FILM REVIEWS #640

May 4th, 2017

MAY 4, 2017
DEAR FRIENDS:
YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND PAST REVIEWS AT MY WEBSITE-
www.thereeldrbob.com
I’M BACK IN NY NOW AND THE CABLE SYSTEM HERE IS COMCAST. I WILL NOW BE USING COMCAST INSTEAD OF THE HOTWIRE CABLE COMPANY FOR ON-DEMAND RECOMMENDATIONS
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) THEIR FINEST– At the Theater
2) RIGHT NOW, WRONG THEN– Netflix Disc.
3) PATERSON– Comcast On-Demand
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK IN THE THEATER-
1) 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.

4/30/17- I enjoyed the film but I did not think it was special. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
1) RIGHT NOW, WRONG THEN– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Beginning with a chance meeting between film director Ham Cheon-soo and young painter Yoon Hee-jeong, this insightful drama plays out two versions of their romantic encounter, each with a very different conclusion.”6/24/16– Very good early reviews from critics with one actually calling this movie the best one so far in 2016. Audiences haven’t been as enthusiastic. TRDB.

5/2/17- I enjoyed this dialogue driven movie very much but be warned that it is VERY slow. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) PATERSON– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unspooling over the course of a week, this nuanced indie drama chronicles the ebb and flow in the unassuming lives of Paterson, a New Jersey bus driver and part-time poet, and his flighty but supportive wife, Laura.”

1/25/17- Excellent reviews by the critics and fairly good ones from audiences. TRDB.

5/3/17- Very different but I did like it. Stick with it for at least 20 minutes. TRDB. Comcast On-Demand.

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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, MAY 9-
1) HOLY HELL– 2016. Synopsis by Netflix. “Through more than two decades of footage that he shot while a member of the Buddhafield spiritual community, documentarian Will Allen recounts his gradual immersion into the Southern California cult and his eventual disenchantment with it.”

5/27/16- Mixed reviews from critics and terrible ones from audiences but I read enough positive comments to warrant a recommendation. TRDB.

MAY 16- This is a heads-up only–
1) LOVESONG–  2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “With her hubby constantly on the road, Sarah decides to hit the road herself and sets off with her young daughter and best friend, Mindy. Always close, the pals soon become something more — but when Mindy makes an abrupt exit, Sarah is left hanging.”2/17/17- Fair reviews. TRDB.

2) KEEP QUIET–  2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Virulently anti-Semitic, right-wing Hungarian politician Csanad Szegedi finds his views undermined after learning about his Jewish heritage. Over a three-year period, he comes to embrace his new faith, as chronicled in this fascinating documentary.”2/17/17- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

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OPENED ON FRIDAY, APRIL 28-
1) CASTING JONBENET– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “More than two decades after the death of 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey, filmmaker Kitty Green travels to the family’s Colorado hometown to examine the story from the perspective of the community JonBenét lived in.”4/28/17- Very good professional reviews and fair ones by audiences. TRDB.

2) NISE: THE HEART OF MADNESS– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Horrified by the electroshock therapy used to treat schizophrenics in the 1940s, Brazilian psychiatrist Nise da Silveira develops her own form of therapy, encouraging patients to express themselves creatively though art.”

4/28/17- Excellent reviews for this drama from Brazil. TRDB.

3) LA 92- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a jury acquitted four white cops in the beating of Rodney King in 1992, Los Angeles erupted in violence. This documentary uses archival film, previously unseen footage and interviews with those involved to provide an inside look at the events.”

4/28/17- Mostly good reviews. TRDB.

4) NATASHA– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “When 16-year-old Mark Berman’s great uncle enters into an arranged marriage with a woman from the old country — Russia — the bride’s nubile 14-year-old daughter becomes Mark’s charge. Before long, an illicit romance ensues.”

4/28/17- Excellent reviews from ALL of the reviewers. TRDB.

5) BUSTER’S MAL HEART– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this mind-bending existential mystery, an eccentric fugitive living in the woods survives on food he steals from unoccupied vacation homes. But he’s tormented by visions of being adrift at sea and memories of his prior life as a loving family man.”

4/28/17- Fair reviews from the critics and very good ones from audiences. TRDB.

6) BOONE- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Eschewing the use of talking heads, this observational documentary reflects on the laborious life of the farmer, focusing on three young residents of a Southern Oregon organic farm who do everything from raising goats to repairing machinery.”

4/28/17- Just 2 reviews and they are both excellent. TRDB.

7) ONE WEEK AND A DAY– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “After the week of mourning for 25-year-old Ronnie Spivak comes to an end, his parents — mom Vicky and dad Eyal — cope in starkly different ways. While Vicky tries to resume her routines, Eyal decides to get stoned on his son’s medicinal marijuana.”4/28/17- Very good reviews from the critics and OK ones from audiences. TRDB.

8) A DARK SONG- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Distraught over her son’s death, Sophia Howard hires an occultist to lead her through a six-month series of rituals at a secluded house to make contact with the boy. But as the days pass and their isolation increases, the two find themselves tested.”

4/28/17- Good reviews from the critics and just OK ones from audiences. As I hate “horror” movies I will probably skip this one. TRDB.

