June 14th, 2018
JUNE 14, 2018-
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) FIRST REFORMED– At the Theater
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-
1)
FIRST REFORMED– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Mired in guilt over his son’s death, the pastor of a small church agrees to counsel a pregnant congregant and her environmentalist husband, who challenges the clergyman’s views and leads him to embrace the same cause, regardless of the consequences.”
5/18/18- Great reviews. TRDB.
6/8/18- I enjoyed this movie despite the torment of the main character (Ethan Hawke). Very well acted. TRDB.
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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-
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.
6/13/18- I liked it but not great by any means. TRDB.
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COMING TO NETFLIX ON TUESDAY, JUNE 19-
1)
DOUBLE LOVER– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this erotic thriller, young psychiatric patient Chloé makes the mistake of falling in love with her therapist. But once she moves in with him, Chloé begins to believe that he’s concealing part of his life from her.”
2/13/18- Mixed reviews at best including some very good and some poor ones as well. TRDB.
2)
LOVE, SIMON– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Closeted gay teen Simon is mortified when his classmate Martin gets hold of Simon’s intimate email to his online love. With the prospect of humiliation looming, Simon reluctantly agrees to help Martin get closer to Abby, Simon’s female best friend.”
3/16/18- Mostly good reviews but none great. TRDB.
3)
FLOWER– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “After befriending Luke, the troubled son of her mother’s new beau, sexually adventurous teen Erica learns that a teacher molested Luke years ago. Looking to punish the predator, Erica concocts an elaborate plan — but it goes horribly awry.”
3/16/18- Fair reviews from the critics but excellent ones from audiences. TRDB.
4)
UNSANE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shot in secret on an iPhone in just over one week, this experimental tale from director Steven Soderbergh focuses on a woman who finds herself committed to a mental asylum, where she will confront her greatest fear.”
3/21/18- Fairly good reviews for this drama/mystery. TRDB.
5)
THE WORKSHOP– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Once bustling, the port town of La Ciotat has seen better times — which writers in a workshop there are trying to reflect in their collective novel. But the hostility and disturbing vision of one participant soon alarm his peers and the instructor.”
3/23/18- Very good reviews for this French drama. TRDB.
6)
BACK TO BURGUNDY– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Absent for more than a decade and now living in Australia, Jean returns to his native France when his dying father asks him to come home to help his siblings save the family winery. But first they’ll have to reconnect and repair their relationships.”
3/23/18- Fair reviews from the critics and much weaker ones from audiences. It does sound interesting to me. TRDB.
7)
NOCTURAMA– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Angry with the French establishment, a group of young Parisians from diverse backgrounds plants a series of bombs around the city. As the band of radicals hides out in a closed-for-the-night department store, authorities launch a colossal manhunt.”
8/11/17- Good reviews by the critics and weak ones by audiences. TRDB.
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OPENED LAST FRIDAY
Recommended-
1)
EN EL SEPTIMO DIA– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a six-day workweek, bike messenger José — an undocumented immigrant — treasures his Sundays off when he and friends play soccer in a local league. But when he’s ordered to work the day of the league final, he must choose his job or his team.”
6/8/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.
2)
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Touching on the many facets and talents of a unique and beloved personality, this affectionate documentary profiles ingenuous and kindly Fred Rogers, host of the children’s show “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” for more than 30 years.”
6/6/17- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
3) WESTWOOD: PUNK, ICON, ACTIVIST– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Rising to celebrity with her outrageous fashions linked to the emergence of punk rock, designer Vivienne Westwood followed with an illustrious career that has made her an international icon, as chronicled in this comprehensive documentary.”
6/8/18- Very good reviews from the critics and just fair ones from audiences. TRDB.
4) BERNARD AND HUEY– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “A lost script by satirist Jules Feiffer provides the basis for this black comedy about college buddies Huey and Bernard, who reconnect 25 years later and find their fates have been reversed, with former ladies’ man Huey now a bedraggled loser.”
6/8/18- Fair reviews from the critics and very good ones from audiences. TRDB.
5) THE QUEST OF ALAIN DUCASSE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “With 23 restaurants and 18 Michelin stars, Alain Ducasse could be forgiven for resting on his laurels. Instead, the famed chef continues to crisscross the world searching for new flavors and ingredients — a journey chronicled in this documentary.”
6/8/18- Fair reviews. TRDB.
6) HALF THE PICTURE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Via interviews with sex-discrimination experts and the stories of leading female auteurs, this timely documentary looks at Hollywood’s inequitable hiring practices to learn why woman helm only a tiny fraction of the films made by the top six studios.”
6/8/18- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
7) NANCY- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “After seeing a TV report about a couple whose young daughter vanished 30 years ago, Nancy Freeman becomes convinced they’re her real parents. Ignoring any doubts, she upends her quiet life as an office temp and insinuates herself into their lives.”
6/8/18- OK reviews by the critics and poor ones from audiences. TRDB.
