Film class with Dr. Asokan

By Aneesh Asokan, PharmD, MBA

Now that some time has passed since my last post, my view remains that “nothing productive happens after 7 pm on a Friday night.” What’s funny is that while this is still the same reference to How I Met Your Mother I made last time, I actually just rewatched the whole show with my fiancé (she was not a fan of that last season)!

As I step into this new chapter as a full-fledged practitioner, my love of media has blossomed into an all-access pass—music, shows, podcasts, movies, you name it. If it can whisk me out of the everyday and drop me into a completely different world, I’m in. Now if I can just convince myself to actually open a book.

This time, I am going to list the most impactful pieces of media I’ve had the chance to experience. This list will include a little bit of everything, so you have many options to choose from when you want to decompress from the rigors of your work life. In addition, I’ve finally started a Letterboxd account to keep track of what I’ve watched: You can follow me here: NeeshNeesh95.

Video game—Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This isn’t the kind of game I’d normally pick up—and honestly, I almost didn’t. That changed the moment I got pulled in by its music and visual style after watching someone play the prologue. At its core, it’s a story-driven, turn-based RPG following a group called Expedition 33 as they set out to confront the mysterious Paintress, who appears to be counting down the years until the world’s end (imagine Thanos snapping his fingers). This abstract premise unfolds beautifully. What really stays with you are the themes: love, loss, grief, friendship. They are woven together in a way that’s genuinely captivating. And the twists just keep coming, each one adding more layers, leaving you thinking about the story long after the credits roll.

Honorable mention: CyberPunk 2077

TV show—Invincible

While at the surface it is a superhero show, it’s doing a lot more than that. At its heart, it follows a young man coming into adulthood while stepping into the role of possibly Earth’s strongest hero. He calls himself Invincible, though the show has no problem putting that name to the test repeatedly. More than anything, it’s a story about resilience and grit. It’s about figuring out what kind of hero you want to be, even when your past and the world keep trying to define you.

Honorable mentions: The Boys, Reacher, The Pitt, Abbott Elementary, Jury Duty, Severance

Podcast—CreepCast

I’ll lean into my nerdy side for this one. This is a podcast I love, hosted by two YouTubers with a shared love of horror and all things macabre.

CreepCast plays on the classic straight man and funny guy dynamic, where the hosts read internet stories that either genuinely spook them or send them completely off track. One minute they’re on edge, and the next they’re breaking into song or spinning their own, arguably better, version of the story. Give it a listen if you want something silly! 

Film: Sinners

What can I say about this movie that hasn’t already been said. This movie has everything: great story, great acting (Oscar winning), great music (Oscar winning), etc. This movie was just so original, and the vampires were a plus! Miles Caton was amazing in his first role, and Michael B. Jordan (times two) is always a delight to see on screen. I would highly recommend this; it’s worthy of its Oscars! 

Honorable mentions: Bring Her Back, Weapons, The Substance 

Film: Warfare

I try to balance my reviews with big names and smaller, underrated ones. Warfare is a great A24 installment all about one mission during the Iraq War. It follows a platoon of men who need to hold a certain position, and things get quite intense as local armies attack. It’s a very tightly shot movie, both tactically and technically speaking. It is definitely a great movie to be a fly on the wall during the Battle of Ramadi. 

Honorable mentions: Civil War, Nobody, Sicario

Aneesh Asokan, PharmD, MBA, is the APhA Senior Manager, strategic partnerships in Washington, DC. Outside of work, he continues exploring the world, going to metal concerts, and cooking new cuisines.