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On My Radar: Oscar nominees, horror flicks, animation sensations, and a sleigh's worth of Christmas romances
We’ve made it to the end of February! Spring and the Oscars are right around the corner. Not to mention daylight saving time, which I’m personally excited about.
Another thing that has me even more excited is the news that Megan Follows — Anne Shirley herself for an entire generation of Anne of Green Gables fans — will be playing Anne’s creator, author L.M. Montgomery, in the new biographical series, Lucy. Maud. Wanna know more? Check out Variety’s story here.
I have a bunch of movies, shows, and books to tell you about! Also, since this is my first roundup of the year, I’m throwing in my Christmas romance reads from this past holiday season. Add them to your TBR pile now so that you can read them later in the year. Future You will thank you.
Let’s do this thingy!
FILM
Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid are lovers on their way to a lake house getaway at the start of the film. However, nothing is as it seems and to say anything more would give away too much. Sexual politics, morality, and humanity are at play in this diabolical cat-and-mouse game that's a fun mix of sci-fi and horror with a wicked sense of humor. Thatcher and Quaid are well matched in every way, bringing a beguiling charm that should win over most skeptics. Lukas Gage, however, part of the couple's friend circle, is the film's secret weapon. His performance runs the gamut and he nails every moment.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The beloved inventor and his devoted pooch are back on our screens... and not a moment too soon. This time, the pair contend with Wallace's overreliance on his inventions as well as the return of Feathers McGraw, the diabolical criminal mastermind who was foiled by the pair previously. Aardman has long been one of my favorite studios and my adoration stems from this dynamic duo. Clever writing that's light on its feet while not afraid to go a little dark, this Oscar nominee is equally heartfelt and hilarious and thrilling. Whether you're a diehard fan or this is your introduction, Wallace & Gromit are just as endearing as ever.
Quick Takes
Josh Ruben's latest, Heart Eyes, is the right blend of romcom and slasher flick. Come for the gore, stay for the fabulous chemistry between leads Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding. ... Oscar nominee Nickel Boys, based on Coulson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, tells the gripping story of a deep friendship born out of a blistering stint at a Florida reform school. Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson are electric as the young men. ... Fellow Oscar nominee The Brutalist lives up to its name in more ways than one via the dominant style of architecture and the men at its core. Brady Corbet's film is exceedingly well made though there's more to admire than like overall. ... Legacy sequels and Ridley Scott do not go well together. For all its pomp and circumstance, Gladiator II is epically silly. It's happy to be engulfed in the long shadow of the 2001 original with barely an original thought of its own. The exception being Denzel Washington, who is the most captivating figure in the entire film. While I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I admit it was not in the way the filmmaker intended. What do you mean it's not a comedy? ... If you find yourself making Heart Eyes at Josh Ruben's new film, be sure to take a gander at his 2020 horror comedy Scare Me, where he also co-stars with the outstanding Aya Cash. Two strangers try to frighten each other by telling scary stories during a power outage in this funny, tense flick. ... Neither funny nor tense despite putting the AI in Afraid, there's not much to recommend in Chris Weitz’s disjoined snooze fest. A good cast led by the always welcome John Cho and what should have been a potent storyline are both squandered thanks to a weak script and lazy execution.
TV
An espionage tale set at Christmas starring Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, and Sarah Lancashire? Thank you, Santa! This propulsive thriller, punctuated with a dark sense of humor, is the brainchild of Joe Barton. The creator/showrunner/writer was also behind the fantastic The Lazarus Project — that show's star Paapa Essiedu pops up here, as well. The murder of her lover has brought Knightley's married Helen back into the fold by Lancashire's crafty Reed, where she gets an assist from an old friend, Whishaw's Sam. Between this and The Diplomat, Netflix has a helluva one-two punch when it comes to female-fronted thrillers. An impressive cast that also features Andrew Buchan, Ella Lily Hyland, Adeel Akhtar, and Kathryn Hunter confirms this is a must-see. Renewed for season two. Season one available on Netflix.
I caught up with the first two seasons of Mike White's opulent anthology drama that follows travelers to exotic locales where they stay at the titular hotel. Season one, set in Hawaii, features a cast including Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton, Steve Zahn, Murray Bartlett, Sydney Sweeney, Jake Lacy, and Natasha Rothwell. Season two shifted to Italy with a new cast featuring F. Murray Abraham, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Meghann Fahy, and the return of Coolidge. There's a death in each season, but it's not the point of the show. More than anything this indulgent social satire is character-driven as proven by the rich performances from the stacked roster of talent. Season two is my favorite season so far. This ain't Fantasy Island. Neither is it as insane as Brandon Cronenberg's Infinity Pool. Season three is now airing on HBO. All episodes available on Max.
