Top TV

My favourite tv shows for 2020, streamed or otherwise.

The Queen's Gambit

Normal People

Lovecraft Country

Succession

The Witcher

Cardinal

The Great

What We Do in the Shadows

The Marvellous Mrs Maisel

Devs

Top Classic Films

 And with so many classics reappearing in the cinema, here's a bonus list of my favourite oldies seen in the past year on the big screen:

5. Lawrence of Arabia

4. Mr Smith Goes to Washington

3. North by Northwest

2. Casablanca

1. Philadelphia Story

Top 10 Films for 2020

It was a decent year for films. Despite an absence of blockbusters (I certainly didn't miss the three hour Superhero movies that have proliferated recently), the smaller indie films and international films were entertaining enough.

10(=). David Copperfield - it was a toss-up between this and Emma for this spot, so I'm including them both, however David Copperfield's quirky humour appealed to me more.

10(=). Emma - thanks Jane Austen.

9. Summerland - WW2 romantic drama

8. Blithe Spirit - very entertaining adaption of Noel Coward's comic play featuring seances and hauntings

7. The Lodge - a horror story set in the snowy wilds of Massachusetts featuring gaslighting and insanity

6. Midnight Sky - George Clooney's apocalyptic space drama had a short run in the cinema before switching to Netflix, and I'm lucky to have caught it on the big screen. 

5. Colour Out of Space - insane (literally) adaption of H. P. Lovecraft's short story, starring Nicholas Cage. 

4. Belle Epoque - is it possible to time travel by faithfully recreating a scene from the past? A quirky French romance.

3. The Burnt Orange Heresy - an art crime thriller

2. 1917 - for the cinematography alone, this is unforgettable

1. Tenet - worth seeing multiple times (and in reverse) to understand the many layers. 

And some honourable mentions, for films that could easily have made the top ten if my mood differed slightly:

Trip to Greece

Mank 

The Father

Footy in the Rain

 At Optus Oval to see the Freo Dockers recently. What a view from the top deck !

Even more spectacular in a downpour.

Old-Fashioned Cinema

 I'm enjoying the Sunday afternoon retro film screenings at the Windsor.

There's a whirl on the organ to begin. And there's an intermission to collect your second choc bomb.

North by Northwest was my favourite so far, but I did enjoy seeing Lawrence of Arabia on the big screen for the first time.

Twice the leprechauns

A gorgeous double-rainbow beside Lake Monger yesterday evening.

Regional Travel Restrictions

It's so claustrophobic being confined to a tiny region within Western Australia while the pandemic rages on. We can only head north, south or east for about 500km until we hit the checkpoints. Luckily though, we're  permitted to swim west for an unlimited distance.

Cat Roar

Someone appreciates a gentle tummy rub.

WFH

Here my working from home setup. It's unusual to see my coworker so alert - he's normally asleep, sprawled across the keyboard or upside down, asking for tummy tickles.

Documenting history

For the historical record, here are some emails that document the gradual shutting down of business.

Queueing for Bunnings

Bunnings is very well organised for physical distancing. The entry queue is well-spaced, and you can't enter until someone leaves. And there's a limit of four customers per aisle.

Cheap Petrol

As we approach the collapse of civilisation, one positive is the plummeting price of petrol. It hasn't been this low since I was a young kid, fifteen years ago.

Zoombie Menace

This concerning public safety poster was discovered in my archives. Thankfully the zoombie threat levels are currently rated at MODERATE.

My Cat's Top Ten Films of 2019

Here are Gizzie 's top ten films for 2019, plus some honourable mentions.

1. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - totally love a good revenge film, even if it is pure fantasy....

2. Jo Jo Rabbit - Nazi themes, Sam Rockwell, Taika Waititi, Rebel Wilson, Scarlett Johansen all in superb form, as were the two main boy actors (loved the larger framed one) - funny, tragic, moving

3. Nightingale  - incredibly violent, can see why people walked out of cinemas, even I found it challenging and I have watched a lot of violent films over the years, but brilliant depiction of all the forms of oppression throughout our history...

4. Destroyer - Nicole Kidman was brilliant in this, and like I said, love a good revenge story, as well as stories of atonement

5. Aftermath - romantic and set with Nazi background, am always fascinated by Nazi themes 

6. Cold Pursuit  - Liam Neeson - bloody funny film

7. All is True - Kenneth Branagh as Shakespeare - reflective in his old age

8. Swoon - creative, colourful, well told story

9. Terminator: Dark Fate - for the fans mostly... love Arnold when he does humour

10. Zombieland Double Tapped - for the fans again... great cast

And honourable mentions for:

Doctor Sleep - not Kubrick, but I thought that this was a fairly good sequel, not as scary or suspenseful, but still well done

The Dead Don't Die - any film with Bill Murray ranks highly with me

Parasite - interesting and surprising.... heard good things about it, wasn't sure, but when I did see it, was intrigued