By far the best thing I watched this past month was “Inside Man” on Netflix. Stanley Tucci shines as a lawyer who killed his wife and solves crime from behind bars. David Tennant (“Broadchurch” fame) is a vicar with a few secrets to hide. This show makes one question how far we would go to protect our families. The acting is excellent, and the surprising ending hopefully will lead to a second season.

Joining “Inside Man” on Netflix, the long awaited series “The Crown” finally dropped. Yes, I completed binged it. I thought Dominic West was horribly miscast at Prince Charles, yet Elizabeth Debicki was excellent as Diana. This was not my favorite season, but I plan to watch season six.

Netflix

• “Falling for Christmas” A new Netflix Christmas movie that I loved
• “Christmas with You” Another sweet Christmas movie to make your heart a bit lighter
• “1899” The creepy story of finding one young boy on a ship lost at sea for four months
• “The Wonder” An “art house film” set in Ireland during the potato famine
• “From Scratch” A romance recommended to me by several people

Apple TV

• “Spirited” The Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds led Christmas musical based on “A Christmas Carroll”
• “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me” A vulnerable documentary that offers hope regarding mental illness

Hulu

• “God Forbid” The fascinating documentary of the fall of Jerry Falwell Jr. and Liberty University’s knowledge of the scandal it helped cover
• “Christmas on the Farm” A classic sweet, happy Hallmark type movie that is like a warm cup of hot chocolate
• Diane Sawyer’s Interview with Matthew Perry Highly recommended. Perry is vulnerable and raw in discussing his years of drug and alcohol abuse, and I think it is appropriate to watch with your older teens as his addiction began in his teens.

Peacock

• “Friend of the Family” An unbelievable true story about a kidnapping by a family friend

Amazon Prime

• “The English” An Emily Blunt-led Western about an English woman seeking revenge on the man she holds responsible for the death of her son

In theaters, I saw three films.  Let me save you from wasting two hours of your life. Do NOT see “The Menu.” This movie had great promise because of its magnificent cast (Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Judith Light), but it quickly dissolves into a gory mess of a film. Do see “She Said,” the well done film based on the reporters who broke the Harvey Weinstein case, and “The Fabelmans,” the Steven Spielberg film loosely based on his own story of growing up. It’s interesting to see themes in Spielberg’s life that end up in his films.

This is usually the time of year big films are released for the holidays, but, honestly, the only one I am excited about is the Tom Hanks-led “A Man Called Otto,” which is based on the beloved book “A Man Called Ove.” So keep passing the popcorn, and we will see what this month brings!

by Merrile Stroud

I love all kinds of movies, including scary movies, Hallmark movies and Christmas movies. This should have been the best month ever. But oh-so-sad to say it wasn’t, but, hey, Christmas is coming!

Each month I try “to take the pulse” of the movie industry, especially after Apple TV’s excellent film “CODA” won the Oscar for best picture last year (first streaming movie to do so), and this month it is weak. The one highlight in theaters was the sweet, funny, somewhat predictable “Ticket to Paradise” starring the always entertaining Julia Roberts and charming George Clooney. Part of the joy of this film is just being in the theater with a friend who always makes a movie outing a special event. Shared viewing in a dark theater is still one of my favorite things to do. But the best movie I saw this month was on Netflix. “The Good Nurse” stars Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne in the shocking true story of nurse Charlie Cullen who killed anywhere from 40 to 400 patients as he was just passed to one hospital to another. It is excellently acted and written. Don’t skip this one!

My other theater views were all horror movies that I was excited about, but only one hit the mark. And speaking of horror and thrillers, I was shocked by the number of readers that reached out to thank me for covering this genre. I felt like Sally Fields in her 1985 Oscar speech for the fabulous “Places in the Heart.” “You like me! You really like me!” You can skip “Barbarian” and “Smile” but if you’ve been a fan of the Halloween franchise, I think you’ll like “Halloween Ends.”

