We’re getting close to the end of the year — what? I want to rush to the end of 2020, you say? Never 😉 — and I thought it would be a good time to wrap up my reading/entertainment year.
Top Films
I’ve seen a good number, well over 100 movies this year (my complete 2020 Movie List is here), and I particularly made an effort to see some of the big, famous films that everyone is supposed to have seen. And yes, there’s a reason they’re considered classics – soo good.
It Happened One Night
Exceptional mid-thirties romcom staring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. A couple of very 1930s wince moments but overall I adored this film.
Ways to watch:Prime | DVD | Blu-Ray | Google Play
Laura
An utterly stunning film noir where the detective falls in love with the murder victim. It has a big twist that I wasn’t expecting and brought me great joy, so if you can avoid spoilers before seeing this I urge you to do so.
Ways to watch:Prime | DVD | Blu-Ray | Google Play
Casablanca
Oh, Oh, oh. It’s a classic for a reason. Watch it!
Prime | DVD | Blu-Ray | Google Play
The Philadelphia Story
Highly enjoyable comedy with a dubious message. If it were made now, Katharine Hepburn wouldn’t have to put up with such men.
Ways to watch: Prime | DVD | Blu-Ray | Google Play
His Girl Friday
Another comedy revolving around a career woman. It’s set in a newspaper office and, oh dear lord, the satire still burns. Watch for it’s hot take on politics and policing.
Ways to watch: Prime | DVD | Blu-Ray | Google Play
And a rewatch that I always adore ‘Christmas in Connecticut’, a sweet seasonally themed RomCom.
Ways to watch: Prime | DVD (as part of a set with others) | Google Play
Top TV
My TV watching has been something of the other way round, most of my viewing this year has been reruns. Although I did I finally catch up with ‘Harlots’. Having read Hallie Rubenhold’s ‘Harris’s List’ many years ago I’ve been wanting to see this for ages but never got round to it.
Ways to watch: DVD set | Prime STARZPLAY series 1
In the nostalgia stakes. I’ve rewatched ‘Ashes to Ashes’, the detective series set in the 1980s with a glorious period aesthetic and featuring a D.I. desperately trying to get home to 2008. If you’re a fan of the eighties and haven’t seen this, it’s a must watch.
Ways to watch: complete series DVD | Prime series 1 | series 2 | series 3
As well as ‘Spooks’, the phenomenal British spy series which ran for ten seasons between 2003 and 2012. It was freaking amazing back then, I remember how frequently it tied in to real world events almost as though the writers were also writing the news, and it’s held up bloody brilliantly. It still has the power to shock. Although it does wane a little in the latter series.
Ways to view: complete series on DVD, Series 1 on Prime
And then there was ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (complete series currently free on Prime) and overall enjoyed the creativity of the tv channels in programming when new production was halted.
I especially enjoyed the new ‘Talking Heads’ and, for me, this last series of ‘Strictly Come Dancing‘ was the best since the very first one back in 2004.
Top Books
I’ve managed to reboot my reading this last year or so after a prolonged slump, and these are my top reads from 2020.
Murder Offstage – L. B. Hathaway
A ‘cosy’ murder mystery set in the 1920s in London’s theatre and underworld.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
A fictional biography of a 1950s movie mega star. It’s gut-wrenching and fabulous.
Buy on Amazon.
Letters to a Young Poet – Rainer Maria Rilke
I’ve been meaning to read this for years. I mean, literally since I first heard of it back in the ‘90s when I saw ‘Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit’. Insightful and eye opening read about the creative process in general. It’s not just for poets.
Buy on Amazon
Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants – Brian MacDonald
A history of the all-women gang who ran London in the early to mid 20th Century, with a brief smattering of women robbers through the ages.
Buy on Amazon
Top YouTube
TheShowMustGoOn – This channel has made available, usually for one week, full length productions of great shows. It’s all for free, although they are fundraising to help theatre workers who’ve been hit hard by the pandemic and there are links to reputable sites for you to donate to should be so able and inclined.
SuperRaeDizzle – A freaking awesome artist who makes entertaining and imaginative art videos.
Alexa Donne – A writer of classic retellings and thriller fiction, Alexa provides informative and enjoyable videos on writing techniques, the ins and outs of traditional publishing and the life of a professional writer.
How To Cook That – A hugely popular cooking channel that makes some truly incredible cakes. I mean, seriously, impressive 😳
Film Riot – This channel makes educational filmmaking videos. There is heaps of useful information here if you’re into film.
Top TikTokers
LavendarStages – An art and history TikTok.
Hayley Nolan – Re-writing the story of Anne Boleyn one TikTok at a time.
Kaicfox’s rants on Shakespeare are so much fun. Really, they are.
ElianaGhen’s acting challenges – I’ve written about them here so I won’t go into too much more detail, suffice to say they’re good.
What about you?
What’s the best entertainment you’ve seen this year?
Disclaimer: some of the links are affiliate links, which means that should you choose to purchase I get a small commission. And best of ll it fleshy alter the price for you at all.