The Reel Dr. Bob

FILM REVIEWS #637

April 13th, 2017

APRIL 13, 2017

DEAR FRIENDS:

 

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

 

I HAVE VISITORS THIS WEEK AND SO MY MOVIE WATCHING HAS BEEN ALMOST NON-EXISTENT!!

 

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK–

 

UNFORTUNATELY, NONE APPEALED TO ME THIS WEEK

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

 

1) FIVE NIGHTS IN MAINE– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Just before Sherwin’s wife dies from wounds suffered in a car crash, she asks him to visit her mother, Lucinda, who he’s never met. After an awkward meeting, the strangers begin a dialogue that helps both come to terms with their shock and grief.”

8/5/16- The NY Times gave this an OK rating but few others did likewise. It sounds good but I’ll skip it for now. TRDB.

4/6/17- This movie sounded better than it was. Good acting saved the movie from a weak script. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) ZOOM– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this inventive tale that blends live action and animation, smug filmmaker Edward, would-be novelist Michelle and insecure cartoonist Emma each create a story about one of the others while existing in different realities.”

9/2/16- Fair reviews including a few very good and a few very bad ones. TRDB. 

4/12/17- A thoroughly weird movie. Did I like it??? Not sure yet. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

______________________________________________________________

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 18-

1) BEFORE THE FLOOD– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Global climate change is examined from multiple perspectives in this illuminating documentary chronicling actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s crusade to increase awareness of the potentially catastrophic effects of the environmental changes already under way.”

10/21/16- Fair reviews for this documentary that includes Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. TRDB.

2) 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.

______________________________________________________________

OPENED LAST WEEK-

Recommended-

1) COLOSSAL– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix “Booted from her boyfriend’s apartment, alcoholic Gloria returns to her hometown and takes a job in a pal’s bar. Awakening one day to learn that a giant scaly monster is terrorizing Seoul, she soon discovers she has a strange connection to the beast.”

4/7/17- Fairly good reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.

2) GRADUATION– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Romeo Aldea faces a dilemma after his daughter, Eliza, is assaulted the day before a critical final exam. Fearing that the incident may threaten Eliza’s future, Romeo has the power to remedy the situation — but only if he compromises his principles.”

4/7/17- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

3) YOUR NAME– 2017.  Synopsis by Netflix. “Living in a mountain village, restless teen Mitsuha, dreams of escaping her boring rural life and making her way to Tokyo. Meanwhile, Tokyo high schooler Taki has been having strange dreams in which he becomes a girl living in a mountain village.”

4/7/17- Excellent reviews for this animated film. TRDB.

4) THEIR FINEST– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hired to pen scripts for films intended to boost Britain’s spirits during World War II’s London Blitz, Catrin Cole finds drama and comedy offscreen as she contends with a chauvinistic fellow screenwriter and a self-important aging actor.”

4/7/17– Excellent reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB.

5) SHOT! THE PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL MANTRA OF ROCK– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Famed photographer Mick Rock’s wild ride began with a series of album covers for David Bowie, followed by iconic shots of Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and the Ramones. In this documentary, Rock’s reminiscences offer a colorful history of a golden musical era.”

4/7/17- Very good reviews.

Not Recommended–

1) QUEEN OF THE DESSERT– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Helmed by Werner Herzog, this historical drama charts the life of the remarkable Gertrude Bell, a British adventurer, archaeologist, spy and political attaché who played a key role in reshaping the Middle East after World War I.”

4/7/17– Terrible reviews. TRDB.

2) SPEECH & DEBATE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “For high-schoolers Solomon, Diwata and Howie, everything seems rigged against them thanks to adult hypocrisy. But instead of giving up, they decide to make themselves heard by reviving their school’s debate club.”

4/7/17- Poor reviews by the critics but good ones from audiences. I think we can safely skip this one. TRDB.

3) I HATE MYSELF– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Turning her camera on one of life’s unknowns — what goes on behind closed doors in a romantic pairing — filmmaker Joanna Arnow documents her achingly dysfunctional relationship with poet James Kepple.”

4/7/17- Early reviews are mixed with a few awful ones in there too. TRDB.

________________________________________________________

HOTWIRE ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON HOTWIRE- NONE OF CONSEQUENCE

REPEATS-

1)  ACTOR MARTINEZ- Very good reviews

2) 20th. CENTURY WOMEN- I liked it very much

3) BURN COUNTRY- Good reviews

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

5) CHRONIC- I liked it

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

7) DENIAL- A good movie

8)DYING LAUGHING- Fairly good reviews for this comedy

9) THE EAGLE HUNTRESS- Excellent

10) THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN- I liked this movie

11) FENCES- An excellent movie

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

13) THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS- Predictable but fun

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

15) JULIETA- I liked it very much. Sad though!

16) LOVING- An excellent drama and great acting

17) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA- I loved this movie

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

19) MY SCIENTOLOGY MOVIE- 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

_____________________________________________________________________

 

BOB’S PICKS IN FAIRFIELD AND WESTCHESTER COUNTIES-

 

NEW IN THE BURBS-

 

1) COLOSSAL– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix “Booted from her boyfriend’s apartment, alcoholic Gloria returns to her hometown and takes a job in a pal’s bar. Awakening one day to learn that a giant scaly monster is terrorizing Seoul, she soon discovers she has a strange connection to the beast.”

4/7/17- Fairly good reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.

2) THEIR FINEST– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hired to pen scripts for films intended to boost Britain’s spirits during World War II’s London Blitz, Catrin Cole finds drama and comedy offscreen as she contends with a chauvinistic fellow screenwriter and a self-important aging actor.”

4/7/17– Excellent reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB.

 

REPEATS-

 

1) FRANTZ- Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked this movie very much

2) GIFTED- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100. Awful reviews

3) THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE-  Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Poor reviews

4) THE LAST WORD- Bethel. Mixed reviews

5) THE SENSE OF AN  ENDING- Mixed reviews

6) PERSONAL SHOPPER- Good reviews

 

 

____________________________________________________________________

 

BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

1. A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

 

1) GIFTED- Awful reviews

2) THE ZOOKEPPER’S WIFE- Poor reviews

3) FRANTZ- An excellent movie

4) TON ERDMANN- Great reviews

 

1. B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

 

1) GIFTED- Awful reviews

2) THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE- Poor reviews

3) AFTER THE STORM- Very good reviews

4) FRANTZ- An excellent movie

5) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY- I liked this very much

 

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

 

1) APPRENTICE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Hardworking and principled, young corrections officer Aiman is transferred to his territory’s highest-security prison, where he unexpectedly becomes the prospective successor to aging sergeant Rahim: the chief executioner.”

3/3/17- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

2) P.S. JRUSALEM- 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “While raising her family in New York, filmmaker Danae Elon felt drawn to Jerusalem, the city of her birth. Thus, the family began a three-year sojourn there, during which Elon assembled this video diary of her mixed feelings about modern Israel.”

3/17/17- The critics loved it. TRDB.

 

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

 

1) THE FREEDOM TO MARRY- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In June 2015, the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal. This film documents the journey to that historic decision — following Freedom to Marry founder Evan Wolfson and attorney Mary Bonauto over the final months of the campaign.”

4/13/17- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) AFTER THE STORM- Very good reviews

3) THE WOMEN’S BALCONY- I liked this one very much

4) FRANTZ- I liked this very much

‘The Salesman’ and ‘Personal Shopper’ have limited showings

 

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB

Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters