December 2024 Picks

“Joy” (2024) Netflix Not to be confused with two other “Joy” movies (one is about the inventor of the wring mop and the other about Nigerian sex trafficking) this one tells the story of the people behind the truly miraculous creation of in vitro fertilization. It is also about the astounding challenges they had to deal with in addition to the natural fits and starts of biological research: political, religious, societal and personal. Jean Purdy, was the female member of the team. As a woman and a “lowly” nurse, she was often neglected, shut out, and harassed, not by her team but by the public and the medical establishment. So in some ways the project of the film is to bring attention to a remarkable woman whose contributions to IVF have not been acknowledged to the extent they deserve. AND Bill Nighy is one of the stars!

“The Bear” (2024)Hulu I did a one month Hulu binge just to watch how Carmy plays out his near psychotic obsession with his “chef-dom”. And honestly, I can’t tell if the artful teeny tiny nouvelle cuisine dishes created with such perfectionist precision are really supposed to make us yearn, merely admire or encapsulate his compulsive disorder. Impossible as it may seem, Season 3 is even more intense than the previous two. A stark contrast to the chaotic climate of The Bear restaurant, Olivia Coleman’s appearance as Chef Terry (loosely based on, it is said, Alice Waters and Marcella Hazan) is comfort food for the frazzled viewer. Too bad it’s because she’s giving up the restaurant business. You can’t beat this series for character development and acting but take it in the same small portions as the cuisine.

“Leonardo da Vinci” (2024) PBS Fantastic, gripping–a must watch. He was truly an otherworldly being whose vision and accomplishments surpass belief. Burns does beautiful work in this compelling documentary and does not use that predictable, flat affect that I so dislike in much of what he does.

“Martha, Inc.” (2024 )Netflix Martha didn’t like it so much (not sure why) but I really did. As documentaries go it’s not a breakthrough creation, but it has wonderful footage and a pretty clear perspective of what can only be described as a cultural phenomenon. Interviews with a fellow inmate were particularly fascinating.

“Somebody, Somewhere” 3 Seasons (2022) HBO Max A really delightful series about a group of misfits in Manhattan, Kansas. You will end up thinking they are all your friends. Sentimental in an anti-sentimental way, it is compellingly feel good. Watch it.

“Nobody Wants This” (2 Seasons 2023/24) Netflix Also kinda feel good, this rom/com pairs an orthodox rabbi and an agnostic sex podcaster. It’s amusing and watchable, short episodes (1/2 hour) and very L.A.

“Love, Actually” (2003) Netflix In a pathetic attempt to get into the holiday spirit, I watched this last night. I think I may have seen it many years ago, but as it goes these days, it was with fresh eyes and no memory of a prior viewing. The nearly all British cast is stellar (Bill Nighy–again!) but some of the humor is cringey and would not go over well with current sensitivities. Most of the matings are May-December, etc.(it is mostly frothy romanticism of the masculine kind) but if you can put all that aside you will find it vastly amusing to watch Hugh Grant as a British Prime Minister standing up to the American President bully– Billy Bob Thornton. I think Bush Jr. was president then but it’s uncanny in its prescience to our current situation.

Drylongso 1998 (DVD from the Public Library) I strongly urge you to pick up this terrific film by interdisciplinary artist and performer Cauleen Smith. Filmed in Oakland, Smith uses a 16mm camera to create a powerful film about friendship, racism, love, family, music (and a serial killer!) Because it’s a dvd you get the added bonus of interviews with the filmmaker which are terrific. Very post screening discussion worthy.

Let me know your thoughts about these and send in suggestions/reviews of more.