The Reel Dr. Bob

JANUARY 13, 2022

DEAR FRIENDS:

QUICK LOOK AT MY FAVORITES OF THE WEEK-

1) THE TENDER BAR–

2) BLUE BAYOU- Netflix

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MOVIES I SAW THIS WEEK-

1) THE TENDER BAR– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The Tender Bar tells the story of J.R. (Tye Sheridan), a fatherless boy growing up in the glow of a bar where the bartender, his Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck), is the sharpest and most colorful of an assortment of quirky and demonstrative father figures.”

12/18/21- Weak reviews despite a strong cast. TRDB.

1/7/22- Not sure what the critics are thinking on this one but I liked it very much. TRDB.

2) BLUE BAYOU–  2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Born in Korea but adopted by Americans and raised in the heart of the Louisiana bayou, Antonio LeBlanc has worked hard to make a good life for his wife and stepdaughter. But his world is upended when he suddenly faces the prospect of deportation.”

9/15/21- Fair reviews but it does sound interesting. TRDB.

1/9/22 – Many stories like this but each one has its merits. I enjoyed the movie very much. TRDB.

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COMING TO NETFLIX ON DISC-

1) LAST NIGHT IN SOHO– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this psychological thriller, a young woman who longs to become a fashion designer finds herself transported to 1960s London to meet her singing idol. But her dream come true quickly turns into a nightmare.”

10/27/21- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.

2) MOFFIE- 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “For 16-year-old Nicholas van der Swart, completing his compulsory military service in 1981 South Africa means hiding the fact that he’s gay — a punishable crime at the time. But keeping his secret becomes even harder as he falls for another recruit.”

4/10/21- Excellent reviews by the critics and poor ones from audiences. TRDB.

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NEW MOVIES IN THEATERS AND/OR STREAMING-

1) A HERO– 1/6/21- Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor (Mohsen Tanabandeh) to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don’t go as planned…”

1/6/22- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB. In Theaters

2) THE 355– 2021, Synopsis by Netflix. “Lady spies have their day as a team of female agents from government agencies around the world bands together — and embraces their differences — to prevent an evil organization from sending the planet into chaos.”

1/6/21- No reviews noted yet but it does not sound good to me. We’ll see!! TRDB. In Theaters.

3)  THE COMMANDO-  2022. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In this edge-of-your-seat crime thriller starring Michael Jai White and Mickey Rourke, an elite DEA agent (White) returns home after a failed mission when his family makes an unexpected discovery in their house — a stash of money worth $3 million.”

1/7/22- Weak reviews — we’ll see. TRDB. In theaters and on various streaming platforms including Prime Video.

4) SEE FOR ME– 2022. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Sophie, a young blind woman, house-sitting at a secluded mansion, finds herself under invasion by thieves seeking a hidden safe. Her only means of defense: a new app called “See For Me.” It connects her to a volunteer across the country who helps her survive by seeing on her behalf.”

1/7/22- Fair reviews at best. TRDB.  

5) AMERICAN GLADFLY-2022. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “After decades of quiet living, 89 year-old former U.S. senator Mike Gravel comes out of retirement when a group of teenagers convince him to run for president. Through Senator Gravel’s official Twitter account, the Gravel teens embark on an unlikely adventure to qualify him for the Democratic debates in order to advance an anti-war, anti-corruption, and direct democracy agenda in the 2020 presidential race.”

1/8/22- Just a few early reviews and they for this documentary and are good. TRDB. Prime Video

6) EXPEDITION CONTENT– 2022. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “An immersive marvel of sonic ethnography, Expedition Content draws on audio recordings made by recent college graduate and Standard Oil heir Michael Rockefeller as part of the 1961 Harvard-Peabody Expedition to Netherlands New Guinea that set up tents among the indigenous Hubula (also known as Dani) people.”

1/8/22- No reviews as yet but I am familiar with this project and I’ll let you know about this documentary. TRDB. In Theaters.

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SHOWING AT THE JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER IN PLEASANTVILLE, NY

A) PARALLEL MOTHERS– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Two women, Janis and Ana, coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident. Janis, middle-aged, doesn’t regret it and she is exultant. The other, Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant and traumatized..”

12/24/21- Excellent reviews for this Spanish drama. TRDB.

B) A HERO– 1/6/22 – Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor (Mohsen Tanabandeh) to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don’t go as planned…”

1/6/22- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

C) FRANCE- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In FRANCE, a satirical drama set in contemporary Paris, Léa Seydoux stars as France de Meurs, a seemingly unflappable superstar TV journalist whose career, home life, and psychological stability are turned upside down after she carelessly drives into a young delivery man on a busy street.”

12/10/21- Awful reviews for this French movie but it sounded OK to me. TRDB.

D) WEST SIDE STORY– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Love at first sight strikes when young Tony spots Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks — two rival gangs vying for control of the streets.”

12/8/21- Excellent reviews for this re-make. TRDB.

E) LICORICE PIZZA– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “Director Paul Thomas Anderson returns to one of his favorite settings — California’s San Fernando Valley — for this coming-of-age tale about a high school student who’s also juggling the demands of being a successful child actor.”

11/28/21- Excellent reviews. TRDB.

F) THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Power-hungry Macbeth sets his sights on the Scottish throne after receiving a prophecy from three witches.”

12/24/21- Great reviews by the critics and by audiences as well. TRDB.

SHOWING AT THE AMC THEATER IN DANBURY, CT

A) AMERICAN UNDERDOG– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. The film centers on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player.”

12/22/21- Excellent reviews from everybody. TRDB.

B) WEST SIDE STORY-  2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Love at first sight strikes when young Tony spots Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks — two rival gangs vying for control of the streets.”

12/8/21- Excellent reviews for this re-make. TRDB.

SHOWING AT THE MOVIES OF LAKE WORTH( Fri.–Sun)

A) RED ROCKET– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The audacious new film from writer-director Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine), starring Simon Rex in a magnetic, live-wire performance, Red Rocket is a darkly funny and humane portrait of a uniquely American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him.”

12/10/21- Good reviews by the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

B) NIGHTMARE ALLEY– 2021. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this remake of a noir classic, wily hustler Stanton Carlisle finds the carnival the perfect place to ply his trade. Setting himself up as a spiritual guru, Carlisle wastes no time in parting the wealthy from their money.”

12/15/21- Good reviews for this mystery/thriler. TRDB.

C) WEST SIDE STORY– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Love at first sight strikes when young Tony spots Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks — two rival gangs vying for control of the streets.”

12/8/21- Excellent reviews for this re-make. TRDB.

D) THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Power-hungry Macbeth sets his sights on the Scottish throne after receiving a prophecy from three witches.”

12/24/21- Great reviews by the critics and by audiences as well. TRDB.

E) HOUSE OF GUCCI-  2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “House of Gucci is inspired by the shocking true story of the family behind the Italian fashion empire. When Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately… murder.”

11/24/21- Fair reviews from the critics and good ones from audiences. TRDB.

MOVIES SHOWING AT THE MOVIES OF DELRAY- Same as LAKE WORTH above

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

A) ITALIAN STUDIES– 2022. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “From award-winning filmmaker Adam Leon, Italian Studies is a lyrical film about dislocation, connection, and the elusive nature of identity. While visiting New York City from her native London, writer Alina Reynolds (Academy Award®-nominee Vanessa Kirby) inexplicably loses her memory and suddenly becomes unmoored and adrift on the streets of Manhattan with no sense of time or place — or even her own name.”

1/13/2002- Poor reviews. TRDB.

B) A HERO– 1/6/22- Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor (Mohsen Tanabandeh) to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don’t go as planned…”

1/6/22- Excellent reviews for this drama. TRDB.

C) FRANCE- 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “In FRANCE, a satirical drama set in contemporary Paris, Léa Seydoux stars as France de Meurs, a seemingly unflappable superstar TV journalist whose career, home life, and psychological stability are turned upside down after she carelessly drives into a young delivery man on a busy street.”

12/10/21- Awful reviews for this French movie but it sounded OK to me. TRDB.

D) RED ROCKET– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The audacious new film from writer-director Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine), starring Simon Rex in a magnetic, live-wire performance, Red Rocket is a darkly funny and humane portrait of a uniquely American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him.”

12/10/21- Good reviews by the critics and fair ones from audiences. TRDB.

E) THE TENDER BAR– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “The Tender Bar tells the story of J.R. (Tye Sheridan), a fatherless boy growing up in the glow of a bar where the bartender, his Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck), is the sharpest and most colorful of an assortment of quirky and demonstrative father figures.”

12/18/21- Weak reviews despite a strong cast. TRDB.

1/7/22- Not sure what the critics are thinking on this one but I liked it very much. TRDB.

F) THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH– 2021. Synopsis by Rotten Tomatoes. “Power-hungry Macbeth sets his sights on the Scottish throne after receiving a prophecy from three witches.”

12/24/21- Great reviews by the critics and by audiences as well. TRDB.

MOVIS SHOWING AT THE STONZEK THEATER IN DOWNTOWN LAKE WORTH-

1) 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.

2) THE SOUVENIR– 2019. Synopsis by Netflix. “In this romantic drama, film student Julie is struggling to find her voice when she falls for the charismatic but mysterious Anthony. As love blooms, so does her creativity, but her mother and friends fear that the relationship will destroy Julie.”

5/17/19- Great reviews by the critics and terrible ones from audiences. I’ll try to see this one. TRDB.