The Reel Dr. Bob

AUGUST 23, 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) THE YELLOW BIRDS– Netflix Disc.

2) ON CHESIL BEACH– Netflix Disc.

3) PUZZLE– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) PUZZLE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “While leading an empty suburban existence, Agnes discovers the pleasure of solving jigsaw puzzles and finds she has a rare talent for it. Before long, her hobby provides an entrée into a new life through the world of competitive puzzling.”

7/27/18- Very good reviews. TRDB.

8/18/18- I loved this movie!! TRDB. 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) THE YELLOW BIRDS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Friends since training, soldiers Bartle and Murph ship off to Iraq under the command of a ready-to-rumble sergeant. When only Bartle returns, a military investigator and Murph’s grieving mother are determined to make Bartle reveal what happened.”

6/15/18- This movie sounds interesting but received really poor reviews from the critics and from audiences as well. There were a few good ones- one from the NY Times. I think I’d give it a try. TRDB.

8/15/18- I enjoyed this movie very much and I think it stands above other movies with similar themes. Very good acting as well. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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.

8/17/18- Slow at first but more than made up for it as time went on. I liked it. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 28-

1) THE ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK– Terrible reviews from the critics and just OK ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI– Very good reviews by the critics and poor ones by audiences. TRDB.

3) WESTERN- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

4) RBG- An excellent documentary about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg- I liked it very much. TRDB.

5) BOOK CLUB– Funny at times and silly as well but the movie was cute and I did enjoy it. I was the only man in the theater.

6) AMERICAN ANIMALS– Weak reviews– one critic called it mundane and stupid. TRDB.

7) UPGRADE– Very good reviews. TRDB.

8) TAG-  Not my kind of movie– sounds pretty stupid as far as I’m concerned. TRDB.

9) WOMAN WALKS AHEAD–  Poor reviews from the critics for this movie starring Jessica Chastain. Audiences have liked it. TRDB.

10) DAMASCUS COVER– I’ve seen just a few reviews and they are poor. TRDB.

11) THE FEMALE BRAIN–  Poor reviews for this comedy/drama but it might be of interest to some. TRDB.

12) THE DEATH OF STALIN– Poor reviews and I’d skip this one

13) DEVIL’S GATE– Weak reviews by the critics and good ones by audiences. I’ll pass on this one. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST FRIDAY-

1) MEMOIR OF WAR– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “A resistance member in Nazi-occupied France, young writer Marguerite Duras is frantic to learn the fate of her communist husband, who’s been sent to a concentration camp. In return for news, she begins a risky relationship with a German collaborator.”

8/17/18- Mostly good reviews, especially for the acting. TRDB.

2) MINDING THE GAP– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Returning to his Illinois hometown, documentarian Bing Liu reconnects with a pair of skateboarding friends from his youth. At a transition point, the trio finds their outlooks changing as they struggle with their pasts and moving into adulthood.”

8/17/18- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) ALPHA– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this adventure saga set during the last Ice Age, a young man on a hunting expedition loses his bearings and must make his way through a hostile landscape — accompanied only by his dog — to reunite with his tribe.”

8/17/18- Good reviews. TRDB.

4) THE WIFE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Great artists’ spouses often sacrifice their dreams for their mates’ careers, and Joan Castleman — a gifted writer — is no exception. But with hubby about to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, Joan’s long-simmering resentment begins to emerge.”

8/15/18- Excellent reviews in general but a few critics said that the movie was carried by Glenn Close. TRDB.

5) WE THE ANIMALS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a household that often turns violent, siblings Manny, Joel and Jonah find solace in one another. But while Manny and Joel grow more like their dad as time passes, youngest son Jonah escapes into a fantasy world.”

8/17/18- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

6) NOTES ON AN APPEARANCE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “David Hidell is excited about starting life anew doing research for his buddy, who’s writing a biography of a controversial philosopher. When David suddenly vanishes, his friends launch a search for him, combing through obscure circumstantial clues.”

8/17/18- Decent reviews but definitely NOT my kind of movie. TRDB.

7) A WHALE OF A TALE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fishermen in the Japanese village of Taiji have long harvested dolphins by driving them into an inlet and killing them, a practice that animal rights activists condemn. Documentarian Megumi Sasaki looks at both sides of this controversial issue.”

8/17/18- OK but mixed reviews- more positive than negative. TRDB.

8) DO YOU TRUST THIS COMPUTER?- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Depending on whom you ask, artificial intelligence will either transform our lives with smart machines that adapt to our whims or destroy us by mining personal data for profit. Top technologists such as Elon Musk weigh in on this timely topic.”

8/17/18- Weak reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB.

9) JULIET, NAKED– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Once madly in love with Annie, his longtime girlfriend, Duncan has become more dedicated to faded rocker Tucker Crowe than to her, causing the relationship to founder. But in a surprising twist of fate, it’s Annie who ultimately connects with Tucker.”

8/17/18- Weak reviews in general but there are a few very good ones as well. TRDB.

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON DEMAND-

1) WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR– for PURCHASE only

REPEATS-

1) FIRST REFORMED-

2) TULLY-

3) A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN–

5) CHAPPAQUIDDICK

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) PAPILLON– Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this remake of the 1973 film based on his memoir, safecracker Henri Charrière, wrongly convicted of murder, forms an unlikely alliance with fellow inmate and counterfeiter Louis Dega to finance an escape Henri spends years planning and attempting.”

8/21/18- Weak reviews especially when compared to the original. TRDB.

2) JULIET, NAKED– Jacob Burns. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Once madly in love with Annie, his longtime girlfriend, Duncan has become more dedicated to faded rocker Tucker Crowe than to her, causing the relationship to founder. But in a surprising twist of fate, it’s Annie who ultimately connects with Tucker.”

8/17/18- Weak reviews in general but there are a few very good ones as well. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) BLACKkKLANSMAN– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury. I liked it but not as much as others did

2) EIGHTH GRADE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. Very good reviews

3) THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. An excellent documentary- I liked it very much

4) McQUEEN– Bethel. Very good reviews

5) PUZZLE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I loved this movie

6) THE CAKEMAKER-Clearview 100. Very good reviews and friends have loved it

7) SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD– Jacob Burns. Very good reviews

8) LEAVE NO TRACE– Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked this movie

9) WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR– Garden Cinema Norwalk. Very good reviews.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) BLACKkKLANSMAN– I liked it but not as much as others did

2) PUZZLE– I loved the movie

3) THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS– An excellent documentary

4) 1945– I liked this movie very much

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) SORRY TO BOTHER YOU– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Losing faith in his persuasive skills, telemarketer Cassius Green takes a co-worker’s advice and finds that he suddenly has a gift for selling that elevates him to the executive echelon — where he discovers the chilling secret of his bosses.”

7/5/18- Fairly good reviews for this comedy that didn’t sound so good to me. TRDB.

2) UNDER THE TREE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a sleepy Reykjavik suburb, a tree casting a large shadow over the next-door neighbors’ sundeck turns long-festering tensions into an all-out war, with garden gnomes, pets and family members getting caught in the escalating feud.”

7/5/18- Good reviews from critics and audiences alike. TRDB.

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

1) BLACKkKLANSMAN– I liked it but not as much as others did

2) CUSTODY– Excellent reviews by both critics and audiences

3) THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS– If you haven’t seen this yet see it soon or it will be gone (limited screenings)

4) McQUEEN– Very good reviews– limited screenings

5) THE THIRD MURDER– Very good reviews from the critics and fair ones from audiences

6) PUZZLE- I loved this movie