Ottawa tech and entertainment fans, clear your calendars. This week's slate of must-watch and must-try picks is stacked.
Project Hail Mary: Early Movie of the Year Contender
If you've been waiting for a genuinely great sci-fi film, the buzz around Project Hail Mary is hard to ignore. Based on Andy Weir's beloved novel, the same author behind The Martian, the film has already been earning serious praise as an early contender for movie of the year. For Ottawa residents who've been starved for smart, gripping space drama on the big screen, this one looks like the real deal. Whether you catch it at Cineplex Lansdowne or SilverCity Gloucester, carve out the time.
The story follows a lone astronaut who wakes up on a spacecraft with no memory, tasked with saving Earth from an extinction-level threat. It's the kind of premise that rewards patience and curiosity, exactly the sort of film that tends to dominate year-end conversations.
AirPods Max 2: Worth the Upgrade?
On the tech side, the AirPods Max 2 have been generating plenty of conversation. Apple's premium over-ear headphones get a refresh that refines an already strong formula, better noise cancellation, improved audio performance, and a more comfortable fit for long listening sessions. For Ottawa commuters braving the O-Train or working from a busy Centretown café, top-tier noise cancellation is less a luxury and more a necessity.
The question of whether it's worth upgrading from the original AirPods Max depends on how heavily you use them, but for first-time buyers in the premium headphone market, these are now an even more compelling option.
What Else Is Worth Your Time This Week
Beyond the headline picks, the weekly tech and culture roundup from The Verge's Installer newsletter highlights a few other gems:
- Netflix's manosphere documentary: A timely and unflinching look at online radicalization that's sparked real conversation.
- The Red Hot Chili Peppers doc: A deep dive for music fans who grew up with the band.
- Sleep With Me podcast: If Ottawa's long winter nights are still messing with your sleep, this deliberately dull podcast is apparently a surprisingly effective remedy.
- Joanna Stern's new tech channel: Worth an immediate subscribe for anyone who follows consumer tech closely.
Ottawa's Tech Scene Is Always Watching
Ottawa has a quietly robust tech and creative community, from Kanata's tech corridor to the indie filmmakers and developers scattered across the Glebe and Hintonburg. The intersection of great cinema, thoughtful hardware, and media worth consuming is something this city's audience genuinely cares about. Whether you're a developer unwinding after a long sprint or a film lover looking for your next theatre pick, this week's lineup has something for you.
Source: The Verge, Installer No. 120. Read the full edition at theverge.com.
