No one wants to hear the words “unprecedented” or “extraordinary” anymore this year. It’s incredibly hard to write a movie and streaming article about the Oscars without using either of those words when describing the first post-pandemic Oscar ceremony. So, I’m going to start this article a bit differently and will address this unusual Oscar season later in this article.
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A dear friend suggested I use part of my article to discuss movies that open the door to meaningful conversations with high-schoolers. But, I want to start this section with the BEST family movie I’ve seen in a long time: “Yes Day” on Netflix starring Jennifer Gardner. It’s the most wholesome, entertaining and conversation-starting movie! It’s so sweet without being syrupy and is just a plain happy movie!

All of the following are available on Amazon Prime or Apple TV plus. Please note these are for high school aged children and should be viewed with a parent. Amazon Prime has developed a rating system for its viewing content, but I’d add at least two years to its recommendation. In no particular order, here are movies or shows for discussion starters:

“To Kill a Mockingbird” What it means to do the right thing even when no one is going to stand with you. Gregory Peck won an Oscar and his is still one of the best performances on screen.

“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” Jimmy Stewart plays a politician who stands up to corruption.

“Juno” An honest portrayal of teenage pregnancy.

Any Tyler Perry movie in which he portrays Madea. Please note these movies cover heavy subject matter at times.

“Lars & the Real Girl” This is the single best movie to discuss what does really sacrificially loving someone look like. You will think this movie is going down a deviant path but I assure you it does not.

“Friday Night Lights” (the television series) Again, you must watch WITH your teens and be willing to pause, discuss, and occasionally fast forward.

“I Am Legend” A suspenseful post-apocalyptic movie starring Will Smith that gives great lessons in sacrificing for others.

Some of these movies cover very sensitive subject matter, and I am not recommending your teens be allowed to watch these alone. They offer many teachable moments, but are to be viewed with your teens.
Now, back to the Oscars! Many of the nominations this year were never seen on the big screen in a theater. I’ve seen two of the eight nominated best picture films but plan to see a few more. I loved “Nomadland” on Netflix. It is the true story of Empire, Nevada, completely disappearing after the closing of the local U.S. gypsum plant. Frances McDormand may very well win another Oscar for her performance. It’s a very thoughtful, quiet, slow movie. Another film nominated that I loved but will not be everyone’s cup of tea is “The Sound of Metal,” which is about a drummer in a heavy metal band who is going deaf. It is not light or happy, but is an honest and raw look at addiction and losing yourself.

One of my favorite things I watched in March was “Years and Years” on HBO Max. It takes place in the not too distant future in England. It portrays what could actually happen if we continue to let technology run amuck. This BBC six part series starring Emma Thompson is very well-acted. I think it would be great viewing with college students.

On Netflix, “The One” has a similar theme as it explores what would happen if a dating site used DNA to find “soul mates.” Neither of these are child friendly, but college viewing adults with parents would open a lot of conversations regarding social media, privacy and personal safety.

On Netflix I watched two docuseries that I thoroughly enjoyed. One was “Murder Among The Mormons” about a series of murders in Salt Lake City in 1985. It’s fascinating. The other docuseries I binged on was “The Trials of Gabriel Hernandez,” which is about the death of Gabriel Hernandez due to the incompetence at the Los Angeles Department of Family and Child Services. It portrays the privatizing of child services and what that brings to communities. It is a horrific story of child abuse so please be cautioned.

If you are looking for happy and funny, I’d recommend the Amy Poehler film “Moxie.” It’s the story of girls who don’t quite fit in finding their voice through an anonymous high school magazine. Also, on Hulu, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” is such happy entertainment.

The Golden Globes were an unwatchable mess in my opinion, so here’s to hoping the Oscar producers learned a few things and create something worth watching. Until next month, pass the popcorn....

I’m writing this on the day of the first bicoastal Golden Globes Awards. Most critics I follow and other entertainment sites I read are most excited about Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting. That’s an easy vote for me as my beloved red carpet will be virtual. How does that even work?
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One of the more conservative sites I read for perspectives on current entertainment is “The Gospel Coalition.” Some months I struggle with my recommendations because my level of sensitivity to R rated movies is very different from that of my closest friends. I love the disclaimer that opens “The Gospel Coalition” each month:

“TGC reviews media that is not suitable for everyone. To help readers make wise decisions, we recommend reading ‘Should I watch this?’ at www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/should-i-watch-this-5-questions-for-the-discerning-viewer/.” You may also email me at merriles@epbfi.com to ask more specific questions or share something you love!

