Top Picks: M.J. Carter's novel 'The Strangler Vine,' the movie 'Clouds of Sils Maria,' and more
What swims beneath
Baja, Mexico, which borders the most diverse sea on the planet, has a forbidding and majestic ecosystem that has fascinated humans for millenniums. From producer Michael Watchulonis and Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Johnny Friday comes a new National Geographic documentary, , that explores the Sea of Cortez. It premi猫res Aug. 2 at 10 p.m. on Nat Geo Wild.听
Movie night
In Olivier Assayas鈥檚 , Juliette Binoche plays Maria Enders, an internationally celebrated actress who is offered the chance to star in the role of the older woman in a revival of the same drama that made her famous 20 years before. But to do so she must face down her own fears of 颅aging to work with a troubled but highly talented young costar, Jo-Ann Ellis (Chlo毛 Grace Moretz). It鈥檚 now available on DVD.
Beach reading
Odd couples (Hello, Holmes and Watson) are tantalizing no matter the era. M.J. Carter affirms that in her fun, well-crafted historical-fiction debut, ,听a tale of corruption, mystery, and colonialism set in 1830s India. Street gangs, exotic religious rites, and British paternalism are the backdrop for Jeremiah Blake and William Avery, disgruntled officials of the East India Company. There is more than a little swash in their buckles, and Carter knows her way around a phrase.
Apple and beats
When Apple finally released its all-encompassing music app the world expected, well ... the world. The verdict? is very good at such things as introducing the listener to new music, using actual humans (instead of algorithms) to intuit what listeners might like. The 30-million-song library will please even the most jaded music head even if it errs on the side of too many choices. Take a free three-month trial spin and make up your own mind at apple.com/music/radio.
Zeppelin unearthed
It鈥檚 the Led Zeppelin session that time forgot. In 1972, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant recorded raga-rock versions of 鈥淔riends鈥� and 鈥淔our Sticks鈥� with Bollywood musicians in India. Those songs are included on a remastered, expanded version of the band鈥檚 1982 rarities album . (Also reissued: 鈥淧resence鈥� and 鈥淚n Through the Out Door.鈥�) Led Zep rock archaeologist Page has also unearthed artifacts such as the 1968 blues romp 鈥淪ugar Mama.鈥� 鈥淪t. Tristan鈥檚 Sword,鈥� a previously unreleased instrumental, has acquired mythical status among fans. 听
