FILM REVIEWS #758

August 22nd, 2019

AUGUST 22, 2019
DEAR FRIENDS:
QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-
1) MEETING GORBACHEV– Netflix Disc.
2) AMERICAN FACTORY– 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) MEETING GORBACHEV– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Co-directed by prolific filmmaker Werner Herzog, this admiring documentary takes a look at the Soviet Union’s last leader, Mikhail Gorbachev — a charismatic statesman who initiated reforms that led to the end of the Cold War and changed the world.”

5/3/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

8/19/19- Excellent documentary that gave real insight into the man. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) AMERICAN FACTORY– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in the husk of an abandoned General Motors plant, hiring two thousand blue-collar Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America.”

8/21/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

8/22/19- I saw this  today— an excellent documentary. I believe that this is the first movie from the Obama’s new production company. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-
1) I AM NOT A WITCH– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In a Zambian village, the residents cast a suspicious eye on new arrival Shula, an 8-year-old orphan girl. After a minor misunderstanding, she’s labeled a witch and banished to an internment camp — where she must decide whether to risk escape.”

9/7/18- Terrific reviews– the title turned me off at first. TRDB.

2) ROCKETMAN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the early 1970s, Elton John begins a rocket ride to fame. With his topnotch composing skills and over-the-top showmanship, he becomes one of the world’s most beloved rock stars over the next four decades, as recounted in this tuneful biopic.”

5/28/19- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

6/6/19- I loved the movie- great acting, touching screenplay and of course great music. TRDB. 

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OPENED LAST WEEK-
Recommended–
1) AQUARELA- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Viktor Kossakovsky’s immersive nature documentary takes the form of a rich visual poem that exposes viewers to the many forms of water, its enormous power and the vital role that it plays in sustaining life on Earth.”

8/15/19- Excellent reviews for this foreign documentary. TRDB.

2) WHAT YOU GONNA DO WHEN THE WORLD’S ON FIRE?- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmed during the summer of 2017 when police killings of African-American men dominated the news, this powerful documentary interweaves stories from disenfranchised black communities in Louisiana and Mississippi as they struggle to find justice.”

8/15/19- Mostly good reviews with some poor ones mixed in. TRDB.

3) BLINDED BY THE LIGHT– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1987 England, 16-year-old Pakistani Javed feels constrained by his blue-collar town and his father’s rigid views. But things change when a friend lends Javed some Bruce Springsteen tapes — and he starts to find his voice through the Boss’ lyrics.”

8/13/19- Excellent reviews from audiences and critics. TRDB.

4) THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “What begins as a documentary following the final tour of a dying magician — “The Amazing Johnathan” — becomes an unexpected and increasingly bizarre journey as the filmmaker struggles to separate truth from illusion.

8/15/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

5) DRIVEN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fact-based tale of betrayal chronicles the rags-to-riches-to-rags story of car designer John DeLorean, who dazzles the auto industry with his futuristic, self-named sports car but sinks to drug trafficking to save his failing company.”

8/15/19- Fair reviews. TRDB.

6) END OF THE CENTURY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “It’s summer in Barcelona when handsome Javi catches the eye of vacationing Argentinean poet Ocho. A steamy hookup ensues and, on their second date, Javi reveals that they’ve met before — two decades earlier.”

8/15/19- Excellent reviews from all sources. TRDB.

7) COLD CASE HAMMARSKJOLD– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1961, a plane carrying U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld crashed in Rhodesia. Though his death was widely assumed to be an assassination, the case went cold — leading director Mads Brügger to launch his own probe more than 50 years later.”

8/15/19- Reviews are just fair for this documentary. TRDB.

8) BUNUEL IN THE LABYRINTH OF THE TURTLES– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This poignant animated drama centers on the early days of renowned auteur Luis Buñuel, recounting the filmmaker’s timely stroke of luck when a friend’s winning lottery ticket unexpectedly gives Luis enough money to finance his second movie.”

8/16/19- Excellent reviews for this animated drama. TRDB.

9) SOCRATES– 2019. Synopsis by IMDB. “After his mother’s sudden death, Socrates, a 15-year-old living on the margins of São Paulo’s coast, must survive on his own while coming to terms with his grief.”

8/16/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

10) GOOD BOYS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After breaking a toy drone, impish 12-year-old Max and his buddies skip school and set off on an epic all-day journey across the San Fernando Valley to replace the toy before their parents come home.”

8/16/19- Audiences liked this comedy very much and the critics rated it fair. I’ll skip it. TRDB.

11) AMERICAN FACTORY– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in the husk of an abandoned General Motors plant, hiring two thousand blue-collar Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America.”

8/21/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

8/22/19- I saw this  today— an excellent documentary. I believe that this is the first movie from the Obama’s new production company. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

Not Recommended–

1) KINGDOM– Very good reviews but martial arts is not my thing.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-
NEW IN THE BURBS-
1) AFTER THE WEDDING-2019. Bethel, Cinema 100. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Calcutta orphanage manager Isabel is summoned to New York City to meet a potential donor, she’s surprised to find herself invited to the wedding of the benefactor’s daughter — where Isabel comes face to face with her past.”

8/9/19- Really bad reviews for this re-make– too bad because the original, with the same name, was excellent. TRDB.

2) ONE CHILD NATION– Jacob Burns (limited screenings), Cinema 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “From 1979 to 2015, the Chinese government strictly enforced a one-child policy. In this eye-opening documentary, director (and first-time mother) Nanfu Wang looks at the history, social ramifications and personal costs of that draconian measure.”

8/9/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON– Bethel, Danbury, Cinema 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “A lively 22-year-old with Down syndrome, Zak lives at a nursing home because he has nobody to care for him — but it doesn’t stop him from dreaming. Breaking out to pursue his goal of becoming a pro wrestler, he gets help from a fisherman on the lam.”

8/9/19- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

REPEATS-
1) WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE?- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Cinema 100. Fair reviews.
2) THE FAREWELL-Jacob Burns, Bethel, Cinema 100. I liked it very much.
3) BLINDED BY THE LIGHT– Bethel, Danbury. Good reviews.
4) DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME– Jacob Burns. Very good reviews.
5) LUCE– Jacob Burns, Danbury. I liked it very much.
6) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD– Jacob Burns, Danbury. Good reviews for this comedy/drama.
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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-
A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-
1) BLINDED BY THE LIGHT– Good reviews.
2) AFTER THE WEDDING– Poor reviews for this re-make- I really liked the original.
3) THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON– Excellent reviews.
4) 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.

5) WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE?– Fair reviews.
B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- see Lake Worth above
1) BLINDED BY THE LIGHT–
2) AFTER THE WEDDING–
3) TEL AVIV ON FIRE–
4) WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE?–
C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-
1) 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.

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.

D) THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-
1) TEL AVIV ON FIRE– Very good reviews.
2) AFTER THE WEDDING– Poor reviews for this re-make- I liked the original very much.
3) DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME– Very good reviews for this documentary.
4) THE FAREWELL– I liked this movie very much
5) ECHO IN THE CANYON – Very good reviews.
6) THE OTHER STORY– Good reviews.
ENJOY!!
THE REEL DR. BOB

 

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