The Reel Dr. Bob

FILM REVIEWS #635

March 29th, 2017

MARCH 29, 2017

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) BEING 17– Netflix Disc.

2) FIRE AT SEA– Netflix Streaming

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

 

NONE (I’ve seen most of what’s around right now)

 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) BEING 17- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Teenage classmates Thomas Charpoul and Damien Delille are permanently on bad terms. But when Thomas’ pregnant mother is hospitalized, Damien’s mom offers to take Thomas in — which doesn’t sit well with either boy.”

10/7/16- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

3/24/17- An excellent drama from France. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) 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.

3/26/17- An excellent documentary that combines both the commonplace and the tragedy taking place on this once peaceful island. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 4-

1) DON’T BLINK: ROBERT FRANK– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “One of America’s most respected and revolutionary photographers, Robert Frank is renowned for choosing unlikely subjects. This comprehensive documentary includes Frank’s candid reflections on his background, career and philosophy as a shutterbug.”

7/25/16– Fairly good reviews. TRDB. May release on 4/18 instead.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

Recommended-

1) I, OLGA HEPNAROVA– 2017. After a mentally disturbed young woman drove her truck into a Prague crowd, killing eight, in 1973, she stated, “I, Olga Hepnarova, the victim of your bestiality, sentence you to the death penalty.” This movie tells the story of Olga’s short life.

3/24/17- 3/24/17- Fairly good reviews by the critics but only fair ones by audiences. TRDB.

2) IN SEARCH OF ISRAELI CUISINE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Just what is Israeli cuisine? That’s the question restaurateur Michael Solomonov sets out to answer as he travels the country. As he talks to chefs, cheese makers, winemakers, farmers, fisherman and more, a portrait of the Israeli people emerges.”

3/24/17- I’ve seen just 4 reviews but they are all very good. TRDB.

3) AMERICAN ANARCHIST- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1970, political activist William Powell penned “The Anarchist Cookbook,” a do-it-yourself guide to bomb making that was broadly condemned by authorities. But he later came to regret writing the book, as detailed in this absorbing documentary.”

3/24/17- Reviews are very mixed with a few very good ones and a few miserable ones. TRDB.

4) I CALLED HIM MORGAN– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Famed jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan’s was life cut short at age 33, when his common-law wife, Helen, shot him at a gig. Using glorious archival performance footage as well as latter-day interviews with Helen, this documentary tells their story.”

3/24/17- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

5) PREVENGE- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the seventh month of her pregnancy, recently widowed Ruth begins to converse with her unborn baby — who’s angry about being deprived of a father and prods Ruth to engage in a vengeful killing spree.”

3/24/17- Excellent reviews by the critics for what sounds ridiculous. TRDB.

 

Not Recommended-

1) LIFE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Humans have long considered the possibility of life on Mars. So, when an International Space Station crew discovers a one-celled organism in a sample from the red planet, they’re ecstatic — until the tiny life-form displays a freakish intelligence.”

3/24/17- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

2) DIG TWO GRAVES– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unable to get past her grief over her brother’s drowning death, young Jake Mather makes a deal with the devil — or in this case, three moonshiners who promise to bring her sibling back to life. Unfortunately, their price is horrendously high.”

3/24/17- Mixed reviews- more positive- for this odd sounding movie. TRDB.

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HOTWIRE ON DEMAND-

NEW ON HOTWIRE-

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 and liked it very much. Very good acting, great photography and an interesting story. Also, very sad.  TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) AMERICAN HONEY- Good reviews but I didn’t like it

2) BURN COUNTRY- Good reviews

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

4) CHRONIC- I liked it

5) CLAIRE IN MOTION- Back on the list– good reviews

6) DENIAL- A good movie

7) DYING LAUGHING- Fairly good reviews for this comedy

8)THE EAGLE HUNTRESS- Excellent

9) THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN- I liked this movie

10) FENCES- An excellent movie

11) FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS- Good reviews but I resisted seeing this one

12) FRANK & LOLA- OK reviews

13) THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS- Predictable but fun

14) HELL OR HIGHWATER- I enjoyed this movie quite a bit

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

16) LOVING- An excellent drama and great acting

17) MOONLIGHT- A good movie but not as good as the critics said

18)MY SCIENTOLOGY MOVIE- Good reviews

19) PUNCHING HENRY- Very good reviews

20) SNOWDEN- OK but not nearly as good as the documentary “Citizenfour”

21) SULLY- I liked it very much

22) A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS- I liked it

23) TANNA- A wonderful movie

 

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) SONG TO SONG– Bethel. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Two love triangles intersect amid the vibrant music scene of Austin, Texas, fomenting all sorts of conflicting emotions. Director Terrence Malick filmed scenes from the ensemble drama during live performances at the Austin City Limits music festival.”

3/17/17- Fair at best reviews from the critics but most audiences have liked it more. TRDB.

 

2) THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100.  Really poor reviews for this movie. TRDB.

3) FRANTZ– Clearview 100. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the wake of World War I, young Anna tends her fallen fiancé’s grave each day. During one of her visits, she sees a stranger placing a bouquet on the grave and soon comes to learn that the two men were once friends — but all is not what it seems.”

3/17/17- An excellent drama that I thoroughly enjoyed. TRDB.

4) AFTER THE STORM– Jacob Burns. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Once a prize-winning novelist, Ryota now works as a private eye — whose wages go toward gambling rather than child support. But after learning that his ex-wife is moving on with another man, Ryota makes a last-ditch effort to reclaim his family.”

3/17/17- Excellent reviews by critics and audiences alike. TRDB.

 

 

REPEATS-

 

1) WILSON– Bethel, Danbury. Mostly poor reviews.

 

2) PERSONAL SHOPPER– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. Fairly good reviews from the critics but weak ones from audiences. TRDB.

 

3) THE LAST WORD– Bethel, Clearview 100. Critics didn’t care for it– audiences did.

 

4) THE SENSE OF AN ENDING– Bethel, Clearview 100. Good reviews from the critics– less so from audiences. Friends said it did not compare to the book.

 

5) FRANTZ– Jacob Burns. I liked this movie very much.

 

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

 

1. A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

 

1) THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE– Really poor reviews for this movie. TRDB.

2) FRANTZ– I liked this very much

 

3) THE LAST WORD– The critics didn’t like this one but audiences did

 

4) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY– I liked this Israeli movie

 

 

1. B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- Same as Lake Worth above but has “Land of Mine” and “A United Kingdom” as well

 

 

1. C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE

 

1) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY– I liked this Israeli movie very much.

 

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

 

1) FANNY’S JOURNEY– A good story but too much Hollywood for my taste.

2) FRANTZ- I liked this very much.

3) PERSONAL SHOPPER– Good reviews from the critics.

4) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY– I liked this Israeli movie very much.

 

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB

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