The Reel Dr. Bob

AUGUST 19, 2021

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK- NONE

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) PASS OVER– 2018. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Moses and Kitch, two young black men, chat their way through a long, aimless day on a Chicago street corner. Periodically ducking bullets and managing visits from a genial but ominous stranger and an overtly hostile police officer, Moses and Kitch rely on their banter to get them through a day that is a hopeless retread of every other day, even as they continue to dream of their deliverance.”

8/14/21- Excellent reviews by the critics and poor ones by audiences. TRDB.

8/14/21- I could not get into this movie. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX ON DISC-

1) LANSKY– Weak reviews for this drama about the notorious gangster

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NEW MOVIES- STREAMABLE AND/OR IN THEATERS-

1) RESPECT- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career — from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom — it’s the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.”

8/12/21- Weak reviews from the critics and very good ones from audiences. TRDB. In Theaters

2) DAYS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Seeking therapy for his chronic pain, middle-aged Kang travels to Bangkok, where he hires young masseur Non for a full body massage. Though the two solitary men lead markedly different lives, they find a special — if brief — connection.”

8/14/21- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB. In Theaters-

3) NOT GOING QUIETLY– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Activism gets highly personal for public-interest lawyer Ady Barkan when he’s diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease at age 32 and given just a few years to live. As he copes with his illness, he embarks on a tireless crusade for health-care reform.”

8/14/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. In Theaters

4) CODA- 2001. Synopsis by Netflix.”As the sole hearing person in her family, 17-year-old Ruby plays a vital role in keeping their fishing business afloat. But when she discovers a passion for singing, she’s pulled in directions that may take her away from her parents and brother.”

8/11/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB.On Apple+

5) THE EAST- 2001. Synopsis by Netflix. “In 1946, Indonesian nationalists take advantage of the power vacuum left by Japan’s surrender to rise up against Dutch colonial rule. But when Dutch soldier Johan de Vries is deployed to quell the rebels, he soon begins to question his mission.”

8/14/21- A few very good reviews and a few very bad reviews. One called it thoroughly generic. TRDB. In Theaters

6) MATERNA- 2020. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Materna follows the journeys of four New York women who are isolated by city life, separated by class, politics, race and religion, and yet bound by a shared hunger for identity and connection. With their futures at stake, the characters’ lives are upended by a fateful encounter underground, where their stories of personal transformation become a battle for survival.”

8/14/21-  Fair to good reviews. TRDB. In Theaters and several streaming platforms

including Prime Video

7) THE MEANING OF HITLER– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dismantling the legend of Adolf Hitler that has persisted since his death in 1945, this thought-provoking documentary traces his ascension — and shatters the mistaken belief that evil can never again rise to power.”

8/14/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. Prime Video

8) EMA- 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “After adopting troubled young Polo, married couple Ema and Gastón return him to the orphanage when the boy sets fire to their home, seriously injuring Ema’s sister. But the guilt-ridden Ema soon devises a secret plan to reclaim Polo.”

8/14/21- Very good reviews from the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB. In Theaters

9) SEARCHING FOR MR. RUGOFF– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “As head of theater chain and film distribution company Cinema 5, Donald Rugoff became famous for his outrageous marketing ideas. This showbiz documentary looks at Rugoff’s irrefutable influence on the industry and his subsequent slide into anonymity.”

8/14/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB In Theaters and virtual cinema

10) HOMEROOM– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Oakland High School’s class of 2020 is the focus of this documentary that follows the students through their senior year, capturing the innocence before the Covid-19 pandemic and chronicling their efforts to remove the campus police force.”

8/14/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Hulu

11) MISHA AND THE WOLVES– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “When Misha Defonseca’s autobiographical tale about escaping the Nazis by living with a pack of wolves is published, she becomes a celebrity. But after a fallout with the publisher exposes Misha’s story as false, an even darker tale emerges.”

