The Reel Dr. Bob

NOVEMBER 14, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

‘QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT THE THEATER- NONE

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT HOME-

1) HOLIDAY IN THE WILD- 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “To keep her spirits high when their son leaves for college, Manhattanite Kate Conrad (Kristin Davis) has booked a ‘second honeymoon’ with her husband. Instead of thanking her, he brings their relationship to a sudden end; jilted Kate proceeds to Africa for a solo safari

11/8/19- One critic said the movie was “cheesy, stupid, but really quite charming. I agree!!” TRDB. Netflix Streaming.

2) PERFECT SISTERS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “On January 18, 2003, police, alerted by a frantic 911 call from a distraught pair of teenage girls, arrived at the girls Toronto area town house to find their mother dead. It appeared the 44-year-old alcoholic, having slipped into a booze-and-pill stupor, drowned in her own bathwater. The death was ruled accidental by the authorities. But rumors quickly start to circle the girls, was it an accident or something more sinister?”

4/11/14– Good reviews for the teen actresses but NOT for the movie. TRDB.

11/12/19- The review above just about says it all. TRDB. Netflix Disc.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) TRUMAN– 2017. Synopsis by Netflix. “Despite living far apart for much of their adult lives, boyhood pals Julián and Tomás have retained a deep connection. But when Julián is diagnosed with terminal cancer and Tomás arrives to urge him to continue treatment, tensions arise between them.”

4/20/17- Excellent reviews by the critics and fairly good ones from audiences. TRDB.

4/21/17- I liked this movie very much. Great acting and a very good story. TRDB.

2) TOO LATE TO DIE YOUNG– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this coming-of-age tale set in 1990 Chile, teenage Sofía lives off the grid with her family and a group of like-minded ex-urbanites at the foot of the Andes — where disquieting adult truths soon disrupt her youthful idyll.”

5/31/19- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

3) A FAITHFUL MAN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After reconnecting with Marianne — who left him nine years ago to marry his best friend — Parisian journalist Abel finds his suspicions aroused as her scheming young son plants the idea that the now-widowed Marianne poisoned her hubby.”

7/19/19- Fairly good reviews. TRDB.

4) 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.

5) 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.

6) AMERICAN DREAMER– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Computer programmer Cam once had it all, but when he loses his job and family, he ends up working as a ride-share driver. Desperate to make ends meet, the irrational Cam abducts the son of a drug-dealer client, hoping to collect a ransom.”

9/14/19- Awful reviews-skip it. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

Recommended–

1) THE KINGMAKER- IMELDA MARCOS– 2019.At age 90, Imelda Marcos — the Philippines’ former first lady — continues to wield enormous influence in the country she and her husband presided over for decades as she steers her son’s bid for the vice presidency.”

11/8/19- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) 16 BARS- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. invites hip-hop star Todd “Speech” Thomas to a Virginia jail to lead a musical rehabilitation program, he works with inmates to put their stories to music and record them, as chronicled in this engaging documentary.”

11/8/19- I’ve seen just 1 review and it is fair. I’ll try to see this film. TRDB.

3) LAST CHRISTMAS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this yuletide romantic comedy, young Kate is grumbling (and jingling) her way through the holidays as an elf at a year-round Christmas store. But when dashing Tom enters her life, down come the walls Kate has built around herself.”

11/8/19- Weak reviews from the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.

4) HONEY BOY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Shia LaBeouf drew from his childhood to pen the screenplay for this powerful drama about the relationship between Otis Lort — a TV star at age 12 — and his father, a former rodeo clown who controls and abuses his son.”

11/8/19- Most of the reviews were very good for this drama with a few poor ones tossed in. TRDB.

5) CROWN VIC- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in Los Angeles, this gritty thriller chronicles one tumultuous night on the job for a seasoned patrol officer and his young rookie partner, who must contend with everything from a pair of cop killers to a crazed detective gone rogue.”

11/8/19- Fair reviews. TRDB.