9) HAROLD AND LILLIAN: A HOLLYWOOD LOVE STORY– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Rarely credited on-screen for their work, storyboard artist Harold Michelson and his wife, film researcher Lillian, nonetheless had a profound impact on 60 years of filmmaking. This documentary spotlights their professional and romantic partnership.”

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

Please note that the following movies are being selected from Comcast in contrast to Hotwire, the cable company that I have been using in Florida for the last 5 months.

1) 20th.CENTURY WOMEN- I liked it

2) BURN COUNTRY- Fairly good reviews

3) CITIZEN JANE- Very good reviews

4) DANCER- Very good

5) DENIAL- I enjoyed it

6) THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN- Very good

7) FENCES- Very good. Like watching the play

8) FORENCE FOSTER JENKINS-

9) HELL OR HIGH WATER- I enjoyed it

10) HIDDEN FIGURES- Just so-so in my book

11) HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE- Very good

12) LA LA LAND- I liked it a lot

13) LION- Just OK

14) LOVING- An excellent drama

15) MANCHESTER BY THE SEA- I loved this movie

16) MOONLIGHT- Good but not nearly as good as the critics said

17) OUR KIND OF TRAITOR- Preposterous but OK

18) PATERSON- Excellent reviews

19) ROOM- Very good

20) SNOWDEN- I liked it

21) STEVE JOBS- I enjoyed it

22) STRAY BULLETS- A good movie

23) SULLY- I liked it very much

24) TONI ERDMANN- I enjoyed this movie from Germany

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-
NEW IN THE BURBS-
1) THE DINNER (2017)- Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100. Synopsis by Netflix. “During a tense meal at an elegant restaurant, two brothers and their wives discuss how far to go in order to prevent their sons from being identified and arrested for a violent crime they committed that was caught on a security camera.”5/2/17- Poor reviews but I like Richard Gere and Laura Linney so I might see this anyway.. TRDB.

2) THE CIRCLE– Bethel, Danbury. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Ambitious Mae Holland can’t believe her good luck when the mightiest tech company on Earth — The Circle — hires her. But Mae’s enthusiasm for her new job wavers after meeting a colleague who’s skeptical of the company’s objectives.”4/28/17- Terrible reviews. TRDB.

3) NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a small-time “fixer” whose business involves arranging quiet deals among politicos and other power brokers, opportunistic Norman Oppenheimer makes a golden connection when a politician he once befriended later becomes Israel’s prime minister.”4/14/17- Excellent reviews by the critics and fairly good ones by audiences. TRDB.

4) 3 GENERATIONS– Jacob Burns. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a New York City teen seeks a sex change from female to male, her life-changing decision raises identity issues for her family as her single mother and lesbian grandmother struggle to make sense of it all.”

5/3/17- Poor reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-
1) A QUIET PASSION– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Famously reclusive poet Emily Dickinson comes to life in this lush biopic that follows her from her days as a gifted but insecure student through her years as an introverted adult whose attachment to her family leads to self-imposed sequestration.”4/14/17– Excellent reviews by the critics but only mediocre one from audiences. TRDB.

2) THE LOST CITY OF Z- Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Famously reclusive poet Emily Dickinson comes to life in this lush biopic that follows her from her days as a gifted but insecure student through her years as an introverted adult whose attachment to her family leads to self-imposed sequestration.”

4/14/17– Excellent reviews by the critics but only mediocre one from audiences. TRDB.

3) THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Fair reviews but everyone I know who has seen it has liked it.

4) GIFTED– Danbury, Clearview 100. Weak reviews

5) THEIR FINEST– Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Good reviews and I liked it

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-
A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-
1) 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.

2) THE DINNER– Poor reviews
3) NORMAN:THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a small-time “fixer” whose business involves arranging quiet deals among politicos and other power brokers, opportunistic Norman Oppenheimer makes a golden connection when a politician he once befriended later becomes Israel’s prime minister.”4/14/17- Excellent reviews by the critics and fairly good ones by audiences. TRDB.

4) GIFTED– Weak reviews
5) THEIR FINEST– Good reviews and I liked it
6) THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE– Fair reviews but everyone I know who has seen it has liked it.
B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- Same as Lake Worth with the exception of “ISRAELI CUISINE.”
C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-
1) CEZANNE ET MOI– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this dramatization of the relationship between painter Paul Cézanne and writer Émile Zola, their friendship sputters along the way but ultimately lasts a lifetime, deepened (and sometimes undermined) by a shared love of women and art.”3/31/17- Mediocre reviews at best. TRDB.

2) TOMORROW (DEMAIN)- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In response to dire predictions about climate change, environmental activist Cyril Dion and actress Mélanie Laurent travel the world exploring ways to avert catastrophe, talking with pioneers in agriculture, energy, economics, education and more.”4/21/17- Excellent reviews for this foreign documentary. TRDB.

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

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) NORMAN:THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “As a small-time “fixer” whose business involves arranging quiet deals among politicos and other power brokers, opportunistic Norman Oppenheimer makes a golden connection when a politician he once befriended later becomes Israel’s prime minister.”

4/14/17- Excellent reviews by the critics and fairly good ones by audiences. TRDB.

4) THE DINNER– Poor reviews.

ENJOY!!
THE REEL DR. BOB
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