Movies to catch, books to read, television to bingewatch, music to dance to and podcasts to fill your spare time.
Movies
Lee
Kate Winslet stars in this biopic about photographer Elizabeth ‘Lee’ Miller, who found fame as a war correspondent for ‘Vogue’ magazine during World War 2. Some of her images, including from the liberation of Paris and of the Buchenwald and Dachau concentration camps, are rightly considered some of the war’s most iconic. There’s plenty of material from a life of light and shade, offering Kate Winslet her meatiest role since her 2015 gem ‘The Dressmaker’.
Never Look Away
Keeping with the theme of brave women, this film tells the story of pioneering Kiwi camerawoman Margaret Moth. Directed by Xena herself, Lucy Lawless, it’s a suitably unflinching look at the life of a remarkable woman who stared down death many times in her career only to die aged 59 of cancer.
Saturday Night
We didn’t get to see the TV show but we sure got the talent – NBC's sketch comedy series has launched the careers of, to name a few, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler ... you get the idea. This film tells the story of the first show, and how it was nearly the last.
Bingewatching
La Maison
It’s ‘Succession’ with better clothes in this study of the family dynasty behind a French haute couture house under pressure. Being fiction opens the door to it being closer to the truth than any doco. A very good-looking cast, also, as you would expect. Apple TV+
Funny Woman
Back for a second season, this adaptation of Nick Hornby’s bestseller follows the fortunes of Blackpool beauty queen turned comedian Barbara Parker, or Sophie Straw to her growing fanbase, as she climbs the slippery ladder of fame in 1960s Britain. NEON
Disclaimer
Cate Blanchett stars in this Alfonso Cuarón creation, playing the role of an investigative journalist on whom the tables turn when she becomes the centre of someone else’s story. Also stars the wonderful Kevin Kline. Apple TV+
Listening
Neilson Sings Nelson – Tami Neilson
You had us with the title for this one – frock ‘n’ roll star Tami Neilson returns to her roots for an album celebrating the songs of country legend Willie Nelson. She even gets to duet with her musical hero on ‘Beyond the Stars’. Other highlights are ‘Sister's Coming Home’ and ‘Always on My Mind’.
Key – Alison Moyet
Marking her 40th anniversary as a solo artist, UK soul singer Alison Moyet revisits her back catalogue as well as presenting some new songs on this album of 18 tracks. The album title is also the name of her world tour, which arrives in Christchurch in May. The songs here capture the breadth of Moyet’s talents both as a singer and as a songwriter. A real treat.
MTV Unplugged In New York – Nirvana
It’s worth celebrating just for the cover of David Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ – Nirvana’s gig on the MTV series Unplugged in New York turns 30 in November. It was the first release by the band since Kurt Cobain’s death in April 1994 and it only added to the consensus that one of the greats had gone far too soon.
Reading
Make It Make Sense – Bel Hawkins
From one of the Kiwi team behind the global web hit Shit You Should Care About comes a book to help you with the angst that comes with caring. Dip into Bel Hawkins’ mix of analysis, personal stories, poems and lists – all played out as a conversation between freinds – whenever you feel like nothing makes sense anymore.
Marry Me In Italy – Nicky Pellegrino
You can taste the tiramisu and smell the lavender all over again in Nicky Pellegrino’s latest in her series of novels set in Italy. The storyline this time involves weddings and a charming (aren’t they all?) hilltop town, summer encounters and just deserts. As ever though, just being in Nicky’s Italy for a while is the hook here.
Life Hacks From The Buddha – Dr Tony Fernando
Auckland psychiatrist, mindfulness specialist and Buddhist monk Dr Tony Fernando offers some straightforward steps to a calmer you in a book that draws on the 2000-year-old teachings of the Buddha and places them in today’s world. Guess what – stress and suffering are nothing new and there is much we can learn from the wisdom of the ancients.
Podcasts
Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial
Relive the trial that stopped a nation in this offering from the NZ Herald podcast team. Chelsea Daniels’ despatches from the High Court in Auckland begin on the first day and continue to the jury’s finding of not guilty.
Love Better
While we are fan-girling about the Shit You Should Care About team, here’s a collab they did with the Ministry of Social Development as part of a campaign aimed at fostering safe, positive and equal relationships.