The Reel Dr. Bob

MARCH 16, 2017

DEAR FRIENDS:

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

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE TEACHER- At the Theater

2) CHRONIC- Netflix Disc.

3) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY– At theTheater

4) THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN– Netflix Disc.

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MOVIES I SAW AT THE THEATER-

1) THE TEACHER– 2017. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In a middle school classroom in Bratislava in 1983, a new teacher, Maria Drazdechova (Maurery), asks each student to stand up, introduce themselves and tell her what their parents do for a living. It slowly becomes clear that perhaps the pupils’ grades are related to how willing their guardians are open to helping her out with her errands, her housecleaning, and other random services. After one of the students attempts suicide, however, the director of the school has no choice but to call for an emergency parents’ meeting to remove the teacher, but because Ms. Drazdechova is also a high-ranking official of the Communist party.

3/7/17- I’ve seen just 1 review and it is good although the critic at one point called it a crowd-pleaser. TRDB.

3/10/17- The movie is a microcosm of life under Communist rule. While I did enjoy the film I found it to be repetitive and I felt like I had seen the same scene 3 or 4 times. TRDB.

3) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “As an Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem is celebrating the bar mitzvah of one of its members, the balcony that holds the women collapses. When an ultraconservative new rabbi takes charge of the repairs, he incites a gender war in the process.”

3/7/17- Just a few reviews but they are all good. TRDB.

3/13/17- I really enjoyed this movie even though it was a bit too long. TRDB. 

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MOVIES I SAW AT HOME-

1) 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.

3/11/17- A superb drama but as noted above it is very difficult to watch. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) 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

3/13/17- Strictly Hollywood, the only part I liked was seeing the rustic town with its local color. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

3) THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nadine and Krista are the closest of high school chums. But after Nadine finds out that Krista is secretly dating Nadine’s detested older brother, the two friends soon turn into the worst of enemies.”

11/14/16- Excellent reviews. TRDB. 

3/15/17- A very good movie with some interesting dialogue and very good acting. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 21-

1) FIRE AT SEA– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “An island halfway between Sicily and Libya has become the vortex of Europe’s immigration struggles  as observed in this documentary on Lampedusa, where more than 150,000 Africans each year make their first contact with European soil.”

10/21/16- Excellent reviews from the critics and fairly good ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) THE HIMALAYAS– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a disastrous end to a 2005 Mount Everest expedition, climber Hong-gil Um returns to try to recover the bodies of those who died on the mountain, including his friend and protégé, Moo-taek Park.”

1/1/16- Just 4 reviews– 3 down including the NY Times and 1 up. We’ll see. TRDB.

3) 10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE: THE NELLIE BLY STORY– Good reviews.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

Recommended-

1) CANNERS– 2017. This movie is about the “canners”, the people who pick up trashed cans and bottles to earn money on the deposits collected.

3/10/17- I’ve seen just 3 reviews and they are all positive for this documentary. TRDB.

2) PERSONAL SHOPPER– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “A few months after her twin brother’s death, Maureen is working in Paris as a personal shopper for a demanding celebrity, hoping a better job will come along. Meanwhile, she waits for a sign from her sibling, who had the ability to talk to spirits.”

3/10/17- Fairly good reviews from the critics but weak ones from audiences. TRDB.

3) MY SCIENTOLOGY MOVIE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a quest to better understand the psychological impulses that attract people to the Church of Scientology, this compelling exposé re-enacts incidents described by disillusioned former members. Meanwhile, the Church tries to hamstring the project.”

3/10/17- Very good reviews by critics and fair at best reviews from audiences. TRDB.

4) RAW– 2017. This movie is about a young vegetarian  woman who is beginning veterinarian school and is forced to eat meat as part of a ritual. The taste for meat then becomes an obsession for her.

3/10/17- Sounds like a horror movie to me but it actually got some good reviews. TRDB.

5) UNCERTAIN- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “As the tiny Texas town of Uncertain battles an invasive aquatic plant that’s jeopardizing the community’s livelihood, three residents with troubled pasts — an ex-convict, an angry diabetic and an aging angler — seek a different future.”

3/10/17– Excellent reviews. TRDB.

6) THE SENSE OF AN ENDING– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Retired and living alone, Tony Webster learns of long-kept secrets from his past and realizes that his own memories are filled with errors. Seeking the truth, Tony obtains the diary of an old friend and is unnerved by what he finds.”

3/10/17- Very good reviews from the critics but weak ones from audiences. I’ll see it. TRDB.

7) THIS BEAUTIFUL FANTASTIC– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “When her landlord forces librarian and aspiring author Bella Brown to clean up her overgrown garden, she meets grumpy elderly neighbor Alfie Stephenson, who’s an avid horticulturalist — and an unlikely friendship is born.”

