I’ll have what she’s having | January movie and television recommendations
Top show: A Man on the Inside; Top Movie: The Taste of Things
January has found us in full hibernation mode with temperatures in New York City close to zero, we really have no desireto be outside. Walking our dog has us grumbling and layering up in thermals to our ears. But I’m not grumbling to you today— today I want to sing my praises and recommend a few of my favorite things! If you’re new to my series, I’ll Have What She’s Having, it’s my way of sharing with you my favorite articles, clothes, pop-culture things, books, etc.
Today I wanted to share with y’all my top TV show and movie for January— since we’ve been indoors so much, we’ve been consuming…. a lot of TV.
While I’ve delved into Severance Season 2, trash watched The Sex Lives of College Girls (meh), cringed through Sweet Magnolias Season 3 in preparation for their new (probably also cringy) season 4, and continued my allegiant watching of Animal Control (this show holds its own), there’s one show I watched at the beginning of January that still has me smiling: A Man on the Inside (I know it came out last year, but if you didn’t get around to watching it, this is a great uplifting and lovely January watch).
A Man on the Inside follows a recent widower, played by Ted Danson, as he works with a private detective to go under cover in a nursing home to see if he can discover who has been stealing residents’ jewelry. Along the way, he finds community, “holds space” for his wife’s Alzheimer’s, explores the awkward underlying issues in his relationship with his daughter, and (no spoilers) maybe even solves a jewelry case.
Ted Danson plays charismatic, gentle, empathetic, and heartbroken so well in this show, you’ll find yourself thinking— wow, not every old person is a shmuck. The way we see his character care for those around him is really lovely. We get a somewhat realistic glimpse into what a fancy old folks home might be like (the most unrealistic part of the show, in my opinion, is that most people are walking around without a shuffle, walker, or wheelchair and everyone can hear one another— HA!).
This show had both Brett and I laughing and crying. It’s just a handful of episodes, so take a swing if you need something deeply meaningful and uplifting.
My movie of the month is The Taste of Things, a French movie (filmed in 2023) set in the early 1900’s about a renowned French chef and his cook and their friendship/romance and love for making food together. I recently found this movie on Hulu and can’t stop thinking about it. I just sat on my couch afterward quiet, in awe, and hungry. Firstly, don’t go into this movie with an empty stomach, in fact, maybe grab a glass of wine and cook your own simple French meal before jumping in. I’ve never watched a movie that made me salivate so much.
Why this movie is now in my top five favorite movies ever: The chemistry between the two leads is effortless, meaningful, sweet, and moving. It truly feels like they’ve been friends and co-workers for years. If you pay attention, there is lovely natural lighting in every scene, the use of blue hour, sunset, and sunrises was unhinged and magnificent. As a photographer, I was artistically in awe of the use of windows, candles, fires for lighting. The way food was a character in the movie (preparation and consumption of food) was mesmerizing— literally the ASMR of the food making made me think I haven’t visited my kitchen enough or appreciated food, probably, ever. If you’ve been thinking about getting into cooking more, let this movie be your nudge in that direction. Side Note: If you aren’t a big fan of foreign films, I gotta tell ya that there is not a ton of dialogue in this movie, so much of the beauty of this film is what’s happening in between the dialogue.
PLEASE comment and tell me what you’ve been consuming this month! I’d love your recommendations too! Let me know if you end up watching one or both of these things and what you think!
Take Care,
Stacie
