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
Apple TV
Hulu
Peacock
Amazon Prime
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
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
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