Christmas day will give millions a nice dose of the much-needed entertainment most of us crave. Fortunately there’s a whole bucket of highly-anticipated blockbuster releases. There will be many options on where to stream, with almost every major streaming service set to release a major film on December 25th including movie theaters.
We’ve created a comprehensive list below of movies plus trailers of all you can watch!
“Wonder Woman: 1984”: Theater release and HBO Max:
Most noteworthy, as its release date has been pushed and pushed for what seems like years, will be the Xmas release of “Wonder Woman: 1984” to both theaters and a 30 day streaming period on HBO Max. Patty Jenkins’ follow-up to the 2017 “Wonder Woman” has generated so much buzz, DC Comic fans can rejoice the film will finally be available to watch. Based on the fan reaction from the early showings, there is no secret that this is a must see movie, starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, and Pedro Pascal.
“Soul” / Disney+:
This Pixar movie has also been riddled with issues relating to a final release date. Instead of the traditionally theatrical release, “Soul” will be premiering exclusively on the Disney+. This will mark the first Pixar film to bypass a theater release altogether and instead offer it solely on the streaming platform This animated production boasts a star-studded cast including Jamie Fox, Tina Fey, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Angela Basset and long-time Pixar alum John Ratzenbrerger.
“News of the World” / Theaters:
A Western drama that follows a widowed Civil War veteran, Jefferson Kyle Kidd, who comes across a young girl taken by the Kiowa people. Jefferson played by Tom Hanks must take a long and perilous journey to return the girl to her family. Taken place within the harsh and unforgiving plains of Texas, the two encounter many dangers and must fight for survival. Based on the historical novel by Paulette Jiles. The movie will reportedly be released through Netflix internationally, however there is no clear release date for U.S. viewing on the streaming platform at this time.
“We Can Be Heroes” / Netflix:
A follow-up or homage of sorts to the 2005 “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl” done by Robert Rodriguez is another fun film to be released. This time around, a group of children of superheroes must team up to save their parents after being kidnapped by aliens. Taylor Dooley reprises her role as Lavagirl. “We Can Be Heroes”stars Priyanka Chopra, Pedro Pascal, Christian Slater, Christopher McDonald and more.
“Promising Young Woman” / Theaters:
A dark comedy/thriller follows Cassandra Thomas, who goes by “Cassie” played by Carey Mulligan. Nothing is what it seems in Cassie’s life, with an unexpected encounter, she is given the chance to take charge of her life. Moviegoers will watch as this “Promising Young Woman” takes revenge against the men who have treated her wrong in the past. Emerald Fennell makes her directorial debut along with a support cast that include: Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Laverne Cox and Alfred Molina.
“Sylvie’s Love” / Amazon Prime Video:
Set in the late 1950’s Harlem, a young woman named Sylvie played by Tessa Thompson has a whirlwind summer romance with a saxophonist that takes a job at her father’s record store. Years later, the two reconnect and soon discover that their feelings have not faded.
“One Night in Miami”/ Theaters:
This film centers around the fictional tale of a meeting between Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown. Set in the aftermath of Ali’s (Cassius Clay) 1964 boxing match against Sonny Liston. Together the 4 iconic black men meet up in a Miami hotel room to change the course of history in the segregated South. Based on the play written by Kemp Powers. Regina King directs this period drama with cast including: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom Jr. This movie is available to watch in Theaters on Christmas day, however it won’t be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video until January 15.
“Pinocchio” / Theaters:
This retelling of the classic animated Disney version gets a live-action reboot with Roberto Benigni playing as Geppetto and Federico Lelapi as Pinocchio. The film has already been released in Italy, the movie is set to be released in theaters for the U.S. on Christmas day.
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Shondaland brings Julia Quinn’s romance novels to the screen
Shonda Rhimes is known for her widely successful TV shows, including the popular titles: “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Scandal” and “How to get away with Murder” to name just a few. Creator and Producer Rhimes is at it again, this time not for the ABC network where most of her series live, but for the Netflix streaming platform.
Her incoming series “Bridgerton”, will be played out in 8 episodes and will be released Christmas day. Her inspiration was based on the steamy romance novels by Julia Quinn that follows the eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family in London.
The show’s setting reveals the lives of the Bridgerton family, living among the high society elites in the Regency-era England (around 1800’s). The siblings look for love and happiness, while encountering power struggles, love tangles and all kinds of other drama. Based on the trailer, “Bridgerton” appears to be a mix of the historical meets modern.
Very typical of romance in the 19th century where sexual relations were usually kept off screen or rather behind closed doors, this show will be very different. For the Netflix show, buckle up, as the series will be laced with all things associated with carnal pleasures: scandal, sex, romance, gossip, and more sex (enough to make Jane Austen blush).
Rhimes also inserted more of her own styles, incorporating 21st century twists, particularly by casting diverse characters throughout the series. The show’s Queen Charlotte, played by Golda Rosheuvel, is black, which showcases how the series will be a nice twist to the typical period pieces that have been adapted to TV and film. Also the the series will score orchestral version of current pop hits by Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande.
Below is our pick of some anticipated titles coming to a screen the first of the year
Watching and streaming videos have undoubtedly been a source of how the majority of us have entertained ourselves throughout the year. With the entertainment industry and filming slowly ramping up, 2021 will likely yield some great TV shows.
We already know streaming movies come next year will be plentiful on HBO Max, as they announced 17 new movies releases and Disney+ will also bring a flurry of new content to its platform. Next year, TV shows hold a plethora of options, whether it be brand new shows, or renewed and limited series, TV watchers will have more than enough content to choose from.
The Serpent / BBC
Streaming January 1. The story of how the conman and murderer Charles Sobhraj, played by actor Tahar Rahim, was eventually caught and imprisoned. Posing as a gem dealer, Sobhraj and his girlfriend, Marie-Andrée Leclerc, played by Jenna Coleman, traversed Asia in 1975 and 1976, committing a spree of crimes along the ‘Hippie Trail’.
History of Swear Words / Netflix
Streaming January 5. Nicolas Cage explores the history, usage and cultural impact of the most notorious swear words in the English language. Each episode will examine the use and cultural impact of words like “damn”, “sh*t”, “fu*k”, “bit*h”, “pus**”, “dic*”, “cu**”, and I’m sure many other good ole cuss words you can think of.
Dickinson / Apple TV +
Streaming January 8. The second season continues to follow the budding writer Emily Dickinson. Played by Hailee Steinfeld, she uses her outsider’s perspective to explore the constraints of society, gender and family in the 19th century.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer / Netflix
Streaming January 13. This historical documentary that follows the young detective Gil Carrillo and legendary homicide investigator Frank Salerno as they work timely to catch the “Night Stalker”. Beneath the sunlit glamour of 1985 LA lurks a relentlessly evil serial killer. In this true-crime story, two detectives won’t rest until they catch Richard Ramirez, who was eventually arrested for his terrible crimes.
WandaVision / Disney+
Streaming January 15. As part of the many Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) shows to be released through Disney+ comes “WandaVision” Living idealized suburban lives, super-powered beings Wanda and Vision begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems. Starring Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Evan Peters and Kat Dennings.
Academy Award winner George Clooney took on dual roles as producer and star in the now available Netflix movie “The Midnight Sky”. The film is based and adapted off the science fiction novel by Lily Brooks-Dalton called “Good Morning, Midnight”.
During an interview with the NYT, Clooney talked about the movie, as well as his thoughts on the future of movie theaters and Hollywood.
His thoughts on his movie premiering on a streaming service and the future of theaters:
“People want to get out of their house — I got twins, man! And it’s still a great way to ask somebody out. Comedies are great in cinemas, scary movies are great in cinemas. So I don’t see it completely going away.”
How would he know without box office numbers if his movie would be a “success”:
“Look, I’ll be 60 this year, and I get to be on a set with people I adore and work in a profession that I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to do. So I guess that’s sort of the victory in the whole thing. I didn’t have it for the early part of my life — I did jobs I hated and lived for the weekend.”
His character in the movie is a man focused on career versus love and family. Was that ever him?
Yeah, but I hadn’t found the person that filled everything up for me, that would have made me fully in love. I dated a lot of really terrific women, but Amal showed up and suddenly it was like, “Well, this is different on every level for me.” I don’t think I was actively saying, “I’m just going to work on my career and I’m not going to have a wife.” That was the story that got told about me, but it wasn’t really the reality.
“The Midnight Sky” has already been delivered as a crowdpleaser among those that have viewed the film and has garnered talks that Clooney is in line for multiple Oscar category nominations; for best director and picture. Clooney’s fellow cast include: Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo.
The film is a post-apocalyptic story about an astronomer named Augustine, played by Clooney. Set in a remote outpost in the Arctic, he receives news of a catastrophic event, forcing him and his fellow scientists to evacuate. After refusing to leave his post, he come across a mysterious child, Iris, played by newcomer actor Caoilinn Springall. Together they race to contact a group of astronauts who are making their return home from a mission to Jupiter in order to avoid the global catastrophe.
Check out “The Midnight Sky” is now available to stream on Netflix.
Seinfeld” holiday Festivus is among us: Time for the Airing of Grievances
Every year on December 23, a different kind of holiday comes round, one that stands apart in its unique perspective and knocks traditional celebrations aside, with humor. If you are finding it hard to muster any “holiday cheer”, don’t worry, that is why Festivus was created, a holiday for the rest of us.
If you have no idea what Festivus is, that ok, it is a made-up holiday many have come to celebrate, originating as a plot twist from the 90’s sitcom “Seinfeld”.
The holiday exists in stark contrast to the traditional, not surprising, being that it is a concoction from a 90s sit-com. Instead it’s taken on a life in the real world as a non-religious and anti-holiday of sorts, veering far from the realm of commercial (gift giving) so heavily associated with December holidays.
“I’ve got a lot of problems with you people!”
Festivus also comes with some pretty unique traditions, including gathering round a bare aluminum pole (instead of decorated tree or lit Menorah) for the “feats of strength” display (a wresting match). Then in the ultimate Festivus ceremony; an orgy of comic-relief known as the “airing of grievances”.
The latter is an opportunity to gather round and let the people in your life know exactly how they have disappointed you. Or really just a time to comically and exaggeratedly complain about literally anything and everything that has happened to you throughout the year.
Festivus is, of course no more possible to physically stage this year than many aspects of the traditional holiday festivities. However, it does have one huge advantage, in fantasy, over traditional holiday celebrations.
It allows for, and even demands, an insane explosion of complaining, a cathartic griping and a no-holds-barred primal screaming against the “year-like-no-other” a.k.a. the year from hell.
And maybe a deluge of grievances and an orgy of anger is the only release that would allow us to make it whole past the holidays in into 2021.
And maybe, the turning of the wished for happy holiday clichés on their head, one day per year in any case, is just what we need to end this sh*t-show of a 12 month stretch. That’s why we should all honor; Festivus for the rest of us.
