Introducing One Good Movie

Dear Friend,

Welcome to the party.

2020. It's been a crazy year, right?

Fuck. That line needs to retire. 

So, this is a newsletter for an audience of one...

You. 

I'm going to recommend one good movie each week. 

My name's Guy. We met in seventh grade. I've been watching movies since Betamax was a thing. Lately, I haven't maintained my movie habit/addiction as well as I would like.

This newsletter is a way to revisit favorites, unearth lost gems, and discover new bangers. 

And of course, share all of the movie love with you. 

We won't be discussing films with a capital F. These will be movie recommendations for Friday night. For old people, like you. Forty years around the sun types. People who are fussy about coffee and the level of noise in a restaurant. Discerning, good-looking folks, with taste.

No boring French films. No Iñárritu pretension. And no Ron Howard geriatric filmatism.

Some weeks I will provide analysis or background material. Some weeks it may only be the movie's title. This is not a movie review newsletter. It's a way to circumvent the endless choices and analysis paralysis that comes with streaming.

One good movie recommendation from a friend to his friend.

This week's movie? 

The Muppet Christmas Carol 

Released in theaters in 1992. The picture is streaming on Disney Plus.  

Directed by Brian Henson, the film features terrific camerawork and staging. Paul Williams' songs don't fare as well. At 86 minutes it meets my standards for never boring the audience. Charles Dickens' classic winter tale fused with the Muppets' universe.

And Michael Caine is Ebenezer Scrooge! He gives a masterful and sincere performance that never plays for laughs. 

Go watch the movie and let me know what you think. 

-Guy

p.s. I'm writing this for three months. Let's see how it goes.

p.p.s. What Christmas movie should I watch?

Epilogue

In 1987 I received the best Christmas gift of all time. Not where the rainbow ends, but for a nine-year-old, the same. Obviously Lego Set 7745: High-Speed City Express Passenger Train Set, an electric train set not available in North America and required a transformer to operate. After several years of asking, somehow Santa made it happen.

What was the best gift you received for Christmas?

Negative 10 points for saying "my kids" or "I'm a Jehovah’s Witness."

Mom Talk

You probably still think your mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies. But you're wrong because she never did.

Thinking your mom is a good cook, is like thinking your high school girlfriend is hot when you've never been to Europe. 

Your Uncle Jerry thinks Midwest Express Airlines made the greatest chocolate chip cookies of all time. Don't ask Jerry about the election.  Or any election.

The best chocolate chip cookies? My Aunt Dot makes them.

But Dot can't take any credit. They're straight from everyone's favorite Barnard alumna, Martha Stewart. Known as "Alexis's Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies" the recipe curb-stomps your mom's best efforts with indulgent brown sugar and butter.

Get the recipe here. 

Do you love your kids?

Then buy them Lego 10267: Gingerbread House. 

Then build it yourself. 

As you know, I finished the build a few weeks ago. It's delightful. Paired with a good bourbon, this is the set to end your December.

Music

Since you're a fruiter, you probably haven't listened to my 2022 Christmas playlist on that other app. 

I still love you. 

Merry Christmas Baby