Media Diary: December '25
Or: how many holiday movies did I watch??
We made it, pals. You are reading this in 2026. PARDON????????? Travelling back in time (just a scooch), I confess to you how many holiday or holiday-adjacent films I watched. Or am I leaving out some embarrassing ones? No, I wouldn’t. Haha, unless? But no.
Watched
New
Nothing! Woops!
New to Me
The Best Man Holiday (2013, dir. Malcom D. Lee)
It is a “good” movie?? Hard to say, really. It’s a sequel to a film with all the hottest people you have ever seen, with all those people back and the same director, so that’s a damn delight. Some of the heavy God themes didn’t really work for me but that’s fine because it’s not for me. Soap opera drama, gorgeous people, fun follow-up. 3 stars.
Rewatch
The Birdcage (1996, dir. Mike Nichols)
Somehow my sister had not seen this film???? So my partner and I had to rectify that ASAP. 5 stars.
Last Holiday (2006, dir. Wayne Wang)
Queen Latifah is important to my personal queer origin story. One of my favourite holiday season films, just delightful. 4 stars.
Single All The Way (2021, dir. Michael Mayer)
SUE ME, I LIKE FUN!!! 3.5 stars.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001, dir. Sharon Maguire)
Did I watch this movie last month? I did. 4.5 stars.
Something From Tiffany’s (2023, dir. Daryl Wein)
My spouse loves this movie and who am I to deny them? But also it is very charming and sweet and Hallmark movies WISH they had what this movie has!!! 3.5 stars.
The Family Stone (2005, dir. Thomas Bezucha)
Absolutely bonkers film with a bizarre premise and even stranger resolution. I watch it every year, despite the W**dy Allen apologist of it all. 4 stars.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
I used to do Jim Carey impressions in elementary school…which is…what it is. But I digress. Still a fun film! MARTHA MAY WHOVIER!!!! 4 stars.
Little Women (1994, dir. Gillian Armstrong)
My sister and I grew up watching this movie every year and it still has a special place in my heart. Trini Alvarado is the superior Meg! 4.5 stars.
Frozen (2013, dirs. Jennifer Lee & Chris Buck)
A few days before Christmas my spouse said “we haven’t watched Frozen in a while!” and then low and behold my sister suggested Frozen after holiday dinner. I love my people. 4 stars.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1993, dir. Brian Henson)
REAL! FUCKING! CINEMA! 5 stars!
Little Women (2019, dir. Greta Gerwig)
My sweetpea’s favourite movie of all time. It really is perfect. 5 stars.
Gone Girl (2014, dir. David Fincher)
Unfortunately, despite disliking many people involved, I do like this movie. As for the White Feminists turning it into a “good for her” moment…that’s a head-scratcher. 4 stars.
The Departed (2006, dir. Martin Scorcese)
Another movie full of dirtbags that I happen to enjoy — I’ve had the DVD for decades. I love a rat infestation! 4 stars.
Sex and the City: The Movie (2008, dir. Michael Patrick King)
Borders on unwatchable and yet I watch. Had to wrap up my SATC rewatch! 3 stars.
Catch Me If You Can (2002, dir. Stephen Speilberg)
Mostly debunked yet the film’s version of Frank is the only teenager busier than Alison DiLaurentis was on Labour Day. Plus, bisexual icon Christopher Walken!! 4 stars.
Clueless (1995, dir. Amy Heckerling)
The thing I always say about this perfect film is this: HE COULD’VE JUST BEEN A FAMILY FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 stars.
When Harry Met Sally… (1989, dir. Rob Reiner)
There are two movies that never leave my Letterboxd top four and this is one of them. My partner and I watch this together every New Year’s Eve, and this year our bestfriend got to join us because we live in the same city now!!!! An absolutely phenomenal movie from a filmmaker whose work greatly impacted my taste in movies. I definitely cried this year. 5 stars.
Television Ongoing/Finished:
I became obsessed with Heated Rivalry because I am a) queer and b) fascinated by the way a Crave Original—CANADIAN—program is receiving the Americanized treatment (i.e. it’s on HBO Max so now people claim it’s an HBO Max show and not a Canadian export—mind you, I am not patriotic but this is not an American show) and c) LOVE a good TV show and this show is phenomenal. Every episode I am screaming, crying, throwing up!! Need season 2 like I need air.
I Love L.A. - I don’t know. It was good and also some of it did not work for me?? But I didn’t NOT like it???
Project Runway Canada - not quite as fun as I had hoped!
RHOP — Sigh, I really wanted to like Angel but good grief!!! I have circled back around to Stacey being absolutely hilarious. Tia remains my top newbie.
Younger — started a rewatch because I needed something silly. Absolutely absurd program. Bonkers premise. Utter nonsense. I love it.
Listened
Florence + The Machine - Everybody Scream album top to bottom, finally.
The usuals on repeat: MUNA, Evita 2025 West End, Sabrina Carpenter (2022 album), Renee Rapp, CMAT.
Read
Three of Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series: Game Changer, Heated Rivalry, and The Long Game.
My own dissertation chapters, repeatedly.
All The Sinners Bleed - S.A. Cosby (quickly becoming one of my favourite thriller/horror writers).
Ongoing: Little Women - Louisa May Alcott