Check out the below meme-worthy posts that epitomize Festivus :
It has been well over 30 years since the original 1988 classic “Coming to America” first hit the big screen. In the anticipated sequel, we’ll see some of the same actors reprise their role, especially stars Eddie Murphy as Akeem, Arsenio Hall as Semmi and James Earl Jones as King Jaffe.
Fans of the original will be happy to see familiar faces for the 80’s movie, as well as see some newcomers for the sequel, including: Wesley Snipes, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, and Teyana Taylor.
At the wish of his dying father, King Jaffe, Prince Akeem of Zamunda who will soon take over the thrown needs a male heir. However new information arises about the prince’s past that he already has a son back in the United States, so as the trailer teases:
“Prepare the royal jet. We are going back to America.”
“Oh hell no, your majesty!”.
-Eddie Murphy as Akeem, Arsenio Hall as Semmi
“Coming 2 America ” was written by creator of “Black-ish” Kenya Barris. This film was originally slated to be released late 2020, but has now been scheduled for release on March 5, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video.
Top 10 YouTube stars and their earning power for the year
Most of the 2019 top earners spots have carried forward into 2020 and continue to rake in millions of dollars and subscribers for their video clips. With Ryan Kaji at #1 and Mr. Beast at #2 it appears that the absolute top of the YouTube pyramid, both have a formula that just keeps on going. Both the numbers based on earning and, even more so, views, are absolutely astronomical – implying a kind of snowball effect for the top accounts.
Surprising because of his age, yet at the same time not so surprising, is how 9-year-old Ryan Kaji of “Ryan’s World” has once again placed at the very top of the list for the highest paid YouTuber for 2020. Starting up in 2015, his videos have since totaled a whopping 43,907,425,279 views (43 billion!).
Last year he earned $26 million and this year he earned a considerable amount more at $29.5 million. That is a whole lot of money for making videos that show the young boy unboxing toys, creating DIY arts and crafts and science experiments.
“The nine-year-old star is flying high—literally. This November he became the first YouTuber featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with a float based on his superhero alter ego. It was a marketing ploy as much as it was a thrilling moment for the kids who tune into Kaji’s videos of DIY science experiments, family storytime and reviews of new toys. That’s just the start: The bulk of his business comes from licensing deals for more than 5,000 Ryan’s World products—everything from bedroom decor and action figures to masks and walkie talkies.”
#1 Ryan Kaji
Earnings: $29.5 million
Views: 12.2 billion
Subscribers: 41.7 million
#2 Mr. Beast (Jimmy Donaldson)
Earnings: $24 million
Views: 3 billion
Subscribers: 47.8 million
#3 Dude Perfect
Earnings: $23 million
Views: 2.77 billion
Subscribers: 57.5 million
#4 Rhett and Link
Earnings: $20 million
Views: 1.9 billion
Subscribers: 41.8 million
#5 Markiplier (Mark Fischbach)
Earnings: $19.5 million
Views: 3.1 billion
Subscribers: 27.8 million
#6 Preston Arsement
Earnings: $19 million
Views: 3.3 billion
Subscribers: 33.4 million
#7 Nastya (Anastasia Radzinskaya)
Earnings: $18.5 million
Views: 39 billion
Subscribers: 190.6 million
#8 Blippi (Stevin John)
Earnings: $17 million
Views: 8.2 billion
Subscribers: 27.4 million
#9 David Dobrik
Earnings: $15.5 million
Views: 2.7 billion
Subscribers: 18 million
#10Jeffree Star
Earnings: $15 million
Total Views (from June 2019 to June 2020): 600 million
Coming just a few days before Christmas this year, Jupiter and Saturn will appear within a hair’s-breadth of one-another to the naked eye
Although most of us consider this to be one of the worst, if not the worst, year that we are aware of, it may close out with something miraculous. If you take the time to gaze heavenward on December 21st,, just after sunset, you might see it: A Christmas Star.
Already in early December the two giant orbs can be seen ever so gradually nearing each other, as if they are feeling some sort of mutual attraction, an odd couple. perhaps, Jupiter and Saturn.
And, according to celestial experts at NASA, they will continue to converge until they appear nearly co-joined: just 1/10th of a degree apart, with a barley perceptible gap in-between.
It was in 1226 that this could last have been witnessed
Though these couplings are known to occur in intervals of roughly 20 years, this year they will be the closest they have been to each other since 1623. In that year, however, they were too near the sun to look at, and because this year the event will take place on the winter solstice, you’d have to go all the way back to 1221 for a similar show.
These two spectacular giants, which are the largest in the entire solar system, each with a personality, astrologically speaking, so divergent that they are said to be more like opposites, rather than twins or lovers.
Jupiter, a king and believed to be bringer of good fortune, looks the part in a spectacular explosion of color and power, planet of miracles, hope, and opportunity.
Saturn, meanwhile appears mysterious, unpredictable, even dangerous. Saturn has an air of the impossible and the forbidden. Best known, in astrological circles, for the so-called “quarter-life crisis” and for unexpected challenges to the status-quo.
Across the USA, a view of the two planets coming into near-alignment is going to be most visible and best viewed, just after sunset, in the southwestern part of the sky.
In a glimpse into the relativity of all things in the universe, though this duo will appear to be close together — resembling a double star or a gleaming figure 8 shaped blob, the two planets will not , in reality, be that close.
They will actually be more than 400 million miles apart. It is only from our lonely vantage on this little blue planet that they will appear to be “close” to each other.
Since it will be 2080 before a similar spectacle will grace our view, and that means that all but those who are currently quite young will not likely be alive, it is imperative to search the southwestern sky (from the USA) both the day before, after and of course on December 21st: as this is a rare opportunity to witness a spectacular and special event, and a last chance to do so for a long, long time to come.
Coup of Deplorables falls flat, led by Trump, Giuliani, McConnell
Stephen Colbert had a one-two punch lined up to kick off the Late Show on Friday night. First, was the hilarious and almost eight minute long animated clip: “Twas The Coup Before Christmas” A Late Show Animated Holiday Classic.
Starring is the whole gang of perpetrators; Rudy Giuliani, Moscow Mitch McConnell, looking like the ultimate villain, echoing the “melting face trench-coat guy” from ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and, naturally, Trump. Spoiler alert; the coup is finally thwarted by a team-up between Santa & Biden.
Next up, George Clooney appear and put in some great promo banter while seeking attention for his new sci-fi film “The Midnight Sky”, which has been lauded already by critics. There’s even been Oscar talk on this one.
The movie “Braven” follows the story of a logger and his father who head to their hunting cabin for a nice quiet weekend. What they find is anything but quiet, as the two find themselves in a kill-or-be-killed scenario. Joe Braven, played by Momoa, fights for survival, and to defend his family after he encounters a gang of ruthless drug traffickers.
Athough the movie had its original theatrical release in 2018, this action thriller, available to stream on the Netflix starting Dec. 18, has already quickly jumped to the #2 slot.
Alongside Jason Momoa, the film stars: Garret Dillahunt, Stephen Lang, Jill Wagner and Brendan Fletcher.
Former President Barack Obama continues his annual tradition, one that he has observed since he was first in office, where he shares his list of favorite TV shows and movies for the year. Throughout the years Obama has limited his selection to 3, yet he expanded his list to 10 for 2020, apparently because, like the majority of us, he had a lot of extra time on his hands to stream and watch videos.
In his tweet, Obama said:
“Like everyone else, we were stuck inside a lot this year, and with streaming further blurring the lines between theatrical movies and television features, I’ve expanded the list to include visual storytelling that I’ve enjoyed this year, regardless of format,”
Among the top TV shows chosen include: “The Queen’s Gambit”, “Mrs. America”, “Better Call Saul”, “The Good Lord Bird”, “The Last Dance”, and “I May Destroy You”.
On the film side, Obama’s choices, which not surprisingly also include some of AP’s list of best movies: “Mank”, “Boys State”, Lovers Rock”, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, and a documentary produced by Barack’s production company, “Crip Camp”.
Like everyone else, we were stuck inside a lot this year, and with streaming further blurring the lines between theatrical movies and television features, I’ve expanded the list to include visual storytelling that I’ve enjoyed this year, regardless of format. pic.twitter.com/a8BS8jDkSs
We’ve included some TV and movie trailers that held the top spots for Obama’s movie list. All the videos below are currently available to stream through the various platforms: Netflix, HBO, Showtime, Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime Video:
Series of Silicon Valley cautionary tale in development
Jared Leto could be returning to a TV screen near you. It has been well over 20 years since the show “My So-Called Life” that the actor has starred in any small screen episodic. This news come with reports that writer and producer Lee Eisenberg and studio exec Drew Crevello are developing a series for Apple TV+ based on the infamous workspace rental startup company ‘WeWork’.
The series concept is inspired by the 6 part podcast called “WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork”. If Oscar winner Leto signs on to the TV show, he would be cast as the former boss of WeWork, Adam Neumann.
Neumann, who served as CEO for the company from 2010 to 2019 and later resigned. According to reports at the time, his “eccentric behavior” was one of the main reasons he was pressured to step down.
Leto, who is known for choosing equally eccentric and challenging characters, including his work in “Suicide Squad”, “American Psycho” and “Dallas Buyers Club”, could likely more than fit the bill to play Neumann.
Prior to WeWork’s collapse, it had an estimated value of $47 billion. The series has been in development since February with Leto currently in negotiations, with additional information to come in the future.
Apparently, it’s been officially confirmed, Trump truly is the biggest loser, after the Electoral College and even the right-wing packed Supreme Court have confirmed it. The turn of events has inspired a January 2021 version of the classic song by the Von Trapp family of “The Sound of Music” in a special a Trump remix.
Thanks to a New Zealand Principal and musician, Shirley Șerban, who cleverly and brilliantly adapted the lyrics to fit Trump. Her YouTube channel also has other parody videos including “Covid Christmas” and A Message to Trump in Disney Frozen style “Let it Go” .
Get an inside look into the life of 5x Grammy Award Winner
Apple TV+ released the first trailer for “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry”, the music documentary directed by R.J. Cutler.
The trailers gives fans a peak of what’s to come, centered around Eilish’s rise fame, offering behind the scenes of the inner workings of her highly successful album: “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”.
There is also footage of Eilish off stage, doing normal teenage activities like getting her driver’s license, as well as scenes of her at home hanging out with her brother and collaborator, Finneas.
The documentary looks to give her ‘Avacados’ (her fanbase) a deeper and more intimiate look into Eilish’s world.
Within the trailer Billie even explains why she occasionally sleeps in her parents’ bed…monsters.
Along with revealing confessionals, there is bound to be some twisted humor Eilish can sometimes be known for.
The Apple Original Films production was made in association with Interscope Films and will premiere in select theaters as well as on Apple TV+ on Feb. 26, 2021.
In a comment on a recent post from a hilarious send-up showing Trump being removed from the White House (literally by furniture movers) a reader offering this: “The left is having a wet dream, time to wake up and get to work”.
While technically not bad advice, although it’s a creepy observation, let’s just make something clear; anyone who endured the sick and insane and destructive four years of Trump deserves to celebrate as long as they feel like it. And then get to work rebuilding and repairing all the damage that was caused. On that note, we offer up yet another hilarious video to celebrate.
Slightly frightening and equal parts hilarious, a video of a deepfake Trump reading an election-themed holiday version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has popped up on the internet. Sassy Justice is responsible for its creation and is the name of the new YouTube series by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
What is a deepfake? It is very likely you have seen one and maybe didn’t even know it, deepfakes use technology from artificial intelligence (AI) that can create digitally altered versions of pretty much anyone, although usually used for malicious intent, this time, is for pure entertainment purposes.
In this take, Trump wears a mini Santa hat atop his head along with a festive Santa sweater. The story unfolds the tale of Rudolph, the “best” reindeer that stands out from all others, this time no red nose, but a blonde toupee.
This reindeer happens to coincidentally be the target of an unfair election in the story, yet the ending of the story takes a dark turn. In near tears, Trump reads what happened to the election because all the other reindeers cheated, the died, and there was “no Christmas ever again” all because of a “sleepy-eyed” reindeer.
This episode from Sassy Justice marks the channels 12th episode. The web series that centers around deepfake Trumps, played by actor Peter Serafinowicz. This holiday meltdown of Trump a much needed end of year chuckle and final countdown until he is officially out of the WH.
Writer defined and brought attention to genre, Cold War Espionage Thrillers
The acclaimed spy novelist, John le Carré, whose work spans nearly 6 decades, died Dec. 12, at the age of 89. If you have never read any of his thrillers, we’ve compiled a handful of his most famous works that we recommend.
Born David Cornwell, Le Carré worked as a Cold War-era British agent (M15 and M16) for 12 years. When his cover was blown and leaked to the KGB, he left and took to pursuing his writing full-time.
What he left behind, 25 novels, gave readers a taste of espionage, great betrayals, deceptions, the vicarious excitement of his inner world. His best-known titles sold millions of copies and a handful of them were adapted for film and television.
The 50th-anniversary edition of the bestselling novel that launched John le Carré’s career worldwide
In the shadow of the newly erected Berlin Wall, Alec Leamas watches as his last agent is shot dead by East German sentries. For Leamas, the head of Berlin Station, the Cold War is over. As he faces the prospect of retirement or worse–a desk job–Control offers him a unique opportunity for revenge. Assuming the guise of an embittered and dissolute ex-agent, Leamas is set up to trap Mundt, the deputy director of the East German Intelligence Service–with himself as the bait. In the background is George Smiley, ready to make the game play out just as Control wants.
Setting a standard that has never been surpassed, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a devastating tale of duplicity and espionage. Click to see “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
The man he knew as Control is dead, and the young Turks who forced him out now run the Circus. But George Smiley isn’t quite ready for retirement–especially when a pretty, would-be defector surfaces with a shocking accusation: a Soviet mole has penetrated the highest level of British Intelligence. Relying only on his wits and a small, loyal cadre, Smiley recognizes the hand of Karla–his Moscow Centre nemesis–and sets a trap to catch the traitor.
The Oscar-nominated feature film adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is directed by Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) and features Gary Oldman as Smiley, Academy Award winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech), and Tom Hardy (Inception). Click to see “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
You want to catch the lion, first you tether the goat.
On holiday in Mykonos, Charlie wants only sunny days and a brief escape from England’s bourgeois dreariness. Then a handsome stranger lures the aspiring actress away from her pals–but his intentions are far from romantic. Joseph is an Israeli intelligence officer, and Charlie has been wooed to flush out the leader of a Palestinian terrorist group responsible for a string of deadly bombings. Still uncertain of her own allegiances, she debuts in the role of a lifetime as a double agent in the “theatre of the real.”
Haunting and deeply atmospheric, John le Carr ‘s The Little Drummer Girl is a virtuoso performance and a powerful examination of morality and justice. Click to see ” The Little Drummer Girl” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
The novel opens in northern Kenya with the gruesome murder of Tessa Quayle — young, beautiful, and dearly beloved to husband Justin. When Justin sets out on a personal odyssey to uncover the mystery of her death, what he finds could make him not only a suspect among his own colleagues, but a target for Tessa’s killers as well.
A master chronicler of the betrayals of ordinary people caught in political conflict, John le Carré portrays the dark side of unbridled capitalism as only he can. In The Constant Gardener he tells a compelling, complex story of a man elevated through tragedy, as Justin Quayle — amateur gardener, aging widower, and ineffectual bureaucrat — discovers his own natural resources and the extraordinary courage of the woman he barely had time to love. Click to see “The Constant Gardener” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
A Perfect Spy
Click to see “A Perfect Spy” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Over the course of his seemingly irreproachable life, Magnus Pym has been all things to all people: a devoted family man, a trusted colleague, a loyal friend–and the perfect spy. But in the wake of his estranged father’s death, Magnus vanishes, and the British Secret Service is up in arms. Is it grief, or is the reason for his disappearance more sinister? And who is the mysterious man with the sad moustache who also seems to be looking for Magnus?
