The Menu - HBO Max
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
2022 delivered two heavy-handed satires: The Menu and Glass Onion. Both take aim at the habits of the uber-wealthy, but only one of them features Ralph Fiennes as a homicidal gourmet chef. That film, The Menu, is arguably more on the nose than Glass Onion (for whatever that is worth), but I much preferred it as an entertainment. The twists are genuinely surprising, and the horror gags genuinely shocking. While your eyes might roll on occasion, they are likely to swing back into place whenever Fiennes claps his hand to signal that it's time for the next course.
Matilda the Musical - Netflix
Picked by Digital Editor Mike Nam
If you've been on TikTok lately and your algorithm's like mine, you might have noticed a dance craze that isn't the Wednesday dance from Netflix. The kids in the climactic dance number really show off their amazing talents. The movie is an adaptation of the stage musical about the precocious, telekinetically gifted girl who takes on an oppressive school headmistress, which is also based on the classic children's book. Check out the wild choreography and see if it doesn't get your toe-tapping for this whimsical bit of theater.
The Best Man: The Final Chapters - Peacock
Picked by Lawrence Banton
It's officially the end of an era more than 20 years in-the-making, The Best Man saga is finally ending. The Best Man: The Final Chapters, which is a follow-up to 1999's The Best Man and 2013's The Best Man Holiday films, is a limited eight-episode series this time around. The gang of eight reunite for another wedding that takes an unexpected yet welcomed turn, nearly as the bride-to-be walks down the aisle. The recalls to the OG film, the continued storyline from their college days, and the wide range of emotions you experience as you're watching make for the perfect ending to this decades-long story. And if you haven't watched the movies, I highly suggest checking them out before venturing over to Peacock.
PODCASTS
Bone Valley - Podcast providers
Picked by Newsletter Writer Graison Dangor
This investigation of a woman's 1987 murder and her husband's fight, from prison, to clear his name and find the real killer, was near the top of Best-of-2022 lists for good reason. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King and producer Kelsey Decker's storytelling layers detail after infuriating detail of the errors and alleged malfeasance of police, prosecutors, and judges. Unlike many true-crime podcasts, their storytelling avoids reveling in lurid detail and focuses on the real people whose lives have been ruined by the miscarriage of justice. If you listen to one episode, you're guaranteed to finish all nine and begin following the case of Leo Schofield.
THROWBACKS
Grease - Netflix
Picked by Growth Associate Keara O’Driscoll
I don't even have to justify this one. Grease is now on Netflix. Go watch it!
Fireplace for Your Home - Netflix
Picked by Sr. News Editor Dina Ross
In my opinion this is the toughest part of winter. It's about to get really cold, really bleak, and the holidays are over so there isn't much to look forward to between now and spring. So even after your holiday decorations are put away, there is a way to feel cozy at home even if you don't have an actual working fireplace. There are a shocking number of streaming fireplace editions to choose from, whether you prefer a classic crackling fire, birchwood, or even The Witcher theme. (Also a shout out to Disney+ for castle-themed yule logs!)
