January 12th, 2017
JANUARY 12, 2017
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) JULIETA– At the Theater
_____________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1)
JULIETA- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “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.”
1/10/17- I saw this new movie by Pedro Almodovar today and liked it very much. Very good acting, great photography and an interesting story. Also, very sad. TRDB.
_____________________________________________________________________
MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1)
THE INTERVENTION– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Ruby and Peter join three other couples for a weekend holiday, they’re dismayed to discover that their friend Annie has engineered the entire trip to help the pair address their marital problems.”
8/26/16- Fairly good reviews from critics and OK ones from audiences. TRDB.
1/5/17- Absolutely AWFUL! TRDB. Netflix Disc.
_____________________________________________________________________
COMING TO NETFLIX ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18-
LISTED LAST WEEK BUT HERE IT IS AGAIN-
Recommended-
1)
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.
2)
ZERO DAYS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “When the United States and Israel developed malware to sabotage a key part of Iran’s nuclear program, the worm was supposed to vanish after doing its job. Though the first phase was a success, the second wasn’t, as detailed in this chilling documentary.”
7/8/16- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.
8/7/16- A scary documentary about cyber warfare and its possible effects on our society. Definitely worth seeing. TRDB.
3)
DANCER– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though blessed with ballet skills that brought him global fame, Sergei Polunin had misgivings about the meaning and worth of stardom. At the age of 25, he abandoned the dance world — a decision he candidly reflects on in this immersive documentary.”
9/16/16- Fair to good reviews from the critics and much better ones from audiences. TRDB.
10/4/16- I enjoyed this movie very much. There was just enough dance in this documentary and I was able to understand what it meant for him to be a prodigy and also for him to leave it all behind. TRDB.
4)
LONG WAY NORTH– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this animated adventure, young Russian aristocrat Sasha is worried about the fate of her beloved grandfather Oloukine, who vanished during a polar expedition. Defying her parents’ wishes, the determined Sasha embarks on a quest to find Oloukine.”
9/30/16- Great reviews for this animated movie. TRDB.
Not Recommended-
1)
THE FREE WORLD- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two decades after being wrongly imprisoned, Mo Lundy struggles to adjust to life in the outside world but finds purpose in his job at an animal shelter. Soon, however, his growing involvement with a battered woman puts his freedom in jeopardy.”
9/23/16- Poor reviews in general with the few positives not convincing. TRDB.
_____________________________________________________________________
OPENED LAST FRIDAY-
Recommended-
1)
THE ARDENNES– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a home robbery carried out by brothers Kenneth and Dave backfires, only Kenneth is caught. After he spends four years in jail, the siblings reunite, but friction develops as Kenneth starts to suspect that his ex-girlfriend and Dave are involved.”
1/6/17- This movie got mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. The NY Times liked it. TRDB.
2) ACCIDENTAL COURTESY: DARYL DAVIS, RACE & AMERICA– Synopsis by Netflix. “African-American musician Daryl Davis, who’s played keyboards for the likes of Chuck Berry and Little Richard, is fighting racism his way: with an earnest smile and a handshake for every Ku Klux Klan member he sets out to meet.”
1/6/17– Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
3) GERMAN CONCENTRATION CAMPS FACTUAL SURVEY– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Intended to serve as definitive proof of the atrocities the Nazis committed during the Holocaust, this disturbing documentary was shot in 1945 as the Allied forces liberated occupied Europe, but the film remained unfinished until 2014.”
1/6/17- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
Not Recommended-
1) A DIFFERENT AMERICAN DREAM- 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Detailing the environmental damage caused by oil fracking operations inside the borders of North Dakota’s Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, this sober documentary tracks three tribes’ efforts to save their lands from further harm.”
1/6/17- Few reviews so far but they are really poor. TRDB.
2) BETWEEN US– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though longtime couple Dianne and Henry aren’t in a rush to get married, everyone else seems to think they should, so they head to city hall and tie the knot. But a sense of panic sets in almost immediately as they face the prospect of settling down.”
1/6/17- Fair reviews at best from critics. Audiences didn’t care for it either. TRDB.
