The Reel Dr. Bob

FEBRUARY 18, 2021-

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) SOME KIND OF HEAVEN– Prime

2) FALLING– Prime

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Senior year of high school takes center stage as Lara Jean returns from a family trip to Korea and considers her college plans — with and without Peter.”

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OLDER MOVIES COMING TO NETFLIX ON DISC NEXT WEEK-

1) COLLECTIVE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 2015, a Bucharest nightclub fire left 27 dead and more than 180 injured, many of whom later perished from their “nonlethal” injuries. This documentary follows the investigation into what went wrong — ultimately exposing a vast health-care fraud.”

11/22/20- Very good reviews for this Romanian documentary. TRDB.

2) THE LAST VERMEER– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, a former Dutch resistance fighter investigating the disappearance of art during World War II follows a trail that leads to flamboyant painter Han van Meegeren. But all may not be as clear-cut as it seems.”

11/22/20- Fair reviews from the critics and very good ones from audiences.” TRDB.

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NEW STREAMABLE MOVIES- In Theaters and Streaming

1) JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “FBI informant William O’Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton.”

2/13/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. In Theaters and on HBO MAX

2)  RUTH: JUSTICE GINSBURG IN HER OWN WORDS– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg discusses the challenges she faced to make it all the way to the Supreme Court.”

2/13/21- Good reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On virtual cinemas- kinomarquee.com

3) LAPSIS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an alternate present, Ray Tincelli works as a contractor laying cable in the forest to support the quantum PCs that power Wall Street. But when he learns about a conspiracy designed to undercut the workers, he’s forced to make a tough decision.

2/13/21- Excellent reviews for this sci-fi movie. TRDB. On Prime and Vudu

4) DEAD PIGS– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A bumbling pig farmer, a feisty salon owner, a sensitive busboy, an expat architect, and a disenchanted rich girl converge and collide as thousands of dead pigs float down the river toward a rapidly-modernizing Shanghai, China.”

2/14/21- Very good reviews by the critics and weak ones from audiences. TRDB. On Mubi.com

5) FRENCH EXIT–  2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “With her husband long dead and his fortune running out, New York City socialite Frances Price decides to relocate to a friend’s vacant Paris apartment. Boarding a cruise ship with her cat and aimless adult son in tow, Frances heads for a new life.”

2/14/21- Weak reviews by the critics and by audiences as well. It sounds quirky enough that I would give it a try. TRDB. In Theaters

6) COWBOYS- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Steve Zahn stars as Troy, a troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife Sally (Jillian Bell). Aghast at Sally’s refusal to let their trans son Joe (Sasha Knight) live as his authentic self, Troy runs off with Joe into the Montana wilderness. Meanwhile, police detective (Ann Dowd) pursues them, but her resolve about the case is tested the more she learns about Joe’s family. COWBOYS, a modern day Western from director Anna Kerrigan, is a tale of rescue, family betrayal and a father and son on the run.”

2/13/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB. On Virtual cinemas, Google play and other platforms

7) YOUNG HEARTS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. ” In this coming-of-age drama about the awkwardness of young love, high school freshman Harper begins a relationship with her brother’s best friend, only to encounter unexpected complications and social fallout.”

 2/13/21-Mixed early reviews.On Vudu and Prime Video

8) THE MAP OF TINY PERFECT THINGS– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The film tells the story of quick-witted teen Mark, contentedly living the same day in an endless loop whose world is turned upside-down when he meets mysterious Margaret also stuck in the time loop. Mark and Margaret form a magnetic partnership, setting out to find all the tiny things that make that one day perfect. What follows is a love story with a fantastical twist, as the two struggle to figure out how — and whether — to escape their never-ending day.”

2/13/21- Very good reviews. TRDB. On Amazon

9) THERE IS NO “I” IN THREESOME– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “An engaged couple decide before getting married they will try living in an open relationship, exploring the alternative to monogamy.”

2/14/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On HBO MAX

10) TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Senior year of high school takes center stage as Lara Jean returns from a family trip to Korea and considers her college plans — with and without Peter.”

2//13/21- Fair reviews at best. TRDB. On Netflix.

2/14/21- I watched about 15 minutes– way too long. TRDB.

SKIP THESE–

1) THE MAURITANIAN– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “After suffering a decade of confinement at Guantanamo Bay — without being charged by the U.S. government — Mohamedou Ould Slahi finds a powerful ally in defense attorney Nancy Hollander, who faces myriad obstacles in their fight for justice.”

2/14/21- Weak reviews in general but most critics said that Jodie Foster was excellent in her role. Lots of torture scenes and I’ll skip it. TRDB.

2) BARB & STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR– On FandangoNow, Vudu and Prime

3)  MUSIC– Many found this movie severely offensive and I’ll skip it. On Vudu and Prime and other platforms as well

4)  TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Senior year of high school takes center stage as Lara Jean returns from a family trip to Korea and considers her college plans — with and without Peter.”

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

1) BLITHE SPIRIT– 2021.

2/16/21 Awful reviews and I’d miss it. TRDB.

2) MINARI- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. ”

Netflix had this to say– The patriarch of a Korean family living in Michigan during the 1980s wants to be a farmer in Arkansas, but his family experiences severe culture shock as they try to assimilate and become part of the community.

2/11/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. 

3) NOMADLAND– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “When her rural Nevada company town goes belly up, Fern packs up her van and starts driving. Becoming a modern-day nomad, she finds work and adventure along the way as she travels across the West.”

2/16/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

4) THE WORLD TO COME– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “As two neighboring couples share the hardships and isolation of life in the tough landscape of 1856 New York, the wives develop a deep bond that grows into romantic love, hurling the women into unknown territory.”

2/16/21- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.