Hot Takes: Maniac, Laneway and Billy on the Street

Emma Stone stars in Netflix's cerebral sci-fi series Maniac. Photo / Netflix

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Netflix's constant output of original series means their newest shows are often usurped by even newer shows, which is why I'm trying to push through Maniac before it vanishes into the ether (AKA my Netflix watchlist, forever). Maniac, its latest high-profile release, is a cerebral, psychedelic exploration of the human psyche, elevated by an agitated performance from Emma Stone and a ruthless supporting turn from the incredible Sonoya Mizuno (who, after playing a socialite in Crazy Rich Asians and the shimmering, terrifying humanoid thing in Annihilation, is having a great 2018). Maniac is a roller coaster ride, underscored by its abstract depiction of the debilitating way in which mental illnesses can pit us against ourselves.

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Speaking of Emma Stone ... Billy on the Street is maybe the most bonkers "chat show" – if you can call it that – around. Comedian and actor Billy Eichner has hosted the show for years, and this year returns with eight short episodes on his YouTube channel; in the show, Eichner brings a celebrity guest along as he runs around New York City asking strangers impromptu questions. The first episode of his new season features Stone herself, as Eichner essentially accosts strangers on the street, asking them why the actress isn't on Instagram. It moves at a breakneck speed, and requires multiple viewings for maximum laughs.

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Mitski's Be the Cowboy is one of the year's best albums. Photo / supplied

Laneway has revealed a stellar line-up for 2019, and it's sent me on a deep dive back into some of the best new releases of this year from its roster of artists. US singer-songwriter Mitski's Be the Cowboy is the kind of musical alchemy that arrives once in a blue moon; her lyrics, production and vocal styles all bleed into the creation of a feeling with an overwhelming power. From the distorted guitars of A Pearl to the wacky disco of Why Didn't You Stop Me, Be the Cowboy makes loneliness sound like riveting cinema. UK singer Jorja Smith's Lost and Found is one of the most enigmatic RnB debuts of late, full of hypnotic jams, while Kiwi expat Lontalius' newest singles, I Wanted Him and That Includes You, are mesmerising pop tales of love and lust.

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Toni Collette spoke to John Early for A24's Hereditary. Photo / supplied

A24 boasts an impressive collections of films for a relatively young company – they're the team behind Moonlight, Lady Bird and this year's divisive hit Hereditary, to name a few. To promote their releases, they run their own podcast featuring conversations between stars of their films. Though they only release one every couple of months, each is a lovely, surprising listen. Their first was an illuminating chat between Moonlight director Barry Jenkins and Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig; earlier this year, they had Toni Collette chat to superfan John Early; their most recent is a comical conversation between actors and old friends Fred Armisen and Jason Schwartzman.