Miniseries: ‘Half Man’
With the sixth and final episode of “Half Man” having recently dropped on Crave, it’s time to praise writer-star Richard Gadd’s searing followup to “Baby Reindeer.” The graphic, unpleasant tale of a lifelong toxic friendship and virulent codependency, this brutal bromance could have been titled “Trigger Warning.” Give Gadd, co-star Jamie Bell and the rest of the ensemble all the awards and steel yourself for the stunning fourth episode, which might be the most intense hour of television you’ll ever experience. — Doug Brod
Movie: ‘The People vs. Larry Flynt’
History has blessed us with an elite crew of multi-hyphenate divas like Cher, Barbra, Gaga (and yes, even Madonna) who are, infuriatingly, just as compelling onscreen as they are onstage. There is, however, another groundbreaking musician worthy of that pantheon: Courtney Love. The Criterion Channel is helping to rectify the oversight this month by featuring several of her films, including her astonishing, should-have-been-Oscar-nominated turn as Larry Flynt’s No. 1 gal. Milos Forman’s biopic of the controversial Hustler publisher is highly underrated, and Love is warm, witty, wild and utterly unforgettable in it. In a week where Martin Scorsese announced an AI partnership and CBS fired long-time “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, this passionate paean to the power of art and free speech might be just the balm you need. — Briony Smith
Books: Motive Crime & Mystery Festival
You’re in for some hard-boiled fun as the annual crime-book confab returns this weekend to Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Guests include such genre heavy hitters as Shari Lapena, Uzma Jalaluddin, Nicholas Shakespeare and former homicide cop Hank Idsinga. In addition to panel discussions and one-on-one conversations, there’ll be a forensic science workshop, board games, yoga, tours, even tarot reading lessons. — Doug Brod
Album: Prospa, ‘Free Your Mind’
Sizzling summer party soundtracks rarely arrive with such a deep affection for music history. Yet this house music duo from Leeds, England, bridges generations on its propulsive debut album, pairing contemporary club rhythms with vocal samples lifted from vintage R&B and soul records. It opens with the crackle and pop of well-worn vinyl before surging into a rush of dancefloor-ready tracks. The title song draws on a vocal from Sybil’s “Oh, How I Love You,” transforming the underground R&B cut into a soaring club anthem, while “Let the Music” reworks a sample from underappreciated 1970s gospel singer Rance Allen into a sleek modern groove. — David Friend
