The Reel Dr. Bob

JUNE 27, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) DAVID– Amazon Prime

2) THE DAWNS HERE ARE QUIET– Amazon Prime

3) PAVAROTTI– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) PAVAROTTI– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When he died in 2007, Luciano Pavarotti had realized his dream of bringing opera to the masses. This documentary paints a compelling portrait of the tenor by drawing on family archives, home videos, behind-the-scenes material and concert footage.”

6/7/19- Good reviews. TRDB.

6/23/19- I enjoyed this documentary very much. Plenty of wonderful singing as well. TRDB. 

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) DAVID– 2014. This movie is about an 11 year old Muslim boy in Brooklyn who is mistaken for Jewish by a group of religious Jews and develops a relationship with them until the truth comes out.

6/19/19- Enjoyed the movie and the message it gives. TRDB. Amazon Prime.

2) THE DAWNS HERE ARE QUIET- 2019. About a Russian army sergeant at the end of WW2 and the 5 women soldiers he commands.

6/20/19- An excellent drama. TRDB. Amazon Prime.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) THE HEIRESSES–  2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Together for more than 30 years, Chela and Chiquita stick to their defined roles, with Chiquita managing their lives and Chela working on her art. But when Chiquita is jailed for fraud, timid Chela begins awakening to her long-dormant passions.”

2) STYX–  2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Prepared for the adventure of a lifetime, emergency room doctor Rieke sets off on a 5,000-mile solo voyage to Ascension Island in the Atlantic. But when she encounters a foundering refugee boat, she finds herself caught in a moral dilemma.”

2/27/19- Excellent reviews by the critics but just fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

3) THE PUBLIC– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “As Cincinnati endures a blast of Arctic cold, the public library serves as a refuge for all. But as closing time nears — and with emergency shelters already full — a group of homeless patrons refuses to leave, leading to a clash with authorities.”

4/3/19- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

4) THE BEST OF ENEMIES– 2019- Synopsis by Netflix. “On opposite sides for a decade, civil rights activist Ann Atwater and Ku Klux Klan leader C.P. Ellis grudgingly work together on a committee overseeing school desegregation in Durham, North Carolina. In the process, the two form an unlikely bond.”

4/5/19- Mixed reviews– more poor than good for this drama. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

Recommended–

1) WILD ROSE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “While single mom — and just paroled ex-con — Rose-Lynn Harlan dreams of becoming a country music star, Nashville is a long way from her Scottish home. But she finds an improbable champion in the well-heeled woman whose house Rose cleans.”

6/21/19- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

2) THE COMMAND– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This real-life thriller set in 2000 recounts the sinking of Russia’s nuclear submarine “Kursk,” focusing on the 23 crew members who survive the crash in an isolated air pocket, only to wait days for rescue as their oxygen runs out.”

6/21/19- Fair reviews for this drama based on a real situation. TRDB.

3) BURN YOUR MAPS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his parents still reeling from a tragedy, 8-year-old Wes throws himself into a school project on Mongolia, coming to believe he hails from there. After raising funds with a pal for a trip “home,” Wes takes his family on an introspective journey.”

6/21/19- Mixed reviews– slightly more positive than negative. TRDB.

4) THE QUIET ONE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “From the time he was a child, longtime Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman kept a journal — one that provides plenty of background material for this absorbing documentary, which also details his post-Stones projects.”

6/21/19- Poor reviews but I’d see it just for the history lesson. TRDB.

5) TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This in-depth documentary looks at the life and works of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Toni Morrison, who gives voice to the African-American experience through fiction that exposes a point of view counter to the establishment.”

6/21/10- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

6) THE CHAMBERMAID– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Employed as a chambermaid in one of Mexico City’s finest hotels, Eve dreams of a better life. But try as she might — working long shifts and attending night classes — she finds that her chances for advancement depend on more than hard work.”

6/26/19- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) BILLBOARD– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After inheriting his father’s radio station, Casey must right the foundering ship, which is being trounced in the ratings. To save his dad’s legacy, Casey holds a billboard-sitting contest to see who can live the longest on the sign’s catwalk.”

6/21/19- Awful reviews. TRDB.

2) THE EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY OF THE FAKIR– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After his mother’s death, a young fakir from the streets of Mumbai, AJATASHATRU or ‘AJA’ (“Dhanush”), leaves India for France to track down the father he never knew. From the moment he arrives in Paris, nothing goes as planned.”

6/21/19- Mostly poor reviews. TRDB.

