Leisure

Reviews and think pieces on music, movies, art, and theater.

Leisure

Gladiator II is an archetypal sequel

Gladiator II is a respectable film, worth the movie ticket but perhaps not a rewatch.

By November 25, 2024

Leisure

Wicked: Magic from stage to screen

Wicked had big shoes to fill, but I dare say that they sized up.

By November 22, 2024

Leisure

DCAF: Georgetown’s a cappella hits all the right notes

From Car Barn to Southwest Quad, DC A Cappella Fest is an opportunity to feature the best of a cappella in the District—at least west of Wisconsin Ave.  

By November 22, 2024

Leisure

In liminal space, mxmtoon attempts to explore the unknown, but doesn’t venture quite deep enough

mxmtoon seems to have traded her ukulele for a banjo—with limited success.

By November 14, 2024

Leisure

The “Holy Trinity” walked so Kylie Minogue could fall behind

Kylie Minogue’s new album, Tension II (2024), feels more repetitive and recursive than ever.

By November 12, 2024

Leisure

Alice Phoebe Lou stuns in magical opening performance

Alice Phoebe Lou not only sounded like one, but throughout her set, the singer performed like a fairy as well: magical in all aspects of the word. 

By and November 11, 2024

Leisure

Songs Of a Lost World channels the gloomily sublime in a perfect gothic rock revival

Songs Of a Lost World is a pinnacle in modern music, soaring above uninspired radio hits.

By November 11, 2024

Leisure

Event Preview: A Drag Queen Christmas, Nov. 17, Warner Theatre

A Drag Queen Christmas combines the magic and whimsy of the holidays with the flair and artistry that drag offers.

By November 10, 2024

Leisure

The ‘90s are calling, and Katie Gavin’s What A Relief answered

What A Relief is more than an album—it’s a diary entry, penned over seven years with honesty and vulnerability.

By November 6, 2024

Halftime Leisure

Blue Lock Season 2: Transformation of the sports anime genre or a downturn from its legacy?

If you’re looking for a refreshing, antiheroic sports anime that will overturn your perception of soccer and teamwork, Blue Lock is guaranteed to have you “locked-in.”

By November 5, 2024

Leisure

Folger Theatre’s contemporary reimagining of “Romeo and Juliet” is quintessentially D.C.

Folger Theatre has breathed new life into Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

By November 4, 2024

Halftime Leisure

The highs and lows of group Halloween costumes 2024

’Tis the season to get spooky (and creative!) with your costumes, and what better way to do that than with a group of your closest friends (or bitterest rivals?). 

By October 31, 2024

Leisure

Sun Room brings Californian melodies to D.C.

Although their following might be relatively small, Sun Room’s rise to stardom feels imminent.

By and October 28, 2024

Leisure

Charli xcx switches it up on the remix

The world has been blessed with Charli’s new testament—brat and it’s completely different but also still brat (2024). 

By October 28, 2024

Leisure

The French Cassettes have it all but are still missing an arcade

After 18 years of working together, The French Cassettes are masters of having fun up on stage.

By and October 28, 2024

Leisure

Smile 2 ups the stakes and the scares

Smile 2 is certainly not winning any awards any time soon, but it does stand out as a thrilling entry in the slog of horror flicks.

By and October 28, 2024

Leisure

Poignant and authentic, A24’s We Live in Time is a fleeting tale of devotion and grief

To race against time is to lose, and Almut hates losing. 

By October 27, 2024

Leisure

In Saturday Night, Lorne Michaels has concepts of a plan

Saturday Night's ensemble reinforces the very same message sent by the original SNL: the future of comedy is indeed in good hands.

By October 26, 2024

Halftime Leisure

Hoyascope today: Spooky, scary horrorscopes for Halloweekend

What's in the stars today? Courtesy of the Halftime Leisure staff, choose your sign for your Halloweekend horoscope reading.

By , , , , , , , , , , and October 25, 2024

Halftime Leisure

Heartbreaking and hilarious, Will & Harper is a powerful celebration of friendship, acceptance, and transness

Ultimately, Will & Harper is a film for everyone. It is humorous while caring, a documentary and a comedy, and a tale of constant friendship and empowering change.

By October 22, 2024