The arctic chill in the Northeast kept me hiding inside more than usual. Long story short: short on shows, I turned to some more highbrow stuff — which I loved. What I’ve Been Watching this (Freezing) Winter Part I includes shows and movies with a lot of period drama, LGBTQ romance, feminist themes, and awesome music. Find out more below!
What I’ve Been Watching this Freezing Winter
Around here it’s been freezing over the past month. And more cold weather and more snow are coming.
Not surprisingly, I’ve spent a lot of time reading, streaming and going to the movies.
I’ll tell you what I’ve been watching and loving this (freezing) winter, and I hope you will tell me what you’ve been watching (either in a comment or a link to your own post) so I can find new things to check out!
IN THEATERS
When I watched the Golden Globes, I was kind of shocked that I’d seen so many of the movies and shows being honored. That doesn’t always happen to me, so thanks, cold weather!
Ladybird
If there’s a movie that I’ve seen recently that screams “YA,” this is it. Christine “Ladybird” MacPherson is a girl dealing with friendship problems, boy problems, parent problems, applying-to-college problems, all in Sacramento in 2002. While this movie is R-rated, it features an intergenerational cast (Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet — more on him soon) and a story that anyone can relate to. I went with a group that ranged from teens to adults and we all loved it. Highly recommended for YA readers!
Awards: Won Best Picture/Musical or Comedy and Best Actress and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes.
Soundtrack blasts from the past: Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake) Hand in My Pocket (1995) by Alanis Morisette.
Call Me By Your Name
The rest of my family ‘s motto is “In Rotten Tomato ratings we trust” so I was able to use this film’s ridiculously high 96% Tomatometer rating (plus the subzero wind chill factor and the film’s summer in Italy setting) to get them to join me. I didn’t realize this film was written by James Ivory which explained why it was very long and leisurely. Very. But hey, who wouldn’t mind pretending they were in Italy for over two hours rather than walking around in the cold? This was a beautifully-told romance about a teenage boy living in his family’s Italian summer house who falls in love/lust with his professor father’s handsome (male) graduate student. I loved that this was set in the early 1980s. I thought Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet (from Ladybird!) did an amazing job. I thought the running time should have been a little shorter but this was still a beautiful and moving story of first love and self-discovery.
Awards: Nominee for Best Actor, Best Supporting actor and Best Picture/Drama at the Golden globes.
Soundtrack blasts from the past: Love My Way by the Psychedelic Furs (1982).
Pitch Perfect 3
I enjoyed PP 1 a lot and PP 2 well enough. But because this film’s Rotten Tomato rating was a rotten 31% on the Tomatometer, I had to bribe someone to join me. Perhaps because my expectations were so low, I actually enjoyed this weird mashup of an Austin Powers movie and a chick flick. I don’t believe this is the last in the franchise. I’m fully expecting to watch Pitch Perfect 52: Assisted Living Center Sing-Off from my rocking chair.
Awards: None
Soundtrack blast from the past: Toxic by Britney Spears (2003) Freedom ’90 by George Michael (1990).
ON DEMAND
Battle of the Sexes
I’m the worst tennis player ever, but my husband begged me to watch this with him. I had no idea who Bobby Riggs was or that Billie Jean King played tennis with him, but overall I enjoyed this. I feel like one (admittedly momentous) tennis game got stretched pretty thin to make a plot, and I wondered if King’s coming out story really did dovetail so neatly with the tennis side of things. But I thought Emma Stone and Steve Carrell were excellent. On the other hand, his movie really depressed me when I thought about this in light of the #metoo movement. Women’s rights haven’t progressed all that much since 1973.
Awards: Nominee for Best Actor and Best Actress at the Golden Globes.
Soundtrack blasts from the past: Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells (1968) (I only knew the Joan Jett version!); Rocket Man by Elton John (1972).
STREAMING:
The Crown (Netflix)
I resisted watching The Crown for the longest time because I thought it would be dry and boring, but I was wrong. I was familiar with King George V’s sons Edward and Albert (and watched The King’s Speech, which covered Edward’s abdication). Then I grew up watching and reading about Princess Diana and Fergie and Camilla and Charles. But I didn’t know anything about Queen Elizabeth. The Crown had me completely fascinated by the story of a young woman who is unexpectedly thrust into the role of monarch. A woman who takes on this role feeling uncertain and unprepared. A woman who has to balance the monarchy with motherhood and other family responsibilities. I binge-watchd both seasons and was frantically Googling to find out how closely this series aligned with actual history.
Awards: Nominee for Best TV Series/Drama and Best Actress, Golden Globes.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Netflix)
This was another show I resisted because it sounded a little … dull. A 1950s housewife who does stand-up comedy? But I had gone through every single “best of Netflix streaming” list on the internet and decided to give it a try. I think this is by far Amy Sherman-Palladino’s strongest show. Okay, it’s only the first season, and Gilmore Girls started out strong but really deteriorated. (Though Bunheads was a dud from the get-go.) Ironically, like the first two seasons of The Crown, this is also set in the 1950s and features a wife with far more talent and mettle than her husband (who has a wandering eye and other wandering body parts.) I loved all the 1950s fashion, plus the family and feminist themes in both The Crown and MMM!
Awards: Won Best TV Series/Musical or Comedy and Best Actress, Golden Globes.
NETWORK:
Riverdale (CW and Netflix)
I’ve been watching this spin-off of the Archie comic books since the beginning. (I’ve never read the comics.) I love that Riverdale is campy and humorous yet also dark and suspenseful. Sometimes it feels like the show has strong elements of female friendship and empowerment, and then you get a cringe-y objectifying scene like Betty’s pole dancing. Sometimes the romance is really sweet and other times it’s skeevy, like the plot with Archie and Miss Grundy. In the end, I guess I like that the show is toying with me. Is there really a Dark Betty who’s going to burn the whole town down? I vote yes…
Help me out — the weather is still pretty cold. What are you watching lately? Let me know in comments!
Look at the Bright Side, Battle of the Sexes is based on the true story that a guy got his ass kicked in public, and the girl proceeded to prove that women are as good as tennis as men are.
That is very true, and it was nice to see that on film. And I know that women are just as good as men. I just wish the gender equality progress in the last 40+ years had been a little more….
Oh I LOVE The Crown. I was totally googling how close the show was to history. I really want to watch Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I am so bad at watching movies but all of those up there are ones I want to see.
I binged seasons one and two of the Crown and now am so impatiently waiting for more. I think that they haven’t even started filming. And definitely try Mrs. Maisel if you have time. I was really skeptical (and it’s not perfect) but I really enjoyed it.
I actually liked Pitch Perfect 3 better than 2. And I’d happily watch more of these girls.
The Crown is next up in my Netflix queue. I’ll be starting it on my snow day today!
I also love Riverdale, for the very reasons you mentioned. It’s contradictory in so many ways and I love that about the show (though I 100% agree on the Archie and Ms. Grundy storyline, I could have done without that.)
I agree that 3 was better!! And I’ll keep watching them. Can’t wait to hear what you think about the Crown. I really loved it!
Oh I want to see Ladybird. I also am on the fence with Battle of the Sexes. I used to follow tennis so I knew who Billie Jean King was and Emma Stone just doesn’t seem to fit in my head. Might if I see it though. 🙂 I’m glad you liked Pitch Perfect 3. I wasn’t sure since I didn’t care for 2 but still love the first. Nice list!
Definitely agree with Kim (above) that I enjoyed PP 3 more than 2. And definitely go to Ladybird. It’s just SO good!
I never seem to know very many of the award nominees *sigh*. I’ve heard good things about The Crown and may give that a go, and I’m loving Riverdale! Pretty much for the reasons you mention… and yes Dark betty is coming! (I think??)
I never knew any of them until now. It’s weird for me. Try the Crown! It’s a really good blend of history with a little soapiness and a lot of royal pageantry. And yeah I feel like we are going to learn more about Dark Betty soon!
PS Hope the commenting was easier!
Wow, very curious as to why Ladybird is rated R? Maybe I should watch to find out lol! I’ve been tempted to watch Riverdale as well, even though I’ve never read the Archie comics (that’s kind of what’s been stopping me…also, all the other shows I need to catch up on!) My go-to shows lately are Brooklyn Nine-Nine (caught up to the beginning of season 5) and 2 Broke Girls (caught up to beginning of season 3). There’s so many shows I need to watch still. I’m so behind, AHHHH!
*checks to make sure Ladybird is actually rated R* Yep. I think because there’s a sex scene (moderately explicit)and some language and minor drinking. It’s a shame actually because I think kids who are 15-16 would really relate to it. I guess they find a way to see rated R movies one way or the other by the time they are that age.
Nope you do NOT need to have read the comics. I watched with someone who had, and he kept saying “wow, this is really not like the comics.” The main characters are there but the rest seems pretty different.
I’d love to try 2 Broke Girls – thanks for reminding me about it!
I have yet to see Lady Bird or Call Me By Your Name, simply because there’s not a super close movie theater on my college campus, and I don’t have a car!! I love watching movies, so it’s pretty rough to not be watching any in the theater.
I completely understand what you mean about Riverdale. My best friends and I watch it together, and sometimes it’s so empowering. I love that Veronica and Betty are always there for each other, but then we have scenes like the pole-dancing that undercuts the show! I keep watching it though!
I recently watched Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Shape of Water, and I, Tonya. Jumanji was a lot of fun, and was way better than expected. The Shape of Water and I, Tonya were astounding, and I completely understand why they have so much awards buzz right now!
I’ve heard The Shape of Water is really good! And I’ve been on the fence about I, Tonya. I am old enough to remember the actual events and a little skeptical about the slant of the movie – did you see the spoof trailer with Olivia Munn? If it gets to Netflix I will try it!
The only movies I ever see in theater are the ones my kids want to watch. So, Wonder and Jumanji are the only ones I can remember seeing lately!
My husband and I watch a lot of Netflix and Hulu, though. We just finished bingeing The Blacklist and now we’re getting caught up on Seasons 10 & 11 of X-Files. He loves The Crown but I don’t like it at all. It moves so slowly and boring….Downton Abbey spoiled me.
Yeah, my kids finally aged out of kid movies. Oh no – I recommended the Crown to two people. One LOVED it and the other one said it was boring. If you didn’t watch past the coronation, I see where you’re coming from. If you did, then I think it’s just not the show for you.
I keep hearing great things about The Crown. Think I’m going to have to start watching it. I watched Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in the theater last week.
Please try it! Hope Jumanji was good – it looked pretty fun 🙂