The Reel Dr. Bob

AUGUST 16, 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) SUBMISSION– Netflix Disc.

2) LIKE FATHER– Netflix Streaming

3) BLACKkKLANSMAN– At the Theater

4) LOVE AFTER LOVE– Netflix Disc.

5) THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST- At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) BLACKkKLANSMAN– 2018. Synopsis by IMDB. “Taking on a dangerous undercover assignment, black Colorado cop Ron Stallworth manages to join the Ku Klux Klan’s Colorado Springs chapter — and is named its leader — by disguising his race on the phone while a white officer attends the meetings.”

8/10/18- Great reviews!!! Sounds like a must-see! TRDB.

8/11/18- I enjoyed the movie but it was far from great. Trying to make the movie more entertaining took away somewhat from the message. TRDB. 

2) THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Teenager Cameron Post sees her life turn topsy-turvy when she’s caught having sex with another girl on prom night and is packed off to a conversion-therapy facility to be “cured.” Instead, she forms a bond with the two renegades in the group.”

8/3 18- Good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

8/15/18- An interesting portrayal of life in one of the religious conversion therapy programs. Be prepared for a sad movie. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) SUBMISSION– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Impressed by the talent of creative writing student Angela Argo, professor and author Ted Swenson steadily develops an obsession with her, despite knowing that it will likely ruin his marriage and his career.’

3/5/18- Poor reviews from the critics and relatively good ones from audiences. TRDB.

8/9/18– I’m with audiences on this one– I liked it. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) LIKE FATHER– 2008. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “When a workaholic young executive (Kristen Bell), is left at the altar, she ends up on her Caribbean honeymoon cruise with the last person she ever expected: her estranged and equally workaholic father (Kelsey Grammer).”

8/10/18- Just ridiculous enough to be funny and enjoyable at times. TRDB. Netflix Streaming

3) LOVE AFTER LOVE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “An introspective examination of grief, this ensemble drama focuses on a family struggling to cope in the wake of the patriarch’s death, as their anger and inner anguish build up stress on their relationships.”

3/30/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

8/13/18- Really a movie about loss and grieving and I liked it. Starring Andie MacDowell. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMINC TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 21-

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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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON-DEMAND-

1) A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, boxer Billy Moore travels to Thailand to start a new life but quickly lapses back into old habits that land him in prison. To survive the ordeal, he must learn the deadly sport of Muay Thai boxing.”

8/10/18- Excellent reviews by both audiences and critics. TRDB.

2) ON CHESIL BEACH– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1962, newlyweds Florence and Edward embark on a seaside honeymoon in a state of wedded bliss, but their shared ignorance of how to engage in sex makes for an awkward and apprehensive wedding night.”

5/18/18- Mixed reviews– more positive than negative. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) DISOBEDIENCE- Very good

2) THE RIDER- I liked it

3) THE LEASURE SEEKER- I enjoyed this movie

4) CHAPPAQUIDDICK– Good for historical value- movie so-so

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY, AUG. 10-

1) BLACKkKLANSMAN– 2018. Synopsis by IMDB. “Taking on a dangerous undercover assignment, black Colorado cop Ron Stallworth manages to join the Ku Klux Klan’s Colorado Springs chapter — and is named its leader — by disguising his race on the phone while a white officer attends the meetings.”

8/10/18- Great reviews!!! Sounds like a must-see! TRDB.

2) THE 317th PLATOON– 2018. Synopsis by IMDB. “In Vietnam, 1954, a French platoon isolated behind enemy lines tries to come back. It is led by the inexperienced, idealistic sous-lieutenant Torrens, and by adjutant Willsdorf, a WWII veteran of the Werhmacht.”

8/10/18- Very few reviews but they are all excellent. This is what the NY Times had to say–“This is a staggeringly engrossing and effective movie, its settings both beautiful and oppressive, its incidents tense and eye-opening.” I’ll definitely try to see this movie. TRDB.

