INTRODUCTION
Superior home entertainment activities have become my favorite social distancing pastime during the COVID pandemic. In order for me to participate in this luxury of domestic and foreign films, series, and documentaries, I need the following:
1. entertainment equipment (a computer or smart TV)
2. streaming venue subscriptions
3. access to individual films and series
Details about equipment may be featured in a post at some future date. But this post focuses specifically on information about streaming venues. It highlights individual films, series, and actors, especially. Therefore, a group of our favorite entertainment selections happens to be the primary focus of this blog post.
ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT
In fact, I was reminded of this when I posted about home entertainment on my my Facebook page recently. I wrote, “What’s on my mind this morning? Did you know that my husband, Phillip Jacobs and I are huge film and TV drama series fans?” We even have a Facebook page devoted to this topic, Streaming Choices by Alison. Now we offer this blog post, too.
STREAMING VENUES
Our two primary venues are Netflix and Prime. Occasionally, we will watch something on Youtube or stumble upon another streaming venue.
OUR CURRENT FAVORITES LIST
As part of this new pastime, many of our choices are off the beaten path of mainstream entertainment. For this reason, they may not be foremost in your memory. Actually, some actors and selections may be unknown to regular movie goers. To me, this is what makes our topic fun, even unique. As a result, choices may expose readers to a whole new world of superior home entertainment options. Immediately below is a montage of non-clickable links.
AND THE WINNERS ARE . . .
1. Best Romantic Film-Silver Linings Playbook
2. Best Cultural Series-UnOrthodox
3. Best Nouveau Noir Film-LA Confidential
4. Best Traditional Noir Film-Laura
5. Best Classic Comedy-My Man Godfrey
6. Best Classic Comedy-Sullivan’s Travels
7. Favorite Actor-Oscar Isaac
8. Favorite Actress-Rita Hayworth
9. Favorite Foreign Actor-Omar Sy
10. Best Foreign Mystery Romance Series-Black Money Love
11. Lifetime Achievement Award-James Gandolfini
There are clickable Youtube samples below. They include trailers and parts from each of our favorite selections.
FAVORITE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE FILM
1. Best film Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence
FAVORITE FOREIGN CULTURAL SERIES
2. UnOrthodox with Shira Haas, Best Foreign Actress
FAVORITE NOIR FILMS
3. Best film (nouveau noir)
LA Confidential, Russell Crowe, Tim Basinger
4. Best Film (traditional noir) Laura with Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews
FAVORITE CLASSIC COMEDIES
5. Best Classic Comedy
My Man Godfrey with William Powell, Carole Lombard
FAVORITE NOIR FILMS
3. Best film (nouveau noir)
LA Confidential, Russell Crowe, Tim Basinger4. Best Film (traditional noir) Laura with Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews
FAVORITE CLASSIC COMEDIES
5. Best Classic Comedy
My Man Godfrey with William Powell, Carole Lombard
6. Best Classic Comedy Sullivan’s Travels with Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake
FAVORITE ACTORS
7. Favorite Actor Oscar Isaac
8. Favorite Actress Rita Hayworth (1918-87)
9. Favorite Foreign Actor Omar Sy
FAVORITE FOREIGN SERIES
10. Favorite Dizi (Turkish Drama) BLACK MONEY LOVE aka Kara Para Aşk and Best Actors
Engin Akyürek and Tuba Büyüküstün
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
11. Lifetime Acting Achievement Award James Gandolfini
Although best known by far for his award winning role in the Sopranos, Down the Shore, is a little known film that we found very appealing. The story itself will surprise you.
CONCLUSION
So, there you have it. Some of our favorites. Their inclusion has no rhyme or reason. In fact, we just love them. To illustrate their diversity, we have included American selections and International selections. Besides that, there are contemporary choices and classic choices. As you can see, our choices are from a broad range of options.
If you have others favorites, please let me know in the comments area at the very bottom of this post. But remember this, please do not labor over your choices. In fact, you should be spontaneous. In other words, from the heart not the intellect. Mention just the ones you love.
