The Reel Dr. Bob

OCTOBER 21, 2021-

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK

1) “SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE”- HBO

2) THE RAILWAY MAN– On Demand

3) BERGMAN ISLAND– at Jacob Burns Film Center

4) LANSKY- Netflix Disc

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) “SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE” – The fifth and final episode

2) FEVER DREAM 2921. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “A young woman lies dying far from home. A boy sits beside her. She is not his mother. He is not her child. Together, they tell a haunting story of broken souls, an invisible threat, and the power and desperation of family. Based on the internationally critically acclaimed novel by Samanta Schweblin.”

10/15/21- Basically a t.pe of horror movie that I did not like. TRDB.

3) THE TRIP-2021, I couldn’t get into this movie.

4) THE BEST OF ENEMIES– 2019- Synopsis by Netflix. “On opposite sides for a decade, civil rights activist Ann Atwater and Ku Klux Klan leader C.P. Ellis grudgingly work together on a committee overseeing school desegregation in Durham, North Carolina. In the process, the two form an unlikely bond.”

4/5/19- Mixed reviews– more poor than good for this drama. TRDB.

10/20/21-  Somewhat Hollywoodish but I did like the movie. TRDB.

5) THE RAILWAY MAN– 2013. Synopsis by Netflix. “Decades after his brutal captivity under the Japanese during World War II, Eric Lomax still has nightmares about the ordeal. But when he unexpectedly meets and falls for Patti, a bizarre coincidence brings his past back into focus.”

4/11/14- Mixed reviews for this war related movie, more good than bad. TRDB.

4/18/14- A good movie that dealt well with revenge and reconciliation. I could have done well without the amount of torture portrayed. TRDB.

6) BERGMAN ISLAND– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Planning to work separately on their screenplays, American filmmaking couple Chris and Tony head to Sweden’s Fårö Island, where Ingmar Bergman lived. But as they spend time apart, reality and fiction begin to blur, testing the pair’s relationship.”

10/14/21- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

10/18/21- I really enjoyed this movie. TRDB.

7) LANSKY– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this gangland biopic, aging crime boss Meyer Lansky hires writer David Stone to help record Lansky’s memories of a life filled with danger, murder and corruption on a grand scale. Meanwhile, the FBI is pressuring Stone to dig deeper for them.”

10/19/21- Poor reviews by the critics but audiences liked it and so did I. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX ON DISC-

1) ON THE ROCKS– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “Doubting the fidelity of her hubby, Dean, as he takes more business trips, stay-at-home mom Laura turns to her playboy dad for advice. When he suggests that they tail Dean all over town, it leads to a comic adventure and growing father-daughter bond.”

10/2/20- Very good reviews for this comedy/drama. 

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NEW MOVIES IN THEATERS AND/OR STREAMING-

1) INTRODUCING, SELMA BLAIR– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “When actress Selma Blair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, it explained her many health issues but didn’t explain how to move forward. This documentary follows Blair as she comes to terms with her new reality.”

10/15/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. On Discovery+ and In Theaters

2) BERGMAN ISLAND– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Planning to work separately on their screenplays, American filmmaking couple Chris and Tony head to Sweden’s Fårö Island, where Ingmar Bergman lived. But as they spend time apart, reality and fiction begin to blur, testing the pair’s relationship.”

10/14/21- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB. In Theaters

10/18/21- I really enjoyed this movie. TRDB.

3) SON OF MONARCHS- 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “After years spent conducting research in New York City, an ambitious biologist returns to the land of his youth in the butterfly forests of Michoacán, Mexico, where he’s forced to grapple with his identity and past family trauma.”

10/15/21 Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB. In Theaters and AppleTV

4) CONVERGENCE: COURAGE IN A CRISIS– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In an attempt to wrest some hope from the Covid-19 pandemic, this documentary focuses on people from across the world who have stepped in where governments have failed, bringing hope, help and healing to their communities.”

10/15/21- Fairly good reviews for this documentary . TRDB. In Theaters and on Netflix.

5: LUZZU– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Because of dwindling harvests and government restrictions, Maltese fisherman Jesmark is struggling to feed his family. Backed into a corner when his boat breaks down, he joins a black-market fishing operation as his priorities change.”

10/16/21- Excellent reviews for this drama from Malta. TRDB. In Theaters

6) THE VELVET UNDERGROUND– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Anchored by charismatic singer-songwriter Lou Reed, the Velvet Underground’s musical output left a deep imprint on the rock scene of the 1960s and beyond. This engaging documentary details the seminal group’s storied history.”

10/14/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB. In Theaters and on Apple tv+

7) WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Centering on a trio of female characters and playing out in vignettes with common themes, this three-part anthology depicts tales about an unforeseen love triangle, a bungled seduction trap and an encounter stemming from a case of mistaken identity.

10/16/21- Excellent reviews for this Japanese drama. TRDB. In Theaters

8) HELD FOR RANSOM– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “When photographer Daniel Rye accepts an assignment in Syria, he knows little about the country he’s visiting. But this changes abruptly when he’s taken hostage by the Islamic State and begins a yearlong struggle for survival and his freedom.”

10/16/21- Excellent reviews for this Danish drama. TRDB. In Theaters and on various streaming platforms including Prime.