8) HEARTS BEAT LOUD– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “As Brooklynite Frank Fisher is getting ready to send his daughter, Sam, off to college on the West Coast, he can’t quite seem to let go of her. Knowing that the two share a love of music, Frank comes up with a ploy to keep Sam from leaving the nest.”
6/8/18- Excellent reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB.
9) THE WORKERS CUP– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “The throngs of migrant workers from Africa and Asia constructing oil-rich Qatar’s stadiums and facilities for the 2022 World Cup barely earn enough to live. But when given a chance to play in the soccer palaces they’re constructing, they leap at it.’
6/8/18- Fairly good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.
Not Recommended–
1)
HOTEL ARTEMIS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this futuristic thriller, by-the-book caregiver the Nurse runs Hotel Artemis, a secret, members-only hospital for criminals. But the arrival of an injured crime boss — who’s looking to kill a specific patient — leads to the eruption of violence.”
6/8/18- Terrible reviews and I’d definitely miss this one. TRDB.
2) THE VALLEY– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Indian-American entrepreneur Neal Kumar and his family seem to be living the dream with an affluent life in Silicon Valley. But it blows up when his youngest daughter kills herself, and Neal begins to fixate on finding the reason behind her death.”
6/8/18- Poor reviews. TRDB.
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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-
NEW IN THE BURBS-
1)
AMERICAN ANIMALS– Bethel, Clearview 100. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this riveting drama based on a real-life crime caper, college freshmen Spencer and Warren cook up a plan to make off with their school’s rare book collection, enlisting two fellow students as accomplices to carry out the daring heist.”
5/31/18- Weak reviews– one critic called it mundane and stupid. TRDB.
2)
HEARTS BEAT LOUD– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “As Brooklynite Frank Fisher is getting ready to send his daughter, Sam, off to college on the West Coast, he can’t quite seem to let go of her. Knowing that the two share a love of music, Frank comes up with a ploy to keep Sam from leaving the nest.”
6/8/18- Excellent reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB.
REPEATS-
1) FIRST REFORMED– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. I enjoyed this movie despite the torment of the main character (Ethan Hawke). Very well acted. TRDB.
2) RBG- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. An excellent documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsberg
3) WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR– Jacob Burns. Very good reviews
4) THE SEAGULL– Clearview 100
5) BOOK CLUB– Danbury
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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-
A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-
1)
GOTTI– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unfolding through the eyes of the son who ultimately turned his back on the family business, this crime drama recounts the life of legendary mobster John Gotti, from his meteoric rise to his death in prison in 2002.”
6/13/18- Just 4 reviews noted and they are all horrible. TRDB.
2) FIRST REFORMED– I liked it- but very depressing
3) BOOK CLUB– Weak reviews but everybody I know seems to like it
4) RBG– An excellent documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsberg
5) ALWAYS AT THE CARLYLE– Awful reviews
B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-
1)
SUMMER 1993– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shaken by her mother’s death and confused by her sudden transfer to her uncle’s care, 6-year-old orphan Frida is unable to open up to her new family. Meanwhile, her relatives begin to wonder who it is they’ve welcomed into their home.”
5/25/18- Great reviews. TRDB.
2)
GOTTI– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unfolding through the eyes of the son who ultimately turned his back on the family business, this crime drama recounts the life of legendary mobster John Gotti, from his meteoric rise to his death in prison in 2002.”
6/13/18- Just 4 reviews noted and they are all horrible. TRDB.
3) BOOK CLUB- Weak reviews but everybody I know seems to like it
4) ALWAYS AT THE CARLYLE– Awful reviews
5) RBG– An excellent documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsberg
C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-
1)
LET THE SUNSHINE IN- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix “Lamenting the approach of middle age, divorced Parisian artist Isabelle wades back into the romantic fray to find a compatible mate. But she soon concludes that none of the men she meets seem to comprehend the basic truths of love.”
4/26/18- Starring Juliette Binoche this movie has received very good reviews. TRDB.
2)
SCARLET DIVA– 2018- Synopsis by Netflix. “Asia Argento writes, directs and stars in this semiautobiographical film, a darkly dramatic, sexually charged and surreal descent into the shockingly intimate world of Anna Battista, an actress on the rise. Anna’s harrowing and graphic journey plunges her into the dark heart of the film industry, where she experiences despair, loneliness and degradation while trying to recapture her innocence.”
6/11/18- Weak reviews from critics and audiences alike. TRDB.
D) THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-
1)
SUMMER 1993– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shaken by her mother’s death and confused by her sudden transfer to her uncle’s care, 6-year-old orphan Frida is unable to open up to her new family. Meanwhile, her relatives begin to wonder who it is they’ve welcomed into their home.”
5/25/18- Great reviews. TRDB.
2) ALWAYS AT THE CARLYLE– Awful reviews
3) DISOBEDIENCE– Very good reviews
4) ON CHESIL BEACH– Fairly good reviews
5) THE SEAGULL– Fairly good reviews
ENJOY!!
THE REEL DR. BOB
Entry Filed under: Old Newsletters
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