The Reel Dr. Bob

SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

DEAR FRIENDS:

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND PAST REVIEWS AT MY WEBSITE-

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE LAND OF STEADY HABITS– Netflix Streaming

2) BYE BYE GERMANY– Netflix Disc.

3) OH LUCY!- 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) THE LAND OF STEADY HABITS– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. ” Writer/director Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said, Friends with Money) brings us a drama about parenting, loss and the consequences of our self-destructive behavior. The story features a deeply flawed male protagonist whose tragic mistakes impact and inform the complex relationships in his life.”

9/14/18- Fairly good reviews and I plan to see this one. TRDB.

9/14/18- I enjoyed the movie very much. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

2) BYE BYE GERMANY– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1946 Frankfurt, David Bermann and his Jewish friends long to flee to America, but first they need to earn the money to emigrate by selling linens door-to-door. Meanwhile, a dogged U.S. agent begins investigating David’s dubious wartime activities.”

4/24/18- Very good reviews. TRDB.

9/15/18- I liked this movie very much– not your typical Holocaust film. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

3) OH LUCY!- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Tokyo office worker Setsuko Kawashima begins taking an English class, she cautiously comes out of her shell as she dons a blond wig, adopts a new persona and falls for her handsome tutor. When he suddenly disappears, she sets off to find him.”

3/2/18- Excellent reviews for this movie. TRDB.

9/16/18- I enjoyed this Japanese drama very much. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT TUESDAY, SEPT. 25-

1) RAMEN HEADS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “For most Westerners, ramen means a quick and simple meal. But for Osamu Tomita, Japan’s most respected ramen chef, the noodle dish is part of a culinary tradition that goes back centuries, as detailed in this fascinating documentary.”

3/16/18- Fairly good reviews but it sounds boring to me. TRDB.

2) THE SEAGULL-2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set at a Russian country estate at the end of the 19th century, this adaptation Anton Chekhov’s classic play revolves around a small group of friends and lovers, all of whom have their hearts set on the wrong person.”

5/11/18- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

6/25/18- Despite a wonderful cast the movie managed to be boring most of the time. TRDB.

3) MOUNTAIN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “With narration by actor Willem Dafoe, spectacular cinematography and a stirring score performed by the Australian Chamber Orchestra, this immersive documentary captures the dizzying rush of ascending — and descending — the world’s tallest peaks.”

5/11/18- Excellent reviews by the critics and fair reviews by audiences. TRDB.

4) IZZY GETS THE F*** ACROSS TOWN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Awakening hung over in a stranger’s bed, hot mess Izzy learns from Facebook that her soul mate is going to marry her former best friend. Vowing to stop the engagement party, Izzy has five hours to make it across Los Angeles — without transportation.”

5) HOT SUMMER NIGHTS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “When gawky teen Daniel is packed off to spend the summer with his aunt in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, he soon falls in with bad-boy Hunter, and they begin peddling drugs together. As Daniel’s confidence grows, he sets his sights on his new pal’s sister.”

7/27/18- Really poor reviews from the critics with slightly better ones from audiences. TRDB.

6) 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.”

9/19/18- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) MUSEO– 2018. Synopsis by IMDB. “In 1985, a group of criminals mock the security of the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City to extract 140 pre-Hispanic pieces from their showcases.”

9/14/18- Good reviews. TRDB.

2) HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Five years in the making, this lyrical documentary creates a revelatory picture of black identity in the South as cameras follow a group of African-American residents of Hale County, Alabama, going about their day-to-day lives.”

9/14/18- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) A SIMPLE FAVOR– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Single mom Stephanie finds her small-town life upended when best friend Emily asks Stephanie to pick up her son from school — and promptly vanishes. Bent on solving the mystery, Stephanie joins forces with Emily’s husband.”

9/11/18- Not really my type of movie but it did get pretty good reviews. TRDB.

4) THE PUBLIC IMAGE IS ROTTEN- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Emerging on the punk scene as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, front man John Lydon became a rock ‘n’ roll icon. But when the group broke up, he started a new band, Public Image Ltd. — which he’s kept going in various forms for nearly four decades.”

