Who’s ready for a top 10 movie list for 2020? Unfortunately, I don’t have one. I haven’t been to the theater since February, which makes me depressed. Thankfully, television was fantastic. I did enjoy quite a few movies on demand and via streaming with many standout performances. Let’s stay positive, shall we? Here are the best TV and movie performances of 2020.
Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen’s Gambit
THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT: Beth was a grandmaster in outfits and a really good chess player. pic.twitter.com/2LZBWojTfB
Who knew chess could be so interesting and intriguing? The Queen’s Gambit could be the sleeper hit of the year, and most of the show’s success can be attributed to the fantastic lead, Anya Taylor-Joy. Between her exquisite fashion choices and brutal honesty, Taylor-Joy captivated my attention from start to finish. I couldn’t look away for fear of missing Beth and her magnetic stare.
Elisabeth Moss in The Invisible Man
Remember movie theaters? I miss them dearly. The last movie I saw in a theater was The Invisible Man so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Horror movies are always better in theaters, and The Invisible Man continues that trend as my theater was on the edge of their seats throughout the entire film. The Invisible Man is a good movie anchored by a great performance by Elisabeth Moss. At this point, I hope Elisabeth does a rom-com soon because she deserves a hug and a kiss instead of a traumatizing experience, one after the other.
Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Normal People
Normal People / Hulu
The “Chemistry of the Year” award goes to Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones for their work in Normal People. I’ve screamed my praise for Normal People from the highest mountains on Twitter. It’s one of the most moving depictions of young love you’ll ever see. Mescal and Edgar-Jones were spectacular as the show’s leads. Buy stock in these two young performers now before they skyrocket.
Malachi Kirby and Shaun Parkes in Mangrove from Small Axe
Mangrove / Amazon Studios
Is it a movie? Is it a television show? Don’t worry about the confusion surrounding Small Axe, Steve McQueen’s film anthology series on Amazon Prime Video. Instead, focus on the source material within the five movies of Small Axe and appreciate McQueen’s sheer brilliance as a director and storyteller. Small Axe focuses on West Indian immigrants in London during the 1960s and 1970s. The best film in the series is Mangrove, which tells the story of the Mangrove restaurant and the subsequent trial against nine Black activists who were charged with inciting a riot in response to the unfair treatment from the police to the Mangrove restaurant. Not only is Mangrove one of the best films of the year, but it’s one of the strongest depictions of institutional racism in films of the 21st century. Both Malachi Kirby and Shaun Parkes, who play two members of the Mangrove Nine, bring emotion to a new level with their passionate speeches during the trial. Mangrove is a must-watch film in 2020.
Rhea Seehorn in Better Call Saul
No acting nominations for Bob Odenkirk AND Rhea Seehorn. HUH? S5 of @BetterCallSaul is the best season of TV in 2020 so far. I understand there are snubs every year, but come on. That's an egregious error. What more do they have to do? #BetterCallSaul#emmyspic.twitter.com/pQwpsttspQ
Rhea Seehorn is perfect.Better Call Saulis about Saul Goodman, but all I care about is Kim Wexler and what happens to her before the show ends. Kim may be the second lead of the show, but she’s the most important character. Not only does Seehorn go toe-to-toe with Bob Odenkirk, but she ends up stealing the spotlight in Season 5. Take a bow, Rhea.
Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti in Palm Springs
Palm Springs / Hulu
In a year of few laughs, the film where I had the most fun was Palm Springs. The film stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti as two guests at a wedding that become stuck in a time loop and relieve the same day over and over again. Palm Springs tackles depressing topics like hopelessness and infidelity with a comedic, rom-com approach. The result is a charming movie with two standout performances from Samberg and Milioti.
Stop me if you’ve heard this story before, but Frances McDormand stars in a film that will garner many Oscar nominations. The aforementioned film is Nomadland.
Nomadland To Open In February 2021, Eligible For 2021 Oscars
Mark your calendars down. Nomadland has been rescheduled to open in theaters on Feb. 19, 2021. The film’s original release date was Dec. 2020, but Disney moved it to after the start of the new year due to the pandemic. More importantly, Nomadland will be eligible for the 2021 Oscars as the eligibility window ends Feb. 28, 2021.
Nomadland stars McDormand as Fern, a woman in her sixties who decides to pack up her things and live as a modern-day nomad after the Great Recession. The film features real nomads Linda May, Bob Wells, and Charlene Swankie as well as David Strathairn. Nomadland is directed by Chloé Zhao, who is best known for 2017’s The Rider and the upcoming Marvel movie, The Eternals.
Nomadland will turn its sights towards the 2021 Oscars. On Gold Derby, Nomadland occupies the top spot for Best Picture winner by the majority of experts and critics. Nomadland became the first film to ever won top prizes at both the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. McDormand is a lock to pick up a nomination for Best Actress, and Zhao will most certainly become the sixth female to receive a Best Director nomination.
Nomadland may be a small drama, but it’s no underdog.
Riz Ahmed Shines In Sound Of Metal
Over the weekend, I watched Sound of Metal on Amazon Prime. The film stars Riz Ahmed as Ruben Stone, a recovering heroin addict and metal drummer who experiences hearing loss. When his condition worsens, he puts his music career on hold, leaves his girlfriend and bandmate (Olivia Cooke), and checks into a sober house for the deaf. It’s here where Ruben must learn to live with, not fix, his disability.
Ahmed’s been on my radar ever since 2014’s Nightcrawler. He showed his true potential in 2016’s The Night Of, which led to his Emmy win for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Ahmed’s performance in Sound of Metal is right up there with The Night Of. Ahmed’s passion and struggle are on full display especially during the first two acts, when he struggles to accept his deafness. He’s a believable deaf person and recovering addict and encapsulates the film’s message that being deaf is a culture, not a disability. It’s a powerful performance that will go down as one of the year’s best.
Other News And Notes
– Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom premieres on Dec. 18. It will be an emotional time since it’s the first film to feature Chadwick Boseman since his tragic death this past summer. Boseman, along with his costar Viola Davis, will both be major contenders in the acting categories.
– I’m finally going to see Tenet since it hits VOD on Dec. 15. In a shitty year, to quote Kevin Malone…
2020 will be remembered as the year of the pandemic. Right behind the pandemic should be television and how it captivated my life for 365 days. This past year, I’ve never watched more television in my life. Every week, a new TV show grabbed my attention and dominated my discussion within my social circles.
This is the first year where my list for top 10 TV shows was harder to make than my top 10 movies. That speaks volumes for me personally. As a result of the pandemic, I haven’t gone to a theater since February 2020, which is depressing. However, television filled my void admirably. I was willing to try more new shows because of my abundance of free time. There were so many tv shows to watch that I even missed out on notable programs like I May Destroy You and The Boys.
Below is my list for the top 10 best TV shows of 2020.
10. Devs (Hulu)
Devs FX on Hulu
Can man play God? That’s one of the questions behind the sci-fi mystery, Devs. Set in San Francisco, a young software engineer (Sonoya Mizuno) named Lily works at the tech-giant, Amaya. When her boyfriend dies on the job, Lily investigates the company’s CEO, Forrest (Nick Offerman), which leads her down a dangerous but compelling path. Framed as a murder mystery, Devs dives deeper into themes of free will, determinism, and quantum computing. Many will be turned off by the show, but if you enjoy the work of Alex Garland (Ex Machina and Annihilation), Devs is a weird sci-fi thriller with a satisfying conclusion. Plus, it’s beautiful to watch.
I loved everything about @Devs_FXonHulu, which should not come as a surprise. This is how I feel right now though. #devspic.twitter.com/rTrfE6Dfmv
My favorite premise on television belongs to PEN15. Co-creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle play 13-year-old versions of themselves in the year 2000 while being surrounded by actual teenagers. The show sounds silly and childish, but it’s a stroke of genius. The gag never loses its charm, and the show hilariously dives into themes of adolescence in their own charming way. I cringe for all of the right reasons. Don’t forget to set your away message on AIM before watching.
8. ZeroZeroZero (Amazon Prime)
Zerozerozero Season 1, Episode 7 Andrea Riseborough and Dane DeHaan CR: Stefania Rosini/Amazon Studios
Remember March? That feels like five years ago. Right before the world went to shit, ZeroZeroZerohit Amazon Prime video. The story centers around the cocaine trade and involves three groups: the Mexican cartel, the American brokers, and the Italian mafia. The story tracks how cocaine is shipped from Mexico to Italy. It’s a fascinating look into a corrupt world and how power is worth more than gold. Standouts from the show include Harold Torres as Manuel Contreras, a rising soldier in the Mexican army, and Dane DeHaan as Chris Lynwood, one of the cocaine brokers who battles Huntington’s disease.
ZeroZeroZero: If Sicario, Narcos, and the Italian scenes in The Godfather had a baby, it would be this show. There are A LOT of storylines and characters, but it entertained me throughout. Looked and felt like a crime movie. @danedehaan is a fascinating actor. #ZeroZeroZero
If Normal People did not air in 2020, then Unorthodox would be the show that moved me the most. Unorthodoxplugs viewers into the ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn, NY. It’s here we meet Esty Shapiro (Shira Haas), an unhappily married teenager who decides to escape to Berlin and find her estranged mother. It’s a beautiful and delicate look into a world that at times, feels like a foreign country, not a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The brilliant Shira Haas is a star, and her captivating and emotionally-gripping performance is one of 2020’s best.
Getting around to a lot of the shows I missed this year. Just finished Unorthodox. That was one hell of a performance from Shira Haas. #Unorthodox#Emmys
Hi, I’m Dave. The surprise of the year belongs to Dave, the fictionalized tale of Lil Dicky and his quest to become the best rapper in the world. Dave is borderline ridiculous at times with milk boards and shitty hikes. However, Dave is more than just dick jokes. It has subtle nuance and tackles real problems in a caring way, highlighted by the standout episode dedicated to GaTa’s bipolar disorder. The show really hit its stride towards the end with “Ally’s Toast,” and ended with one of my favorite scenes of the year. At the end of the day, Dave makes me laugh more than any other show on TV.
The winner of the “show that came out of nowhere to captivate the nation” was The Queen’s Gambit. Somehow, a show about chess became the sexiest thing on television. The Queen’s Gambit chronicles the life of Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphan chess prodigy that strives to become the world’s best player in the 1950s and 19660s. As an average chess player, I was so captivated by the show that I found myself researching The Sicilian Defense and Queen’s Gambit. It’s as entertaining of a binge-watch as you’ll find all year. Anya Taylor-Joy is a captivating performer. From her stylish outfits to her killer instinct, Taylor-Joy has a magnetic look in her eyes that reminds me of a young Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone. I just want to hang out Beth and drink a cocktail over a game of chess. Buy your Taylor-Joy stock now.
THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT: Beth was a grandmaster in outfits and a really good chess player. pic.twitter.com/2LZBWojTfB
In my best Carl Weathers’s voice, “Mando!” Star Wars has reached new heights due to The Mandalorian. The bounty hunter tasked with returning Baby Yoda aka Grogu is an absolute blast. Even if you’re not a diehard Star Wars fan, this show is so fun and compelling that viewers can learn the ways of The Force without seeing any of the movies. Every episode is a fun adventure from start to finish. Season 2 continued to highlight where this show can go conceptually, and thanks to the recent Disney+ announcements, The Mandalorian will continue to open new doors in the Star Wars universe.
I’m ready to have this conversation.
Rogue One + The Mandalorian > The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
The MVP of quarantine was The Last Dance. Spending two hours every Sunday night for five weeks with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls was one of the few highlights of 2020. From his rise in the 80s to his dominance in the 90s, The Last Dance brought fans on an emotional journey into the mindset of one of the most influential athletes of the last 100 years. When my mom and sister, who don’t play sports, are raving about a basketball documentary, then you know it’s fantastic. Jordan’s speech about winning and leadership is in my top ten scenes of the year.
The show that brought me to tears was Normal People, Hulu’s adaption of Sally Rooney’s novel about two young adults who fall in and out of love over the course of a few years. Normal People is one of the most heartbreaking and purest depictions of young love I’ve ever seen. It floored me both emotionally and mentally. The chemistry between Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones was undeniable. It’s the type of show that I will be thinking about for many years to come.
Rhea Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul / Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television
This was an easy decision. The best show TV show in 2020 was Better Call Saul. Most shows start off great and plateau in the middle seasons before declining towards the end. With Better Call Saul, it’s quite the opposite. Vince Gilligan’s prequel to Breaking Bad has gotten better every year, culminating with a perfect fifth season. Every episode is like watching a masterclass on acting, writing, and directing. The show is so strong that most fans care more about the status of the secondary lead, Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), than the titular character, Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk). Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks, and Tony Dalton all deserved Emmys for their performances. In particular, Seehorn can arguably make the claim that she’s giving the best performance on television today. She’s that damn good. Better Call Saul is no longer in the shadow of Breaking Bad. They are finally contemporaries.
Finally watched the last few episodes of @BetterCallSaul. Season 5 hasn't missed once. It's so damn tense and addicting. @mrbobodenkirk, @rheaseehorn (KIM EFFING WEXLER!!!), and Jonathan Banks all need Emmys. I'm in awe of its brilliance. #BetterCallSaul
Quick shoutouts to shows that just missed the cut and shows I didn’t get a chance to watch.
Honorable Mention: How To with John Wilson, Lovecraft Country, Ramy, Sex Education, Dash & Lily, The Real Bros of Simi Valley, Outer Banks
Did Not Watch: I May Destroy You (will 100% watch), The Boys, The Undoing, Ozark (Season 3), The Crown, Ted Lasso, Mrs. America, The Good Lord Bird
Editor’s Note: The Queen’s Gambit was originally at 4 and The Mandalorian was at 5. After a terrific Season 2 finale, The Mandalorian moved up to 4 while The Queen’s Gambit moved back to 5
What shows are on your top 10 lists? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
The fifth major sport is back on MTV. To quote a nervous cast member after TJ Lavin reveals a twist and diabolically laughs, “This changes everything.” Tonight, The Challenge returns for its 35th season titled Double Agents.
If there’s one silver lining in quarantine, it reassured my love for The Challenge. Back in April, there were no professional sports on television. I was miserable. I noticed The Challenge was returning and decided to give it a shot. I used to be a diehard fan for about 10 years, but took a break for a few seasons because the product began to suffer.
Let me be the first to say I’m glad I watched last season because I’m fully back into this crazy world of reality television. The Challenge is the perfect blend of athleticism, drama, and politics.
– It’s weird to not see Johnny Bananas on this list. Going into every season, he’s always the favorite since he holds the record for most season wins with seven. He deserves a break and during a pandemic, who could blame him?
– For the veteran guys, Wes and Darrell will be popular picks to win it all with CT and Leroy in the tier below. However, the overall favorite should be Fessy, who was an absolute beast last season. If Fessy spent quarantine on a treadmill to improve his cardio, I don’t see anyone beating him until the final.
– On the ladies’ side, it’s much harder to pick a favorite. Can you believe that Ashley is the only female to have previously won a season? Ashley’s two wins should make her the frontrunner, but her unpredictability makes it hard to trust her longevity. Lolo Jones is a former Olympian so by default, she will be one of the favorites. The most anticipated debut belongs to Natalie Anderson, a legendary winner on Survivor. If I had to pick one favorite, my vote is for two-time finalist Kam Williams, who dons an impressive 7-2 record in eliminations.
Quick Questions
Who Will Give The Toast?
The unofficial start of The Challenge is the famous “Bananas Toast.” As fans, we all look forward to the party on the first night and in particular, the Bananas Toast. Without Johnny B, the toast won’t be the same, but someone has to do it. The logical selection would be CT or Wes. However, CT rarely drinks on the show and many people hate Wes. I’m calling my shot right now and picking Kyle to make the toast.
Will Josh Cry?
Is the Pope catholic?
Will Cory Talk About His Daughter?
Did you guys know that Cory has a daughter?
Who Will Nany Fight?
Nany is going to fight with someone. It’s only a matter of time before Hurricane Nany goes on a rampage. Last season, she went toe-to-toe with Aneesa and some ramen noodles. Looking at the cast, someone will either try to hit on Kaycee or call Nany a liar. My money is on Ashley.
Who Will I Root For?
Back in the day, I had my squad that I rooted for every week. It included Bananas, CT, Alton, Derrick, Paula, Laurel, and Diem. Last year, Jenny West earned a spot on my team. This year, I’m hurting for favorites. I’m very indifferent to this year’s cast. I enjoy the drama and always root for train wrecks, but can’t say I’m going to root for a lot of new people this year. Gabby Allen is the leader in the clubhouse to join my inner circle. She’s a personal trainer from England who made the finals on Love Island U.K. and Celebrity Big Brother U.K. Say no more because I’m in.
My Picks
The smart picks to win it all are Fessy and Kam. I think Kam is the right pick for females. Kam’s one of the strongest girls and finals’ experience narrowly puts her ahead of Lolo and Natalie.
Fessy is the guy to beat, but I’m going to zig with my selection. The man I’m picking to win is…
Devin.
There will never be another Johnny Bananas, but Devin’s game is as close to Johnny’s strategy as you can get. His political game is elite, which he displayed by taking out multiple vets in Rivals III. His physical game is so-so, but he managed to beat Bananas in an elimination in Vendettas. At times, he’ll bite off more than he can chew, but Devin is sneakily one of the best guys in the house. I’m picking Devin to win in an upset.
Devin and Kam
Enjoy the fifth major sport!
Who do you believe will win it all? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
It may be the Christmas season for some of you, but it’s Home Alone season for all of us. Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York should air at least ten times each during the month of December. It’s an entertaining and fun movie that five-year-olds and fifty-five-year-olds will both enjoy.
Last year, I wrote about which film is better, Home Alone or Home Alone 2. (Home Alone 2 is slightly better than the original.) In the article, I discussed the poor parenting shown by Kevin’s parents, Peter and Kate McCallister. This year, I wanted to expand on their parenting technique and rank every bad decision they made in each film.
I will be grading the McCallister’s actions on the Bad Parenting Scale, 1-10, with 1 representing a great parent and 10 being the absolute worst parent. Were Kevin’s parents worse in Home Alone or Home Alone 2?
Home Alone
Blaming Kevin For The Pizza Debacle
https://youtu.be/9p0ZChSYIzk
As a middle child (Out of six children in my family, I’m third in the pecking order), I’ve experienced what it’s like to be the younger sibling and the older sibling. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that blame will fall on the older sibling nine times out of ten. It doesn’t matter what the younger sibling does. If an older sibling is involved, the blame will predominantly fall on their shoulders because they’re supposed to be “mature” and “responsible.”
Peter and Kate throw conventional wisdom out the door in the opening scene. Buzz, who is probably eight to ten years older than Kevin, antagonizes Kevin with his disgusting eating habits. As a man who despises olives, Kevin has every right to be upset that Buzz ate his cheese pizza. Kevin retaliates by tackling Buzz in the stomach, causing a chain reaction that leads to spilled milk and soda all over the family and their flight tickets.
Does Mr. or Mrs. McCallister question Buzz as to why Kevin would tackle him in the stomach? No. They let the entire family stare him down, forcing him to apologize for his actions. Then, Mrs. McCallister drags Kevin out of the room by his arm like a ragdoll. Kevin is not innocent, but his parents never gave him a chance to explain.
Bad Parenting Scale: 7.8
Allowing Uncle Frank To Call Kevin A “Little Jerk”
How did the McCallister parents let this slide? Uncle Frank is an asshole, and yet, Peter and Kate let him berate their child in front of the entire family. Stick up for your son!
Bad Parenting Scale: 8.5
Oversleeping
As the parents of the family, Peter and Kate are in charge of the wake-up. That’s their responsibility. To rely solely on an alarm clock the night before an international trip is foolish. I’m setting multiple alarm clocks including one that has batteries just in case the power goes out. Side note, not one person woke up early? Not one person went to the bathroom and noticed the power went out? Oversleeping is not a huge crime, but blood is still on the parents’ hands.
Bad Parenting Scale: 7.3
Forgetting Kevin At Home
Before I destroy the parents, Heather needs to take a lot of the blame for how she counted the children. She taps Mitch Murphy on the head, thinking it’s Kevin. How do you not ask the kid to turn around and face forward? Awful job by Heather.
Now, do I have any sympathy for Peter and Kate? Not one ounce. This is an egregious mistake. The duo banished their youngest son to the attic the night before and did not realize they forgot him until they were sitting in their first-class seats. Not only did they entrust a teenager with attendance, but failed to double-check for themselves to see if everyone made the trip. All Peter and Kate cared about were sipping orange juice out of a champagne glass.
Bad Parenting Scale: 9.8
Calling The Police And Only The Police To Check On Kevin
https://youtu.be/VZdjWTeh9eE
I don’t have a child so take this criticism with a grain of salt. If I was Kate McCallister, my first call would not be to the police. My first call would be to a family member in the area. From there, then I would try a friend, a neighbor, or a babysitter. If all else fails, then I would call the police. Clearly, the police were not interested in babysitting children in 1990s Chicago. While I don’t fault Kate for calling the police, I do criticize her for only making one call to the police. I find it hard to believe that the other children and Leslie could not get in touch with anyone. I refuse to believe it.
Bad Parenting Scale: 8.4
Home Alone 2
Punishing Kevin For The School Concert Fiasco
https://youtu.be/IT7-T-pqCCs
Beat that you little trout sniffer. Kevin sabotaging the concert is more egregious than spilling milk over the plane tickets. Public embarrassment is a hell of a lot worse than private embarrassment. Kevin’s hands are not clean, that’s for sure. However, how can Kate and Peter be so naive when it comes to Buzz and his antics? Buzz humiliated Kevin in front of the entire audience. His punishment? Apologize to the entire family. That’s it. Clearly, Buzz can get away with murder. Everyone can see through Buzz’s bullshit except Kate and Peter. To punish Kevin and only Kevin is bad, but not a sin.
Bad Parenting Scale: 7.5
Kate Taunting Kevin In The Attic
https://youtu.be/ki04Fub1Apc?t=160
“You got your wish last year. Maybe you’ll get it again this year.” Excuse me, but is Kate the mother or a middle school bully? Why would you taunt your kid after FORGETTING HIM AT HOME THE YEAR PRIOR? Immature behavior from Mrs. McCallister.
Bad Parenting Scale: 8.9
Losing Kevin At The Airport
I don’t want to cut Peter and Kate any slack, but I think that’s about to happen. I will cut them the smallest slice of slack, similar to the size of Squidward’s first bite of a Krabby Patty.
Unlike the previous year, Kevin makes it to the airport. Kevin hangs with Peter until he made the costly mistake of switching the batteries in his recorder. That mistake is on Kevin. Running after the wrong man in the brown coat is on Kevin. Not confirming the face of the man with the brown jacket on the plane is on Kevin.
In spite of this, Kevin is a 10-year-old kid. The parents need to act like adults and take some responsibility. Kate did not double-check on her kids at the airport and Peter ran the 40-yard dash in the terminal of hanging behind with Kevin. Bad parenting to lose Kevin, but not as bad as the first film.
Bad Parenting Scale: 9.1
Realizing Kevin Was Missing At The Miami Airport
https://youtu.be/lPqTZkg_RAI
Even if the flight attendants assured Kate they would make sure everyone got on the flight, Kate should have stood her ground and counted the kids herself. Peter also outran Kevin in the terminal and never turned around to check on him. Just turn your head to the door once you get on the plane to make sure your family boards. Stop flying first class and start sitting with your family.
Bad Parenting Scale: 9.0
Poking Fun At The McCallister Family Travel Tradition
If you constantly spill coffee on your shit, it’s ok to poke fun of yourself. When you lose your child in an airport, I wouldn’t be laughing at my mistake. If I was the cop, I would’ve thrown Kate and Peter right out of the office. This behavior is more infuriating than forgetting Kevin at the airport.
Bad Parenting Scale: 9.4
Final Score On The Bad Parenting Scale (Average Of 5 Scores)
Home Alone – 8.4
Home Alone 2: Lost In New York – 8.8
Peter and Kate were worse parents in Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. Despite reuniting with their son in both movies, they won’t be winning any “Parent of the Year” awards anytime soon.
Were Kevin’s parents worse in Home Alone or Home Alone 2? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
It’s a great day. Today, Americans get to sit around the couch, watch football, and eat their faces off. No, it’s not a football Sunday. Today is Thanksgiving, the only day where no one can get mad at you for sitting around the television and stuffing your face with food.
Football might be the appetizer, but food is the star of the day. Everyone loves the idea of Thanksgiving dinner, but deciding what food will go on your plate is the bigger issue. Not every Thanksgiving dish is created equal, which is why I decided to rank the following foods.
Thanksgiving Dishes (in no particular order)
Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing or Dressing
String Beans
Cranberry Sauce
Mac and Cheese
Sweet Potato/Candied Yams Casserole
Pumpkin Pie
Dinner Rolls
Corn
Note: I’m not counting gravy as its own dish. Many rankings will consider gravy its own dish. However, I believe it’s a universal condiment, not its own meal. Even if you don’t like gravy, the odds are high that you’ll dabble with some on your plate to wash down the turkey, potatoes, and stuffing.
Also, don’t shoot the messenger if your family’s special side is not on my list. Google “popular Thanksgiving dishes” and those 10 are going to come up the most.
I broke down my rankings into tiers.
Won’t Be Touched Tier
10. Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Pie doesn’t do it for me. If I eat it, I need to drown out the pumpkin flavor with ice cream or whipped cream. From the chewy consistency to the earthy flavor, I will be walking past the pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. Give me apple pie all day.
Might Dabble, But Probably Won’t Tier
9. Sweet Potato/Candied Yams Casserole
I like sweet potatoes and yams. I like marshmallows. I don’t like marshmallows on top of sweet potatoes. Why do we add marshmallows to this casserole? Who OK’ed this? It’s something I will never understand. If the sweet potato casserole excludes marshmallows, then I’d move them up the list.
8. Corn
Who wants to eat yellow pellets that will end up in the toilet after dinner? As gross as that sounds, corn is a decent vegetable. However, I prefer it on the cob during the summertime. It’s the perfect side dish to pair with your cheeseburger and beer at your Uncle Brian’s house in July. I won’t be happy or upset if it’s on my plate this Thursday.
Can’t Have One Without The Other Tier
7-6. Dinner Rolls and Cranberry Sauce
Dinner rolls and cranberry sauce go hand in hand. Bread is a staple that should be consumed at least once per day unless you’re training for a Marvel movie. More importantly, if you’re eating cranberry sauce, it must be from a can. Screw the fancy stuff. If there are still lines from the can in your sauce, then you’re doing it right. Mashing up the sauce out of the can is also acceptable.
One Small Scoop On The Plate Tier
5. String Beans
It’s time to add some greens to the plate. If it’s just plain string beans, then I won’t be amped about it, but I’ll eat it anyway. However, if it’s a string bean casserole with some caramelized onions and/or bacon, then you’re sitting pretty. By the way, string beans, green beans, or the long green things are all acceptable names.
4. Stuffing or Dressing
First of all, I call this dish “stuffing” even though my family never stuffs it in the turkey. Therefore, I technically eat dressing. However, I call it stuffing and will always call it stuffing.
Food & Wine
I like stuffing. It’s an above-average Thanksgiving side. If it’s not properly cooked, it will come out super dry, which means it needs a lot of gravy to make it edible. That’s not a bad thing! Stuffing is hit or miss for me. If it’s good, it’s an elite side. If it’s below average, it can ruin the meal, which is why it’s outside of the top three.
