The Reel Dr. Bob

OCTOBER 13, 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) BEING CHARLIE– Netflix

2) AMANDA KNOX– Netflix Streaming

3) LAST CAB TO DARWIN– Netflix Streaming

4) SONITA- At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) SONITA- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Eighteen-year-old Afghani rapper Sonita has big dreams and the talent to make them a reality, but her parents have other plans for her. This absorbing documentary charts her struggle to avoid a forced marriage and share her art with the wider world.”

10/11/16- I saw this wonderful documentary today. The content was very good and the movie was a good example of how a documentarian can get involved with his/her subject and make significant changes in the subject’s life as a result. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) THE FITS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Captivated by a dance drill team known as the Lionesses and yearning for social acceptance, insecure tomboy Toni tries out for the squad and lands a spot. But just as she starts to gain confidence, inexplicable episodes of fainting plague the group.”6/3/16- Excellent reviews by the critics and fair at best ones by audiences. TRDB.

10/7/16- I’m with the audience reviews on this one. Interesting but just not enough happening for me. TRDB. Netflix.

2) BEING CHARLIE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “For Charlie, spending his 18th birthday in a Utah rehab clinic is not OK. So he busts out and heads back to California — only to be greeted by his politico dad, who promptly enrolls him in another facility. Here, things begin to change.”

5/6/16- A few good reviews but mostly poor ones. My nephew co-wrote this movie and he is very funny and very creative so I’d make every attempt to see this film. TRDB.

10/8/16- Really poor reviews but I thought that the movie had merit and I enjoyed it. My nephew Matt Elisofon co-wrote the screenplay. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

3) AMANDA KNOX– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “One day she was the girl next door studying abroad in Italy and the next she was the American femme fatale accused of killing her roommate. This incisive documentary revisits the headline-grabbing case of Amanda Knox — which gripped the world.”

9/30/16- Excellent reviews by the critics and good ones by audiences. TRDB.

10/9/16- I enjoyed this documentary as it once again reminded us that the truth can be difficult to find. I think that we may not have heard the end of this story. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

4) LAST CAB TO DARWIN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Seventy-year-old taxi driver Rex has been content to live his entire life in his dusty hometown. But when he’s diagnosed with terminal cancer, the news prompts Rex to hit the road on an epic journey, determined to end his days on his terms.”

6/10/16- Very good reviews from critics and audiences alike. TRDB.

10/10/16- I enjoyed the movie primarily because of the story. The acting was weak at best. Still, worth seeing. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, OCT.18-

1) OUR KIND OF TRAITOR– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on a John le Carré novel, this taut spy thriller follows an English couple’s deadly entanglement with a desperate Russian mobster who solicits their help in negotiating sanctuary with British intelligence authorities.”6/26/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.

7/5/16- A bit preposterous but still OK. Definitely not as good as most critics gave it credit for. TRDB.

2) CAFE SOCIETY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Setting his sights on the magical kingdom of Hollywood, a young man migrates to Los Angeles in the 1930s and is swiftly drawn into the social whirlpool of the young and beautiful — all pursuing their own visions of success.”7/15/16- Mostly good reviews with a few poor ones tossed in– typical for Woody’s films. TRDB.

7/25/16- As usual I enjoyed another of Woody’s films. TRDB.

3) FRONT COVER–  2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “One man does all he can to veil his Asian heritage; the other takes great pains to hide his sexual orientation. Both of these things begin to change when Ryan is hired to prepare film star Ning for a fashion shoot, and the men develop a bond.”8/5/16- Fairly good reviews in general– the NY Times gave it just passing grades. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY, OCT. 7-

1) MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Finding his new middle school stifling, imaginative budding artist Rafe Khatchadorian and his best friend, Leo, decide to stir up some trouble by breaking every rule in their school’s hated handbook.”10/7/16- Just OK reviews in general with a few good and poor ones as well. TRDB.

2) NEWTOWN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Revisiting the quiet Connecticut community of Newtown three years after America’s deadliest school shooting took place there, this heartrending documentary focuses on the lasting trauma plaguing the victims’ families and the community as a whole.”

10/7/16- Very good reviews by the critics and fairly good ones by audiences. TRDB.

3) BLUE JAY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “By chance, two former high-school sweethearts meet when they return to their small hometown. Reminiscing about their shared past, the pair forms a new connection over their dissatisfaction with the way their lives have turned out.”

10/7/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.

4) BEING 17– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Teenage classmates Thomas Charpoul and Damien Delille are permanently on bad terms. But when Thomas’ pregnant mother is hospitalized, Damien’s mom offers to take Thomas in — which doesn’t sit well with either boy.”

10/7/16- Excellent reviews for this French drama. TRDB.

5) THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Spirited and rebellious, 12-year-old Gilly Hopkins has been in and out of a long string of foster homes. When she’s sent to live with the unorthodox Maime Trotter, Gilly doesn’t intend to stay long, but Maime isn’t about to quit on her young charge.”

10/7/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.

6) THEO WHO LIVED– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This riveting documentary recounts the ordeal of American journalist Theo Padnos, who was abducted in Syria in 2012 and spent 22 months as a hostage of the jihadist al-Nusra Front, whose leaders suspected him of being a CIA operative.”

10/7/16- Excellent early reviews. TRDB.

7) UNDER THE SHADOW– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “During the Iran-Iraq war, a missile hits the building that Shideh lives in with her daughter, Dorsa, but fails to detonate. When Dorsa subsequently falls ill, Shideh senses the presence of an evil entity in their home, and she fears for Dorsa’s life.”

