Welcome to HNGN's weekly top picks, where we cull the best and brightest releases in music, fashion, beauty, tech, and pop culture. Come back each week for more of-the-moment goodness.
BOOKS
Yoda: The Story of a Cat and His Kittens
By Beth Stern (Aladdin)
"Yoda" tells the story of author Beth Stern's cat and his miraculous transformation from matted shelter cat to handsome feline leader who helps her manage the ever-growing brood of kittens and adult cats she fosters. All proceeds from this book will be donated to North Shore Animal League America's Bianca's Furry Friends campaign. https://www.animalleague.org/support/how-you-can-help/biancas-furry-friends-campaign.html
I Must Say: My Life As A Humble Comedy Legend
By Martin Short (Harper)
Comedian Martin Short's memoir – which is both heartfelt and heartbreaking – lets you in on how he went from being an odd, showbiz-obsessed youngster to one of Hollywood's favorite oddball comedians. Short takes the readers through his professional career and into to his family life, detailing how he lost his brother and both of his parents by the time he turned 20 before losing his wife of 30 years to cancer in 2012.
Jeter Unfiltered
By Derek Jeter (Gallery/Jeter Publishing)
Given how closed-mouthed and media-averse Derk Jeter was throughout his stellar baseball career – never saying very much beyond the mundate – it may seem hard to believe that he would allow us into his private life. But he succeeds in doing just that for a good deal of the engaging book that includes never-before-published pictures from his last season by photographer Christopher Anderson. In all, the book serves to reinforce Jeter's reputation as a role model and champion – on and off the field – and deservedly so.
Revival
By Stephen King
This dark, disturbing novel may well be one of the most terrifying books Stephen King has ever written. The page-turner tells the story of a small boy who goes from playing with toy soldiers in the dark shadows of his room to adult years dealing with horrific loss by way of an even darker heroin addiction.
HNGN also loves these new releases:
True Love
By Jennifer Lopez (Celebra Hardcover)
41: A Portrait Of My Father
By George W. Bush (Crown Publishing Group)
Undeniable: Evolution And The Science Of Creation
By Bill Nye (St. Martin's Press)
Sarah Style
By Sarah Richardson (Simon & Schuster)
Playing It My Way: My Autobiography
By Boria Majumdar (Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.)
MUSIC
Pink Floyd: The Endless River (Parlophone/Columbia)
Pink Floyd returns for its first album in 20 years - and what leader David Gilmour has intimated will be the band's swan song. Drawn from the sessions that spawned 1994's "The Division Bell," spiced with some fresh recordings by Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason, the mostly instrumental release – only the last song "Louder Than Words" includes vocals - is a tribute to late band member Rick Wright, with his shimmering keyboard work evoking the band's "Wish You Were Here"-era glory.
Damien Rice: My Favourite Faded Fantasy (Atlantic)
It's hard to believe that "My Favourite Faded Fantasy" is only the third studio album by Irish troubadour Damien Rice, whose 2002 debut "O" included the haunting hit "Volcano." Known for his deeply intense lyrics, the Irishman continues that journey with his latest release.
Watch the music video for Rice's new song "I Don't Want To Change You" here:
Juan Luis Guerra/Juan Luis Guerra y 440: Todo Tiene Su Hora (Universal)
Juan Luis Guerra has made a name for himself by blending various Latin genres into a delectable mix. On "Todo Tiene Su Hora," the Dominican-born Guerra and his band 440 show the talent and widespread appeal that has garnered him a slew of high-profile awards, including 15 Latin Grammy Awards and two Grammy Awards.
Zac Brown Band: Greatest Hits So Far (Atlantic)
Is a six-year recording career too short to generate a greatest hits album? Not if you're the Zac Brown Band – eight of the 14 singles on "Greatest Hits So Far" reached the top of the Billboard country chart.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Foxcatcher (Sony Classics)
Steve Carrell ditches the funnyman routine for a dramatic turn as John du Pont, a millionaire who uses his wealth to sponsor amateur wrestlers. The film, based on a true story, follows Du Pont as he befriends amateur Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) and invites him to train at his estate. Mark's successful brother (Mark Ruffalo) enters the fold and Du Pont's behavior gradually becomes more erratic, culminating in a tragic murder.