In A Perfect Spy, John le Carré has crafted one of his crowning masterpieces, interweaving a moving and unusual coming-of-age story with a morally tangled chronicle of modern espionage. Click to see “A Perfect Spy” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Let’s not talk about 2020 and what we all endured (so far!). Let’s talk about great books that were produced and released in the same year that all of those things were happening. Books of hope and wisdom, of humor and feeling, of amusement and wonder. These books were selected with an eye on popularity, sure, but more than that with a view to those reading experiences that gave us strength and energy to persevere, and even to find ways to challenge ourselves, as if we didn’t have enough challenges already.
Some might already be familiar to you, others not. Hope you will find something to enjoy for the rest of 2020 and to help in looking forward to a better 2021.
A Promised Land
Click to see “ A Promised Land” to help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Best Sellers Rank: #1. In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency–a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.
Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office. Click to see “ A Promised Land” to help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Best Sellers Rank: #28. The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters’ storylines intersect?
Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person’s decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins. Click to see “The Vanishing Half” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon .
Deacon King Kong
Click to see ” Deacon King Kong” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Best Sellers Rank: #333. In September 1969, a fumbling, cranky old church deacon known as Sportcoat shuffles into the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn, pulls a .38 from his pocket, and, in front of everybody, shoots the project’s drug dealer at point-blank range.
The reasons for this desperate burst of violence and the consequences that spring from it lie at the heart of Deacon King Kong, James McBride’s funny, moving novel and his first since his National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird. In Deacon King Kong, McBride brings to vivid life the people affected by the shooting: the victim, the African-American and Latinx residents who witnessed it, the white neighbors, the local cops assigned to investigate, the members of the Five Ends Baptist Church where Sportcoat was deacon, the neighborhood’s Italian mobsters, and Sportcoat himself. Click to see ” Deacon King Kong” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Mexican Gothic
Click to see “Mexican Gothic” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Best Sellers Rank: #480. After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find–her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. Click to see “Mexican Gothic” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Homeland Elegies
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Best Sellers Rank: #1,401. A deeply personal work about identity and belonging in a nation coming apart at the seams, Homeland Elegies blends fact and fiction to tell an epic story of longing and dispossession in the world that 9/11 made. Part family drama, part social essay, part picaresque novel, at its heart it is the story of a father, a son, and the country they both call home.
Ayad Akhtar forges a new narrative voice to capture a country in which debt has ruined countless lives and the gods of finance rule, where immigrants live in fear, and where the nation’s unhealed wounds wreak havoc around the world. Akhtar attempts to make sense of it all through the lens of a story about one family, from a heartland town in America to palatial suites in Central Europe to guerrilla lookouts in the mountains of Afghanistan, and spares no one — least of all himself — in the process. Click to see ” Homeland Elegies” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
A Burning
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Best Sellers Rank: #4,697. For readers of Tommy Orange, Yaa Gyasi, and Jhumpa Lahiri, an electrifying debut novel about three unforgettable characters who seek to rise–to the middle class, to political power, to fame in the movies–and find their lives entangled in the wake of a catastrophe in contemporary India.
In this National Book Award Longlist honoree and “gripping thriller with compassionate social commentary” (USA Today), Jivan is a Muslim girl from the slums, determined to move up in life, who is accused of executing a terrorist attack on a train because of a careless comment on Facebook. PT Sir is an opportunistic gym teacher who hitches his aspirations to a right-wing political party, and finds that his own ascent becomes linked to Jivan’s fall. Lovely–an irresistible outcast whose exuberant voice and dreams of glory fill the novel with warmth and hope and humor–has the alibi that can set Jivan free, but it will cost her everything she holds dear. Click here to see “A Burning” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Caste
Click here to see “Caste” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Best Sellers Rank: #34. In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.
Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people’s lives and behavior and the nation’s fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people–including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball’s Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others–she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their out-cast of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity. Click here to see “Caste” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Hamnet
Click to see “Hamnet ” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Best Sellers Rank: #413. A young Latin tutor–penniless and bullied by a violent father–falls in love with an extraordinary, eccentric young woman. Agnes is a wild creature who walks her family’s land with a falcon on her glove and is known throughout the countryside for her unusual gifts as a healer, understanding plants and potions better than she does people. Once she settles with her husband on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon she becomes a fiercely protective mother and a steadfast, centrifugal force in the life of her young husband, whose career on the London stage is taking off when his beloved young son succumbs to sudden fever.
A luminous portrait of a marriage, a shattering evocation of a family ravaged by grief and loss, and a tender and unforgettable re-imagining of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, and whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays of all time, Hamnet is mesmerizing, seductive, impossible to put down–a magnificent leap forward from one of our most gifted novelists. Click to see “Hamnet ” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Memorial
Click to see “Memorial” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Best Sellers Rank: #4,567. Benson and Mike are two young guys who live together in Houston. Mike is a Japanese American chef at a Mexican restaurant and Benson’s a Black day care teacher, and they’ve been together for a few years–good years–but now they’re not sure why they’re still a couple. There’s the sex, sure, and the meals Mike cooks for Benson, and, well, they love each other.
But when Mike finds out his estranged father is dying in Osaka just as his acerbic Japanese mother, Mitsuko, arrives in Texas for a visit, Mike picks up and flies across the world to say goodbye. In Japan he undergoes an extraordinary transformation, discovering the truth about his family and his past. Back home, Mitsuko and Benson are stuck living together as unconventional roommates, an absurd domestic situation that ends up meaning more to each of them than they ever could have predicted. Without Mike’s immediate pull, Benson begins to push outwards, realizing he might just know what he wants out of life and have the goods to get it. Click to see “Memorial” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Uncanny Valley
Click to see “ Uncanny Valley” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Best Sellers Rank: #3,369. In her mid-twenties, at the height of tech industry idealism, Anna Wiener–stuck, broke, and looking for meaning in her work, like any good millennial–left a job in book publishing for the promise of the new digital economy. She moved from New York to San Francisco, where she landed at a big-data startup in the heart of the Silicon Valley bubble: a world of surreal extravagance, dubious success, and fresh-faced entrepreneurs hell-bent on domination, glory, and, of course, progress.
