The month of February normally finds me sitting in Twin Cities movie theaters. Landmark. AMC Roseville 14. ShowPlace ICON Theatres at the West End. After checking show times, parking in icy lots, and standing in lines to buy tickets, I settle into comfy, cup-holdered seats, some that even recline.
All this is the result of careful selection. I skim movie reviews, search Rotten Tomatoes, listen to celebrity interviews, and read pundit predictions for Oscars and Golden Globes. Which film should I give up a weekend night for? Which movie am I willing to pay $10 or $12 to see? If I’m going with a friend, which movie have neither of us seen?
Not anymore. My evenings are free from now until the end of time—or end of pandemic, whichever comes first. My car sits in the garage, full of gas, no place to go. And I no longer see movies with friends (this blog is my attempt to re-capture friend film fun).
I feel sorry for all the talented people involved in creating films, because their work now has to be squeezed onto small screens. But I’m learning to enjoy the new pandemic way of going to the movies. After dinner each evening, I head upstairs, turn on the television, and start streaming.
Most of the films I watch are free—with subscription to the provider—but I have paid extra charges of $4 up to $20. Sultan the cat usually joins me; try that at your neighborhood cinema!
So far, dear reader, I have had the joy of screening over 20 movies. Most have been good, and some have been fantastic.
Here are seven films that have satisfied me, moved me, and taught me things I didn’t know. Let me know what you think–and by all means, send me your recommendations!
All In: The Fight for Democracy This documentary, about America’s history of voter suppression, highlights Stacey Abrams’ get-out-the-vote efforts. Historical details moved me to tears, and the film also inspired me. An “urgent broadcast,” writes critic Ben Kenigsberg. On Prime.
The Cave Amani Ballour, a pediatrician just out of university, is selected to lead a subterranean hospital near Damascus during Syria’s civil war. We watch as she encounters resistance from patients and, with her team, overcomes shortages of food and medicine, and endures chemical attacks. The film is riveting, and Ballour has won the Council of Europe’s Raoul Wallenberg Prize for her courage and commitment. On Hulu, Prime, National Geographic and others.
Dick Johnson is Dead Documentary filmmaker Kirsten Johnson enlists her elderly father to participate in a film about his decline. It is poignant, inventive, and sometimes surrealistic. I am always looking for older role models, and Dick Johnson is a wonderful one. On Netflix.
First Cow Two young men from different cultures team up in mid-nineteenth-century Oregon Territory to create a business that relies on the theft of a key item. An unusual take on those who settled the West. The New York Times states that the film is “keenly attuned to details of history, both human and natural.” On Prime, Hulu, Showtime and others.
Miss Juneteenth A disappointed former beauty queen hopes her daughter can navigate teenage years better than she did. A charming debut. On Prime and others.
Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always A lonely 17-year-old in a small Pennsylvania town is pregnant. She and her savvy cousin travel to New York to terminate the pregnancy. The movie’s matter-of-fact approach and the obstacles the two women face add up to what the critic Manohla Dargis calls a “low-key knockout.” On Hulu, Prime, HBO Max and others.
Promising Young Woman Directed by Emerald Fennell, who plays Camilla Parker-Bowles on The Crown. A revenge thriller about rape culture, starring Carey Mulligan. Shocking and insightful. On Prime and Vudu (this was the $20 movie, and it was worth it).
I will update this blog as I’m able to stream more movies. In the meantime, whatever you’re watching, have fun!
https://paidpost.newyorker.com/article/national-geographics-remarkable-documentary-cave/
Thanks, Sue! Always looking for recommendations from friends whose opinions I value.
Sue, You are the best. Thank you for your reviews and recommendations. I do miss going to the movie theaters too, especially with you.