9/13/18- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

5) THE LAND OF STEADY HABITS– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. ” Writer/director Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said, Friends with Money) brings us a drama about parenting, loss and the consequences of our self-destructive behavior. The story features a deeply flawed male protagonist whose tragic mistakes impact and inform the complex relationships in his life.”

9/14/18- Fairly good reviews and I plan to see this one. TRDB.

9/14/18- I enjoyed the movie very much. TRDB. Netflix Streaming

6) I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. ” This documentary feature by director Sean Donnelly follows the adventures of two obsessed fans, 50 year old Asperger’s sufferer Jeff Turner, and 35-year-old intersex person Kelly McCormick who claim to be in love with 80’s teen-pop heartthrob Tiffany. With both humor and with sometimes heartbreaking sensitivity, Donnelly explores the lonely lives of these two people, classified by many as stalkers.”

9/14/18- Fair to good reviews from the critics and just fair ones from audiences. I’ll try to see this movie. TRDB.

7) THE CHILDREN ACT– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this absorbing drama, British High Court judge Fiona Maye faces two daunting issues: At home, her marriage is crumbling, while in court she must decide whether a young man’s parents are entitled to deny him a life-saving blood transfusion.”

9/13/18- Fair reviews by the critics but it sounds interesting to me. PS- it’s on-demand from Comcast.  TRDB.

8) LETTER FROM MASANJIA– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “When an American mom discovers an SOS note stashed in a package from Kmart, she never imagines it will lead to the closure of Masanjia, China’s most notorious labor camp. When news of the note goes viral, the writer, a Chinese engineer who had been jailed for his spiritual beliefs, fears for his life and his family’s safety.”

9/14/18- Just 4 reviews of this documentary noted and they are all good. TRDB.

9) SCIENCE FAIR– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 2017, high school science students from across the globe convened in Los Angeles to compete in the annual International Science and Engineering Fair. This engaging documentary showcases the nine diverse finalists vying for a top prize of $75,000.”

9/13/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

10) DON’T LEAVE HOME– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Intrigued by an Irish urban legend, an American artist ends up in danger after traveling to the ramshackle estate of a priest responsible for a work of art containing the image of a girl who has vanished, along with her likeness in the painting.”

9/14/18- Fairly good reviews for this movie that ordinarily I wouldn’t bother with. TRDB.

11) LIZZIE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fresh take on one of America’s most notorious murder cases, 32-year-old Lizzie Borden is living unhappily under her tyrannical father’s roof when maid Bridget Sullivan joins the household — and the two women form a dangerous bond.”

9/14/18- Fair to good reviews. TRDB.

12) WHITE BOY RICK– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this taut drama, Richard Wershe Jr. is only 14 when he becomes an undercover informant for the FBI in Detroit. While his perilous work helps cripple the city’s largest drug ring, he ends up with a life sentence three years later for dealing drugs.”

9/14/18- Fair reviews at best but there were several very good ones too. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) WHERE HANDS TOUCH– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix.  “In this coming-of-age drama set in Nazi Germany, mixed-race teen Leyna — her mother a German and her father an African — falls for Lutz, a mandatory member of the Hitler Youth. But their taboo romance soon puts their lives in jeopardy.”

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COMCAST ON-DEMAND-

NEW ON-DEMAND-

1) THE CHILDREN ACT– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this absorbing drama, British High Court judge Fiona Maye faces two daunting issues: At home, her marriage is crumbling, while in court she must decide whether a young man’s parents are entitled to deny him a life-saving blood transfusion.”

9/13/18- Fair reviews by the critics but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? I enjoyed this documentary very much and I was surprised at the depth of his conversation with the children

2) HEARTS BEAT LOUD– I liked it

3) CHAPPAQUIDDICK– Fair reviews and I did enjoy most of it- especially the history

4) BEAST– I liked it

5) FIRST REFORMED– I liked it despite the torment of the primary character

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS–

1) FAHRENHEIT 11/9- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100. Synopsis by Netflix. “In June 2016, director Michael Moore predicted that Donald Trump would win the U.S. presidency and was proved correct five months later. This documentary tries to answer two key questions of the Trump era: How did we get here, and how do we get out?”

9/18/18- Excellent reviews by the critics and fair ones by audiences. TRDB.

2) BEL CANTO– Clearview 100. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “When opera diva Roxanne Coss agrees to sing at a rich businessman’s swank birthday party in South America, a group of rebel guerrillas takes everyone hostage. During the ensuing monthlong standoff, the hostages and their captors form unlikely bonds.”

9/14/18- Weak reviews. TRDB.

3) LIFE ITSELF– Bethel, Danbury. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Featuring a star-studded cast, this multigenerational love story unfolds across decades and geographies — from the New York City streets to rural Spain — with a single event connecting them.”

9/19/18- Horrible reviews. Don’t mistake this movie for the 2014 release of a movie with the same name that was considerably better. TRDB.

4) LIZZIE– Danbury. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fresh take on one of America’s most notorious murder cases, 32-year-old Lizzie Borden is living unhappily under her tyrannical father’s roof when maid Bridget Sullivan joins the household — and the two women form a dangerous bond.”

9/14/18- Fair to good reviews. TRDB.

5) MUSEO– Jacob Burns. 2018. Synopsis by IMDB. “In 1985, a group of criminals mock the security of the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City to extract 140 pre-Hispanic pieces from their showcases.”

9/14/18- Good reviews. TRDB.

6) LOVE, GILDA– Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Much-loved comedienne Gilda Radner — who succumbed to cancer at age 42 — left behind a wealth of audiotapes, videos and personal diaries, all of which provide an endearing cinematic portrait of her in this affecting documentary.”

9/19/18- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

1) THE BOOKSHOP– Clearview 100. Good reviews

2) OPERATION FINALE– Clearview 100. Weak reviews but some friends have liked it. I might see it on DVD eventually just for the sake of history

3) BLAZE– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Very good reviews

4) THE WIFE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Very good reviews and I liked it very much. Great acting!

5)  A SIMPLE FAVOR– Bethel, Danbury. Not my type of movie but it did get good reviews

6) BLACKkKLANSMAN– Jacob Burns. Very good. Limited screenings

7) THE CHILDRENS ACT– Garden Cinema Norwalk. Fair reviews by the critics but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB.

8) JULIET, NAKED– Garden Cinema Norwalk. Good reviews

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH–

1) THE CHILDREN ACT– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this absorbing drama, British High Court judge Fiona Maye faces two daunting issues: At home, her marriage is crumbling, while in court she must decide whether a young man’s parents are entitled to deny him a life-saving blood transfusion.”

9/13/18- Fair reviews by the critics but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB.

2) A SIMPLE FAVOR– Not my type of movie but it did get good reviews

3) WHERE HANDS TOUCH– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix.  “In this coming-of-age drama set in Nazi Germany, mixed-race teen Leyna — her mother a German and her father an African — falls for Lutz, a mandatory member of the Hitler Youth. But their taboo romance soon puts their lives in jeopardy.”

9/11/18-  Weak reviews in general with a couple of good ones and a couple of bad ones. TRDB.

4) OPERATION FINALE– Weak reviews but some friends have liked it

5) THE WIFE– I liked this movie very much

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY– SAME AS LAKE WORTH ABOVE

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) 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.

2) LOVE, GILDA– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Much-loved comedienne Gilda Radner — who succumbed to cancer at age 42 — left behind a wealth of audiotapes, videos and personal diaries, all of which provide an endearing cinematic portrait of her in this affecting documentary.”

9/19/18- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

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

1) LOVE, GILDA– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Much-loved comedienne Gilda Radner — who succumbed to cancer at age 42 — left behind a wealth of audiotapes, videos and personal diaries, all of which provide an endearing cinematic portrait of her in this affecting documentary.”

9/19/18- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

2) THE WIFE– I liked this movie very much

3) THE CHILDREN ACT– Very good reviews

4) THE BOOKSHOP– Good reviews

5) BLACKkKLANSMAN– Limited screenings