The Reel Dr. Bob

JANUARY 31, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK– At the Theater

2) INSIDE OUT– Netflix Streaming.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on the novel penned by James Baldwin, this urban drama centers on pregnant Harlem resident Tish as she attempts to clear the name of her fiancé, who’s awaiting trial on a false rape accusation.”

12/14/18- Excellent reviews from the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.

1/26/19- I enjoyed this sad movie very much. A wonderful love story and a story about an all too common situation. TRDB. 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

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.

1/27/19- As one critic said– “it didn’t really work for me.” TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) INSIDE OUT– 2018. About a 38 year old man who is released from prison after 20 years and his problems with integration back into society.

1/28/19- Very well done and I liked it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dubbed the female Lawrence of Arabia, archaeologist Gertrude Bell swapped the strictures of Edwardian England for the wilds of the Arabian Desert, where she helped shape the modern Middle East. This documentary tells Bell’s story in her own words.”

6/2/17- Good reviews. TRDB.

2) JOHN McENROE: IN THE REALM OF PERFECTION– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though John McEnroe was the No. 1 tennis player of his day, he never won the French Open. Director Julien Faraut uses the toughest of those losses — to Ivan Lendl in 1984 — to anchor this cinematic study of McEnroe’s wily game and notorious anger.”

8/25/18- Very good reviews for this film. TRDB.

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) A PRIVATE WAR- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, dauntless war correspondent Marie Colvin reports from the front lines of conflict in hot spots all over the world, including Chechnya, Kosovo, the Middle East and East Timor.”

11/2/18- Very good reviews from the critics but just fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

5) THE LONG DUMB ROAD– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “A chance meeting of two men at turning points in their lives leads to a chaotic but enlightening road trip as young Nathan — on his way to a Los Angeles art school — is taken out of his comfort zone by boozy mechanic Richard.”

11/9/18- Reviews were  mixed in general but it sounded interesting enough to include this as a recommendation. TRDB.

6) THE SISTERS BROTHERS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this darkly comic Western set in the 1850s, two hit man brothers are tasked with hunting down and killing gold prospector Hermann Kermit Warm, who stole from their boss. But along the way, the siblings find their bond put to the test.”

9/21/18- Very good reviews for this Western. TRDB.

 7) WIDOWS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “When four thieves are killed during a robbery attempt, their widows suddenly find themselves facing shaky futures. After due consideration, the ladies decide to join forces to finish the botched heist.”

11/14/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) THE IMAGE BOOK– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unspooling through the prism of French cinematic giant Jean-Luc Godard, this video essay — a stream-of-consciousness collage of images and sound — is a dark meditation on the power of imagery and the state of the world.”

1/25/19- Good reviews from the critics and absolutely terrible ones from audiences. I have my doubts but I’ll include it as a recommendation for now. TRDB.

2) NEVER LOOK AWAY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this absorbing drama based loosely on the life of visual artist Gerhard Richter, an art student trying to get past the trauma of growing up in Nazi Germany falls for a fellow student. But her father — an ex-Nazi — is bent on keeping them apart.”

1/25/19- OK reviews for this three hour drama. TRDB.

3) THE INVISIBLES– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This riveting docudrama follows four resourceful Jewish youths living under Nazi rule in 1943 Berlin, where they elude the roundup of Jews by taking cover in safe houses and freely walking the streets, virtually hiding in plain sight.”

1/25/19- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

4) JIHADISTS– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Banned in France (released as ‘Salfistes’), JIHADISTS goes deep into the heart of the Salafi movement, to reveal the inner workings of extremist Islam. A pair of Western filmmakers were granted unparalleled access to fundamentalist clerics of Sunni Islam who proselytize for a “purer” form of Islam–including jihad of the sword–in Mali, Tunisia, Iraq and Afghanistan.”

1/25/19- Fair reviews. TRDB.

5) THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Modern-day schoolboy Alex finds himself at the center of an age-old battle when he stumbles upon King Arthur’s fabled sword Excalibur, which Alex and his friends must use to stop evil enchantress Morgana — who plans to destroy the world.”

1/25/19- Very good reviews by the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) KING OF THIEVES– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on an improbable true story, this star-studded crime drama recounts the 2015 robbery of London’s Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Co. — the largest and most audacious heist in British history, perpetrated by a gang of retired criminals.”

1/25/19- Awful reviews that even Michael Caine couldn’t help. TRDB.

2) SERENITY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “A Caribbean fishing boat captain’s simple life is suddenly transformed by the appearance of a beautiful woman, whose presence forces him to face his complicated past — and realize that his life will never be the same.”

1/23/19- Terrible reviews. TRDB.

3) HEARTLOCK– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Born into a clan of prison guards and continuing the family business, Tera Sharpe should know all about “ducking”: inmates’ practice of befriending guards in order to extort them. But that doesn’t stop her from falling for a charming new convict.”

1/25/19- Just 2 reviews so far and they are both poor. TRDB.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW ON THE BURBS-

1) THOU SHALT NOT GROW OLD– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Peter Jackson directs this homage to the British troops of the First World War with never-before-seen-footage of soldiers as they faced the fear and uncertainty of frontline battle in Belgium.”

1/30/19- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) STAN & OLLIE– Bethel, Clearview 100. Very good reviews

2) THE FAVOURITE– Bethel, Clearview 100. Good reviews but of no interest to me

3) COLD WAR– Bethel, Clearview 100. Very good review for this movie

4) IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK– Bethel, Clearview 100. I liked this movie very much and highly recommend it

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

6) ON THE BASIS OF SEX– Clearview 100. I liked this movie

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) STAN & OLLIE– Very good reviews

2) ON THE BASIS OF SEX– I liked it

3) IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK–  I liked this movie very much and highly recommend it

4) GREEN BOOK– Excellent and a must-see

B)  THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- same as Lake Worth above

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) THE IMAGE BOOK– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Unspooling through the prism of French cinematic giant Jean-Luc Godard, this video essay — a stream-of-consciousness collage of images and sound — is a dark meditation on the power of imagery and the state of the world.”

1/25/19- Good reviews from the critics and absolutely terrible ones from audiences. I have my doubts but I’ll include it as a recommendation for now. TRDB.

2) THE FENCER– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama set in the 1950s, Estonian fencer Endel Nelis takes up residence in the remote town of Haapsalu to evade the Russian secret police. But after he finds fulfillment teaching his sport to children, his past catches up with him.”

7/21/17- Very good reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB.

12/1/18- I enjoyed this movie very much even though it was a bit Hollywoodish at times. TRDB. Netflix disc.

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

1) AN ACCEPTABLE LOSS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Libby Lamm accepts a university teaching position, she hopes to close the door on her past as a national security adviser, but old decisions come back to haunt her as a former colleague resurfaces. Meanwhile, a student becomes obsessed with her.”

1/23/19- Terrible reviews by the critics but audiences have liked it. TRDB.

2) CAPERNAUM– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this dark fable set in a Middle East country undergoing political and social upheaval, a 12-year-old boy sees nothing but suffering and pain in his future, prompting him to sue his parents for bringing him into the world.”

12/14/18- Just so-so reviews. TRDB.

3) STAN & OLLIE– Very good reviews

4) 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.

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB

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