PopaHALLics #115 "Poppanew!"
Happy New Year! We kick off 2024 with a chat about Paul Giamatti's Oscar-buzz performance in "The Holdovers," the discomfort of "Saltburn," Stephen King's return to a favorite character—and more!

Streaming:

• "The Holdovers," theaters and rental. In this drama, Giamatti plays a much-disliked history professor at a  New England boarding school forced to oversee a group of boys with nowhere else to go for the holidays.
• "Saltburn," Prime. A university student's obsession with a rich classmate turns into a series of horrifying events when he's invited to the family castle.  Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, and Alison Oliver star.
• "American Symphony," Netflix. In this intimate documentary, musician Jon Batiste sets out to write a symphony as his partner, author Suleika Jaouad, struggles with the return of her cancer.
• "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret," Hulu, Sling, other channels. In this adaptation of Judy Blume's beloved novel, an 11-year-old girl (Abby Ryder Fortson) navigates new friends, feelings, and adolescence after her family moves to the suburbs. With Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates. 
• "Blue-Eye Samurai," Netflix. In this French-American adult animated series, a half-Japanese/half white swordswoman seeks vengeance on four white men for their wrongs to her mother.  Gorgeous visuals, violence, and sex.

Books:

• "Holly," by Stephen King. Holly Gibney is one of King's more memorable recurring characters—a vulnerable, insecure young woman overcoming a difficult upbringing to become a private detective. Here she investigates a series of disappearances caused by an unlikely pair of serial killers.

Music:
Popahallics #115 Playlist features songs such as "Le Freak," "We Are Family," "Like a Virgin" and "Let's Dance"  written,  composed and/or produced by guitarist Nile Rodgers. If you'd like to see Nile in action, this NPR Tiny Desk Concert is great.