Movies: Every time I saw trailers for “Argylle” I thought: I don’t think so. The critics now agree. Expect it to bomb this weekend…TV/Streaming: “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” looked delicious. But after two episodes we have to conclude it is a major disappointment. I never thought a series about Truman Capote could be lacking in fun. But this one is…Books: “Errand into the Maze,” Deborah Jowitt’s book about Martha Graham, is quite absorbing…Music: If the Oscars are my favorite awards show to predict, the Grammys, held this weekend, are my favorite awards show to watch — because of all the performances…Sports: No playoff American football this weekend, so I’ll be watching the NHL all-stars game. And the Knicks, of course, who are — yes, it’s true! — for real.
I couldn’t let another day go by without paying tribute to Broadway star Chita Rivera, who just died at 91. But I couldn’t do better than this appreciation by my friend Hal Rubenstein.
Movies: I’ve been an Ian McShane fan since HBO’s “Deadwood,” so I’m keen for “American Star”…TV/Streaming: Am still watching “True Detective” with Jodie Foster in the tundra…Otherwise, it’s been a winter-chill re-watch binge of Ted Lasso…Books: Can’t wait to read the new non-fiction collection from Calvin “Bud” Trillin: it’s called “The Lede”…Music: I’ve been listening to a lot of orchestral music lately, not just the predictable classical variety but also instrumental composites of old-school R & B hits…Sport: Now that Green Bay is not in the NFL post-season I guess I will transfer my allegiance to another Upper Midwest team: the Lions
As usual, LemonWade’s Oscar expert Rex Okpodu did a list of Oscar-nom predictions, but I couldn’t post them yesterday because of technical problems on this site. But I can say that the noms were announced today (list here) and Rex did his usual bang-up job of predicting. He was 4/5 or 5/5 in all major categories. Especially impressive: he got all 10 best pic nominees right. Congrats, Rex!
Movies: The Mean Girls” musical is the latest in the “Mean Girls” franchise…”Origin” is inspired by Isabel Wilkerson’s lauded book “Caste,” and I can’t wait to see it…TV/Streaming: I’m not sure the tundra-cold new “True Detective” installment is the best way to counter-act the chill outside, but I will watch anything starring Jodie Foster…Books: Benjamin Stevenson’s “Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect” is an homage to Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” mystery…Music: Ariana Grande’s new single, “yes, and?”, is a little too Madonna for my taste — but you can dance to it…Sports: I find myself rooting for Green Bay in this weekend’s NFL playoffs.
Movies: I finally caught up with “A Zone of Interest,” and I can now say that along with “Oppenheimer” it is my favorite movie of the past year…TV/Streaming: This Sunday brings new PBS seasons of “Miss Scarlett and The Duke” and “All Creatures Great and Small”…Music: On Saturday, the Met broadcasts Verdi’s “Nabucco” — it’s been a big-Verdi season at that opera house…Books: “Time’s Echo,” by the Boston Globe music critic Jeremy Eichler, is a stirring reflection on the relationship between memory, the Holocaust, and the Second World War…Awards: On Sunday, we witness the first big event of the 2024 Oscar season: the Golden Globes. “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” are the favorites…Sports: Sunday brings a Premier League match between Liverpool, currently number one, and Arsenal, who are having a mid-season slump.