A few readers noticed I love scary movies and shows and asked that I recommend some entertainment in this genre. Skip ahead if this isn’t you! One thing I recently enjoyed is “Malevolent” on Netflix. It’s the story of four young people who stage “house cleansing” services and then have the tables turned on them. It’s actually a family drama, but it does have some gore and violence. I also love “Servant” on HBO Max, a series produced by one of my favorite directors, M. Night Shyamalan. And finally, I love “Midnighters” on Hulu. It’s in the vein of “The Undoing,” where one bad decisions leads to another.

My favorite series this month is “Your Honor,” starring and directed by the incomparable Bryan Cranston. Mr. Cranston plays a judge who seeks to protect his son after he commits a crime and goes to awful lengths to do so. There is language and implied violence. It seems lots of successful series coming out during the pandemic are asking the age old question, “How far would you go to protect a loved one?”

My favorite movie this month is “Nomadland” on Hulu. I adore the actress Frances McDormand, and she is stellar in this quiet, slow, thoughtful movie. It is based on the true story of Empire, Nevada. The U.S. Gypsum plant was the biggest employer in Empire. When it closed its doors in 2011, the town’s entire zip code disappeared in a few years. Frances portrays widowed Fern who loses everything and takes to an RV in order to travel to find work. There are only three professional actors in the film; all the other actors are real people who actually lived this life. The music is so beautiful and haunting that it almost plays a character in this film.

Another film I enjoyed this month is “Our Friend” on Amazon Prime. It is a true story of a young married couple with two daughters who rely on the help of their best friend as the wife battles cancer. It takes place in Fairhope, Alabama. It is sad, but I’m so glad I saw it. It made me really reflect on the friendships in my life and the definition of a true friend.

Two documentaries I devoured this month were “Crime Scene: The Vanishing at The Cecil Hotel” on Netflix and “Framing Britney Spears” on Hulu. I kept rewinding the Britney documentary to make sure I heard the facts correctly!

One of my favorite shows that is currently airing but also available on Hulu is “The Good Doctor.” Freddie Highmore brilliantly portrays a doctor with autism. Another show currently airing (both of these shows are on ABC) that I enjoy is “Big Sky,” which is about a small town hiding an insidious secret.

By next month we will have witnessed our first virtual awards show and will have Oscar nominations in hand, so get ready! And pass that popcorn, please ...

On Christmas night, my daughter Tay Tay’s future father-in-law, Andy Helm, generously rented an entire theater for our families to watch “Christmas Vacation.” To sit in a theater seat and watch previews almost made me cry. AMC is doing a fantastic job at cleaning and keeping things very sanitized, so much so that by the time you read this I hope to have gone to the theater several more times.
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The day after Christmas, my youngest daughter and I watched “Wonder Woman 1984.” While we loved the film, it begged to be seen on a big screen. So, this is the month I’m seeing movies in a theater. My Christmas night AMC Majestic experience was so positive I feel safe. I had COVID-19 in November so I’m venturing back.

It’s the time of year for “best of the year” lists. Doing a “best of 2020” list feels strange, as so much of 2020 was spent in ways that didn’t seem to be the best of anything. The year 2020 did provide a plethora of entertainment options, so I give you my personal “best of” list:

“Gilmore Girls” Yes, I am late to this party but I love this series. I laugh, I cry and I want to hug my girls when each episode ends.

“The Crown” - Yes, I watched it in two days while I had COVID-19, and I loved it. Do yourself a favor and go to YouTube.com and watch “The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast 2020.” Seriously. Go watch it now.

“Call the Midwife” - Another party I’m late to join, but it’s so, so good.

“The Social Dilemma” - This may be the most thought provoking documentary of the year. If you have given or are considering giving a middle schooler a smart phone, I’d suggest you watch this ASAP.