Anna arrived amidst a massive cultural shift, as the tech industry rapidly transformed into a locus of wealth and power rivaling Wall Street. But amid the company ski vacations and in-office speakeasies, boyish camaraderie and ride-or-die corporate fealty, a new Silicon Valley began to emerge: one in far over its head, one that enriched itself at the expense of the idyllic future it claimed to be building.Click to see “ Uncanny Valley” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
In a year filled with celestial shows, another big and special one
The only time there will be a total solar eclipse in 2020 is coming on December 14th. The relatively rare and mesmerizing event will unfold as the the moon blocks the sun, it will gradually shift in front of it until the earth (in the path of totality) is plunged into darkness and only a ring of light will remain.
Since the same day, December 14th, will feature a new moon and a Meteor Shower (not to mention it being the deadline for the electoral college certifications in the U.S.) there will be busy and somehow magical feeling in the air.
The path of totality will follow a track across the southern end of South America, which will include and be visible to Chile and Argentina where, clear skies permitting, it will be possible to watch live. In certain parts of the Pacific and Atlantic, people at sea would also experience the event.
If you are in North America or, in any case not in the path of the eclipse, NASA’s map gives a more exact overview of the viewing zones and NASA will also offer a Spanish-language program with shots from the eclipse on NASA TV.
Taylor Swift is serving fans holiday gifts left and right. First, Swift announces a surprise album, “Evermore”, the second one this year and drops it within mere hours and just two days shy of her 31st birthday. This upcoming album will be Taylor’s 9th album and regarded by singer as “folklore’s sister”. Followed up with the music video for her first song off the track, “Willow” simultaneously with release.
It’s already obvious Taylor Swift is mega pop star that has garnered multiple Grammy, Billboard, MTV awards and more. Yet, Taylor being such an animal lover and proclaimed cat lady should also be equally recognized.
December 2020 will be newsworthy for the artist and her holiday card this year puts a proverbial cherry on top. A journalist revealed Taylor’s card and yes it includes the artist’s trio of adorable cats, inspired and named from TV and movie characters: Olivia Benson, Meredith Grey and Benjamin Button.
As if we need a reason to explain why our pets are held in such high regard, sometimes, more so than our fellow humans. Especially during the nearly year long pandemic filled with social isolation, our pet(s) appreciate everything we do for them, provide emotional support (even if they don’t know it) and ultimately provide unconditional love. It’s clear why Taylor so proudly put them on display.
A gradual shift is happening; toward a lack of disbelief regarding interplanetary visitors
With all the recent stories about UFO’s and Aliens in the media these days, there’s a feeling in the air that it’s not as far fetched as many once believed that they could be present in our world or at least in contact in some form. Israel’s Professor Haim Eshed’s recent interviews as well as various US based witnesses have begun to put forth the simple yet compelling idea that Aliens have been known of by governments, and others, for decades, and have held off on divulging what they know while they wait for the right moment. When the public is “ready”. Interestingly, there is also the sense in the air that the “right time” might be coming soon.
Maybe it’s partially due to having had a President that has “unusual” ideas about medicine and windmills and various other topics. Why not just let the people know everything the government is hiding? Or maybe it really is something that can no longer be kept from the public for other reasons.
These books can shed light on deeply considered questions and theories for those that want to know what’s out there, ahead of any forthcoming announcements.
Beyond Area 51: The Mysteries of the Planet’s Most Forbidden, Top Secret Destinations
Click here to see “Beyond Area 51” and help bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
The truth can’t be hidden forever. Unlock the secrets of Earth’s top secret destinations–including Area 51 and more.
Few have ventured into the many heavily guarded, top-secret locations scattered across the earth. Even fewer have emerged with stories to tell. Yet every now and then the common man is given an illicit glimpse of something extraordinary…
In Beyond Area 51, Mack Maloney explores the truths behind the many myths and legends surrounding some of the world’s most mysterious locales. From the Homestead Air Force base in Miami, Florida to Russia’s Kapustin Yar, Maloney investigates incredible reports of extraterrestrial experimentation on animals, UFOs with road rage, and other unbelievable tales beyond our wildest imaginings. Filled with fascinating, true accounts, Beyond Area 51 will convince any skeptic of the infinite possibilities of what exists on, and beyond, our tiny planet. Click here to see “Beyond Area 51” and help indepe
The Stargate Conspiracy: The Truth about Extraterrestrial Life and the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt
In recent years, alternative historians have gained remarkable insight into the mysteries of ancient Egypt–but according to Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince, their discoveries tie into a dangerous conspiracy nearly fifty years in the making
.At the center of this conspiracy is a group of respected, powerful individuals who believe that the ancient Egyptian gods are really extraterrestrials who will soon return to earth. The conspirators have intimate and exclusive knowledge of this momentous second coming–but they insist on keeping it to themselves. What could be the purpose of such a conspiracy? Why are the conspirators so desperate to keep their information a secret? And what does it mean for mankind? In this riveting, well-researched book, Picknett and Price offer compelling evidence that the conspiracy exists–and expose the insidious motivations of the individuals and organizations behind it….Click here to see “Stargate Conspiracy” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
The Source Field Investigations: The Hidden Science and Lost Civilizations Behind the 2012 Prophecies
Prepare yourself for a revealing tour through the most incredible scientific mysteries of the world with your guide David Wilcock, the New York Timesbestselling author of Awakening in the Dream.More than two million people have seen David Wilcock’s incredible tour of the 2012 prophecies in his Internet documentary, The 2012 Enigma.
