QuaranSTREAM II: Still Streaming

further entertainment recommendations From Brooke Wylie

Remember early May? When Carole Baskin and Love is Blind felt like recently worn thin media juggernauts? When we thought we’d been inside for a long time? Well, it’s December. And in spite of a few moments of sunshine when things seemed better for a beat, we’re still quarantining and still streaming. And if you think you’ve watched it all, you still probably haven’t. But you’re doing great, sweetie!

In spite of my extremely long winded prompt in the last installment of this feature, I’m quite certain very few of you have fixed your lives and watched Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Why? WHY? Honestly, this is why we can’t have nice things. I will never stop bringing this up.

But I do love a list, so I’ll still press on with further recommendations for the long, cold winter ahead. And no offense to The Queen’s Gambit — I’ve been on the Anya Taylor-Joy train for years — but y’all have already seen it, so you won’t find it or The Mandalorian or anything else too major here.

You will find, however, some new categories. In addition to film and television, I’ve included some picks for audiobooks and cooperative video games to keep you close to the pals from afar.

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For the ones who miss theaters

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

Here we are at the end of “The Year Without Marvel” and much too little has been said about how this was actually the year of Harley Quinn — as she always should have been. Most visibly, Margot Robbie’s delightfully chaotic standalone film managed to be equal parts break up catharsis and kick-ass comic adventure. It was the perfect way to launch the Birds of Prey and a rare victory for the often underwhelming DC slate. But most importantly, it’s a love letter to the perfect breakfast sandwich and the unique delights of finding one’s self. Meanwhile, on a smaller scale, the Harley Quinn animated series is the subversive riot grrrl essenced entry that’s long been missing from small screen comic fare.

Both are streaming on HBO Max.

Never Rarely Sometimes Always

If the first entry on this list was about the delights of escapism, this one is about cinema’s power to inspire feeling. Writer-director Eliza Hittman’s Never Rarely Sometimes Always made a splash at Sundance and quietly shook the indie film world when it was released for streaming rental over the summer. The often uncomfortable but always affecting drama chronicles the struggle of one young girl as she struggles to find path to a safe abortion. The movies are where we go to share collective experiences. Hittman understands that and she uses the screen to bring into sharp relief the agonizing realities of what it is to be young and and in a bind in America.

You can currently catch it on HBO and Amazon Prime.

I’m Your Woman

Rachel Brosnahan takes on another period role in this 70s set thriller about a woman forced to go on the run with her baby in tow after her husband betrays his partners in crime. It’s whip smart and full of fabulous coats for good measure.

Watch it on Amazon Prime.

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the ones to wait for

Promising Young Woman

Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman is the most electric film I’ve ever seen at Sundance, and Focus Features has been sitting on it all year. In part, because of the pandemic, in part because Carey Mulligan puts up a performance that demands her presence in every single awards conversation. Part revenge film, part social commentary, it is a stunner that will have people talking on the order of Gone Girl and Midsommar. 

Focus has it slated for a Christmas Day theatrical release — with any luck, an on-demand release will follow shortly after.

Minari

You didn’t think we were going to make it through this list without an A24 mention, did you? Well, here it is. Another Sundance standout, Minari is a gorgeous portrait of what the American dream means and the end people will go to to achieve it. Steven Yeun delivers a career best performance as a Korean-American father who moves his family to Arkansas to pursue his dream of farming. Writer-director Lee Isaac Chung tells this semi-autobiographical tale in a classic format that nevertheless feels fresh.

A24 will release Minari wide in February (nicely aligned with the reposition Oscar season) and traditionally has favorable streaming release schedules — expect to find it for rent sooner than later.

Wonder Woman 1984

Warner Bros. and HBO Max shook the entire film industry with the announcement that Warner Bros. will release all of its films on the streaming upstart the same day as in theaters in 2021. But before that happens, Patty Jenkins’ long-awaited Wonder Woman follow-up will prove the concept on Christmas Day. WW1984 is the only entry on this list I’ve yet to experience, but the early buzz suggests it’s a marvel that harkens back to a different era of DC storytelling — light and bright and optimistic — and promises to close the year as soundly as Birds of Prey opened it.

Stream it on HBO Max Christmas Day.

For THe binge watchers

I May Destroy You

Last time around, I included Michaela Coel’s Chewing Gum, an outrageous comedy series about the mania of coming into one’s own. A few short weeks after that, Michaela Coel’s new series landed on HBO and BBC with aplomb. I May Destroy You is compulsive television about the mania of exploring your own truth and reconciling facts you’d rather forget. It’s sharp, edge-of-your seat viewing that’s at least as uncomfortable as it is engrossing. And it may finally get Coel the attention she deserves as a creator.

Watch it on HBO and HBO Max.

Kim’s Convenience

I’m thrilled that it seems like the entire world has caught up with and caught on to Schitt’s Creek. Moira Rose is an icon and I cry every time I think about Simply the Best. BUT it’s high time we start talking about another Canadian comedy series: Kim’s Convenience. With four full seasons on Netflix and a fifth due to premiere in Canada in January, there’s no better time to get obsessed with this charming portrait of a Korean-Canadian family who run a convenience store in Toronto. Manalorian fans might recognize Paul Sun-Hyung Lee who popped up as Captain Carson Teva in season two, but who has been winning hearts as Mr. Kim, aka Appa for years. There is something so big hearted about Kim’s Convenience that it almost feels too good to actually be good. But what it is, is great. 

Catch up on Netflix.

High Fidelity

Full disclosure: Hulu absolutely blew it and cancelled this show after one season. It bowed to tremendous acclaim and high ratings, but rumor has it the streamer opted not to continue paying to hold star Zoe Kravitz’ time when no one could figure out how to safely shoot in a pandemic. But, High Fidelity is worth the heartache. Based upon the Nick Hornsby novel and John Cusack film of the same name, High Fidelity swaps the angsty record store male protagonist for a messy female protagonist who is just as flawed and frustrating. What an act of revolution. The series still hits all the points you’d expect, but subverts expectations in a really delightful way. And, as is to be expected, the soundtrack slaps.

Watch it all on Hulu.

For the players

Luigi’s Mansion 3

The base game is an absolute blast, but it has been the online multiplayer ScareScraper that has brought my friend group back for hours and hours and hours of ghost smashing fun. Choose 5, 10, 15 or 20 floors and do your best to best the ghosts before time runs out on each floor. With themed levels and an assortment of floor challenges, there is a lot of replayability to be had here, and more challenge than you might expect.

Play it on Nintendo Switch.

Overcooked: All You Can Eat

The cooperative cooking delight is finally fully online and totally remastered. This release collects Overcooked, Overcooked 2, all associated DLC and some new levels to serve up a feast of absurd kitchens and plenty of opportunities to yell at your friends. While nothing replaces the joy of an Overcooked couch co-op sesh, taking it online with voice chat comes pretty close and it’s quarantine friendly fun.

Play it on basically all the platforms.

Dead By Daylight

This asymmetrical horror smash has been scaring the wits out of players for four years, but with newly introduced cross-platform play and fresh content added frequently, it doesn’t feel it’s age. Team up with your friends to try to escape and spooky murderer or create a custom match and take turns hanging each other on hooks. You get to choose from a host of unique survivors and baddies as well as iconic franchise characters like Freddy, Leatherface and the Demogorgon. There will probably be screams, but there will be shrieks of laughter too. And if your pals don’t all have headsets, Molly will probably let you use her Zoom to facilitate a group chat.

Play it on basically all the platforms.

*The footage of this game is … a lot, so enjoy Michael dancing instead.

For the would-be Readers

This is How You Lose the Time War

Short and sweet and absolutely stellar. This sci-fi epistolary novella follows two time agents on opposing sides of an unseen war throughout history. The audiobook is particularly enjoyable as Red and Blue each have their own narrator and the dueling letters and performances bring the story vividly to life.

Catch it on Audible or via the library.

Circe

Quite on the opposite end of the spectrum in length, Circe is an epic reimagining of the Greek goddess’ story that spans thousands of years and expands Circe from a few lines in The Odyssey to a protagonist more storied than even Homer. With witchcraft and monsters, myth and even love, Circe is the kind of book you want to get lost in. And to that end, the ethereal narration on the audiobook serves it very well.

Catch it on Audible or via the library.

Anansi Boys

A lesser-known Neil Gaiman work, Anansi Boys nonetheless has all the telltale detail and richness you’d expect. A meditation on life, death and family that’s rooted in West African myth, it’s a rollicking lyrical read that will make an audiobook believer out of anyone.

Catch it on Audible or via the library.

So there you have it, friends. More media to hold close during these trying times. Stay safe. Keep streaming.