Wayne’s 4 X 2: Barry, Asteroid City and MORE!
Do you want something to watch but aren’t sure where to start? 2SER’s entertainment wizard, Wayne Massingham is back and he’s got you covered with his reviews of the latest and greatest in film, music and television.
It’s Wayne’s 4 by 2! 4 Reviews, 2 minutes each. Here’s what Wayne had for us this morning:
Television: Barry
The 4th and final season sees Barry (Bill Hader) finally having to reckon with the fallout of his life as a hitman and a theatre actor. 8 episodes round out a spectacular finale for a show that started as a dark comedy before becoming one of the most consistent and sharply written dramas on television. Still filled with laughs and moments of profound intesity, Barry is a series you don’t want to miss.
Barry is out now on Binge. Watch the trailer here.
Film: Asteroid City
The 11th film from Wes Anderson (Royal Tenenbaums, Grand Budapest Hotel) is delightfully quirky, funny and full of both authentic emotive drama and meta commentary on the nature of performance and theatre. The film follows Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwatrzman), a photojournalist traveling with his children to the attend an annual science competition for kids in the desert town of Asteroid City. In the wake of a family tragedy Augie strikes up a relationship with famous actress Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johnasson) just as something truly out of this world occurs, changing the lives of everyone in ways that are unforeseen. Starring and ensemble cast of regular Anderson collaborators, Asteroid City is a quirky mediation on grief, human connection and how performance is integral to the human experience.
Asteroid City is in cinemas now. Watch the trailer here.
Television: Shining Girls
This thriller series is based on the 2014 bestseller of the same name by Lauren Beaukes. Starring Elizabeth Moss (The Handmaiden) as Kirby Mazrachi, an archivist for the Chicago Sun-Times, who is still recovering from an attack that nearly took her life years ago. Her assailant was never found. When she stumbles across an unsolved murder case that is strikingly similar to her own attack, she sets on on a journey of intrigue and suspicion, working with another reporter to solve the mystery of these cold cases and maybe bring their killer to light, and give Mazrachi closure.
Shining Girls is out now on AppleTV+. Watch the trailer here.
Album: Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You, Bonnie “Prince” Billy
Bonnie “Prince” Billy is the alias of Will Oldham, who’s been making music for 30 years. This is his first album in 4 years and sees Oldham exploring folk and gothic country music in a dark but gently beautiful package. There are no electric instruments here and no drums. The subjects might be intense or macabre, such as sex, death, love and rejection, but the melodic tones and relaxing musicianship will see this being a perfect summer listening album for when you are out on your patio.
Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You is out now on Bandcamp and Spotify.