3/10/17- Fair reviews. TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) THE OTHER HALF– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Five years after his brother’s disappearance, Nickie remains despondent until he meets the bubbly Emily, who suffers from bipolar syndrome. The two quickly form an intense bond, but as they try to build a relationship, Emily’s inner demons re-emerge.”

3/10/17- A weak review from the NY Times. TRDB.

2) SUNTAN– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “On a small Greek resort island, middle-aged physician Kostis comes to the aid of nubile young vacationer Anna when she injures her leg. After falling under her spell, Kostis becomes dangerously obsessed with her.”

3/10/17- Fair reviews from the critics but audiences really disliked this movie. TRDB.

3) WHO’S CRAZY– 2017. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “ Accompanied by a frenetic original soundtrack by the great Ornette Coleman, insane asylum inmates escape their confinement and hole up in a deserted Belgian farmhouse, where they cook large quantities of eggs and condemn one of their own in an impromptu court.

3/10/17- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

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HOTWIRE ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON HOTWIRE-

1) THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Nadine and Krista are the closest of high school chums. But after Nadine finds out that Krista is secretly dating Nadine’s detested older brother, the two friends soon turn into the worst of enemies.”

11/14/16- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

3/15/17- I liked it very much.

2) MY SCIENTOLOGY MOVIE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a quest to better understand the psychological impulses that attract people to the Church of Scientology, this compelling exposé re-enacts incidents described by disillusioned former members. Meanwhile, the Church tries to hamstring the project.”

3/10/17- Very good reviews by critics and fair at best reviews from audiences. TRDB.

REPEATS-

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) DONALD CRIED– Bethel. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Peter Latang returns to his hometown to bury his grandmother, circumstances force him to ask for help from emotionally stunted boyhood pal Donald Treebeck. But what starts as a small favor soon becomes an uncomfortable plunge into their past.”

3/3/17- Very good reviews by the critics and audiences as well. TRDB.

2) THE LAST WORD– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Not about to cede control of any facet of her life — or death — retired businesswoman Harriet Lawler hires a young writer to pen an obituary worthy of her. When the results fall short of Harriet’s expectations, she sets out to reshape her legacy.”

3/3/17- The critics didn’t like this movie at all but audiences loved it. The premise sounds funny to me and I would definitely try it. TRDB.

3) THE SENSE OF AN ENDING– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Retired and living alone, Tony Webster learns of long-kept secrets from his past and realizes that his own memories are filled with errors. Seeking the truth, Tony obtains the diary of an old friend and is unnerved by what he finds.”

3/10/17- Very good reviews from the critics but weak ones from audiences. I’ll see it. TRDB.

4) PERSONAL SHOPPER- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “A few months after her twin brother’s death, Maureen is working in Paris as a personal shopper for a demanding celebrity, hoping a better job will come along. Meanwhile, she waits for a sign from her sibling, who had the ability to talk to spirits.”

3/10/17- Fairly good reviews from the critics but weak ones from audiences. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) KEDI– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Very good reviews.

2) THE SALESMAN– Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk.  I saw this Iranian movie and liked it very much.

3) LAND OF MINE- Clearview 100. Very good reviews.

4) MOONLIGHT– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked it but did feel that this movie was great.

5) LION– Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked it but not great– too much Hollywood.

6) A UNITED KINGDOM- Good reviews and I’ll see it.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) THE SENSE OF AN ENDING– Very good reviews by the critics.

2) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY– I liked this movie very much although a bit too long

3) FANNY’S JOURNEY– A good story but much too Hollywood for me.

4) A UNITED KINGDOM– Good reviews.

5) YEAR BY THE SEA– I didn’t care for it.

6) LION- I liked it but not great.

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) THE SENSE OF AN ENDING– Good reviews from the critics- but not audiences.

2) THE LAST WORD– Critics panned it but audiences have loved it.

3) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY– I enjoyed this movie.

4) FANNY’S JOURNEY– A good story but too much Hollywood for me.

5) A UNITED KINGDOM– Good reviews.

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) 20th. CENTURY WOMEN– 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.

1/25/17– I just saw this movie and liked it very much. Also liked Annette Bening. 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.

D) THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS-

1) LAND OF MINE– Very good critical review.

2.) MR GAGA-2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “This vibrant documentary follows renowned choreographer Ohad Naharin as he leads classes for up-and-coming dancers around the world. Naharin also details his creation of Gaga, an innovative movement language he developed for training dancers.”

2/22/17- Good reviews by the critics and even better ones by audiences. TRDB.

3) THE LAST WORD– Audiences have loved it– critics not as much.

4) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY– I saw this and liked it very much. A bit too long.

5) YEAR BY THE SEA– I didn’t care for it. (limited screenings)

6) THE SALESMAN– Excellent Iranian movie (limited screenings)

7) FANNY’S JOURNEY– A good story but too Hollywood for me (limited screenings)

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB