Pop Culture Cold Brew #6
Includes: Sneak Peek of Ted Lasso Ep 2, Trailer Round-Up with "Language Lessons," "Enemies of the State," "Midnight in the Switchgrass," "The Capote Tapes," "Homeroom," and More
Youthquake is a nostalgic biweekly newsletter of the pop culture elite (past & present).
Here are the latest teasers and trailers for your unadulterated pleasure.
🎥 HBO’s Music Box
Music Box is a collection of documentary films created by Bill Simmons exploring pivotal moments in the music world. The doc series kicked off by Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage last week; each episode is helmed by a different director and will continue airing in late fall 2021 and include:
Jagged: An intimate exploration of Alanis Morissette and her groundbreaking 1995 album Jagged Little Pill; directed by Alison Klayman.
Untitled DMX: A film with rare access to the late rapper after his release from prison – a portrait of a man struggling with addiction, fame, and his inner demons in the final years of his life; directed by Christopher Frierson.
Listening to Kenny G: An examination of the most popular instrumentalist of all time and why he is polarizing to so many, directed by Penny Lane.
Mr. Saturday Night: The untold story of Robert Stigwood and how he electrified the disco era, directed by John Maggio.
Untitled Juice WRLD: A film exploring how the late hip-hop star impacted a genre during his short life, directed by Tommy Oliver.
🎥 Apple Tv+’s Ted Lasso
As an unofficial Ted Lasso ambassador, we’re happy to share an Apple TV+ sneak peek from episode 202 of the critically acclaimed dramedy.
In episode two, Lavender, Ted (Jason Sudeikis) is surprised by the reappearance of a familiar face. Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) tries out a new gig, and we see more of Dr. Sharon (Sarah Niles) as a sports psychologist with AFC Richmond. Watch the sneak peek here.
🎥 Shout Studios’ Language Lessons
When Adam’s (Mark Duplass) husband surprises him with weekly Spanish lessons, he’s unsure about where or how this new element will fit into his already structured life. But when tragedy strikes, his Spanish teacher, Cariño (Natalie Morales), becomes a lifeline he didn’t know he needed. Adam develops an unexpected and complicated emotional bond with Cariño—but do you know someone just because you’ve experienced a traumatic moment with them?
Bittersweet, honest, and sometimes darkly funny, Language Lessons is a disarmingly moving exploration of platonic love. We can’t wait to see this one; watch the trailer below.
🎥 IFC’s Enemies of the State
Sonia Kennebeck’s Enemies of the State is a documentary thriller investigating the spidery case of Matt DeHart, an alleged hacker, whistleblower, and his former Cold War spy parents. They believe they are at the center of a government conspiracy and are ready to do anything to save their son from prison.
This stranger-than-fiction story takes audiences on a wild ride of unexpected plot twists and bizarre discoveries in an artistic and cinematic documentary that blurs the line between reality and paranoia. With extraordinary access to all lead characters and key sources, this film presents many contradicting viewpoints. It attempts to solve a mystery that has kept attorneys, activists and journalists occupied for over a decade. A captivating selection from TIFF and Tribeca Film Festival, Enemies of the State will be in select theaters and On Demand this Friday, July 30th.
🎥 Lionsgate’s Midnight in the Switchgrass
Bruce Willis and Megan Fox lead a powerful cast including Emile Hirsch, Lukas Haas, and Colson Baker in this gritty and intense crime-thriller. While in Florida on another case, FBI agents Helter (Willis) and Lombardo (Fox) cross paths with state cop Crawford (Hirsch), who’s investigating a string of murders that appear to be related. Lombardo and Crawford team up for an undercover sting that goes wrong, plunging Lombardo into grave danger and pitting Crawford against a serial killer in a twisted game of cat and mouse. Midnight in the Switchgrass is now playing in select theaters, On Demand, and Digital. Watch below.
🎥 Greenwich Entertainment’s The Capote Tapes
Answered Prayers was meant to be Truman Capote’s greatest masterpiece, an epic portrait of New York’s glittering jet-set society. Instead, it sparked the downfall of Breakfast's iconic author at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood. Through never-before-heard audio archives and interviews with Capote’s famous friends and infamous enemies, The Capote Tapes reveals the rise and fall of one of America’s most influential writers and public figures. The film will have its premiere at TIFF; watch the trailer below.
🎥 Hulu’s Homeroom
Directed by Peter Nicks, co-produced by Sean Havey, and executive produced by Ryan Coogler. Homeroom (a Sundance Official Selection) follows Oakland High School’s class of 2020 as they confront an unprecedented year.
Anxiety over test scores and college applications gives way to uncertainty springing from a rapidly developing pandemic. Efforts to eliminate the school district’s police force unfold against the backdrop of growing nationwide demands for systemic change. Watch the trailer below.
🎥 El Deseo’s Madres Paralelas
Madres paralelas, directed by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Penélope Cruz, Milena Smit, Israel Elejalde, and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón; with the participation of Julieta Serrano, and Rossy De Palma. The film will premiere during the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
⚡ Returning with a new look, Pop Culture Round-Up is here to stay. Instead of exploiting the frankly oversaturated celebrity culture and the American obsession with fame. Instead, Pop Culture Round-Up features news and current events on popular culture. We’ll contemplate why we can’t get enough and why we love not minding our own business.
It’s 2018 again, and the girls are still fighting!
Image via Reddit. Azealia Banks vs. Grimes Round 2, I’m just here for Azealia to quickly collect Grimes for dust as she fumbled her billionaire bag as the reformed anti-imperialist willingly dates a former apartheid miner baby daddy. Claire peaking with Art Angels isn’t her biggest crime; it’s becoming everything she stood against while making it seem alright since her baby daddy bought, not created, Tesla.
Banks posted and soon deleted an Instagram Story that said:
“really thought I did you a favor by not responding to that subpoena….., i just May happen to have all those extra texts/screenshots/evidence Laying around somewhere………….”
Bennifer went official and recreated their Jenny From the Block yacht life on Instagram, which we fully support as long as they never make films together again. Gigli and Jersey Girl should stay in the noughties.
Universal Spends $400 Million on New ‘Exorcist’ Trilogy Starring Ellen Burstyn and Leslie Odom Jr.
MTV to brings back ‘Behind the Music’ in weekly podcast series. It’s not the same, but maybe MTV should remove 2 out of 22 hours of Ridiculousness to fit.
Not to be outdone with making it official, Issa Rae got secretly married to Louis Diame, and no one knows how the duo met or how long they’ve been together. Maybe Issa can teach a masterclass to Bennifer on investing in privacy.
📚 Because We Love a Good Read:
Isn’t Everything Autobiographical?: Ethan Hawke In Nine Films And A Novel by Marya Gates?
Willow Smith's Pop-Punk Pivot Is Fun, and That's What Matters by Ashley Reese.
Black TikTokers Stand Against Dance Theft in Refusal to Choreo “Thot Shit” by Stitch.
Y2K Fashion is Back. Are Its Bad Vibes Back, Too? by Jess Sims.
This weekend I watched screeners, including Apple Tv+ and A24’s Mr. Corman (as I tantalizingly teased before, review coming soon). Also, I comfort-watched Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love and Pride & Prejudice— I regret nothing.