3) STARFISH– Horror and poor reviews as well. I’m not interested

4) CHILD’S PLAY– Weak reviews and I’d skip it

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) YESTERDAY– Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “While he’s still looking for his big break, musician Jack Malik gets hit by a bus during a global blackout. But when he wakes up to find he’s the lone person on Earth who knows of the Beatles and their songbook, Jack has a huge chance at stardom.”

6/25/19- Weak reviews for this comedy/drama. TRDB.

2)  WILD ROSE– Jacob Burns.  2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “While single mom — and just paroled ex-con — Rose-Lynn Harlan dreams of becoming a country music star, Nashville is a long way from her Scottish home. But she finds an improbable champion in the well-heeled woman whose house Rose cleans.”

6/21/19- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

3) TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM– Jacob Burns. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This in-depth documentary looks at the life and works of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Toni Morrison, who gives voice to the African-American experience through fiction that exposes a point of view counter to the establishment.”

6/21/10- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) LATE NIGHT– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. Good laughs and good acting with an OK screenplay. TRDB.

2) PAVAROTTI– Jacob Burns,Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100. A wonderful documentary.

3) ROCKETMAN– Danbury, Clearview 100. I loved the movie.

4) ECHO IN THE CANYON– Bethel. Good reviews.

5) THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO– Jacob Burns. Very good reviews.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) YESTERDAY- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “While he’s still looking for his big break, musician Jack Malik gets hit by a bus during a global blackout. But when he wakes up to find he’s the lone person on Earth who knows of the Beatles and their songbook, Jack has a huge chance at stardom.”

6/25/19- Weak reviews for this comedy/drama. TRDB.

2) LATE NIGHT– Good laughs and good acting with an OK screenplay. TRDB.

3) PAVAROTTI– I loved the movie

4) THE SPY BEHIND HOME PLATE– Good reviews and I want to see this one

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) YESTERDAY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “While he’s still looking for his big break, musician Jack Malik gets hit by a bus during a global blackout. But when he wakes up to find he’s the lone person on Earth who knows of the Beatles and their songbook, Jack has a huge chance at stardom.”

6/25/19- Weak reviews for this comedy/drama. TRDB.

2) LATE NIGHT– Good laughs and good acting with an OK screenplay. TRDB.

6/15/19- Good laughs and good acting with an OK screenplay. TRDB.

3) PAVAROTTI- I loved the movie

4) ROCKETMAN– Great documentary

5) THE SPY BEHIND HOME PLATE– Very good reviews and I’d liked to see it

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) ECHO IN THE CANYON– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the mid-1960s, Laurel Canyon in the Hollywood Hills became the creative nexus for a generation of young musicians who would become rock ‘n’ roll icons. This affectionate documentary looks at that famous scene’s history and ongoing influence.”

5/31/19- Excellent reviews by the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) PASOLINI- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This evocative portrait of outspoken, controversial director Pier Paolo Pasolini traces the last day of his life — Nov. 2, 1975 — which he spent with his mother and friends before vanishing into the night and being found murdered the next day.”

5/10/19- Decent reviews by the critics and awful ones by audiences. TRDB.

D) THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS-

1) YESTERDAY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “While he’s still looking for his big break, musician Jack Malik gets hit by a bus during a global blackout. But when he wakes up to find he’s the lone person on Earth who knows of the Beatles and their songbook, Jack has a huge chance at stardom.”

6/25/19- Weak reviews for this comedy/drama. TRDB.

2) THE SPY BEHIND HOME PLATE– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The Spy Behind Home Plate is the first feature-length documentary to tell the real story of Morris “Moe” Berg, the enigmatic and brilliant Jewish baseball player turned spy.”

3) THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though he has a doctorate degree in philosophy, Pierre-Paul Daoust ends up working as a courier — a job he considers beneath him. But it soon nets him two bags of money from a botched heist, putting him in a moral dilemma.”

5/31/19- OK reviews. TRDB.

4) LATE NIGHT– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Accused of being antifeminist, late-night talk-show host Katherine Newbury hires her first female writer, Molly Patel. But what begins as a “marriage of convenience” evolves into more as Molly injects a much-needed fresh viewpoint.”

6/15/19- Good laughs and good acting with an OK screenplay. TRDB.

5) THE THIRD WIFE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 19th-century Vietnam, 14-year-old May becomes a rich landowner’s third wife, knowing that she must give birth to a son to increase her status. But after she becomes pregnant, dormant desires force her to choose between safety and freedom.”

5/15/19- Very good reviews for this movie. TRDB.