The Reel Dr. Bob

DECEMBER 22, 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) THINGS TO COME– At the Theater

2) HELL OR HIGH WATER- Netflix Disc.

3) LITTLE MEN- Netflix Disc.

4) SAND STORM– Netflix Streaming

5) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) 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. 

12/16/16- A wonderful Isabel Hubert as usual. I liked the movie but not as much as the critics did. TRDB.

2) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “While working as a handyman in Boston, taciturn loner Lee Chandler gets word that his brother Joe has died of a coronary. After returning to the siblings’ hometown, Lee receives another shock: He’s been named legal guardian of Joe’s 16-year-old son.”

11/18/16- Great reviews from everybody. TRDB.

12/21/16– A sad but excellent movie. Great acting and great story. TRDB. 

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT HOME-

1) HELL OR HIGH WATER. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Faced with losing the family farm to foreclosure, brothers Toby and Tanner decide that their best move is to rob some banks. Not surprisingly, their plans quickly go awry, and a grizzled but relentless lawman picks up their trail.

8/12/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.

12/17/16- I didn’t expect to like this movie as much as I did despite a pile of good reviews. Jeff Bridges is great as usual. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) 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.

12/18/16- A wonderful, realistic drama. TRDB. Netflix Disc

3) SAND STORM– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “As Suliman takes another bride, wife Jalila and daughter Layla bridle at the strictures put on their lives, with Jalila seething as she’s forced to host a wedding celebration welcoming the new spouse into the family and Layla pursuing forbidden love.”

12/19/16- Reviews for this film have been excellent and I agree. A well acted story that again explores women’s freedom in Muslim communities in the Middle East. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, DEC. 27-

1) AMERICAN HONEY– 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.

2) COMING THROUGH THE RYE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1969, 16-year-old Jamie Schwartz finds a beacon of light beyond prep school when he falls in love with the book “The Catcher in the Rye” and its protagonist, Holden Caulfield — inspiring Jamie to run away to track down its reclusive author.”

10/14/16- Excellent reviews by all. TRDB.

3) IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fleeing his past for a better future in Mexico, Paul and his dog stop along the way in Denton, an all-but abandoned mining outpost now run by hooligans. When Paul clashes with the town marshal’s blowhard son, things take a vengeful turn.”

10/21/16- Overall this movie has positive reviews but there are a whole load of negative ones as well. TRDB.

11/2/16- A comedic old time Western with a very good Ethan Hawke and equally good John Travolta. Accept it for what it is and enjoy!! TRDB. 

4) A MAN CALLED OVE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Despite being deposed as president of his condo’s resident association, 59-year-old misanthrope Ove continues to plague his neighbors with dictatorial demands. But when Ove’s new neighbor runs over his mailbox, the old crank finds he’s met his match.”

9/30/16- Very good reviews by critics and audiences. TRDB.

11/6/16- A very good movie that was an excellent adaptation from the book of the same name. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) FENCES– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Working as a trash collector in 1950s Pittsburgh, Troy Maxson struggles to raise his family while trying to transcend the bitter experience of being a talented baseball player denied the opportunity to play in the majors because of his race.”

12/16/16- Great reviews for this drama starring Denzel Washington. TRDB.

2) BARRY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in 1981, this engrossing biopic charts President Barack Obama’s transformative experiences during his junior year at Columbia University, where he grapples with his racial identity and undergoes a galvanizing period of adjustment.”

12/16/16- Very good reviews from the critics but awful ones from audiences. As a piece of history I’ll probably see this movie.  TRDB.

3) NERUDA– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Neruda (2016) – In 1948 Chile, an arrest warrant is issued for acclaimed poet and communist politician Pablo Neruda when he publicly criticizes the government. After failing to flee the country, Neruda and his wife become fugitives, hunted by a relentless policeman.”

12/16/16- Great reviews by everybody. TRDB.

4) THE ATAXIAN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Diagnosed with a deadly neuromuscular disease at age 17, Kyle Bryant rapidly lost his ability to play sports. One thing he could still do, however, was cycle — so entered the nine-day, 3,000-mile Race Across America, as documented here.”

12/16/16– Just 2 reviews and they are glowing. TRDB.

