Something New (This Week) - Vol. 29
Tom Cruise, sports, and new stuff.
Welcome to Something New (This Week), a (sometimes) weekly installation of recommendations for movies, music, readings, and more.
Mission: Impossible
Later this month, the eighth and seemingly final Mission: Impossible movie is hitting theaters. I am preparing by watching every single movie, in order. I decided this when I had a two-hour window of free time while alone at home after a shorter day of work, and found that the first four movies were all on Hulu. “Why not?” is a great reason to do things (sometimes).
During each movie, I have thought to myself “this is the most important and pivotal Mission: Impossible movie”. Okay, fine, you got me: I did not think that while watching John Woo’s M:I 2, which is a wacky and silly B action movie that has no right being a Mission: Impossible movie, but does have a right to be rad as hell.
It is a genuine delight to be fast-tracking this roller coaster of a series that never really had any cohesion or plan at all until 2015’s Rogue Nation (which is next on my rewatch). I think each movie is fun, and each has something interesting to say about franchise filmmaking in the 21st century. Throw one on this month if you’ve got a spare couple of hours.
And then, certainly, see Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning in theaters on May 23rd. I’ll see you there!
A Sporting Spring
There has been a deluge of sports taking up my time recently: the NBA, the WNBA, baseball, and coaching, playing, and broadcasting ultimate frisbee. My art consumption has been down, but there are some waves of great stuff coming our way soon that I am excited to recalibrate towards:
Release Radar
That’s right, Spotify, I’m copying the name for your weekly recap of new releases. Literally sue me (don’t sue me).
Music
Erica De Casier - Lifetime
De Casier made one of my favorite records of 2023 with Still. They’re back with some sultry, 90’s/aughts R’n’B style jams that remind me of British drum and bass, only with way less drums and bass. Their voice floats beautifully over the warm and dense production tones. This is levitating music.
Cole Pulice - Land’s End Eternal
Incredibly soothing yet creatively stimulating music featuring playful jazz saxophone, reminiscent of my favorite musical artist (?) Sam Gendel. This will be playing on my patio all summer while I read or enjoy a boulevardier.
Colin Miller - Losin’
I’ll just post Josh Terry’s blurb from his most recent newsletter:
Colin Miller is at the center of the burgeoning North Carolina indie rock scene. He’s the drummer for MJ Lenderman, recorded some of his earliest releases, and served as a sort of mentor figure when they all lived in a house called Haw Creek with members of Wednesday and other local musicians. Though he’s released music since at least 2019, 2023’s Haw Creek was his proper solo debut: an inviting collection of homey, storytelling folk rock. His follow-up Losin’ sharpens the edges and tightens the palette of his first full-length. Inspired by the 2022 death of Miller’s longtime friend, Gary King, the owner of the Haw Creek property, the LP is full of bittersweet odes to shared memories watching NASCAR races (“Cadillac”) and reworked versions of old tunes (like 2021’s “I Need a Friend”). Miller’s a tasteful songwriter. He’s understated but impressively versatile: “Lost Again” boasts an earworm guitar riff and “Porchlight” a delicate, harmony-filled chorus. When he adds a touch of Broken Social Scene-esque catharsis like on “Hasbeen,” he sticks the landing. This is patient and powerful songwriting from an artist who inspired some of your favorite new acts.
Books
Ross Barkan - Glass Century
Barkan is a journalist, essayist, and novelist that I first discovered on Substack, writing for his own publication but also for the Metropolitan Review, a publication Barkan co-founded and is the editor-in-chief of. That publication has been wonderful, and I’ve started reading more and more of Barkan’s work, which also features frequently in New York Magazine. His insight is sharp, his writing is clear, and he just this week published his third novel, which sounds sharp, clear, and fun.
You can read more about it here.
Ocean Vuong - The Emperor of Gladness: A Novel
Ocean Vuong (author of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous) has a new novel coming out next week. We should all literally pre-order it right now. Go ahead. Do it here. Or do it over here. Pre-order it. Buy it. Read it.
Movies
Friendship, Limited Release
One of my most anticipated movies in years is coming out in limited release next week. It’s called Friendship. It’s a cringe-inducing comedy. There is no better genre to take a load of your friends to. Let’s all go see it, if we are lucky enough to be in it’s limited areas.
Friendship | Official Trailer HD | A24
If you are in Portland, remember to always check Now Playing, which publishes every Friday highlighting the movies that are playing in each local cinema. They are wonderful.
TV
Poker Face: Season 2
I shamefully didn’t finish Poker Face’s first season, but I did love it. It’s a weekly whodunnit, Columbo style, and it has great actors and production values. We should get 5 of these a year. Season 2 launched yesterday. Time to catch-up!
The Four Seasons
It’s Tina Fey’s new show. She stars in it, with a lot of other great performers. Guess I’m signing back up for Netflix.
The Four Seasons Season 1 Trailer
That’s it for this week. Be excellent to each other.
TTFN,
B