The Reel Dr. Bob

MARCH 5, 2020

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) FLESH OUT– At the Theater

2) PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE– At the Theater

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT THE THEATER-

1) FLESH OUT– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Verida is a modern girl. She works in a beauty salon, is addicted to social media and hangs out with her friends. Still, she is engaged to a man chosen by her family. Like many girls her age, she is under pressure to gain a substantial amount of weight in a tradition called gavage, in order to reach the voluptuous body considered in Mauritania a sign of great beauty, charm, wealth and social status.”

2/27/20- Uniformly excellent reviews. TRDB.

3/1/20- I just saw this and I liked it– not great but very good and a window into another culture. TRDB.

2) 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.

3/2/20- I liked the movie although it was a bit slow at times. An interesting premise. TRDB.

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MOVIES I SAW LAST WEEK AT HOME-

1) AFTER THE WEDDING–

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK-

1) UNCUT GEMS– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “Howard Ratner, a slick jeweler with an elite client list, finds himself in dire circumstances when somebody steals a valuable cache of his merchandise. With his debts mounting and his foes closing in, Howard makes a string of audacious bets.”

12/13/19- Excellent reviews from all but many of my friends walked out of this movie early on. TRDB.

2) BOMBSHELL– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “This fact-based drama focuses on a cadre of female Fox News employees who help depose CEO Roger Ailes after several of them — including news anchor Megyn Kelly — accuse him of repeated sexual harassment.”

12/13/19- Weak reviews for this much advertised movie. TRDB.

12/22/19- Weak reviews but I liked this movie that dealt with an important topic. TRDB.

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OPENED LAST WEEK-

Recommended-

1) BLOOD ON HER NAME– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After single mom Leigh Tiller kills a man in self-defense, she decides to cover it up. But when her conscience demands that she provide closure for the dead man’s family, she moves his body where they can find it, leading to unforeseen complications.”

2/29/20- Many reviews were positive but very few were really good. The premise is interesting. TRDB.

2) DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “When her mom dies, troubled Abby heads back to her hometown of Niagara Falls, where she and her estranged sister try to settle the details of their mother’s estate. But the visit also forces Abby to relive a haunting episode from her youth.”

2/29/20- Fair reviews. TRDB.

3) SAINT FRANCES– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Fresh on the heels of an unplanned pregnancy and subsequent abortion, Bridget is in no mood for care-giving when she’s offered a job as a 6-year-old’s nanny. But after getting off to a rocky start, she begins to form a connection with her charge.”

2/29/20- Very good reviews. TRDB.

4) STRAIGHT UP– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “When insecure Todd — who’s always identified as gay — begins dating women, his friends are skeptical until he meets aspiring actress Rory and the two become inseparable. But can a relationship that’s all talk and no sex survive?”

2/29/20- Good reviews for this LGBT movie. TRDB.

Not Recommended-

1) THE INVISIBLE MAN- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “A bone-chilling new chapter of the 1933 horror classic, this sci-fi thriller focuses on a chemist who discovers a formula for becoming invisible — but the transformation soon gives rise to deadly consequences.”

2/28/20- Strictly horror and I’ll skip it despite the excellent reviews. TRDB.

2) WENDY– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This reimagining of the classic tale “Peter Pan” centers on Wendy, who’s transported to a remote island where aging and time have been disrupted. Inhabited by a group of lost children, the isle is home to Peter Pan, who takes Wendy under his wing.”

2/29/20- Really poor reviews. TRDB.

3) THE WHISTLERS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “With a big payday at stake, corrupt policeman Cristi teams with femme fatale Gilda to spring a white-collar crook from a Canary Islands jail. But Cristi will need to communicate with the local mob, which requires learning a secret whistling language.”

2/29/20- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

4) THE JESUS ROLLS– Awful reviews and it really sounds stupid.

5) BURDEN– Synopsis by Netflix.  “Taking dead aim at the vanities and excesses of the über-rich, this satirical comedy follows retail tycoon Richard McCreadie as he makes preparations for an extravagant 60th birthday bash on the Greek island of Mykonos.”Awful reviews.

