Year's Biggest Movie, Award Candidates and 'Yellowstone' Sequel Among December's Streaming Recommendations

by Julian Spivey

Photos: Netflix, Paramount Pictures & Searchlight Pictures

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Bros - Peacock - Friday, December 2 
Billy Eichner’s “Bros,” which he co-wrote and stars in, infamously didn’t do well at the box office when released to theaters in late September but has been one of the better-reviewed comedy films of the year. I wanted to get to it a couple of months ago, but life was busy. Thankfully here’s my reprieve to see what’s billed as the first mainstream (by a major movie studio) gay rom-com with its streaming debut on Peacock. 

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“Pinocchio” – Netflix – Friday, December 9
I understand there’s probably some “Pinocchio” fatigue as this is the third major “Pinocchio” film of the last couple of years – if you count Matteo Garrone’s international film that garnered two Oscar nominations in technical categories this past year. Of course, there was the poorly received and reviewed Disney live-action remake in September that starred Tom Hanks as Geppetto. Here Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro makes his animation debut with his version of the “Pinocchio” story which is receiving good early reviews and will be done as a stop-motion animated musical. 

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“The Banshees of Inisherin” – HBO Max – Tuesday, December 13
Director Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin” has been one of the best-reviewed and most acclaimed films of 2022, but never came to my neck of the woods in theaters (as it sometimes goes in non-big cities). The black comedy stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as buddies on an Irish island who all of a sudden end their lifelong friendship for reasons that aren’t quite known to Farrell’s character. “The Banshees of Inisherin” is likely one of the early favorites to win Best Picture at the 2023 Oscars. 

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“1923” – Paramount+ - Sunday, December 18
“Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan has developed quite a series of shows featuring the Dutton family and their trials and tribulations throughout American history. Late last year Sheridan’s “1883” debuted to much fanfare and acclaim with a cast featuring Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Now comes the next installment of the “Yellowstone” series in “1923,” which features massive names like Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford in the lead roles. Unlike “1883,” which was one 10-episode season, “1923” is expected to be two, eight-episode seasons. 

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“Top Gun: Maverick” – Paramount+ - Friday, December 23
Tom Cruise is now in his fifth decade as a major motion picture superstar with his “Top Gun” sequel “Top Gun: Maverick” becoming the most-watched film in America, by far, earning over $700 million and counting. Part of the reason why the film did so well at the box office was Cruise’s insistence that it wouldn’t go immediately to streaming. Now more than a half year after its theater debut “Top Gun: Maverick” comes to the small, streaming screen on Paramount+ for the few of us (yes, that includes me) that didn’t go to our local cinemas to see it. 

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“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” – Netflix – Friday, December 23
Director Rian Johnson’s murder-mystery “Knives Out” was perhaps my favorite movie of 2019 and was a bit of a shocker in that it was an original story that became a mass hit (something that rarely happens these days). Johnson decided to turn the “Knives Out” story into a series with the common denominator being Daniel Craig’s terrific Southern sleuth Benoit Blanc being the one to attempt to figure out the whodunnit. The greatly anticipated sequel co-stars Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn and Leslie Odom Jr. This one should be a ton of fun, and its Netflix release coming on Christmas weekend should ensure plenty of family viewings across the country. 

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“White Noise” – Netflix – Friday, December 30
Author Don DeLillo’s White Noise, which I just began reading this week in anticipation of the film release, has been called “unfilmable” for years. Having only finished about a quarter of it I don’t quite understand what is meant by the novel being “unfilmable,” but I do know director Noah Baumbach has certainly given it a shot and his effort will be released on the final weekend of the year on Netflix. “White Noise” will feature Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig as a couple grappling with their family and life’s mundanity while grappling with a toxic event after a local train accident. Baumbach at the helm of a black comedy starring Driver and Gerwig could be a fun experience to behold.