Month: December 2020

Christmas Morning

This year, due to quarantine, the fam met briefly in my Aunt Pat’s garage so we could do stockings. This year, that meant putting things in a “stocking” that was really a bag with a name written on it. Then we brought our stockings home to unpack.

There were a lot of goodies in the stocking!

Plus, I had a fun present to open, so here’s another view of the spoils.

The stationary says, “Nobody writes letters anymore.” I love it!

These were my winners!

And check out this situation:

Though brief, it was nice to see everyone for a stocking exchange.

Christmas Dinner

Since all the Christmas traditions were up in the air, I decided that 2020 was the year to try a Tofuky. Even in my vegetarian years, I never shelled out the money. Back in those days, it came with a tempeh drumstick, so I guess I should have sampled the product then.

Here’s the Tofurky, ready to go into the pot. I followed the instructions on the label and made a soy sauce/olive oil concoction for the broccoli and tofurky to roast in.

And here’s our final product, dusted with sage. I also made mashed potatoes, because I don’t like to pass up a chance to eat mashed potatoes.

The verdict? Very salty. The broccoli tasted amazing, through, having roasted in that soy sauce/olive oil concoction. I skipped the gravy (because I almost always skip the gravy) and the potatoes were delicious!

While I wouldn’t turn down a slice of tofuky, if one is offered to me, this was probably a one-and-done experience.

The Santas

Since we are quarantining this year, Matt and I will not be doing the usual, which is going to Aunt Carol’s house for dinner and stockings. Instead, we went to find the Bakelite Santas that Chris Willis (@ChrisWillis) has been installing in various Portland locales for 10 years. We pondered the clue he gave us and set out for Westmoreland where we wandered about until we saw a faint pink glow coming from an empty building.

The Santas were marvelous!

This was our first time seeing them. They don’t usually wear masks, but this year is a special year. We got to find six mask variations.

This was a very fun break from our routine. Here’s more about the project.

Happiest Season: A Lot of Great Performances by Women

Mackenzie Davis and Kristen Stewart in Happiest Season

Happiest Season

Directed by Clea DuVall
Written by Clea DuVall & Mary Holland

The review:

Astute readers* will remember how I’m always going on about the lack of good roles for women and I’m here to say that Happiest Season, a story about two women who love each other, who are heading to one of their family homes for Christmas, provides an entire movie with juicy roles for women.** This film captures a couple at a time in their relationship where it’s a little hard to root for them, but that just makes it all the more fun to watch.*** Aside from being big fans of most of the people in this movie, I thought Aubrey Plaza turned out her best performance in years.

The verdict: Good

Cost: Monthly Hulu charge of $6.00 (because bundled with Disney+)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*Or those just passing by.
**This inverts the usual formula. Rather than a bunch of men and one woman, we’ve got a bunch of women and one man playing a side character.
***Plus, it can give you some compassion practice. What if you hadn’t found the courage to come out to your parents yet? What if you had to juggle that with the usual going-home teenager-esque feelings? What if sibling relationships made everything more complicated? I get that Harper isn’t making good choices, but I feel for her. (Plus, Mackenzie Davis was in Tully, and I will love her forever for that.)

Questions:

  • Were you rooting for, or against?
  • Your worst acting-like-a-teenager-though-a-full-grown-adult-while-visiting-parents moment. Go!

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

In Harper’s old room there’s a poster of Josh Hartnett. The film’s director, Clea DuVall, co-starred with Hartnett in The Faculty (1998).

Other reviews of Happiest Season:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: Have you managed to get a man's permission to take ownership of an adult, human woman yet? —Happiest Season. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Decorating Santa Cookies with Mom

Mom wanted to give her neighbors some cookies and, when searching the internet, found someone’s great idea to turn a heart-shaped cookie upside down and make a Santa. Using just the star tip, some frosting, and jimmies, red hots, and chocolate chips, we made these darling little creatures.

These are also historic cookies because while we were making them, I got a call offering me a job as a full-time copy editor.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is the Story of Levee

Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Directed by George C. Wolfe
Written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson

The review:

Despite the title, this is really the story of Levee (Chadwick Boseman), the trumpet player in Ma Rainey’s band, but Viola Davis is a commanding presence all on her own.* As the hot day gets hotter and the recording session drags on, a lot of stories spool out of Rainy, Levee, and the other band members. It’s a film full of hard truths, great performances, an atmosphere that can’t be beat,** and a couple good punches in the gut, like any great story should have.***

The verdict: Recommended

Cost: Netflix monthly fee $8.99
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*I’d love to see both Boseman and Davis get a slew of awards nominations for their work on this film.
**From the sweat on the musicians in the recording studio to the tent revival to the stage performance this movie brings all the details.
***It’s a solid play-to-screenplay adaptation, too.

Questions:

  • What did you think of Ma Rainey’s attitude during the recording session?
  • What was your favorite period detail?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Denzel Washington, who produced this film, had been a mentor to Chadwick Boseman since his college years. When Denzel Washington received his 2019 AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, Boseman recounted that he was one of nine of Phylicia Rashad’s Howard University acting students for whom Washington paid the full summer-program tuition at the British Academy of Dramatic Acting in Oxford.

Other reviews of Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: I know what I'm doin'. Let me handle them my way. —Ma Rainy's Black Bottom. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

All Movies Watched on Kanopy June—Present

Kanopy. Quality films for free.

Here are five movies I’ve loved that you can watch right now. For free!

