老司机传媒

Awww, did you guys miss me? I’ll admit, I kind of missed you too. Last week, I was so busy preparing a beautiful Night Market for you guys… I may have forgotten *gasp* about all the new media releases. Can you believe it?? I had no time to check out any of the new movies or TV shows released, but I promise you that I am back and better than ever this week! That’s right, I have an all new selection of movies, TV, and music, for you, my fellow busy people, to stream in your miniscule amounts of free time. Take a moment to celebrate love, loss, and the importance of activism in the picks below.

Movies

Till tells the fairly wellknown (and horrific) story of Emmett Till’s grievous murder and the ensuing fight for justice, through the eyes of his mother Mamie Till Mobley, played by Danielle Deadwyler (who you might recognize from Netflix’s cowboy jaunt “The Harder They Fall”). Early limited release audiences and critics have already rated the film a very impressive 99% on , which means they told the story and they did it well. The film is masterfully directed by Chinonye Chukwu and tells the enduring tale of how a mother’s love for her son never dies, even in death. If you enjoyed powerful classics about racial equity and justice like “Selma'' and “Just Mercy,” you’re sure to enjoy the passion and story behind “Till.” While I haven’t checked this one out yet, early viewers and critics promise a life-changing moment and a reminder that justice is something we should all be fighting for, every minute of every day. This one’s been on my watchlist for a while. October 28, in theaters.

Okay, to be fair, the closest place this movie is streaming is an hour away (my hometown of Kalamazoo, MI!) BUT I still think the content warranted a place on y’alls radar. The film tells the story of a woman who is overjoyed when she learns she is pregnant, until she discovers that following through with the pregnancy poses a very real threat to her life. The film goes on to detail the underground network of women who risk everything to provide her with the chance to choose. “Call Jane” stars Elizabeth Banks as the titular character, with Sigourney Weaver and Wunmi Mosaku playing the bastions of the network that helps her get access to an abortion. It features the directing work of Phyllis Nagy, who wrote the 2015 queer romance “Carol,” starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. While the film tackles dark and deeply relevant topics, it’s also set in 1968 Chicago, promising plenty of 60’s decade fashion inspiration and a vintage touch to the film’s aesthetic. “Call Jane” promises activism, passion, and a meaningful story centered around women’s health, women’s rights, and what happens when neither of those are prioritized. I hope it piques your interest, as it did mine! October 28, in theaters an hour away.

TV Shows

The Emmy award-winning series is back again for a stellar second season! After collecting a vast selection of Emmys this most recent awards season, from Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series to Jennifer Coolidge’s win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, the show drops its entirety this Sunday, for your weekend binging pleasure. This season moves its elitist guests to the shores of Sicily, Italy, with an all new cast and a completely different resort. It features several stars and just one returning actress: Jennifer Coolidge as the eccentric Tanya. The rest of the cast is filled out by Aubrey Plaza, Theo James, Haley Lu Richardson, Tom Hollander, and several others, to give us a story worth streaming for. Similar to its last season, “The White Lotus” at first glance seems idyllic and relaxing, but it takes just a bit of time to see the seedy underbelly beneath. Critics say the season continues to stay character-driven, exploring and digging up the character’s roots amidst an idyllic backdrop and a murder, or two. Last season gave us a glimpse of the mistreatment of native workers on the island paradises privileged America flocks to during the summer season; what will Sicily offer? Whatever it is, you can know that the new season of “White Lotus” will pique evocative, new, conversation. October 30; HBO Max.

Wednesday, October 19. Grace No (junior, English) and I settled into my couch to start the brand new season of “Love is Blind.” If you don’t know us, you might not understand our strange affinity for what some might consider trashy reality TV, but there’s something about “Love is Blind” that gets us every time. And, no, if you think we’re suckers for the “romance” of a proposal that comes after just days of speaking to each other—that’s definitely not why we stream. Instead, it’s for the laughs. Sure, I suppose every experience is what you make it, but for some reason the absolute preposterousness of the show makes for many hilarious moments. The show’s concept is that people looking for marriage meet in “pods” where they can’t see one another, and can’t see each other until one of them proposes. Contestants don’t know what their significant other looks like until they’ve already committed to spending the rest of their lives together. Then, they go on to spend several weeks together face-to-face, the first of which are spent on a honeymoon-esque island vacation and the second half of which is spent living and working together. The show climaxes with a wedding episode where contestants don’t decide whether to say yes to marriage until they are literally at the altar. Anyway, whether you check out the new season or not, I certainly recommend it. The stakes are high, the drama is high, and consequently so is the laughter. Wednesdays; Netflix.

Music

Was it just me or was “Certified Lover Boy” full of bangers? Drake’s last album, I have to admit, slowly grew on me. When it was first released, I was unimpressed, but as I started to hear the songs all over (while grocery shopping, on the radio, my friend’s playlists) I caught onto the hype. But whether you’re a personal fan of Drake’s music or not, you know his music is always a fan favorite, and “Her Loss” won’t be any different, especially with the addition of 21 Savage. “Knife Talk,” one of the headliner singles from “Certified Lover Boy,” features the duo together and instantly hit top charts and people’s playlists everywhere. They also collaborated on “Jimmy Cooks” (potentially a reference to Drake’s “Degrassi” character Jimmy Brooks) for Drake’s most recent dance album “Honestly, Nevermind.” They announced their collaborative album during the music video for “Jimmy Cooks,” an almost unanimous crowd pleaser not so unlike “Knife Talk.” The pair keeps things catchy, intense, and always hard-hitting, which “Her Loss” promises to deliver. October 28.

Can it even be a column of “Currently” if I don’t at least mention the album on everyone’s tongues for the past week? That’s right, Taylor Swift had a new release and Swifties everywhere rejoiced! Aside from the notorious Taylor Easter eggs (she essentially confirms the under-wraps Swift-Karlie Kloss relationship in the single “Question…?”), the album features more of a soft dance-pop sound than the soulful country-esque pop of her last original release: “evermore.” The shift in tone is already hinted at by the dark eyeshadow and classic red lip featured in the album’s cover and continues throughout the tracklist. My personal favorite is definitely either “Vigilante S***” or “Midnight Rain,” ironically for entirely different reasons. While the former gives us yet another look at the dark Reputation-era Taylor sound, for me, “Midnight Rain” accomplishes the difficult task of verbalizing a feeling I’ve felt many times. And since I don’t want to get too personal with it, I guess you’ll have to check it out yourself if you want to know the tea. Happy streaming! Already out.