The Reel Dr. Bob

MARCH 7, 3019

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?- Netflix Disc.

2) LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD– Netflix Disc.

3) HEADING HOME- THE TALE OF TEAM ISRAEL- At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) HEADING HOME: THE TALE OF TEAM ISRAEL– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “HEADING HOME: THE TALE OF TEAM ISRAEL is the David-and-Goliath story of Israel’s national baseball team as it competes for the first time in the World Baseball Classic.”

3/5/19- I liked the movie and I especially enjoyed the various interviews with the players and their views about being Jewish and their relationship with Israel. TRDB.  

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

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.

3/1/19- I really enjoyed this movie very much and highly recommend it. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) DIVIDE AND CONQUER- 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “From producing “The Mike Douglas Show,” Roger Ailes moved on to became a top Republican strategist and the head of Fox News before being derailed by sexual harassment accusations, as chronicled in this revealing documentary.”

12/7/18- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) GREEN BOOK– A great movie. Don’t miss it

3) PIERCING– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Haunted by an impulse to kill his infant, new father Reed decides to get rid of his homicidal demons by killing a prostitute instead. But his intended victim proves more than a match, and the two are soon locked in a battle of wills.”

2/1/19- Fair reviews by the critics and poor ones by audiences. You can safely miss this one. TRDB.

4) TYREL– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Tyler is invited to an all-male birthday bash at a cabin in the Catskills, he doesn’t realize that he’ll be the only black man there. But as the weekend party wears on, Tyler begins to feel increasingly out of place.”

12/5/18- Fair reviews at best but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB.

5) 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.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) TRANSIT– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “As German troops near Paris, concentration camp refugee Georg escapes to Marseille, hoping to board a ship bound for safety by assuming the identity of a dead man whose papers Georg possesses. But things change when he meets a mysterious young woman.”

3/1/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Against all the odds, a thirteen year old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine. Based on the true story of William Kamkwamba.”

3/1/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

3) JOSEPH PULITZER: VOICE OF THE PEOPLE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “At a time when the news media is being maligned and undermined, this well-crafted documentary recounts the story of transformational publisher Joseph Pulitzer, who took on a popular president (Teddy Roosevelt) to ensure freedom of the press.”

3/1/19- Just 3 reviews so far– 2 up and 1 down for this documentary. TRDB.

4) GIANT LITTLE ONES– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this coming-of-age drama, best friends Franky Winter and Ballas Kohl — both popular students and athletes — are thick as thieves until an amorous encounter at a 17th birthday party throws them into turmoil.”

3/1/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

5) SHARKWATER EXTINCTION– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Continuing the crusade of its 2006 predecessor “Sharkwater,” this documentary sequel details the massive effect of the illegal shark fin industry, which has contributed to a 90 percent decline in the global shark population over the past 30 years.”

3/1/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

6) APOLLO 11- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “The Apollo 11 mission that took Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon comes to life again in this documentary that uses a wealth of NASA materials — including recordings of in-flight conversations — to create an immersive experience.”

3/1/19- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

7) WOMAN AT WAR– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Believing that the aluminum industry is destroying the Icelandic environment, middle-aged Halla begins waging a secret eco-war to protect the landscape. But her crusade is interrupted when she gets a chance to fulfill her dream of adopting a child.”

3/1/19- Excellent reviews from all sources. TRDB.

8) CLIMAX– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “On the outskirts of Paris, 20 young dancers gather at a closed boarding school for three days of intensive rehearsals. But at the after-party, things descend into chaos when the punch bowl is spiked with LSD.”

3/1/19- Fair reviews from critics and audiences. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) GRETA– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When young Frances returns a handbag she found on the New York City subway to its owner, lonely widow Greta, she gains a new friend. But their relationship begins to take a sinister turn as Greta becomes obsessed with Frances.”

2/27/19- Early reviews are really bad. TRDB.

2) THE IRON ORCHARD– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on the book of the same name, this epic drama follows ambitious wildcatter Jim McNeely, who’s determined to surmount the harsh challenges of the West Texas oil business and rise to the top of the industry in the late 1930s.”

3/1/19- Terrible reviews by the critics but it was well received by audiences. TRDB.

3) MAPPLETHORPE- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This engaging biopic charts the life and legacy of controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, who sends shock waves through the modern art world with his provocative exhibits before his untimely death in 1989.”

3/1/19- Poor reviews from the critics but OK ones from audiences. TRDB.

4) SAINT JUDY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This well-crafted biopic follows immigration lawyer Judy Wood as she takes up the case of an Afghani woman persecuted by the Taliban for starting a school for girls. In the process, Wood leads a fight that will change U.S. asylum laws for women.”

3/1/19- Generally poor reviews. TRDB.

5) THE WEDDING GUEST– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This propulsive, globetrotting thriller from acclaimed director Michael Winterbottom is a breathless tour through the shadowy underworlds and hidden realms of Pakistan and India.”

3/1/19- Poor reviews. TRDB.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) APOLLO 11– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “The Apollo 11 mission that took Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon comes to life again in this documentary that uses a wealth of NASA materials — including recordings of in-flight conversations — to create an immersive experience.”

3/1/19- Great reviews for this documentary.

2) WOMAN AT WAR– Jacob Burns. 2019.

3) THE COMPETITION– Jacob Burns. 2019.

REPEATS-

1) EVERYBODY KNOWS– Jacob Burns. Bethel, Clearview 100. Weak reviews from critics and audiences. I’d see this just to look at Penelope Cruz.

2) THE WEDDING GUEST– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. Poor reviews.

3) GREEN BOOK– Bethel, Danbury. Great movie and a must-see.

4) TO DUST– Clearview 100. Excellent reviews for this strange sounding drama.

5) COLD WAR– Clearview 100. I was not impressed by this movie.

6) THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD– Jacob Burns.

7) A STAR IS BORN– Danbury.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) WHO WILL WRITE OUR HISTORY– Very good reviews

2) THE INVISIBLES– Very good reviews

3) THE UPSIDE– OK reviews

4) EVERYBODY KNOWS– Weak reviews from critics and audiences. I’d see this just to look at Penelope Cruz.

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) WHO WILL WRITE OUR HISTORY– Very good reviews

2) NEVER LOOK AWAY- OK reviews for this very long drama.

3) THE LAST RESORT– Very good reviews

4) HEADING HOME- THE TALE OF TEAM ISRAEL– I liked it.

5) EVERYBODY KNOWS– Weak reviews from critics and audiences. I’d see this just to look at Penelope Cruz.

6) CAPERNAUM– (limited screenings) – I liked it

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) THE COMPETITION– 2019. This immersive documentary goes behind the scenes at renowned Parisian filmmaking academy La Fémis, detailing the artistic philosophy and methods used to select 40 new students for the program each year.”

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

1) WHO WILL WRITE OUR HISTORY– Very good reviews

2) THE LAST RESORT– Good reviews

3) THE INVISIBLES– Very good reviews

4) NEVER LOOK AWAY– Good reviews for this very long drama

5) RUBEN BRANDT, COLLECTOR–