A quick look at the movies, television shows, music, and books that have captured my attention over the past two months. Widow’s Bay Horror isn’t generally something I enjoy, but this show was more than just a bunch of scares. It was quite funny—I laughed often—and featured some really fascinating characters, and Matthew Rhys and Stephen Root really shine. The jump scares are few, but used effectively when they do come. This show is more than just a good horror series; it’s a darn good television series of any genre. Margo’s Got Money Troubles This series is charming and offers enough compelling drama to keep you hooked through its entire first season. The performances are great—Elle Fanning, Nick Offerman, and Michelle Pfeiffer are all excellent—and though it is a little lighter on comedy and heavier on seriousness than I expected, there’s a lot here to enjoy. RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars, Season 11 The bracket phases were pretty good, but once they merged the top queens and tried to pack all the final decisions into two episodes, the series lost its way. The winner was pretty clear from the start, and while she was deserving, the predictability did dampen the season a bit too. I still enjoyed it, but I think I’m growing tired of this franchise. Othello, Stratford Festival This production was less the story of Othello and more the story of Iago, and for that, it soars. The staging is spare but effective, and the lighting is an integral part of the production. The acting is phenomenal, and Evan Buliung as Iago especially shines as we see his interiority with every move and facial expression. You can always count on the Stratford Festival to do justice to Shakespeare; this rendition of Othello is sublime. Life After Ambition, Amil Niazi There is a lot to relate to in this memoir: the immigrant experience, the realization that the things that once drove you are the things holding you back, the reality that you can be more than what your ambition wants you to be. Niazi is a wonderful writer — her essays have resonated over the years — but I didn’t find the book to be as gripping as I thought it might be. I applaud Niazi’s storytelling prowess and relatability, but can’t seem to connect to everything in here. Still definitely worth a read. The Four Seasons, Season 2 The season falls short of the first one, but not by much: it’s still a ln enjoyable watch with many moments of humor and a few of sheer hilarity. There is some depth to the storylines as well, and of course the cast is wonderful. Tina Fey and Colman Domingo together shine. It’s an easy watch and an entertaining one; sometimes you don’t want to be too challenged, and this is a show for those times. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You The genius of this film lies in its unpleasantness: not just the situations in which Rose Byrne’s character finds herself, but also in the chaotic way it’s all shot and edited. The production choices make you feel stressed out, which is exactly what the movie is trying to do, and for that it is impressive. There were funny moments, but on the whole the movie succeeds because it makes you feel uneasy, and does it so well. Impressive stuff. The Odyssey Christopher Nolan makes ambitious and audacious films, and this one is exactly that. The scope of the film is sweeping, and it’s easy to get swept away by that grandiosity. I haven’t read The Odyssey in about twenty years, but his choices in the retelling seem to be pretty good. Still, I found myself checking my watch from time to time; a lot happens, but one wonders if it could have happened in a little shorter run time. Engrossing, epic, and impressive — not perfect, but something worth watching in theatres if you can. Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie Always fun to see Toronto star as itself in a movie, and it was fun recognizing the places and themes throughout the film. The story was a bit convoluted but still held together. I laughed a lot, but perhaps not as much as I was expecting; maybe this wasn’t geared to my sense of humor? I was impressed by how they pulled off all the set pieces, and appreciated the sheer audacity of the scope of the film. The Dink It’s a movie that telegraphs its whole story within the first ten minutes of the film: nothing surprising happens, everything is expected. Still, it’s funny, heartwarming, charming, and at times, completely ridiculous. And that makes for a wholly fun watch. Don’t come in expecting much, and leave feeling like you’ve had a good time. A perfect streaming movie to watch on a mindless evening when you have nothing to do.