The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for music, movies and more
BY ANA BACH — arts@theaggie.org
Book: “Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver” by Mary Oliver (2017)
Dual Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner Mary Oliver makes her deep connection and understanding to the natural world known — capturing the reader in her effortless methods of making her words so simple, yet so contemplative. With over 200 selections of Oliver’s most compelling works, “Devotions” is composed of prose that gently assures you that hardships turn into enriching experiences when you shift your perspective. You might recognize works like “Summer Day” and “I am a Soft Animal,” some of her more nationally recognized writing. Posing eye-opening sentiments and asking us to think about the symbiotic nature between ourselves and the environment, Oliver boils down hard-to-swallow concepts into something that just about everyone can understand.
Movie: “Gladiator II” dir. Ridley Scott (2024)
No, I did not see this movie just because Paul Mescal was the protagonist, though it was one of many deciding factors. Decades after the release of “Gladiator,” director Ridley Scott circles back to deliver this thrilling sequel. After witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is thrown into the coliseum after the powerful twin emperors of Rome, Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), conquer his home. Throughout the film, he battles countless other gladiators with Macrinus, the owner of a gladiator stable and arms dealer, by his side — or so you think. While I prefer the storyline of the first film to the second, Scott outdid himself with the cinematography, gracing audiences with gripping action scenes and an unbelievable set design. Safe to say, the film is extremely entertaining and a must-see, even if you have yet to see the first “Gladiator” installment.
Song: “Weird Fishes / Arpeggi” by Radiohead (2007)
Maybe it’s the recent rain pouring or the days darkening quicker, but my playlists have been flooded with Mazzy Star, Phoebe Bridgers and Radiohead. Like the rain, the instrumentals start slow in the beginning but quickly amp up with juxtaposing sounds. Layers of varying guitar chords coupled with quick drum beats create a somber, fast-paced tune, as Thom Yorke smoothly enters with soft vocals in a mumbled fashion — a Radiohead signature. From their album “Rainbows,” the speaker talks about being seduced by love but ultimately descending back into a depressive state. “The bottom of the sea” is something he mentions quite frequently, with weird or unnatural beings inhabiting a space within his actual sea of thought. Some think the “weird fishes” could be the new love mentioned, others theorize the narrative is from the perspective of someone who suffers from Stockholm Syndrome and is slowly disconnecting from an abusive relationship — there is no right answer. The other portion of the title, “Arpeggi” is an Italian translation defined as a broken chord that builds off a descending tune, one chord at a time. The title perfectly encapsulates the story and the structure of the song, even though a lot of the lyrics are subject to interpretation. I could not suggest a more fitting song as we descend into the season of winter depression — kidding, but not really.
TV Show: “Ted Lasso” (2020 to current)
If you have yet to see “Ted Lasso,” I will personally lend you my Apple TV+ account because guess what? — it is that good. Our giddy protagonist, Ted, lands a job as a professional soccer coach for an English Premier League team – except he doesn’t know anything about soccer. After seeing a video of the Kansas football coach go viral for his celebratory dance after their championship win, the club’s new owner, Rebecca Welton, hires Ted as a deliberate attempt to her ex-husband’s beloved Premier team: AFC Richmond.
In her effort to run the team into the ground (or as the English call it: the pitch), Ted’s unwavering optimism and kindness prevail, winning over his players and improving the team’s performance in the league. You rarely come across a show that makes you laugh as hard as you cry, walking away from each episode with sentiments that comfort you like a warm blanket or biscuit (watch the show, you’ll understand). Thankfully, season four is coming out some time in 2026, hopefully filled with more memorable one-liners. The moral of the story is: Everyone needs a coach like Ted Lasso in their lives.
Written by: Ana Bach — arts@theaggie.org