Five Really Great Movies on Kanopy Now

Good

  • The Watermelon Woman
  • Picture of Evan Rachel Wood, Callum Rennie, and Ellen Page in the film Into the Forest
  • Picture of Dominique Fishback and Tatum Marilyn Hall in Night Comes On
  • Drawing of the stars of the Hitch-Hiker: Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, and William Talman
  • A depiction of a reel of film with the faces of Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Keanu Reeves, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke and Billy Bob Thornton
  • Picture of Taysha Fuller, Irene Bedard and John Reddy in the motion picture Songs My Brothers Taught Me.
  • Susan Ziegler and Molly Shannon in Wild Nights With Emily
  • A picture of Eric Stoltz's head with a sketch that makes him look like the devil. Text: Mr. Jealousy
  • Aundrea Gadsby, Jemaine Clement and Gia Gadsby in People Places Things

Skip

  • A picture of Francisco Solorzano and Patrizia Hernandez with a sketch of NYC brownstones behind them
  • A picture of Kristen Wiig in the film Welcome to Me.
  • A picture of Cynthia Nixon and Jennifer Ehle in the film A Quiet Passion

Top Ten 2020 Movies I Watched on my Couch

(While Missing the Movie Theater Experience)

A picture of my Ikea couch with my Roku TV which became ground zero for movie viewing in 2020

On the plus side, the cancelling of all activities combined with my unemployed status meant I had more time for movies this year. On the minus side, all but one 2020 film was watched right here, on this couch.

Hamilton

A picture of Daveed Diggs, on stage as Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton (he's so great!)

I catch up to the musical phenomenon and find that all the rabid fans are spot on.

Palm Springs

Image: Cristin Milioti and Adam Sandburg in a pool drinking beer.

Viewing at home advantage: five minutes in when I realize the boyfriend will love it I can drag him to the couch and start the film again.

First Cow

A picture of Orion Lee and Toby Jones in the film First Cow

Kelly Richardt! Oregon setting! Beautiful story of friendship!

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch and Sacha Baron Cohen backed by a wall of protesters in the Trial of the Chicago 7

Protesters and police in a 1968 setting that felt eerily contemporary.

The Lovebirds

The Lovebirds

Action comedy by two people who know how deliver hilarious situations.

Athlete A

A picture from the movie Athlete A

What happens when girls’ needs are sold out by the athletic association that should be protecting them.

The Half of It

The Half of It

Charming small-town love story with great performances.

Miss Juneteenth

Picture from the movie Miss Juneteenth

The best mother-daughter film I watched this year, with a side of quiet competence.

The Old Guard

A picture of the five stars of The Old Guard

One of my favorite directors brings us the tale of immortal warriors.

Yes, God, Yes

Picture of Natalia Dyer in the film Yes, God, Yes

Amusing early 2000s period piece about a Catholic girl and an AOL chat that opens a can of teenage worms.

Honorable mentions:

Becoming

Becoming

We had a great first lady for eight years and this documentary gives us a glimpse of her book tour.

The Assistant

Picture from movie The Assistant

Meditative look at the horrors of being an assistant to a high-powered producer.

How to Build a Girl

How to Build a Girl

Beanie Feldstein razzle dazzles us as a teenage music journalist

The Photograph

The Photograph

Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield in a gorgeous love story

We Are Freestyle Love Supreme

Chris Jackson and Lin-Manuel Miranda in 2005

Before some of the Hamilton people did Hamilton, they performed in an improv hip-hop comedy group and this is their story.

The Devil All the Time

Picture of Tom Holland in the film The Devil All the Time

Packed with famous faces, this is two-plus hours of Midwestern Gothic violence and wacko religion.

Shithouse

Cooper Raiff and Dylan Gelula in the film Shithouse

Charming debut film (with a terrible title) about a college freshman who just can’t connect.

And the one 2020 film I watched in the the theater:

Emma.

Emma.

I loved this so much it set off an exploration of Johnny Flynn and I still debate if I should buy my own copy.

People Places Things is a Winner

Aundrea Gadsby, Jemaine Clement and Gia Gadsby in People Places Things

People Places Things

Directed by Jim Strouse
Written by Jim Strouse

The review:

Aside from one aspect of this film,* this story of Will Henry (Jemaine Clement) trying to move on after a divorce while still being a good dad, teacher, and artist is an amusing and heartfelt way to spend your movie-watching time. That it also includes the impeccable Regina Hall plus the charismatic Jessica Williams** makes it even more of a treat. You know you’ve been missing those low-key funny lines expertly delivered by Clement, so look this up today.***

The verdict: Good

Cost: Free via Kanopy, the Multnomah County Library’s streaming service.
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*That aspect is that Stephanie Allynne’s character (the ex-wife) is a really terrible person in that self-absorbed way that had me worried that this film was director Jim Strouse’s way to work through his anger at his ex-wife for their divorce. Is Jim Strouse divorced? I have no idea, but it sure felt that way to me. And that his divorce didn’t go well. [Update: Jim Strouse is divorced.]
**Strouse also wrote and directed the other film I’ve seen Jessica Williams in: the Incredible Jessica James.
***The other thing this movie does well is capture dynamics in a college classroom. If you’ve spent any time in one those scenes will feel very familiar.

Questions:

  • What’s the key to a good divorce, especially one where you have children in common?
  • Not-great child actors, still fun?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

No good trivia. Instead, this quote from an article (that is full of spoilers) about the film:
“I [don’t] want to ever imply that love is the path to redemption or salvation,” Strouse says. “The story is about him figuring out how to be alone and move on from the past while still respecting it. From my point of view, that’s not through falling in love with another person, it’s through learning how to be alone.”

Other reviews of People, Places, Things:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: Those are just things I painstakingly drew out of anger. —People Places Things. Read the three sentence movie review 3SMReviews.com

My Work Space

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.