“Blue Period” – Miles Davis
Released on Prestige Records in 1953, “Blue Period” is Miles Davis’ first foray into hard bop. It’s an inessential yet enjoyable album.
“Jazz at Oberlin” – Dave Brubeck Quartet
On “Jazz at Oberlin,” the Dave Brubeck Quartet delivers one of the greatest and most iconic jazz concerts of all time.
“Paths of Glory” (1957)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick, “Paths of Glory” is one of the most pessimistic and powerful anti-war films ever made.
“Nat King Cole Sings for Two in Love” – Nat King Cole
“Nat King Cole Sings for Two in Love” is probably the singer’s most underrated album of the 1950s. His voice never sounded better.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951)
The 1951 adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” contains some of the best ensemble acting in cinematic history.
“Young Man with a Horn” – Miles Davis
“Young Man with a Horn” features fantastic soloing over straightforward arrangements, as Miles Davis fully develops his trumpet talent.
“Snow White” (2025)
Disney’s 2025 live-action remake of “Snow White” is bad and boring enough to hopefully put an end to this era of photorealistic CGI slop.
“Carnival of Souls” (1962)
Made on a microbudget, the ambitiously amateur 1962 horror film “Carnival of Souls” remains a cult classic.
“The Substance” (2024)
“The Substance” is a provocative body-horror thriller that successfully abandons all subtlety. Demi Moore delivers a career-best performance.
“Wicked” (2024)
The movie adaptation of “Wicked” is an enjoyable musical carried by the chemistry of its two stars, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
“The Crying of Lot 49” by Thomas Pynchon (1965)
“The Crying of Lot 49” by Thomas Pynchon is a difficult yet very rewarding read, filled with humor and dazzling postmodern creativity.
“Cliffhanger” (1993)
“Cliffhanger” is dumb but entertaining. In other words, all you can ask for from a Sylvester Stallone action movie.