The Reel Dr. Bob

DECEMBER 12, 2019

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) MARRIAGE STORY– Netflix Streaming

2) WAVES- At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) WAVES– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Set against the vibrant landscape of South Florida, and featuring an astonishing ensemble of award-winning actors and breakouts alike, Waves traces the epic emotional journey of a suburban African-American family–led by a well-intentioned but domineering father–as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the aftermath of a loss.”

11/16/19- Excellent reviews from the critics and audiences. TRDB.

12/11/19- Definitely a sleeper- this movie was excellent. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT HOME-

1) MARRIAGE STORY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this incisive portrayal of a dissolving marriage, a New York City theatre director and his discontented actress wife find their rancorous divorce becoming increasingly hostile as custody of their young son ups the ante.”

11/12/19- Excellent reviews by critics and audiences. TRDB. 

12/6/19-The movie was very good and beautifully acted by the lead actors. This is not a fun movie to watch. TRDB. Netflix Streaming

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This noirish drama follows moody drifter Luo Hongwu as he returns to his provincial hometown and is quickly flooded with memories of an enigmatic lost love, prompting him to embark on a search for her.”

4/12/19- Very good reviews from the critics and weak ones from audiences. One reviewer called it “all style and no substance.” TRDB.

2) DOWNTON ABBY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in the period between world wars, this big-screen adaptation of the beloved British TV series continues to follow the lives of the patrician Crawley family and those of the servants who keep the sprawling estate running.”

9/17/19- Fair to good reviews. TRDB.

3) AD ASTRA– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Army Corps engineer Roy McBride has never stopped missing his father, a scientist who vanished on a mission to find alien life on Neptune. Twenty years later, Roy embarks on a galactic search to locate his dad and learn what happened.”

9/18/19- Fairly good reviews for this sci-fi movie starring Brad Pitt. TRDB.

4) WHERE’S MY ROY COHN?- 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.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

1) MIDNIGHT FAMILY– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “A woefully underserved medical market, Mexico City has just 45 ambulances for 9 million residents. To help fill the void, the Ochoa family races against an army of freelancers to provide life-saving first responses to an array of crises.”

12/6/19- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MY MOTHER– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the 1960s, Benedetta Barzini became famous as a fashion model, but by the 1970s, she’d become a radical feminist. Now age 75, all she wants is to disappear from civilization — if she can get her filmmaker son to stop shoving a camera in her face.”

12/6/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When hesitant bride-to-be Héloïse refuses to sit for a portrait to entice a marriage proposal, commissioned artist Marianne must observe Héloïse during the day and paint her at night. In the process, Marianne begins to fall for her beautiful subject.”

12/6/19- Excellent reviews for this drama that takes place in 1760 France. TRDB.

4) A GERMAN YOUTH– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Through archival material, this incisive documentary chronicles the birth and evolution of Germany’s Red Army Faction, a group of left-wing activists turned terrorists who committed dozens of violent crimes, including 34 killings, over 25 years.”

12/6/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5) WHEN LAMBS BECOME LIONS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “The moral complexities of Kenya’s illegal ivory trade come into focus through a look at the lives of two men affected: an ivory dealer whose business is being undercut by conservation efforts, and his cousin, a wildlife ranger.”

12/6/19- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) IN FABRIC– A horror and supernatural movie and I’ll skip it despite the excellent ratings.

2) A MILLION LITTLE PIECES– Awful reviews for this drama about drug rehab.

3) KNIVES AND SKIN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this offbeat thriller set in a small Midwestern town brimming with sinister secrets, residents become increasingly distrustful and unhinged after a pretty high schooler inexplicably disappears.”

12/6/19- Fair reviews at best. Not listed as a horror movie but it sure sounds like one to me. TRDB.

4) DANIEL ISN’T REAL– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Traumatized as a child, Luke creates an imaginary friend named Daniel as a coping device. A decade later, Luke again turns to his imaginary companion in the wake of his mother’s mental breakdown — unaware that Daniel has a horrifying hidden agenda.”

12/6/19- OK reviews but I’ll skip this one. TRDB.

5) LITTLE JOE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Scientist and single mom Alice is a devoted plant breeder. When her new creation — a scarlet flower that emits an ambrosial odor — exhibits an ability to make people happy, she brings one home for her son … but the seedling soon turns sinister.”

12/6/10- Weak reviews for this mystery although the premise sounds a bit interesting. TRDB.

6) THE WOLF HOUR– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1977 New York City, author June Leigh — an activist and firebrand in the 1960s — is suffering from writer’s block and paranoia, rarely leaving her flat. But her seclusion makes her a target for an unseen tormentor who rings her bell incessantly.”

12/6/19- Really poor reviews but I love Naomi Watts so I might just see this  when I can watch it at home. TRDB.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) MARRIAGE STORY– I really liked this movie starring Scarlet Johansson. I also like and respect Johansson.

2) THE TWO POPES– Excellent reviews and I plan to see it soon

3) KNIVES OUT– Very good reviews

3) A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD– I loved the movie

4) DARK WATERS– Excellent reviews

5) FORD V FERRARI– I thought this was a waste of time

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) MARRIAGE STORY– Excellent and I highly recommend it

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) RAY & LIZ– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Inspired partially by photographer-turned-director Richard Billingham’s memories, this kitchen-sink drama paints a dire portrait of his boyhood growing up in a squalid council estate with an alcoholic dad and a tattooed, chain-smoking mom.”

12/10/2019- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) I DO NOT CARE IF WE GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS BABARIANS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This dark satire follows ambitious theater director Mariana Marin as she attempts to stage an elaborate re-enactment of the tragic 1941 Odessa massacre. But she quickly encounters opposition from a municipal bureaucrat and a rebellious cast.”

12/11/19- Excellent reviews by the critics and fair ones by audiences. TRDB.

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

1) HONEY BOY– Mostly good reviews

2) PAIN AND GLORY– I liked it

3) PARASITE– I didn’t care for this hyped movie

4) SYNONYMS– Fairly good reviews

5) THE AERONAUTS– Good reviews