8/14/21- Very good reviews. TRDB. On Netflix

12) THE LOST LEONARDO– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this documentary that unfolds like a thriller, an ancient painting of Jesus Christ sparks an art world frenzy as experts declare it the work of Leonardo da Vinci. But after fetching a record price at auction, the canvas vanishes before exhibition.”

8/14/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. In Theaters

13) USEDOM: A CLEAR VIEW OF THE SEA– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Heinz Brinkmann turns his lens on his birthplace, the Baltic island of Usedom, exploring the history and evolution of the locale once home to Germany’s grand health spas and the site of some of Europe’s most splendid villas.”8/14/21- Just two reviews noted and they are both good. TRDB. In Theaters

SKIP THESE–

1) FREE GUY–

2) WHITE AS SNOW- Terrible reviews.In Theaters

3) BECKETT– Terrible reviews from nearly every critic On Netflix.

4) FLAG DAY– Awful reviews

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MOVIES SHOWING IN WESTCHESTER Co, NY AND FAIRFIELD Co, CT-

a) Jacob Burns Film Center–

1) EMA- 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “After adopting troubled young Polo, married couple Ema and Gastón return him to the orphanage when the boy sets fire to their home, seriously injuring Ema’s sister. But the guilt-ridden Ema soon devises a secret plan to reclaim Polo.”

8/14/21- Very good reviews from the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) THE GREEN KNIGHT–

3) CODA– 2001. Synopsis by Netflix.”As the sole hearing person in her family, 17-year-old Ruby plays a vital role in keeping their fishing business afloat. But when she discovers a passion for singing, she’s pulled in directions that may take her away from her parents and brother.”

8/11/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

4) FLAG DAY– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Playing out over two decades, this fact-based drama follows journalist Jennifer Vogel as she struggles to come to grips with the legacy of her disarming dad — a career criminal who has counterfeited millions of dollars.”

8/18/21- Awful reviews. TRDB

5) RESPECT– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career — from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom — it’s the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.”

8/12/21- Weak reviews from the critics and very good ones from audiences. TRDB.

b) Danbury-

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MOVIES SHOWING IN PALM BEACH Co, FL

a) THE LIVING ROOM THEATERS AT FAU IN BOCA RATON-

1) EMA- 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “After adopting troubled young Polo, married couple Ema and Gastón return him to the orphanage when the boy sets fire to their home, seriously injuring Ema’s sister. But the guilt-ridden Ema soon devises a secret plan to reclaim Polo.”

8/14/21- Very good reviews from the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) NINE DAYS–

3) ROADRUNNER–

4) THE MACALUSO SISTERS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After the death of Antonella — the youngest of five sisters sharing an apartment — her remaining siblings continue living together for decades, But a deeply held secret finally leads one sister to accuse another of murdering Antonella.

6/6/21- Great reviews for this drama. TRDB.

5) THE MEANING OF HITLER– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Dismantling the legend of Adolf Hitler that has persisted since his death in 1945, this thought-provoking documentary traces his ascension — and shatters the mistaken belief that evil can never again rise to power.”

8/14/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

b) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH- 8/20–8/22

1) RESPECT– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career — from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom — it’s the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.”

8/12/21- Weak reviews from the critics and very good ones from audiences. TRDB.

2) STILLWATER– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Unemployed roughneck Bill Baker (Academy Award® winner Matt Damon) travels from Oklahoma to Marseille to visit his estranged daughter Allison (Academy Award® nominee Abigail Breslin). Imprisoned for a murder she claims she did not commit.”

7/25/21- Good reviews for this drama. TRDB

3) FREE GUY— skip this

c)THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE- 8/20–8/22

1) CRYPTOZOO- Synopsis by Netflix. “In this allegorical animated fantasy aimed at adults, conservationist Lauren Gray devotes herself to providing sanctuary for mythological creatures at a zoo. But she soon finds herself in a battle to save them from exploitation by the military.”;.Sounds weird to me