PopaHALLics #146 "Bad Boys"

PopaHALLics #146 "Bad Boys"

Is it possible for bad men to redeem themselves, as when twin black gangsters face off against white vampires in "Sinners"? What makes a man bad—his personality, upbringing, status in life, as the Bluebeard-themed novel "Sour Cherry" asks? And would it really be so bad to save the family fishing business by running drugs ("The Waterfront")? Find out more on our show!

Streaming:

• "Sinners," Max. It's really hard to make a go of your new juke joint in 1930s Mississippi when white vampires show up on opening night. Michael B. Jordan plays gangster brothers in this horror film from writer/director Ryan Coogler (the "Black Panther" movies, "Creed").
• "The Bear," FX, Hulu. In season 4, the clock is ticking; Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and company must turn the chaotic restaurant around or close down.
• "The Waterfront," Netflix. In this soapy drama from Kevin Williamson ("Dawson's Creek," "Scream"), a feuding family tries to save their family fishing business through drug-running. Starring Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Melissa Benoit, and Jake Weary.
• "My Cousin Vinny," Disney +. When two carefree pals are mistakenly arrested and charged with murder in Alabama, they turn to a cousin (Joe Pesci), an auto mechanic who recently passed the bar on his sixth try. Marisa Tomei won an Oscar playing Vinny's fiancee, Mona Lisa Vito, in this 1992 comedy.

Books:

• "Sour Cherry," by Natalia Theodoridou. This acclaimed debut novel uses the Bluebeard fairy tale to "deconstruct the systems of gender, power, and the excuses people make for bad men" (Chicago Review of Books).
• "Less," by Andrea Sean Greer. A failed novelist tries to ignore his ex marrying another man as well as an unwelcome birthday by traveling around the world. This 2017 satirical novel, funny and poignant, won the Pulitzer Prize.
• "If It Bleeds," by Stephen King. This 2020 collection of four novellas includes stories that inspired the 2024 Tom Hiddleston sci-fi movie "Life of Chuck" and the 2022 horror movie "Mr. Harrigan's Phone." The title story features one of King's personal favorite characters, socially awkward, obsessive compulsive private investigator Holly Gibney. There's also a writer and a rat.

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