So on to your streaming reviews for this past month …

Netflix

• “Luckiest Girl Alive” The long awaited adaptation of the best selling novel starring Mika Kunis did not deliver the punch the novel did. Kunis stars as the survivor of a school shooting but questions have followed her as to whether she was a survivor or a participant.
• “Last Seen Alive” Gerard Butler stars as a man on a frantic mission to find his wife who went missing in a matter of seconds at a gas station. It is a fun couples Friday night film.
• “The Watcher” Netflix created quite a stir over this true story thriller. Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale and Mia Farrow head a top notch cast in this entertaining thriller.

Prime Video

• “#Like” A teen discovers the man who bullied her sister and ultimately contributed to her  suicide and goes on a mission to take him down. I’m a big sucker for defending-your-sister films, having four girls of my own.

Peacock

• “Sex, Lies and the College Cult” The unbelievable documentary of one man who started a cult at the prestigious Sarah Lawrence College.

Hulu

• “The Patient” As much as I love Steve Carell, this is just depressing and too dark. If you’ve started it, STOP.
• “Alaska Daily” Starring Hillary Swank as a reporter disgraced and forced to start over in Alaska, this one is excellent.
• “The Handmaids Tale” After sticking it out for the horrible season three, this final season is hitting on all cylinders: forgiveness; versus; revenge; and what makes a mother.
• SKIP the Emma Roberts led “Abandoned” and also “Matriarch.”

While you wait for Christmas, here’s my list of favorites again:

• “Friday Night Lights” Peacock
• “Lars and the Real Girl” Amazon Prime
• “Jerry and Marge Go Large” Paramount
• “Ordinary People” Paramount
• “Schitt’s Creek” Hulu
• “CODA” Apple TV

So, what to get excited about? CHRISTMAS MOVIES!

The ones I’m most looking forward to include “Perfect Ending,” “We Need a Little Christmas” and “Christmas Bedtime Stories.” I’m suspecting all will be Netflix releases, but I’ll keep you posted! Until next time, pass that popcorn please!

by Merrile Stroud

In late June, I had to undergo incredibly invasive foot surgery that I had been trying to avoid for three years. I have issues with anesthesia, and it tends to linger in my body a bit longer so reading is out of the picture - but streaming is not. You would think that a person who loves entertainment as much as I do would have no problem finding things to watch. But if you watch TV often and go to the movies weekly, you’ve seen almost everything. The good news with foot surgery is that going to the movies is still something you can do.

Last month I reviewed several of the successful miniseries based on true stories of people who swindled their way to the top - only to ultimately fail. I was honestly obsessed with theses stories. (Amazon Prime has a very artistic spin on this in “Chloe,” which is a bit reminiscent of “Inventing Anna.”) I kept wondering what it was with these stories that were becoming huge streaming hits. Well, I read an excellent article by Brett McCracken on this phenomenon, which he termed “failure porn.” His main point is that watching the mighty fall is cathartic; their failures make us feel better and satisfy a need for justice. Brett writes very thought provoking articles on pop culture for The Gospel Coalition. For parents trying to make wise family viewing choices, I recommend his articles highly.

Being confined to a sofa with an elevated foot gave me a chance to “be late to the party” for two favorites that I had never seen. “Parks and Recreation” is on Peacock, and “Schitt’s Creek” is on Apple TV or Amazon Prime, with the last seasons on Hulu. Laughter proved to be the best medicine, and I loved these pop culture hits.

While on family beach vacation, my oldest daughter saw an ad for the first movie to be made for Paramount + streaming service, and she suggested we save it for my season of recovery. “Jerry and Marge Go Large” stars Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening in the true story of a humble mathematician who breaks the code to winning the lottery. It is truly the sweetest, most charming movie I have seen in a LONG time. I have watched it three times already.

On the other side of the coin, I want to express my deep gratitude for good trash reality TV. I remember sitting in my in my granddaddy’s bed in the family room watching soap operas. That is such a vivid and fond memory for me, and I think at that young age, I understood that some “lower” forms of entertainment add joy to the lives of people who have very limited outlets due to health issues.
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“Southern Charm” on Peacock has been my granddaddy’s “Days of our Lives.” After falling in love with Charleston in May, I put this show in my queue. Good golly, Miss Molly! This is reality TV at its best. It reminds me of why the Oscars have been spiraling downward for years; the Academy has been choosing films that are not even shown in some parts of our country or that most Americans have no desire to see, as they perceive the films as too “high brow.” In my world, I want to be open to viewing both, and appreciating both.

On Netflix:

• “Stranger Things” This season of the beloved series is scarier. It makes me sad because part of the charm of this series for me was the fact that is was appropriate for family viewing for some families. I am looking forward to the fifth season, which will be the final one with the beloved teenage characters.
• “Keep Sweet, Pray and Obey” I have a deep fascination (some may say obsession) with cults. This story follows the brave women who escaped Warren Jeff’s abusive cult, a polygamist cult where children as young as 14 were married to adult men. The docuseries follows Jeffs’ trial, as well as the people willing to protect these girls and stop Jeffs.
• “Snowflake Mountain” Another reality show with a fun twist, parents whose adult children live with them and take full advantage of that send their lazy offspring off on a reality show. The parents are sending them to basically survive off the land, but the kiddos think they’re going on some luxury reality show gig. It’s quite entertaining!
• “The Lincoln Lawyer” By far my favorite series I streamed all month, it’s based on books by Michael Connelly. This is a road to redemption story of lawyer Mickey Haller, who runs his law practice from the back of his Lincoln.

On Hulu:

• “Keeper of the Ashes” I enjoyed this Kristin Chenoweth-produced true crime drama. As a child, Chenoweth missed Girl Scout camp due to illness, and three young girls were murdered while at the camp she missed. It illustrates how a crime not only changes families but communities.
• “Only Murderers in the Building” If you enjoyed season one, you will be pleased with this season.
• “The Old Man” It is so hard to find a series that my husband, John Stroud, will watch with me. He loved ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ and ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’ on Netflix, which I reviewed last month, and this series made the cut! Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow are fabulous in this tale of a retired CIA operative trying to live off-the-grid to protect his daughter and a long hidden secret.

On Apple:

• “Loot” Apple TV continues to produce quality, albeit not family friendly, entertainment. This Maya Rudolph-led comedy follows Molly, who has a very public divorce from her billionaire husband of 20 years. She decides to invest herself in a foundation she inherits in the divorce and begins to learn the extent of how her wealth has warped so much of her worldview.
• “Cha Cha Real Smooth” The only well known actor in the movie is Dakota Johnson. It is the sweet story of a 22-year-old college grad moving back home as he tries to figure out life. His relationships with his 12-year-old brother and a young autistic girl are endearing. There is adult language and content. I found this movie to be my second favorite streaming movie this month.
• Thankfully, there are movies in the theater worth the effort to leave the comfort of home to view. I reviewed “Maverick” last month, and I still think about that movie. It is truly excellent. If you want a family-friendly movie, see “Minions: The Rise of Gru.” It is sweet, funny and wonderful for kids and adults. “Elvis” delivers exactly what I wanted it to after seeing the first trailer. The acting is incredible.

So until next month, from the sofa and a handicapped seat at the theater, pass the popcorn!

by Merrile Stroud

I truly wanted to stand and applaud at the ending of the Tom Cruise-led “Top Gun: Maverick.” I honestly don’t know where to begin. I remember seeing the original in college and loving it, playing the soundtrack over and over on a cassette player in my car. This movie may surpass the original. There are a handful of cuss words, no nudity and a very pro-America theme. Several veterans were in the theater when I saw it, and everyone was thanking them for their service. Please see this on a big screen! The sound and the flight scenes are astonishing.

I took my oldest daughter to see it, and she liked the movie a lot but I think she would have shared my enthusiasm if she had watched the original version first. (Although the original is much more racy.)
I think Mr. Cruise may have saved the movie industry. I’m not being melodramatic here. I listened in on conversations after seeing “Top Gun: Maverick.” Across the board, people agreed with me. The use of music from the first film is genius. It’s an A+ in my book!

