#8: The Saturday 411
Your April update on what we've been watching and what we're looking forward to: Severance, Civil War, and more!
Happy Saturday!! Not only have you made it through another week, you’ve also made it through another month.
I’m not sure about you, but April has gone by way too fast for me. I was just getting used to writing “04” in my bullet journal, and it’s almost time to move on. I’m hoping this isn’t a trend for the summer, and I intend to carve out some slow afternoons to enjoy the mild weather and a good book.
Speaking of good books, I finally finished The Good Lord Bird by James McBride and I cannot recommend it more highly. It’s sui generis — brilliant, hilarious, bold, and poignant. I laughed out loud on most pages, and underlined many sentences. If you’re looking for a great fiction read for the summer, look no further!
And speaking of the end of the month — it’s almost time for us to drop our first ever Leading Ladies Film Club podcast! I hope you’ve watched The Zone of Interest, or are planning to watch it this weekend, because
and I had a great conversation about this very difficult movie that will be coming to your inboxes on Tuesday, April 30.Then we’ll share our May movie of the month! We’re excited!
It’s been several weeks since we put out the last Saturday 411, so here is a little reminder on what you’ll get from this monthly installment:
A general Leading Ladies update
What we’ve been watching (old and new)
What we’re looking forward to watching
And here’s why we’re writing the 411:
It’s fun to write
We want to stay up to date with what’s coming out
So that you can also stay up to date with what’s coming out
But really so that we don’t miss the good stuff in theaters and streaming…
And we don’t want to forget the good stuff that’s been out for a while
Yes, we are self-interestedly making lists so that we stay on track. We’re curing our FOMO. I’m leveraging Tory’s knowledge of the industry. It’s great.
We know that there’s so much out there — more than we ourselves can watch and write about, and more than you have time to read about and watch. Our monthly breakdown will hopefully give you enough information and direction to use your entertainment time well and wisely. We’re trying to do the same.
What We’ve Been Watching
Heather
My husband and I finally finished the first and only season Severance (Apple TV+), after dragging it out for three months. The reality is we’ve been so busy that we’ve hardly been able to watch any film or television. I call that a win.
But Severance is a thriller, a mystery, a show in which, as Ben said, “every answer is another question.” Part of me wishes we had watched the whole season in one week. Another part of me is glad that we really took our time, letting every episode sink in and remain distinct rather than blurring together. Then we would spend the days between wondering and guessing about what’s really going on. Kind of like the pre-streaming days of cable tv!
But the worst part is: we sat down to watch Episode 9, excited for a double header, because we were certain there were 10 episodes. Most miniseries have 10 epsisodes, right? Only to find out that the cliff hanger for Episode 9 is the cliff hanger for the entire first season. Brutal!
I hear that Ben Stiller and his team wrapped on Season 2, but it may not come out until early 2025. The world waits with baited breath to find out what’s going to happen to our favorite Macrodata Refiners.
Severance is one of the best television series I’ve ever watched (and has some mad intense leading ladies) and I can only hope that Season 2 doesn’t change my mind.
I also watched Barbie (Max, Prime) again for Mary McCampbell’s film class. It was even better the second time. I laughed out loud (alone), cried, and noticed more layers than before. This is an insanely detailed film. True artistry in every way. Greta Gerwig’s magnum opus has made it into my top 5 all-time favorite movies list.
A few other honorable mentions:
Ugly Betty (Netflix) is my current personal feel good show. On a sick day at the end of March, I needed a new show to watch by myself and after seeing America Ferrara at the Oscars, I knew I wanted more of her! My bff Alli has told me to try Ugly Betty over the years. I’m so glad I finally did.
America Ferrara plays Betty, a girl who is relentless and unwavering in her dream of working in journalism, even if that means working at a fashion magazine when she herself has the style of, well, someone who would get put on TLC’s What Not To Wear. I just can’t get enough of her verve right now; her positivity and purity are inspiring. And there’s something comforting about watching an old (!!) show that first premiered on ABC in 2006. Feels nostalgic. Feels like going home. There are no smartphones. What a dream.
On the occasional night that we have time to chill with a show, Ben and I love Kim’s Convenience (Netflix). It’s about a Korean Canadian family who run what we New Yorkers would call a “bodega.” It’s funny, appropriate, and feel-good. Mr. and Mrs. Kim are well-meaning parents who often embarrass their children with their Korean-ness. Mr. Kim’s relationship with his daughter, Janet, is very sweet. Appa reminds me of my dad who used to say it was his job to embarrass me. And by the way, Simu Liu, who plays Janet’s estranged brother Jung, is also one of the prominent Kens in Barbie!
Lastly, my sister-in-law and I are making our way through The Crown, a brilliant show about the ultimate leading lady, Zoe for the first time and me for the nth time. It’s still so. good.
Tory
Civil War (Theaters): Kirsten Dunst plays a seasoned photojournalist covering an American Civil War in the not-so-distant future. She goes on a mission to DC with her friend and collaborator, Joel, but they’re accompanied by a couple of unwanted tagalongs: an older mentor figure from a rival publication and an aspiring photographer. Through the danger of their mission, the audience is confronted with both how evil and how naive people can be. This movie is designed to be lifelike, and the sound is phenomenal. It’s something you need to see in theaters if you can.
Dinosaur (Hulu): A show about a pair of twenty-something sisters and best friends living in Glasgow, Scotland. One is an autistic paleontologist and one is about to marry a man she’s known for six weeks. What could go wrong? This show isn’t as funny as it could have been, but it’s heartwarming and episode five did literally move me to tears. There’s not a lot out there depicting modern-day life in Scotland, which makes this an extra-enjoyable watch.
The Regime (Max): This show is bad. I don’t know why I kept watching it. I think it was some sort of misguided loyalty or trust in Kate Winslet. There was no one to root for and things didn’t feel high stakes at all until episode four. There is a surprising twist at the end, but the payoff didn’t feel commensurate with the slog I had to wade through to get there.
Parachute (Apple TV, Prime): Brittany Snow wrote, directed, and produced this movie, revealing she has talent beyond anything I ever suspected. It’s a semi-autobiographical story about a girl with an eating disorder. Usually, I find movies about addiction inaccurate at best and utterly cringe at worst, but somehow Snow nails this with sincerity and veracity.
Looking forward to
Tory
Palm Royale 3/24 (Apple TV+): This period piece set in 1960s Palm Beach, Florida is earning mixed reviews, but with Kristen Wiig (she’s back, baby!), Laura Dern, Allison Janney, and Carol Burnett (yes, that Carol Burnett) in the cast, I think it’s at least worth a shot.
Unsung Hero 4/26 (Theaters): If you know the band For King & Country or the singer, Rebecca St. James, this movie is a must-see. It’s inspired by the true story of their family’s journey from Australia to America and the path these siblings take to enter the Christian music industry. Little else is known right now, but Candace Cameron Bure is also listed in the cast.
Challengers 4/26 (Theaters): At first glance, this movie looks like it could be just a sexy, young adult love triangle but I’ve heard more than one outlet say this could be Zendaya’s shot at her first Oscar nom. The trailer looks intense and if nothing else, this movie feels like it’s bringing a story with a fresh tone. I’m tempering my expectations but it looks like a ride.
The Fall Guy 5/3 (Theaters): Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt come together for an action-packed rom-com about a stuntman pursuing the affections of the film’s director. When the movie’s action star goes missing, Gosling’s character takes it upon himself to find the lost actor, thus saving the film and getting the girl. I’m not sure if everything will work out for him, but I’m sure there will be good laughs and great stunts along the way.
Back to Black 5/17 (Theaters): I’m a sucker for a musical biopic, and this one seems to follow the basic template, which I am fine with. Except, of course, Amy Winehouse is not a typical person and she didn’t have a typical life. I am eager to see if this movie can appropriately pay homage to what a unique talent Winehouse was, and the strong impact she had on the music industry in her short life.
Sight 5/24 (Theaters): Angel Studios is about to strike again. Sight tells the true story of a successful eye surgeon in America who attempts to save the eyesight of a blind orphan. The process uncovers issues in the doctor's own past from growing up in and fleeing communist China. Get the tissues.
Heather
Bridgerton, S 3 5/16 (Netflix): I am a sucker for Bridgerton. The formula of bright colors and flowers, insane dresses and hairdos, the diversity of the cast, the authoritative narration from the familiar voice of Julie Andrews got me through the first season. The love story was meh, but the family dynamics were fun. The second season is when the story got better. But the third season is promising to be the best yet: Penelope Featherington, played by the lovely Nicola Coughlan (from Derry Girls!) is finally getting the spotlight. She’s always been the wallflower, but will her longtime good friend and crush Colin Bridgerton finally take notice? I can’t wait to binge this.
IF 5/17 (Theaters): The first film that I saw from John Krasinski as a director was The Hollars. I enjoyed it, but critics basically called it mediocre. I’m not sure what I would think of it now, eight years later. But then he made the Quiet Place movies, which seem to do well (haven’t seen; too scary). And now he’s coming out with a family movie about imaginary friends who are looking for new kids to be paired with, or else they’ll disappear. Starring Cailey Fleming and Ryan Reynolds, and with voiceover from some pretty big names, IF looks whimsical and funny. Even if you don’t have kids, maybe this movie will help you reconnect with your inner child, something we’re all trying to do these days.
We hope our lists have given you some ideas of what to (and what not to) watch! If you’ve been enjoying anything lately, we’d love to hear from you!
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We’re grateful for you, and we’ll be back next week with the first Film Club podcast episode!
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