What I'm Into: December 2021

Here’s a look at What I’m Into this month in the world of music, movies & television: Spider-Man: No Way Home: Easily one of the coolest movie-going experiences I've ever had. I had such high expectations for Tom Holland's 3rd Spider-Man performance and this delivered in every single way. If I'm pressed to find a criticism, I'd say the first act does wander just a bit before finding its footing with a dynamic close. With the future of Tom Holland's run as the friendly, neighborhood web-slinger in jeopardy, Jon Watts flips the standard beats to a hero's trilogy on its head. Instead of the usual origin story in film one, world building in world two, and expansion in film three, No Way Home finds a way to truly develop continuity in a sense of a three-film origin story that brings Holland's version of this familiar character into the fully-realized version of the hero that we've known for years.

Spencer: File this under incredible movies that I don't have much desire to ever see again. There's this haunting tension that runs through the entire movie. The artistry in this film is palpable. Every decision (both visual and symbolic) is dripping with meaning. The scene with the billiard table is incredible and the dissonant score gives this film such a weighty amount of dread. In many ways, it's a psychological thriller with Stewart's Diana at the center. And yes, Stewart absolutely knocks her performance out of the park. This is prime Oscar fodder and worthy of the consideration without a doubt. Last Night in Soho: In Edgar Wright's most recent vehicle, Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit & Old) and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit) flat out crush it. Wright has never shied away from bizarre elements or outside-the-box story elements and Last Night in Soho leans into those things hard. The 60s aesthetic and wardrobe are fantastic and the cinematography really bring this film together. It's an arthouse thriller that doesn't disappoint. Hawkeye: It felt like the early part of the post-Endgame Marvel arc was leading towards No Way Home and where we land at the end of Hawkeye. Hailee Steinfeld's portrayal of Kate Bishop jumps into the MCU and doesn't miss a beat. The best part of the show, however, is Florence Pugh's reprisal of Yelena Belova. Pugh is one of my favorite actors, so this is no surprise, but her interactions with Steinfeld are a bright spot and something I hope to see more of moving forward. It seems this is a way Marvel is issuing a changing-of-the-guard from the original Avengers and if future installments hit the same marks as this series, I think we'll see plenty more of the same success. Playlist of the Post:

Track Listing: 1. Rubble to Rubble - Wilderado 2. Sedona - Houndmouth 3. Montreal - Captain We're Sinking 4. Knots - Speak Low 5. Remember - Jodi 6. Bobby - Camp Trash 7. Shake the Frost (Live) - Tyler Childers 8. Weak Days - Elder Brother 9. House Fire - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

10. Seventeen Going Under -Sam Fender