I actually saw two more movies in the theatre I could recommend for some families. The Channing Tatum-led film “Dog” is a moving film about the plight of veterans and the amazing dogs that serve aside them. There are many slapstick moments young boys will love. It is rated PG-13 for war scenes and mild language. “Family Camp” is a faith-based film about a family trying to reconnect by attending their church’s family camp. Adults will be moved by the last 20 minutes, but the silly humor will keep your young elementary kiddos entertained. Also, I loved the new “Downton Abbey” movie so much I saw it twice!

Here are my streaming suggestions divided by services:

Hulu
“Every Breath You Take” This is one of the better psychological thrillers I have seen in a hot minute. Casey Affleck plays a therapist whose client commits suicide, and her brother suddenly, mysteriously appears at his door.
“Candy” I could not wait for this Jessica Biel docuseries. My childhood best friend’s aunt lived in the same neighborhood and we knew the entire story. It is a crazy story that seems unbelievable! The attention to the details of the late ’70s and early ’80s is exceptional.
“Under the Banner of Heaven” Based on the bestselling novel, Andrew Garfield is excellent as a conflicted Mormon detective; all clues start to point to the fact that the killers may be Mormon as well.
“This is Us” If you gave up on the series in poorly executed season three, I highly encourage you to pick it back up as the final season is excellent.

Netflix
“Stranger Things” I have been anxiously awaiting season four. I love this show because the attention to details take me right back to middle school in Montgomery and Eastdale Mall. Yes, it is sci-fi, but it is actually a story of family and the family we create with loyal friends.
“White Hot” The documentary of the rise and fall of Abercrombie & Fitch was riveting! All I can say is WOW!

Apple
“The Shining Girls” I was looking forward to this Elisabeth Moss led drama with Phillipa Soo of “Hamilton” fame. It was so dark I could not finish it.
“Then and Now” This is a story of teenagers learning how covering a secret never ends well. It is part Spanish (dubbed) and English. Not family friendly, but probably a good wife/husband viewing choice.

Until next month, pass the popcorn please!

by Merrile Stroud

The Screen Actor Guild Awards (SAG Awards) were handed out Sunday, February 27. It was its first live awards show in two years. The fashion was fun to watch, as were the folks mingling around tables at the event. I was pleased to see one of my favorite films, “CODA” (available on Apple + TV), win for best ensemble cast. Also the deaf actor from the film, Tony Kotsur, became the first deaf actor to win a SAG. It was inspiring to watch Helen Mirren (always lovely and humble) receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The HBO Max drama “Succession” won for TV drama, and my beloved “Ted Lasso” (Apple + TV) won for best comedy. Honestly, I was quite pleased with myself as I recommended many of the SAG winners. Next up, the Oscars!

In theaters last month, I thoroughly enjoyed the Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson romantic comedy, “Marry Me.” I had such low expectations for this film but found myself smiling and laughing out loud at times.

This month’s reviews on streaming services are as follows:

Hulu
“Dead Asleep” is a documentary about a man accused of murder, who claimed he was sleepwalking and mistakenly killed the victim. If you enjoy true crime, this is a decent pick.

HBO Max
My two favorite new shows were here this month. The exceptional BBC miniseries “The Girl Before” is stellar and is perfectly acted by Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo. Also the new Julian Fellowes (“Downton Abbey” creator) show, “The Gilded Age,” is quite entertaining. It is NOT as good as “Downton,” but it is good.

Netflix
“Inventing Anna” had me hooked from the first episode. It is based on the true story of a “fake” German heiress who took many well known New York businessmen and socialites for an insane amount of money. Julia Garner (“Ozark”) and Anna Chlumsky (“VEEP”) are pitch perfect in their roles of the con and the journalist.

Amazon Prime
“The Tender Bar” is based on the memoir written by J.R. Moehringer. George Clooney directs Ben Affleck and a talented cast in this sweet, moving coming of age story.

