This week, we travel to the far reaches of space and the human psyche in James Gray's sci-fi drama "Ad Astra." Brad Pitt is Roy McBride, an astronaut investigating a streak of galactic power surges with mysterious ties to his long-lost father.

Last Bites include Hot Ones with Sean Evans, the Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, the Mark Twain Prize speeches, and Surfer Magazine.

Also on the table: Crystal Hana Kim, Colson Whitehead, Jia Tolentino, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Elisabeth Moss, Alex Ross Perry, Sea Wall / A Life, American Psycho, Final Destination, Japanese RPGs, Choose Your Own Adventure Books

The Distant Father of "Ad Astra"

This week, we're laughing through tears in Todd Phillips' villainous thriller "Joker." Joaquin Phoenix is Arthur Fleck, a party clown who dreams of comedy stardom. Deprived and degraded by Gotham City, his ambitions take a nasty turn, transforming him into the clown prince of crime.

Michael is our NYFF correspondent. Special mention goes to Pedro Almodóvar's Pain and Glory.

Last Bites include Dave Navarro, Rosalía, Eckhaus Latta's Spring 2020 collection, and Succession.

Original image by Attila Szarka.

The Painted Smile of "Joker"

Yet another year of the scammer? This week, we're forging our resumes and working for high society in Bong Joon-Ho's satirical thriller, "Parasite." Choi Woo-shik is Kim Ki-woo, the son of a poor family who cons his way into the pockets of the wealthy Parks. Will the Parks be the Kim family’s meal ticket, or their undoing?

We discuss our favorite things about fall, and scammer-centric Halloween costumes (Anna Delvey, Elizabeth Holmes). Also, our final screenings at NYFF. Michael is our New Yorker Festival correspondent, peeping Michael Chabon with Deborah Treisman.

Last Bites include Harry Styles, Star Trek: Picard, Jerome Rothenberg’s Barbaric, Vast, and Wild, hamster Tiktoks, and husband ASMR

The Grifter Family of ”Parasite"

Leashes and excretions, hark! This week, we're singing our siren song and blearing our foghorn with "The Lighthouse," a mystical sea yarn by Robert Eggers. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson are lighthouse keepers marooned by a storm. Ghosts of the past and a mesmerizing lamp seduce the men into murky waters.

We unveil our final decisions on Halloween costumes, and attend an Eckhaus Latta walk-off. Then, a pop culture tête-á-tête. Is the new Star Wars an artistic letdown, or fun, soulless entertainment? Who's watching us watch the Watchmen? Are we team Marvel or team Scorsese? And at long, long last: are we actually dating?

Last Bites include the Impossible Burger, Kristen Stewart on Vanity Fair, Friends, Anna Glantz at Foxy Production, and sandbag houses.

Also on the table: Billy Elliot, We The Animals, Call Me By Your Name, Spring Breakers, Mad Men, Emily Nussbaum, Breaking Bad, The Wire, Succession, The Simpsons, and more.

The Spunky Seamen of "The Lighthouse"

Two teachers' pets try to earn an A+ in pop culture. Featuring Michael Londres, Charlie Freiberg, and a kitchen sink of art and media.

Eat Your Veggies

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