If you're ready to end the week by curling up in front of the TV, media player or with a good book (or ereader), lookie here. This week's batch of recommendations from Team Windows Central features a very unusual zombie movie, a show about a cancer patient meth dealer, a country-rock album with some serious steel guitars, and a book about American football, just in time for the NFL season.
And if none these are up your alley, we have plenty more where those came from. Just hit the link below.
More media recommendations from Windows Central
Movies
Recommended by Al Sacco, managing editor
This zombie movie, directed by Jim Jarmusch, is unlike any other zombie film I've ever seen. Whether that's a good thing or not depends on your opinion of indie movies. This is an indie, and it's slow. And, well … different. If you've ever seen any Jarmusch movie, you know what I mean.That said, I like the director's films (or most of them), and this is one of my favorites. The cast is excellent, featuring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Cloe Sevigny and Tilda Swinton, among others. It's more comedy than horror flick, and as such, it's "Sean of the Dead"-esque. The humor is dry but sharp, and the actors' performances are excellent. If you could use a departure from the average gore-soaked zombie film or the ridiculously-rapid pace of most action movies, this should be a refreshing watch.
Recommended by Rich Edmonds, staff reviewer
Jordan Peele's follow-up to the hit thriller Get Out follows an American family as they enjoy their vacation, only for things to take a turn for the worse when a family shows up on the driveway of their holiday home. Much like Get Out, Peele injects countless themes and references into Us to create a visual experience that'll stay with you long after you watch the movie.Should you be a fan of anything that makes you think outside the box and not take things literally, Us should be shortlisted for a rollercoaster of a ride. Fantastic cinematography coupled with incredible performances from the cast, including Lupita Nyong'o, make this a must-see for 2019.
Recommended by Dan Thorp-Lancaster, news editor
I saw IT Chapter Two this past weekend, and it was just okay. Not the worst horror flick out there by any means, but it certainly didn't capture my attention like the 2017 remake that serves as part one.Don't get me wrong: Pennywise is still creepy as hell in all of its various forms, but the feeling of dread and fear was just so much more palpable the first time around. That got me curious about whether I'd still feel the same way about IT (2017) after seeing the whole saga play out, so I'm diving back in this weekend.Without spoiling too much about the full story, I'm also looking forward to seeing if there were any breadcrumbs laid in the first movie for some of the ways we see relationships play out in IT Chapter Two. I just hope I can get that goofy laugh out of my head before I turn the lights off at the end of the day.
TV
Recommended by Samuel Tolbert, Freelance Writer
Breaking Bad remains one of my favorite shows ever. The painstaking care that was put into the acting, the detail, the continuity and more is incredible to behold and even on a re-watch when you know what is coming, it's just as gripping a drama.Bryan Cranston stars as Walter White, a meek high school chemistry teacher who discovers he has lung cancer. When a freak coincidence makes him cross paths with petty crook Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), he turns to the world of meth dealing to fund his treatments and prepare for his family's future. Walter is going to learn that when you reach into the drug trade, it has a way of reaching back.
Music
Recommended by Cale Hunt, staff writer
Alongside one of the most famous Bob Dylan covers — "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" — that was actually released commercially before any Dylan takes, Sweetheart of the Rodeo is full of country rock music from the late '60s. Gram Parsons, who famously ran with The Flying Burrito Brothers and tragically died at 26, joined The Byrds for this album, which is no doubt where a lot of the country influence comes from.It's a great look at early country and alt-country music, and it has influenced a ton of the music that's been released since and is still being released today. If you're at all a fan of steel guitars and a bit of twang, it's worth a listen.
Books
Recommended by Sean Endicott, news writer
This comprehensive guide to building offensive linemen takes a new approach to line play. Instead of focusing on bashing people hard and getting angry, it breaks down the anatomy of offensive linemen and the science of movement that helps them be more efficient. It deconstructs some myths of offensive line play and replaces them with a solid foundation.I'm the head coach of a junior football team and the tight ends coach at a university, so I'm always on the lookout for a way to improve my coaching. LeCharles Bentley is extremely well versed in offensive line play. He played in the NFL for six seasons, was an All-American at Ohio State, and runs O-line Performance which helps build up offensive linemen. I have a nine-hour flight coming up, so I'll have some time to delve deep into this book.