And finally, my newly acquired streaming service, The Daily Wire, offered its first film, “Shut In.” There is language and some violence, and it is an intense film, but both my husband and I liked it and thought the theme of coming back to faith and fighting for your kids was at least an honorable theme. If you do not like thrillers that make you nervous, skip this.
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Next month, yes, NEXT month, I’ll be talking all things Oscar! Until then, pass the popcorn please …

by Merrile Stroud

November is the month I could pay just to go watch previews of upcoming movies. November and December are typically the months that blockbusters and Academy Award hopefuls are released. This month I saw two such films. “King Richard” is the true story of Richard Williams and his unorthodox training of his daughters Venus and Serena. I loved this movie so much. It is incredibly pro-family. It’s rare these days to see a movie that offers forgiveness, redemption and family values all in one film. I would vote for Will Smith to get an Academy Award nomination for best actor.
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The second major theatrical release I saw was “House of Gucci.” The book by Sara Gay Forden is a page-turner at almost 500 pages, so I knew the film would be long; it’s over two and a half hours. I am a massive Lady Gaga fan, and if she doesn’t get an Oscar nomination, I will be most upset. In my opinion, the movie needed editing desperately; there were sexual situations, long silent shots and side stories that did nothing to add to the actual telling of this twisted tale of love and revenge.

This past month Netflix hit several home runs for me, the first being “Holiday Rush.” This is a sweet movie about a successful DJ who loses his job right before Christmas and must deal with his spoiled children’s reactions and his growing feelings towards a co-worker. My husband and adult children loved this one. I also thoroughly enjoyed “Father Christmas is Back,” although the rest of my crew did not enjoy it as much as I did. The other two Christmas movies I devoured were “Love Hard” and Brooke Shields’ “A Castle for Christmas” with its magical Scottish setting.

The two non-holiday Netflix offerings I enjoyed were “Catching Killers” and “Hypnotic.” “Catching Killers” is a docuseries about the detectives and prosecutors who were in charge of some of the most notorious cases of our time. “Hypnotic” is from the husband-wife duo that brought us one of the smartest Netflix thrillers ever, “Hush.” It follows a therapist who uses hypnosis to control his patients.

And while we are discussing bad therapists, I am loving Apple TV’s “The Shrink Next Door.” Based on the incredible true crime podcast of the same name (try to listen to the podcast first), Paul Rudd plays the therapist who literally takes over the life of his patient, who is portrayed by Will Farrell. You will not believe this is even a true story! Apple TV also offers the Robin Wright directorial debut “Land.” I enjoyed this movie, though at times it could drag a bit.

Amazon Prime served up two sweet, fun Hallmark holiday movies this month. “Christmas on the Menu” and “The Santa Squad” felt like warm peppermint mocha lattes.

Hulu had my favorite dramatic, non-holiday shows. The Michael Keaton-led “Dopesick” is not to be missed. It’s the story of Purdue Pharma and the cover-up regarding the dangers of OxyContin. “Trust Me” is gripping right from the start. It asks the age-old question “how far would you go to protect and provide for your child?”.

Our family has a tradition of seeing a movie together on Christmas afternoon, so I look forward to next month’s reviewing! Until then, pass the popcorn …

by Merrile Stroud

My second daughter and I were counting down the days until we could see Jamie Lee Curtis in “Halloween Kills” on the big screen. We were so disappointed. I love the Halloween franchise but this one had no great storyline and was beyond violent. “Dune” on the big screen is the way this movie should be seen, but at over 2.5 hours it’s a commitment. Stellar cast but you must be able to do some science fiction and a long movie to enjoy. And that is everything I saw in the theater this past month but boy, did the streaming services deliver!
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Hulu definitely hit it out of the ballpark this month with five series and one documentary that I enjoyed. I can’t honestly say I “enjoyed” the documentary “Jacinta” about an adult daughter and her mother being locked up in the same prison, but it opened my eyes to generational drug abuse, incarcerations and how even being a mother cannot get addicts clean. This is an honest look at three generations working through the consequences of drug abuse.

“Only Murderers in the Building” starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez is a highly stylized comedy/drama about an apartment building that is housing a murderer and many other secret lives. I loved this show. There is adult language.

