You're being responsible and doing the right thing by staying home and out of the COVID-19 madness. You have all the time in the world to binge amazing movies and TV shows—but which ones do you choose?? Here are my personal suggestions for you, based on my truly random tastes—five suggestions for each genre:
1930s Films
Baby Face (1933)
Barbara Stanwyck comes up in the world by using her considerable sex appeal. This is a stunning pre-code movie that could absolutely not have been made in 1934.
Footlight Parade (1933)
I tried to pick only one Busby Berkeley movie for this list, but I couldn't very well pick only one 1933 film. It is the best year for cinema, after all. This is my favorite Busby Berkeley movie—it has all my favorite Berkeley staples: Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, and Joan Blondell. But it also has a tap dancing James Cagney, so how can you beat that??
Libeled Lady (1936)
One of the most amazing casts of all time, Myrna Loy, William Powell, Jean Harlow, and Spencer Tracy. A prime example of a 1930s screwball comedy.
The Divorcee (1930)
Another very pre-code movie. This one's about a cheated-on wife getting back at her husband and their subsequent split. I loves me some Norma Shearer and Robert Montgomery (you should probably also see Private Lives). The Divorcee has one of my favorite lines ever, "I've balanced our accounts," which is exactly what you should say to your cheating husband after you have revenge sex with his best friend. ;)
The Thin Man (1934)
Another Myrna Loy and William Powell film. I had to. It's a classic. Who doesn't want to be Nick and Nora Charles??
1980s Films
Back to the Beach (1987)
This is one of my favorite movies of all times. It's meant to be cheesy, and it is hilarious. Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Aunt Becky, the "I want my two dollars!" kid from Better off Dead, and a million amazing cameos, including Fishbone and Pee-Wee Herman. You absolutely have to watch this movie.
Clue (1985):
I was obsessed with this movie when I was little. I wanted to be Miss Scarlet so bad. This is an amazing cast, I love the alternate endings, and I still quote it on the regular. Who doesn't love a good whodunit?
Ghostbusters (1984)
The single greatest movie ever made.
Heathers (1989)
I had like a whole Christian Slater wall in my room when I was younger. He was extra super hot in this movie. And I thought Winona was the coolest. This movie is a classic.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985)
If you have not seen this movie yet, what have you done with your life? I quote the "There's no basement at the Alamo" line on my Underground tour a lot. One day I will be Jan Hooks as Tina the tour guide for Halloween. One day.
Disney Movies (Princess)
My sister and I were obsessed with this movie and soundtrack (and oddly enough, Wardrobe). You should absolutely re-watch it and sing along. ("And when we touched, she didn't shudder at MY PAW!")
This was the first Disney princess movie to come out in my lifetime. I was obsessed with it and I wanted to be a mermaid so bad. Another amazing Disney soundtrack here too.
The last good Disney princess movie in my opinion. I adore the hand drawn stuff, none of that hideous computer animated garbage movies where everyone has giant heads and eyes. Also, this movie is set in the 1920s and has a heroine who has big ass dreams other than just marrying a hot guy (although Prince Naveen is smokin' hot).
This is my absolute favorite Disney movie. The animation is stunning, the songs based on the Tchaikovsky ballet are hauntingly beautiful, and Prince Phillip is really attractive. He and Aurora make a gorgeous couple. Plus Maleficent is a badass baddy.
The original Disney princess!! The animation is gorgeous, the songs are catchy and sweet, and Snow White probably has the best outfit of ALL Disney princesses.
Disney Movies (Non-princess)
I have always felt a bond with Alice—she's imaginative, curious, and has a bit of a temper at times. Gosh, I heart this movie!
This movie will make you want to be a witch who adopts three orphans, flies around on a magical bed, and falls in love with the dad from Mary Poppins. I love that Angela Lansbury's character's cat's name is Cosmic Creepers. I named the fake crow I have in my car Cosmic Creepers. (Yes, I have a fake crow in my car. I am odd and eccentric. Have I not established that yet?)
Okay, so it's not close to either Halloween or Christmas right now, but when is it ever not a good time to watch this movie?
Clearly the best version of Robin Hood ever. Clearly.
My sister and I were in love with this movie when it came out. We dragged our parents and grandparents to the theater multiple times to see it. A movie about 1940s Hollywood where people are friends with cartoons? Yes, please.
Documentaries
A behind-the-scenes look at the conception and creation of the Beatles LOVE show in Vegas. I cannot find words to accurately describe that show, I love it so much. And watching all that the Cirque performers go through to make it magical is such a treat. Plus, it's great to see that Paul, Ringo, Yoko, Olivia, and Dhani were involved in this process.
Now it's more like thirty years of the Bouncing Souls, but back when this DVD came out, the Souls had enough history in those fifteen years to fascinate me. But that's also because they're my favorite band in the whole world. If you don't like or don't even know the Bouncing Souls, this documentary obviously won't mean the same to you as it did to me. But personally, I feel like it brought my favorite band close to me in a way many fans don't get to experience. Plus, I've met these guys IRL and they're just as awesome as they are in this documentary.