Going Back For Seconds Tier
3. Turkey
“Turkey is actually overrated.”
The statement above used to be a hot take, but now it’s a cold take because people decided it’s cool to insult the star of Thanksgiving. The sides are better than turkey, but it’s insane to degrade the turkey. We don’t come together each year and sit around a table of stuffing and string beans (unless you’re a vegan or vegetarian, which is fine!). The turkey is still the star of the meal and yes, it’s still good! Without the turkey, there are no leftover turkey sandwiches. Put some respect on the turkey’s name.
2. Mac and Cheese
Out of all my rankings, mac and cheese will be the most controversial. I can picture the biggest argument against mac and cheese will be it’s origins at Thanksgiving. Is mac and cheese considered a Thanksgiving staple? For me, mac and cheese belongs at the Thanksgiving table. It’s warm, creamy, and a necessary injection of cheese to your plate.
Undisputed Champion Tier
1.Mashed Potatoes
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the reigning, defending, and undisputed champion of the world, mashed potatoes. What’s not to love about mashed potatoes? Whether you like them chunky or my personal favorite, velvety smooth, mashed potatoes are the star of the meal. What makes mashed potatoes so great (besides the taste) is their versatility on the fork. You can’t combine turkey with pumpkin pie on your fork. Cranberry sauce and string beans don’t go together. Mashed potatoes can be combined with anything on your plate and it will still taste delicious. When I sit down for my meal, mashed potatoes will be the star of my dish.
What are your rankings? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Kevin dominated last night’s episode, but Kate and Randall stole the show with two big reveals at the end of This Is Us.
This Is Us Season 5 Episode 4 Recap: “Honestly”
THIS IS US — “Honestly” Episode 504 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Lonnie Chavis as Randall, Mackenzie Hancsicsak as Kate, Parker Bates as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)
Kate’s Secret Pregnancy
The promo for episode four used the classic bait and switch technique. The short video clip teased a conversation between Kate and Ellie about adoption and if Ellie was having second thoughts. That idea was quickly squashed after Ellie said she was conflicted about her own life but still wants to give her baby to Kate and Toby. It turns out that the name Kate picked for the child, Chloe, prompted a negative reaction from her past life.
However, the conversation with Ellie triggered a past memory from Kate after Ellie mentioned thoughts about abortion. When Kate was a teen, she was in an abusive relationship with Marc, who had the slimiest of mustaches known to man. After their breakup, Kate realized that she was pregnant.
What did Kate do with her unborn child? I’m guessing she had an abortion, which is why her conversation with Ellie triggered this memory. What I want to know is who knew about the pregnancy besides Kate. Did she tell Marc? Did Kate confide in a friend we don’t know about? As a dedicated viewer, I’ve learned that no character faces problems alone. There’s always someone else involved.
Let’s just call a spade a spade. Sterling K. Brown is shredded. The man is ripped from head to toe. Was his striptease a mistake or an audition for Chippendales?
Back to the topic at hand. Randall’s striptease may have shown off his hard work in the gym, but it also served as a connection to his birth mother, Laurel. At the end of the episode, the Vietnamese grandfather watches Randall’s viral video. Unlike most people, he’s less focused on the dance and zeroes in on the name, William Hill. If you bet that Randall would find out about his birth mother because he stripped in his office at 1000 to 1 odds, then cash your tickets immediately and move to a tropical island.
Is Laurel alive? I’m back and forth on this issue. It would be too fitting for Laurel to be alive. My prediction is Randall meets Laurel’s daughter or son with the Vietnamese man, which would make them half-siblings.
Atta Boy, Kevin
Ever since the middle of the third season, Kevin’s storyline interests me the most. He’s having twins with Madison, fighting with Randall, and attempting to win an Oscar for his mom. That’s a hell of a platter. Last night focused on his work ethic in both the past and present. As a kid, Kevin’s potential in football began to grow, but he struggled to memorize the plays and put in the work. Thanks to Randall’s color-coded flashcards, Kevin started to bond with his brother and memorize the plays.
In the present, Kevin failed to impress his new director. Instead of quitting, Kevin made more color-coded flashcards, and it appeared to work since his director sent Kevin a gift basket. The episode began to lay the groundwork for Kevin and Randall’s future conversation. Kevin is starting to sympathize with Randall and the issues he experienced as a black kid in a predominately white community.
There has to be an “a-ha” moment for Kevin. What is the moment that will unite the brothers? My money is on the birth of Kevin’s children.
Other News And Notes
– I immediately recognized Jack’s Cool Hand Luke reference. What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.
– This Is Us tried to plant conspiracy theories in our heads with the baby name, Chloe. Kate and Toby’s daughter will be named Hailey so after Kate used the name Chloe, the idea of Ellie keeping her baby ran through our minds for precisely 5 minutes. Nice try, writing room, but I didn’t fall for it.
– Malik should forget about his idea to open a restaurant. Instead, he should run for mayor of Philadelphia.
– I’m in the Jamie Chung Hive. Big year for Ms. Chung with Lovecraft Country and a guest appearance on This Is Us. If you have time, watch Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong on Hulu. She costars with her husband, Bryan Greenberg. It’s a charming rom-com that will make you miss traveling.
See you in January when This Is Us returns from its hiatus.
Did you enjoy last night’s episode? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
One word is about to stir up the 2021 Oscars. Say it with me: Mank.