While “Ordinary Joe” is currently airing on NBC, you can watch it on Hulu. It’s a fascinating look at one man’s life from three different views based on three different options offered to him on the day he graduates from college. “The Good Doctor” is still airing on ABC but if you’re new to this amazing show about a doctor who is on the autism spectrum, you can start from the beginning on Hulu. Freddie Highmore is brilliant in the lead of this drama.

“The Big Leap” is set with the backdrop of a reality dance show, but it’s really more about second chances and finding a healthy path for families and individuals who seem to have lost their way. I love dancing, and I love some of the many storylines of the contestants.

If I got an Emmy vote, I’d give my vote to Michael Keaton for his work in “Dopesick.” This limited series is based on two documentaries following the Sackler family and Perdue Pharma and the crimes they committed in marketing, making and distributing OxyContin. I’ve mentioned before that it’s a struggle for me to find any entertainment that my hubby and I can agree on but this is one we both loved.

Apple TV offered up the second season of Octavia Spencer’s brilliant “Truth Be Told” and the second season of “Ted Lasso.” John and I both love “Ted Lasso,” although we wish the language was PG. (I even dressed up as Ted for Halloween.) “Truth Be Told” is rapid fire crime solving while also offering a look at what it takes to make a popular podcast.

Netflix dropped another season of the thoroughly delightful and entertaining “The Great British Baking Show.” This show is like a warm hug. To see regular folks who love to bake compete while being kind to other competitors is a breath of fresh air. The second show I watched on Netflix was “Maid.” Similar to “Jacinta” on Hulu, this is a rather hard show as it’s about a mom leaving an abusive relationship only to be totally out of money. It was eye opening to me to see how hard it is to navigate getting help, government and other sources. Real life mother and daughter Andie MacDowell and Margaret Qualley give exceptional performances.

Finally, HBO Max offered up two extraordinary documentaries. “The Crime of the Century” is the documentary about the Sackler family and Perdue Pharma. It is one of the documentaries that the exceptional “Dopesick” on Hulu is based upon. The second is “15 Minutes of Shame.” This documentary follows real life people who have been publicly shamed and the fallout that occurs in their lives. One story has a local Chattanoogan featured. I was very conflicted about how I buy into some of these “shaming” stories, that may or may not be accurate.

So the pumpkins went away and that means Hallmark Christmas movies.  And blockbuster releases for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Color me happy and pass the popcorn!

by Merrile Stroud

A friend requested I try to find some “family friendly” movies. I’ll be honest, this is an incredibly tough request for me because parents have different standards for what is acceptable for their children. Obviously, different age groups have different guidelines. For example, when our girls were younger, if a story had a redemptive, moral or a powerful life lesson, we would allow a bit of offensive language. I will try to recommend family viewing for both the big and small screen, with descriptions that I hope will be helpful for parents.
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I can safely recommend the film “I Still Believe” to any age group, although young children may be bored. It portrays the true story of Jeremy Camp, one of the best selling contemporary Christian singer/songwriters of all time and stars K.J. Apa of “Riverdale” fame. You can view this movie on Hulu.

I found “Turner and Hooch” on Disney Plus to be sweet and acceptable for family viewing. There is, however, an occasional storyline that is not in line with more traditional family values.

I liked “Poms,” starring the incomparable Diane Keaton as a woman starting a competitive cheer squad at a retirement village. There is some questionable language, but the movie is sweet and explores the meaning of true friends beautifully. It is available on Netflix.

For families with teenagers, I would highly recommend the film “CODA” on Apple TV. It stars Oscar winning actress Marlee Marlin as the deaf mother of one deaf child and one hearing child. Ms. Marlin insisted that all the deaf characters be portrayed by deaf actors. I even convinced husband John Stroud to watch, and he loved it.

Speaking of Apple TV, if you haven’t yet watched “Ted Lasso” after my many recommendations, please start! The language is definitely adult, and there are adult situations, but if you watch with older teens, it could lead to meaningful conversations.

