First a note that for pandemic delay reasons the Oscar nominations for 2020 will not be announced till March 15, with the awards ceremony delayed till April 25.  I am also going to hold off on my 2020 “best of choices”.  Except that my #1 drama is certain to be Nomadland which continues to earn plaudits.  (It’s the top choice of the U.S. National Society of Film Critics. For more see: https://variety.com/2021/film/news/nomadland-national-society-of-film-critics-1234881999/ .)             It will come as no surprise that global box-office earnings for 2020 dropped by some 80% ( https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/box-office-final-revenues-2020-coronavirus-pandemic-1234879082/ ) and this year’s prospects  are dimmed by continuing shutdowns.  The shift to online streaming will continue.  Indeed the biggest spender on production Netflix aims to release a new movie a week ...

  With most theatres closed, streaming is increasingly the future of cinema. And the major platforms are investing heavily.  Annual spending by Netflix alone has grown to C$20 billion. I won’t compile my “best of 2020” list till later but number 1 is sure to be Nomadland , so as to why it speaks to the current moment see this commentary: https://www.indiewire.com/2020/12/how-nomadland-captured-the-essence-of-2020-1234606135/ .   If you are not already heartily sick of Christmas movies, Netflix has a Santa bag full.   Though sappy, The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two from Chris Columbus is a sporadically diverting sequel to 2018’s The Christmas Chronicles . Kurt Russell is the jolly purveyor of Christmas spirit with real-life partner Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus and oodles of hyperactive animated “elves”. Of course, Santa has a sleigh driven by reindeer, though a snarling snow leopard attacks Dasher so it’s not all sweetness and light. In addition, the kid/absent dad st...