The Reel Dr. Bob

December 25, 2020

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) SYLVIE’S LOVE– Prime

2) MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM– Netflix

_____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) I’M YOUR WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in the 1970s, this gritty drama follows young mom Jean, who’s living comfortably in suburbia till her hubby runs afoul of his criminal cohorts and disappears. With his foes closing in on Jean, she’s forced to go on the run with the couple’s baby.”

12/4/2020- Fair reviews in general but some of the reviews were pretty good and I would try to see it. TRDB.

12/18/20- A few interesting scenes but not really worth spending two hours with this drama. TRDB. Amazon Prime

2) MA’ RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey (Academy Award® winner Viola Davis).”

12/19/20- Excellent reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB.

12/23/20- After a slow start this movie got much better and I enjoyed it very much. TRDB.

3) SYLVIE’S LOVE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “While awaiting her fiancé’s return from the Korean War, young Sylvie Johnson is working in her dad’s record store when a handsome saxophonist looking for a day job saunters in and sweeps her off her feet, forever complicating her life.”

12/23/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

12/24/20- I enjoyed this movie and recommend it. TRDB. On Prime

____________________________________________________________________

COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC AND POSSIBLY STREAMING ALSO-

____________________________________________________________________

NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) MA’ RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey (Academy Award® winner Viola Davis).”

12/19/20- Excellent reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB. On Netflix

12/23/20- After a slow start this movie got much better and I enjoyed it very much. TRDB.

2) MUSEUM TOWN– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “When the factories of North Adams, Massachusetts, close, residents fear the community will become a ghost town. But their worries are allayed as the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art sets up shop in a former textile mill.”

12/19/20- Fair reviews for this documentary. TRDB. At museumtownmovie.com

3) THE LAST BLOCKBUSTER– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This is the story of the last remaining Blockbuster Video in the world. The massive global phenomenon that once had over 3,000 locations is now down to a single store in the small town of Bend, OR.”

12/19/20- Fair to good reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Amazon Prime

4) EFFIGY: POISON AND THE CITY– Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “1828 in the German port city of Bremen: Two very different women collide in an age that has no place for either of them. One strives for a career in law, at a time when women aren’t even admitted to universities. The other has lived life outside the law and may now have to pay the tab. One of them needs to get her head together – while the other would do anything not to lose hers.”

12/19/20- Excellent reviews for this German drama. TRDB. On virtual cinemas

5) NASRIN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has fought tirelessly for the rights of women, children and others in her country. Filmed in secret over two years, this powerful documentary chronicles the now-imprisoned crusader’s life and work.”

12/19/20- Very good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

6) THE ART OF POLITICAL MURDER– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1998, Guatemalan Bishop Juan Gerardi was murdered two days after releasing a damning report on atrocities carried out for decades by the nation’s military. This riveting documentary recounts the risky quest to identify his killers.”

12/19/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

7) SYLVIE’S LOVE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “While awaiting her fiancé’s return from the Korean War, young Sylvie Johnson is working in her dad’s record store when a handsome saxophonist looking for a day job saunters in and sweeps her off her feet, forever complicating her life.”

12/23/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. On Amazon

12/24/20- I enjoyed this movie and recommend it. TRDB. On Prime

8) ARIANA GRANDE: EXCUSE ME, I LOVE YOU– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The Netflix documentary film ariana grande: excuse me, i love you follows the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum singer-songwriter around the globe on her sold out 2019 Sweetener World Tour, capturing her spectacular performances.

12/23/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Netflix

____________________________________________________________________

MOVIES PLAYING AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) ASSASSINS- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “On Feb. 13, 2017, two young women — thinking they were performing a stunt for a prank show — carried out a nerve-gas attack on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s half brother. This documentary investigates the attack and the women’s roles in it.”

12/16/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

2) PINOCCHIO– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Geppetto’s puppet creation, Pinocchio, magically comes to life with dreams of becoming a real boy. Easily led astray, Pinocchio tumbles from one misadventure to another as he is tricked, kidnapped and chased by bandits through a wonderful world full of imaginative creatures – from the belly of a giant fish, to the Land of Toys and the Field of Miracles.”

12/22/20- Very good reviews for this classic story. TRDB.

3) PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Nothing in Cassie’s life is what it appears to be — she’s wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she’s living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs from the past.”12/24/20- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

4) THE DISSIDENT– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “When Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappears after entering Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, his fiancée and dissidents around the world are left to piece together the clues to a brutal murder and expose a global cover-up perpetrated by the very country he loved.”

12/24/20- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5) WILD MOUNTAIN THYME– Limited screenigns

_____________________________________________________________________

TV Series- Just finished season 3 of “The Restaurant” from Sweden and enjoyed it

_____________________________________________________________________