If you were a fan of “Big Little Lies,” you may like Hulu’s “Nine Perfect Strangers,” written by the same author, Liane Moriarty, and starring Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy and one of my favorite actors, Michael Shannon. It a twisted mysterious tale of nine strangers who all end up at a resort with the promise of “changing the life you have.”

On HBO Max, I do NOT recommend “The White Lotus.” You may be lured in by the great lineup of actors led by Connie Britton, but do not go there!

On Peacock, I highly recommend “Dr. Death,” based on the widely popular podcast of the same name. It follows the unbelievable true tale of University of Tennessee trained Dr. Christopher Duntsch. You will fly through this highly addictive true crime saga. Also, check out “Parks and Recreation” on Peacock. I’m late to this party but I’m glad I joined!

Finally, on Netflix, I recommend the movie “The Last Letter from your Lover.” I’m so thankful my friend Jennifer Foley told me to watch this romantic film. Another recommendation from our friends Linda and Tad Dacus led us to start the Revolutionary War spy drama “Turn.” It takes an episode or two to really recognize all the players and which side they’re helping, but it is worth the work, I promise.

The past month I saw four, yes, FOUR, movies in the theaters. It reminded me how much I love the big screen, the amazing surround sound and all the previews! I have one friend I see movies with who totally gets my “you do not miss previews” rule. She wishes movie theaters had one theater where you can watch previews for an entire hour. Count. Me. In.

All four movies I saw had divided reviews from both critics and audiences. The first I saw was the Matt Damon film “Stillwater.” This is not an easy film. It’s very reminiscent of the Amanda Knox story but with a stunning twist. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Matt Damon’s acting is stellar.

The second film I saw was the new M. Night Shyamalan film “Old.” This thriller takes place on a beach that mysteriously ages visitors years in just a few hours. I felt like Mr. Shyamalan was trying to make a film that is a commentary on big pharmaceutical companies. I loved this film. I’m a huge Shyamalan, fan so I may have some bias. The friend who accompanied me to the theater thought it was “mildly entertaining.”

I loved Jennifer Hudson’s masterpiece, “Respect,” the story of Aretha Franklin’s early life. It’s sad, moving and truly redemptive. I saw it with two friends and we were still talking about the film the day after.

Finally, I saw the Hugh Jackman film, “Reminiscence.” I didn’t know what to expect from this film. It is a love story with some science fiction and post apocalyptic influence. I loved this film because it made me think about how we romanticize the past, and how sometimes being stuck in that mindset influences our decisions in the present.

I want to give a big shout out to the staff at the AMC Majestic Theater. They are working incredibly hard to keep the theaters clean and provide great service at the snack bar.

So until next month, from the theater and my couch, please pass the popcorn …

After the quarantine lifted, the first movie I saw in the theaters was “A Quiet Place 2.” I traveled to Asheville, N.C., to see it with my oldest daughter because none of her friends like suspenseful movies. I loved this movie as much as the first. I cannot recommend both of the “Quiet Place” movies enough. They are NOT horror movies. Yes, they are tense and suspenseful but the first one is a true picture of the true meaning of parental love and sacrifice. I go as far as to say the last few minutes are a clear illustration of the Gospel of Christ that I cling to for life. The movie explores the love and dedication of the love between siblings and our “chosen family,” which is the only family I have. This is my favorite movie I’ve seen all year.

The second movie I saw is indeed a horror movie. It’s an installment in “The Conjuring” universe, “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.” True horror fans will love it. The reason I love “The Conjuring” series is because the movie stars Lorraine and Ed Warren, actual people who are Christians who historically did “house cleansing” and exorcisms for years. Their faith and dedication is inspiring to me, and I love their quotes at the end of each movie.

