The Reel Dr. Bob

DECEMBER 8, 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) DARK HORSE- Netflix Disc

2) ALLIED– At the Theater

3) THE STUDENT AND MISTER HENRI– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) ALLIED– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “During a perilous World War II mission in Casablanca, French-Canadian operative Max Vatan falls in love with and weds French spy Marianne Beausejour. After learning that Marianne may be a Nazi double agent, Max launches an investigation of his wife.”

12/5/16- This movie has garnered mixed reviews. I liked it but certainly not a great movie. TRDB. 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) DARK HORSE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a bid to develop a champion racehorse, Welsh barmaid Jan Vokes and her husband persuade 30 pub patrons to purchase ownership shares in the long-shot venture — leading to the hoof-pounding saga chronicled in this upbeat documentary.”

5/6/16- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

12/5/16– An upbeat documentary about a horse and the small town in England that sponsored him. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) THE STUDENT AND MISTER HENRI (L’ETUDIANTE ET MONSIEUR HENRI)– 2015. About an old grumpy man living in Paris whose son asks him to rent out a room of his apartment to someone who can look after him.

12/7/16- I thoroughly enjoyed this French film about a grumpy old man who

comes back to life as a result of this arrangement. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, DEC. 13-

THESE WERE SENT OUT IN LAST WEEK’S EDITION

– HERE THEY ARE AGAIN

1) LITTLE MEN- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “When 13-year-old Jake moves into his late grandfather’s home, he’s happy to find a built-in pal in Tony, the son of the seamstress who rents the downstairs shop. But while the boys hit it off, a rent dispute quickly puts their parents in conflict.”

8/5/16- Very good reviews from the critics and good ones from audiences as well. TRDB.

2) FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Despite her horrid singing voice, New York City heiress Florence Foster Jenkins is certain she can become an opera star. Her partner and manager, St Clair Bayfield, does all he can to shield Florence from the truth, but his task may prove impossible.”

8/10/16- This movie got very good ratings but it seems to me that the ratings were based on the actors likability in the past and not on the story at all. I’ll recommend it but just barely as a few of my friends did like it.  TRDB.

3) HOOLIGAN SPARROW– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Human rights activist Ye Haiyan and the documentary camera crew accompanying her risk government harassment and even incarceration when Ye publicly protests the scandalous case of six elementary schoolgirls raped by their headmaster.”

7/22/16- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4) DISORDER– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Just back from Afghanistan — and with post-traumatic stress disorder to prove it — paranoid soldier Vincent signs on to protect a Lebanese businessman’s family. But Vincent soon loses his grip on reality and is sure that somebody is after them.”

8/12/16- Mixed reviews– Fairly good from the critics and a bit weaker by audiences. Sounds good to me. TRDB.

5) SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Chronicling a fateful summer day in 1989 when a Harvard Law student wooed a pretty young attorney by taking her on a memorable South Side Chicago date, this engaging romantic drama charts the beginnings of Barack and Michelle Obama’s relationship.”

8/23/16- Very good reviews from both critics and from audiences as well. TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) EQUITY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “While veteran investment banker Naomi Bishop has thrived in the cutthroat, male-dominated financial world, her leadership of a technology company’s initial public offering exposes her to intense pressure from colleagues — and a prosecutor.”

7/29/16- Fairly good reviews from the critics and mixed ones from audiences. TRDB.

8/23/16- I agree with the audience reviews on this one. I felt like I had seen this movie 3 or 4 times before. You can safely skip it. TRDB. 

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OPENED LAST WEEK- FRIDAY, DEC. 2–

1) OLD STONE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After hitting a motorcyclist — through no fault of his own — cabdriver Lao Shi comes to the victim’s aid, only to see his life unravel as he’s stuck with the man’s medical bills and dragged deeper and deeper into a bureaucratic nightmare.”

11/30/16- Excellent reviews! TRDB.

2) BOBBY SANDS: 66 DAYS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This potent documentary charts the life of jailed Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands and one of the pivotal episodes in Northern Ireland’s conflict: his 66-day hunger strike, which inflamed emotions worldwide and ensured his status as a martyr.”

