Minority Mindset

I’d like to give a shout-out to transit reporter and L.A. expert Alissa Walker on this week’s Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney. It’s disappointing that she wasn’t given more opportunities to discuss the impact of bus/bike lanes in L.A., as opposed to Natasha Lyonne’s thoughts about them in New York. It feels like the scenario where we had two renowned dinosaur experts (the consultant for Jurassic Park and Chuck Tingle) on a show, but they were dismissed due to the majority of callers being misinformed. However, her appearance was still impressive. Now let’s move on to the top five.

The movie introduces its main character Agathe, portrayed by Camille Rutherford (recall her role as the journalist from Anatomy of a Fall), who is seen alone dancing and working at Shakespeare & Co., arranging books and occasionally glancing fondly at the romantic notes penned by customers on scraps of paper. (“You were wearing the burgundy dress and reading Vivian Gornick’s Fierce Attachments on the first floor. My only regret is that I didn’t have the courage to talk to you.”) Agathe resides with her sister and young nephew, a household formed since her parents perished in a tragic car accident. Despite being a gifted author, Agathe appears stagnant in her aspirations of becoming a renowned writer. Her confidante Felix (Pablo Pauly), who harbors feelings for her, covertly submits an application on Agathe’s behalf to the Jane Austen Writing Residency, hosted by the descendants of the celebrated author in England. She is accepted and decides to attend, albeit hesitantly. (She is hesitant about everything.) Just before boarding the ferry to traverse the English Channel, Agathe unexpectedly plants a passionate kiss on Felix.

Disney has rebranded several upcoming movies from “Untitled Marvel projects” to “Untitled Disney projects,” affecting titles scheduled for February 13, 2026; November 6, 2026; and November 7, 2027. The only Marvel films left on the 2026 calendar now are Doomsday and Spider-Man’s fourth installment, Brand New Day, set for release on July 31, 2026. This leaves an entire year between The Fantastic 4: First Steps and Brand New Day, which is the longest break in Marvel movies since the COVID pandemic. There are three dates reserved for Marvel films in 2028: February 18, May 5, and November 10. However, it’s not very probable that one of these will be the anticipated Blade film.

Eleanor chooses to return to New York City and reside with her somewhat overwhelmed daughter (Jessica Hecht). One day, by chance, Eleanor attends a Holocaust survivors’ meeting at the JCC, where, taken aback and feeling lonely, she shares Bessie’s story as if it were her own. In attendance is Nina (Erin Kellyman), an NYU journalism student who wishes to interview Eleanor for a class assignment. The two develop a bond, with Nina urging Eleanor to continue recounting her harrowing experience as a means of healing. As events spiral out of control, Judy Greer delivers another stellar performance as Eleanor, skillfully portraying her character’s journey through a mix of poignancy, humor, and chaos, as she adapts to an escalating series of unusual circumstances.