FLIX AT HOME
BEST MOVIES TO WATCH RIGHT NOWINCLUDE‘SOUL,’ ‘WONDER WOMAN 1984’AND‘SYLVIE’S LOVE’
For American audiences, who’ve been deprived of a traditional release slate while the country copes with the COVID19 pandemic, Christmas Day brought the closest thing to a blockbuster weekend that 2020 has seen so far — including the delayed releases of a few films originally intended for earlier in the year.
Two of the week’s highest profile movies — DC sequel “Wonder Woman 1984” and Pixar original “Soul” — are going about their openings in very unconventional ways, shifting from wide theatrical releases to streaming debuts on their studios’ respective platforms.
Here’s a rundown of those films opening this week and where you can watch them.
‘Soul’ Disney Plus
Where do people get their personalities? Do parents play a part, or are such things somehow determined before birth? For centuries, doctors of psychology, doctors of philosophy and doctors of theology have contributed their thoughts on the subject, but the latest
breakthrough comes from another kind of doctor entirely: Pete Docter, the big-idea Pixar brain behind outside-the-box toons “Inside Out” and “Up,” who takes a look deep inside and comes up with another intuitive, easy-to-embrace metaphor for — dare I say it — the meaning of life.
‘Wonder Woman 1984’
In theaters and on HBO Max For nearly two hours of its 151-minute runtime, “Wonder Woman 1984” accomplishes what we look to Hollywood tentpoles to do: It whisks us away from our worries, erasing them with pure escapism. For those old enough to remember the ‘80s, it’s like going home for Christmas and discovering a box full of childhood toys in your parents’ attic. This is what it felt like to watch Richard Donner’s “Superman” for
the first time, or to marvel at the strong female role models of such vintage TV shows as “Wonder Woman” and “The Bionic Woman.”
‘Sylvie’s Love’ Prime Video
Sultry music swells as the camera swoons over a young couple in a tender nighttime embrace. The 1950s residential New York City street is carefully rain-slicked and lined with shiny classic cars: an obvious stage set. Gene Kelly might just have swung on that lamppost; Doris Day might lean out of an upstairs window to sigh at a painted moon. But the canoodling stars of Eugene Ashe’s Sundance competition title “Sylvia’s Love” are Black, which is among the sole indications that this weightlessly glossy yet undeniably charming romance is a product of the 21st century.
‘News of the World’ In theaters
Tom Hanks is the kind of actor about whom we accept the aphorism that he could read the phone book and make it sound great. Reuniting Hanks with “Captain Phillips” director Paul Greengrass, laconic Western “News of the World” tests that theory by casting the star as a news reader, a Civil War veteran who travels across Texas to deliver the nation’s headlines to small-town residents hungry for updates from afar — and the result, while gorgeous to behold, is only slightly more exciting than the phone book option might have been.
‘One Night in Miami’
In Miami theaters, expanding Jan. 8, followed by Prime Video on Jan. 15
“One Night in Miami” is one of those dramas with a hooky, irresistible meeting-of-theminds premise that places four legends in a single room, all so that we can sit back and watch the verbal-philosophical fireworks fly. The movie takes place on Feb. 25, 1964, the night that Cassius Clay, at 22, won the world heavyweight championship. To celebrate, he heads over to the modest, rather shabby small suite where his friend Malcolm X is staying at the Hampton House.
There, the two are joined by the football superstar Jim Brown and the soul legend Sam Cooke.
‘The Midnight Sky’ Netflix
Clooney’s early films had dash and spirit and verve. This one is sodden with self-importance. Unfolding in one of those distant futures that’s just like the present except more glum, “The Midnight Sky” cuts back and forth between two settings: the frozen wilderness of Antarctica, where Clooney plays the sole researcher left at an empty observatory; and a NASA spaceship that looks from the outside like a baroque Christmas ornament as shot by Stanley Kubrick. Each setting has a way of being less gripping than the one the film has just
cut away from.
‘Promising Young Woman’ In theaters
Fennell’s first directorial feature is a female revenge fantasy that hews to some of the tropes in that genre, but also takes considerable joy in upending viewer expectations. Starring Carey Mulligan as a womanon a singular mission, this unclassifiable, somewhat uneven but always compelling mix of thriller, black comedy and a whole lot of whatnot is going to stir a lot of debate. “Species,” this is not — nor even an updated “Ms. 45.”
Stroll among illuminated trees and seasonal plants decked out with ornaments, fountains that dance to holiday music, fire pits, Advance timed tickets. 10 a.m. Through Jan. 10. Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square. $13-$25. 610388-1000. longwoodgardens. org.
Walk through 200,000 holiday lights and figurines set to music, rides including a model train traveling around a 20-foot Christmas tree and a ferris wheel with over 8,000 lights synchronized to holiday songs, crafters, food, more. Benefits the ambulance
service. 6-10 p.m. Through Sat. Gilbertsville Area Community Ambulance Service, 91 Jackson Road, Gilbertsville. $12; $8, ages 4-12; free, 3 and under. carnivalof-lights.com.
Joy Through the Grove:
Drive through light display. 5:30-9 p.m. Through Sun. Knoebels, 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg. $15$30. 800-487-4386. knoebels. com.