_____________________________________________________________________
HOTWIRE ON-DEMAND
NEW ON DEMAND- NONE RECOMMENDED
REPEATS-
1) A BIGGER SPLASH- Great acting and a very good story
2) AMERICAN HONEY- Good reviews
3) BURN COUNTRY- Good reviews
4) CAFE SOCIETY- I enjoyed it and I never miss a Woody
5) DENIAL- A good movie
6) FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS- Good reviews but I resisted seeing this one
7) FRANK & LOLA- OK reviews
8)GLEASON- An excellent documentary about a football player- a story of courage and determination
9) THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS- Predictable but fun
10) HANDS OF STONE- Good reviews and I will see this one
11) HELL OR HIGHWATER- I enjoyed this movie quite a bit
12) A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING- I enjoyed this movie
13) IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE- I liked it
14) INDIGNATION- I liked it but not as much as the critics did
15) JOSHY- Partly frat-boy antics and part meaningful conversation. Judge for yourself.
16) LITTLE MEN- Very good reviews and I liked it very much
17) A MAN CALLED OVE- I enjoyed this very much– true to the book
18)MIA MADRE- I liked it
19) NO PAY, NUDITY- Good reviews
20) OUR KIND OF TRAITOR- A bit preposterous but still OK. Definitely not as good as most critics gave it credit for.
21) OUR LITTLE SISTER- I liked this one
22) PETER AND THE FARM- Very good reviews for this documentary
23) PETE’S DRAGON- A fun children’s movie that adults can enjoy as well- I did
24) SLASH- Excellent reviews for this movie
25) SNOWDEN- OK but not nearly as good as the documentary “Citizenfour”
26) SULLY- I liked it very much
27) A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS- I liked it
_____________________________________________________________________
BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-
NEW IN THE BURBS-
1)
SILENCE– Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 17th-century Japan, the Tokugawa shogunate is determined to rid the country of Western influences, starting with the Catholic Church. When two Jesuit priests from Portugal arrive looking for their mentor, they face persecution and violence.”
12/23/16- Very good reviews. TRDB.
2) 20th. CENTURY WOMEN- Jacob Burns. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1979 Southern California, bohemian single mom Dorothea Fields looks to a pair of women from different generations to help teach her teenage son lessons about love and life. But he gets another perspective after Dorothea takes in a male boarder.”
1/11/17- Very good reviews for the movie and for Annette Bening. Definitely on my short list. TRDB.
3) A MONSTER CALLS– Danbury. 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this adaptation of a children’s fantasy novel, 12-year-old Conor has been devastated by his mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis. Then a monster begins visiting Conor at night, who tells stories that help him come to terms with the truth.”
12/23/16- Very good reviews for this sci-fi drama. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) LION- Jacob Burns. Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked it very much.
2) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA- Jacob Burns, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Definitely the movie to see this week if you haven’t yet.
3) JACKIE- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked it but not a great movie.
4) MOONLIGHT– Danbury, Clearview 100. I liked it but not as much as the critics did.
5) FENCES– Bethel, Danbury. I liked it very much.
6) LA LA LAND– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury.
7) HIDDEN FIGURES– Bethel, Danbury.
8) ELLE– Garden Cinema Norwalk. This award winning French movie is violent and strange with an excellent Isabel Huppert.
_____________________________________________________________________
BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-
A) MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-
1) HIDDEN FIGURES– Very good reviews and I’ll see it
2) FENCES– An excellent movie- loved Denzel
3) LA LA LAND– Mixed reviews from friends but I plan to see it
4) LION– I saw it and liked it very much
B) MOVIES OF DEL RAY-
1) HIDDEN FIGURES– Very good reviews
2) FENCES- I liked it a lot
3) LA LA LAND– I plan to see this soon
4) JACKIE- Just OK
5) LION– A very good movie
C) STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE
1) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA– I really liked this movie very much– maybe my favorite of the year.
2)
NATIONAL BIRD– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This pointed documentary’s title refers to the U.S. military’s use of drones to conduct targeted killing missions in foreign nations. Three anguished Air Force veterans provide unnerving accounts of civilian deaths kept from the American public.”
11/11/16– Great reviews by the critics and good ones by audiences. TRDB.
D) LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON
1) JULIETA– I liked Pedro Almodovar’s newest
2) ELLE– Violent at times but an interesting story and great Isabel Huppert.
3) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA– I liked it very much.
4)
SEASONS–
2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This enlightening nature documentary illustrates the dramatic and subtle effects of Earth’s changing weather cycle on the living patterns of animals and humans, stretching from 20,000 years ago to the present.”
11/25/16– Excellent reviews by the critics and poor ones by audiences. I think it’s worth a try. TRDB.
ENJOY!!
THE REEL DR. BOB
Entry Filed under: Coming or Opening in the Next Week,Old Newsletters
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>
Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed