hitchcock.” In this engaging documentary, a host of prominent filmmakers describes the effect that Truffaut’s book had on their work.”

1/5/16- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

C) LIVING ROOM THEATER AT FAU IN BOCA

1) CENSORED VOICES– Very good reviews

2) TRUMBO– I liked it very much

3) PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT– Very good reviews

4) RUN BOY RUN– Worth trying to see

5) LABYRINTH OF LIES– I liked it a lot