We round up three great films, reads, shows to bingewatch, new albums to treat your ears to and a couple of decent podcasts to enlighten.

Watching

Cityscape reviews some of the best from the current crop of cinema releases.

Black Widow Finally, what Marvel fans have been waiting years for has finally arrived – a film all about everyone’s favourite ex-KGB-operative-turned-badass-superheroine, Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow. The film picks up after the events of Captain America: Civil War and sees Black Widow pursued by a force hell-bent on taking her down. As she’s faced with a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past, Natasha must confront her history as a spy, as well as the broken relationships she left behind.

Miss In France, 2004, 9-year-old boy Alex dreams of one day entering the Miss France beauty pageant and winning the crown. 15 years later, after the loss of his parents and several blows to his self confidence, a chance encounter reawakens Alex’s determination to achieve his dream. A modern Cinderella story where both prince and princess are one, this is a lighthearted drama about accepting who you are and striving for what you want against all odds.

The United States Vs Billie Holiday In 1940s New York, legendary jazz musician Billie Holiday (brought dazzlingly to life by Andra Day) becomes the target of a mission by the Federal Department of Narcotics to escalate and radicalise the war on drugs. This gritty and glamorous autobiographical drama follows Billie’s rise to fame, her struggles with addiction and her affair with the federal agent leading the undercover sting against her.

Reading

Pene Whitty from University Bookshop Canterbury shares the books currently sitting at the top of her must-read list.

Grief on the Run by Julie Zarifeh Many Christchurchians will remember the story of Julie Zarifeh and the tragic loss of her son Sam in a white-water rafting accident, just sixteen days after her husband Paul died of pancreatic cancer in 2017. In this memoir, Julie shares her ‘active grieving’ process, from the 800-kilometre Camino de Santiago to running the New York City Marathon for the Mental Health Foundation. An inspirational love story to Julie’s family.

Unsheltered by Clare Moleta Tough, expert forager Li is more than capable of looking after herself, but with her eight-year-old daughter Matti missing, she will need all her instincts to survive. As she tracks her daughter across a disintegrating country, the journey will test the limits of her trust, hope and love. A continually surprising and profoundly moving debut novel that taps into some of our worst fears and most implacable motivations.

Lean Fall Stand by Jon McGregor When an Antarctic research expedition goes wrong, the consequences are far-reaching, for the men involved and for their families back home. After Doc suffers a stroke and is unable to speak, his wife Anna puts her own life on hold to care for him. Award-winning novelist Jon McGregor presents a stunning novel that looks at the human impulse to tell our stories, even when communication is a huge hurdle.

Bingewatching

What we're hoovering up on the small screen.

Worn Stories There’s no shortage of shows about living a minimal life and clearing out your closet, but what about the things you do keep? What makes them special? Often funny and always heartfelt, this docuseries explores the fascinating, quirky and moving stories behind real people’s most meaningful items of clothing. Watch on: Netflix.

The Drowning A moody, four-part mystery thriller. Jodie – whose four-year-old son, Tom, drowned nine years ago – happens to pass a teenage boy in the street who looks just like her missing son. She becomes convinced that the boy is Tom and steals her way into his life, determined to uncover the truth. Watch on: Netflix.

Zerozerozero In the mountains of southern Italy, a crime lord with a tenuous hold on his teetering empire plans a drug deal that – if successful – will restore his standing and his glory. Part mafia saga, part crime thriller and part family drama, action-packed and engagingly told. Watch on: Neon.

Listening

ALBUMS

Demi Lovato – Dancing with the Devil… The Art of Starting Over A companion to the powerful 4-part documentary, Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil, chronicling the story of Demi’s path to healing after a near-fatal overdose in 2018. The record opens with a few soul-baring, moving ballads, before transitioning to the more hopeful material – the ‘starting over’ part. Some of the artist’s most vulnerable work yet.

easy life – life’s a beach After winning Best New British Act at the NME Awards in 2020 and releasing three ‘mixtapes’ that have notched up the eagerness surrounding this unique indie hip hop group, the highly anticipated easy life debut album, life’s a beach, is finally here. It’s an escapist catalogue bursting with introspective, outside anthems. It’s a celebration of individualism at all costs.

Adam Hattaway and the Haunters – Woolston, Texas The third studio album from these Christchurch-based alt-rockers is a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, with a bit of chaos and Christchurch-bred humour thrown in the mix. The flavour is mostly upbeat, touching on dark themes and heartfelt laments in a high-tempo, Beach-Boys-esque fashion, with lots of guitar solos. Soulful and layered with stories to tell, this is a hallmark of a band truly finding their groove.

PODCASTS

The Sandman Based on Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel and starring such notable names as James McAvoy, Michael Sheen and Andy Serkis, this audio drama adaptation follows the Lord of Dreams, one of a group of siblings tasked with watching over various aspects of reality.

Affordable Interior Design Presented by decorating guru and author Betsy Helmuth, every episode of this weekly podcast shares affordable design advice, answers your design questions and discloses secrets the pros don’t want you to know to help you beautify your home.