I've been obsessed with the RMS Titanic since way before that damn movie came out, okay?! I find the whole thing just fascinating. This is a great documentary, even if it was made by James Cameron. ;) (Okay, I admit—he does have a genuine love for the Titanic and okay, I do actually like that damn movie he made.)
The Prohibition-era is my favoritest of all time periods that ever existed. I am fascinated with everything about it and this Ken Burns documentary explores a lot of what was going on back then. It also features my personal favorite bootlegger, Seattle's Roy Olmstead.
Walt Disney is one of my personal heroes. He created such magic through his own imagination and innovation—and by being able to bring together the people who could dream as big as he could and bring those dreams to life. This documentary always gets me right in the feels.
Eye Candy
Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston . . . yummmmmmmmmm
Ahhh, to be Miriam Hopkins in this movie and be with both Gary Cooper and Fredric March!
They already won me over with a movie about bootleggers in the 1930s, but it has Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, and Shia Labeouf? Um, yes.
I don't even remember if this was a good movie or not. It doesn't matter—Idris Elba . . . Gerard Butler . . . Tom Hardy . . . It doesn't need to be good. (But honestly, I do think I enjoyed it.)
Michael Fassbender is my #1, but James McAvoy is high up there too.
Jane Austen
I think Gwyneth Paltrow made a charming Emma, and Denys Hawthorne made Mr. Woodhouse much less irritating than he was in the book.
This is actually my least favorite of Jane Austen's novels because I don't like the character of Fanny Price very much—or her stupid cousin Edmond. But I do love Billie Piper and Hayley Atwell.
This, on the other hand, is my favorite of Jane Austen's novels. Catherine Morland is the Austen heroine most like me, with her love of novels and wild imagination. I love this adaptation of the book—it introduced me to Felicity Jones and JJ Feild, and for that I shall be ever grateful.
Damn, 2007 was quite a year for Jane Austen movies. I like Sally Hawkins' portrayal of Anne Elliot best out of all the versions of Persuasion I've seen.
I know, I know—it's an unpopular opinion to like this version better than the 1995 miniseries with Colin Firth. Don't get me wrong, I love Colin Firth! But this movie better encompasses the feel of the book for me than the other one. Also, the actress who played Mrs. Bennet in the miniseries was insufferable. I know she's meant to be annoying, but come on!! I much prefer Brenda Blethyn's performance. I also think that Rosamund Pike makes a much better Jane. Okay, I guess except for Colin Firth, I think the entire 2005 cast is far superior to the 1995 one. ;)
Musicals
What? You haven't seen the musical, fictionalized version of how the Village People started starring Steve Guttenberg, Valerie Perrine, and Bruce Jenner? What? You didn't even know it existed? Well now you do—and you're welcome.
My second favorite film of all time. I love the combination of the Kander and Ebb music from the original musical but the Rob Marshall touch (I am just not a Bob Fosse choreography kind of gal). I love the costumes, the spectacle, the cast—and all that jazz. ;)
Ohai, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Grace Kelly singing! Grace actually has a beautiful singing voice and she and Bing received a Gold Record for their duet, "True Love". This is the musical remake of The Philadelphia Story, and far superior in my opinion.
Pure decadence and spectacle. It would be hard to find a prettier movie. Plus the songs and performances are spectacular!
I heart so much about this movie! The songs are amazing, the dancing is unparalleled, Gene Kelly is super fucking hot . . . I got to perform the "All I Do Is Dream of You" routine from this movie recently and it was so magical!
TV Shows (I couldn't pick just five, so here are ten)
I can't possibly pick my absolute favorite TV show ever, but this would be a contender. Set during Prohibition, amazing cast, beautiful costumes—GAH! It's pure perfection!
Another contender for #1 favorite TV show. Team Angel forever!!!!!!!
I got so invested in these characters, I cried at a certain character's death more than I've probably ever cried in my entire life. I'm surprised my neighbors didn't come check on me I was crying so loud.
Maybe if Earth gets all infected, we can become space cowboys like Mal. I call dibs on being Kaylee.
Another show that may be my favorite ever. It's set in 1920s Australia with a badass lady detective and it's based on one of my favorite series of books, written by Kerry Greenwood. Plus, now is an excellent time to binge Miss Fisher because the film just came out!
Do I ever watch TV shows set in the present? Pretty much no. Even though this is a highly fictionalized version of the story of Harry Selfridge, I do adore it so. Mostly for the Agnes Towler/Henri Leclair storyline. Swoon!
This show is comfort food for my soul.
Incredible cast, incredibly bingeable.
Dark and creepy and awesome.
Just hearing the opening notes of the theme song will literally make me leap with excitement. Team Logan forever!!!!!!!
And finally, I think we should ALL be watching This is the End (2013) right now because that's kinda what this feels like.
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