On My Radar
On My Radar
I'll swallow your soul! AKA I survived 'Secret Invasion' and lived to tell the tale
It’s been a minute since I’ve done a regular check in! Let’s fix that. I’ve been places, watched things, and even met a person or two.
I got to go back to Grounds for Sculpture for the first time in years. Such a cool, creative space with amazing artwork to be found throughout — and some in the most unlikely places! This visit doubled as a reunion with a really good friend as we hadn’t seen each other since 2019. And I got to meet her adorable daughter, whom she was pregnant with during the pandemic!
Concerts aren’t a regular thing for me. It’s not for lack of interest, that’s for sure. So when Aimee Mann performed a free summer concert less than hour from me, you bet your sweet bippy I made sure my butt was there nice and early to secure a good seat. Mann put on a terrific show at Haddon Lake Park in New Jersey as part of the Sundown Music Series. She performed a nice selection of more recent tunes including “Suicide Is Murder,” off her upcoming album Queens of the Summer Hotel, as well as fan favorites like “Save Me” and “Amateur.” Opening act Jonathan Coulton delivered a lively set; my favorite song was the hilarious “Creepy Doll.” Seeing Mann live made my late teens/early twenties self very, very happy.
Monster Mania is so nice that this year I went twice! This time around, I brought a friend who had come with me once before and we had a fantastic time then and now. So many great cosplayers participating! My favorite was a female Ash Williams, who nailed the assignment. Speaking of The Evil Dead, I was thrilled to meet Alyssa Sutherland, who played Ellie in Evil Dead Rise. She was so nice, funny, and personable. My friend was good enough to let me tagalong while she got to meet Lisa Burns and Louisa Burns, who played the creepy twins in The Shining. Those two ladies were a hoot!
TV
Oh, Marvel. My dear Marvel Cinematic Universe, what has become of you? (For my response to that question, check out this post.) Secret Invasion should have been a gripping Le Carré espionage tale dressed in MCU clothing. It could have been to Marvel what Andor is to Star Wars. Instead we got this insipid, insulting, embarrassing, stultifying mess. That said, there are three bright shining lights to be found here: Kingsley Ben-Adir delivers as Gravik, the show’s big bad — and with a Welsh accent, to boot; Olivia Colman proves why she’s a damn treasure by running away with nearly every scene she’s in — though not even she could save that finale; and Kris Bowers’ terrific score — especially the Main Title Theme. Rumor has it Fury’s storyline from this will continue in The Marvels. Let’s just hope it’s more focused and coherent. I don’t want anything ruining Kamala Khan’s big screen debut. (All episodes are now streaming on Disney+.)
Our boys finally got together at the end of series one, but if you thought the road to true love was going to run smooth for Nick and Charlie... Um, yeah. Heartstopper series two is still wonderful with plenty of romantic beats for our main couple. However, Nick struggles with coming out as bisexual while Charlie is having his own issues as a result. If you're concerned the show isn't the romcom escape it once was, don't worry. All the best romantic comedy couples have obstacles to deal with before settling into their groove. Plus, there's also Elle and Tao! Tara and Darcy! Isaac has someone special on the horizon, too! Kit Connor and Joe Locke's chemistry remains off the charts. I swear my TV is going to start emitting doodles of electricity, hearts, and flowers every time Nick and Charlie are onscreen. I adore this show and definitely will be revisiting every single moment as I eagerly await series three. (All episodes are now streaming on Netflix.)
Film
Today is the best day ever! Why? Because Barbie is a damn delight that is inspiring the many women who have been happily dressing up in their best pink outfits to see the Greta Gerwig film. (The $1 billion it's made worldwide is also a pretty good reason.) Margot Robbie's fantastic, adroit turn as Stereotypical Barbie is further proof that there's nothing she can't do. She continues to be one of the most dynamic actresses out there, bringing a kaleidoscope of emotion to the iconic doll. Ryan Gosling is the perfect comedic foil as Ken, whether he's attempting to learn about patriarchy or belting out a power ballad or simply trying to be the best Ken he can be. Can we please have him do more comedy? Shout outs also to America Ferrera, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, and Kate McKinnon, all of whom shine bright among a hugely talented ensemble cast.
Oppenheimer is a return to form for Christopher Nolan after the trainwreck that was Tenet. No stranger to a well structured thriller, Nolan crafts a dazzling one here around J. Robert Oppenheimer and his myopic, mythic quest to give the world the atomic bomb. Based on Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin's American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the film's biggest asset is Cillian Murphy's dynamic turn as the theoretical physicist himself. Long one of the best actors of his generation, Murphy owns the three-hour film and happily spars with the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, and, in an extremely happy turn of events for yours truly, Josh Hartnett. The only things that rival Murphy's brilliance are Nolan's direction, Hoyte Van Hoytema's camera work, and the sound design and production design. See it on the biggest screen possible.
Some of the best horror films from the past decade have come not from established talent in the genre, but from fresh voices from all over the world. Talk to Me, the debut from Danny Phillipou and Michael Phillipou, definitely fits this trend. Mourning the death of her mother, Zoe feels like a burden to her friends and family. When she decides to take a chance and participate in a morbid party game featuring a severed dead hand, everything goes awry. Let's just say Haley Joel Osment's got nothing on this girl. A tight, creepy AF script that keeps you guessing is paired with a cracking cast, including a great turn from Sophie Wilde as Zoe and the always welcome Miranda Otto, making this a total must see for all my fellow horror fiends.
Next time … A big ole roundup of stuff I’ve seen, read, and heard. Catch ya then!