The Reel Dr. Bob

1) BLUE MIRACLE– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “To save their cash-strapped orphanage, a guardian and his kids partner with a washed-up boat captain for a chance to win a lucrative fishing competition.”

5/28/21- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

6/2/21- I saw this and “fair” describes it well. Basically a “feel good” movie taken from a true story. TRDB.

1) CRUELLA– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this live-action origin story based on the Disney classic “101 Dalmatians,” young Cruella de Vil is working as a fashion designer in 1970s London — until an obsession with dog skins leads her astray.”

5/28/21- Fair reviews from the critics and excellent ones from audiences. TRDB. In Theaters and on Disney+

2) SWIMMING OUT TILL THE SEA TURNS BLUE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this introspective documentary, celebrated filmmaker Zhang-ke Jia chronicles a unique literary festival in his hometown, with well-known writers sharing their visions of the last 70 years of Chinese history.”

5/28/21- Fair reviews. TRDB. In Theaters

3) FIVE YEARS NORTH– 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Five Years North is the coming-of-age story of Luis, an undocumented Guatemalan boy who just arrived alone in New York City. He struggles to work, study, and evade Judy — the Cuban-American ICE officer patrolling his neighborhood.”

5/28/21- Just a few reviews- more good than bad. TRDB. At The Film Forum

4) PLAN B- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After a regrettable sexual encounter, a straight-laced student and her best friend have 24 hours to hunt down a Plan B pill in South Dakota.”

5/28/21- Very good reviews for this drama/comedy. TRDB. On Hulu

5) THE MERCY OF THE JUNGLE– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Two soldiers become lost in the jungle while fighting in Congo.”

5/29/21- I’ve seen just 3 reviews and they are all very good. TRDB. On Film Moviement

7) AHEAD OF THE CURVE– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “AHEAD OF THE CURVE tracks the power of lesbian visibility and community from the early ’90s to the present day through the story of Franco’s founding of Curve magazine.”

5/29/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. In Theaters

8)  BAGGIO: THE DIVINE PONYTAIL– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A chronicle of the 22-year career of soccer star Roberto Baggio, including his difficult debut as a player and his deep rifts with some of his coaches.”

5/29/21- Just 2 reviews- one ok and the other awful. TRDB. On Netflix–

9) CHANGING THE GAME- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “This intimate story takes us into the lives of three high school athletes from across the US — all at different stages of their athletic seasons, each sharing their lives as transgender teens.”

6/3/21- Excellent reviews by the critics and very good ones by audiences. TRDB. On Hulu

2)  MOBY DOC– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Moving from punk rock to electronic music in the 1990s, masterful beat-maker Moby has never stopped looking for new audio experiences to bring to his worldwide audience. This insightful documentary offers a glimpse into Moby’s singular imagination.

5/29/21- Poor reviews from most. TRDB.

c) THIS IS NOT A BURIAL, IT’S A RESURRECTION–  2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After her son dies in a mining accident, 80-year-old widow Mantoa is ready to exit the world. But when she hears that her village is about to be relocated to make way for a reservoir, she rises to defend her community.”

4/3/21- Reviews are excellent. TRDB.

a) 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.

b) 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. Limited screenings

c) 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.

d) 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.

e) UNDINE- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Undine (Paula Beer) works as a historian lecturing on Berlin’s urban development. But when the man she loves leaves her, the myth catches up with her. Undine has to kill the man who betrays her and return to the water.”6/1/21- Fair to good early reviews. TRDB.

f) WHEN HITLER STOLE PINK RABBIT– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this fact-based drama, 9-year-old Anna Kemper is living in 1933 Berlin when her Jewish family is forced to flee the Nazis. As they make their way to Zurich, Paris and eventually London, Anna faces a life of challenges and hardships as a refugee.”

5/21/21- Fair to good reviews by the critics and weak ones by audiences. I’ll try to see it.  TRDB.

a) CRUELLA- 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this live-action origin story based on the Disney classic “101 Dalmatians,” young Cruella de Vil is working as a fashion designer in 1970s London — until an obsession with dog skins leads her astray.”

5/28/21- Fair reviews from the critics and excellent ones from audiences. TRDB.

b) DREAM HORSE–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.