Criterion Channel subscription

Streaming options can be a treacherous place for classic and indie film fans, but thankfully the Criterion Channel is still going strong with thoughtfully curated selections every month. The format is easy to use, and spotlights which movies are new and which will expire at the end of the month.

They even have a section where you can choose films based on running time: Only have 90 minutes or less? There’s a section for that. Their December lineup includes a spotlight on Parker Posey; retrospectives dedicated to Yasujiro Ozu and Ousmane Sembène; and some holiday noir, MGM musicals and “Hitchcock for the Holidays.”

This is a pricier one, but it is possible to get access to the 40th Sundance Film Festival in January with an in-person or virtual pass. For $850 (not including travel and lodging in Park City, Utah), you could be among the first to see the next “CODA,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild” or “Past Lives.” Or for $225, you can get virtual access to the award winners, and let the juries sift through the gems and duds for you.

A book about Siskel And Ebert

The longtime film critic and editor Matt Singer takes a look at the importance and impact of Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel in his book “Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever.” It’s full of anecdotes about their infamous,

You don’t need to make your family disappear or defend your home from gold-toothed bandits to enjoy the silliness of “The Unofficial Home Alone Cookbook.” Recipes – there are 75 of them – include a “lovely cheese pizza,” and “junk & rubbish sundaes.” It just might not be for foodies.