The Reel Dr. Bob

MAY 26, 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) GLASSLAND– Netflix

2) SING STREET– At the Theater

3) DELICACY– Netflix

4) ALL MISTAKES BURIED– Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) SING STREET– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Grappling with a difficult home life, 14-year-old Conor faces more woes when financial problems force his parents to transfer him from a private school to an inner-city public school. Looking for an escape, he forms a band with a group of classmates.”4/15/16- Great reviews from all! TRDB.

5/22/16– I liked this movie very much. Poignant screenplay, wonderful acting and great music. What else can I say? TRDB.

2) THE NICE GUYS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in 1970s Los Angeles, this noirish mystery tracks a private eye who teams with a hired bruiser to investigate a missing persons case and a porn star’s suspicious suicide. In the process, the pair stumbles onto evidence of a vast conspiracy.”

5/19/16- Excellent reviews for this drama/comedy starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. TRDB.

5/24/16- One critic said that, unfortunately, the two stars working together was the best part of the movie and I agree. Some funny parts but basically stupid. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) GLASSLAND– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Desperate to earn more money to save his alcoholic mother and mend his fractured family, a young taxi driver reluctantly takes a job that draws him into the ugly world of human trafficking.”2/12/16- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

5/20/16- I’ll give this one a fair review. There were too many loose ends at the conclusion. Toni Colette and the male lead were both very good. TRDB. Netflix.

2) DELICACY– 2011. Synopsis by Netflix. “Tragic circumstances create an opportunity for new love in this romantic drama when a young woman, still grieving over the death of her husband years earlier, is slowly brought out of her shell by a caring and courtly male co-worker.”5/23/16- Fair to good reviews for this French drama starring Audrey Tautou. I liked it very much,

especially the final scene in the garden. TRDB. Netflix.

3) ALL MISTAKES BURIED– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Bent on recovering a stolen pendant he’d given to his estranged wife, struggling crack addict Sonny takes on a dangerous gang of crooks — certain that if he can retrieve the necklace, he can save his marriage.”

1/22/16- Weak reviews by the critics but excellent ones from audiences. I might just give this a try. TRDB.

5/23/16- I really enjoyed the first half of this movie but I felt that the second half was a letdown. Still worth seeing for the lead actor’s portrayal of a desperate man. TRDB. Netflix.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1-

BOTH RECOMMENDED–

1) A ROYAL NIGHT OUT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “While the life of a princess may sound exciting, it’s often anything but, so it’s with great excitement that young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret join the partying crowds on V.E. Day 1945 for a night neither will ever forget.12/4/15- OK reviews by critics and less so by audiences. TRDB.

2) 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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OPENED LAST FRIDAY, MAY 20-

1) MAGGIE’S PLAN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Although Maggie may not be able to sustain a romantic relationship, she has the rest of her life figured out. But just when she’s ready to roll with her plan to have a sperm-donor baby, Maggie meets the man of her dreams.”5/20/16- Positive reviews by the critics but many had some negative things to say as well. Audiences were less enthusiastic. I like both Ethan Hawke and Greta Gerwig and I’ll try to see this movie. TRDB.

2) KAILI BLUES- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Embarking on a train trip in search of his nephew, physician Chen Sheng stops off at the town of Dang Mai — where the rules of time don’t seem to apply. As Chen experiences his past and his future, he starts to meditate on his life.

5/20/16- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB.

3) ALMOST HOLY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This absorbing documentary paints an intricate portrait of Ukrainian pastor Gennadiy Mokhnenko, whose unorthodox approach to rescuing drug-addicted homeless juveniles has earned him admirers and detractors during the 15 years he’s pursued his cause.’

5/20/16- Great reviews from both critics and audiences. TRDB.

4) A MOMENT OF SILENCE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After President Sánchez de Lozada is forced to step down, Bolivia’s new socialist government strives to lead the nation to a brighter future, but internal conflicts and the re-emergence of corruption threaten to cripple reform efforts.”

5/20/16- Just 2 reviews– 1 up but not terrific and 1 down. I’ll give this one a weak recommendation. TRDB.

5) THE NICE GUYS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in 1970s Los Angeles, this noirish mystery tracks a private eye who teams with a hired bruiser to investigate a missing persons case and a porn star’s suspicious suicide. In the process, the pair stumbles onto evidence of a vast conspiracy.”

5/19/16- Excellent reviews for this drama starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. TRDB.

5/24/16- One critic said that the two stars enjoying working together was the best part of the movie and I agree. Some funny parts but basically stupid. TRDB.

6) O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “O.J.: Made in America is an essential examination of the rise and fall of Orenthal James Simpson, and parallels between his incredible story with that of race in America. This critically-acclaimed documentary series reveals how he first became a football star, why America fell in love with him off the field, what happened in the trial for his ex-wife’s murder, and finally, why he is now sitting in jail for another crime 20 years later. His is a story that divided America like few things before or since, and it is perhaps the defining cultural tale of twentieth-century America.”

