Everyone knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in the classic film Back to the Future, as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, and as Mike Flaherty on Spin City. His other film and television roles and guest appearances are too numerous to count. By now, everyone also knows that Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at age 29. In the face of this devastating news, he became engaged in Parkinson’s advocacy work, raising global awareness of the disease and helping to search for a cure through his own Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. His two previous bestselling memoirs, Lucky Man and Always Looking Up, dealt with how he came to terms with the illness, all the while exhibiting his iconic optimism.

In this new memoir No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality Fox reassesses his optimistic outlook due to events over the past decade that have presented additional challenges (to say the least). He shares personal stories and observations about illness and health, aging, the strength of family and friends, and how human perceptions of time affect the way we approach mortality. The book is about life, love, and loss — it’s thoughtful and moving while still exhibiting Fox’s trademark sense of humor. Where does he currently stand? As he says, “I’m taking my time. Time isn’t taking me.” My advice? Read this book!

Available for download on Amazon.

I sure do love a good boat movie. Jaws and Titanic are two of my all-time favorites. The new movie Let Them All Talk on HBO Max is set onboard the Queen Mary 2. Director Steven Soderbergh (who also serves as cinematographer) really lets his actors do their thing (talk!) and they most certainly do! The film boasts a fine cast including Meryl Streep (The Post, Into the Woods), Candice Bergen (Book Club, Miss Congeniality), Dianne Wiest (Parenthood, Hannah and Her Sisters), Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians, Humans), and Lucas Hedges (Boy Erased, Lady Bird). Streep plays a famous author embarking on a press tour for her new book. She invites her two besties (Bergen and Wiest) and her nephew (Hedges) to join her for some fun … or what she hopes will be fun … on the voyage. She will not fly and upon receiving a VIP invitation from the cruise line she’s persuaded to do the crossing by Chan’s character who also has a hidden agenda. (What fun would it be if she didn’t?) Streep delivers a quietly effective performance resembling the one she famously gave in The Devil Wears Prada. So as not to spoil the fun, let’s just say the besties have a long history to work out during the journey. Screenplay is by Deborah Eisenberg, music is by Thomas Newman, and the producer is Gregory Jacobs.

For more details, click here.

Finally, Wonder Woman is here to save 2020!  Well, at least she is here to save Christmas Day! Wonder Woman 1984 is directed by Patty Jenkins, who also directed 2017’s first Wonder Woman film. The cast returns with Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, and Robin Wright, and they are joined by Kristin Wiig and Connie Nielson.

DC Comics character Wonder Woman (aka Diana Prince) is an immortal demigoddess, Amazon princess, and trained warrior. She is the daughter of Hippolyta, the Amazonian Queen. This film revisits the Amazon and young girls all across the world will once again catch Wonder Woman fever. The film is set in 1984, and who doesn’t love the 80s? Neon clothing, big hair, leg warmers, spandex, high-waisted mom jeans, and the mall! In this film Wonder Woman battles Maxwell Lord, a businessman and power-hungry villain, and the Cheetah, a villainess who has superhuman strength and befriends Diana before turning on her to team up with Maxwell. Diana is reunited with longtime love Steve Trevor (portrayed by Chris Pine), an American pilot and spy from WWI, who returns after being presumed dead during the events of the first film. The score is composed by Hans Zimmer who is well known for his electronic music which is perfect for the 80s vibe. He has composed music over 150 films. Wonder Woman will be in theatres and available on HBO Max.

For more details, click here.

Bleecker Street Film Distribution, known for hit movies such as Hotel Mumbai, The Assistant, The Secrets We Keep, The World to Come, Dream Horse, Lost City of Z, Military Wives, and Leave No Trace, is set to release its latest film Wild Mountain Thyme. John Patrick Shanley (Doubt, Moonstruck) has adapted his Tony Award-nominated play Outside Mullingar for the screen and he also directs. On a trip with his father to their family homestead, Shanley fell in love with Ireland and it shows in this romantic tale. Headstrong Rosemary Muldoon has her heart set on winning her neighbor Anthony Reilly’s love. The problem is Reilly remains oblivious to his beautiful admirer.

Wild Mountain Thyme features an all-star cast including Oscar-nominated Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter, Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray) as the family patriarch, Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns, The Devil Wears Prada, A Quiet Place) and Jamie Dornan (50 Shades series, The Fall, Robin Hood) as the destined lovers, and Jon Hamm (Mad Men, Richard Jewell, Good Omens) as the would-be suiter that may also vie for Rosemary’s (played by Blunt) affections. Wild Mountain Thyme was filmed in Crossmolina in the Barony of Tyrawley River Deel, near the Northern Shore of Lough Conn, and cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt (The Help, Closer, Angels in America) captures the natural beauty of Ireland in every shot of the sixth century Irish settlement.

For more details, click here.