The Reel Dr. Bob

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

DEAR FRIENDS:

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND PAST ONES AT MY WEBSITE- www.thereeldrbob.com

MORE THAN LIKELY I WILL NOT BE SENDING A NEWSLETTER NEXT WEEK SO THIS ISSUE WILL CONTAIN MATERIAL FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS WHENEVER POSSIBLE

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE SALESMAN– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) AFTER LOVE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Marie wants to divorce her jobless husband, Boris, but there’s a stumbling block: He’s demanding payment for his half of their flat before he’ll quit the property. As the two continue to live together, the tension between them rises to new heights.”

2/10/17– Excellent reviews by the critics and good ones by audiences for this new French film but I was very disappointed with this movie. I found it sadly repetitive. TRDB.

2) THE SALESMAN– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Forced to move when their apartment building nearly collapses, Emad and Rana find a new flat, unaware that the prior tenant was a hooker. When Rana unwittingly lets in a stranger and is assaulted, Emad sets out to find and punish his wife’s attacker.”

1/27/17- Excellent reviews by critics and audiences alike for this Iranian drama. TRDB.

2/12/17– A well acted and interesting movie– very tense! Definitely worth seeing. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME- NONE

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, FEB. 21

1) HACKSAW RIDGE– Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on a true story, this World War II drama focuses on Desmond T. Doss, a conscientious objector who becomes a hero while serving as an unarmed medic during the brutal and bloody fight for Okinawa.”

2) THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Off the coast of Australia, a lighthouse keeper and his wife’s efforts to have a child prove futile, until one day an infant in a rowboat washes ashore. Their choice to raise the girl as their own, however, later places them in a difficult situation.”

9/2/16- Fairly good reviews in general including the NY Times who added the fact that it was like a soap opera at times. I’ll still see it. TRDB.

3) FIREWORKS WEDNESDAY– Premise by Netflix. “As fireworks light the sky on the eve of the Persian New Year, a young Iranian maid named Rouhi begins a new job working for a middle-class couple whose marriage is on the verge of implosion. The tension mounts when Rouhi’s employer decides to use her as a spy to determine whether her husband is being unfaithful. Asghar Farhadi directs this Farsi-language drama that offers a rare glimpse of private life in modern-day Iran.”

3/2010- Another interesting slice of life from Iran and I liked it. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX IN 2 WEEKS- FEB. 28-

1) KATE PLAYS CHRISTINE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This intriguing mash-up of documentary and drama follows actress Kate Lynn Sheil as she heads to Florida to prepare for her film role as Christine Chubbuck, the Sarasota newscaster who committed suicide on the air in 1974.

8/26/16- Excellent reviews by the critics and fair ones by audiences. TRDB.

2) LONDON ROAD– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix “In 2006, five women’s bodies are discovered in the English town of Ipswich. In the wake of the tragedy, the shaken residents struggle to deal with the aftermath and the realization that the killer was a member of the community.”

9/9/16- Fairly good professional reviews but poor audience ones. TRDB.

3) QUEEN OF KATWE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “This inspiring documentary recounts the amazing but true story of Phiona Mutesi, an impoverished Ugandan girl whose early skill in chess, nurtured by her dedicated coach, would lead her all the way to the World Chess Olympiad.”

9/23/16- Fairly good reviews from critics and from audiences. TRDB.

4) CHRONIC– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Working as a home-care nurse, David’s dedication leads him to form strong bonds with his terminally ill patients. Managing friendships in his personal life, however, proves far more challenging.”

9/23/16- Mostly good reviews but all critics said that it was very difficult to watch this film because of the content. The full reviews sounds even more interesting and I will try to see this movie. TRDB.

5) MOONLIGHT– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Growing up in the drug-soaked world of 1980s Miami, young Chiron struggles to make his way through a helter-skelter adolescence while also grappling with confusion and anxiety about his emerging sexuality.”

10/21/16- Excellent reviews from critics and audiences as well. TRDB.

10/30/16- A profoundly sad chronicle of a gay black child becoming a gay black man. The movie was extremely well done- acting and music reminded me of an opera. 

6) CREEPY– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “After exchanging the perilous life of a police detective for the far safer world of academia, criminal-psychology lecturer Koichi Takakura is drawn back into the fray when an old case is reopened. Meanwhile, odd doings are afoot in his neighborhood.”

10/21/16- Excellent reviews from the critics. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

Recommended-

1) LAND OF MINE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Illuminating a little-known piece of history from World War II’s aftermath, this gripping drama follows a group of German prisoners of war as the Allies force them to defuse thousands of land mines buried in Denmark during the Nazi occupation.”

2/10/17- Very good reviews from the critics and from audiences alike. TRDB.

2) A UNITED KINGDOM– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Meeting at a dance in 1947, African prince Seretse Khama and London office worker Ruth Williams share a love of jazz and an instant attraction. When they wed after a brief courtship, their interracial union sparks an international political crisis.”

2/10/17- Very good reviews. TRDB.

3) I AM JANE DOE- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Actress Jessica Chastain narrates this disquieting documentary that follows the fight several families are waging against advertising website Backpage.com, which has been connected to hundreds of reported cases of child sex trafficking.”

