The Reel Dr. Bob

AUGUST 1, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

IV’E HAD GUESTS ALL WEEK SO ONLY 1 MOVIE FOR ME-

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK- NONE

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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) ASH IS PUREST WHITE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a young gang attacks her mobster boyfriend, Bin, loyal Qiao uses his illegal gun to save him — landing her in prison for five years. But after she’s released, Qiao finds that Bin has moved on without her, and she sets off to track him down.”

3/15/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

7/26/19- Some interesting scenes that I enjoyed but I can’t really recommend this way-too-long Chinese movie. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) AMAZING GRACE– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “More than 40 years after Aretha Franklin delivered two spellbinding nights of gospel music at a Baptist church in Los Angeles, this documentary — long shelved because of technical problems — takes viewers back to the legendary concerts.”

12/7/18- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) EATING ANIMALS– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s best-selling book, this eye-opening documentary looks at the high cost — to animals, the environment and human health — of our insistence on cheap food and reliance on the agro-industrial complex that produces it.”

6/15/18- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) THE SOUVENIR– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this romantic drama, film student Julie is struggling to find her voice when she falls for the charismatic but mysterious Anthony. As love blooms, so does her creativity, but her mother and friends fear that the relationship will destroy Julie.”

5/17/19- Great reviews by the critics and terrible ones from audiences. I’ll try to see this one. TRDB.

4) PLUS ONE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Long-time friends Alice and Ben find themselves in that inevitable year that all late 20-somethings experience—in which seemingly every person they know gets married—and agree to be one another’s plus ones as they power through an endless parade of insufferable weddings.”

6/14/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

5) 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.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) HONEYLAND– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an isolated Balkan landscape, beekeeper Hatidze Muratova lovingly tends her hives, scratching out a living by selling honey at a faraway market. But when a nomadic family and their 150 cows move in next door, her fragile existence is threatened.”

7/26/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) THE GROUND BENEATH MY FEET– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Approaching 30, business consultant Lola Wegenstein is hyperfocused on success. But her tightly compartmentalized life starts to unravel when her troubled sister attempts suicide, and Lola’s personal and professional worlds begin to collide.”

7/26/19- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB.

3) SKIN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Raised by skinheads, young Bryon Widner finds himself in the FBI’s crosshairs as a vocal white supremacist. But fatherhood begins to change his views, leading him to undergo the excruciating process of removing the racist tattoos covering his body.”

7/26/19- Fair to good reviews. TRDB.

4) FOR SAMA– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “The besieged city of Aleppo, Syria, is the setting of this powerful documentary, as director Waad al-Kateab composes a video diary of her searing experiences for her 1-year-old daughter before the family must flee to survive.”

7/26/19- Excellent reviews for this foreign documentary. TRDB.

5) JIRGA– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmed in the mountains of Jalalabad with a cast that includes ex-Taliban members, this absorbing drama recounts the journey of a former Australian soldier who returns to Afghanistan to make peace with the family of a civilian he killed in the war.”

7/26/19- Fairly good reviews including some excellent ones. TRDB.

6) MIKE WALLACE IS HERE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When it came to asking tough questions, longtime “60 Minutes” reporter Mike Wallace pulled few punches. This documentary takes a similar approach, using a wealth of archival footage to explore what made the journalist tick and how his career evolved.”

7/26/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

7) THE MOUNTAIN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1953, shy young Andy is hired to photograph a tour of mental asylums accompanying Wallace Fiennes — the doctor who lobotomized Andy’s mom. As Fiennes promotes the already outdated and controversial procedure, Andy falls for a potential patient.”

7/26/19- Fair reviews at best but might be worth a viewing. TRDB.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) THE MOUNTAIN– Clearview 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1953, shy young Andy is hired to photograph a tour of mental asylums accompanying Wallace Fiennes — the doctor who lobotomized Andy’s mom. As Fiennes promotes the already outdated and controversial procedure, Andy falls for a potential patient.”

7/26/19- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

2) HONEYLAND– Jacob Burns. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an isolated Balkan landscape, beekeeper Hatidze Muratova lovingly tends her hives, scratching out a living by selling honey at a faraway market. But when a nomadic family and their 150 cows move in next door, her fragile existence is threatened.”

7/26/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYHWOOD– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100.

2) THE FAREWELL– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Clearview 100. An excellent movie.

3) MAIDEN– Bethel, Clearview 100. Very good reviews

4) PAVAROTTI– Jacob Burns, Clearview 100. I liked this very much.

5) SWORD OF TRUST- Jacob Burns. Good reviews. Can be viewed already On-Demand.

6) YESTERDAY–  The movie was just OK but, of course, the music was great

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD-

2) THE OTHER STORY– Good reviews

3) YESTERDAY- The movie was just OK but, of course, the music is great

4) THE REPORTS ON SARAH AND SALEEM– Very good reviews

5) THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM– An excellent movie that I thoroughly enjoyed

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD– see above

2) THE FAREWELL-see above

3) PAVAROTTI- I enjoyed this documentary

4) THE OTHER STORY-see above

5) THE REPORTS ON SARAH AND SALEEM-see above

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) LITTLE WOODS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In Little Woods, North Dakota, Ollie once made a living by smuggling in prescription drugs from Canada. About to complete her probation, she’s looking to go straight — but her mom’s death and sister’s pregnancy leave Ollie in desperate need of cash.”

4/19/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) 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.

D) THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON

1) ECHO IN THE CANYON– Very good reviews.

2) MAIDEN– (limited screenings)

3) THE FAREWELL– I liked this very much

4) THE OTHER STORY– Fair to good reviews

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

6) THE SILENCE OF OTHERS– Excellent reviews