The Reel Dr. Bob

MAY 20, 2021

DEAR FRIENDS:

AS MORE THEATERS OPEN UP THE FORMAT OF THE NEWSLETTER WILL ATTEMPT TO KEEP UP WITH NEW SCHEDULES. IT MAY TAKE A WHILE SO PLEASE BE PATIENT.

THE 10 PART TV SERIES- “THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD” ON AMAZON PRIME HAS RECEIVED EXCELLENT REVIEWS

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE MAURITANIAN– Netflix Disc

2) MINARI– On Demand

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Plagued by severe agoraphobia, New Yorker Anna Fox never leaves her home, instead spending her time watching movies and spying on her new neighbors. When she witnesses a shocking event, she must decide whether to notify the police.”

5/14/21- Poor reviews by the critics and by audiences- well deserved- I turned it off. TRDB.

2) 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. TRDB.

5/17/21- The movie was just OK and it helped that the story was basically true. TRDB.

3) 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. 

5/18/21- A sweet drama that relies on the power of family for its success. I enjoyed it very much. Nominated for Best Picture at Academy Awards.  TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX NEXT WEEK ON DISC- NONE

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NEW MOVIES- STREAMABLE AND IN THEATERS

1) LA PISCINE– A remake of the original with the same name. Good reviews. At the Film Forum

2) OXYGEN- 2021. Oxygen is a French survival thriller directed by Alexandre Aja. The film tells the story of a young woman (Mélanie Laurent, 6 Underground, Inglourious Basterds), who wakes up in a cryogenic pod. She doesn’t remember who she is or how she ended up there. As she’s running out of oxygen, she must rebuild her memory to find a way out of her nightmare.

5/15/21- Very good reviews from the critics but just fair ones from audiences. TRDB. On Netflix

3) LOS HERMANOS/THE BROTHERS– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Virtuoso Afro-Cuban-born brothers–violinist Ilmar and pianist Aldo–live on opposite sides of a geopolitical chasm a half-century wide. Tracking their parallel lives in New York and Havana, their poignant reunion, and their momentous first performances together, Los Hermanos/The Brothers offers a nuanced, often startling view of estranged nations through the lens of music and family.”

5/15/21- I’ve seen 3 reviews and they are all excellent. TRDB. In Theaters and virtual cinemas

4) THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Chronic emotional conflict between spouses Nikki and David leads to a trial separation, but her subsequent affair with another man drives David into seething jealousy. Fearing he’ll lose access to his children, he struggles to rein in his fury.”

5/15/21- Excellent reviews from the critics and poor ones from audiences. I’ll let you know if I see it. TRDB. In Theaters and varius streaming platforms. Also on Prime Video

5) PROFILE- 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “PROFILE follows an undercover British journalist in her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in by her recruiter and lured into becoming a militant extremist herself.”

5/16/21- Weak reviews by the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB. In Theaters

6) STOP FILMING US- 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Even though Dutch documentarian Joris Postema arrives in the city of Goma planning to shine a positive light on the Congo by working with three local image-makers, input from the participants opens Postema’s eyes to his cultural biases.”

5/16/21- Only 1 review noted and it is bad. TRDB.

7) THERE IS NO EVIL– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “This powerful anthology shot secretly in Iran features four tales of humane men — a husband and father, a military recruit, a soldier on leave and a physician — facing impossible moral choices when commanded to carry out inhumane acts.”

5/16/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. In Theaters and Virtual cinemas

8) RIDERS OF JUSTICE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Deployed military man Markus returns home to care for his daughter after a train wreck claims his wife’s life. As Markus seethes with anger over the tragedy, his rage boils over into revenge when he realizes the event was no accident.”

5/166/21- Excellent reviews from all. TRDB. In Theaters

9) THE PERFECT CANDIDATE– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “After being prevented from attending a medical conference in Dubai, a female Saudi doctor becomes a candidate in a municipal council election, with an eye toward repairing the road that leads to her clinic.”

5/16/21- Excellent reviews from the critics and fair one from audience. TRDB. In Theaters

10) FINDING YOU– 2021, Synopsis by Netflix. “Gifted young violinist Finley Sinclair is on her way up until an ill-fated audition for a music conservatory derails her. Seeking solace, she elects to study in Ireland, where she meets bad-boy movie star Beckett Rush, and an unlikely romance blooms.”

5/16/21- Poor reviews by the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB. In Theaters

11) ROCKFIELD: THE STUDIO ON THE FARM– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The unlikely tale of how two Welsh brothers turned their dairy farm into one of the most successful recording studios of all time, producing four decades of legendary rock music from Black Sabbath, Queen, The Stone Roses, Oasis and Coldplay.”

5/16/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Virtual Cinemas

12) ENFANT TERRIBLE– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Painting an unflinching portrait of iconoclastic director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, this episodic biopic depicts his short but prolific cinematic career as he helms more than 40 movies before dying of a drug overdose at age 37.”

5/16/21- Lots of critics liked the movie but few raved about it. TRDB. In Theaters and Virtual cinemas

1) THE DJINN–

2)  THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Plagued by severe agoraphobia, New Yorker Anna Fox never leaves her home, instead spending her time watching movies and spying on her new neighbors. When she witnesses a shocking event, she must decide whether to notify the police.”

5/14/21- Poor reviews by the critics and by audiences- well deserved- I turned it off. TRDB. On Netflix

3) THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD– Violent and definitely NOT for me. In Theaters and HBO Max

4) SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW– Awful reviews by the critics.  Bloody and violent and I’d pass if I were you. In Theaters

5) GEORGETOWN– Really poor reviews.

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

1) DREAM HORSE– 2020. Synopsis  boy Rotten Tomatoes. “The film tells the inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by small town bartender.”

5/19/21- Very good reviews for this drama/comedy. TRDB.

2) FINAL ACCOUNT– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “FINAL ACCOUNT is an urgent portrait of the last living generation of everyday people to participate in Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich.”

5/19/21- Fairly good reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) 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.

4) THE DRY– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A federal agent investigates the decades-old death of a teenage girl in his drought-stricken hometown.”

5/19/21- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

5) 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.

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MOVIES AT THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH=

1) DREAM HORSE– Very good reviews

2) WHEN HITLER STOLE PINK RABBIT– Very good reviews

3) HERE TODAY–

4) THE FATHER– I want to see this movie

5) FRENCH EXIT– Weak reviews but it sounds quirky

6) MINARI- I saw it and liked it very much

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MOVIES AT THE JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY-

These are some of the movies playing this week- (5/21–5/27) – new ones and old ones in an attempt to catch up

1) FINAL ACCOUNT– Fairly good reviews for this documentary

2) NOMADLAND– I saw it and liked it but not as much as the critics

3) BACURAU– Very good reviews but I chose to skip it

4) STREET GANG- HOW WE GOT TO SESAME STREET– Great reviews

5) SAINT FRANCES– I liked this drama very much

6) SOUND OF METAL– Great movie-LOVED IT

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