Mank Set To Be An Oscars Juggernaut
With the Oscar eligibility window pushed back to February 28, 2021, it’s safe to say we’re in the middle rounds in this fight for Academy Awards. If this is Round 5 or 6, then Mank just scored a knockdown.
The first round of reviews arrived this afternoon for Mank and to say they were anything but positive would be an understatement. I’m struggling to find a negative word, let alone an entirely negative review. Type “Mank Review” in your search engine and it will flood with adjectives for “great.”
Mank revolves around Herman J. Mankiewicz, played by Gary Oldman, and his battle with Orson Welles over the screenwriting credit for Citizen Kane. Mank was directed by David Fincher, who directs his first feature film since 2014’s Gone Girl, from a script written by Fincher’s father, the late Jack Fincher. Oldman stars alongside Amanda Seyfried, Charles Dance, Lily Collins, Arliss Howard, and Tom Burke.
Mank hits all the right notes in terms of films that are typically rewarded by the Academy. It’s a black and white movie about the film industry in Old Hollywood from a well-respected director and accomplished cast. If the Academy Awards were a game of Texas Hold’Em and Mank came to the table, Mank would be sitting on a pair of Kings. Frankly, all you had to tell me was “David Fincher’s first movie since Gone Girl” and I was in.
Without guessing winners, the best bet you can make for the 2021 Oscars is that Mank will lead the field with the most nominations. I’m counting at least eight automatic nominations and honestly, that’s on the low side.
Mank Nomination Predictions
Best Picture
Best Director (Fincher)
Best Actor (Oldman)
Best Supporting Actress (Seyfried)
Best Supporting Actor (Dance)
Best Orginal Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Film Editing
Best Original Score
Best Production Design
Best Sound
If you can’t count, that’s 12 nominations, which would easily make it the nomination leader. Thankfully, consumers won’t have to wait much longer as Mank will stream on Netflix on December 4.
One Night In Miami Oscar Campaign
Mank may have made a statement in the middle rounds, but One Night In Miami will look to come on strong in the 11th round. Regina King’s directorial debut portrays the fictionalized meeting between Malcom X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), Cassius Clay (Eli Goree), and Leslie Odom Jr. (Sam Cooke). One Night In Miami premiered to strong reviews at TIFF and King will be in the running for a Best Directing nomination.
With four actors positioning for acting nominations, Amazon Studios confirmed where they will campaign all four men. Kingsley Ben-Adir and Eli Goree will be entered as lead actors while Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom Jr. will run in supporting. Out of the four actors, Odom should have the best chance for a nomination thanks to his previous accomplishments in the Emmys, Grammys, and Tonys.
One Night In Miami opens in theaters on Christmas and streams on Amazon Prime Video on January 15, 2021.
Other News And Notes
– I still haven’t seen Tenet. However, there is good news on the horizon.
Christopher Nolan's TENET will arrive on 4K, Blu Ray, DVD and Digital on December 15 pic.twitter.com/boxSbleYNK
After an extended hiatus due to the pandemic, This Is Us finally returns tonight for Season 5 with a special two-hour premiere. Frankly, America needs the Pearson family back in our lives in order to provide a necessary distraction from COVID.
When we last saw the Big Three, Kevin and Randall squared off in a fight that mirrored Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed. Instead of throwing punches, the brothers verbally spared, trading haymaker after haymaker until Kevin dropped the hammer when he said, “Hand to God, Randall, the worst thing that ever happened to me was the day they brought you home.”
Awkward…
Here’s a quick recap of everything else that happened in the Season 4 finale.
Both Nicky and Kevin are wearing wedding rings in the flash-forward.
Rebecca is going to St. Louis for the clinical trial with Miguel.
In typical This Is Us fashion, the writers left us with multiple cliffhangers in the finale, which will all be addressed at some point this season or the next. So what can we expect in Season 5?
https://youtu.be/xP9pwlzeLBw
-Fallout of fight between Randall and Kevin: This is the biggest storyline of the season. I don’t expect this fight to end overnight. As we’ve seen in the flash-forward, Randall and Kevin will eventually be on good terms. However, what is the moment that will bring them together?
-Rebecca’s Clinical Trials: At the end of Season 4, Rebecca decided to sign up for the clinical trials in St. Louis. Rebecca and Miguel will head to St. Louis during the season, but when will they head home? During the Season 4 midseason finale, Rebecca’s memory significantly deteriorated and needed a police escort back to the cabin for the 40th birthday party, which will air tonight. Did Rebecca leave the trials because they failed or did something happen to Miguel?
-Kate And Toby’s Relationship: At the end of last season, Kate and Toby decide to explore adoption, and we know that they will adopt a girl and name her Hailey. However, what we don’t know is the status of their marriage. Kate and Toby have had problems in the past (Thanks, Lady Kryptonite). Expect problems to occur once again this season, but will it lead to a divorce or something much worse?
-Birth and Rebirths: According to Dan Fogelman, this season is about “births and rebirths.” The obvious birth will be Kevin and Madison’s twins. With that being said, I’m more interested in the rebirth. Does the rebirth represent Kevin and Randall’s relationship? Is it a new love interest for Kevin or Kate? Does it signify Rebecca’s love for Miguel?
-Jack: When in doubt, add Jack into a storyline. We all need a little more Jack Pearson on the show.
With a preview comes predictions. I made these predictions at the end of last season.
Kevin will name his daughter after his mother, Rebecca.
Miguel will die.
The birth of the twins will end the fight between Kevin and Randall.
For now, I’m sticking with those predictions. I’m confident that Miguel, who I love dearly, will die at some point within the next two seasons. In regards to the twins, my confidence meter is 50/50. Now that the premiere has arrived, here are a few more predictions.