Light Up the Vines: The seven member wineries of the Bucks County Wine Trail will illuminate their vineyards each evening
at dusk. Through Sat. Bucks County WIne Trail, Newtown. buckscountywinetrail.com/ event/vineyard-illumination/.
Snowflake Special: Say farewell to the year on a two-hour trip through the Secret Valley. 1 p.m., 4 p.m. Through Dec. 31. Colebrookdale Railroad, 64 S. Washington St., Boyertown.
$15-$175. 610-367-0200. colebrookdalerailroad.com.
Winter on Broad Street: A Holiday Light Spectacular:
Stroll through 193 largerthan-life light sculptures and displays, holiday-themed treats, Mistletoe Marketplace,
entertainment, more. Advanced timed tickets required. 5 p.m. Through Sun. Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia. $32.50; $27.50, ages 12 and underchr. 215-336-3600. wellsfargocenterphilly.com/ winter-on-broad.
Virtual Events
Christmas City Follies XXI: Music, wit and holiday hijinks in a Vaudevillian package performed by The Touchstone Ensemble and friends available via YouTube through Jan. 2. Touchstone Theatre, Bethlehem. $12; $35, households. 610-8671689. touchstone.org/events/ christmas-city-follies-xxi/.
Franklin Square Virtual New Year’s Eve Family Celebration:
Families can create crafts with items from home, watch a showing of the Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show, participate in dance lessons concluding with a virtual square drop at 6 p.m. Crafts include noisemakers, confetti poppers, party hats, and print-at-home coloring pages. 5 p.m. Free. facebook.com/ franklinsquarephiladelphia/.
New Year’s Eve with AM Radio: 60s and 70s tribute band. 7 p.m. $17.50. Arthur Thomas & The Funkitorium: New Year’s Eve with soulful funk throwback. 10:30 p.m. $15. Sellersville Theater. st94.com.
Peepsfest: Virtual daily show featuring music, crafts and entertainment from local Lehigh Valley organizations and nonprofits. Peeps Chick Drop (4:30-5:30 p.m.) families can reserve a socially distanced Levitt lawn square for $25. SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. 610-332-1300. steelstacks.org/festivals/
peepsfest/.
Friday
Kids & Family
Winter Light Spectacular: Stroll through tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights, reindeer, classic holiday scenes, family photo opportunities, multiple fire pits, hot chocolate, live performances, more. 5-10 p.m. Also Sat. Lehigh Valley
Zoo, 5150 Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville. $15; $10, ages
2-11; $8, members. 610-799-4171. lvzoo.org.
Other
A Longwood Christmas: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. See Thurs.
Bethlehem Christmas Horse Carriage Rides: See Thurs.
Carnival of Lights: 6-10 p.m. See Thurs.
Joy Through the Grove: 5:3010 p.m. See Thurs.
Light Up the Vines: See Thurs.
Winter on Broad Street: A Holiday Light Spectacular: 5 p.m. See Thurs.
Virtual Events
Christmas City Follies XXI: See Thurs.
Saturday
Kids & Family
Winter Light Spectacular: . 5-10 p.m. See Fri.
Other
A Longwood Christmas: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. See Thurs.
Bethlehem Christmas Horse Carriage Rides: See Thurs.
Carnival of Lights: 6-10 p.m. See Thurs.
Joy Through the Grove: 5:3010 p.m. See Thurs.
Light Up the Vines: See Thurs.
Winter on Broad Street: A Holiday Light Spectacular: 5 p.m. See Thurs.
Virtual Events
Christmas City Follies XXI: See Thurs.
Sunday
Other
A Longwood Christmas: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. See Thurs.
Bethlehem Christmas Horse Carriage Rides: See Thurs.
El Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) Celebration: Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar tell the story of the Three Kings and hand out gifts to children ages 12 and under via a drivethrough experience. Registration required. 1-3 p.m. SteelStacks PNC Parking Lot, 711 E. First St., Bethlehem. Free. 610-332-1300. steelstacks.org.
Joy Through the Grove: 5:30-10 p.m. See Thurs.
Winter on Broad Street: A Holiday Light Spectacular: 5
p.m. See Thurs.
Monday
A Longwood Christmas: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. See Thurs.
Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru: See Thurs.
Tuesday
A Longwood Christmas: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. See Thurs.
Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru: See Thurs.
Unpacking the Origins of America’s Modern Prison System: A Conversation with Ashley T. Rubin: Ashley T. Rubin discusses her book“The Deviant Prison: Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary and the Origins of America’s Modern Penal System, 1829-1913.” Live streamed on Facebook and via Zoom webinar. 6-7 p.m. Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia. Free. 215-236-3300. easternstate.org/visit/events/ unpacking-origins-americasmodern-prison-systemconversation-ashley-t-rubin.
Wednesday
A Longwood Christmas: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. See Thurs.
Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru: See Thurs.
Thursday, Jan. 7
A Longwood Christmas: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. See Thurs.
Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru: See Thurs.
Friday, Jan. 8
A Longwood Christmas: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. See Dec. 31.
First Friday Southside Bethlehem: Hot Cocoa Crawl, music and dining deals in Bethlehem’s SouthSide
Arts District. Southside Arts District, Bethlehem. Free. southsideartsdistrict.com.
Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru: See Dec. 31.
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