By Laurie Parks
Hello, it’s me again! Laurie, your local film buff and movieholic. Those who don’t know me wouldn’t know that there are not too many movies out there that I haven’t seen. From old black and white classics to 70’s slashers, with a few historic rom-coms thrown in, I am a certified cinephile! I do not take for granted that we are living in the age of instant gratification and can stream almost anything, including new releases currently in the theater, from the comfort of our own home. I am old enough to remember that if we missed seeing a film in the theaters, we had to wait sometimes years before we’d get a second chance on television. With all that being said, Thanksgiving is actually a difficult genre to pull movies from. Most are just too sappy for my taste, and the rest are just depressing. Yes, there are even Thanksgiving slasher films – but I’m not going to go there! (At least not this time!)
I will wait until Christmas to delve into the hilarity of a dysfunctional family during the holidays and will save my “Top 10” list again for Christmas. So this is my “Current” Watch list:
“Death By Lightning” 4 Episodes, Released on Netflix November 6, 2025
I cannot say enough positive things about this show. It is classified as an American historical miniseries. This is the stranger-than-fiction true story of the 20th U.S. President James Garfield and his admirer/stalker Charles Guiteau, who ultimately assassinates him. After bingeing on all 4 episodes, I had to do some searching on who James Garfield really was and where he was in the presidential timeline. He is often referred to as the “Forgotten” President, but he was so much more than that. To me he is the “What If” president. James Garfield was against political corruption and supported civil rights – very advanced thinking for the 1880’s! Garfield is portrayed by Michael Shannon. You’ve seen his work in “Revolutionary Road”, “Bullet Train” and “Boardwalk Empire”. Shannon plays Garfield with an under-stated intensity. We LIKE Garfield, we’re rooting for him. This man ended up only serving 200 days in the presidency – the second shortest in U.S. history. Enter Charles Guiteau, an over-eager volunteer that is suffering from mental illness. Guiteau is portrayed by veteran actor Matthew Macfadyen. You know him as Mr. Darcy in “Pride & Prejudice”. Personally, I loved him in “Ripper Street”; you know where my tastes run. In Guiteau’s delusional mind, he felt that HE was responsible for Garfield’s election and was due a political appointment. When this does not happen, he feels slighted and his hero-worship turns to hate.
You will recognize most of the supporting cast. There is Nick Offerman, from “The Office” as Vice President Chester Arthur. Shea Whigham, from “Boardwalk Empire” as a very corrupt Roscoe Conkling, and Bradley Whitford (West Wing) as Secretary of State James Blaine.
This Netflix limited series is historically accurate. It alternates between comedy and tragedy. From Nick Offerman as the comic relief as a giggling drunk yelling “Music! Fighting! Sausages!” to the unraveling of Macfadyen in his insanity and disillusionment, the cast will demand your attention.
“Free Birds” 2013 PG
Now a delightful treat for the entire family to enjoy while getting into that Thanksgiving spirit!
The story tells the tale of a lucky turkey (voiced by Owen Wilson) named Reggie that is pardoned by the president on Thanksgiving. He gets to live a safe and carefree life until his pal Jake (voiced by Woody Harrelson) recruits him for a mission to change history! Those fowl travel back in time to 1621, just in time for the first Thanksgiving. Their plan is to prevent turkeys from ever becoming holiday dinners. Well, that’s the plan until they encounter Myley Standish (Colm Meaney. To be honest, I’ve heard of this actor, but he’s listed, so we must give him his due.)
Cute movie with talking animals, silly sight gags, a bit of action/peril, and the idea of a bunch of turkeys fighting back to keep them safe will hold the attention of younger audiences. The fact that these turkeys are voiced by Wilson and Harrelson is a hoot (pun intended) and there are a couple of jokes that only adults may or may not get: there is a brief discussion of rubbing wattles! Definitely worth the stream!