Kate Will Die*: I’ve been on this hill since Season 2. There’s no reason to abandon ship just yet. This Is Us is all about the fragility of life and cherishing every moment spent with family. Death ties every storyline together. The deaths of Jack, William, and Kyle (original member of the Big Three who died in childbirth) rocked the Pearson family and became crucial plot points in the story. Kate has not been seen in the flashforward at Kevin’s house. Toby is also not wearing his wedding ring. Are Kate and Toby divorced? Maybe, but for now, I’m leaning towards “’til death do us part.”
*Kate will die if and only if Miguel dies in Season 5. Two deaths in one season are too much to handle. If Miguel dies in Season 5, then Kate could die in Season 6 if that’s truly the final season. If Miguel’s death occurs in the final season, then Kate will live.
-Nicky Pretends To Be Married To Rebecca: This is my outrageous prediction. In the flash forward, Nicky is wearing a wedding ring while sitting next to a dying Rebecca. There’s no chance in hell that Nicky marries Rebecca. However, since Rebecca’s memory is shot, Nicky pretends to be Jack on the surface since most of her memories are gone and she only remembers Jack. Nicky wears the wedding ring and acts like Jack even though he’s serving as Rebecca’s caretaker. It’s an odd prediction, but a spicy take.
-Rebecca Will Die In The Series Finale: Rebecca will die in the bed surrounded by her loved ones in the series finale. Rebecca’s death will complete the circle of life.
Can’t wait to see how many of these predictions come true!
What are your predictions for This Is Us Season 5? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
It’s early in the race, but two frontrunners have already emerged in Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress for the 2021 Oscars.
Chadwick Boseman And Glenn Close Jump Out To Early Leads
Here is my first of many predictions about the 2021 Oscars.
Both Chadwick Boseman and Glenn Close will win Oscars at the 2021 ceremony.
First, there’s the late Boseman, who tragically passed away this past August after a long battle with colon cancer. The actor was a king, both on and off the screen. Imagine working long and excruciating days on films like Black Panther, The Avenger sequels, and Da 5 Bloods while undergoing chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. How many of us would give up? Frankly, a lot of us would including myself, but not Boseman. He was a special breed and truly a selfless individual. May he rest in power.
For the 2021 Oscars, Boseman was drawing major buzz for Best Supporting Actor in Netflix’s upcoming film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which premieres on Dec. 18. After his death, the buzz skyrocketed as Boseman went straight to the top of the list in the supporting actor category. That all changed this week when Netflix announced their campaign to run Boseman for lead actor.
Netflix will campaign Chadwick Boseman for a lead actor Oscar nom in 'Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom'
If he wins he would join Heath Ledger and Peter Finch as the only posthumous acting winners
The strategist in me said, “Why would Netflix push Boseman in a tough best acting field instead of dominating the supporting category?” It took me less than a minute before the light bulb went off.
Two words: double nominee.
Boseman gave another performance in a Netflix movie that has gained awards buzz. I’m talking about Da 5 Bloods, where he played the undeniable “Stormin'” Norman. With the decision to run Boseman for Best Actor in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the door has opened for a supporting nomination for Da 5 Bloods.
It’s definitely an ambitious plan from Netflix and at the very least, Boseman will receive a nomination for one of his performances. Those who have seen Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom have raved over Boseman’s final outing.
Chadwick Boseman will almost certainly win the Oscar for Best Actor, now that Netflix has officially decided to campaign him as a lead performer for MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. He’s so good in his final film performance that it feels undeniable.
Chadwick is going to win an Oscar. My initial thought was to put him in Supporting for MA RAINEY. Now, this opens the door to become a double nominee as he’ll go supporting for DA 5 BLOODS. He deserves all of the recognition in the world. https://t.co/daJsQuzuAw
Speaking of Oscar victories, you know who hasn’t won an Oscar yet? Glenn Close. Unfortunately, Close’s relationship with the Oscars can be explained with one phrase, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” 7 nominations, 0 wins.
It’s not like Close lost to scrubs every year. Jessica Lange, Jodie Foster, and Meryl Streep are three of the most accomplished actresses ever. However, if I had to switch up one result, it would be 1988 when Close should’ve won for Fatal Attraction. Before Cher and her fans hurt me, I will say that Cher should’ve been nominated and won for Mask.
It’s a shame Close is Oscar-less, but I believe she’s finally going to win gold in the supporting category for Hillbilly Elegy, a film about the American dream and societal problems through the eyes of an Appalachian family. Close will play Mamaw Vance, the grandmother of J.D. Vance, who wrote the memoir that served as the film’s inspiration. The Oscars typically honor films that are based on real-life events and reward actors who make complete physical transformations. Hillbilly Elegy and Closecheck off both boxes.
Glenn Close and Amy Adams in Hillbilly Elegy / Netflix
It’s ironic that the actress who beat Close in 2019, Olivia Colman, is also her toughest competition in 2021 as Colman will run in the supporting category for her role in The Father. Expect another close (I couldn’t help myself with this pun) race.
I really like both actresses, but I’d venture to say that Colman would be ok with Close winning this time around. I would be happy with this result, too.
Other News And Notes
-From what I’ve seen and read, the Best Picture frontrunner as of October 23 is Nomadland.
–Mank is coming. I don’t see a world where the Academy hates Mank. Nominations in Best Picture, Best Director for David Fincher, Best Actor for Gary Oldman seem inevitable.
-Netflix, Netflix, and more Netflix. This will be the year the streaming service receives the most nominations in their company’s history. Now, the pressure is on to win in the major categories.
-I still haven’t seen Tenet.
Which Chadwick Boseman and Glenn Close win Oscars? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
