The Reel Dr. Bob

AUGUST 8, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE PUBLIC- Netflix Disc.

2) THE RED SEA DIVING RESORT– 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) 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.

8/4/19- Fair is how I would describe the movie. Hollywoodish but it portrays the homeless as an extended family fairly well. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) THE RED SEA DIVING RESORT– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Inspired by remarkable true life rescue missions, THE RED SEA DIVING RESORT is the incredible story of a group of international agents and brave Ethiopians who in the early 80s used a deserted holiday retreat in Sudan as a front to smuggle thousands of refugees to Israel.”

8/5/19- The movie gets merits as a historical reminder but otherwise falls flat. I did watch the entire movie and audiences have liked it. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK, JULY 13-

1) THE OTHER SIDE OF EVERYTHING– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Chronicling her Serbian family’s past and the nation’s history since World War II, filmmaker Mila Turajlic includes pointed and humorous conversations with her mother, Srbijanka, who was a political activist during the region’s decades of turmoil.”

7/12/18- Very good reviews by the critics and even better ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) UNPLANNED– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson goes from counseling women about their reproductive rights and choices to becoming an antiabortion activist after seeing firsthand what an abortion entails.”

4/10/19- Poor reviews by the critics and fairly good ones by audiences. TRDB.

3) CHARLIE SAYS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this biographical drama that follows Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel and Susan Atkins after they’re imprisoned for the Manson family murders, a graduate student tries to help them come to terms with their heinous crimes.”

5/10/19- Terrible reviews by the critics but excellent ones by audiences. TRDB.

4) TRIAL BY FIRE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, Cameron Todd Willingham faces the death penalty when he’s convicted of murdering his children in a Texas house fire. But a caring Houston housewife believes the verdict was based on flimsy evidence — and fights to free him.”

5/17/19- Fair to poor reviews. TRDB.

5) ALL IS TRUE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After the Globe Theatre burns down in 1613, master playwright William Shakespeare returns to his wife and two daughters in Stratford, seeking to renew ties with the family he neglected during his long stay in London.”

5/21/19- Fair reviews by the critics and poor ones from audiences. TRDB.

6) SEARCHING FOR INGMAR BERGMAN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “To mark the centennial of legendary director Ingmar Bergman’s birth, noted German filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta revisits the settings, scenes, people and themes key to the auteur’s creative cinematic legacy.”

11/2/18- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

7) CLARENCE CLEMONS: WHO DO I THINK I AM– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s marathon “Rising Tour” came to an end in 2003, Clarence Clemons felt like he needed a break. So he packed up his saxophone and voyaged to China, where he could be more-or-less a nameless traveler in a foreign land. Follow Clarence after China and document his transcendent awakening and then tragedy struck. While in Florida Clarence suffered a stroke and passed away.”

7/9/19- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) LADYWORLD– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “Eight teenage girls become trapped in an endless birthday party after a massive (imaginary?) earthquake. The girls’ sanity and psyches dissolve as they run out of food and water. Eventually, they regress to their baser instincts, exploiting each other’s fears and insecurities.”

8/2/19- Just OK reviews for this drama. TRDB.

2) THEM THAT FOLLOW– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a remote Appalachian community, the daughter of a snake-handling Pentecostal preacher is about to enter an arranged marriage with a member of her father’s flock. But she’s harboring a secret: She’s carrying a nonbelieving local boy’s child.”

8/2/19- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

3) LUCE– 2019. “A married couple is forced to reckon with their idealized image of their son, adopted from war-torn Eritrea, after an alarming discovery by a devoted high school teacher threatens his status as an all-star student.”

8/2/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4) THE NIGHTINGALE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Clare, an Irish convict settler in 1820s Tasmania, vows revenge when a British officer carries out a violent act against her family. Determined to catch him, Clare hires an aboriginal tracker to lead the pursuit through the Tasmanian wilderness.”

8/2/19- Good reviews from most critics. TRDB.

5) TEL AVIV ON FIRE– 2019. Synopsis by IMDB. “Salam, an inexperienced young Palestinian man, becomes a writer on a popular soap opera after a chance meeting with an Israeli soldier.”

8/2/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

Not Recommended

1) A SCORE TO SETTLE– Awful reviews

2) THE OPERATIVE– Poor reviews

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) BRIAN BANKS– Bethel. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this real-life tale, high school gridiron star Brian Banks is offered an athletic scholarship to play at the University of Southern California. Dreaming of a professional career, he sees his aspirations crumble when he’s falsely convicted of rape.

8/6/19- Just a few more positives than negatives but there were also a few excellents tossed in. TRDB.

2) THEM THAT FOLLOW– Clearview 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a remote Appalachian community, the daughter of a snake-handling Pentecostal preacher is about to enter an arranged marriage with a member of her father’s flock. But she’s harboring a secret: She’s carrying a nonbelieving local boy’s child.”

8/2/19- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

3) DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME– Jacob Burns. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this illuminating documentary, trailblazing rocker David Crosby shares — with brutal candor — a slew of personal observations and reminiscences from a 50-year musical career that’s far from over.”

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

4) LUCE– Jacob Burns. 2019. “A married couple is forced to reckon with their idealized image of their son, adopted from war-torn Eritrea, after an alarming discovery by a devoted high school teacher threatens his status as an all-star student.”

8/2/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. Haven’t seen it yet but I plan to

2) THE FAREWELL– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Clearview 100. I liked this one very much

3) MAIDEN– Bethel, Clearview 100. Good reviews

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD– Fair to good reviews

2) THE OTHER STORY- Fair to good reviews.

3) YESTERDAY– The movie was fair but the music was great

4) THE REPORTS ON SARAN & SALEEM– Good reviews

5) THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM– Excellent!

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) THE KITCHEN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen, housewives Kathy, Ruby and Claire take charge of the business when their Irish mob hubbies end up in the slammer — but the women turn out to be even more vicious than their spouses.”

8/6/19- Poor early reviews. TRDB.

2) THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this heartfelt dramedy based the best-selling book of the same name, insightful family canine Enzo reflects on his life through the lessons he’s learned from his owner, race-car driver Denny Swift.”

8/6/19- Weak reviews at best. TRDB.

3) THE FAREWELL– I liked it very much

4) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD– Fair to good reviews

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

6) PAVAROTTI– I enjoyed this documentary

C) THE STONZEK THEATER-

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) THE LAST– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The survivors of four generations of a Jewish family are rocked to their core when the family’s beloved 92-year-old matriarch makes a stunning confession.”

3/29/19- Just 5 reviews noted. Four of them were very good and 1 was fair. TRDB.

D) THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS-

1) DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this illuminating documentary, trailblazing rocker David Crosby shares — with brutal candor — a slew of personal observations and reminiscences from a 50-year musical career that’s far from over.”

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

2) ECHO IN THE CANYON– Very good reviews

3) THE FAREWELL– I liked it very much

4) THE OTHER STORY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Raised a secular Jew, Anat Abadi seems to be on the path to ultra-Orthodox zealotry when she joins a seminary and announces her upcoming marriage to a devout musician. But her relatives are having none of it, especially her grandfather.”

6/28/19– Fair to good reviews. TRDB.

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

ENJOY!!

THE REEL DR. BOB