11/3/0/16- Excellent reviews by critics and good ones by audiences. TRDB.

3) BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though 20-year-old Michelle Smith is legally blind and has Asperger’s syndrome, neither has prevented her from seeking her own path — which unexpectedly wends through a world that includes offbeat obsessions and kink.”

12/2/16- Great reviews!! TRDB.

4) THE DUELIST– 2016/ Synopsis by Netflix. “In czarist Russia, professional duelist Yakovlev makes his living standing in for gentlemen who fear their odds of survival. But his trade puts him in a dicey spot when he falls for a woman whose brother Yakovlev will soon be facing with pistols.”

12/2/16- The critics were 50/50 on this one but audiences liked it quite a bit so I’ll recommend it. TRDB.

5) THE EYES OF MY MOTHER– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Using minimal dialogue and filmed in black and white, this dark tale recounts the story of a young woman named Francisca, whose memory of a ghastly scene from her childhood leads her down a violent path years later.”

12/2/16- OK reviews by the critics and less so by audiences. TRDB.

6) HOGTOWN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “HOGTOWN is set in 1919 Chicago against the backdrop of the race riots of that year. The story follows an investigation into the disappearance of a millionaire theatre owner during a snowstorm. HOGTOWN is a murder mystery that celebrates the most American of American cities while exploring the intimate lives of many of its people. This period piece is much more a period-less piece, shot in black and white in the often undisguised contemporary city.”

12/2/16- Very good reviews from the 4 critics I read. TRDB.

7) JACKI– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Still reeling from her husband’s shocking assassination in Dallas, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy battles through exhaustion, overwhelming heartache and anger to preserve his legacy — and to define her own.”

12/1/16- Very good reviews from both critics and audiences but several of the positive reviews were less than glowing. I’ll try to see it. TRDB.

8) THINGS TO COME– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Middle-aged philosophy teacher Nathalie seems to have it all: a job she’s passionate about, a family she loves and a beautiful Paris apartment. But her world changes in an instant when her husband of 25 years announces that he’s leaving her.”

12/2/16- Great reviews by the critics and fairly good ones from audiences. TRDB.

9) TWO TRAINS RUNNIN’– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix.  “During the summer of 1964 — when hundreds of students were assembling in Mississippi to join the Civil Rights movement — two groups of young men traveled to the state in search of a pair of legendary blues musicians. This film tells their story.”

12/2/16- Very few reviews but they are all great. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) GOODNIGHT BROOKLYN: THE STORY OF DEATH BY AUDIO– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This nostalgic documentary laments the 2014 closing of Brooklyn, New York’s fabled underground music club Death By Audio and the inexorable pressure of real-estate prices driving out much-loved community institutions.”

12/2/16– Just 3 reviews so far– 2 really poor and 1 really good. We’ll see. TRDB.

2) MAN DOWN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Against the grim landscape of a postapocalyptic America, ex-marine Gabriel Drummer searches the ruins for his missing wife and son while also trying to leave behind his devastating experiences in the Afghan War.”

12/2/16- Terrible reviews by the critics and relatively good ones from audiences. I’d pass on this one. TRDB.

3) PET– 22016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Seth spots former crush Holly on a bus, he finds himself falling for her all over again. But when she rejects Seth’s advances, he grows obsessed with her — leading him to abduct Holly and imprison her beneath the animal shelter where he works.”

12/2/16– Generally poor reviews for what sounds like a real horror movie. TRDB.

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HOTWIRE ON DEMAND-

1) A BIGGER SPLASH- Great acting and a very good story

2) CAFE SOCIETY- I enjoyed it and I never miss a Woody

3) DARK HORSE-  Very good reviews and I liked it

4) THE FAMILY FANG- Creative and well acted- well recommended

5) HANDS OF STONE- Good reviews and I will see this one

6) HELL OR HIGHWATER- I plan to see this very soon

7) A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING- I enjoyed this movie

8)IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE- I liked it

9) INDIGNATION- I liked it but not as much as the critics did

10) JOSHY- Partly frat-boy antics and part meaningful conversation. Judge for yourself.

11) THE MEDDLER- I liked this movie very much- funny and poignant

12) MIA MADRE- I enjoyed this movie very much. Great acting and a great story. TRDB. 