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BOB’S PICKS IN WESTCHESTER AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES-

NEW IN THE BURBS-

1) THE WHISTLERS– Jacob Burns. 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “With a big payday at stake, corrupt policeman Cristi teams with femme fatale Gilda to spring a white-collar crook from a Canary Islands jail. But Cristi will need to communicate with the local mob, which requires learning a secret whistling language.”

2/29/20- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

2) WENDY– Bethel, Cinema 100. 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This reimagining of the classic tale “Peter Pan” centers on Wendy, who’s transported to a remote island where aging and time have been disrupted. Inhabited by a group of lost children, the isle is home to Peter Pan, who takes Wendy under his wing.”

2/29/20- Really poor reviews. TRDB.

3) GREED- Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury. 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taking dead aim at the vanities and excesses of the über-rich, this satirical comedy follows retail tycoon Richard McCreadie as he makes preparations for an extravagant 60th birthday bash on the Greek island of Mykonos.”

3/4/20- Weak reviews by most of the critics. TRDB.

4) ORDINARY LOVE– Bethel. 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “All the comfortable routines of Joan and Tom’s long and happy marriage are thrown into disarray when Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer. As the couple navigates Joan’s medical treatment, they begin to contemplate the unthinkable.”

2/14/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

5) THE WAY BACK– Danbury.

3/4/20-Fair early reviews.

REPEATS-

1) EMMA– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Danbury, Cinema 100.

2) PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE– Jacob Burns, Bethel, Cinema 100. I liked this movie although slow at times

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BOB’S PICKS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY-

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) THE WAY BACK– Jack Cunningham was a HS basketball phenom who walked away from the game, forfeiting his future. Years later, when he reluctantly accepts a coaching job at his alma mater, he may get one last shot at redemption.

3/4/20- Fair early reviews

2) GREED- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Taking dead aim at the vanities and excesses of the über-rich, this satirical comedy follows retail tycoon Richard McCreadie as he makes preparations for an extravagant 60th birthday bash on the Greek island of Mykonos.”

3) EMMA– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Writer Jane Austen’s meddling heroine Emma Woodhouse comes alive again in this big-screen adaptation of the classic novel about a young woman who delights in matchmaking despite her woeful record of success.”

2/22/20- Very good reviews for this re-make. TRDB.

4) THOSE WHO REMAINED– An excellent movie- See it!!

5) THE SONG OF NAMES– Also an excellent movie- A must-see!

6) PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE– I liked it but a bit slow

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- Same as Lake Worth above

C)  THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE

1) YOU GO TO MY HEAD– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Awakening after an auto accident with no memory of her past, Dafne finds herself stranded in the Sahara Desert until a man named Jake rescues her. Dafne’s beauty inspires Jake to tell her they’re married — but his gambit soon begins to fall apart.”

2/14/20- Great reviews. TRDB.

2) THE CORDILLERA OF DREAMS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Filmmaker Patricio Guzmán has lived in exile from his native Chile for more than 40 years, but the country has never been far from his mind. In the final chapter of his Chilean trilogy, Guzmán turns a meditative lens on the cordillera of the Andes.”

3/1/20- Excellent reviews for this foreign documentary. TRDB.

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

1) AND THEN WE DANCED– 2020- Synopsis by Netflix. “In the conservative domain of Georgian dance, gender roles are rigidly defined. So, when Merab — a dancer training at the National Georgian Ensemble — falls for self-assured newcomer Irakli, Merab finds his world thrown into turmoil.”

2/7/20- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

2) BEANPOLE– 1/29/20- Synopsis by Netflix. “During World War II, Iya and Masha form a strong bond while fighting together as anti-aircraft gunners. But when the conflict is over, the two women find themselves struggling to remake their lives amid the wreckage of 1945 Leningrad.”

1/29/20- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

3) ORDINARY LOVE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “All the comfortable routines of Joan and Tom’s long and happy marriage are thrown into disarray when Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer. As the couple navigates Joan’s medical treatment, they begin to contemplate the unthinkable.”

2/14/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

4) SONG OF NAMES– Excellent and a must-see!

5) THOSE WHO REMAINED– An excellent movie- see it!!

6) PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE– I liked it but a bit slow- (limited screenings)