The Reel Dr. Bob

OCTOBER 31, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE ART OF SELF-DEFENCE– Netflix Disc.

2) PAIN AND GLORY– At the Theater

3) MARIANNE & LEONARD– Netflix Disc.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) PAIN AND GLORY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This layered drama centers on Salvador Mallo, an aging filmmaker looking deep within his soul as he attempts to recapture the creative spirit that once inspired him. As he surveys his life, Salvador is haunted by memories of his first love.”

10/4/19- Excellent reviews for this drama by Pedro Almodovar. TRDB.

10/25/19– I enjoyed this movie very much. Great acting. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) 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.

10/24/19- Weird but interesting. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

2) MARIANNE & LEONARD: WORDS OF LOVE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Documentarian Nick Broomfield chronicles the relationship between writer turned musician Leonard Cohen and his muse, Marianne Ihlen, who met in 1960 on the Greek island of Hydra — where they found love and Cohen began to find his artistic voice.”

7/5/19- Very good reviews. TRDB.

10/28/19- I enjoyed this documentary very much and definitely recommend it. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) PAPI CHULO– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When TV weatherman Sean finds himself on enforced leave with too much time on his hands, he hires a day laborer to paint his deck. But it soon becomes clear that what Sean really wants is a friend — even if it’s one who doesn’t speak his language.”

6/7/19- Weak reviews but it does sound interesting to me. TRDB.

2) 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.”

10/24/19- Weak reviews. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) WESTERN STARS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This intimate rockumentary captures Bruce Springsteen — flanked by his wife and a 30-piece orchestra — as he gives a single live performance of his first studio album in five years, “Western Stars,” at his New Jersey farmhouse.”

10/25/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) FARMING– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Based on director Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s experiences, this powerful coming-of-age drama follows a young Nigerian whose parents send him to live with a white British family hoping boost his prospects. Instead, he falls in with a skinhead gang.”

10/25/19- Weak reviews for this drama but the critics had a few nice things to say. TRDB.

3) BURNING CANE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this slice-of-life drama about rural Louisiana and the people who inhabit it, lush cinematography blends with Southern Gothic storytelling to relate the tale of a pastor experiencing a crisis of faith and a mom trying help her alcoholic son.”

10/25/19- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

4) THE CURRENT WAR– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the early days of electricity, Thomas Edison’s direct current (DC) was the U.S. standard. This historical drama charts the battle that erupted when George Westinghouse began touting alternating current (AC) as a more sustainable standard.”

10/22/19- Fairly good reviews- friends have found it boring. TRDB.

5) FRANKIE– 10/25/19. Synopsis by Netflix. “After learning that she has just months left to live, famed actress Frankie gathers three generations of her family in the picturesque town of Sintra, Portugal, for an emotionally charged final holiday.”

10/25/19- Fair reviews but it sounds interesting to  me. TRDB.

6) SYNONYMS- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this well-crafted drama inspired by director Nadav Lapid’s experiences, a young Israeli lands in Paris determined to speak only French in order to shed his national identity. But assimilation proves tough until a bourgeois couple offers to help.”

10/25/19- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

7) MAKING WAVES: THE ART OF CINEMATIC SOUND– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Though cinema’s sound designers have gone largely unrecognized, they get their due in this detailed documentary that looks at the variety of ways that audio — a key element of movie magic — heightens a film’s visuals.”

10/25/19- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

8) REDOUBT– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the snowy desolation of Idaho’s rugged Sawtooth Mountains, a diverse group of voiceless characters communicates via gestures and choreography that both echo and presage their encounters with wildlife.”

10/30/19- No reviews as yet. TRDB.

1) BLACK AND BLUE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “A rookie policewoman is shaken to her core when she happens upon her colleagues murdering a drug dealer. With the killing caught on her body cam, she’s soon targeted by the corrupt cops … and some vengeful criminals.”

