12/03/21
This week: Spiderman, Gucci, Spotify Wrapped, and the loss of two icons
TRENDS THIS WEEK
☞Youtube Billie Eilish: Same Interview, The Fifth Year
☞Letterboxd HOUSE OF GUCCI
☞TikTok #Hanukkah
☞Spotify Adele - Easy On Me
☞Netflix LOST IN SPACE
☞Twitter #SpotifyWrapped
Life & Culture
If you’ve been subscribed to us for a while, you already know my love of Spotify Wrapped, which I am clearly not alone in. 2021’s year in review came out on Wednesday and yes, I have been unabashedly listening to my top 100 songs playlist since then. But what are the global trends, you ask? Well, Bad Bunny took the top spot for most streamed artist, with Olivia Rodrigo nabbing both top album and top song. THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE (which Spotify paid $100 million for exclusive rights to last year) was the most-listened-to podcast.
In film news, SPIDERMAN: NO WAY HOME, the third installment in the Tom Holland Spiderman series comes out on December 16, and there’s already much to discuss. People are trying to sell their opening night tickets for thousands of dollars (no word yet on how that’s going) after they went on sale on November 29. And, AMC and Sony joined forces to give exclusive NFTs to early premiere ticket buyers. A lucky 86,000 AMC members will get access to one of the NFTs, which come in over a hundred different designs and will be accessible with a special code.
And, while we were out eating pecan pie last week, Riot Games' new show ARCANE was the series to finally unseat SQUID GAMES in Parrot Analytics’ chart of what the measurement company calls the “most in-demand breakout series."
Okay, this TikTok might be the most wholesome video I have ever seen. Highly recommend a watch to get your weekend off to a positive start, my friends. And this one is another winner, where a neighbor has a surprise in store for the girl next door who’s been ding-dong-ditching them.
—Darlene Kenney, Digital Strategist
Virgil Abloh, one of this generation's most trailblazing figures in fashion and pop culture, died on Sunday after a long and private battle with cancer. Abloh, the creator of beloved streetwear-meets-luxury brand Off-White as well as the first Black artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear, had a long and successful career in fashion. He was an icon for young Black creatives who felt they didn’t belong in the fashion, music and entertainment industries and his impact has been massive. The loss of Virgil is incredibly heavy, and feels especially deep considering the wide and deep collective losses we have all been living with these past couple of years. Still, I have been incredibly inspired by the outpouring of love in celebration for his life. On Wednesday, Louis Vuitton honored Virgil with his final show, as he wished. The star-studded crowd featured the West family, Pharrell, and Michael Burke, who shared a few words in honor of his dear friend, reminding us all that “Virgil was not looking for the limelight, but the limelight found him.”
—Eden Bekele, Digital Associate
Films
If you’re looking to have a good cry this weekend, I recommend checking out Mike Mills’ latest, C’MON C’MON (trailer here), which is expanding nationwide. In the movie, radio journalist Johnny (played by Joaquin Phoenix) travels the country to interview kids about what they think their futures will look like. When his sister (Gaby Hoffman) needs help looking after her son, Johnny brings his nephew along to work, learning firsthand the emotional strain of his sister’s day-to-day life. Mills examines parenting and childhood with a unique blend of narrative and documentary, interweaving the story with interviews conducted by Phoenix and real-life journalist Molly Webster. As we see Phoenix and Hoffman’s characters figure out how to introduce a child to life’s difficulties, we also hear children’s actual expectations, growing up in this world. It’s a very sweet movie, and I’m serious about the crying—make sure to stock your pocket with tissues before you head to the theater!
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
Plenty of critics have bashed HOUSE OF GUCCI (trailer here) for it’s hamminess, and they’re not entirely wrong. But I’m here with the hot take that the melodrama actually makes this film a joy to watch. It doesn’t want to be realistic. On the contrary, it’s a glorious, hilarious Hollywood opera. Lady Gaga is enchanting as the conniving Patrizia Reggiani. So, who cares if her accent travels the European continent? Jared Leto’s Paolo might be the most ridiculous (in a good way) supporting role since Mark Wahlberg in THE DEPARTED. On top of that, the production design and soundtrack are top-notch (you can listen to the 80s/90s jams punctuating the drama here). Oscar-winning designer Janty Yates claims Lady Gaga didn’t repeat a single article of clothing the entire film, not even an earring. My fashion knowledge is severely challenged, but even I left the theater looking to make some wardrobe changes. So to the critics, I say “boof!” House of Gucci is funny, flashy, and theatrical; just what the people need right now.
—Daniel Shifren, Production & Development Intern
TV
SELLING SUNSET (trailer here) returned for its fourth season over the Thanksgiving holiday and I couldn’t be more thrilled— the ladies of the Oppenheim Group are finally back after a year-long wait! And with a few new faces ready to stir the pot, no less. Whether you’re in it for the feuding or the gawking at aspirational L.A. real estate, rest assured: The show continues to check all those boxes with sweeping pop music needle drops, expensive cars, gaudy clothes, and ridiculously low-stakes fights in big glass houses. Like, seriously—other than Christine having a baby, I could not tell you how this season is materially different from the last. That said, SELLING SUNSET S4 is the perfect escapist slice of reality TV to binge to decompress after a long day of work. Enjoy!
—Neal Mulani, Executive Assistant
Theater
I had the pleasure of seeing the new Broadway revival of COMPANY last week, mere days before Stephen Sondheim’s passing. This production has taken the lead role of Robert, a 35-year-old man contemplating his marriage prospects (or lack thereof), and turned him into Bobbie, a woman. In addition to this change, director Marianne Elliott has also made small tweaks to the book to make the play feel more contemporary (I don’t think they talked about vaping in the original 1970 production). Curiously, these changes coalesce into a slightly puzzling end result: a production in which characters’ conversations feel quite modern, but the overall piece and its treatment of marriage feels dated. Fortunately, the performances are so excellent across the board that COMPANY is still a great night at the theatre. Led by Katrina Lenk and her gorgeous voice, the ensemble crackles with high-energy, laugh-out-loud funny performances. And of course, Patti Lupone brings down the house as the older and wiser Joanne. I’m sure the already-hot production has become an even hotter ticket in the wake of Sondheim’s death, but if you are passing through New York and can get your hands on tickets, it’s worth taking the time to indulge in his genius.
—Julia Hammer, Director of Production
Travel
Last chance! Head into 2022 with a vacation already planned. (Because you know what most of us need after a little time “resting” with family? A vacation.) We’ve got you covered with a week-long adventure in Portugal—booked on us. We’re handling your flights, hotels, and breakfasts, along with kicking in $2,500 in spending money. You can enter here—good luck!
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