PopaHALLics

PopaHALLics #110 "Popalicious!"
From a chemist doing a cooking show in a serious drama to a time-traveling teen in a horror comedy, we offer the ideal recipes for pop culture enjoyment! We even sprinkle aliens, monsters,  and goshawks on top, and polish it off with pumpkin ale. Yum!

Streaming:

• "Lessons in Chemistry," Apple +. In this miniseries based on Bonnie Garmus' bestslling novel, sexism and life's troubles force chemist Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) away from the lab in the 1950s. Instead, she hosts a popular TV show where she gives housewives lessons in more than cooking.
• "Jules," rental. No one will believe retiree Ben Kingsley when he says a UFO has crashed into his flowerbed in this sweet offbeat comedy drama from one of the makers of "Little Miss Sunshine." With Harriet Sansom and Jane Curtin.
• "Theater Camp," Hulu. The eccentric staff members of a theater camp must band together when their beloved founder falls into a coma in this musical comedy. With Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, Amy Sedaris, and more!
• "Totally Killer," Prime.  In this horror comedy that draws inspiration from slasher movies, a killer murdered three girls 35 years ago and got away. When he murders a mom in the present, her daughter (Kiernan Shipka) time travels back to the 1980s to catch the killer and save her mom. Silly but heartfelt.
• "The Monster," Max. This horror flick finds a troubled mom and her preteen daughter having a breakdown on a deserted road in a rainstorm—and realizing they're not alone in the woods.

Books:

• "Horse," by Geraldine Brooks. This masterful novel interweaves three stories from the 1850s, 1950s, and 2019 that all relate to Lexington. The real thoroughbred was the fastest runner of his time and sired many champions.
• "H is for Hawk," by Helen MacDonald. In this acclaimed memoir, a British woman reeling from the death of her father takes on the notoriously hard training of a goshawk. The book also examines the life and work of goshawk enthusiast T.H. White ("The Once and Future KIng").
• "Bad Cree," by Jessica Johns. A young Cree woman's dreams lead her on a journey of self-discovery in this horror-laced debut.
• "House of Ghosts: A Gripping Murder Mystery Set in a Haunted House," by W.C. Ryan. During World War I, British intelligence sends two agents to a weekend of planned seances at the island home of a munitions manufacturer. In addition to ghosts, a German spy is present in this blend of Agatha Christie-esque mystery and gothic ghost story.

NOTE: You can find the links for more information  about these books in the episode's chapter markers. Buzzsprout was acting up and wouldn't include the links here.

PopaHALLics #109 "Start Making Sense"
Steve experienced the re-release of the restored "greatest concert film of all time," "Stop Making Sense." Just in time for "spooky season," Kate talks about two indigenous horror novels. And don't forget the home invasion thriller with 1 line of dialogue!

In Theaters:

• "Stop Making Sense." Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme ("Silence of the Lambs") and the Talking Heads directed this 1984 movie with arty staging and  everyone playing with "intense energy and joy" (Steve).

Streaming:

•  "Virgin River," Netflix. When you're in the mood for a soapy drama where you don't have to think too much, this show's for you! Kate kinda likes it.
• "No One Will Save You," Hulu. What's a girl (Kaitlin Dever) to do when skinny grey bug-eyed aliens try to invade her her remote home? Fight back, of course. 

Books:

• "White Horse," by Erika T. Wurth. In this horror novel, an Indigenous woman must face her past when she discovers a bracelet haunted by her mother’s spirit.
• "Bad Cree," by Jessica Johns.  A young Cree woman’s dreams force her to confront a legacy of violence on her family, community and their land in this gripping, horror-laden debut.
• "So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star," by Jacob Slichter. The drummer for Semisonic describes their wild ride to a #1 hit ("Closing Time") and how the music business worked in the 1990s. ("Money, money, money, MON-ey!")
• "Small Mercies," by Dennis Lehane.  Against the backdrop of racially-charged school integration in 1974 Boston, tough Southie broad Mary Pat Fennessy goes looking for her missing daughter in this acclaimed novel. 

Music:
Our Popahallics #109 Playlist features songs from the Talking Heads' "Stop Making Sense" soundtrack and Minneapolis trio Semisonic, the subject of the book "So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star." 

PopaHALLics #108 Who Are You?
Dad and daughter disagree on the merits of Netflix's "Who is Erin Carter?"—who do you think is right? We also look at two series: the "Justified" reboot and "Painkiller," about the origins of the opioid crisis. And new music (Kate) and, um, classic music (Steve).

Streaming:

• "Who is Erin Carter?", Netflix. In this British TV series, a substitute teacher (Evin Ahmad) foils a robbery with fighting skills she shouldn't have. Then her secret past comes calling.
• "Painkiller," Netflix. Matthew Broderick, Uzo Adoba, and Taylor Kitsch star in a provocative drama exploring the roots of this century's most pressing health epidemic. The perpetrators, the victims, the investigator seeking the truth all play their part.
• "Justified: City Primeval," Hulu. Timothy Olyphant dons the cowboy hat once again as lawman Raylan Givens. This time he's chasing a sociopathic killer in Detroit and trying to cope with a rebellious 15-year-old daughter. Shudder.

Books:

• "The Burning Girls," by CJ Tudor. In this 2021 horror novel from the UK's answer to Stephen King, an unconventional vicar and her teenage daughter come face to face with the dark secrets of an English village. And the ghosts of two girls burned at the stake centuries ago. 

Music:
Kate talks about the British electronic music project Jungle —think soul, with computers—and Steve revisits the Indianapolis Colts kickoff concert with John Mellencamp, Heart's Ann Wilson, Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band, Stephen Stills, and more. All are showcased on our Popahallics #108 Playlist!

PopaHALLics #107 "Murderous & Foreboding"
Characters are killing it—literally—in the streaming options and novels we discuss. A wife killing her "perfect" husband. A Broadway star taking an elevator shaft down without the elevator. And did we mention the creepy Swedish cult festival?

Streaming:

• "Midsommar," streaming & rental, In this 2019 horror film written and directed by Ari Aster, a dysfunctional couple (Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor) travel to a rural town for a midsummer festival that turns out more bizarre and violent than they expected. 
• "Only Murders in the Building," Hulu. Season 3: When an actor dies on opening night of the play by Oliver (Martin Short), he and his neighbors (Steve Martin and Selena Gomez) begin an investigation. With Meryl Streep, Jesse Williams, and Ashley Park.
• "Ahsoka," Disney +. In an 8-episode "Star Wars" series, the Jedi/not Jedi (it's complicated) warrior (Rosario Dawson) goes in pursuit of evil Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) with her headstrong Padawan (Natasha Liu Bodrizzo). With Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Hayden Christiansen. 
• "The Book Club," Peacock & rental. Reading "50 Shades of Grey" sparks the love lives of four women (Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, and Diane Keaton) in this romantic comedy.

Books:

• "Since We Fell," by Dennis Lehane. A woman develops a fear of leaving the house in this acclaimed 2017 novel adroitly mixing up suspense, romance, and possibly madness from the author of "Mystic River," "Shutter Island," and 'Gone Baby Gone."
• "The Mistborn: The Final Empire," by Brandon Sanderson. In book one of a trilogy, a thief and his companions take on the ultimate caper: Overthrowing the government of a being who has ruled for 1,000 years. 

Music:
Steve recently saw a ParliamentFunkadelic show featuring funk pioneer George Clinton as well as the band Fishbone. Experience some of their best numbers—and other funk as well—here!

Click through the links to watch, read and listen to what we're talking about.

PopaHALLics #106 "Barbie & the Bomb"
Millennial daughter and boomer dad both think director Greta Gerwig did a great job playing with dolls in the global phenomenon "Barbie." Kate also saw director Christopher Nolan's biopic "Oppenheimer" and reveals if the movie was a bomb or a blast. (Sorry!) We also joke about fans at a Vampire Weekend concert. (Sorry again!)

In Theaters:

• "Barbie." Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling play Barbie and Ken in this ambitious, entertaining comedy, also with America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, Rhea Perlman, and more.
• "Oppenheimer." This acclaimed biopic traces the career of the physicist (Cillian Murphy) who led the Manhattan Project and later fell from grace. With Robert Downey, Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, and more.

Books:

• "Vampire Weekend," by Mike Chen. Punk rocker Louise Chao's hermit-like existence as a vampire is upended when she befriends a troubled teen. "A love letter to music," Steve says.
• "Bloodroot," by Amy Greene. "A dark and riveting story of the legacies--of magic and madness, faith and secrets, passion and loss--that haunt one family across the generations."
• "V2," by Robert Harris. This thriller from the "Fatherland" author follows two people on either side of the WWII missile program designed to terrorize London—a German rocket scientist and an English woman determined to stop the V2.
• "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer," by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. This 2005 biography is the basis for the "Oppenheimer" film.

Music:
The novel "Vampire Weekend"  about a punk-rock vampire has so many musical references someone should build a playlist. Hey, someone has!

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what we're talking about.

PopaHALLics #105 "Popagumbo"
Dad and daughter record in the same room for a change—but they're still all over the pop landscape. Dolls that kill! Dealing-with-grief memoir! Dirty deeds in LA! Dungeons & Dragons! And yet we still find time to be mean to one of the Hemsworth brothers.

Streaming:

• "M3GAN," Prime and rental. In this hit horror comedy, a high-tech toy designer (Allison Williams) invents the perfect robot companion for her niece. What could possibly go wrong?
• "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," Prime, Paramount +, and rental. This fun action-packed heist comedy just happens to be set in a fantasy world. Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, and Michelle Rodriguez are among the stars.
• "65," Netflix.  Pilot Adam Driver crash-lands his spaceship on a strange world—Earth 65 million years ago. Can he get off the planet before dinosaurs eat him or a giant asteroid hits?
• "The Witcher," Netflix. Season 3 is your last chance to see Henry Cavill as mutated monster hunter Geralt, before Liam Hemsworth (younger brother of Chris and Luke) becomes the star of this fantasy adventure.

Books:

• "What Looks Bravery: An Epic Journey from Loss to Love," by Laurel Braitman. In this memoir, Braitman explores how losing her father at an early age helped  transform her into the person she wanted to become.
• "Everybody Knows: A Novel of Suspense," by Jordan Harper. In this acclaimed modern noir thriller set in LA, a fixer must discover why her boss was murdered before the dark side of the entertainment industry destroys her.
• "Shrines of Gaiety," by Kate Atkinson.  A queen of the underworld in glittering Jazz Age London faces threats from enemies—and her own family.
• "The Woman in the Library," by Sulari Gentill. In this mystery-within-a-mystery, four strangers in the reading room of the Boston Public Library become friends. But one of them is a murderer ... 

Click through the links above to watch and read about what we're discussing.

PopaHALLics #104 "Good Books & Bad Guys"
Still looking for a good summer read? We got you covered with a warm, spooky coming of age story, a murderous thriller, a memoir about family and addiction, and a collection of hopeful climate change-themed short stories. Or you can watch Bill Hader, Chris Hemsworth, and Emily Blunt kill people. Yes, even that nice Emily Blunt.

Books:

• "The Last Catastrophe: Stories," by Allegra Hyde. This collection of stories speculates about how mankind might grapple with climate change, from a RV caravan crossing the country until the fuel runs out to, well, zombies. 
• "The Saturday Night Ghost Club," by Craig Davidson. In this bittersweet coming-of-age novel, a group of misfit kids and an eccentric adult set out to investigate local ghost stories, and discover way more than they bargained for.
• "Stray: A Memoir," by Stephanie Danter. The bestselling author of "Sweetbitter" writes about" growing up in a family shattered by lies and addiction, and (her) attempts to find a life beyond the limits of her past."
• "One by One," by Ruth Ware. In this  suspense thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians," an avalanche traps a group of tech types in a Swiss chalet—with a killer among them.

Streaming:

• "Barry," HBO Max.  A hit man (Barry Hader) wants to become an actor in this acclaimed dark comedy. Henry Winkler and Stephen Root also play memorable characters in the show, which wrapped up this year after four seasons.
• "The English," Prime. In this revisionist Western, a limited series, a Pawnee ex-scout (Chaske Spencer) trying to make his way home teams up with an Englishwoman (Emily Blunt) bent on revenge. 
• "Extraction," Netflix. A black market mercenary (Chris Hemsworth, a long way from Thor here) is enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an international drug lord in this action thriller.  If you like it, there's already "Extraction 2!"
• "High Desert," Apple +. In this erratic comedy/mystery series, a woman (Patricia Arquette) grappling with her mother's death and her ongoing substance abuse talks her way into working for a struggling PI (Brad Garrett).

Let's Dance!
With tunes from Subwoolfer, Fatboy Slim, and more, PopaHALLics #Playlist 104 will make you move. And answer the question of why you should give that wolf a banana. 

PopaHALLics #103 "Indiana Jones & The Last Movie"
We review "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" and speculate why  Harrison Ford's final outing in the brown fedora is doing poorly at the box office. For those of you not into 80-year-old action heroes, we also discuss season 2 of "The Bear," the new "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," and "Violent Night," about a drunken embittered Santa on a slay ride. Get it?

In Theaters:

• "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge want to stop ex-Nazi Mads Mikkelsen from bending the laws of time and space. James Mangold, not Steven Spielberg, directs.
• "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Brooklyn's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man Miles Morales clashes with a team of Spider-People tasked with protecting the Multiverse in this animated adventure.

Streaming:

• "The Bear,"  Hulu.  In season 2 of the dramedy, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) tries to turn his neighborhood hot-sandwich joint into fine dining while still dealing with his rough crew. A recipe for disaster?
• "Violent Night," Prime and rental. Bad guys better watch out when a drunken, embittered Santa (David Harbour) interrupts a home invasion in this violent action comedy. Ho, ho, KA-POW!
• "Peggy Sue Got Married," rental. Steve revisits this 1986 movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola and has some reservations about it this time around. A struggling middle-aged woman (Kathleen Turner) is transported back to her senior year of high school.  

Whoops!
Two mistakes we caught post-editing: That's Buddy Holly himself singing the theme song in "Peggy Sue Got Married"—not Marshall Crenshaw, as Steve says. And the actress we're trying to remember in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"? Kate Capshaw, who screams a lot in that movie. How could we forget?

A Movie-Themed Playlist
Popahallics #103 Playlist features music used in "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," "Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse," "Peggy Sue Got Married," and "The Bear." For "Violent Night," we got creative with songs about bad Santas. Enjoy!

PopaHALLics #102 "Viva Mexico City!"
In a special episode, Steve takes us on a tour of pop culture in Mexico City, the oldest city in North America and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Art. Museums. Music. Mexican masked wrestling. It's a fun trip you won't soon forget!

Most of the music in this episode comes from street musicians playing for tips. Support your local buskers!

Way Down in Mexico
Our PopaHALLics #102 Playlist features songs about Mexico City, ranging from mambo to EDM to Green Day-style pop punk. The lyrics are in Spanish, but the music speaks for itself. Enjoy.

PopaHALLics #101 "Movie Dreams"
"Extraction USA" is a teaser trailer for a movie - that doesn't exist.  Yet.  In this interview with Steve and Kate, writer/director/DP Mike Yonts and star/producer Leanne Johnson talk about trying to get their female empowerment/action crime drama from screenplay to the big screen.  It's an interesting look into the scrappy, unpredictable world of independent filmmaking.

See the trailer and read about the movie, cast, and crew.

Find out more about Leanne.

Find out more about Mike. And hey, if you want to help get the film made ... 

Kate and Steve will be back with season 5 of PopaHALLics in July!