The Reel Dr. Bob

JULY 18, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

 THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER IS BEING SENT EARLY AND WILL NOT CONTAIN MANY OF THE CURRENT MOVIES PLAYING IN LOCAL THEATERS. THE NEXT ISSUE SHOULD BE COMPLETE AGAIN—

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) ALL IS WELL– Netflix Streaming.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) 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.

7/13/19- Of  no interest and I turned it off. Besides, I hate stalking movies. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) ALL IS WELL– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A woman sexually assaulted by a family member of her new boss tries to move on with her life, but it continues to weigh on her body and mind.”

7/15/19- Excellent reviews for this German movie and I couldn’t agree more. Very powerful. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) DAWSON CITY: FROZEN TIME– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Using material from 1910s and ’20s silent films and newsreels that were found buried in Dawson City, Yukon, in 1978, director Bill Morrison put together this fascinating history of the gold rush boomtown.”

6/9/17- Great reviews for this documentary. One critic called it a masterpiece. TRDB.

2) WORKING WOMAN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this engrossing drama, ambitious Orna goes back to work to help support her kids and hubby as he struggles to make a go of his new restaurant. While Orna quickly moves up the ladder, the job becomes intolerable when her boss makes sexual advances.”

3/27/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

3) 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.

4) IF THE DANCER DANCES– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Aided by three members of late choreographer Merce Cunningham’s former dance company, acclaimed dance-maker Stephen Petronio and his crew set out to re-create “RainForest,” the legendary Cunningham’s 1968 masterwork.”

4/26/19- Fairly good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) THE FAREWELL– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Defying her parents’ wishes, expatriate writer Billi returns to her native China when she learns that her grandmother is terminally ill. But Billi soon finds herself conflicted by the family’s decision to hide her grandmother’s diagnosis from her.”

7/12/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) ROJO– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Evoking the surreal atmosphere of Argentinean society under military dictatorship during the mid-1970s, this taut drama focuses on a prominent lawyer whose life takes an ominous turn after a stranger berates him in a restaurant.”

7/12/19- Generally not my kind of movie but reviews were very good and I will try to see this movie. TRDB.

3) SEA OF SHADOWS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Using illegal nets in the Sea of Cortez to harvest the prized bladders of totoaba fish, poachers are devastating the population and ecosystem of the vaquita, a rare type of porpoise. This documentary charts efforts to save the animal from extinction.”

7/12/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4) THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being randomly attacked in public, Casey signs up at a martial-arts school to learn karate and ensure his protection. But he soon discovers that there’s a dark side to his enigmatic sensei’s world.”

7/12/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

5) FIRECRACKERS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Teenage best friends Chantal and Lou are hell-bent on escaping their one-horse hometown. But when a night of carousing ends with Chantal’s violent ex forcing himself on her, the young women turn their focus to exacting vengeance.”

7/12/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

6) SWORD OF TRUST– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Cynthia’s grandfather dies, she inherits a Civil War-era sword that revisionist-history nuts believe is proof that the South defeated the North. Before long, she’s teaming with a crusty pawnshop owner to sell the weapon to the highest bidder.”

7/12/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

7) AMERICAN HERETICS: THE POLITICS OF THE GOSPEL– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary follows a group of Bible Belt faithful who — alarmed by extremist attitudes among fundamentalist Christians — advocate a “Gospel of Inclusion,” which aims to keep Christianity free of racism, xenophobia and other bigotry.”

7/12/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

8) GENERAL MAGIC– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Once called “the most important dead company in Silicon Valley,” Apple spinoff General Magic produced what was in essence the first smartphone. Unfortunately, it came a decade too early, as chronicled in this absorbing documentary.”

7/12/19- Excellent reviews by the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

9) SUMMER NIGHT– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “The thrills and agonies of teen life and love unspool over a single night as pals and bandmates Seth and Jameson prepare for a gig. While Seth deals with life-altering news from his girlfriend, Jameson finds himself torn between two girls.”

7/12/19- Fair reviews. TRDB.

10) THE SWEET REQUIEM– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fleeing her Tibet homeland with her dad for a new life in India, Dolkar braves an arduous trek across the Himalayas that leads to tragedy after their guide deserts them. When Dolkar meets him again years later, the encounter stirs repressed memories.”

7/12/19- Reviews were mixed but this movie sounds really interesting to me. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) STUBER– Poor reviews

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

1) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD– Cinema 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Actor Rick Dalton once starred in a hit TV Western, but six years after the show’s demise, his career has faded. As Rick and his stunt double, Cliff Booth, try to reinvent themselves, all hell is about to break loose at neighbor Sharon Tate’s house.”

7/16/19- Very good reviews for this comedy/drama by Quentin Tarantino. TRDB.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH- Not available

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- Not available

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) BEFORE STONEWALL– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “From 1920s Harlem to the McCarthy era, this documentary reconstructs the history of gay and lesbian life leading up to the 1969 Stonewall riots, which ignited the modern-day gay rights movement.”

7/15/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

2) 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.

6/2/19- I didn’t think it was that special– just OK. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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

1) MAIDEN- Excellent reviews for this documentary-

2) THE REPORTS ON SARAH & SALEEM– Very good reviews

3) ECHO IN THE CANYON– Good reviews and I plan to  see it

4) WILD ROSE– I liked this movie

5) YESTERDAY– OK reviews- friends have liked it. (limited screenings)