Oscar contender? Check. Hit HBO comedy? Check. Great new music? You bet. This week's Friday Five is loaded with stuff to keep you entertained this fall weekend and beyond. So kick back, pour yourself some hot apple cider, and enjoy Friday Five, Volume 43!
The French Dispatch
October’s run of high-profile film releases continues this week with the latest from Wes Anderson, The French Dispatch. The star-studded film was yet another COVID-delayed project, and we are incredibly excited to finally see it hit theaters. The French Dispatch looks like it’ll feature most of Anderson’s calling cards, including a dazzling color-palette, quick dialogue, a quirky score, and more cameos than you can count. Wes Anderson regulars like Owen Wilson and Bill Murray highlight a cast that also features Oscar-winners Frances McDormand and Benicio del Toro, young stars like Timothee Chalamet, and the legendary Henry Winkler. To be honest, we aren’t entirely sure what the movie is about, other than a fictional magazine founded by American ex-pats living in 20th-Century France. Regardless, Wes Anderson’s movies always offer up a fun change-of-pace into the Academy Award conversation, and we’re happy to get a new film from him during this incredible run of fall releases.
Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 11
Speaking of star-studded casts and cameos, HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm is back for its 11th-season this weekend, and we are more than ready for the belly laughs that come with it. Larry David’s comedic genius is on full display every episode, and based on the trailer, we’re going to see even more celebrities jumping into the Curb mix. Series regular (and comedy legend) J.B. Smoove is obviously back, but in the two-minute preview alone we see Vince Vaughn, Seth Rogen, Patton Oswalt, Richard Kind, and Jon Hamm, just to name a few. No one is as good at taking on small grievances as David, and it appears he has found plenty to keep him occupied for an eleventh season. The iconic, tuba-heavy theme song is enough to get us laughing, and we are excited to bring it back into our lives this weekend. So gear up for some cringe-inducing comedy, because Curb Your Enthusiasm is back!
Wilderado - Wilderado
It seems like we might finally be hitting a good run of album releases, and this week we had Wilderado’s brand new self-titled album jamming on repeat. We’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of the album since the band dropped the single “Surefire,” and the whole album definitely doesn’t disappoint. The indie-folk group has a pretty unique sound that just instantly improves our mood and helps us chill out. Most of the tracks seem pretty simple in composition -- standard drum beats, soothing guitar riffs -- and yet it all comes together in a very interesting way. All the songs seem to have a sort of echo on them, which especially enhances the vocals. From the first notes of “Stranger” to the final chords of the toned down “Help Me Down” there’s a really nice flow that runs through the whole album, which makes it easy to leave on repeat for an entire afternoon. The 37-minute record blends together pretty seamlessly in the best way possible, and we are sure that it’ll stay in our regular rotation for quite a while.
NBA Returns
Another week, another sports league kick-off. Or, should we say, tip-off. The NBA started back up this week, and brings with it all the drama, storylines, and high-intensity competition that we’ve come to love. Can Giannis and the Bucks repeat as champions? What kind of damage can a healthy Lakers team do? How about the Nets, or Warriors? Who will be this year’s Phoenix Suns, surprising the league with a breakout season? There is so much talent in the game, young and old, that it is truly an unpredictable league. While it is a long regular season, there have still been some early season fireworks. And hey, sometimes it’s nice to watch a sporting event that doesn’t seem to have life-or-death implications. We’re sure plenty of NBA highlights will make the Five as the season goes on, but for now, we’re just happy to have even more sports to watch at night!
Making Faces
The late Mac Miller’s most crucial project, his 2014 mixtape Faces, finally hit streaming services this week, and we definitely suggest you go check it out. But before you listen, we want to point you to something that might be even more haunting: Making Faces. The short documentary (only six minutes long) dropped on Youtube this week, and features behind-the-scenes footage of Miller as he worked on the tape, along with interviews from close friends and collaborators. It is striking to see how in love with his art Mac Miller was, and how the 2014 project really seemed to show that he had figured everything out. We’ve already featured other work from the rapper here, but something really struck us this week, both listening to the album and watching the short. Along with the incredible footage, the production value in the short is great, and the animations and music make it an easy rewatch. Above all else, though, is how cool it is to see the artist at work, and find out how such a beloved project was recorded.