With dazzling animation and a superb screenplay, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the follow-up to Oscar-winner Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, has performed heroically at the box office. Greg Cass Greg and I try to pinpoint the source of the film’s success, dissect how the creators have seeded themes into the story so effectively, share our favorite scenes and Easter eggs, and much more. Stick around until the end of the recording to learn just how deep a certain cameo’s connection to Spider-Man really goes.

Movie News Check-In: 1:16

The Short Take (Spoiler-Free): 11:58

The Recommendation Algorithm (Spoiler-Free): 17:04

SPOILER MODE: 28:54

The Rhetorical Situation: 44:35

Oscars Watch: 1:20:22

Show Notes:

More information on who nominates and votes for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. (Jen was correct. In 2017 the Academy created an opt-in committee to determine nominations for this category, and it’s open to any Academy member.)

The Vanity Fair article on the call to de-gender awards.

Image Credit: BBC

Intro and outro music is “Divers,” by Hara Noda, licensed through Epidemic Sound.

Logo art: Illustration 73265080 © Worldofvector | Dreamstime.com

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