The Reel Dr. Bob

JANUARY 16, 2020

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) 1917- At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) 1917– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “At the height of World War I, two British soldiers battle to survive a single day of ferocious combat, facing death at any moment in a landscape littered with the corpses of their comrades-in arms.”

12/26/19- Excellent reviews by critics and audiences alike. TRDB.

1/14/20- An excellent piece of film making but I have to say that I felt it was repetitive, sometimes Hollywoodish and I wondered if the lead character had 9 lives. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) 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.

2) HUSTLERS– 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- Good reviews by the critics and weak reviews from audiences for this lousy movie. Don’t bother. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

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– the story and the acting as well. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

Recommended–

1) AFTERWARD– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this timely documentary, Jerusalem-born psychoanalyst Ofra Bloch travels from New York City to Germany, Israel and Palestine to talk with people she was raised to see as enemies, delving into the psychological obstacles to peace.”

1/10/20- Few reviews for this documentary but they are all good and it sounds interesting. TRDB.

2) EARTH- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Humankind’s enormous effect on Earth’s landscape is examined at seven sites around the globe where industry and resource mining are decimating vast tracts of land, ruining unspoiled environments and irreversibly destroying ecosystems.”

1/10/20- Could be interesting but I haven’t seen any reviews as yet. TRDB.

3) THE SONATA– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “As gifted violinist Rose Fisher strives to make her mark on the music world, her composer father suddenly dies, leaving her his mansion. Upon moving in, she finds a musical score littered with strange symbols — which unlock a sinister secret.”

1/10/20- Weak reviews but it sounded interesting to me. TRDB.

4) CHHAPAAK– 1/10/20- Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Malti (Deepika Padukone) was attacked with acid on a street in New Delhi, in 2005. Through her story, the film makes an attempt to understand the on-ground consequences of surviving an acid attack in India, the medico-legal-social state of affairs that transpires after the acid has been hurled and the face is irreparably burnt.”

1/10/20- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5) THE WOMAN WHO LOVES GIRAFFES– Synopsis by Netflix. “This documentary profiles giraffe enthusiast Anne Innis Dagg, one of the first zoologists to study African wildlife in their native habitats. Despite her pioneering research, she faced gender bias in academia, turning her into a feminist activist.”

1/10/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

Not Recommended–

1) LIKE A BOSS- Terrible reviews

2) THREE CHRISTS– 1/10/20- Synopsis by Netflix. “Bringing to life a real medical episode from 1959, this period drama follows psychiatrist Alan Stone as he treats three mental patients — each believing he’s Jesus Christ — by putting them together to deal with their delusions.”

1/10/20- Poor reviews for this movie. TRDB.

3) UNDERWATER– 1/10/20- In this aquatic thriller, disaster strikes a deep-sea laboratory and its crew of researchers when an earthquake destroys their station, forcing them to take drastic measures to get to safety.

1/10/20- Poor reviews.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS- NONE

REPEATS-

1) JUST MERCY– Bethel, Danbury, Cinema 100.

2) 1917– Jacob Burns, Bethel. Cinema 100. A so-so war movie

3) KNIVES OUT– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury. Many critics called this a pleasant who-dun-it. I’ll skip it

4) LITTLE WOMEN– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Cinema 100.

5) PARASITE– Cinema 100. I didn’t care for this movie

6) UNCUT GEMS– Jacob Burns, Danbury. Good reviews many of my friends hated it and most walked (or ran) out

7) JOJO RABBIT– Danbury. Back after a long absence this movie was very well received and I’m sorry I’ve missed it so far

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) JUST MERCY– 2019. In this fact-based drama, newly minted attorney Bryan Stevenson moves to Alabama to begin a career defending the wrongly condemned, including Walter McMillian, a black man convicted of murder and sentenced to death despite evidence of his innocence.”

12/26/19- Good reviews by audiences and really good ones from the critics. TRDB.

2) LITTLE WOMEN– 2018. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this contemporary adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s immortal novel, sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy look to their beloved mother and to one another for support as they navigate the rocky path to adulthood in a rapidly changing world.”

9/26/18- Reviews by the critics were awful but audiences have liked it very much. TRDB.

3) 1917– A so-so war is hell movie

4) THE SONG OF NAMES– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This sweeping drama charts the story of two Jewish friends: young Londoner Martin and Polish refugee Dovidl, a talented violinist. When Dovidl vanishes shortly before his first recital, it takes Martin more than three decades to unravel the mystery.”

12/28/19- Poor reviews but it does sound interesting. TRDB.

5) BOMBSHELL– I liked this movie

6) ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD– Back after Oscar nominations. It’s On-Demand as well.

7) RICHARD JEWELL– Good reviews

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- Same as Lake Worth above but showing “Parasite”  instead of “Richard Jewell.”

C) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) CHINESE PORTRAIT– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Assembled over a 10-year period, this unique picture of modern China emerges through a sequence of still-frame video portraits of citizens from every location and social standing, captured against the nation’s ever-shifting backdrop.”

12/13/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) UNCUT GEMS– Good reviews but friends hated it an several walked out

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

1) INVISIBLE LIFE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1950s Rio de Janeiro, sisters Eurídice and Guida long to escape their conservative family home. But after Guida breaks free, she soon returns to Brazil — a fact their father keeps from Eurídice, exiling the siblings from each other.”

2) PARASITE- I didn’t care for this movie

3) THE SONG OF NAMES– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This sweeping drama charts the story of two Jewish friends: young Londoner Martin and Polish refugee Dovidl, a talented violinist. When Dovidl vanishes shortly before his first recital, it takes Martin more than three decades to unravel the mystery.”

12/28/19- Poor reviews but it does sound interesting. TRDB.