Watch the trailer HERE: https://trailers.apple.com/trailers/sony/foxcatcher/
FASHION AND BEAUTY
Jeremy Scott is turning heads (as usual) with his new unisex fragrance, Moschino, which looks like a toy teddy bear – well, besides his shirt that reads "This Is Not A Moschino Toy." The spray nozzle is hiding beneath the bear's screw-off head.
Stila Cosmetics is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a beauty treat. The newly launched limited-edition makeup collection comes with BaubleBar jewels tucked inside! The collection comes in varying themes (think "night on the town" or "casual night in") in unique packaging, so there's something for everyone.
Fall hats are huge right now, and we're loving beanies and panama hats. The beanie is a classic fall style and is quick, easy chic look. If you're looking to make a statement get your hands on a panama hat. We love this one from J. Crew that shouts bohemian cool.
The '90s are back! United Colors of Benetton has dedicated an entire section on its website to '90s fashion is rocking all of your favorite old styles this fall. Their selections are perfect for anyone missing the bright scarves, retro tees and patterned shirts from decade ruled by the BackStreet Boys. Drew Barrymore is also getting in on this trend with her own '90s-inspired brown lipstick.
Vintage décor website Chairish has launched an accessories section that including vintage Chanel items. If that's not exciting enough already, the prices are also negotiable. The website is set up eBay-style, so you have to deal with an asking price rather than an auction set up but buyers are free to offer lower bids if the suggested price seems a little too high.
DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES
How To Train Your Dragon 2 (Twentieth Century Fox)
Hiccup and his dragon Toothless return in the sequel to the 2010 blockbuster that features the best friends discovering an ice cave full of hoard of new wild dragons. They must protect the peace between the Vikings and dragons as the villainous Drago plans a massive invasion after saddling the wild dragons.
Special features on the Blu-Ray/DVD include deleted scenes, audio commentary, and a new 26-minute Hiccup and Toothless adventure. The featurettes include "Fishlegs' Dragon Stats," "Drago's War Machines," "Berk's Dragon World," "Hiccup's Inventions in Flight" and "Where No One Goes: The Making of 'How to Train Your Dragon 2'."
Jersey Boys (Warner Home Video)
Clint Eastwood gave the popular Broadway musical the big-screen treatment in this film about the iconic 1960s group The Four Seasons. John Lloyd Young reprised his Tony-winning role as Frankie Valli for the movie co-starring Christopher Walken, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda and Vincent Piazza. Try to get the music out of your head after you've finished watching.
Special features on the Blu-Ray/DVD include a photo gallery, deleted scenes and audio commentary with the director Clint Eastwood.
Tammy (Warner Home Video)
Melissa McCarthy and Susan Sarandon star in this unconventional road trip movie about a down-on-her-luck woman who travels across the country with her profane, hard-drinking grandmother as they try to make their way to Niagara Falls.
Special features on the Blu-Ray/DVD include deleted scenes, a gag reel, "Tammy's Road Trip Checklist," and more.
True Blood: Season 7 and The Complete Series (HBO Home Video)
Bill and Sookie brought their story to an end in the final season of the HBO vampire drama. Bring home the seventh season or collect all seven seasons of the award-winning series.
Special features on The Complete Series DVD include "Van Camp Files," "Inside the Episodes" and five episode audio commentaries for each season.
Other Movies and TV Shows Available on Blu-Ray and DVD include:
• Let's Be Cops (Twentieth Century Fox)
• Happy Christmas (Paramount Pictures)
• Getting On: Season 1 (HBO Home Video)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Season 6 (Buena Vista Home Entertainment)
• Batman: The Complete Original Series (Warner Bros.)
Movies and TV Streaming Online
Dream House
Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz star in this psychological thriller from 2011. Will Atenton (Craig) is a man from New York City who relocates his family to a quaint New England town. They unknowingly move into a house where a mother and her children were murdered. When Will begins an investigation into the murder with his neighbor (Watts), he learns a disturbing truth about the murder and himself.
Netflix has the film available for streaming.
Under The Skin
On the same weekend she kicked butt with Chris Evans in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," Scarlett Johansson also starred in the sci-fi thriller "Under the Skin." She plays an alien seductress who preys on men around Scotland.