6) TWO LOVERS AND A BEAR– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “TIn the great Canadian North, life is harsh at minus 50 degrees, but the stinging cold pales in comparison to the emotional struggles of young lovers Lucy and Roman, who head into the wilderness to leave their troubled pasts behind them.”

12/16/16- Very good reviews by the critics and a weak “50/50” from audiences. TRDB.

7) JULIETA– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Julieta (2016) – “As she stands on the threshold of madness, 55-year-old teacher Julieta looks back at her tumultuous life over the past three decades — which have brought happiness, heartbreak and guilt.”

12/21/16- Fairly good reviews from audiences and critics for this drama by Pedro Almodovar. TRDB.

8) PATRIOTS DAY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “A tragic bombing near the finish line at the 2013 Boston Marathon sets off a citywide manhunt for the perpetrators. With residents devastated by the events, Sgt. Tommy Saunders and the Boston Police Department zero in on two suspects.”

12/21/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.

9) THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a nameless homicide victim’s body is delivered to a father-and-son team of medical examiners, their efforts to identify the beautiful corpse lead to a series of increasingly strange clues about the woman and the mystery of her death.”

12/21/16- This horror movie has received very good reviews but I probably won’t see it. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) SHORT STAY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Jersey boy Mike gets a taste of life in the big city when he sublets the flat and takes over the job of a friend who’s taking a trip to Europe. As he leads his pal’s walking tour of the city, he drifts through a series of comic misadventures

12/16/16- Only 1 review and it is really bad. TRDB.

2) THE HOLLOW POINT– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After becoming sheriff of a small town on the U.S.-Mexico border, Wallace must turn to his retired predecessor for help investigating a botched cartel deal. Soon, they find themselves on the hunt for a cartel butcher who’s been terrorizing residents.”

12/16/16– Reviews are literally 50/50 and I think I’ll skip this one. TRDB.

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HOTWIRE ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON HOTWIRE- NONE I’D RECOMMEND

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) FENCES– Bethel, Danbury. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Working as a trash collector in 1950s Pittsburgh, Troy Maxson struggles to raise his family while trying to transcend the bitter experience of being a talented baseball player denied the opportunity to play in the majors because of his race.”

12/16/16- Great reviews for this drama starring Denzel Washington. TRDB.

2) ELLE– Jacob Burns, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Elle (2016) -After ruthless businesswoman Michèle becomes the victim of a brutal rape, she begins an obsessive hunt for her assailant. When she tracks him down, the two begin a macabre dialogue that Michèle can’t resist, despite the danger.”

12/20/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) LION- Jacob Burns, Bethel. Very good reviews.

2) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Reviews were very good or very bad. More good.

3) JACKI– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Very good reviews.

4) LA LA LAND– Jacob Burns, Danbury. Very good reviews.

5) MOONLIGHT– Garden Cinema Norwalk. I saw it and liked it but not as much as the critics.

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) JACKI- Good reviews.

2) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA– Many friends have already seen this movie– half loved it and half hated it. I liked it very much.

3) MISS SLOANE– Enjoyable thriller.

4) ALLIED– I liked it.

B) MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) LA LA LAND– Very good reviews.

2) JACKI- Good reviews.

3) MISS SLOANE– I enjoyed this movie.

4) ALLIED- I liked it.

5) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA– Many friends have already seen this movie– half loved it and half hated it. I liked it very much.

C) STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) HARRY AND SNOWMAN–  2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After World War II, Dutchman Harry de Leyer immigrated to America and became a riding instructor — who paid $80 for a horse no one else wanted. Calling the horse Snowman, Harry began training him for show jumping: Two years later, he had a champion.”

9/30/16- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) A 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.

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

1) ELLE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Elle (2016) -After ruthless businesswoman Michèle becomes the victim of a brutal rape, she begins an obsessive hunt for her assailant. When she tracks him down, the two begin a macabre dialogue that Michèle can’t resist, despite the danger.”

12/20/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) A MAN CALLED OVE– I liked it.

3) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA- Very good and a few very bad reviews. I liked it very much.

4) THE EAGLE HUNTRESS– Very good reviews.

5) THINGS TO COME– I liked it

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB