Watching

The Chaperone

Adapted from Laura Moriarty’s novel of the same name, The Chaperone tells the tale of the vivacious Louise Brooks – synonymous with the 1920s jazz era – in her teen years. Starring Haley Lu Richardson as Brooks, the film also brings in the big names like Miranda Otto and Elizabeth McGovern. Out in cinemas May 2.

Poms

Diane Keaton leads a (star-studded) squad in the comedy flick Poms. After checking into a retirement home, Martha (played by Keaton) rallies the troops and starts up a cheerleading squad with her fellow residents, Sheryl (Jacki Weaver), Olive (Pam Grier) and Alice (Rhea Perlman), proving that it’s never too late to realise a dream. Most definitely a film to catch with your own squad, catch it when it hits cinemas on May 9.

Listening

Mac DeMarco – Here Comes The Cowboy

Indie-rocker Mac DeMarco is tapped to release his newest music venture Here Comes The Cowboy on May 10. In his rad – albeit a little odd – music video ‘Nobody’ which served as a teaser of what’s to come on the upcoming album, DeMarco rocks a lizard/cowboy hybrid and maintains his classic indie-rock charms. The upcoming 13-track album is true DeMarco style and also possesses his quirky jangle-pop melodies.

Reading

Lock Every Door – Riley Sager

Apartment sitting in one of New York’s most high-profile buildings, home to those who play in the land of the rich sounds like a pretty sweet gig right? Yeah nah, not in Jules Larsen’s case – she has to follow a strict ‘no visitors, no nights spent away from the apartment and no disturbing the other residents’ rule. Feeling a sense of isolation from the other residents, Larsen befriends Ingrid, another apartment sitter who shines a little light on the building’s dark history. Brushing it off as nonsense, Larsen soon discovers that her friend Ingrid has disappeared and it is only a matter of time before her temporary status as an apartment sitter turns permanent. If Ruth Ware’s review, which went a little something like “Move over Rosemary’s Baby, urban paranoia has a deliciously Gothic new address”, is anything to go by, you’re guaranteed a novel that will take you on a twisty thrill ride.

Bingewatching

Samurai Champloo

An oldie but a goodie, Japanese anime Samurai Champloo flipped the switch on traditional anime by setting the series in an alternative version of Edo-era Japan with an anachronistic, predominantly hip hop setting. The critically acclaimed series created by Shinichirō Watanabe – who is also the brains behind critically acclaimed series Cowboy Bebop – follows three characters Fuu, Jin and Mugen and their quest to find a man who Fuu describes as “the samurai who smells of sunflowers”. Racking up a ton of rave reviews, Samurai Champloo is for you if you want something a little bit different.

Playing

A Plague Tale: Innocence

If you’re after a game that boasts a compelling narrative, carefully crafted characters, crisp game graphics and fluid gameplay as well as a side serving of spooky, get A Plague Tale: Innocence on your radar stat. The game takes a seemingly less than conventional route to most modern-day games in that it’s not an open-world sandbox with MMO (massively multiplayer online) elements or micro transactions. Instead, it embraces a self-contained linear narrative that follows protagonist Amicia, who is tasked with taking care of her younger brother Hugo after their parents are murdered on their estate in an Inquisition-style raid. Traversing through plague-torn France while also evading French and British soldiers who are embroiled in the Hundred Years’ War, the siblings are in a constant battle for survival; dodging the onslaught of rats riddled with the bubonic plague and outwitting the people who believe that Amicia and Hugo are a threat. Although A Plague Tale: Innocence may not possess in-depth mission-style gameplay, it embraces a stealth and problem-solving approach, does it well and builds on atmosphere and storytelling. Out on May 14, this game is a welcome change to recent releases.

Playlist
Masego ‘Tadow’ – Lady Lady | The Rolling Stones ‘Ride ‘Em On Down’ – Blue & Lonesome | Matt Corby ‘No Ordinary Life’ – Rainbow Valley | Jefferson Airplane ‘White Rabbit’ – Surrealistic Pillow | Khalid ‘Bad Luck’ – Free Spirit