The Reel Dr. Bob

MAY 13, 2021

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) IN OUR MOTHERS’ GARDENS– Netflix

2) THE BOY FROM MEDELLIN– Prime

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) IN OUR MOTHERS’ GARDENS– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Filmmaker Shantrelle P. Lewis examines the complex and often humorous relationship between Black mothers and daughters.”

5/8/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5/9/21- This documentary was very creative and informative. At times I found it a bit wordy and at times I did lose interest. TRDB.

2) THE BOY FROM MEDELLIN– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Colombian J Balvin — the Prince of Reggaeton — returns to his native Medellín for the most important concert of his career. But as citizens take to the streets to protest President Iván Duque’s policies, the singer must reassess his own politics.”

5/8/21- Fair to good reviews for  documentary. TRDB.

5/10/21- This documentary was well done and captured the conflict that many performing artists must feel. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC- + or – Streaming

1) 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. 

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NEW MOVIES- In Theaters or Streaming

1) STATE FUNERAL– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “The seismic shock of Joseph Stalin’s sudden death in 1953 is captured in this engrossing documentary that incorporates newly unearthed archival footage of the elaborate official tributes, along with the endless parade of mourners.”

5/8/21- Very good reviews with a few critics complaining about the length of this documentary. (2 hours and 15 minutes) TRDB. At the Film Forum

2) THE BOY FROM MEDELLIN– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Colombian J Balvin — the Prince of Reggaeton — returns to his native Medellín for the most important concert of his career. But as citizens take to the streets to protest President Iván Duque’s policies, the singer must reassess his own politics.”

5/8/21- Fair to good reviews for  documentary. TRDB. On Amazon Prime Video

5/10/21- I think that this documentary was fairly good and captured well the conflict that many artists must feel. TRDB.

3) PINK SKIES AHEAD– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “After wild child Winona drops out of college, she ends up back home with her parents. Feeling overwhelmed, she visits her childhood doctor and is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder — a notion she denies until her life begins to fall apart.”

5/8/21- Very good reviews for this drama/comedy. TRDB. On MTV

4) CITIZEN PENN– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “When a 7.0 earthquake hits Haiti in 2010, actor and activist Sean Penn flies to the island nation to help with recovery. This documentary follows the efforts of Penn and his disaster relief organization, which is still going more than a decade later.”

5/8/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Discovery+

5) THE WATER MAN– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “With his mom suffering from leukemia, 11-year-old Gunner buries himself in books hoping to find a cure. Instead, he discovers a route to immortality through the mythic Water Man, sending Gunner and a friend off to the woods to find the fabled spirit.”

5/8/21- Good reviews for this adventure/drama. TRDB. In Theaters and on streaming (Vudu)

6) SILO– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Inspired by true events, SILO follows a harrowing day in an American farm town. Disaster strikes when teenager Cody Rose is entrapped in a 50-foot-tall grain bin. When the corn turns to quicksand, family, neighbors and first responders must put aside their differences to rescue Cody from drowning in the crop that has sustained their community for generations.”

5/8/21- Poor reviews  with a few positive ones as well. TRDB. In Theaters and Virtual Cinemas (Prime Video)

7) PAPER SPIDERS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “After losing her father, high school senior Melanie grows closer to her mother than ever. But their relationship becomes strained as Melanie’s paranoid mom begins to believe their new next-door neighbor is stalking her.”

5/8/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. In Theaters and other streaming platforms (Prime, Vudu)

8) THE COLUMNIST– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Infuriated by the death threats and obscene abuse she receives regularly online, newspaper columnist Femke Boot decides it’s time to exact revenge. Much to her surprise, she finds that a sudden act of violence liberates her imagination.”

5/8/21- Fair reviews for this drama. TRDB. On Streaming platforms (Vudu)

9) QUEEN MARIE– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in the aftermath of World War I, this fact-based drama follows Queen Marie of Romania — a nation devastated by the conflict — as she attends the Paris peace talks to lobby for worldwide recognition of an enlarged Romania.”

5/8/21- Just fair reviews. TRDB. Various streaming Platforms

10) THE PAPER TIGERS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades past their glory days as teenage kung-fu fighters, three former best friends reunite after their martial-arts master is murdered. Putting their differences aside, the trio resolves to avenge the killing at all costs.”

5/8/21- Excellent reviews by the critics and fair ones by audiences. TRDB. In Theaters and streaming platforms (Vudu)

11) IN OUR MOTHERS’ GARDENS– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Filmmaker Shantrelle P. Lewis examines the complex and often humorous relationship between Black mothers and daughters.”

5/8/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Netflix.

5/9/21- This documentary was very creative and informative. At times I found it a bit wordy and at times I did lose interest. TRDB.

1) MONSTER– Violent with bloody images and I’ll pass on it. On Netflix.

2) WRATH OF MAN– Violent and not for me. In Theaters

MOVIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY AT THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) FOUR GOOD DAYS– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In an emotional journey based on a true story by Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post writer Eli Saslow, 31-year-old Molly begs her estranged mother Deb for help fighting a fierce battle against the demons that have derailed her life.”

5/4/21- Awful reviews by the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) THE HUMAN FACTOR– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “With unprecedented access to the foremost American negotiators, THE HUMAN FACTOR is the behind-the-scenes story from the last 25 years, of how the United States came within reach of pulling off the impossible — securing peace between Israel and its neighbors.”

1/22/19- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in Northern Italy, this fascinating documentary focuses on a cadre of aging men and their trained canine companions, who search the forest at night for the white Alba truffle — an elusive delicacy that’s impossible to cultivate.”

3/6/21- Great reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

4) US KIDS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Centering on several survivors of the 2018 mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school, this documentary follows their fight for stricter gun control as they travel the country to deliver the message, while still contending with their grief.”

10/30/20- Good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

5) TOGETHER TOGETHER– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “When 26-year-old Anna agrees to be a gestational surrogate for middle-aged bachelor Matt — who’s eager to be a dad — she’s looking for a way to finance her college degree. But she gets much more as the two develop an unexpected friendship.”

4/22/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB. Limited showings

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MOVIES IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY- At the Jacob Burns Film Center

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS THE FILM CENTER WILL SHOW MOVIES TO

“CATCH US UP” WITH MOVIES FROM THE LAST YEAR. IT WILL NOT BE THE USUAL SCHEDULE WHERE MOVIES SHOW FROM FRIDAY TO THURSDAY.

I’LL TRY TO KEEP YOU CURRENT BUT YOU MIGHT LOOK UP THE BURNS SCHEDULE AT burnsfilmcenter.org

THE FOLLOWING ARE FOR THIS WEEK– AND THEY ALL HAD EXCELLENT REVIEWS

1) MINARI

2) THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS–

3) NOMADLAND-