This year is coming to a close! Though technology isn’t going to take a holiday break, we’ll be here to hand out stories you need to catch up on while enjoying what’s Now Playing in GadgetMatch.

Movies to see

Marriage Story
Chay: Don’t be fooled by the title of the film; Noah Baumbach’s latest work actually deals with divorce. You will either love it or feel indifferent about it. The couple played by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are both selfish and stubborn. The film will want you to side with one of them at first and then confuse you midway. It features some of the best acting I’ve seen in my life, with Adam Driver delivering a performance that deserves an Oscar. Songs from the musical Company were also weaved perfectly into the narrative and the characters’ stories.

Dead Kids
Vincenz: To be frank, I know most of the main cast but they’re not the main reason why I watched it. My interest was piqued after recalling a similar case to a rich student who was held captive by his peers. This time, the plot focuses on the rich bully who was kidnapped by his classmates for ransom. The first few minutes felt heavy but I really wanted to see if they will be successful or not — even if in the back of my mind, something terrible will happen. One more thing: this is a socially relevant film *coughs* EJK *clears throat*.

Sila-sila
Vincenz: An indie film showing how complicated homosexual relationships are. Even if you’re not part of the community, you will see how hook-ups, dating, and gay relationships work in real life. It will also give you life lessons that relationships will always have ups and downs and too much pride can destroy both parties. Giving second chances all depend on the person who got hurt the most.

Metamorphosis
Vincenz: Another relevant indie film I recommend not just for Filipinos, but for everyone. A lot of people don’t know the differences between assigned sex at birth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (thus the push for SOGIE Bill). Adam, the protagonist, started doubting himself in all of those aspects as he was later confirmed as part of the intersex. The line that struck me the most is when Angel (a prostitute) told him that it’s okay to be who you are and that someone like him is normal.

6 Underground
Rodneil: Explosions, stunts, quips, and more explosions. When Ryan Reynolds said this was the most Michael Bay movies in the history of Michael Bay movies, he wasn’t kidding. The movie lacked any soul to speak of. But if you like explosions, stunts, quips, and more explosions, then maybe you’ll like it.

Men In Black: International
Rodneil: Missed this when it first came out in theaters so I was pleasantly surprised when it came to Netflix recently. There’s nothing groundbreaking here but I’d argue the chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson definitely carried over from Thor: Ragnarok. If you’re not too attached to the MIB franchise, this is a fun little sci-fi flick that the family can watch together during the holidays.

Star Wars (All the previous 8 movies, or at least the latest two)
Rodneil: The sequel trilogy of the franchise is coming to a close. Following the divisive reception of Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, there’s plenty of anticipation over how Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker will wrap everything up. It’s the perfect time to revisit the previous films in the franchise so everything’s fresh when you finally see Episode IX.

Shows to binge-watch

Ahiru no Sora
Rodneil: Ahiru no Sora follows the story of a kid too undersized to play basketball. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in skills. This basketball animé has more in common with Slam Dunk than Kuroko no Basket. It feels grounded and has all the emotional and motivational beats you can expect from your usual sports animé.

Albums/Songs/Podcasts to listen to

365 by LOONA
Vincenz: Orbits have been waiting for almost a year and now, LOONA finally has something to offer this Christmas season. LOONA’s angelic and soothing vocals always sound so good when the song is in ballad, and the song lyrics make it even more special. Just like the “Heart fluttering, as if dreaming” part — that’s exactly how I felt while listening to it. It’s so good that I’ve been listening to this track repeatedly ever since it was released.

Wake Up by Crush (feat. Dean)
Vincenz: I don’t literally take the title as it is as it’s not the most ideal alarm tune to wake you up, but I enjoy this song not just because of its chilly vibe, but because Crush and Dean’s vocals blend well together. I even listen to it whenever I go out. It suddenly makes me forget that I’m in a long traffic jam.

Everyday Life (Coldplay)
Kenrick: The highly-anticipated follow-up to 2015’s A Head Full of Dreams, Coldplay’s newest album Everyday Life could be their most diverse album yet. It combines different musical genres while retaining the signature Coldplay tune and the unique voice of Chris Martin. However, fans may find it different at first — it is a clear departure from the pop-rock roots of the albums that came before it. Still, it is worth listening to since Coldplay nailed the basics while sending a message that they’re not afraid to experiment with other genres.

Now Playing is the GadgetMatch team’s favorite games, movies, TV shows, and more each month. If you’re curious to know what we’re into at the moment, this is what you should check out. So grab your popcorn, get some drinks, and enjoy what’s now playing!