So you wanna watch something…

Dune: It’s finally here—the science fiction saga everyone’s been waiting for! And unlike the last effort to make a movie out of Frank Herbert’s epic novel, this one is definitely not a dud. Critics have been unanimous in their praise for this movie that boasts an all-star cast—including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and many more. ScreenRant rounds up the rave reviews. Dune releases in cinemas today.

Inside Job: This 20-episode animated series is a whip-smart send-up of conspiracy theories about the Deep State—that shadowy world of top-secret that is responsible for everything from the faked moon landing to satanic pedophilia cults. San Francisco Chronicle calls it “emotionally wise and sincere, and completely bonkers in a free-associative way.” Also read: Forbes’ interview with the showrunner. ‘Inside Job’ premieres today on Netflix.

Found: This documentary on adoption follows three teenage cousins who find each other through a genetics testing company, and travel to China from the United States.The New York Times calls the girls’ journey “staggering and wondrous.” Stream it on Netflix.

Stuck Together: This French pandemic comedy focuses on seven Parisian families stuck together in their apartment building during the lockdown. Now, you may not want to watch anything that’s all about hygiene mania, social distancing, masks or vaccinations. But the film’s quirky characters could win your heart. There aren’t any reviews except on Decider. Watch it on Netflix.

A list of good reads

• The Guardian offers food for thought in this piece on ‘time millionaires’—people who are rich not in money but in time for leisure
• Also in The Guardian, a useful read on the ‘power of no’—and how to establish healthy boundaries. (h/t subscriber Mallika Fatehpuria)
• Caravan magazine offers a provocative read that draws parallels between Virat Kohli’s captaincy and PM Modi’s leadership style.
• We’ve all turned into devotees of celebrity gyaan—hoping their pearls of wisdom will turn us into great experts. But the New Yorker asks: Can this pricey Master Class model teach you anything?
• BBC News has an eye-opening report on India’s tallest garbage mountain—the 18-storeys-high Deonar landfill in Mumbai
• Are conservatives happier than liberals? New York Times unpacks the research on this very loaded and oft-asked question.
• Joe Pinsker in The Atlantic looks at the high price of living alone. 
• Vogue has a useful guide on how to handle the transition when you decide to go grey.
• A must listen: This episode of the podcast The Seen and the Unseen, which features a fascinating conversation with Shivam Shankar Singh about how the political machine works in India.
• BBC News has a story that reads like a 90s bollywood plot—of a Kerala man convicted of murdering his wife using a cobra.
• Vox looks at the new phenomenon of ‘fictional influencers’—invented by a team of writers, one actress, and a technology/entertainment company.
• Esquire offers a lively profile of a sperm superdonor: Ari Nagel, aka the Sperminator.
• The Guardian reports on research that shows vegan pet food is actually healthy for cats and dogs.
• Ramya Subramaniam in the Indian Express writes about the inherent biases of the Indian bar that keep women lawyers down and out.
• The News Minute offers a very good video report on the murder of Arbaaz Aftab and the Karnataka model of communal polarisation.