I loved having some downtime over the holidays and watching movies and catching up on shows I’ve been meaning to watch.  Here are a few of my favorites and they are all streaming now.

Movies

Wicked For Good Outdoes Itself

The sequel to last year’s Wicked the Movie, which we loved, is even better than the first. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are fabulous, and Jeff Goldblum is perfection as the villain. This is a darker movie than the first one. The lush visuals are spectacular and were not CGI generated for the most part…for example, a sweeping field of thousands of tulips are real, and the yellow brick road was built brick by brick.   I especially loved the homage to the original movie with Judy Garland.  It is streaming now, but go to a theater and see it in 3D. You won’t be sorry.

Song Sung Blue —A Blue Collar Love Story with Heart

Song Sung Blue is a big‑hearted, musically charged biopic that follows Milwaukee couple Mike and Claire Sardina, a Neil Diamond tribute duo whose small‑stage dreams take on unexpectedly dramatic dimensions. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson deliver magnetic, emotionally rich performances that elevate the film’s more uneven stretches. Their chemistry — especially in the live musical numbers — gives the story its pulse, turning what could have been a kitschy nostalgia piece into a sincere portrait of working‑class artistry and devotion. And Hugh Jackman in his” tidy whities” is a sight to behold.

Jay Kelly, A Little Overrated

How can you not like a movie with George Clooney and Adam Sandler? But the standout performance is a small role featuring Billy Crudup, who may be the most underrated actor in Hollywood. (He is brilliant in the Morning Show too). While I enjoyed the movie, I wouldn’t put it in the category of great, but George is always charismatic, and Adam Sandler is brilliant. George plays famous movie star Jay Kelly, not exactly a stretch, and his devoted manager, Ron, played by Adam Sandler, embark on an unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men confront the choices they’ve made, relationships with loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind.

Blue Moon is Ethan Hawke’s Best Work

Set over a single night in 1943 at Sardi’s, the film follows Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart, brilliantly played by Ethan Hawke, on the opening night of his former partner Richard Rodgers’ celebration of the triumphant premiere of Oklahoma! with Oscar Hammerstein. The story blends regret, humor, longing, and artistic insecurity, all filtered through Hart’s alcohol-soaked, razor-sharp mind.  Hawke’s performance as a man unravelling is spellbinding and reminds of the genius of Hart, who was one of Broadway’s most influential lyricists, who wrote 1,000 songs, including Blue Moon, My Funny Valentine, The Lady Is a Tramp, Manhattan, and Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. His prolific partnership with Richard Rodgers included more than two dozen musicals. Margaret Qualley is a delight, and Bobby Cannavale is perfect as the bartender.

TV Series

The Beast In Me is a Worthy Binge

A gripping psychological thriller, The Beast In Me explores the thin line between truth and perception as a journalist investigates a decades‑old disappearance in her hometown. The series is moody, layered, and anchored by a lead character whose internal unraveling is as compelling as the mystery itself. Amazing performances by Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys.

Ripples, a Heartflet New Series on Netlix

I stumbled on this series and oh how I love it! A beautifully crafted ensemble drama, Ripples traces how one unexpected event transforms the lives of several people in a coastal community. Each episode reveals a new perspective, creating a mosaic of interconnected stories about love, regret, and second chances. It’s tender, thoughtful, and quietly powerful. Hopefully, there will be a season 2.

Stick: A sports-comedy about Second Changes

Stick follows Pryce Cahill, played by the always adorable Owen Wilson, a once‑legendary golf prodigy whose career imploded after a very public meltdown tied to a private tragedy. Twenty years later, Pryce is nowhere near the PGA Tour—he’s selling clubs at a sporting‑goods store, dodging eviction notices, and disappointing the people who once believed in him.  But everything shifts the day he spots Santi Wheeler, a 17‑year‑old with raw, astonishing talent and a complicated relationship with the game. It’s a heartwarming story about second chances, creating your own family, and finding your way back. Apple TV.

The Girlfriend stars Robin Wright in a twisty psychological thriller

Laura Sanderson (who is played brilliant by Robin Wright) is a wealthy London art‑gallery owner whose life appears perfectly controlled — until her adult son Daniel (Laurie Davidson) brings home his new girlfriend, Cherry Laine (Olivia Cooke). What begins as polite curiosity quickly curdles into suspicion as Laura notices inconsistencies in Cherry’s stories, her background, and her intentions. Laura becomes convinced Cherry is hiding something — but the show constantly asks whether Cherry is actually dangerous or whether Laura is projecting grief, class prejudice, and unresolved trauma onto this young woman. Totally gripping with a shocking ending.