“Virgin River” - So Hallmark movie feelings can continue after the holidays.

“Christmas on the Square” - As if we need another reason to love Dolly Parton.

“Yellowstone” (parental guidance suggested) - Kevin Costner stars and it’s addictive. You have to have Peacock streaming to finish it.

“The Midnight Sky” - Recommended to me by our Mirror book reviewer Nancy Carstens. I’m so glad I watched it! I love space movies because my daddy took me to rocket launchings as a child, and he always wanted to go into space. He even applied to be on The Challenger. This movie is beautiful, and I wish I’d seen it on the big screen. I was reminded again why I love George Clooney and Kyle Chandler.

I’ve mentioned many times how much I love this job. I also feel the burden to warn adults about sensitive content. Please know like “Yellowstone,” the following recommendations are strictly adult. Both of these are on HBOMax (the one streaming service I’d add if you only have Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime). “The Undoing” starring Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman is the best acted, most engrossing “who dunnit” I’ve seen in years. The same goes for “The Flight Attendant,” but I used my fast forward button more in this series. “The Murders at White House Farm” is a true crime that took place in the 1980’s in England. Older teens could watch with parental supervision.

I also loved watching “Hamilton” (Disney Plus), “Enola Holmes” (Netflix), “Onward” (family viewing with discretion )(Disney Plus), “Magic Camp” (Disney Plus). There are not enough adjectives to describe how much I love “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”on Peacock and Hulu; it’s the story of a father preparing to die while his daughter finds her voice. It’s like a musical TV show that feels like hot chocolate.

Several people have highly recommended “Uncorked” on Netflix, and it’s on my list to watch.

I’m loving “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV. So funny and sweet.

So next month, I’ll have theater and couch recommendations, so definitely pass that popcorn!

I’ve been asked to do another concise list based on each streaming service’s offering. But I want to start by saying two days before I sat down to write this article, Warner Brothers Studios (parent company of HBO Max) announced it would release every major motion picture release in 2021 in theaters, as well as on HBO Max, the SAME day. If you see two movies a month, the cost of HBO Max is less than those two tickets. I am very excited, as no recent movie offerings have made me want to go to the theater. Also, if we do have to have stay at home orders anytime in 2021, we can get blockbuster entertainment from our couches.

I know you will be reading this after Christmas, but if you did not watch Dolly Parton’s “Christmas on the Square,” it’s worth seeing. Dolly wrote the story, the music and produced this gem. And, can we just agree we all need a little more Dolly in our lives right now?

Speaking of Netflix, I continue to enjoy “Call the Midwife.” The taping of “Bruce Springsteen on Broadway” is so entertaining, even if you’re not a Springsteen fan; he is an excellent storyteller. I did not like “Hillbilly Elegy,” but I will say Glenn Close’s performance is spectacular. If you haven’t seen “Gilmore Girls,” please start today! The second season of “Virgin River” was just released, and it is a sweet show, much like a warm cup of cocoa. I had COVID-19 when “The Crown” was released and finished it in two days. The performances are pitch perfect. “The Holiday Movies That Made Us” is a fun behind-the-scenes peek of the movies we all love.

If you have HBO Max, there are three shows I am CRAZY about. “The Undoing” is a riveting crime drama about a pediatric oncologist who may or may not be a killer. This is not a family friendly show! The docu-series “Murder on Middle Beach” delivers one heart-stopping moment after another. It is the true story of the murder of Barbara Hamburg and is produced by her son as he seeks to know the truth. “The Murders at White House Farm” is excellent. It is based on actual murders outside England in 1985.

On Hulu, we just started “Blue Bloods,” which is about a family of police officers and lawyers in New York. Also, if you have not started “The Good Doctor,” I highly recommend it. It follows the life of a brilliant doctor who has Asperger syndrome. It’s an incredibly moving series. There is a fascinating series called “Cults and Extreme Belief.” Episode six features Chattanooga and the Yellow Deli restaurant near UTC. The first episode is about the NXIVM organization and leads up to the arrests of several members and their leader.
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This month I didn’t watch anything on Prime Video, Disney Plus or Apple Plus so nothing to report on that end. Please always email any suggestions to merriles@epbfi.com. Stay warm and healthy and keep passing the popcorn ...

Yes, the theaters are open, but unfortunately there are no matinees, and that’s my favorite time to see movies. I rented a few theatrical releases, so in some small way, I feel like I have been to the theater. I rented the long anticipated film by Jordan Peele, “Get Out,” which is hard to watch as it is about slavery. Someone spoiled the twist for me, unfortunately. If you see it, let me know your thoughts.

I wouldn’t rush out to see “Antebellum” nor the long awaited Christopher Nolan movie “Tenet.” Even the most loyal Nolan fans I know were very disappointed.

On the small screen, I saw several things I enjoyed. We rented “Adam” starring Aaron Paul of “Breaking Bad” fame. It’s a sweet, somewhat predictable tale of a man who suffers a life-altering accident in the prime of his life. There is adult language, but it is a sweet, feel good movie. On HBO Max, I’m loving the documentary series “The Vow.” It is the story of the NXIVM cult for which many Hollywood celebrities served as recruiters. Also on HBO, the true story of the largest embezzlement of a school district, “Bad Education,” starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney, is excellent.

On Netflix, please skip “Ratched.” I was so excited about this as it is the original story of Nurse Ratched from the fabulous “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Sarah Paulson stars, and I think she’s a super-talented actress. Director and writer Ryan Murphy somehow gets a free pass on his misogynistic, violent, disturbing scripts. I think I am done with anything attached to him.

If you like creepy, I enjoyed “Strange but True.” This is definitely a more horror type film with twists you don’t see coming, but be warned that there is some gore and adult language.
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I’m enjoying Season Two of the BBC crime drama “Broadchurch,” and Netflix has all three seasons. Also, the delightful movie “Enola Holmes” stars Millie Bobbi Brown of “Stranger Things” and is a fun ride. I devoured “Get Organized-Home Edit,” but the most compelling thing I watched all month was the documentary “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix. The people interviewed in this smart, engrossing documentary are all top executives at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. The basic premise is that artificial intelligence addicts us to these platforms. The decline in mental health and rise in suicides in preteens is staggering. Kids are not the only ones affected. Women in their late 30s and early 40s are having similar problems. I deleted my Facebook account after watching, as did several people who watched it after we discussed it. Please take time for this film.

I am so fortunate to have such smart friends, and one such friend is Brian Masefield, who hosts the super fun podcast “Old Roommates” with his actual old roommate Christina Walsh. It’s a weekly podcast delving into the movies of the ’80s through a middle-aged lens. I asked Brian and Christina to give me a list of their favorite Thanksgiving films. Read on for their inspried list:

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
One the most beloved films of all time, it sadly doesn’t get revisited enough. A family struggling with a complicated divorce, a homesick alien and intrusive NASA officials all lead up to a wonderfully sappy, feel good holiday movie.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving |  (1973) Charlie Brown and classic tomboy and boy seek to do the right thing by others.

The Karate Kid | While not a traditional Thanksgiving film, it’s safe enough for all ages, has lots to say about class, self-respect, racism, and has an ending to please any crowd.

Beauty & The Beast | The first animated picture nominated for an Oscar, this Disney classic has a smart, well-read heroine, singing place settings, and oodles of good life lessons. Maybe make it a family sing-a-long!

Wizard of Oz | Pop some popcorn, pull up a horse of a different color, watch out for flying monkeys and be reminded there is no place like home!


For the Adult Children and Adult Viewing:
Clue | Eccentric strangers trapped in a house kind of says Thanksgiving.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles | Rated R for very adult language, this film really has a lot to say about loneliness, friendship and the importance of family.

Home for the Holidays | Jodie Foster directs an all-star cast that makes us laugh (at ourselves somewhat) at why we leave home and why siblings drive each other crazy.

Alice’s Restaurant | If you ever were a hippie, or consider yourself one, this is your feel good hippie watch.

The Scent of a Woman | If you want something more serious, this profound film stars Al Pacino as a blind Army colonel and Chris O’Donnell as his caregiver. As stories of friendship go, this is as satisfying as pumpkin pie.
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Until next month, I predict we will be passing popcorn in front of many different screens ...