Quick Takes
Based on the Marvel Comics series, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is a fresh, fun, animated delight with a kickass soundtrack curated by Raphael Saadiq and attitude to spare. Thirteen-year-old Lunella Lafayette is super smart, hails from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and is a superhero whose partner in crime fighting is a giant red dinosaur. There's nothing else like it, which makes its recent cancellation even more painful. Final season two episodes now airing on Disney Channel and Disney XD. All episodes now available on Disney+. ... The third and final season of another Marvel animated series, the fantastic What If…?, is just as entertaining as ever with episodes featuring Red Guardian thwarting the Winter Soldier's mission to kill the Starks and an Old West team up of Kate Bishop and Shang-Chi while building towards a satisfying ending with The Watcher at the center. All episodes now available on Disney+. ... Ted Danson is A Man on the Inside as a retired widower who finds renewed purpose when he's hired to go undercover at a retirement home. Stephanie Beatriz, Sally Struthers, and Stephen McKinley Henderson are part of the winning ensemble of this funny, bittersweet comedy from The Good Place creator Michael Schur. Renewed for season two. Season one now available on Netflix. ... The ironically named Nobody Wants This is hilarious and whip smart. (Because who doesn't want a romcom starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody as a sex podcaster and a rabbi, respectively? If it's you, then unfortunately I don't think we can be friends.) To those of us who shipped Veronica Mars and Seth Cohen in the early aughts, our time has come. Renewed for season two. Season one now available on Netflix. ... Sandra Oh is her university's first woman of color to become The Chair. The sensational comedy-drama follows the single mom as she tackles a multitude of issues at work and at home while wondering if she's the best person to take on the post. Jay Duplass, Bob Balaban, and Holland Taylor also star. All episodes now available on Netflix. .... Harriet the Spy has always been cool. This latest adaptation of the Louise Fitzhugh novels about 11-year-old aspiring writer Harriet M. Welsch is a charming animated series that perfectly captures the spirit of the books. The terrific voice cast features Beanie Feldstein as Harriet and Jane Lynch as her nanny Ole Golly. Plus, Courtney Barnett is on theme song duties! All episodes now available on Apple TV+.
BOOKS
This Winter by Alice Oseman
My adoration for Oseman's Heartstopper universe has been well documented. So it should come as no surprise that her holiday novella warmed the cockles of my heart. The story, which was adapted by Oseman for the television series as Episode 3.05 "Winter," takes place on Christmas Day and is told in three parts with each of the Spring kids taking a turn narrating. It's Charlie's first Christmas since his stay at a mental health clinic and the entire Spring family is a bit on edge. Older siblings Tori and Charlie feel the brunt of the pressure put on Charlie by their parents and the rest of the family, but little Oliver isn't entirely oblivious to the emotional strain placed on his big sister and big brother. A perfect mix of angst and hope and love, there's a refreshing honesty to Oseman's writing that always shines through.
Silent Knight by Beth Bolden
Bolden remains a favorite of mine and this friends-to-lovers romance is further evidence as to why. Childhood friends Murphy Clark and Jem Knight grew apart during high school yet never forgot about each other. When Jem returns to their hometown of Christmas Falls to headline the town's holiday festivities, the pair are in each other's orbit once more. The chemistry between Murphy and Jem is undeniable and you'll want to attend the town's Christmas festival without a doubt. A sweet, sexy love story that is perfect for reading curled up under your favorite blanket. Note: This is the fourth book in the first season of the Christmas Falls series, an anthology set in the titular town with each novel written by a different author. (I previously wrote about DJ Jamison's season one contribution Grinch Kisses — link below.) It also is a nice gateway to Bolden's Charleston Condor football series as Jem plays for the fictional team.
Quick Takes
I had originally read Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares a few years before it became a one-season wonder on Netflix. After rewatching the endearing Dash & Lily series starring Austin Abrams and Midori Francis as the titular pair during Christmas 2023, I decided to read the entire trilogy. All three YA novels by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan — including The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily and Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily — are emotional, cozy reads that will leave a smile on your face. ... Looking for something naughty and nice? Nora Phoenix's Celebrating the Season features a May-December romance between a twentysomething guy in town for his dad's bachelor party and the sexy Santa in attendance who's twenty years his senior. Phoenix brings the heat while making sure to flesh out her characters so that they come across as real people. It's one reason I'm such a fan of hers. Note: This is part of the Forestville Silver Foxes series, but can be read as a standalone. ... When the holiday romance you’re reading features a town with an on-the-nose name, the author better deliver the goods. Thankfully, we’re in good hands with Clare Lydon. Christmas in Mistletoe is an enemies-to-lovers tale of a Christmas-hating music exec who finds herself in the titular burg with the singer/songwriter who previously rejected her professional advances. I really enjoyed Fran and Ruby’s story, not to mention spending time with their families, friends, and Mistletoe’s residents. This was my first time reading Lydon, but I’ll definitely be checking out her other lesbian romances.
For my thoughts on DJ Jamison’s Grinch Kisses, plus more Christmas books to keep in mind for the holidays, check out this here link!
Even the people you really don't like are still people who just want to coexist. So get off their dicks!
Hello! I’m back with something that’s long overdue: a pop culture roundup! It’s been ages since I’ve done one of these, so there is a lot of ground to cover. Don’t worry. I won’t be covering everything I’ve experienced in the past few months — even though it may feel like it.
Drop me a line to tell me what films, shows, books, music, or podcasts you’re loving right now!
Till next time, kiddos.
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