Movies to be savored at home, all socially distanced and cozy under the blankies

HALLIE EPHRON: What we all need is a bit of divertissement. An amuse bouche between melt downs. Movies to be savored at home, all socially distanced and cozy under the blankies. Please, no plagues or zombies. No blood-borne pathogens. No war and violence. No post-apocalyptic hoo-haw. Sorry, hold the ick.

Here’s my top three choices:

PITCH PERFECT - The perfect underdogs musical movie with Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson and the Barden Bellas all-female acapella group competing to beat the preppy, arrogant, all-boy Barden University Treblemakers.  

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN - Great musical about the transition of movies to the talkies with Gene Kelly’s sublime dancing, Donald O’Connor’s love affair with a dummy, Debbie Reynolds’ sweetness, and the great unsung Jean Hagon as Lina Lamont. (“My father has me betrothed to the Baron Delancey, and I cawn’t stan him…”) Wouldn’t she have made a brilliant Cruella da Ville? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMzV96LV6Cc

BIG - A lovely “be careful what you wish for” movie with Tom Hanks as the boy who gets his wish “to be big.” He’s unbearably sweet and delicious. Who can forget the piano scene set in the original FAO Schwartz on Fifth Avenue.

Handing over the remote control… what shall we watch next?

RHYS BOWEN:  I have struck lucky on premium channels in the past few days

Mama Mia: perfect choice and you get to sing along!

Sense and Sensibility: one of my all time faves and I got to cry in a good way

Les Miserables: I know it’s not a laugh a minute but the music is so glorious

A few days ago Clare and I watched Legally Blonde. Great escape material 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Peeking out from under the covers:  I love Legally Blonde! How about:

WORKING GIRL:  The triumph of Melanie Griffith--who just wants to be taken seriously as a smart businessperson. I always cry at the Carly Simon song at the end. In a good way.

O’ BROTHER WHERE ART THOU: Bizarre and hilarious, a reworking of the Odyssey with George Clooney and fabulous music.  “He turned into a TOAD!” I laugh just thinking about it, and the soundtrack will haunt you.

SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS: A brilliant Preston Sturges movie about the power of laughter.

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY: Every line is brilliant. Every moment is brilliant. And HIGH SOCIETY,  too. I am gonna go watch right now.

Oh! And BRING IT ON.  Love love love this movie about empowerment and determination. And cheerleaders. Just what we need right now.

And don’t forget Charade and To Catch a Thief and Roman Holiday (:-()  and The Man Who Knew Too Much. Suspicion. Day of the Jackal. All those!

LUCY BURDETTE: If you can get access to the documentary that was out this summer called MR. ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD, we loved it! So upbeat and honest. Also, not a movie, but we could imagine binge-watching FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. Such a great show!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Oh, so many good suggestions! The first two movies that popped into my mind were SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN, with Ewan McGregor, and CHOCOLAT. A weird duo but both so much fun. I adore Juliette Binoche in Chocolat, and Johnny Depp before he got so weird.

How about LOCAL HERO? Anyone remember that one? With Peter Reigert? So sweet, with lovely Scottish scenery, and accents.

And if we can add a touch of sexy mystery, THE BIG EASY. One of my all time faves.

One more! BILLY ELLIOTT!  You can’t get much more heart-warming.

https://youtu.be/i0p2X2rQ6Ag

Oh, and did I see that the new LITTLE WOMEN is going to be available to stream?

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Oh, Debs, I hope so! I’m excited the new version of EMMA will be available online soon. Pricier than your average Amazon rental, but if two people are watching, it’s still less than two adult movie tickets - and the popcorn at home is much less expensive.

Can I expand it to TV shows/series? Everyone must add GALAVANT  to their watch lists - it’s a medieval comedy/musical that ran for two short but memorable seasons. It’s genuinely funny, with actual, gorgeous musical numbers and wonderful actors in every part.

Hank mentioned SENSE AND SENSIBILTY, so why not combine that with the classic Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle BBC adaptation of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, surely the best version of the tale ever filmed.

Finally, since they’re returning with a seventh series, I think it’s an excellent time to revisit what I know is a JRW favorite, DOWNTON ABBEY. The costumes! The meaningful looks! And of course the historical perspective is comforting. Things are bad now, and we know they’re going to get worse, but at some point in the future, it’s just going to be the background for a beautiful story where our heroine is thrown out of work (but still lives in a gorgeous house) and the hero has a new face/amnesia/erectile dysfunction due to a tragic social-distancing accident.

JENN McKINLAY: LOL, Julia, I was just contemplating how many authors are feeling inspired by this whole self-isolating/social distancing/what is happening weirdness that we’re living right now. Personally, I am all about the action/adventure film when I am stressed. 

Bring on JOHN WICK, to channel my rage and frustration, INDIANA JONES, for the smarty or historic adventurers, or ROMANCING THE STONE, if you need a bit of romance and some laughs. 


Of course, I could happily just fall into the Marvel Universe or go on a rom-com bender with any and all Sandra Bullock movies. 

HALLIE: More suggestions for movies and TV that will make social distancing, if not fun then at least somewhat palatable?