With the first round of midterms seemingly sneaking up already, it’s certainly around the time when we’re all pressed for time. But, in a little twist of counterintuition, this week might actually be perfect to squeeze in a trip to the theater, read the first chapter of a book or switch up your playlist. I’ve always found those pockets of time to be a brilliant way to unwind. All the noise quiets down for a minute and you can simply — wonderfully — escape.
The films opening this week include the hugely anticipated Amsterdam, the epitome of Hollywood ensemble casting, and Tár, a boundary-breaking indie. The Cannes Film Festival darling Triangle of Sadness is finally making its way into theaters too.
For the bookworms, murder runs amok in Pretty Dead Queens while Our Missing Hearts is said to deliver a gut-wrenching meditation on motherhood. If that isn’t your cup of tea, non-fiction literature is getting a timely addition: Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus attempts to make sense of the pandemic.
In the music world, Charlie Puth’s long-awaited album Charlie is finally on its way, as is Oh Wonder’s surprise new album 22 Make.
Below is what to watch and watch for this week. Enjoy!
To watch…
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, directed by John Lee Hancock — Oct. 5
A young boy (Jaeden Martell) discovers he can communicate with his deceased friend (Donald Sutherland) in this thriller based on Stephen King’s collection If It Bleeds.
Tár, directed by Todd Field — Oct. 7
This unconventional drama follows a renowned musician Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) as she attempts to write the greatest symphony of her career.
Triangle of Sadness, directed by Ruben Östlund — Oct. 7
This year’s winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the latest film from Swedish filmmaker Östlund centers around the aftermath of a disaster on a luxury cruise.
Amsterdam, directed by David O. Russell — Oct. 7
In a blending of fact and fiction, Amsterdam tells the outrageous story of three friends (Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington) who become suspects in a murder.
The Midnight Club, created by Mike Flanagan — Oct. 7
A group of five terminally ill patients come together at midnight to share scary stories in this horror thriller series.
To read…
Our Missing Hearts, by Celeste Ng — Oct. 4
Set in an alternate society ruled by fear, a young boy embarks on a journey to find his mother, drawing him into the worlds of history, folktales and literature.
Pretty Dead Queens, by Alexa Donne — Oct. 4
A teenage girl is drawn into a murder investigation after her town’s homecoming queen is killed, leading her to uncover secrets from long ago.
Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus, by David Quammen — Oct. 4
From the perspectives of the scientists studying the coronavirus, this nonfiction delves into the nature of viruses, exploring all that we have learned and have yet to learn.
A Scatter of Light, by Malinda Lo — Oct. 4
A Bay Area teen spends the summer before college navigating her identity in this queer coming-of-age tale.
To listen…
22 Make, by Oh Wonder — Oct. 7
The surprise second act of alt-pop duo Oh Wonder’s 22 Break, this album promises to be life-affirming and optimistic.
Charlie, by Charlie Puth — Oct. 7
Made over the pandemic, popular singer-songwriter Puth’s third studio album is said to be one of reinvention and starting anew.
