To watch and watch for: Week of Oct. 27

As October comes to a close, we are on the precipice of the spookiest of nights. Some delight in this atmosphere, while others are more content to cower in their rooms with a good movie; yet still, others were just reminded that Halloween is this week, and are currently scrolling Amazon for costume pieces with same-day delivery. Whether your Halloweekend just passed, or for some reason you’re celebrating in November (weird choice), there are plenty of new releases and events which will soothe your soul — perhaps enough to reinhabit your body. 

My personal picks for this week are Clint Eastwood’s directorial return for Juror #2, a thrilling crime drama, and Tyler, The Creator’s highly-anticipated LP, Chromakopia, which will release on Monday, oddly enough. I’m inclined to stay in theme and warn you to “WATCH OUT,” but for the purposes of this article I’ll just tell you to “watch for”  these new releases: 

To watch…

Juror #2, directed by Clint Eastwood — Nov. 1

Clint Eastwood adds to his already superhuman career with his fortieth directed film, Juror #2. Written by Jonathan A. Abrams, the film tells the story of a man called for jury duty, thrusting him into a case which he is a bit too familiar with.

Here, directed by Robert Zemeckis — Nov. 1

Based on the 2014 graphic novel by Richard McGuire, this “Carousel of Progress”-esque film follows a singular plot of land from past to future, through multiple families and generations. 

A Real Pain, directed by Jesse Eisenberg — Nov. 1

Written by, directed by, and starring Jesse Eisenberg,  A Real Pain follows brothers David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) Kaplan as they reunite for a tour through Poland in memory of their deceased grandmother. Through laughs and tears, the two rehash their old quarrels and work through their complicated family history. 

To read…

This Motherless Land, by Nikki May — Oct. 29

From the author of Wahala, this novel charts the two different lives of cousins Liv and Funke. Funke moves from Nigeria to England as a child, and finds joy in the energetic Liv, who grows very protective of her younger cousin. As tragedy rends their family apart, their lives split , and they grow up separated by country and misunderstanding.

The Blue Hour, by Paula Hawkins — Oct. 29

Eris, an isolated island off the coast of Scotland, can only be accessed for twelve hours each day and inhabited by one person at a time. Vanessa, a notorious artist who was abandoned by her husband twenty years prior, previously inhabited the island, which is now inhabited by Grace, an introverted woman with a love of the ocean. Grace then receives an inquisitive visitor from London who intends to unravel the mystery of Eris. 

To listen…

Chromakopia, by Tyler, The Creator — Oct. 28

Tyler, the Creator is set to release his seventh studio album this Monday, an enigmatic move for most artists, but one that tracks with his distaste for Friday release dates and what he calls “passive listening.” The teaser-music video posted across Instagram, YouTube and Twitter titled “ST CHROMA” features Tyler with a bizarre parted flat-top afro wearing a mask and military uniform, and the only single released, “Noid,” features a cool, Funkadelic soundscape with multi-layered vocals. It’s looking like Tyler is back in IGOR-mode, but in an even cooler way.

Songs Of A Lost World, by The Cure — Nov. 1

It’s been sixteen years since The Cure has released a studio album. Needless to say, this LP has been in the works for a long time. Even its original release date in 2019 was a long-time coming, and there has been little indication of what paused production for so many years, other than the perfectionism of lead singer and songwriter Robert Smith. Regardless, with NME’s five-star review of the post-punk legends’ newest full-length work, it looks like we are in for a treat.

Eternal Atake 2, by Lil Uzi Vert — Nov. 1

With its eerie, paranormal cover art and narrative sci-fi trailer, Lil Uzi Vert once again shocks the industry with a surprise album. In the trailer, which shows Uzi Vert leaving Earth on a UFO (supposedly on March 6, 2020, the release date of the first Eternal Atake) and having his memory wiped by a crowd of purple-eyed women, it says that Eternal Atake 2 is “coming soon”. “Soon” is a relative term, but according to the pre-release listing on Apple Music, the project is set to release this Friday — just eight days after the trailer was released — which is probably far sooner than most would expect.

Live events…

“In the Stacks: Hop the Vote” at George Peabody Library — Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m.

In a special collaboration between In the Stacks and Hopkins Votes, this show will include stellar performances by the Peabody Institute student jazz ensembles which explore democratic themes and civic responsibility. This event is free, but registration is required. See website for more details.

Black Assets Presents: Soul Stage with Creative Alliance — Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Ashley Yates, a.k.a. “Black Assets”, a musician with soul, rock and RnB influences, will be headlining a concert featuring soul, funk and indie artists from the Baltimore music scene. According to the Creative Alliance website, Black Assets wants to “bring the soul back to the Charm City and trail blaze a lane for it here in Baltimore.” Tickets are $30 for General Admission, and $15 to watch virtually.

Zodiac Suite, Fountains of Rome and La Mer performed by the BSO and the Aaron Diehl Trio at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall — Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.; Nov. 3 at 3:00 p.m.

The modern jazz master Aaron Diehl will perform Mary Lou Williams’ Zodiac Suite alongside his trio and soprano Mikaela Benne, before conductor Karen Kamensek makes her BSO debut with Respighi’s Fountains of Rome and Debussy’s La Mer. It will be a night of colorful classical-jazz fusion. Ticket prices vary by seating.