13) NO PAY, NUDITY- Fairly good reviews

14) OUR KIND OF TRAITOR- A bit preposterous but still OK. Definitely not as good as most critics gave it credit for.

15) OUR LITTLE SISTER- – Excellent reviews for this Japanese film.

16) PETER AND THE FARM- Very good reviews for this documentary

17) PETE’S DRAGON- A fun children’s movie that adults can enjoy as well- I did

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) LION– 2016. Jacob Burns. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this affecting true story, 5-year-old Saroo is adopted by an Australian couple after losing his way in the urban jungle of Kolkata. More than two decades later, new mapping technology prompts Saroo to search for his lost family in India.”

11/25/16- Good reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB.

2) JACKI- Jacob Burns. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Still reeling from her husband’s shocking assassination in Dallas, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy battles through exhaustion, overwhelming heartache and anger to preserve his legacy — and to define her own.”

12/1/16- Very good reviews from both critics and audiences but several of the positive reviews were less than glowing. I’ll try to see it. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) NOCTURNAL ANIMALS- Bethel, Clearview 100.

2) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA– Jacob Burns, Bethel. Clearview 100,Garden Cinema Norwalk. Good reviews.

3) LOVING- Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk.

4) MOONLIGHT– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked it but not great.

5) ALLIED- Bethel. I liked it.

6) THE EAGLE HUNTRESS– Garden Cinema Norwalk. Very good reviews

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) NOCTURNAL ANIMALS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Susan Morrow receives a book manuscript from her estranged ex-husband, she finds herself confronting her past while becoming increasingly immersed in the story — a thriller in which a professor’s ordinary life is violently derailed.”

11/18/16- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

2) MISS SLOANE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this gripping thriller that exposes the dog-eat-dog world of Capitol Hill lobbyists, political strategist Elizabeth Sloane is determined to push through legislation enacting tougher gun control, regardless of the personal or professional cost.”

11/25/16- Mostly good reviews with a few really negative ones, including the NY Times. TRDB.

3) ALLIED- I saw it and liked it

4) LOVING– I plan to see it

5) MOONLIGHT– I liked it but not as much as the critics

6) A MAN CALLED OVE– I liked it a lot

B) MOVIES OF DELRAY WILL BE THE SAME AS LAKE WORTH EXCEPT THAT-

“MANCHESTER BY THE SEA” WILL BE SHOWN INSTEAD OF “A MAN CALLED OVE”

C) STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN LAKE WORTH-

1) AQUARIUS- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the last remaining occupant of an old building in Recife, Brazil, 65-year-old Clara is determined to hang on to the home that has defined her life — despite generous offers from a developer who wants to clear the site for new construction.”

10/14/16- Excellent reviews by the critics and fairly good ones by audiences. TRDB.

11/5/16- I enjoyed this movie from Brazil very much!! TRDB.

2) THE HANDMAIDEN–  2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hired by a suave con man, young street-thief Sook-hee secures employment haven’t hated a movie this much since I saw The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover. Artful and well-acted but tedious and vulgar. Sorry folks. Call me a prude if you like but that’s what I think. as a handmaiden for wealthy but reclusive heiress Lady Hideko. But the pair’s plan to steal her fortune becomes complicated when Lady Hideko falls in love with Sook-hee.

10/21/16- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

11/9/16- Great reviews as noted above but I did not like this movie at all. The one reviewer who dissented said this- “I haven’t hated a movie this much since I saw The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover. Artful and well-acted but tedious and vulgar. Sorry folks. Call me a prude if you like but that’s what I think.” That’s my sentiment as well. TRDB.

D) THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) A MAN CALLED OVE– I liked it very much

2) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA— Good reviews

3) THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT- 2016. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “God exists and He’s a jerk. He lives in a high-rise apartment in Brussels and never gets out of His pajamas. He takes sadistic delight in dreaming up new “laws” to torment humanity.”

12/6/16- Good reviews. TRDB.

4) THE EAGLE HUNTRESS– Good reviews

5) DENIAL– I liked it. (limited screenings)

6) NO PAY, NUDITY– Good reviews

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB