The Reel Dr. Bob

OCTOBER 25, 2018

DEAR FRIENDS:

YOU CAN ACCESS THIS NEWSLETTER AND PAST ISSUES AT MY WEBSITE-www.thereeldrbob.com

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE OLD MAN & THE GUN– At the Theater

2) NIGHT COMES ON– Netflix Disc.

3) A STAR IS BORN– At the Theater

4) THE SAMUEL PROJECT- At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) THE OLD MAN & THE GUN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on the true-life exploits of bank robber Forrest Tucker, this serio-comic tale recounts his daring escape from prison at age 70 and the long string of heists that preceded the bandit’s final arrest at age 78.”

9/29/18- Good early reviews. TRDB.

10/19/18- Clearly a fun movie with emphasis on Robert Redford (and his age) as this is supposed to be his final movie. TRDB.

2) A STAR IS BORN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a role previously played by Janet Gaynor, Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga has big shoes to fill in this third remake of the classic tale about a rising star whose career eclipses that of her famous mentor.”

10/2/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

10/22/18- Very well done and I enjoyed every minute. TRDB. 

3) THE SAMUEL PROJECT– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “While dreaming of becoming a professional artist, high school senior Eli begins working on a project to animate the story of his estranged grandfather, Samuel. In the process, Eli uncovers a surprising tale of survival and heroism.”

10/9/18- Just 2 reviews so far and they are fair. TRDB.

10/23/18- I enjoyed the movie but not nearly as much as friends have. TRDB. 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) NIGHT COMES ON– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “About to turn 18, Angel LaMere emerges from juvenile detention with big plans: She’s going to rescue younger sister Abby from foster care and then track down and kill their father — the man who murdered their mom.”

8/3/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

10/21/18- I enjoyed this movie very much. Very realistic and great acting by the kids. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK, OCT. 30 (ALREADY IN LAST WEEK’S ISSUE)

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HOTWIRE ON-DEMAND-

This is an abbreviated list of my recommendations from “Hotwire.”

1) ALL SQUARE– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “John Zbikowski (Michael Kelly) is a down-on-his-luck, small town bookie having a hard time collecting on outstanding debts. After a one night stand with an ex-girlfriend (Pamela Adlon), John strikes up an unlikely friendship with her 12-year old son, Brian (Jesse Ray Sheps), and develops a plan to recoup the money owed to him by taking bets on Brian’s Youth League Baseball games.”

10/18/18–Excellent reviews for this comedy.

2) BOUNDARIES– Fair reviews for this road trip movie and I love road trips

3) IDEAL HOME– I liked it very much

4) THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS– Excellent

5) I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW- Fair to good reviews

6) THE GUILTY– Very good reviews. This movie is playing in local theaters currently

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, author Lee Israel strikes gold in the 1970s and ’80s with a series of successful celebrity biographies. But when tastes shift and her demons begin to disrupt her writing, she turns to forgery to support herself.”

10/19/18- Excellent reviews for this comedy/drama. TRDB.

2) WHAT THEY HAD– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “When her mother wanders into a snowstorm on Christmas Eve, Bridget responds to her brother’s call for help by returning to her hometown, where the siblings face the unenviable task of persuading their dad to put Mom in a care home.”

10/19/18- Very good  reviews for this drama. TRDB.

3) MID90’s– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1990s Los Angeles, teenage Stevie is looking for his place in a world dominated by his abusive older brother and needy single mom. After finding acceptance with the crew at a skateboard shop, Stevie learns some hard lessons about race and class.”

10/19/18- Fairly good reviews noted. TRDB.

4) GALVESTON- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Enforcer Roy Cady has terminal cancer, but that doesn’t stop his mobster boss from putting out a hit on him. After dispatching his would-be killers — rescuing a young hooker in the process — Cady makes his way to his Texas hometown to plot revenge.”

10/19/18- Fair reviews by the critics and excellent ones by audiences. TRDB.

5) THE WADHEIM WALTZ– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “History has an unfortunate propensity for repeating itself, as demonstrated in this incisive documentary about the rise of former U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, who won the Austrian presidency in 1986 despite revelations about his Nazi past”

10/19/18- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

6) NIGERIAN PRINCE-2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Packed off to his mother’s native land of Nigeria, resentful American-born teen Eze soon becomes mixed up in a perilous web of fraud after falling under the influence of his cousin Pius, an Internet scammer.”

 10/19/18- Just a few reviews noted and they are all good. TRDB.

7) WILDLIFE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “The emotional perils of adolescence are already challenging enough for Joe Brinson, but after his parents’ move to Montana causes friction between them, Joe begins to realize that his family is dissolving in front of him.”

10/19/18- Excellent reviews by the critics and poor ones from audiences. TRDB.

8) ON HER SHOULDERS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 2014, jihadist forces overran the Yazidi religious community in Northern Iraq, kidnapping the women and forcing them to work as sex slaves — a story survivor Nadia Murad must retell countless times to get the world’s attention.”

10/20/18- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

9) THE GUILTY– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. ” Working a desk job as an emergency dispatcher after being relieved of his beat cop responsibilities, Asger Holm fields a panicked call from a kidnapped young mother — and must race against time as the situation gets worse with each passing minute.”