3) SKATE KITCHEN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Featuring a group of real-life skateboarders performing gravity-defying acrobatics, this immersive drama follows lonely Long Island teen Camille, whose life is transformed when she becomes part of a tight-knit band of urban female skateboarders.”

8/10/18- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

4) A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, boxer Billy Moore travels to Thailand to start a new life but quickly lapses back into old habits that land him in prison. To survive the ordeal, he must learn the deadly sport of Muay Thai boxing.”

8/10/18- Excellent reviews by both audiences and critics. TRDB.

5) THE SWAN (SVANURINN)- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Exiled to her aunt and uncle’s farm after getting caught stealing, 9-year-old Sól finds her penance harsh — until she discovers a kindred spirit in the farmhand sharing her room. But their bond is tested when Sól’s cousin Ásta returns home.”

8/10/18- Fair reviews from the critics but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB.

6) MADELINE’S MADELINE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “While her mom sees Madeline as a fragile, emotional teen, the director of her theater workshop sees her as a raw talent with a troubled history that can be exploited for her art. Before long, Madeline’s loyalties are torn between mother and mentor.”

8/10/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7) DOG DAYS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this ensemble comedy, dogs are not only man’s best friend, they’re his best matchmaker as a disparate group of Angelenos — including a mom, an athlete turned TV host and a barista — connects through their canine companions.”

8/10/18- Weak reviews from the critics but very good ones from audiences. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) SLENDER MAN- Violent and bloody- skip it

2) BUYBUST– Decent reviews but it sounds awful to me- don’t go

3) ELIZABETH HARVEST– Violent and bloody- worth missing

4) THE MEG– Miss this one too

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) FAR FROM THE TREE– Clearview 100. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Challenging conventional perceptions of “normality,” this affecting documentary looks at the special effort required to raise children who are profoundly different, profiling seven families as they confront the difficulties and reap the rewards.”

7/19/18- Just a few reviews at present and they are all good. TRDB.

2) SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD-Jacob Burns. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this dishy documentary about his days facilitating sexual encounters for movie stars, handsome and charming Scotty Bowers recounts how he began supplying more than just gasoline at the filling station he ran in 1940s Hollywood.”

8/3/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) BLACKkKLANSMAN– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury. I liked it but I didn’t think it was up to the hype

2) EIGHTH GRADE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. Good reviews but friends have not liked it

3) McQUEEN–  Bethel. Uniformly good reviews but nowhere did I see “excellent.”

4) PUZZLE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Very good reviews

5) THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. An excellent documentary

6) THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST– Clearview 100. Excellent reviews and I liked it

7) THE CAKEMAKER– Clearview 100. Very good reviews

8) LEAVE NO TRACE– Garden Cinema Norwalk. I enjoyed it

9) RBG– Garden Cinema Norwalk. An excellent documentary about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg

10) WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR– Garden Cinema Norwalk

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM  BEACH COUNGY

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) BLACKkKLANSMAN– I saw it and liked it — not as much as others did

2) THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS– I saw this documentary and liked it very much

3) PUZZLE– Very good reviews

4) 1945– I saw this and liked it very much

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) BLACKkKLANSMAN– I saw it and liked it — not as much as others did

2) PUZZLE– Very good reviews

3) THE CAKEMAKER– Very good reviews

4) 1945– I saw this and liked it very much

C) THE STONZEK THEATER-

CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS

D)THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS-

1) CUSTODY– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Caught in the middle of his parents’ bitter divorce, Julien Besson finds his life ruled by the terms of a shared custody order, forcing him to navigate the competing perspectives of his warring parents and to try to keep the worst from happening.”

8/14/18- Excellent reviews by both critics and audiences. TRDB.

2) McQUEEN– Very good reviews

3) PUZZLE- Very good reviews

4) THE CAKEMAKER– Very good reviews

5) THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS– I saw it and liked it very much