Leisure

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

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

Halftime Leisure

In “Country Song Came On,” Luke Bryan finds escape in the honky-tonk

Although certainly showing a new side of Bryan, “Country Song Came On” is rather consistent with the general traits of more recent country releases. 

By October 17, 2024

Leisure

Moon Music shoots for the stars… but falls flat

Moon Music's tired pop beats and artificially sweet lyrics will have you wondering, “what happened to Coldplay?”

By October 17, 2024

Halftime Leisure

The Ultimate Top Ten Autumn Songs

The millisecond I feel a cool breeze, I’m putting on my autumn jams and grabbing anything pumpkin-flavored.

By October 16, 2024

Leisure

The Wild Robot surrenders its optimism to the wild

In a story with minimal human involvement, The Wild Robot is undoubtedly human-centric.

By October 16, 2024

Halftime Leisure

D.C. theater shines a satirical spotlight on politics

Operating as the beating heart of American politics, D.C. cannot seem to think about anything other than its day job—especially when it comes to entertainment

By and October 13, 2024

Halftime Leisure

Love Is Blind Season 7 is a half-apt portrait of the District and its dating scene

D.C. has long been known as one of the worst dating scenes in the country, but the reality show is hoping to bring some happy endings to the city.

By October 13, 2024

Leisure

Thirty feet below the streets, The Washington Ballet brings the affect of high society to Dupont

From dance to music to fashion, The Washington Ballet has wholly embraced the Dupont Underground’s multidisciplinary approach to art.

By and October 12, 2024

Leisure

Soft Power pokes fun at America in the best way posssible

Though the premise of the show seems surreal, Soft Power shines in its execution and fourth-wall breaking commentary.  

By October 12, 2024

Halftime Leisure

“Pushing It Down and Praying” is a taste of Lizzy McAlpine’s ingenuity on Older (and Wiser)

As she trudges through the muddied sounds of her band to harness this vulnerability, she begins to morph from a sensitive teenager to a surer version of herself.

By October 9, 2024

Leisure

Katy Perry’s comeback album 143 marks her fall from grace

Content warning: this piece contains brief mentions of sexual abuse.  The first playthrough of Katy Perry’s new album 143 (2024) is, in short, confusing. Wait, this is the same Katy... Read more

By October 7, 2024

Leisure

Reagan (2024): The crusade of modern American propaganda

Reagan is an exercise in idolatry, in a politically fervent and particularly partisan decade.

By October 3, 2024

Leisure

MJ Lenderman can’t escape his North Carolina angst on Manning Fireworks

In the face of forces that crush his soul, you’ll probably find Lenderman on his knees. But while he’s down there, he’s gonna rock out.

By September 30, 2024

Halftime Leisure

Trailer Takes: A Minecraft Movie needs to return to the crafting table

Rather than remaining faithful to the source material, A Minecraft Movie attempts to retrofit nostalgic video game graphics into a modern live-action story, and the result is a greater tragedy than Jason Momoa’s character outfit.

By September 28, 2024

Halftime Leisure

“Neva Play” with Megan Thee Stallion—she will rock you

Clearly, she intends to take her industry icon status to the next level in 2024 with the recent release of two singles: “We Will Rock You - Megan Thee Stallion Version” and “Neva Play (feat. RM of BTS).”

By September 27, 2024

Halftime Leisure

Victoria Monet’s “SOS (Sex on Sight)” is a slow jam with faulty vision

Its lack of resonance with audiences is accounted for by its awkward position as neither a good bedroom jam nor playful pop anthem.

By September 22, 2024