December 2022 Movies & Favorites of the Year

I saw a lot of movies, TV shows, series, plays, etc., in 2022 and here are my favorites. Below that is the list for December, so happy viewing:

I see some themes among my favorites. Austin Butler was a great “Elvis” and Naomi Ackie brought the tragic Whitney Houston to life in “I Want to Dance with Somebody,” but it wasn’t just musical biopics that I enjoyed. Sara Lancashire gave us an inside view of chef Julia Child in the 8-part series “Julia.” Amanda Seyfried starred as Elizabeth Holmes in “The Dropout.” And Miles Teller told the story of how the epic “The Godfather” made it to the screen in his portrayal of producer Al Ruddy. “Grace & Frankie” signed off after 7 seasons and “Dead to Me” after 3. The trio of “The Tindler Swindler,” “Inventing Anna,” and “The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist” showed real stories about people who excelled at living beyond their means and didn’t mind conning others to do it. My favorite documentary was “The Automat” and I admired two series from Ken Burns, “Benjamin Franklin” and “The US and the Holocaust.” Tom Cruise brought his fearless fighter pilot back in “Top Gun: Maverick” and Jeremy Allen White was really hot in “The Bear,” a miniseries about a chef trying to save his family’s restaurant. If you like food, watch that show and the Stanley Tucci series “Searching for Italy.” This year I enjoyed an HBO documentary about Steven Spielberg more than his very good movie “The Fablemans.” But my very favorite movie of the year was a very short subject, #135 on my list, called “The Proposal,” a 90-second video of my nephew Brandon proposing to his girlfriend Julia on the streets of Chicago. It had a very happy ending and we look forward to the continuing series. Happy movies, all! 

December Movies
162.  Spielberg* (2017 HBO) – This lengthy documentary takes a comprehensive look at the life and work of director Steven Spielberg. Imagine being able to make ET and Schindler’s List; The Color Purple and Jurassic Park. He is one of the exceptional directors and a prolific creator of outstanding movies. Reexamining some of them was a treat. 4 cans.
163.  Dead to Me, Season 3* (2022, Netflix) – Here is a hardy farewell to this profanely funny and fierce salute to the impact of grief and the power of friendship. The brilliant Christina Applegate (Jen) and Linda Cardellini (Judy) need to get an Emmy for their performances that they can split in half and enjoy while they watch “The Facts of Life” and guzzle wine. The plot of this third season is too complicated to try to summarize, but, in keeping with previous seasons, there are car crashes, deaths, twists and turns and a plethora of lies. As soon as one of the characters says, “I have something to tell you,” expect a major plot shakeup. There is plenty of comedy and equal parts heart in a series that begins with the friendship between two strangers (who turn out to have much in common) who meet at a grief group. This year there are 10 episodes that conclude the story with plenty of emotion, humor and never-ending profanity. I’m sorry to see it go. 4 cans.
164. Heartburn (1986, HBO) – Writer Nora Ephron exacts cinematic revenge on her real-life ex-husband, Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein, in what could loosely be called a rom-com or dramedy. Meryl Streep plays NY food writer Rachel, who falls in love with DC columnist Mark (Jack Nicholson), gives up her job and moves to Washington to marry him, have babies and hang out with their gossipy friends, whose primary activity is trading theories on who is cheating on whom with whom. That’s all fun and games until Rachel realizes that one of the people they target is having an affair with her self-centered dolt of a husband. They could more easily renovate their dilapidated house than terminate his penchant for straying. I got a kick out of the baby/toddler Rachel totes around, knowing it is Streep’s actual daughter, Mamie Gummer, with her first screen credit. Streep is perfect playing the disheveled Rachel, responsible for 99% of the child care and 100% of everything else, who somehow thinks she can reform her oblivious husband. 3½ cans. He doesn’t deserve her.
165.  The Fablemans* (2022, In the movies) – Steven Spielberg turns the camera on his sometimes off-beat but loving family in this tale of young Sammy Fableman as a boy with a movie camera. Sammy sees his first movie and immediately knows he wants to make movies of his own. And he does, complete with rudimentary special effects. Around him, the family has to deal with Mom’s flightiness and her unconventional take on being a mother, with three sisters and a father who works hard at his job but doesn’t always know how to connect with his wife and son. It’s hard to describe this movie so go see it for yourself. Expect an Oscar nomination for Michelle Williams as the mother/wife/heart of the family. 4 cans.
166.  Emily the Criminal* (2022, Netflix) – The name of this movie is meant to distinguish it from lighter, more frothy fare (“Emily in Paris,” anyone?), and for good reason: Emily is a criminal. She didn’t set out to be a criminal, but she has a lot of debt and is stuck in a job she hates, delivering catering orders, and she already has a bit of a criminal history. So, when she gets an offer she can’t refuse, she doesn’t. She gets herself in deeper and deeper with not such good guys. And her BFF keeps telling her she can get her a legit job (she doesn’t know what Emily is up to) – but she never seems to come through. The money is decent, but as it increases, so does the risk. Emily is one determined woman who empowers herself in this new life even as she looks to get back to a job that won’t add inmate to her resume. Aubrey Plaza is good as the increasingly tough and not-so-innocent Emily. 3½ cans.
167.  Hanukkah on Rye* (2022, Hallmark Channel) – Every now and then you find a movie that captures your imagination through a compelling plot, nuanced performances, interesting twists and turns and brilliant production values. This isn’t that movie. Yes, I succumbed to the holiday spirit in watching a Hallmark movie, but this was about MY holiday – Hanukkah – so I thought that maybe…Let’s just say that it lived up to my tiny expectations. Boy and girl meet cute (think “You’ve Got Mail”), both from families in the deli business, and both with bubbes (grandmothers) who have arranged for a matchmaker to put them together. Then things go awry, so to speak. She (Yael Grobglas, looking like Kaley Cuoco) and he (Jeremy Jordan) are really nice people who just haven’t yet found their besherts (soulmates). Can they be in the same business and in love? Don’t expect me to give away the plot. I remember when the prestigious Hallmark Hall of Fame featured outstanding, memorable movies with stars who didn’t ordinarily do TV, with rich stories and beautiful productions. Hallmark has chosen to forsake their heritage in favor of quantity over quality, and this is the result. This one made me yen for a corned beef sandwich, but the movie is so bland I felt that it would be served on white bread with mayo. Such a shonda (sin)! 2 latkes.
168. Spoiler Alert* (2022, Manville Movies) – Spoiler Alert is the “Love Story” for this time, about a young couple who fall in love and one of them dies (hence the name). But this time the couple is gay and the movie isn’t nearly as cheesy as “Love Story.” Michael is played by Jim Parsons of “Big Bang Theory” fame and his partner Kit by Ben Aldridge, a confident gay man who initially won’t admit to his parents (Sally Field and Bill Irwin) that he is gay. Michael and Kit build a life and a home together, weather rocky times with good friends and Kit’s surprisingly accepting family, and then have to face his diagnosis. This movie is based on a memoir by Michael Ausiello, a TV writer. Despite the title, there are still ways to spoil the story, so I’ll refrain from any more details except to tell you that this movie has so much heart and love that it is worth seeing despite knowing the eventual outcome. And there is one scene that was straight out of one of my favorite movies – which the story makes sure you will recall. 4 cans.
169.  Santa Camp* (2022, HBO Max) – I have to admit that as a Jewish woman, I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about Santa Claus. But my overall impression has always been that he is a rotund, white man with a big beard and a jolly demeanor. For a Black man like Chris in Arkansas, the lack of diversity among Santas was disappointing enough that he decided to become one for his little girl. He put inflatable Black Santas in his yard and tried to dress up like Santa. For Fin, a developmentally disabled man from Connecticut whose mother was told he would never walk or talk, playing Santa in the local parade was a dream. And so it goes in this warm-hearted documentary where even the traditional Santas are looking for more diversity – including a more active role for Mrs. Claus. So one year at Santa Camp – where existing and would-be Santas sign up to improve their Santa skills –among the traditional Santas were Chris and Finn and a trans man whose only wish was to help kids see themselves in him. Some of their efforts back in their communities were rewarding while others were demeaned, but the very idea that we can think of Santa in a way that makes sense to a young, Black child or a child with gender questions is a step in the right direction. 3½ ho, ho, hos.
170.  Last Chance U* Season 2 of basketball (2022, Netflix) – After a Covid year off, we are back with the East LA College Huskies as they work under the tutelage of Coach John Mosely to go for a championship and hope for scholarships at big college basketball programs. The appeal of these kinds of series goes beyond the sports themselves, providing a glimpse into the lives and desperation of some of these young men and the dedication of the coaches who attempt to raise their games and help them mature as men. This is season 2 for viewers at ELAC and I suspect the last one for Coach Mosely’s team, but I enjoyed all 8-parts with wins and losses on and off the court. 3½ cans.
171.  From the Terrace (1960, Cable) – Melodramatic, corny, classic romance at its best with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward as a couple in a loveless marriage who aspire to get ahead. He gets a big break by rescuing the grandson of the head of an investment firm and taking a job there. She romances her former paramour while her husband stays married to his work, until he meets an unassuming woman from a small town. Skip the details. Just know this is one of my favorite Paul Newman movies. Now, if I could find “The Young Philadelphians,” my day would be perfect. 4 cans.
172.  Mr. Mom (1983, HBO) – Before Michael Keaton became an Oscar-nominated serious actor, he used his great comic timing on comedies such as this one. Here he is Jack Butler, husband, father of 3 and recently unemployed automotive engineer. Replacing Jack as the family breadwinner is his wife, Caroline (Teri Garr), who starts a new career in advertising for sleezy Ron Richardson (Martin Mull). Jack’s attempts to tame the vacuum cleaner and the washer, to change diapers, keep his kids fed and to follow the formula for the school drop-off hilariously show his conversion to Mr. Mom. This movie was written by John Hughes so the script was good, but Keaton elevates it with comic genius. One of my favorite scenes is Jack playing poker with the neighborhood women, all using coupons and rebates to make their bets. I’ll see your Cheerios and raise you a Downy fabric softener. 3½ cans.
173.  Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club (2013, Prime Video) – This super short (47 minutes) movie is about three grumpy old men who gather every Wednesday at the local small-town diner. However, while as treacly as they come, the movie does have a certain charm, as the earnest young waitress Megan (Stacey Bradshaw) works diligently to accommodate their demands (a seat cushion for one, burning hot coffee for another). She eavesdrops on their conversations, as each man discloses bits of his past, experiences in his native country and in the military. She learns by listening that one man recently lost his wife, and she goes out of her way to visit when another is ill. I can’t recommend this movie for most of you, but I did appreciate the reminder that everyone has a story and sometimes we should take time just to listen. 3 cans.
174.  The Phantom of the Open* (2021, Prime Video) – Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) is a 46-year old husband, a father, a crane operator and an aspiring golfer. Inspired by watching Tom Watson win the British Open in his first try, Mo decides he will do the same, despite never having played a round of golf. This movie – based on a true story – combines fantasy, comedy and pathos as Mo takes on the challenge and sets a new record for futility. Yet he keeps working at it, despite the golf establishment’s attempts to thwart his every try. Sally Hawkins plays his loyal wife. I sprung for a 99-cent rental of this one and it was worth every penny. 3½ cans.
175.  It’s A Wonderful Life (1947, Prime Video – no commercials!) – This iconic James Stewart movie is a beloved Christmas movie that I hadn’t seen in years. You know the story – George Bailey of Bedford Falls has his dreams but something always gets in the way. He marries Mary (Donna Reed), had kids and more dreams (I think my favorite line is when he is frantically trying to solve a problem, looks at the children and asks Mary, “Why did we have all these kids?”). He constantly must deal with Mr. Potter, the meanest and most selfish man in town. When his Bailey Brothers Savings and Loan appears to be going under for the last time, he snaps, and it takes the work of an angel to get him back on track. The moral of the story is that if you have the love of family and friends, you can be rich no matter what. Good Christmas movie that remains a classic after 75 years! 4 cans.
176.  Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas* (PBS) – Who knew that a Jewish person wrote the story of poor Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, different from the other reindeer who used to laugh and call him names? And that the music was also written by a Jew? Mel Torme wrote one of the classic tunes, performed by Nat King Cole, “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts roasting…you know the rest? From Irving Berlin to Harold Arlen came cherished Christmas songs written by Jewish people. This little nugget of a movie tells you about how Jews who emigrated to the US didn’t feel accepted, even changing their names to fit in. Not that they renounced their faith, but they needed to assimilate. Very interesting. 3½ cans.
177.  Auntie Mame (1958, Movies channel) – The incomparable Rosalind Russell plays the eccentric mapcap Mame in this charmer of a movie. When socialite Mame Dennis is suddenly put charge of her young nephew Patrick, she is determined to “open doors” for him, keeping him from the insufferable Mr. Babcock of the Knickerbocker Bank, which manages his trust fund. Living the good life on Beekman Place in New York and palling around with actress friend Vera, artists and unconventional types, Mame loses her fortune in the 1929 stock market collapse and must muddle through. But Mame is a survivor, and her little family of Patrick, secretary Nora and houseboy Ito bond together until times get infinitely better. This movie delights and moves me every time I see it. The character of Mame is, to me, one of the most memorable to grace the screen. And oh, that Beekman Place apartment is just top drawer! 4½ cans.
178.  I Want to Dance With Somebody* (2022, Manville Cinema) – This biopic of the dynamic, generational talent, Whitney Houston, is hard to watch. First, I had chills through much of the picture as Naomi Ackie brought Houston to life in every performance. And second, you know the ending, and it is tragic. Houston was a singer with a magnificent voice. This film celebrates her talent with many of her iconic songs, all of which are sung by Houston herself but captured expertly by Ackie. When she performed the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, the hair on my arms stood up. When she sings “The Greatest Love of All” at the beginning of the picture and immediately enraptures music mogul Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci in a non-eating role), you realize that Whitney was destined for greatness. The story of her life is well known, so no need to rehash it here. I salute the cast (Tamara Tunie as her gospel-singing mother, Cissy; Clark Peters as her manipulative father, John; Nafessa Williams as her girlfriend, Robin Crawford; and Ashton Sanders as her husband, bad boy Bobby Brown) and especially Ackie, who avoided the cliches and captured what we know of the essence of Whitney with every movement and gesture. Critics aren’t being kind to this movie, but I loved it. 4 Gold Records.
179.  Elf* (2003, HBO Max) – I had somehow missed (or avoided) this Christmas movie for nearly 20 years, but my neighbor cajoled me into watching it and I’m glad I did. Will Farrell is just the right mix of silly and earnest in his title role as Buddy the Elf, forsaken by his earthly mother and adopted to live with the elves at the North Pole. He’s in his 30s when he seeks out his real father (James Caan), a ruthless businessman who doesn’t know he has a son. The cast includes the droll Bob Newhart as the head elf, Mary Steenburgen as Caan’s wife and as a somewhat grumpy Santa, Ed Asner. Buddy has a smile on his face and plenty of Christmas spirit as he adapts to his new world – albeit with curly elf shoes and a hat. We should all be as happy as Buddy. 3½ cans.
180.  Love Actually (2003) – What can I say about this movie that I haven’t said before? I’ll just say this – I love to find special little moments in a movie, and this one is full of them. Emma Thompson’s disappointment when she realizes the necklace was not for her. The BFF of the groom who is in love with the bride and she has no idea until she sees his video of the wedding and realizes it is all about her. The little boy in love with the American girl who races through the airport to say goodbye. Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister of England dancing by himself to “Jump.” This movie is a favorite and a great way to end my year of entertainment. 5 cans.