Inventing Anna, Kimi and Wolf Like Me

   My Top Three This Week

Greetings to all my semi-constant readers.. I'm spending a lot of times these days watching Oscar nominated films. I highly recommend Nightmare Alley, Power of the Dog and Spencer. This could be Kristen Stewart's year and lets not forget about Encanto and the great soundtrack. If you want to watch something really fun watch Marry Me Lots of new content and some series endings (Claws) but here are some of my favorites right now.

1) Inventing Anna streaming on Netflix  is based on a true story about Anna Delvey who conned socialites and artists alike around 2013-2017 pretending to be a wealthy German heiress.  Another Shonda Rimes hit! Played to perfection by Julia Garner (Ozark) . The cat and mouse game of what is real and what isn't is well played by Anna now in a jail cell and reporter Vivian Kent ( Anna Chlumsky) who wants to uncover the real story. Is it a love story between Anna and Chase (Saamer Usmani) who is charming all the rich benefactors or is it a big con? Watch the series and find out!

2) Kimi a movie streaming on HBO Max directed by Steven Soderbergh is one of the best tech thrillers around. Starring Zoë Kravitz  as Angela Childs who lives in Seattle working in tech for an A.I. called Kimi an Alexa like platform helping the tool  learn by deciphering questions from users. She uncovers what she believes is a crime during a sound bite and reports  the incident only to find herself under attack. An Agoraphobic not leaving her apartment, she finds herself on the run. Great casting and fantastic co-stars like Rita Wilson, and Jaime Camil. This is one of my favorite thrillers in some time.

3) Wolf Like Me a Peacock Original series now streaming is great genre twist starring Josh Gad and Isla Fisher as an unlikely love story with a twist. This charming story introduces us to Gary (Gad) a lonely widower with a clever daughter Emma (amazing Ariel Donoghue) who gets into a wreck with  Mary (Fisher) who is an emotional wreck herself. Gary and Mary keep being put together through the series and they begin dating. Things don't go so well once Gary finds Mary's dark secret but the humor and heart keep us rooting for this little family. I enjoyed this quirky comedy.

Somebody Somewhere, The Gilded Age and Single Drunk Female

  My Top Three This Week

Greetings to all my semi-constant readers. It has been awhile since i put new content and I have some great things to share. I have finished the latest installment of Ozark- (this is Ruth's year for awards) the new season of Euphoria and starting some new series that have promise-Pivoting that I recommend.

1) Somebody Somewhere -streaming on HBO Max is a poignant , compelling story of finding your tribe later in life. Bridgett Everett  brilliant is Sam who lived a life never fitting in and comes back to her Kansas hometown to grieve the death of her favorite sister. Battling her living sister Tricia and trying to make peace with a father dealing with the alcoholism of his wife and loss of his daughter is leading to increasing depression. A dead end job grading papers leads to connecting with an old classmate Joel (the amazingly talented Jeff Hiller) who introduces her to "Choir Practice". She meets a band of outsiders who have come together to drink, sing and support each other. The friendship between Sam and Joel is the heart of the story with a perfectly cast of supporting characters and I cannot wait to see where this goes.

2) The Gilded Age is yet another HBO Max hit. Brought to you by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) , this series takes place in Old New York during the 1880s as a newly rich railroad tycoon and his wife try to enter into old society money. Rich cinematography , wardrobes and great acting make this the perfect binge watch. Carrie Coon, Cynthia Nixon, Louisa Jacobson(another Streep daughter), Taissa Farmiga, Christine Baranski, Debra Monk and Audra McDonald round out this great cast of women.

3) Single Drunk Female streaming on Hulu is a Dramedy with a young Sam Fink struggling to stay sober after losing her job and moving back home with her mother ( a fantastic Ally Sheedy). She has more people rooting for her than she deserves as she takes her few loyal loved ones down with her. With the love and support of her best friend Felicia (Lily Mae Harington) , a hilarious Parole Officer Gail and a great sponsor Olivia (Rebecca Henderson) she navigates what it takes to stay sober.