The Reel Dr. Bob

JANUARY 10, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) VICE- At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) VICE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Focusing on his powerful two-term tenure as second in command to U.S. President George W. Bush, this biographical drama chronicles the long and controversial political career of Dick Cheney.”

12/24/18- Fair reviews at best by the critics. TRDB.

1/6/19- I didn’t expect to like this movie but I did. I found it infuriating, frustrating and with parallels to today’s political situation. TRDB. 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME- NONE

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) 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.

2) THE BOOKSHOP– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1950s England, cultural growth has largely bypassed the quiet seaside village of Hardborough, but that changes when a middle-aged widow opens the town’s first bookshop. Unfortunately, she soon finds herself at odds with a local arts patron.”

8/24/18- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Orphans Seita (voiced by Tsutomu Tatsumi) and Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi) fight for survival in post-World War II Japan. But society is harsh, and they come to the somber conclusion that they can neither escape the hardships of war nor find enough food to survive. Named the Best Animated Feature at the 1994 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, this film proves that not all anime tales are pixie-dust fantasies or brutal sci-fi standoffs.”

1/4/19- Just 1 review noted and it is excellent. TRDB.

2) THE VANISHING– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Inspired by events that occurred more than 100 years ago on an uninhabited island off Scotland’s coast, this psychological thriller follows a trio of lighthouse keepers who vanish from the isle without a trace.”

1/5/19- Fair reviews from both the critics and audiences. TRDB.

3) THE VENERABLE W.- 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes.  “The Venerable W.” by Barbet Schroeder is the last installment in the director’s “Trilogy of Evil”. This time the director goes to Burma, into the heart of everyday racism, to explore how Islamophobia and hate speech transforms itself into violence and destruction in a country that is 90 percent Buddhist – the world’s most peaceful of religions, founded on a tolerant, non-violent way of life.”

1/4/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) ESCAPE ROOM– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Tyler’s girlfriend buys him tickets to an escape-room event, the couple and four friends are ready for an adventure. But their fun turns into fear as the group comes to realize that the game they’ve entered may prove fatal.”

1/4/19- Pretty bad reviews from the critics and nearly as bad from audiences. TRDB.

2) RUST CREEK– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “College student Sawyer Scott is seemingly on the fast track to success when a wrong turn on the way to a job interview leaves her stuck in Kentucky’s backwoods. Soon finding herself with two outlaws on her trail, she needs all her cunning to survive.”

1/4/19- Decent reviews by the critics and distinctly poor ones from audiences. TRDB.

3) STATE LIKE SLEEP– Awful reviews.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) COLD WAR– Jacob Burns. 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Inspired by the turbulent marriage of the director’s parents, this bittersweet drama follows pianist Wiktor and singer Zula — star-crossed lovers with divergent backgrounds and temperaments — as they pursue an impossible romance in postwar Europe.”

12/21/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) THE UPSIDE– Danbury. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This affecting dramedy follows the unlikely friendship between Phillip, a New York City billionaire crippled in a hang-gliding accident, and Dell, a recently released ex-con who’s hired to be his caretaker.”

1/9/19- Poor reviews– most saying that it was cliche ridden. TRDB.

3) ROMA- Garden Cinema Norwalk. 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. ” ROMA follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a young domestic worker for a family in the middle-class neighborhood of Roma in Mexico City.”

11/22/18- Great reviews. TRDB.

12/15/18- Sorry to say but I was disappointed in this well hyped foreign drama. I found it much too slow and most of the themes presented I have seen before and better. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

REPEATS-

1) IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK– Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100.

2) GREEN BOOK– Bethel. Excellent and a must-see

3) ON THE BASIS OF SEX– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk.

4) THE FAVOURITE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Good reviews but I probably won’t see this one

5) VICE– Bethel, Danbury I didn’t expect to like it but I did.

6) MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS– Danbury, Clearview 100, Garden Cinema Norwalk. Good reviews but I have no interest in seeing this

7) BEN IS BACK– Good reviews. Haven’t seen it yet

8) A STAR IS BORN– Danbury. I liked this very much. Great Lady Gaga

9) THE MULE– Danbury. I liked this Clint Eastwood movie very much

10) BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY– Danbury. I enjoyed this very much

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) THE UPSIDE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This affecting dramedy follows the unlikely friendship between Phillip, a New York City billionaire crippled in a hang-gliding accident, and Dell, a recently released ex-con who’s hired to be his caretaker.”

1/9/19- Poor reviews– most saying that it was cliche ridden. TRDB.

2) ON THE BASIS OF SEX– Good reviews and I plan to see it

3) IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK– Excellent reviews from the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.

4) BEN IS BACK– Good reviews

5) GREEN BOOK– Excellent and a must-see

6) VICE- I liked it- I didn’t think I would

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- Same as above except BEN IS BACK is not showing

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) THE GREEN FOG– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this experimental movie created for the final night of the 2017 San Francisco International Film Festival, director Guy Maddin and collaborators reimagine Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” using a visual collage of found footage from a host of sources.”

1/5/18- I’ve seen just 5 reviews and they were all very good. TRDB.

2) THAT WAY MADNESS LIES– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “What do you do when your brother descends into a black hole of mental instability – starting with falling for a Nigerian email scam but eventually winding up involuntary committed into the hospital made famous by One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?”

12/14/18- Just 3 reviews and they are all very good. TRDB. 

D) THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON

1) SHOPLIFTERS– Very good reviews.

2) THE CHARMER– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix “Desperate to avoid deportation by securing Danish citizenship, Iranian migrant Esmail is looking for a woman who can expedite his plan. But when he falls for Sarah — who sees through his charms — Esmail’s past comes back to haunt him.”

12/5/18- Very good reviews for this Iranian drama. TRDB.

12/11/18- I found the movie both sensitive and suspenseful. Definitely worth seeing. TRDB. 

3) THE WORLD BEFORE YOUR FEET– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. Genial Matt Green is a man with a singular purpose: to walk every block of New York City. This personal documentary follows Green as he pursues his endless trek, chatting with residents while exploring local history and flavor along the way.”

11/27/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4) MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS– OK reviews but I have no interest in seeing this

5) BEN IS BACK- Good reviews.

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB