ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ON THE SMALL SCREEN By Jenny Peters
ecause of the pandemic, many A-list, Oscar-contending movies are either sitting out 2020 completely or (in many cases) heading directly to streaming. So, you’ll notice that many of our small-screen choices for the last two months of this dismal year are films, rather than ongoing TV series. BIG STARS ON YOUR SMALL SCREENS BRIDGERTON Netflix Shonda Rhimes made a huge deal to bring Shondaland, her TV production company, to Netflix; this is their first foray into that deal. Bridgerton comes from Chris Van Dusen, known for his work on Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy, and is adapted from the novels by Julia Quinn. This comic drama takes place in high society during the Regency period in England (think the 1800s) and features a diverse cast that includes Julie Andrews. COME AWAY Relativity Films/On Demand Angelina Jolie and David Oyelowo lead the cast in this fanciful tale that mixes Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Their children (Keira Chansa and Reece Yates) love letting their imaginations run wild in this very English 18th-century tale of adventure, magic and much more. Michael Caine and Derek Jacobi also costar, giving this PG-rated flick quite a pedigree. HILLBILLY ELEGY Netflix Amy Adams and Glenn Close star in director Ron Howard’s adaptation of J. D. Vance’s best-selling memoir of his family’s Appalachian roots. Between them, those two powerhouse actors have 13 Oscar nominations and not one win; the buzz in Hollywood is that both are leading contenders yet again for their work in this R-rated emotional drama. Gabriel Basso stars as J. D. and is all grown up from his role as one of the kids in Super 8. MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM Netflix Oscar winner Viola Davis stars as blues legend Ma Rainey in this music-filled adaptation of August Wilson’s play. Set in 1920s Chicago, the dynamo supporting cast is led by Chadwick Boseman, in his last screen role before his untimely death. That bittersweet fact makes the blues that imbue this R-rated film hit just a bit closer to the heart than usual. THE MIDNIGHT SKY Netflix George Clooney produced, directed and stars in this cautionary post-apocalyptic story of survival, both on earth and in space. He’s one of the earth’s sole survivors, a scientist bent on stopping a space exploration team from returning to a battered planet. Felicity Jones co-stars as the astronaut he must convince to change course in this gripping PG-13-rated futuristic thriller. 72 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