2/10/17- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

4) LEFT ON  PURPOSE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “While Justin Schein is shooting a film about longtime peace advocate Mayer Vishner, the subject reveals midway through that he plans to commit suicide as a final radical act — and that he wants Schein to include it in the documentary.”

2/10/17- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5) EAGLES OF DEATH METAL: NOS AMIS (OUR FRIENDS)-  2007. Synopsis by Netflix. “Determined not to let the terrorist attack during a 2015 Paris concert silence them, Eagles of Death Metal take the stage in the City of Light once more with U2’s Bono and the Edge, delivering an emotional performance captured in this documentary.”

2/10/17- Just 4 reviews noted and they are all very good. TRDB.

6) KEDI– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Experience daily life in the eyes of a cat in Istanbul, where hundreds of thousands of felines roam the streets freely. Many citizens of the Turkish metropolis regard themselves as guardians of these cats, which exist between the tame and the wild.”

2/10/17- Great reviews for this weird sounding documentary. TRDB.

7) STRAY BULLETS– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “For teenagers Ash and Connor, the dreary task of clearing out their dad’s old mobile home takes an unexpected turn when they discover that a trio of crooks is using the place to hide out from a hit man.”

2/10/17- Very good reviews. TRDB.

8) THE ISLAND FUNERAL– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Leaving Bangkok to visit her aunt in Southern Thailand, Laila, her brother and a friend discover on the way that the region is embroiled in conflict between the military and Muslim separatists — and soon anxiety and fear permeate the road trip.”

2/10/17- Just 1 review- from the NY Times- and it’s excellent. I’d take the chance. TRDB.

9) SPEED SISTERS– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the unlikely environs of the West Bank, the Speed Sisters are the Middle East’s first all-woman auto-racing team — and they’re determined to elbow their way their way onto the tracks to compete against men”

2/10/17- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) 1 NIGHT– 2017. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Thirty-something (Anna Camp) who must decide whether to salvage her relationship with Drew (Justin Chatwin) after much personal disappointment. Meanwhile, Bea (Isabelle Fuhrman), a worrisome teenager, reconnects with her introverted childhood friend, Andy (Kyle Allen) to overcome their difference in high school status following their prom. Past and present collide as two couples explore love over the course of one night at a hotel.”

2/10/17- Just 4 reviews so far– 3 down and 1 up. TRDB.

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HOT WIRE ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON DEMAND-

1) STRAY BULLETS– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “For teenagers Ash and Connor, the dreary task of clearing out their dad’s old mobile home takes an unexpected turn when they discover that a trio of crooks is using the place to hide out from a hit man.”

2/10/17- Very good reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) A UNITED KINGDOM– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk.  2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Meeting at a dance in 1947, African prince Seretse Khama and London office worker Ruth Williams share a love of jazz and an instant attraction. When they wed after a brief courtship, their interracial union sparks an international political crisis.”

2/10/17- Very good reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) LION– Bethel, Clearview 100. I liked it but did not think it was as great as others did

2) ELLE– Bethel. Very good- especially Isabel Huppert but be warned that it is violent

3) PATERSON– Jacob Burns, Bethel. Excellent reviews by the critics

4) FENCES– Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk I enjoyed this very much

5) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA– Garden Cinema Norwalk. A great movie

6) MOONLIGHT– Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked it but not like the critics and audiences.

7) I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. Good reviews

8) THE SALESMAN– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. A very good movie!

9) TONI ERDMANN– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. Very good reviews

10) HIDDEN FIGURES– Danbury. A very good story but too much Hollywood for me

11) LA LA LAND– Danbury. Great movie

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) FANNY’S JOURNEY– No reviews as yet

2) THE SALESMAN– Very interesting and well acted. I enjoyed this movie from Iran

3) HIDDEN FIGURES– A good story but too Hollywood for me

4) LION– A good movie but not great as others have said

5) ELLE– Very good but violent. A great Isabel Huppert

B) MOVIES OF DELRAY- Same as above-

C) STONZEK THEATERE AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS

D) LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) SOPHIE AND THE RISING SUN– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1941, the residents of a small South Carolina town view the arrival of an educated Japanese-American man with more than a little suspicion. When he catches the eye of one of their own — winsome spinster Sophie Willis — racial tensions mount.”

2/3/17- Mixed reviews but it sounded interesting to me and I’ll try to see it. TRDB.

2) LE VOYAGE DE FANNY (FANNY’S JOURNEY)- 2017. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Based on a true story, this is an incredible tale of bravery, strength and survival, a story of a daring young girl who will stop at nothing and fear no one. In 1943, 13-year old Fanny and her younger sisters were sent from their home in France to an Italian foster home for Jewish children. When the Nazis arrive in Italy, their caretakers desperately organize the departure of the children to Switzerland. When they are suddenly left on their own, these 11 children do the impossible and reach the Swiss border to freedom.”

2/14/17- No reviews as yet but it does sound interesting. TRDB.

3) THE SALESMAN– I liked this movie very much.

4) TONI ERDMANN– I haven’t seen this yet but I plan to

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB

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