Now, he expands his vision with a cutting-edge investigation into alternative sciences with deep insights into what is coming in our immediate future. A stunning synthesis of hidden science and lost prophecies, The Source Field Investigations exposes DNA transformation, wormholes, ancient conspiracies, the Maya calendar, and a new model of galactic energy fields triggering mental, biological, and spiritual evolution. Unlike the apocalyptic viewpoints depicted in big-budget disaster films, Wilcock believes that 2012 will be a watermark for widespread acceptance of a greater reality–and here, he lays out the blueprints for such a Golden Age. Click here to see “Source Field Investigations” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon
From her music, her sense of fashion and all the inspiration that came after her death like makeup lines, Barbie dolls, musicals, tribute albums, movies (with Jennifer Lopez) and television series. The latest, coming from Netflix’s Selena: The Series” about the iconic Tejana singer proves her presence still very much lives on even after all this time. Even after 25 years when she was tragically killed at the young age of 23, her memory and music live on and will be continue to be entrenched in our popular culture.
If you want to read in detail about Selena, the Quintanilla family and more, we have compiled the few select titles that chronicle her life, the best, in my opinion, being from her husband, Chris Perez.
One of the most compelling and adored superstars in Latin music history, Selena was nothing short of a phenomenon who shared all of herself with her millions of devoted fans. Her tragic murder, at the age of twenty-three, stripped the world of her talent and boundless potential, her tightly-knit family of their beloved angel, and her husband, Chris Perez, of the greatest love he had ever known.
For over a decade, Chris held onto the only personal thing he had left from his late wife–the touching and sometimes painful memories of their very private bond.
Now, for the first time, Chris opens up about their unbreakable friendship, their forbidden relationship, and their blossoming marriage that was cut short.Click here to see “To Selena, with Love” and help Independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Selena – Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits is a collection of most of the English songs by American Tejano-pop singer Selena. It contains all of her English songs from her Dreaming of You album, as well as both regularly and posthumously released English songs she had made throughout her career. “Don’t Throw Away My Love” is a remix of “My Love”.
Selena’s Secret: The Revealing Story Behind Her Tragic Death
There is no doubt that Yolanda Saldívar pulled the trigger and killed Tejano superstar Selena on March 31, 1995. But does anyone know what really happened in Room 158 of the Days Inn, moments before the crime took place?
María Celeste Arrarás has many answers, and her unrivaled coverage of the murder, trial, and aftermath made her the undisputed expert on the case. Arrarás shares firsthand information about the crime and the people involved–including details of her headline-making jailhouse interview with Saldívar, who repeatedly spoke of “Selena’s secret”–a powerful hidden piece of information that she refused to reveal in court but that she shared at length with Arrarás.
Many questions were raised and not all were answered…until now. Click here to see “Selena’s Secret” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Selena – starring Jennifer Lopez
In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla (Jennifer Lopez) is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Her father, Abraham (Edward James Olmos), realizes that his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues.
She finds success and falls for her guitarist, Chris Perez (Jon Seda), who draws the ire of her father. Seeking mainstream stardom, Selena begins recording an English-language album which, tragically, she would never complete.
Dreaming: A Tribute To Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
Click to see “ Dreaming” and help bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Dreaming brings together lyrical renditions, little boys dancing “the washing machine,” prayers over velas, and odes to purple, sparkly hips swaying to cumbia beats.
There’s thirty-three works of poetry, prose, and fiction on these pages that provide such narratives: “For Selena” by Timothy Daily-Valdés, “One of Us: Selena Quintanilla-Pérez” by Nancy de la Zerda, “La Milagrosa Selena” by Rubén Degollado and plenty more pieces showing the world the impact she continues to make on the dance floor and across generations.
Click to see “ Dreaming” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Just as Taylor Swift’s last album, “Folklore” felt like it was released out of thin air, only hours after it was announced, the artist is at it again. Her next album, which she announced today, titled “Evermore” will be arriving to eager fans with lightning speed, on Friday, December 11. Swift describes her upcoming album release as “Folklore’s sister record”.
I’m elated to tell you that my 9th studio album, and folklore’s sister record, will be out tonight at midnight eastern. It’s called evermore. 📷: Beth Garrabrant pic.twitter.com/xdej7AzJRW
The surprise release will come just shy of Taylor’s 31st birthday on December 13th, a little pre-birthday gift for her fans, she said:
“Ever since I was 13, I’ve been excited about turning 31 because it’s my lucky number backwards, which is why I wanted to surprise you with this now. You’ve all been so caring, supportive and thoughtful on my birthdays and so this time I thought I would give you something!”
-Taylor swift / twitter
The album features Folklore collaborators Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and The National, as well as a song with Haim. Also at midnight, Taylor will be releasing a music video for her first song on the album titled “Willow”.
There are 15 tracks to the standard edition of the “Evermore” album, if you get the deluxe physical edition, it will include 2 additional bonus tracks.
![PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN - Official Trailer [HD] - This Christmas](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7i5kiFDunk8/hqdefault.jpg)
