In the virtual world of 2045, anyone can be anyone they want and do anything they want to do. While political and ecological disasters rage outside, a young man can slip on goggles and gloves and escape into a fantasy world informed by ’80s pop culture. Maybe it’s enough to quash all ambition. But in the real world, there’s always someone tallying the bill. Our Piers Marchant tackles Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated (and controversial) Ready Player One in Friday’s Style section in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
And speaking of wishful fantasies, our Philip Martin has seen Armando Ianuccicq's The Death of Stalin, which is set in 1953 and, as the title suggests, concerns the circus that erupts after the Soviet boss of bosses checks out. Laughter has always been how some people respond to terror and what’s that they say about remembering history? (Oh, and Stalin’s image has been rehabilitated by the Russian government in recent years.) As a bonus, our Dan Lybarger talks to director Ianucci.
We’ve also got Karen Martin on the latest in home video, and lot more, so pick up a newspaper and read all about it.