Director Jonathan Glazer and screenwriter Walter Campbell loosely adapted the script from Michael Faber's novel of the same name.
Amazon Prime has the film available for streaming.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel Studios knocked it out of the park again with this blockbuster space opera that saved the 2014 summer box office. The 10th movie installment from Marvel introduced a new ragtag group led by Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, played by Chris Pratt.
He joins forces with the assassin Gamora, a genetically engineered raccoon named Rocket, his sentient-tree pal Groot and the vengeful warrior Drax the Destroyer. They must work together to retrieve one of the coveted Infinity Stones and keep it away from the maniacal Kree, Ronan the Accuser.
iTunes has the film available for purchase.
The Giver
Jeff Bridges dreamed of adapting the Lois Lowry novel for the big screen for at least 20 years. He wanted his father Lloyd to play the titular character, but since his father passed in 1998, Jeff ended up playing the role himself in the dystopian film.
He co-stars with Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites, Cameron Monaghan, Odeya Rush, Alexander Skargard, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift.
iTunes has the film available for purchase.
Check out our complete list of movies available for streaming on Netflix this month and see below for more options on Amazon Prime and for purchase at iTunes. [https://www.hngn.com/articles/47554/20141029/netflix-new-releases-november-include-season-9-s-always-sunny.htm]
Amazon Prime:
• 24: Live Another Day (available Nov. 14)
• Mr. Selfridge: Season 2 (available Nov. 18)
• Beneath The Harvest Sun (available Nov. 18)
iTunes
• Navy SEALs: The Untold Story (available Nov. 12)
• Bad Turns Worse (available Nov. 14)
• Miss Meadows (available Nov. 14)
• Frozen: Sing Along (available Nov. 18)
• Sin City: Uncut (available Nov. 18)
• As Above, So Below (available Nov. 18)
• Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead 2 (available Nov. 18)
• 20,000 Days on Earth (available Nov. 18)
• Alive Inside (available Nov. 18)
TECH
Google's Nexus 6 Smartphone
AT&T phone customers are able to pre-order Google's Nexus 6 smartphone starting this week. The company is carrying the popular Midnight Blue version of the 32GB model and is offering three payment options: $22.77 per month with AT&T Next 24; $28.46 per month with AT&T Next 18; and $34.15 per month with AT&T Next 12. Buy the Moto 360 smartwatch, Moto Hint, or Moto Silver II Bluetooth headset with a Nexus 6 and save $50 on the add on.
Sony's SmartWatch 3
Sony is selling the third version of its smartwatch now for $250 at the Google Play store in the U.S. The waterproof SmartWatch 3 can notify you of incoming calls and messages while acting as a fitness tracker that monitors distance traveled, steps taken, and number of hours slept. It also works with the LifeLog app to keep track of the songs you listened to and the movies you watched. Sony has yet to make the new wristband available at Google Play in the U.K. and Australia.
Google Updates Chromescast with family-friendly games
Google announced Tuesday that it has updated its Chromecast dongle with games for the whole family. With the streaming device's new apps, you can use your smartphone as a remote control to play classic games like "Scrabble Blitz," "Monopoly Dash" and "Simon Swipe," as well as new games like "Just Dance Now" on your TV. An additional update brings Casting to the Showtime Anytime and Starz app content library.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Carrot
Carrot (meetcarrot.com) is a to-do list website that uses the proverbial "carrot-on-a-stick" motivatation method to get you to complete scheduled tasks. But there are some quirky twists.
"With her upgrade to 4.0, CARROT is now the first and only to-do list that gives you a virtual kitten as a reward for getting stuff done in real life," according to the app's press kit. "You can pet him, dress him in premium costumes, and even feed him to earn bonus points! Just remember: your kitten's well-being depends entirely on your ability to keep CARROT happy."
(Reporting by Michael Lello, Emily Morgan, John Nassivera, Oulimata Ba, Amanda Bernocco and Jordan Webb. Editing by Michael Lello. Want to be considered for Coveted? Send your product information, with photos, to m.bullerdick@hngn.com or send product samples to Michael Q. Bullerdick HNGN/33 Universal, 33 Whitehall Street - 7th Floor, New York, NY 10004)