10/25/10- Poor reviews from the critics and excellent ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) PARADISE HILLS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Uma wakes up one morning in Paradise Hills, a high-class treatment facility on an isolated tropical island where well-off families send their daughters to become perfect versions of themselves. But Uma soon realizes that lurking behind all this beauty is a sinister secret. It’s a race against the clock as Uma and her friends try to escape paradise hills before it consumes them all.”

10/25/19- Fair reviews at best for this sci-fi drama. TRDB.

3) THE GREAT ALASKAN RACE– Terrible reviews.

4) THE GALLOWS ACT 2– Awful reviews

5) THE KILL TEAM– Of no interest to me

6) PORTALS- Horror and poor reviews too

BOB’S PICKS IN WESCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES–

1)THE LIGHTHOUSE– Cinema 100- Very good reviews.

2) HARRIET- Bethel, Danbury. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This inspiring biopic recounts the life of Harriet Tubman, who’s born into servitude and becomes known as the “Moses of her people” for helping slaves escape bondage through the Underground Railroad. Later, she works as a spy for the Union Army.”

10/30/19- Fair reviews at best for this drama about Harriet Tubman. TRDB.

3) MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN- Danbury- 2019- In 1950s New York City, gumshoe Lionel Essrog — who has Tourette’s syndrome — sets out to hunt down his mentor’s killer. As Essrog follows clues that take him to unexpected places, he uncovers a citywide web of corruption.

4) WESTERN STARS- Danbury.2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This intimate rockumentary captures Bruce Springsteen — flanked by his wife and a 30-piece orchestra — as he gives a single live performance of his first studio album in five years, “Western Stars,” at his New Jersey farmhouse.”

10/25/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

1) THE CURRENT WAR– Cinema 100. Fairly good reviews. Friends have found it boring.

2) PARASITE- Bethel, Clearview 100. Danbury. Very good reviews.

3) PAIN AND GLORY– Bethel, Cinema 100

4) JUDY- Bethel. I saw this movie and liked it very much

5) DOWNTON ABBEY– Bethel. Of no interest to me.

6) THE LIGHTHOUSE– Danbury. Very good reviews.

BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY–

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) HARRIET– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This inspiring biopic recounts the life of Harriet Tubman, who’s born into servitude and becomes known as the “Moses of her people” for helping slaves escape bondage through the Underground Railroad. Later, she works as a spy for the Union Army.”

10/30/19- Fair reviews at best for this drama about Harriet Tubman. TRDB.

2) MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN– Fair reviews at best

3) PARASITE– Excellent reviews

4) THE CURRENT WAR: DIRECTOR’S CUT– Fairly good reviews but friends found it boring.

5) JUDY– I really liked this movie

6) PAIN AND GLORY– I liked the movie

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY– See above for reviews

5) JUDY-

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE–

1) THE PLAGIARISTS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “As millennial couple Anna and Tyler are on their way home, their car dies, leaving them stranded until an older black man comes to their aid. Before long, he inspires them with his insights — till they learn his words may have been plagiarized.”

6/28/19- Fair to good reviews. I’d definitely see this one. TRDB.

2) GREENER GRASS- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this absurdist comedy that lampoons politeness and social climbers, the denizens of a synthetic suburban community covet everything their neighbors possess — while hiding their searing envy behind overly gracious veneers.”

10/18/19- Excellent reviews for this comedy but honestly it sounds stupid to me. TRDB.

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

1) JUDY- I liked this movie very much

2) PAIN AND GLORY– I enjoyed this movie very much
3) PARASITE– Excellent reviews

4) WHERE’S MY ROY COHN– Fair reviews for this documentary.

5) JIM ALLISON BREAKTHROUGH- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Serving as a good starting point for those seeking to understand what makes President Donald Trump tick, this documentary profiles attorney Roy Cohn, who prosecuted the Rosenbergs, served as Joseph McCarthy’s chief counsel and mentored Trump.”

9/21/19- Fair reviews for this documentary. TRDB.