The Reel Dr. Bob

MARCH 15, 2018

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) CROWN HEIGHTS- Amazon Prime

2) THE SQUARE– Netflix Disc.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) CROWN HEIGHTS- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Wrongly pegged as the perpetrator of a shooting, 18-year-old Colin Warner spends 20 years in prison — even though the real killer eventually comes forward. But Colin’s best friend, Carl King, never stops fighting to free him.”

8/18/17- Fair reviews but it sounds interesting to me and I’ll probably see it. TRDB.

3/11/18- An excellent drama taken from a true story. TRDB. Amazon Prime.

2) THE SQUARE– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Testing the thin line between art and reality, a famed museum’s new creative director mounts an installation — “The Square” — intended to foster altruism. But he sets off a hue and cry after enlisting a public relations firm to tout the exhibition.”

10/27/17- Fairly good reviews for this odd sounding drama. I’ll see it. TRDB.

3/14/18- The reviews were on target. A weird movie but it definitely had merit and I watched the entire 2 hours and 22 minutes. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 20-

1) DJANGO– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this poignant biopic, jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt escapes the persecution that his Gypsy brethren suffer in German-occupied France, but when the Nazis demand that Django use his music to fuel their propaganda, he faces a daunting decision.”

1/5/18- Weak reviews by the critics but very good ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) THE WORK– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Twice a year, California’s Folsom Prison opens a group therapy program to inmates and outsiders. This documentary, codirected by a court videographer who’s a veteran of the sessions, offers a look into the participants as they delve into their pasts.”

10/27/17- Great reviews by everyone. TRDB.

3) THE SHAPE OF WATER– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “During the Cold War era, lonely Elisa works as a cleaning lady in a top-secret U.S. government laboratory. But her life is altered forever after she and a co-worker stumble upon a hush-hush experiment.”

11/30/17– Excellent reviews. TRDB.

1/22/18- Great love story- I enjoyed every minute. TRDB.

4) THE DIVINE ORDER- 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Young Nora lives a serene life in a Swiss village, but in 1971 the reverberations of feminist movements elsewhere prompt her to begin campaigning for women’s suffrage. The residents’ reaction to Nora’s advocacy, however, is surprisingly hostile.”

10/27/17- Mostly very good reviews. TRDB.

5) PORTO– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “A single encounter can haunt a life forever, as American expatriate Jake Kleeman and French archaeology student Mati Vargnier come to discover when they look back wistfully on their passionate one-night stand in the Portuguese city of Porto.”

11/17/17- Weak reviews in general with a few very good ones. TRDB.

6) COURT– 2015. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a sewage worker is found dead after listening to a song by social activist Narayan Kamble, he’s accused of provoking the decedent to suicide. But at Kamble’s trial, it’s clear that he’s the victim of an obscure law — and politics.”

7/14/15- Great reviews for this film from India. TRDB.

7) THE DISASTER ARTIST– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Opening to blistering reviews in 2003, “The Room” has since become a so-bad-it’s-good cult classic. This showbiz spoof provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and the friendship between the director and star who propelled it.”

11/30/17- Excellent reviews for this comedy. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY-

1) THE DEATH OF STALIN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Before his sudden death in 1953, Joseph Stalin held the Soviet Union in his iron grip for more than 30 years. This dark satire depicts the subsequent turmoil as his scheming minions begin jockeying for power.”

 3/8/18- Excellent reviews. I saw a trailer for this film and it looked pretty stupid. TRDB.

2) CLAIRE’S CAMERA– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “While attending Cannes, film sales agent Man-hee is abruptly fired by her jealous boss. But when Man-hee meets Parisian teacher Claire, who takes a picture of her on the beach, the two bond — and Man-hee discovers the transformative power of photos.”

3/8/18- Fairly good reviews and I love Isabelle Huppert. TRDB.

3) ITZHAK– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though Itzhak Perlman is widely regarded as the finest violinist of his time, his journey has been far from easy. This affectionate documentary recounts his story through conversations with Perlman, his friends, family and colleagues.”

3/9/18- Fair reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

4) HANNAH– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “This layered character study follows the aging Hannah, who’s attempting to come to grips with the ramifications of her husband’s incarceration. But as she faces scorn from family and friends, she begins to unravel.”

3/9/18- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

5) SHINING MOON- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “When gay actors Renato and Ivan — also a couple — are cast as a pair of notorious drag queens by a handsome young filmmaker, they must confront society’s prejudices and their own if they’re to play the roles of a lifetime.”

3/9/18- I’ve seen just 1 review and it was fairly good. TRDB.

6) LEANING INTO THE WIND– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy’s works are ephemeral, designed to weather along with the landscapes in which they’re placed. This well-crafted documentary follows Goldsworthy across the globe as he constructs his fragile and diverse creations.”

3/9/18- Great reviews. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “During a road trip, a family plans to stay with relatives at their trailer park home. Upon arriving, the clan finds the place deserted and borrows an empty unit for the night.”