9)  ALL ABOUT MY SISTERS– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After giving birth to two daughters, Qiong’s parents were desperate for a boy. When they learned that they were pregnant with a third daughter, the couple embarked on a path that would affect their family for generations to come.”

10/16/21- Just a few reviews for this Chinese documentary and they are all good. TRDB. In Theaters

SKIP THESE

1) THE LAST DUEL– Violent and I’ll skip it

2) THE TRIP- Very poor reviews

3) FEVER DREAM– Poor reviews.

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

A) THE JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER-

NEW-

1) THE FRENCH DISPATCH– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Set in 1950s France and featuring a star-studded cast, this ensemble dramedy threads together and brings to life a trio of short stories written for the final edition of an American magazine.”

10/20/21- Fair to good reviews for this dramedy. TRDB.

REPEATS-

1) BERGMAN ISLAND– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Planning to work separately on their screenplays, American filmmaking couple Chris and Tony head to Sweden’s Fårö Island, where Ingmar Bergman lived. But as they spend time apart, reality and fiction begin to blur, testing the pair’s relationship.”

10/14/21- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB. In Theaters

10/18/21- I really enjoyed this movie. TRDB.

2) THE VELVET UNDERGROUND– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Anchored by charismatic singer-songwriter Lou Reed, the Velvet Underground’s musical output left a deep imprint on the rock scene of the 1960s and beyond. This engaging documentary details the seminal group’s storied history.”

10/14/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

3) THE RESCUE– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In June 2018, Thailand’s Wild Boars youth soccer team and their assistant coach get trapped in a cave by monsoonal flooding. This documentary chronicles their extraordinary rescue, which plays out over 18 days and involves more than 100 divers.”

10/9/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

B) AMC Danbury-

1) NO TIME TO DIE–

2) BECOMING COUSTEAU– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “While Jacques Cousteau is best known for his undersea films, he was also a French naval officer, co-inventor of the Aqua-Lung, an explorer, an ardent environmentalist and more. This documentary charts his transformative journey.”

10/20/21- Excellent reviews for this documentary. TRDB.

MOVIES SHOWING IN PALM BEACH COUNTY

A) THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH-

1) GOLDEN VOICES– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Raya and Victor built a shared career as the Soviet Union’s most beloved film dubbers. As the USSR collapses, the Jewish couple must immigrate to Israel and reinvent themselves to find employment.”

B) THE MOVIES OF DELRAY-

1) GOLDEN VOICES– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Raya and Victor built a shared career as the Soviet Union’s most beloved film dubbers. As the USSR collapses, the Jewish couple must immigrate to Israel and reinvent themselves to find employment.”

2) NO TIME TO DIE– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In the 25th installment of the James Bond movie franchise, Agent 007 is enjoying retirement in Jamaica when his leisure is interrupted by a longtime friend from the CIA who needs help rescuing a kidnapped scientist.”

10/1/21- Good reviews for this movie featuring Daniel Craig for the last time as Bond. TRDB.

3) I’M YOUR MAN– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “To obtain funds for her research project, workaholic Alma agrees to take part in an experiment with Tom, a humanoid robot designed to be her ideal mate. Before long, Tom becomes a sounding board for Alma to dissect her deep-rooted disillusionment.”

9/25/31- Excellent reviews from the critics but just fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

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

1) BERGMAN ISLAND– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Planning to work separately on their screenplays, American filmmaking couple Chris and Tony head to Sweden’s Fårö Island, where Ingmar Bergman lived. But as they spend time apart, reality and fiction begin to blur, testing the pair’s relationship.”

10/14/21- Very good reviews for this drama. TRDB.

10/18/21- I really enjoyed this movie. TRDB.

2) FALLING FOR FIGARO– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “For young fund manager Millie, her dream of opera stardom begins with singing lessons in the Scottish Highlands from a former diva. As Millie trains for a competition, she finds herself battling against — and then bonding with — fellow student Max.”

9/29/21- Just 3 reviews so far and they are mixed. TRDB.

10/6/21– Reviews are just fair for this movie but it sounds interesting to me. TRDB.

3) GOLDEN VOICES– 2019. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Raya and Victor built a shared career as the Soviet Union’s most beloved film dubbers. As the USSR collapses, the Jewish couple must immigrate to Israel and reinvent themselves to find employment.”

4) THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “This offbeat biopic depicts the improbable life of British painter Louis Wain, an imaginative but exceptionally eccentric artist whose anthropomorphized cat portraits brought him fame and fortune in the late 1800s”

10/21/21- Fair reviews at best for this biopic. TRDB.

5) WIFE OF A SPY– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “While living in Kobe, Japan, in 1940, affluent merchant Yusaku Fukuhara takes a business trip to Japanese-occupied Manchuria, where he witnesses government-sanctioned acts of cruelty — and he’s intent on bringing them to light.”

9/18/21- Excellent reviews for this foreign drama. TRDB.

D) THE STONZEK THEATER AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE-

1) MEMORY HOUSE– 2020. Synopsis by Netflix. “After migrating for work from his home in northern Brazil to a former Austrian colony in the south, Cristovam has his soul crushed by racism. But when he finds an abandoned home full of objects reminiscent of his roots, he begins a transformation.”

10/21/21- Fair to good reviews for this Brazilian drama. TRDB.