5/20/16- Just a few reviews but they are all very good. TRDB.

7) THE OTHER SIDE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living beyond the reach of “civilized” society, a community of drifters, drug addicts and disillusioned veterans hang on together amid poverty and frustration, sharing a bitter awareness that the U.S. government and society have left them behind.”

5/20/16- No professional reviews as yet for this documentary but audiences have uniformly liked it. TRDB.

8) PERVERT PARK– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This unflinching documentary examines the often-difficult lives of convicted sex offenders, who must cope with vilification and severe restrictions on their public movements long after their sentences have been served.”

5/20/16- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

9) WEINER- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After resigning from Congress amid a sexting scandal, Anthony Weiner sets out to make a comeback in a 2013 campaign for mayor of New York City. Yet, as chronicled in this incisive documentary, his ambitions get derailed when a new scandal erupts.”

5/20/16- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

10) UNLOCKING THE CAGE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Animal rights activist Steven Wise takes his work seriously, so much so that he heads to court in an attempt to expand legal “personhood” to encompass particular animals, including chimps (and plaintiffs) Tommy and Kiko.”

5/25/16- Mostly good reviews so far for this documentary. TRDB. (Opened 5/25)

Not Recommended-

1) MANHATTAN NIGHT– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “A dead movie director and his beautiful widow, Caroline, spell trouble for tabloid journalist Porter Wren when she asks him to look into her husband’s murder. But Porter’s investigation into the case soon jeopardizes everything in his world.”

5/20/16– Poor reviews by the critics and somewhat better ones by audiences. TRDB.

2) WELCOME TO HAPPINESS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “At his landlord’s request, young author Woody Ward becomes the guardian of a mysterious door inside his closet, opened only to those in mental agony. When Woody’s own miseries begin to mount, he desperately seeks to gain entry.”

5/20/16- Not one positive review from a critic but audiences have liked it. TRDB.

3) MA MA– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Newly fired from her job and abandoned by her husband, Magda learns she has breast cancer. But any inclination toward self-pity is erased the same day, when the man she meets at her son’s soccer game receives shattering news about his wife and child.”

5/26/16- Terrible reviews. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON COMCAST- NONE RECOMMENDED!

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) THE LOBSTER– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in a not-so-distant future, this imaginative allegorical tale depicts a world where single people are hunted down and forced to find mates within 45 days to avoid being turned into animals and banished to live in nature.”5/13/16- Excellent reviews by most of the critics with several of them saying that the movie was too clever for its own good. TRDB.

2) WEINER– Jacob Burns. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After resigning from Congress amid a sexting scandal, Anthony Weiner sets out to make a comeback in a 2013 campaign for mayor of New York City. Yet, as chronicled in this incisive documentary, his ambitions get derailed when a new scandal erupts.”

5/20/16- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) A BIGGER SPLASH– Jacob Burns,Bethel (limited screenings) , Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked this movie a lot

2) LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Great reviews but I’m planning NOT to see this

3) MONEY MONSTER– Bethel, Danbury. Fair reviews at best

4) THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Fair to good reviews

5) THE MEDDLER– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. I liked this one very much

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY- Synopsis with NEW movies

A) MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH AND DELRAY-

1) MANHATTAN NIGHT– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “A dead movie director and his beautiful widow, Caroline, spell trouble for tabloid journalist Porter Wren when she asks him to look into her husband’s murder. But Porter’s investigation into the case soon jeopardizes everything in his world.”5/20/16– Poor reviews by the critics but somewhat better ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) REMEMBER– Liked this a lot– a must see!

3) THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY– Fair to good reviews

4) THE MEDDLER– I liked this movie

5) MONEY MONSTER– Fair reviews at best

6) THE NICE GUYS– Saw it and I felt it was stupid despite a few laughs

B) STONZEK THEATER AT LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) GREEN ROOM– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hired to play a club in the Oregon boondocks, a punk band finds the venue crawling with white supremacists. When the rockers discover a murder victim in the green room, they barricade themselves in as the skinheads aim to dispose of all witnesses.”4/15/16- Excellent reviews but I’m sure I will NOT see this as it’s in the horror category. TRDB.

2) THE MEASURE OF A MAN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After his long and humiliating search for employment — while scrambling to feed his family — Thierry Taugourdeau lands a job at a megamarket catching shoplifters. But he faces a moral quandary as he begins to sympathize with those he apprehends.”4/15/16- Excellent reviews and I’ll try to see this one. TRDB.

C) LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) MA MA– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Newly fired from her job and abandoned by her husband, Magda learns she has breast cancer. But any inclination toward self-pity is erased the same day, when the man she meets at her son’s soccer game receives shattering news about his wife and child.”

5/25/16– Terrible reviews. TRDB.

2) LOVE & FRIENDSHIP– Great reviews but I’ll skip it

3) REMEMBER- Don’t miss it!!!

4) THE MEDDLER– I liked it very much

5) THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY– Fair to good reviews

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB