February media diet

Packed a lot in this shortest of months. Got our $20 out of our Netflix subscription for once.

Anora — Prime | Didn’t know much about this Oscar nominee when we hit play and thoroughly enjoyed it. Don’t think Mikey Madison will win Best Actress, but she delivers a funny and tender performance in a movie that defies quite a few stereotypes.

2 Hearts — Netflix | We filled two hours of the President’s Day weekend with this tearjerking rom-com based on a true story about a young organ donor and an heir to the Bacardi rum fortune.

Aftermath — Netflix | Our local JCC closed due to a snow storm so I was forced to work out in the basement and opted for this action flick I’m sure was created by AI. It’s every terrorist movie trope in a blender.

Anuja — Netflix | Was pleasantly surprised to find this Oscar short nominee on Netflix. Didn’t hold up perfectly in its 22 minutes, but it was a cute story of two Indian sisters working in a fast fashion sweat shop and the opportunity one has to change her life.

The Substance — Prime | Enjoyed this for about 30 minutes and then it just became too absurd and graphic. I get it; Hollywood objectifies women, uses them up, and discards them when they’re no longer deemed money-makers (i.e., attractive). But the Demi Moores of the world do profit from the system and I don’t see it changing in my lifetime.

Conclave — Prime | Readers are probably well aware that I find the Catholic Church a net negative influence on society, but director Edward Berger and a star-studded cast made a really compelling movie. Give it the Oscar.

Here — Netflix | Didn’t need the primordial ooze or the barely-there Ben Franklin subplot, but enjoyed this Robert Zemeckis/Tom Hanks reunion for its simple message about home and family.

Kinda Pregnant — Netflix | ** out of ****. Some LOL moments, but mostly the type of rom-com all of Hollywood can make in their sleep these days. I do think Amy Schumer won’t ever have to do standup again, unless she really likes it.

Life & Beth — Hulu, S2 | This Amy Schumer (second cousin of the New York Senator, who knew?!) passion project was up and down during its 20 episodes, but it was original and I really liked the Michael Cera character, as well as seeing Michael Rapaport again.

All the Other Mothers Hate Me — Sarah Harman | I didn’t overlap with this woman when she was the London correspondent for NBC News, but her career there was unexpectedly cut short after a few years due to “downsizing” (read: Trump sucking up all the news oxygen, domestically), so she wrote a novel. It’s mostly light and fun, needling British society’s obsession with rank and tradition while solving the mysterious disappearance of a 10-year-old boy from his prep school.

Show Don’t tell by Curtis Sittenfeld | I had not read her earlier critically-acclaimed work ("Rodham," "Prep"), but may now. Really compelling, modern short stories with unique voices. | My AP review.