6) KLAUS- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this animated feature, a postman is assigned to a frozen town in the North – where he discovers Santa Claus is hiding out. Directed by Sergio Pablos and featuring Jason Schwartzman and J.K. Simmons.”

11/8/19- Fair reviews at best for this animated film. TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) MIDWAY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set six months after Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, this historical drama follows U.S. naval forces as they turn the tide of World War II by defeating an attacking Japanese armada near Midway Island.”

11/8/19- Awful reviews by the critics but the movie has appealed to audiences. TRDB.

2) PLAYING WITH FIRE– Terrible reviews!

3) EARTHQUAKE BIRD– 2019. Synopsis by IMDB. “Swedish expatriate Lucy Fly has spent the past five years in Tokyo trying to fit in. But she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation when newly arrived American Lily Bridges disappears after making a play for Lucy’s .”

11/8/19-  Poor reviews. TRDB.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) FORD VS. FERRARI– Bethel, Danbury, Cinema 100. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fed up with the Ferrari team’s routine domination of the annual Le Mans race, Henry Ford II tasks design prodigy Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles with a mission: build a car that can defeat the Italians in the 1966 competition.

11/13/19- Excellent reviews from most of the critics. TRDB.

2) THE IRISHMAN– Cinema 100. No reviews yet

3) THE GOOD LIAR– Bethel. 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “While looking for his next mark, professional con man Roy Courtnay meets wealthy widow Betty McLeish online. But reeling her in becomes complicated when Roy begins falling for her … and discovers she has secrets of her own.

11/13/19- Fair reviews for this drama starring Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) JOJO RABBIT– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Cinema 100. Very good reviews

2) PARASITE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Cinema 100. I didn’t care for this movie

3) MARRIAGE STORY– Jacob Burns. Excellent reviews

4) HARRIET- Jacob Burns, Danbury. Fair reviews at best for this drama about Harriet Tubman. One of my friends said it was the best movie she has ever seen

5) PAIN AND GLORY– Jacob Burns. I liked this movie.

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1)  THE GOOD LIAR- Fair reviews

2) FORD V FERRARI– Excellent reviews

3) HARRIET- Fair reviews- some friends have loved it

4) MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN– Fair reviews at best

5) THE IRISHMAN– No reviews as yet

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) THE GOOD LIAR– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “While looking for his next mark, professional con man Roy Courtnay meets wealthy widow Betty McLeish online. But reeling her in becomes complicated when Roy begins falling for her … and discovers she has secrets of her own.

11/13/19- Fair reviews for this drama starring Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren. TRDB.

2) FORD VS. FERRARI– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fed up with the Ferrari team’s routine domination of the annual Le Mans race, Henry Ford II tasks design prodigy Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles with a mission: build a car that can defeat the Italians in the 1966 competition.

11/13/19- Excellent reviews from most of the critics. TRDB.

3) THE IRISHMAN– No reviews as yet. This movie will be on Netflix in 2 weeks

4) MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN- Fair reviews at best

5) HARRIET-Fair reviews

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) ANTHROPOCENE: THE HUMAN EPOCH– Synopsis by IMDB. “Filmmakers travel to six continents and 20 countries to document the impact humans have made on the planet.”

9/25/19- Good early reviews for this documentary. TRDB. 

2) SEX, DRUGS, AND UFO’S– I am unable to find any reviews of this movie

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

1) BY THE GRACE OF GOD– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Molested as a boy by a priest, Alexandre Guérin — now a husband and dad — is dismayed to find that his abuser still works with minors. Determined to expose the church’s complicity, Alexandre joins forces with two of the clergyman’s other victims.”

10/18/19- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

2) PAIN AND GLORY– I liked it

3) PARASITE- Very hyped but I didn’t care for it

4) THE IRISHMAN– No reviews as yet. This movie will be on Netflix in 2 weeks

5) THE REPORT– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, Daniel Jones heads the Senate investigation into the CIA’s post-9/11 Detention and Interrogation Program. But when he learns of the agency’s enhanced interrogation techniques, the powers that be are intent on stifling him.”

11/12/19- Fairly good reviews for this movie. TRDB.