The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for movies, music and more
By JORDAN POLTORAK — arts@theaggie.org
Album: “Older (and Wiser)” by Lizzy McAlpine (2024)
As a long-time fan of Lizzy McAlpine, my claim to fame is that I loved her even before her songs became famous on TikTok. I discovered her music in 2020, when I had nothing better to do other than sit in my room and listen to music. I have enjoyed everything she’s released, from her very first EP to her most recent album “Older (and Wiser),” the deluxe edition of the album “Older” she debuted in April. It is truly amazing to watch someone experiment until they find their signature sound.
You might recognise the track “Pushing It Down and Praying” from its TikTok fame. It details the experience of not quite being able to get over someone, starting off slow and building as the song progresses. The raw honesty of the song, accompanied with dramatic strings and piano, replicates the emotions McAlpine discusses. My personal favorite track is “Spring Into Summer.” McAlpine expresses similar emotions to “Pushing It Down and Praying,” but instead of fighting the feelings like she does on the previous track, McAlpine leans in and accepts them, perfectly wrapping up the album. The beginning of the track, soft and slow, lulls listeners into nostalgic content, while the chorus and bridge crescendo into a display of colorful sound. McAlpine shows off her extensive knowledge of music theory and uses it to create something both beautiful and heartwrenching, sure to blow you away.
Book: “Severance” by Ling Ma (2018)
This book follows Candace, a woman who lives in New York City amidst a virus that spreads and infects the world. The novel moves between the main character’s current life amidst the pandemic — as she joins a small group of survivors — and her childhood experience immigrating to the United States from Fuzhou, China with her parents. The virus, referred to in the novel as “Shen Fever,” causes those infected to become stuck in a zombie-like state, repeating a task until the person eventually dies. This repetition reflects that of Candace’s life in corporate America, where she held on to her mundane daily routines until becoming the last person left at her office. Eerily similar to some of the events that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, “Severance” serves as a reminder that the small, unique actions we engage in to keep life interesting should never be taken for granted.
Movie: “Opus” dir. Mark Anthony Green (2025)
“Opus” centers on a young journalist, feeling slightly frustrated with her career thus far, after she receives an invitation from the notorious Alfred Moretti, a fictional global superstar who has reached David Bowie and Freddie Mercury levels of fame. Announcing a new album for the first time in 30 years, Moretti invites a small group of journalists, talk show hosts and influencers to his home for a special preview. Upon arrival, the group learns that Moretti lives inside a remote compound, leading a large, cult-like group who call themselves Levelists. The main character, Ariel Ecton, played by Ayo Adebri, becomes fascinated with the Levelists and decides she wants to write her own piece on their philosophy. That is, until she uncovers the darker elements at play. This psychological thriller definitely lives up to the A24 name and explores ideas of fame in a unique way.
TV Show: “Veep” by Armando Iannucci and David Mandel (2012)
While this show has been out for over a decade, I only recently discovered it over the summer. Safe to say, it did not disappoint. The show follows Vice President Selina Meyers (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as everything that can possibly go wrong, goes wrong. The show follows her through seven seasons of satire, scandals and staff members who are terrible at their jobs. Every episode is laugh-out-loud funny and filled to the brim with witty, unparalleled wordplay. “Veep” answers the question: If all the characters on a show were terrible people, would you keep rooting for them? The answer is somehow yes — I cannot recommend it enough.
Written By: Jordan Poltorak — arts@theaggie.org
