Friday Fixations

What I'm into right now

Happy Friday, my fellow suffering beings. Each week, I share two things I’m digging right now (books, TV shows, movies, music, and the like) plus one online video of nearly zero cultural merit.

• Sly Lives! It’s been well established that I will watch pretty much any rock documentary, but this one is not just any rock doc. It is superbly directed by Amir “Questlove” Thompson, who also made “Summer of Soul,” another excellent documentary. This new one follows the rise and fall of a bona fide genius, Sly Stone, of Sly & the Family Stone. It provides a fascinating character study and thrilling insights into Stone’s creative breakthroughs. And while the descent into drugs and mania is textbook, it’s rendered here quite effectively and movingly.

• The Apprentice. I had been avoiding this movie because of an utter lack of interest in consuming any extra Trump content. But my friend Deb, a screenwriter, told me that her Hollywood friends couldn’t stop talking about how good this movie was. I’m glad I listened to Deb. Not only is “The Apprentice” a winner as a film, but it also provides some interesting insights into the personal history of the man dominating our newsfeeds. (With the caveat that, while based in fact, it does take dramatic liberties.)

• Habitual line-stepping, feline edition.

Agree or disagree with these recommendations? Subscribers can comment on this and all other posts. You can also chat with me, my staff, pod guests, and one another. And there’s lots more: ad-free versions of my podcast; cheatsheets for every episode (which include time-stamped highlights and full transcripts); and twice-monthly live video sessions where I guide meditation and take questions. Join the party.