We have spent Christmas locked down in Thornbury with our sons and daughter-in-law (and their two huge hounds). It has been a winter wonderland here with beautiful picturesque snow. We have eaten some wonderful meals and have watched lots of movies. In short, it has been a lovely time of family togetherness and way too much sitting and far too many calories. We did get out for a family walk with the dogs yesterday and were delighted to see people cross country skiing the rail trail that runs behind our house and there were lots of families venturing out into the snowy streets. For your indoor viewing pleasure, here are some suggestions:
PBS
Cranford (7 episodes) Our local PBS affiliate ran a marathon of this series which ran from 2007-2010. I had fond memories of the first 5 episodes, but had not seen the additional 2 Return to Cranford episodes that starred Tom Hiddleston with a blond perm. In the 1840’s, Cranford is ruled by the ladies. They adore good gossip, and romance and change is in the air, as the unwelcome grasp of the industrial revolution rapidly approaches their beloved rural market-town. Judi Dench, Francesca Annis, Lesley Manville, Greg Wise, Lesley Sharp, Jodie Whittaker, Julia McKenzie, Imelda Staunton, Barbara Flynn, Jim Carter, Andrew Buchan, Claudie Blakley are all part of the wonderful British ensemble cast. The Hiddleston episodes are an absolute hoot as he is the ultimate romantic hero with his aforementioned flowing blond locks.
Call the Midwife Christmas Special 2020 (87 episodes of this series!) Full disclosure, I recorded this on Christmas Day, but as I am the only Call the Midwife fan in this household, I haven’t had the chance to watch it yet. I shall savour it in a quiet snoozy moment. I love this series about the midwives and nuns serving the poor of London’s east end during the 1960’s. There hasn’t been a single episode where I haven’t been brought to tears by the self-sacrificing staff at Nonnatus House and the disadvantaged clientele they serve.
Streaming
Another Round (1 h 57 m) from Denmark where it was released as Druk. Four friends, all high school teachers, test a theory that they will improve their lives by maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their blood. What could go wrong? Mads Mikkelsen stars. Full disclosure: I hate movies about alcoholism, but I gave this one a chance and although it was a little longer and more painful than it had to be, it was very touching.
Honest Thief (1 h 39 m) Wanting to lead an honest life, a notorious bank robber turns himself in, only to be double-crossed by two ruthless FBI agents. Starring Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney, Jeffrey Donovan, Robert Patrick. Everything you ever wanted in a Liam Neeson movie as he puts his particular set of skills to work exacting retribution on the bad guys.
Greenland (1 h 59 m) A family struggles for survival in the face of a cataclysmic natural disaster involving a comet that is going to impact earth. Stars Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Scott Glenn. Of course, you know from the get-go, that with Gerard Butler starring, there’s a pretty good chance that earth will survive, as he has starred in so many disaster movies (Angel Has Fallen, Geostorm, London Has Fallen, Olympus Has Fallen, etc.) at this point, that he is pretty much invulnerable. Everything you ever wanted from a Gerard Butler disaster movie.
Soul (Animated from Disney Pixar, 1 h 40 m) A musician who has lost his passion for music is transported out of his body and must find his way back with the help of an infant soul learning about herself. Starring the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Alice Braga, Phylicia Rashad, Angela Bassett, David Diggs, Wes Studi, etc. Not for children, this lovely story about a grown man discovering his true gifts in life is sweet and inventive and leaves you with something to think about. The jazz score that underlies the film is performed by Jon Baptiste (from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and the score is written by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Maybe a masterpiece.
Sound of Metal (1 h 41 m) A heavy-metal drummer’s life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing. Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke star. A touching depiction of a musician coming to terms with the loss of his hearing. In many ways this is a film about a restless soul forced to find calm and peace. Wonderful performance from Riz Ahmed.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2 h 31 m) Rewind to the 1980’s as Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and The Cheetah. Words really cannot express how lame and awful this movie is. This is its preposterous premise: a wishing stone grants people their fondest desire. What could go wrong? This film is such a terrible waste of the great cast that stars in it which includes Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen. Honestly, I don’t know if Pedro Pascal’s career can recover from this (this has been his year as The Mandalorian has made him a huge star). The first scene of Wonder Woman’s training camp as a child is exhilarating, but it all goes terribly downhill from there once we reach the 1980’s. A terrible disappointment and I so wanted to love this movie. Not the blockbuster I have been waiting for. Where is that next James Bond film?
HBO/Crave
Your Honour (10 episodes) Bryan Cranston stars as a judge confronting his convictions when his son is involved in a hit and run that embroils an organized c rime family. He faces impossible choices and discovers how far a father will go to save his son’s life.
