The Reel Dr. Bob

JULY 16, 2020

DEAR FRIENDS-

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) ADU- Netflix.

2) JUST FINISHED THE LAST (#6) SERIES OF “SCHITT’S CREEK” AND ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH- Netflix.

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK AT HOME-

1) ADU- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In a desperate attempt to reach Europe and crouched before an airstrip in Cameroon, a six-year-old boy and his older sister wait to sneak into the holds of an airplane. Not too far away, an environmental activist contemplates the terrible image of an elephant, dead and fangless. “Thousands of kilometers to the north, in Melilla, a group of civil guards prepare to face the furious crowd of sub-Saharan people who have begun the assault on the fence.”

7/9/20- Very  good reviews by audiences. I liked the movie despite awful or absent sub-titles. TRDB. On Netflix.

2) 365 DAYS- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Introverted sales director Laura heads to Italy to save her relationship, only to get kidnapped and held captive by the Sicilian mafia, who give her 365 days to fall in love with Massimo Torricelli, a young and handsome member of the mafia family and the most dangerous man on the island.”

7/11/20- A controversial film, this movie received a Zero rating from Rotten Tomatoes but it has been on the top 10 streamed list in the US and in Europe. TRDB.

7/12/20- Forget about the Stockholm Syndrome– this soft porn movie is the worst. Zero ratings are too high. TRDB.

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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) INMATE #1: THE RISE OF DANNY TREJO– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Inmate #1: The Rise Of Danny Trejo is the feature documentary revealing the extraordinary life journey of hollywood’s most unlikely hero, Danny Trejo.From an early life of drugs, armed robbery and hard prison time, to the red carpets of Hollywood blockbusters and helping troubled addicts. Danny gives a first hand account of one of the greatest transformations of human character ever put to film. To this day, Danny continues to council recovering addicts and speak at state prisons.”

7/9/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Amazon- rent or buy

2) THE BEACH HOUSE– 2020. Synopsis by IMDB. “A romantic getaway for two troubled college sweethearts turns into a struggle for survival when unexpected guests – and the surrounding environment – exhibit signs of a mysterious infection.”

7/9/20- Not my kind of movie but it received fair reviews. TRDB.

3) AI WEIWEI: YOURS TRULY– Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Following Ai Weiwei’s detention at the hands of the Chinese authorities, the outspoken artist and activist transformed the former island penitentiary of Alcatraz into an artistic platform.”

4) PALM SPRINGS– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “When carefree Nyles (Andy Samberg) and reluctant maid of honor Sarah (Cristin Milioti) have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.”

7/10/20- Very good reviews for this drama/comedy. TRDB. On HULU.

7) THE TOBACCONIST– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Seventeen-year-old Franz journeys to Vienna to apprentice at a tobacco shop. There he meets Sigmund Freud, a regular customer, and over time the two very different men form a singular friendship. When Franz falls desperately in love with the music-hall dancer Anezka, he seeks advice from the renowned psychoanalyst, who admits that the female sex is as big a mystery to him as it is to Franz. As political and social conditions in Austria dramatically worsen with the Nazis’ arrival in Vienna, Franz, Freud, and Anezka are swept into the maelstrom of events. Each has a big decision to make: to stay or to flee?”

7/10/20- Weak reviews from the critics and pretty good ones from audiences. TRDB.

8) DATELINE- SAIGON– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A look at the early years of the Vietnam War through distinguished reporters and photographers of the time.” Just a few reviews and they are good.

7/15/20- Just 1 review so far and its good. TRDB. Rent or buy on iTunes and perhaps Prime as well. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC.

1) 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.

2) RESISTANCE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “During the Nazi occupation of France, Marcel Mangel — who would later become legendary mime Marcel Marceau — shelves his artistic ambitions to join a group of Jewish Boy Scouts helping the Resistance smuggle out children orphaned by the Holocaust.”

3/30/20- Weak reviews for this drama but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB.

3) 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 but was a pretty good depiction of the dissolution of a marriage. TRDB. Netflix Streaming.