The Weekend Read No. 22
Let the distractions begin!
Folks, listen…I’m not sure what’s going on but this weekend decided to unleash a LOT of material on us. But first, let’s support some opera, shall we? The Arena di Verona festival has been announced so why not come to Italy this summer?
But seriously, considering how much is on the list, it would be best to find an animal friend to keep you company.
FILM
Hoppers
Pixar
The new film is on track to make gobs of money but beyond that it’s getting great marks for being adorable and having a strong message about animals and the environment.
The Bride!
Warner Bros.
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s hyper-stylized spin on The Bride of Frankenstein has been receiving a mixed batch of reviews, but you can’t fault this production design and cast that includes Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale alongside Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz.
BOOKS
The Red Winter
by Cameron Sullivan
Tor
The nice people at Tor Books sent me a galley copy of this a while back, but I selfishly held out for the Waterstones Signed Exclusive Edition because I’m a sucker for great endpapers and spredges.
My pal Nicole at Book Curator Book Club wisely selected it this month and has been screaming about it for a while. The logline: In 1785, the Beast of Gévaudan has returned to the French countryside and Sebastian Grave must finish what began two decades ago.
As soon as it landed it became a New York Times best-seller. Get on the train, people.
TELEVISION
Paradise: Season 2
US: Hulu
Sweet wounded Jesus. In season one, I emphatically declared that episode 7 was one of the best hours of television ever produced and I stand by that. And now we have the start of season two. And in the first hour I was gasping, I was shaking, I was snapping my fingers like a millennial at an open mic night. The first episodes of the new season are just as gripping as the final episodes of the last one. Get thee to your television box.
Young Sherlock: Season 1
Amazon Prime
Not since The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles have I been so excited for an origin story. This one - from Guy Ritchie and starring Hero Fiennes Tiffin (a name so good it deserves a marquee immediately) - promises lots of mischief and too-clever-by-half mysteries at Oxford University.
RJ Decker
ABC / Hulu / Disney+
The most Florida-iest crime writer of all time is Carl Hiassen, and he’s far more prolific than his screen adaptations would have you believe. You can find Bad Monkey on Apple+ and Skinny Dip is in the works. Scott Speedman, however, is perfectly cast as RJ Decker - a photographer turned trailer park P.I. whose unhoused looks betray his intuitive smarts.
MUSIC
Tori Amos: “Stronger Together”
The celebrated artists takes a strong stance with her forthcoming album entitled In Times of Dragons.
Harry Styles: “ Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.”
The album is here and the Netflix special arrives on Sunday. The title could not be any more perfect and the energy is a much-needed tonic these days. It’s so damn good.
Cynthia Erivo: “Everytime You Go Away”
Even though I had a wonderful interview with Paul Myers about his John Candy book, I missed the documentary that came out around the same time. This wonderful cover by Erivo was featured at the Actor Awards In Memoriam segment. And now I can’t get it out of my head.
INTERNET BOXES
Opera Wars | On the Podcast
Back back to opera…check out my interview with Caitlin Vincent in case you missed it. Have you supported an opera or ballet company yet?
Bon weekend, all!
💚