Let Them All Talk (1 h 53 m) A famous author goes on a cruise trip with her friends and nephew in an effort to find fun and happiness while she comes to terms with her troubled past. Stars Meryl Streep, Gemma Chan, Dianne Wiest, Candice Bergen, Lucas Hedges. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. Music by Thomas Newman, who provides a gorgeous Henry Manciniesque score of upbeat 60’s jazz background. This film was shot over the period of 2 weeks on an actual Queen Mary cruise across the Atlantic. It’s a very talky film (as the title suggests) and somewhat meandering in a slow and pointless way (although there is a big twist ending, if you can make it that far). Not for everyone, this talkathon. Kind of like a Woody Allen film at his least funny.
Ordinary Love (1 h 32 m) An extraordinary look at the lives of a middle-aged couple in the midst of the wife’s breast cancer diagnosis. Stars Lesley Manville and (oh yes) Liam Neeson. This very sweet movie about a long-married couple’s experience getting through a medical crisis is very touching. Lesley Manville is very powerful in this role and Liam Neeson does a great job as the supportive spouse in the kind of sweet supporting role we rarely see him in.
HGTV
Fixer to Fabulous (10 episodes) In the wake of the pandemic, production has pretty much dried up on the home improvement shows forcing me to experiment with shows I’ve never watched before and to go beyond my comfort level with Home Town and Love it or Leave It. I have now fallen in love with this one. Dave and Jenny Marr’s focus on restoring historic homes in their neighbourhood of Bentonville, Arkansas. I love the interplay between this charming couple and the insight into their lives with a very large family and life on a farm.
Good Bones (50 episodes) Mom and daughter flipping abandoned houses in Indianapolis. This fearless team buys the worst houses ever and fixes them up. I have had to fast forward through scenes where they forge their way through excrement and dead animals, so it’s probably not for everyone (just imagine Hilary from Love it or Leave It dealing with the awfulness that these two are so happy-go-lucky about). Their quick decision making leaves me in awe as they make a billion quick decisions in the course of an hour. Oh reality TV, I love you so. It just took us 11 years to decide to repaint our house. Sometimes, I just fast forward to the reveals on all these shows which I love. I am also shocked that more people don’t hurt themselves with the power tools they so casually screw, nail and saw away with. Not even a sliver, have I ever observed.
Netflix
Quicksand (from Sweden, 6 episodes) Maja, a student in Stockholm, finds herself on trial for murder after a tragedy at her school. More doubts and suspicions arise when new revelations are made. I love Swedish crime series!
The Midnight Sky (1 h 58 m) This post-apocalyptic tale follows Augustine, a lonely scientist in the Arctic, as he races to stop Sully and her fellow astronauts from returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe. Stars George Clooney, Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, Kyle Chandler, and Demian Bichir. Also directed by George Clooney, this is a long and elegiac sci-fi movie. We are never told about the exact nature of the event that is causing an extinction event on Earth and for some reason Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond is sung in a feel-good moment by the whole space crew. Full disclosure: I hate the music of Neil Diamond and can’t get that song out of my head, even now. Watch this very slow-paced film at your own risk. It does have a bit of a surprise pay-off at the very end, if you can hang in that long.
Bridgerton (8 episodes) Wealth, lust, and betrayal set in the backdrop of Regency era England, seen through the eyes of the powerful Bridgerton family. I have been waiting ages for this bonkers mash-up of Gossip Girl, Pride and Prejudice and every recently made film with colour blind casting (as many of the cast members are people of colour). This is a fantasy in a version of a world that doesn’t exist but that we can dream about. It is full of romance and wonder. If you are looking for the ultimate escapist romance to immerse yourself in this Christmas, this is your show. From the world of Shonda Rimes. It is wonderful to watch something that isn’t bleak and dark. I loved it, but if you are expecting a historically accurate Jane Austen, you will be disappointed. Enjoy it for the lush romance that it is. Also, the music is a hoot. During one ballroom scene, the string quartet plays a version of Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy.
Closing Words
My gosh, the month back in Ontario has gone by very quickly. We are looking forward to spending New Year’s Eve here with at least part of our family and will return to Florida shortly after that. We are having a little update done on our Florida place (some new cabinetry, counter tops, etc.) and so are looking forward to the big reveal when we get back. Fingers crossed that our project goes more smoothly than they often do on the home improvement shows where some disaster always crops up to provide dramatic conflict. Enjoy the holidays wherever you are. I wish you all a safe and healthy 2021.
Here are some images to enjoy:
There are some older ones here but some very good new ones “2020 In a Nutshell”!
What's Lorraine watching? 