The Reel Dr. Bob

SEPTEMBER 12, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) IN AND OUT- Netflix Streaming

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “New Yorker Brittany Forgler is 27 years old and the life of every party. But when a doctor’s visit reveals that party life is hurting her — her weight and blood pressure are both up — she begins a block-by-block program of self-improvement.”

8/22/19- Very good reviews for this comedy. TRDB.

9/7/19- Mostly fluff with a few good scenes that made the film, in my opinion, worth seeing but I would not inconvenience yourself to go to a theater. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) IN AND OUT- 1997. Synopsis by Netflix. “When dim-bulb actor Cameron Drake (Matt Dillon) wins an Oscar for playing a gay Marine, he outs his high school drama teacher, Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline), in his acceptance speech. It all comes as a surprise to Howard — not to mention to his long-suffering fiancée, Emily (Joan Cusack). With his wedding just days away and national media descending on his town, Howard’s under the gun to prove just how much of a man he is.”

9/7/19- I haven’t seen this movie in quite a while and I still love it. During the scene where Kline plays a tape to help himself become a man I am out of control laughing. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

2) THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Having spent his early years in a San Francisco house his grandfather built — and which the family later lost — Jimmie yearns to return to that home. So, when the residence becomes vacant, he hatches a plan to reclaim it.”

6/7/19- Great reviews from nearly everybody. TRDB.

9/9/19- No matter how hard I tried to get into this movie I could not. One critic called it “languid” and I would agree. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK- 9/17/19

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OPENED LAST WEEK- 9/6/19

1) I’M LEAVING NOW-2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Undocumented Mexican immigrant Felipe Hernández has spent years working in New York City and sending his earnings home to his family. Now he’s ready to return, but his family isn’t ready for him to come back — leaving Felipe at a crossroads.”

9/5/19- Good early reviews but very few published so far. TRDB.

2) STRANGE BUT TRUE– 2019. “Synopsis by Netflix. “A woman who, five years after the tragic death of her boyfriend, arrives on the doorstep of his family to tell them she is pregnant with his child. Though skeptical, the family find themselves trying to prove her right, only to discover that the truth is much more terrifying than they could have imagined.”
9/5/19- Good review for this mystery. TRDB.

3) BLINK OF AN EYE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Centering on the fateful friendship between stock-car racers Michael Waltrip and the iconic Dale Earnhardt Sr., this documentary recounts the 2001 Daytona 500 as Earnhardt blocks competitors to let Waltrip win, only to die in a crash moments later.”

9/5/19- Fair reviews at best for this documentary. TRDB.

4) RAISE HELL: THE LIFE & TIMES OF MOLLY IVINS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This entertaining documentary profiles trailblazing journalist and political commentator Molly Ivins, who passed away in 2007. But her views — including her fear that partisanship would destroy democracy — remain as relevant as ever.”

9/5/19- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5) LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Linda Ronstadt loves to sing — a truth that can be heard in each note of every music genre she’s undertaken. This affecting documentary draws on archival footage and tributes from a wide swath of Ronstadt’s musical colleagues to chronicle her story.”

9/6/19- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

6) PROMISE AT DAWN– 2019. Synopsis by MetaCritic. “From his childhood in Poland to his adolescence in Nice to his years as a student in Paris and his tough training as a pilot during World War II, this epic drama tells the romantic story of Romain Gary, one of the most famous French novelists and sole writer to have won the Goncourt Prize for French literature two times.”

9/6/19- Fair early reviews. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) SUPER SIZE ME 2– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After exposing the health consequences of an all-fast-food diet in his 2004 documentary, Morgan Spurlock shines a light on the dark side of agribusiness — and the food industry’s dubious health claims — by opening his own chicken restaurant.”

9/5/19- Weak reviews. Looks like the original was better. TRDB.

2) JINN– An Arabic fantasy/horror movie with awful reviews that I can and will do without.

3) NIGHT HUNTER– Miserable reviews.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) THE GOLDFINCH– Danbury, Cinema 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When his mother dies in a bomb attack at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, young Theodore Decker’s life is profoundly altered — especially after he steals a priceless painting from the debris and ends up involved in the art underworld.”

9/10/19- Terrible reviews for this movie based on a novel. I’d skip this one. TRDB.

2) LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE– Jacob Burns, Cinema 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Linda Ronstadt loves to sing — a truth that can be heard in each note of every music genre she’s undertaken. This affecting documentary draws on archival footage and tributes from a wide swath of Ronstadt’s musical colleagues to chronicle her story.”

9/6/19- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) HUSTLERS– Danbury. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Angry about being taken advantage of by their employer and their customers, a group of former strip-club employees turns the tables on their wealthy Wall Street clients in this true-life tale.”

9/10/19- Excellent reviews for this drama starring Jennifer Lopez. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON– Jacob Burns. Cinema 100. I think this movie was highly overrated. Just OK.

2)  OFFICIAL SECRETS– Jacob Burns, Cinema 100. Fair reviews

3) MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL– Jacob Burns.

4) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD– Jacob Burns.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This engrossing documentary traces the origins, incarnations and influence of the beloved stage musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” which opened in 1964 and became a Broadway phenomenon, running for eight years.”

8/22/19- Great reviews! TRDB.

2) LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Linda Ronstadt loves to sing — a truth that can be heard in each note of every music genre she’s undertaken. This affecting documentary draws on archival footage and tributes from a wide swath of Ronstadt’s musical colleagues to chronicle her story.”

9/6/19- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) AFTER THE WEDDING– Poor reviews — I Liked the original very much

4) LUCE- I liked it very much

5) THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON– Very good reviews

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- Not available at this time but usually similar or the same as Lake Worth

1) DOWNTON ABBEY–

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) ASAKO 1 & 2-  2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After young Asako falls for charming rogue Baku, he vanishes one day without explanation. Although Asako is heartbroken, she moves on and two years later meets Ryôhei, who is Baku’s physical double — but otherwise opposite in every way.

5/14/19- Fair to good reviews. TRDB.

2) BECOMING NOBODY– Mostly poor reviews

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

1) BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON– I didn’t much care for this movie

2) FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES– Great reviews

3) TEL AVIV ON FIRE- Very good reviews

4) THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON– Very good reviews.

5) EDIE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When 83-year-old Edie’s husband dies, her daughter is ready to pack Mom off to an assisted-living facility. But Edie has other plans: Pursuing a lifelong dream, she heads to the Scottish Highlands to climb Mount Suilven.”

9/3/19- Almost all of the critics liked the movie but none thought that it was excellent. I’d give it a try. TRDB.