âThe snow is snowing, the wind is blowing,â as the song says. And as the ornaments are packed up and put away, we find ourselves now in the middle of January feeling a bit less cheerful. But fear not, dear readers, this is the best time to kick back with a glass of something warm. Maybe we catch a Cab (wine that is), break out the old records, and settle into the season. After 2020, a little escape is just the ticket to make it through the winter doldrums. And some truffles come in more than just chocolate-form.
âWonder Woman 1984â dropped Christmas Day on HBO Max to awaiting audiences thirsting for some superhero content. As a momentâs amusement, it will suffice. However, Patty Jenkinsâ return to the island of the Amazons is far from perfect. Bloated and overstuffed, the film lacks focus which never dogged her first outing. More than just the intro of two villains, plot lines are strung together so tenuously. Pedro Pascal is great as Max Lord, hamming it up and showing more range than he brings to the Mandalorian. Kristen Wiig would have served better as a developed side character before making her a main nemesis for a possible third film. As for Gal Gadot when she is given moments to shine, she is good. These are, however, few and mostly her chemistry with Chris Pine, save what little interest there is. But the reason for his return and main scheme makes little sense. Luckily, we donât have to pay theater prices to see it.
Wait, but thatâs not all with HBO Maxâs price of admission. Soderberghâs âLet Them All Talkâ is like a literary beach read you find trolling Barnes & Noble. Meryl Streep stars as Alice, a writer who hasnât published a book in years. About to accept a prize in England, her editor pushes her to take a trip where she invites her college friends and her nephew along. Played by Dianne Wiest, Candace Bergen and Lucas Hedges; voyages are traversed both physical and emotional as past indiscretions resurrect. What sounds heavy actually presents itself with dry humor and a lithe touch by our director and writer Deborah Eisenberg.
Over on Netflix, Julia Quinnâs collection of romance novels gets the series treatment with âBridgerton.â From producer Shonda Rhimes, it is back to the court of King Charles III and Queen Charlotte. Jane Austin meets âGossip Girlâ would be the best way to describe it. A trifle of a show, whispers and scandals of the wealthy make up the majority. The idea of making this incarnation more multicultural in its cast seems more quaint than jarring, unlike in Ryan Murphyâs âHollywoodâ from last year. For those who like their candy more saccharine and heavier, this is for you. My biggest joy was to hear Julie Andrews narrating throughout; best laughs I have had in a while.
For those missing Marvel, âWandaVisionâ has dropped on Disney+. An homage to sitcoms of yesteryear, we follow the titular characters as they navigate this universe. Some of the humor is corny, keeping with the time periods. But glimmers of what makes this world tick are just below the surface as those who have seen episode two. Not sure what to expect is what is keeping me wanting to come back. Plus Elizabeth Olson and Paul Bettany make all the Lynchian-lite madness so inviting. And Kathryn Hahn is a gas! As Vision says in the trailers, âWelcome Home.â
If you like your confections saltier, this month saw the anniversary of crime author Patricia Highsmith. You can make it a Euro night by checking out which interpretation of murderer/identify thief Tom Ripley is your favorite. Is it French heartthrob Alain Delon in âPurple Noonâ? Or is it Dennis Hopper in âThe American Friendâ? Whether classics like âStrangers on a Trainâ or new masterpieces like âThe Two Faces of Januaryâ and âCarolâ with Cate Blanchett, all are for rent on Amazon Prime. Happy viewing, readers!