10/7/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.

8) VOYAGE OF TIME- LIFE’S JOURNEY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades in the making, this ambitious documentary from director Terrence Malick journeys through time, from the dawn of the universe to its inevitable end — exploring science, spirit, birth, death and Earth’s life systems.”

10/7/16- Fair reviews. TRDB.

9) OVATION- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the behind-the-scenes drama of a Los Angeles stage production is being captured on film, a romantic tale and a mystery caper unfold, with the cast looking for a killer among themselves after a murder occurs.”

10/7/16- Mainly mixed reviews with a few very good ones also. TRDB.

 

Not Recommended-

1) THE LATE BLOOMER– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this rib-tickling comedy based on a true story, sex therapist Peter Newmans unexpectedly experiences puberty at the age of 27 after the removal of a benign brain tumor that had been affecting his pituitary gland.”

10/7/16- Sounds like high school trash. I’ll miss it. TRDB.

2) LONDON TOWN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this coming-of-age drama, 14-year-old Shay Baker finds an escape from his melancholy adolescence in the music of the Clash, whose rebellious and trenchant lyrics transform Shay’s view of the world and himself.”

10/7/16- Mainly poor reviews. TRDB.

3) MIRZYA– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Interweaving the worlds of fantasy and reality, this Bollywood saga takes its story from the Punjab folktale “The Legend of Mirza — Sahiban,” recounting the plight of star-crossed lovers the world seems determined to keep apart.”

10/7/16- Just a few reviews so far– one is OK and the other is poor. TRDB.

4) 37- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This powerful drama re-creates events surrounding the 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese, which became infamous because of the total indifference of her neighbors — none of whom responded to the woman’s cries during her brutal rape and killing.”

10/7/16- Poor reviews. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON COMCAST-

1) GREAT GILLY HOPKINS- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Spirited and rebellious, 12-year-old Gilly Hopkins has been in and out of a long string of foster homes. When she’s sent to live with the unorthodox Maime Trotter, Gilly doesn’t intend to stay long, but Maime isn’t about to quit on her young charge.”10/7/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) DENIAL– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the 1990s, well-known Holocaust denier David Irving sued historian Deborah Lipstadt — issuing a complaint under British law requiring the American academic to prove that the greatest atrocity of World War II actually took place. “9/30/16- Decent reviews from critics and audiences. The NY Times did not like it. TRDB.

2) AMERICAN HONEY– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Throwing caution to the wind, runaway teen Star joins a crew of traveling magazine sellers and soon embraces their rambunctious lifestyle, which consists of knocking on doors by day and morphing into drunken miscreants by night.”9/30/16- Good reviews by critics and audiences. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) HELL OR HIGH WATER– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Good review.

2) THE DRESSMAKER– Clearview 100. Weak reviews

3) A MAN CALLED OVE– Clearview 100. Good reviews

4) THE BIRTH OF A NATION- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury. Fairly good reviews

5) QUEEN OF KATWE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury. Good reviews

6) SULLY- Bethel, Danbury. I liked it very much

7) THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN– Bethel, Danbury. Weak reviews

8) THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK- THE TOURING YEARS– Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Good reviews

9) A MAN CALLED OVE– Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Fairly good reviews

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) THE BIRTH OF A NATION– Fairly good reviews

2) THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN- Weak reviews

3) A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Bringing to life the memoir of celebrated Israeli author Amos Oz, this affecting drama depicts his early years, when his family was swept up in the turbulence and violence of Israel’s founding as a nation.”8/19/16- Poor reviews, several critics calling it “inert.” I have to see it just for the story but I can not recommend it. TRDB.

9/8/16– Lots of love and lots of darkness in this drama by Natalie Portman that follows a family that made it to Israel after WW2. All was not so rosy. Worth seeing. TRDB.

B) STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) HIERONYMOUS BOSCH: TOUCHED BY THE DEVIL- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Medieval artist Hieronymus Bosch’s fantastical, religious-themed paintings are regarded as masterpieces. In this absorbing documentary, experts X-ray his paintings to uncover clues about the celebrated artist’s creative methods.”10/11/16- Weak reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) AUTHOR: THE J.T. LEROY STORY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Perpetrating a literary fraud, Laura Albert — a 40-year-old punk rocker — posed as a transgender teenage boy to publish three novels that were widely hailed as brilliant. In this fascinating documentary, Albert reveals the reasons behind the hoax.”9/9/16- Excellent reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.

C) LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) COME WHAT MAY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Nazi forces rout the French army in May 1940, the denizens of a threatened village abandon their homes and head west. Traveling together are a German dissenter in search of his son, and a Scottish officer whose entire unit has been slaughtered.”9/9/16- This movie sounds interesting but unfortunately received poor reviews. TRDB.

2) IXCANUL– I liked this very much

3) GIRL ASLEEP– Fairly good reviews for this weird sounding movie

4) LITTLE MEN– Good reviews

5) TANNA– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Living on an isolated Pacific island, a young girl from the indigenous Yakel tribe refuses to submit to an arranged marriage and flees with her lover instead. The couple’s defiance soon threatens to ignite a bitter blood feud on the island.”9/16/16- Good reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB.

6) THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK: THE TOURING YEARS- Good reviews

7) THE PEOPLE VS. FRITZ BAUER– Very good reviews

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB