Highest 2 Lowest, and more
Weekend Warmup 1/30/2026
When the weather traps you inside, you either lose your mind or find something good to watch. Thankfully, I went with option two. Here are a few recent recommendations.
TV
Finding Andrea (HBO Max)
I thought I’d be able to watch one episode. Instead, I binged the entire series. Who is telling the truth? The tension never lets up.
Missing: Dead or Alive (Netflix)
Two seasons are available, with four episodes each. The show follows a Missing Persons division as they chase leads and hope for the best. Some outcomes are good. Most are not. It’s fascinating to watch the investigative process unfold.
Devil in the Ozarks (Hulu)
A cautionary tale about a man who amassed a great deal of power and believed he could get away with anything, and for years, he did. A sobering documentary.
Movies
We Have Always Lived in the Castle (Prime Video)
Really good. I knew it was based on a Shirley Jackson novel, and now I’m curious how the adaptation compares to the book.
Highest 2 Lowest (Apple TV)
Denzel Washington stars as a record mogul dealing with both the music business and a kidnapping. The writing is excellent. Throughout the film, he tries to navigate impossible situations while holding onto his humanity. I was on edge the entire time. There’s also an internal joke about “mayhem” that genuinely made me laugh. If you get the joke, leave a comment. Highly recommend. I mean, come on—it’s Denzel.
Deathwatch (Amazon Prime Video)
Jamie Bell stars in this WWI horror film about British soldiers who discover that the Germans aren’t their worst enemy. Something far more sinister lurks in the trenches.
Table 19 (HBO Max)
I don’t watch many comedies, so it’s nice to reset my brain with one now and then. This feels a bit like The Breakfast Club, but with unwanted wedding guests. People who feel isolated and overlooked collide in unexpected ways. I laughed more than once. A solid weekend watch.
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (HBO Max)
Celebrities reflect on Albert Brooks’ influence on comedy. Brooks and Rob Reiner were friends in high school, a friendship that lasted 60 years. Reiner directed the film and interviewed Brooks. It’s bittersweet to watch, knowing that Reiner and his wife were killed recently, but the documentary is funny, moving, and inspiring.
Book Recommendation
The Shining by Stephen King
I’m reaching back to 1977 for this one. Most people know the story, but being iced in for much of the past week had me thinking about it again. Thankfully, I didn’t turn into a homicidal maniac while working on my book. It’s been nearly 40 years since I last read it (1989?), and I still get chills thinking about the bathtub scene. It’s brilliant and unforgettable.