3/9/18- Not my kind of movie and apparently not the kind of movie that critics like either. Audiences were more generous. TRDB.

2) THE FORGIVEN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this taut political drama set in postapartheid South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu gives audience to a convicted murderer looking for redemption. But the meeting tests Tutu’s notions of mercy and morality.”

3/9/18- Poor reviews. TRDB.

3) A WRINKLE IN TIME– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Adapted from the children’s book of the same name, this space adventure follows Meg, her brother, Charles, and her schoolmate Calvin on a trip through time as they try to locate the siblings’ astrophysicist father after he vanishes.”

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON COMCAST-

1) I, TONYA- Excellent

2) THE SHAPE OF WATER- Great movie and it won Best Picture

REPEATS-

1) CALL ME BY YOUR NAME– I liked it very much

2) DARKEST HOUR– Good but not great

3) LADY BIRD– Excellent

4) LOVING VINCENT– I liked it

5) THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE– I enjoyed this movie quite a bit

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) 7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE– Bethel, Clearview 100, Danbury, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “The true-life saga of the 1976 Air France hijacking and rescue is vividly recounted in this tense drama, from the commandeering of a commercial flight by Palestinian and German radicals to the brilliant and daring Israeli raid to free the hostages.”

3/14/18- Terrible reviews. TRDB.

2) ITZHAK– Clearview 100. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though Itzhak Perlman is widely regarded as the finest violinist of his time, his journey has been far from easy. This affectionate documentary recounts his story through conversations with Perlman, his friends, family and colleagues.”

3/9/18- Fair reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) TWO MEN IN MANHATTAN– Jacob Burns. 1959. Synopsis by Netflix. “The dark shadows of New York come to life in this moody, jazz-soaked noir classic from Jean-Pierre Melville, who cast himself as a journalist on an ethically fraught mission to track down a missing French diplomat.”

3/14/18- Weak reviews for this 60 year old film. TRDB.

4) ARMY OF SHADOWS– Jacob Burns. 1969. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Jean-Pierre Melville’s experiences as a member of the French Resistance during World War II inform this movie about a civil engineer who becomes one of the chiefs of the underground movement.”

3/14/18- Very good reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) THE SHAPE OF WATER– Bethel, Danbury. Great movie!

2) THE PARTY– Bethel. An absurd comedy. Just OK

3) A FANTASTIC WOMAN– Jacob Burns, BetheI, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Loved this movie and it won for best foreign film (Chile).

4) LOVELESS– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Excellent reviews.

5) RED SPARROW– Bethel, Danbury. Just fair reviews and friends have not liked it

6) THOROUGHBREDS– Jacob Burns, Danbury, Clearview 100. Very good reviews

7) DARKEST HOUR– Garden Cinema Norwalk. Just so-so movie with a great Gary Oldman

8) THREE BILLBOARDS– Garden Cinema Norwalk. A good moive but not great as some have said

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1)  7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “The true-life saga of the 1976 Air France hijacking and rescue is vividly recounted in this tense drama, from the commandeering of a commercial flight by Palestinian and German radicals to the brilliant and daring Israeli raid to free the hostages.”

3/14/18- Terrible reviews. TRDB.

2) THE LEISURE SEEKER– Weak reviews

3) RED SPARROW– Weak reviews and friends have not liked it

4) 1945– A good post Holocaust movie

5) THE SHAPE OF WATER– Great movie!!

6) THREE BILLBOARDS– Good movie but not terrific as some have said

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) 7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “The true-life saga of the 1976 Air France hijacking and rescue is vividly recounted in this tense drama, from the commandeering of a commercial flight by Palestinian and German radicals to the brilliant and daring Israeli raid to free the hostages.”

3/14/18- Terrible reviews. TRDB.

2) 1945– A good movie about the post Holocaust period

3) THE LEISURE SEEKER– Weak reviews

4) RED SPARROW– Weak reviews

5) BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY– Good reviews

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) THE PEACEMAKER– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “For more than 40 years, peacemaker and college professor Padraig O’Malley has used his ability to gain people’s trust to broker deals between clashing parties across the globe. But finding peace in his personal life has proved more elusive.”

2/9/18- I’ve seen just 4 reviews for this documentary and they are all great. TRDB.

2) WESTERN– 2018- Synopsis Sent to rural Bulgaria to build a hydroelectric power plant, a crew of German construction workers stirs up an atmosphere of suspicion with their loutish behavior. When a new man in the group begins fraternizing with the locals, tensions boil over.”

2/15/18- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

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

1) 1945– A very good movie about post Holocaust

2) A FANTASTIC WOMAN– Great movie and won Best Foreign Film

3) LOVELESS– Very good reviews

4) OH LUCY!- Excellent reviews for this movie

5) THE LEISURE SEEKER- Weak reviews

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB