The Reel Dr. Bob

December 31, 2020

Dear Friends:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER– Netflix

2) DNA– Netflix

3) GIVING VOICE– Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER– 1993. Synopsis by Netflix. “After he beats his dad (Joe Mantegna) in a chess match, Josh Waitzkin (Max Pomeranc), a 7-year-old, gets noticed for his talent. He becomes interested in speed chess at the park and learns the game from a hustler named Vinnie (Laurence Fishburne).

12/25/20- I saw this movie years ago and liked it very much. I still do!! TRDB.

2) DNA– 2020. Synopsis by IMDB . “After the loss of her grandfather, Maïwenn explores her heritage and her Algerian roots.

12/25/20- Very few reviews but it sounds interesting. TRDB.

12/26/20- I’ll give it a fair to good rating and worth seeing.The family time  after the funeral was very well done  TRDB.

3) GIVING VOICE– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes.  “Students from across the United States audition for a spot in the August Wilson Monologue Competition, culminating in a riveting final round on a Broadway stage.”

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

12/30/20- I liked this documentary very much and highly recommend it. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC AND PERHAPS STREAMING AS WELL-

1) YELLOW ROSE– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A Filipina teen must decide whether to stay with her family or leave her small Texas town to become a country music singer.”

10/9/20– Good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES-

1) SOUL-2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn’t quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz — and he’s good. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.”

12/25/20- Excellent reviews. TRDB. On Disney +

2) NEWS OF THE WORLD– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Five years after the end of the Civil War, Capt. Jefferson Kyle Kidd crosses paths with a 10-year-old girl taken by the Kiowa people. Forced to return to her aunt and uncle, Kidd agrees to escort the child across the harsh and unforgiving plains of Texas.”

12/25/20- Very good reviews for this drama/western including several excellent ones and a few negatives as well. Tom Hanks stars. TRDB. In Theaters

3) 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. In Theaters

4) DEAR COMRADS– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In 1962, workers from a small industrial town go on strike when the communist government raises food prices.”

12/25/20- Just a few reviews noted and they are all good. TRDB. At filmforum.com

5) YOUR NAME ENGRAVED HEREIN- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In 1987, as martial law ends in Taiwan, Jia-han and Birdy fall in love amid family pressures, homophobia and social stigma.”

12/25/20- Fair reviews. TRDB. On Netflix

6) 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. In Theaters

7) PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After a traumatic event causes 30-year-old Cassie to drop out of medical school, her life appears to be at a standstill. But she’s living a double life, and her apparent inertia turns into vengeance when night falls.”

12/25/20- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB. In Theaters

8) DNA– 2020. Synopsis by IMDB. “After the loss of her grandfather, Maïwenn explores her heritage and her Algerian roots.

12/25/20- Very few reviews but it sounds interesting. TRDB. On Netflix

12/26/20- I’ll give it a fair to good rating- worth seeing.The together time  after the funeral was very well done  TRDB.

SKIP THESE-

1) THE MIDNIGHT SKY-

2) WONDER WOMAN 1984

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

1) HERSELF– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an attempt to find a safe home for her family, abused single mother Sandra takes on the public housing system. But when her efforts prove fruitless, she elects to build her own house — and ends up rebuilding her life.”

12/31/20- Very good reviews for this drama. 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) 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 drama. TRDB.