PopaHALLics #161 "All in the Family"

Family runs through this episode, whether it's a crime family with a manipulative matriarch, a family of animals (dinosaurs) or a homeless-looking guy trying to build a "family" from hostages to stop technology from taking over the world.

In Theaters:

• "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die." In this sci-fi action comedy with crazy visuals, a man claims to have come from the future to prevent dangerous AI. Starring Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, and Juno Temple.

Streaming:

• "How to Get from Heaven to Belfast," Netflix. In this Irish comic mystery/thriller from the creator of "Derry Girls," three lifelong friends attending the wake of a fourth realize something's amiss.
• "Animal Kingdom," Prime. Ellen Barkin stars as a crime family matriarch who rules her sons and grandson with borderline incestuous love. Six seasons of this American crime drama, based on an Australian film, are available.
• "The Dinosaurs," Netflix. With stunning CGI, this four-episode series from producer Stephen Spielberg traces the rise and fall of the dinosaurs. Morgan Freeman narrates this spiritual successor to "Life on Our Planet" (2023).

Books:

• "Empire of Madness: Reimagining Western Mental Health for Everyone," by Khameer Kidia. A physician argues our mental healthcare system focuses on medicating symptoms rather than addressing root causes like history, culture, and political structures.

Music:

• Harry Styles returns with the disco and electronic-pop-tinged album, "Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally." And cohost Steve Hall releases his first solo record in 13 years, "It's Alive" (Remastered), as well as "First Wind" by his band the Windbag Brothers. All are featured on PopaHALLics #161 Playlist (Harry).

The Fair Use Doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for such purposes as comment and criticism.

PopaHALLics #160 "It's Time to Light the Lights"

From Kermit the Frog to the KGB, from Bad Bunny to "Eternity," we are all over the pop culture landscape. There's even a short review of Oscar-nominated shorts.

Streaming:

• "Eternity," Apple TV. After a woman (Elizabeth Olsen) dies in this romantic comedy, she must choose who she wants to spend eternity with: Her longtime husband (Miles Teller) or her husband who died young (Callum Turner).
• "The Muppet Show," Disney +. In this special like their old series (1976-1981), Kermit and the gang try to put on a show despite backstage chaos. Singer/songwriter/actress Sabrina Carpenter is the guest star.
• "Ponies," Peacock. This Cold War thriller features two women (Emilia Clarke and Haley Liu Richardson) becoming unlikely spies in Moscow to investigate their husbands' mysterious deaths.
• Oscar-nominated live action shorts: "The Singers," Netflix; "A Friend of Dorothy," YouTube; and "Jane Austen's Period Drama," YouTube. Through March 2, you can also watch seven of the nominated live-action and animated shorts at manhattanshortonline.com for $12.

Books:

• "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox," by Maggie O'Farrell. In this 2006 novel by the author of "Hamnet," the release of a great-aunt from a psychiatric hospital after 61 years forces a woman to confront a hidden family history of secrets and shame.
• "Our Mothers' Daughters," by Judith Arcana. This nonfiction book from the 1970s uses interviews to explore the relationship between mothers and daughters.

The Fair Use doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for such purposes as criticism and comment.

PopaHALLics #!59 "Train Dreams and Wonder Men"

We discuss the Oscar-nominated "Train Dreams," Marvel TV series "Wonder Man," the latest "Bridgerton," and more! Plus Resident Kid Expert (age 10) reviews "KPop Demon Hunters."

Streaming:

• "Train Dreams," Netflix. A logger (Joel Edgerton) struggles with the meaning of life in this Best Picture nominee. With Felicity Jones and William H. Macy.
• "His and Hers," Netflix. Estranged spouses (Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal) compete to solve a murder case while both thinking the other did it.
• "Wonder Man," Disney +. A struggling actor with superpowers (Yahya Abdul Mateen II) and a pretentious acting vet with a hidden agenda (Ben Kingsley) develop an unlikely friendship. Based on the Marvel comic.
• "Bridgerton," Netflix. In season 4, rake Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) is intrigued by a masked woman (Yerin Ha) at a ball. Upstairs and downstairs!
• "Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game," Tubi. A young GQ writer/pinball wizard seeks out to change the game being illegal in NYC in this true story.
• "KPop Demon Hunters," Netflix. This animated musical about a girl group battling demons is Netflix's most-watched original film, with over 500 million views.

Books:

• "Up Jumps the Devil" and "Reincarnation Blues," by Michael Poore. Two humorous fantasies. In the first, the Devil tries to make America great to win back his heavenly love. In the second, Milo is running out of lives to become one with everything—including his true love.
• "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil," by V.E. Schwab. In this acclaimed novel, three female vampires over the centuries deal with love and rage.

Fair use doctrine of US copyright law allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism and comment.