While I’ve been working from home due to the global pandemic, I’ve arranged my workspace so that people can’t see my bed. I stretch a cord from my curtain rod to one of my clothes drying racks.
Then, I hang up a curtain with clothespins. This way, my unfolded laundry isn’t visible, and it doesn’t matter when the cats decide to clean their nether regions.
I like also that on Fridays, I fold up the curtain and take down the cord. It makes a nice coda to my week.
Directed by Clay Kaytis
Written by Matt Lieberman
Like many Christmas films, this starts in the land of sad* so that we can find the true meaning of Christmas and get to the land of happy. The film brings Christmas magic by showing a brief glimpse of Santa caught on video which leads to an attempt to capture Santa** in action once again. There are hijinks, a ticking clock, some Santa magic, and even a blues performance in this very nice Christmas film.
Cost: Netflix monthly fee ($8.99)
Where watched: at home
*In this case, Teddy and Kate are sad because their fireman father has died.
**The always charming Kurt Russell. I could have done without his constant griping about being mistyped as fat.
Santa’s list includes several of Kurt Russell’s grandchildren.
Directed by Ryan Murphy
Written by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin
The Prom is a not-terrible adaption of what was probably a not-terrible Broadway production and includes at least one song that earwormed its way into my brain for an extended period of time.* The story of washed up Broadway stars who decide to step in and “help” when a gay teen from Indiana** is excluded from bringing her girlfriend to prom, this is a of-the-moment story that will hopefully look quaint in about ten years. Jo Ellen Pellman is fresh faced as Emma Nolan, the gay teen in question and the four leads (Meryl Streep, James Corden,*** Nicole Kidman,**** and Keegan-Michael Key) give their best razzle dazzle performances.
Cost: Netflix monthly fee ($8.99)
Where watched: at home
*I cannot remember which song it is, but I’m not going to go and re-expose myself to the earworm.
**If Hoosiers is the apex of Indiana-positive films, this is the opposite.
***A straight man playing a gay man, which has been criticized.
****She seems to be having fun in this stage of her career.
Although the original actors from Broadway auditioned for the role, Ryan Murphy decided to go with the “star-filled” cast. This is sadly ironic, as the stage version was designed to give leads to actors who had spent their entire career in supporting roles, such as Beth Leavel, Brooks Ashmanskas, Angie Schworer and Christopher Sieber, whose roles in the film are played by Streep, Corden, Kidman and Rannells, respectively.
