The Reel Dr. Bob

APRIL 25, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEND AN ISSUE NEXT WEEK SO THIS WEEK’S EDITION WILL INCLUDE INFORMATION FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS WHEN POSSIBLE–

1) THE MUSTANG– At the Theater

2) THE CAPTAIN– Netflix Disc.

3) AT ETERNITY’S GATE– Netflix Disc.

4) TRANSIT– At the Theater

5) THE INVISIBLES– At the Theater

6) MARIA BY CALLAS– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) THE MUSTANG– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In jail — as he was on the outside — convict Roman Coleman is trapped in a life of violence. But when he starts working with wild mustangs as a part of a prisoner rehabilitation program, he slowly discovers his humanity.”

3/15/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4/18/19- I liked the movie and loved the scenes of the wild horses. TRDB.

2) 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.

4/23/19- Very well done and I enjoyed it very much. A bit confusing for a while. 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.

4/24/19- I enjoyed this movie and at the same time learned lots of facts about these brave people and what they endured. TRDB.

4) MARIA BY CALLAS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taking advantage of personal letters, vintage interviews and previously unseen footage, this extensive documentary recounts the life and career of opera diva Maria Callas, capturing her superlative talent and her turbulent romantic life.”

11/3/18- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4/24/19- An excellent documentary. I got to know the subject and the singing was great. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) THE CAPTAIN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this black-and-white drama set during World War II’s last days, a 19-year-old German deserter — starving and desperate — dons a scavenged Nazi captain’s uniform and becomes increasingly intoxicated by his new authority.”

7/27/18-  Fair reviews by the critics and excellent ones by audiences. TRDB.

4/21/19- A bit long but it held my interest and shows what power can do. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) AT ETERNITY’S GATE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dramatized biopic recounts the last days in the turbulent and tragically brief life of master Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, who comes to realize that his brilliant work will never be recognized as such during his lifetime.”

11/16/18- Fair to good reviews. TRDB.

4/22/19- A very interesting biopic with beautiful scenery and a good understanding of the subject. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) ARTIC- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When his plane crashes in the Arctic, Danish explorer Overgård hunkers down to await rescue. But after a helicopter promising salvation also crashes — leaving its copilot badly hurt — Overgård must decide whether to begin a long trek to find help.”

2) EVERYBODY KNOWS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “With her kids in tow, Laura travels from her adopted Argentinean home to her native Spain to attend her sister’s nuptials, anticipating a joyful reunion. But things turn sour when Laura’s teen daughter vanishes and long-kept secrets begin to surface.”

2/8/19- Weak reviews from critics and audiences. I’d see this just to look at Penelope Cruz. TRDB.

3) TO DUST– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Struggling to accept his wife’s sudden death, Hasidic cantor Shmuel believes he must understand how her body will decompose. Enlisting the aid of a biology professor, Shmuel begins the blasphemous act of scientific investigation.”

2/8/19- Excellent reviews for this strange sounding drama. TRDB.

4) BIRDS OF PASSAGE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This well-crafted crime drama charts the roots of the Colombian drug trade as a tight-knit indigenous family discovers a golden opportunity to sell large quantities of marijuana to America’s hippie generation in the 1970s.”

2/13/19- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) PENGUINS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Like millions of his kind, Adélie penguin Steve is spending spring in Antarctica looking for love. But that’s just the beginning: To start a family with his life partner, he must build a nest in an environment where peril constantly lurks.”

4/18/19- Very good reviews by the critics and fair to good ones by audiences. TRDB.

2) BREAKTHROUGH– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, 14-year-old John Smith falls through a frozen lake and is pronounced dead after 27 minutes of CPR fail to revive him. But his mother is having none of it and prays loudly at John’s bedside — until his heart begins”

4/18/19- Poor reviews by the critics and OK ones by audiences. TRDB.

BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) RED JOAN– Bethel, Clearview 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Loosely inspired by a true story, this dramatized biopic shifts between two eras as it recounts the tale of Joan Stanley, a longtime British spy for the KGB who sees her peaceful suburban retirement abruptly shattered when she’s arrested for treason.”

4/19/19- Terrible reviews. TRDB.

2) WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY– Bethel, Clearview 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “An unknown side of poet Emily Dickinson — long characterized as a shy spinster — emerges in this sly, sometimes surreal dramedy that recounts her determination to succeed in the literary world and her romantic relationship with her sister-in-law.”

4/12/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

3) TEEN SPIRIT– Danbury. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Underneath 17-year-old Violet’s shy exterior lurks a pop star just itching to get out. But the chances of that happening in her tiny Isle of Wight hometown seem remote — until a former opera star takes her under his wing.”

4/12/19- Fair to good reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) BREAKTHROUGH– Danbury. Good reviews.

2) THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD– Danbury. Very good reviews.

3) THE MUSTANG– Bethel, Clearview 100. I liked it very much

4) TRANSIT– Clearview 100. A very interesting and enjoyable movie

5) AMAZING GRACE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. Great reviews for this documentary

6) HIGH LIFE– Jacob Burns. A Sci-fi movie that doesn’t sound at all interesting to me but got good reviews from the critics along with poor ones from audiences.

7) DIANE– Jacob Burns. Very good reviews.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) THE BEST OF ENEMIES– Mixed reviews- more poor than good

2) SUNSET- Weak reviews by both critics and audiences.

3) THE CHAPERONE– Weak reviews

4) THE MUSTANG– I enjoyed it

5) TRANSIT- I liked it very much

6) THE SHOPLIFTERS– Very good reviews but I did not care for it

7) MARIA BY CALLAS- Very good reviews and I plan to see it

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- see “above” for descriptions

1) THE BEST OF ENEMIES-

2) THE CHAPERONE–

3) SUNSET–

4) THE MUSTANG–

5) THE SHOPLIFTERS

6) MARIA BY CALLAS–

C) THE LIVING ROOM THEATER AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) DIANE– Very good reviews

2) SUNSET– Weak reviews by both critics and audiences. TRDB.

3) CHAPERONE– Weak reviews

4) TRANSIT– I liked it very much

D) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE

1) HER SMELL– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Despite her stardom, punk rock singer Becky Something is living out a personal mission of destruction fueled by drugs and a volatile temperament that threatens to alienate everyone she knows, including her bandmates.”

4/12/19- Very good reviews in general with a few negatives as well. I’ll give it a try. TRDB.

2) THE RAMEN SHOP– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Japanese ramen chef Masato Yamamoto lost his mother at age 10, so when he comes across an old notebook of hers after his father dies, he travels to Singapore — where he was born — to piece together his family’s history.”

3/22/19- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.