The final movie I saw in the theater was “In the Heights,” which is based on “Hamilton” creator Lin Manuel Miranda’s lesser-known Tony award winning musical. I love-love-love the original musical, and I really enjoyed the movie. However, the movie left out important plot lines and tried to scramble them in too late in the movie. If you aren’t familiar with the musical, you’ll probably like the movie more than I did.
I’ve had requests to recommend shows by the services on which they air. So here goes:

HBOMax
“Mare of Easttown”
A stunning performance by Kate Winslet as a down-on-her-luck detective trying to solve both a heinous cold case and a current case. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. Warnings: adult language and some sexual content.
“The Crime of the Century”
A documentary about the oxycodone epidemic and the politicians that have blood on their hands. It’s fascinating and anger-producing, as well. It’s excellent.

Apple TV
Please go watch “Ted Lasso” now before season two drops. It’s one of my favorite shows in years.

Netflix
“Murder on the Coast”
The documentary about catching one of the most horrible and anonymous murderers of women.
“Blue Miracle”
A heart-warming movie about a couple that runs an orphanage that is on the verge of failing. The pair joins forces with a crusty fisherman to win a fishing competition to save the orphanage.

Peacock
“Girls5eva”
The hysterical 80’s girls band that reconnects for a comeback when the hit their 40s. It’s only appropriate if you were in high school somewhere from 1982-1989.

Amazon Prime
“The Woman Who Wasn’t There”
This is an unbelievable documentary about a woman who lied about being at the Twin Towers on 9/11and found celebrity and money in that lie. (Yes, I watched a lot of documentaries this month because wedding planning did that to my brain.)

So, I hope I see you the movies in person soon, and as always, pass the popcorn!

Well, the good news is that there was an Oscars award show; the bad news is that most people didn’t see many of the nominated movies or performances. The ratings for the show “tanked,” according to Variety. Not one of the movies nominated debuted in theaters. Of the eight nominated films, I saw seven. Two, I highly recommend, “Nomadland” and “Minari.” “Nomadland” not only won best picture but also earned Oscar gold for best actress Frances McDormand, who is honestly pitch-perfect in this role. Chloe Zhao won her statue for her impeccable direction. This film centers around Fern (McDormand) who takes to the road in her van after her husband dies, and her entire town of Empire, Neb., disappears after the U.S. Gypsum plant closes its doors. This movie is a slow, thoughtful, symbolism-packed masterpiece.

“Minari” is the tale of a Korean family who moves to Arkansas to become farmers. This poignant movie subtly pulls on your heartstrings without being predictable in any way. Youn Yuh-jung won the Oscar for best supporting actress. While unknown to most filmgoers, she is the Meryl Streep of Korea. Google her speech. It is priceless!

But the most important takeaway from this weird Oscar production was Tyler Perry’s speech for winning the highest humanitarian award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. I am a huge Tyler Perry fan, and his speech made me love him all the more. You can Google the speech but his “I refuse to hate someone because they’re Mexican or because they are black or white, or LGBTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they’re a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they’re Asian. I would hope we would all refuse hate,” quote brought thunderous applause and cheers. It was the highest moment of the night in my opinion.

I would like to do something different this month and recommend three stand-alone episodes that continue the theme Mr. Perry so eloquently brought up. The first is season five, episode 13 of “This Is Us.” The other episodes are “Law & Order SVU,” season 22, episode 12, and my all time fav, “Friday Night Lights” season three, episode 12. On another note, the final stand-alone episode I want to recommend is for parents of middle schoolers. After watching “The Social Dilemma,” I’ve become so concerned about cell phones in young hands. Season three, episode one of “Black Mirror” was written a few years ago, and what’s frightening is that we are already in the midst of the technology this episode is warning us about.

My most favorite series I picked up this month is “Little Voice” on Apple TV. It’s the sweet story of a songwriter in NYC struggling to find her musical voice and navigate forgiving family members. Please do not watch “Them” on Amazon Prime. Just don’t do it. I continue to love “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” on Hulu and Peacock. A friend recommended I take up “A Million Little Pieces” on Hulu, and I’m enjoying it. If you’ve never watched “Downton Abbey,” now is your chance; do it before the newly announced second feature length film is released later this year.
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Spring is here! Things are opening slowly, and I look forward to being in the theater regularly again. Until next month, pass the popcorn (and not from six feet) …