This week on Someone Else’s Movie, the conversation gets a little existential because we’re talking about one of the best metaphysical dramas I’ve seen in recent years: Nine Days.

I put Edson Oda’s brilliant, moving study of life, death and whatever lies in between on my Top Ten list for 2021 — but it was lost in the rush of titles delayed by the pandemic, and hardly anyone saw it.

Blue Jay and Meet Cute director Alex Lehmann did, though, and the arrival of his new drama Acidman on VOD this week gave us the excuse to chat about it, and how incredible Winston Duke is, and how even more incredible Zazie Beetz is, and why Edson Oda should be encouraged to do whatever the hell he wants for the rest of his career.

You should listen! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher and/or Spotify, or download the episode directly from the web.

And then make sure you’re all caught up on your Shiny Things, because last week I reviewed Universal’s killer-robot venture M3GAN and Criterion’s splendid releases of Ruben Ostlund’s Triangle of Sadness and Steve McQueen’s Small Axe project. Good stuff all around! You’re a subscriber, right?  No? Cool, cool cool cool.

Also, a heads-up: Next Tuesday, May 9th, is the last Secret Movie Club of the current season, and we’ve got a nice little picture from one of my favorite American writer-directors to send us out on a high. Tickets are still available, so come join us if you’re in town — it’ll be a fun night!