10/20/18- Great reviews. TRDB. This movie is playing in local theaters currently.

10) A SEASON IN FRANCE– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Abbas, a high school teacher in the Central African Republic, has fled his war-torn country with his two children. They now live in France, where Abbas works at a food market, while applying for political asylum. A French woman, Carole, falls in love with him and offers a roof for him and his family. When Abbas’ application is rejected, they face a crucial decision.”

10/20/18- Just 4 reviews noted and they are all excellent. TRDB.

11) THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “As auction prices for the world’s most venerated paintings spiral ever upward, this illuminating documentary looks at the forces that have fueled the boom, with many of today’s influential artists and collectors weighing in.”

10/20/18- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

1) CANIBA– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Delving into the grim specter of human cannibalism, this chilling documentary focuses on Issei Sagawa, who in 1981 killed and partially ate a female classmate in Paris but was declared insane, deported to Japan and given his freedom five years later.”

10/20/18- Poor reviews for this awful sounding documentary. TRDB.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) MID90’s– Jacob Burns, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1990s Los Angeles, teenage Stevie is looking for his place in a world dominated by his abusive older brother and needy single mom. After finding acceptance with the crew at a skateboard shop, Stevie learns some hard lessons about race and class.”

10/19/18- Fairly good reviews noted. TRDB.

2) BEAUTIFUL BOY– Jacob Burns, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on memoirs by David Sheff and his son Nic, this compelling drama seen through a father’s eyes chronicles the heartbreak of addiction as Nic struggles with his dependence on methamphetamine, which affects the entire family.”

10/12/18- Fair reviews from the critics and better ones from audiences. There is a movie from 2010 with the same name. TRDB.

3) THE HAPPY PRINCE– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this period drama that recounts the last three years in Oscar Wilde’s life, the ailing writer — once the literary toast of London — exiles himself in Paris when he’s released from prison after serving time for gross indecency.”

10/10/18- Fair reviews for this drama. TRDB.

4) CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?- Jacob Burns. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, author Lee Israel strikes gold in the 1970s and ’80s with a series of successful celebrity biographies. But when tastes shift and her demons begin to disrupt her writing, she turns to forgery to support herself.”

10/19/18- Excellent reviews for this comedy/drama. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) THE OLD MAN & THE GUN– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked this “fun” movie that was a tribute to Robert Redford.

2) COLETTE– Bethel, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I enjoyed this movie.

3) FREE SOLO– Jacob Burns (limited to 1 showing per day), Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. I liked it. Very suspenseful.

4) A STAR IS BORN– Bethel, Danbury. I enjoyed this very much.

5) FIRST MAN– Jacob Burns, Danbury. OK reviews but I haven’t seen it yet.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) THE GUILTY– Very good reviews for this suspenseful drama

2) FIRST MAN– Very good reviews

3) THE HAPPY PRINCE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this period drama that recounts the last three years in Oscar Wilde’s life, the ailing writer — once the literary toast of London — exiles himself in Paris when he’s released from prison after serving time for gross indecency.”

10/10/18- Fair reviews for this drama. TRDB.

4) A STAR IS BORN– I liked it very much

5) THE OLD MAN & THE GUN– I enjoyed this movie (tribute) to Robert Redford.

6) COLETTE– I really enjoyed this a lot

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) THE GUILTY– Very good reviews for this suspenseful drama

2) THE HAPPY PRINCE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this period drama that recounts the last three years in Oscar Wilde’s life, the ailing writer — once the literary toast of London — exiles himself in Paris when he’s released from prison after serving time for gross indecency.”

10/10/18- Fair reviews for this drama. TRDB.

3)  A STAR IS BORN– I liked it very much.

4) THE SAMUEL PROJECT– I enjoyed this movie but not as much as others have.

5) THE OLD MAN & THE GUN– I enjoyed this movie (tribute) to Robert Redford.

6) COLETTE– I really enjoyed this movie very much.

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

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.

9/21/18- I saw this movie and liked it. Emma Thompson is great. TRDB.

2) THE GREAT BUSTER: A CELEBRATION– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “This engaging documentary charts the life of one of cinema’s great creative forces: Buster Keaton. Beginning his career in vaudeville, he was later hailed as a master director whose talent for physical comedy and optical trickery changed filmmaking.”

10/3/18- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

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

1) A STAR IS BORN– I enjoyed this very much

2) COLETTE– I liked the movie

3) THE GUILTY– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. ” Working a desk job as an emergency dispatcher after being relieved of his beat cop responsibilities, Asger Holm fields a panicked call from a kidnapped young mother — and must race against time as the situation gets worse with each passing minute.”

10/20/18- Great reviews. TRDB.

4) THE HAPPY PRINCE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this period drama that recounts the last three years in Oscar Wilde’s life, the ailing writer — once the literary toast of London — exiles himself in Paris when he’s released from prison after serving time for gross indecency.”

10/10/18- Fair reviews for this drama. TRDB.

“Tea with the Dames” and “The Wife” are both playing here with very limited screenings.