As the semester comes to a close, you might find yourself with more free time on your hands than you anticipated. In these situations, left stranded without overly intensive problem sets and an endless array of convoluted chapters to skim over, art can be a shining light or a playful tool of distraction.
In cinemas now, the horror film The Tank, directed by Scott Walker, allows for a mix of ‘70s nostalgia and shivering adrenaline, as an ancient creature terrorizes a family of three. If you want something lighter, you might enjoy the laid-back action/comedy Polite Society, directed by Nida Manzoor, for a heartwarming story full of martial arts and slicing quips.
If you’re not tired of reading or would like to peruse something other than your coursework for a change, indulge yourself in Ghost Girl, Banana by Wiz Wharton, a story of past identity suppression, as protagonist Lily fights to rediscover her lost heritage. While you read or maybe even start studying for finals, you might want to check out Maryland rapper redveil’s playing w/ fire, which furthers the young career of this neo-soul, hip-hop star.
Here’s what to watch and watch for during the final week of the semester.
To watch...
The Tank, directed by Scott Walker — April 21
After Ben’s mother passes away, he and his wife, Jules (Luciane Buchanan), inherit an overgrown, abandoned property with a private beach and are offered a great sum of money for the land. When Ben (Matt Whelan) fixes the water tank, a hidden monstrous creature is released, and the once-exotic landscape becomes imbued with lurking evil and dark premonitions.
Polite Society, directed by Nida Manzoor — April 28
In this exciting action comedy, Ria Khan (Priya Kansara), with help from her friends, uses her skills as an aspiring stunt woman to save her older sister Lena (Ritu Arya) from her forthcoming wedding.
Moonage Daydream, directed by Brett Morgen — April 29
This artistic and abstract film, which depicts the spiritual and musical journey of David Bowie throughout his turbulent career, will become available to stream on HBO Max this week. The colorful and intense edits add to the already fantastic story of one of the most successful pop artists of all time.
To read...
Ghost Girl, Banana by Wiz Wharton — Apr 25
Ghost Girl, Banana is a story set in two different but connected time periods, following Sook-Yin in Hong Kong and London during the Chinese Windrush of 1966 and Sook-Yin's daughter, Lily, 30 years later in London. When Lily learns of Sook-Yin’s exile to London, in which she was forced to train to become a nurse for the sake of her family’s reputation, she decides to go on a solitary pilgrimage across the world to find her lost identity.
For You and Only You: A Joe Goldberg Novel, by Caroline Kepnes — April 25
As the title suggests, Kepnes’ book — the fourth in her You series — embraces irony and metanarratives, as she writes about an aspiring writer Joe Goldberg and his transition from selling books to a writing fellowship at Harvard University. The story showcases the struggles of getting published in an increasingly competitive art form, especially since Goldberg’s acquaintances have a major head start.
To listen...
playing w/ fire EP, by redveil — April 19
With features from JPEGMAFIA and Mekdelawit, Maryland rapper redveil hopes to capitalize on his recent feature on JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown’s collaborative project SCARING THE HOES. The tracklist only totals 15 minutes, but the creative production — with resonant bells, synths and distorted beats — gives a small taste of this up-and-coming rapper-producer’s potential.
The Fossora Remixes, by Björk and Shygirl — April 22
After Björk’s 2022 album Fossora, which blended electronic and orchestral elements into an increasingly avant-garde tracklist, the eccentric artist is releasing a full album of remixes by Shygirl. The English rapper adds a head-bopping layer to an already uniquely spiritual listening experience.
Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 — Swamp Savant, by Diplo — April 28
In this sequel to Diplo’s 2020 album, Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: Chapter 1 — Snake Oil, the ever-improving DJ seeks to top past success while sticking to his roots. To prepare, he went back to his father’s house in Florida, collaborated with a unique set of rappers and attended Stagecoach Music Festival to further develop his creative landscape.
