Most fans of Tom Holland have a certain mental image of the 24-year-old star when it comes to his cinematic roles. That being, the boyish and loveably goofy embodiment of Spider-Man in the latest Marvel blockbuster adaptations.
However, Cherry, Holland’s newest film directed by the Russo Brothers, is almost purpose-written to shatter everything we thought we knew about the star. Out now via Apple TV+, it’s a breathtaking, tense and ultimately cathartic film that’s become a must-watch release.
The film follows the true-to-life story of a young man from Ohio who meets the love of his life before serving in the Iraq war. Upon returning to the US a war hero, Holland’s character suffers PTSD and begins a chaotic spiral into drug addiction. As his inner-demons take grip, he resorts to bank robbing to fund his addiction––upending his relationship in the process. Though it’s a decidedly heavy plot, the script is peppered with a healthy dose of black comedy to keep it from toppling under its own weight.
While you won’t see Holland sling webs in spandex this time around, you will see him undertake a cinematic odyssey that swings from the joys of love to the pitfalls of war and addiction in a performance that’s been dubbed his finest yet. In fact, he’s already garnering Oscar buzz.
“Holland has the role of his young career and proves capable of acting ability on the highest levels,” reads a rave review from Deadline. “Aging from 17 to 35 cannot be easy on screen, but Holland is credible all the way.”
Of course, credit deservedly goes to the Russo Brothers for bringing this vision to life. The story hit close to home for the pair, with real-life parallels to the American opioid crisis that has shattered their hometown. Addiction is a complex illness and the Russo Brothers treat it with a depth that is often lacking in cinema.
The auteur duo last worked with Holland to direct Avengers: Endgame––which went on to become one of the most successful movies of all time. While Cherry and Endgame seem to bear little similarity on paper, both films showcase the Russos’ ability to tell epic, sprawling stories.
With the MCU, the Russos wove together a myriad of storylines across cascading timelines. In Cherry, they show off their ability to do something similar, albeit in a far gritter context. Inspired by the Nico Walker book that Cherry is based on, the film is structured like a novel and divided into six distinct chapters––each with its own aesthetic and style, hopping genres along the way.
It’s thrilling to see the Russo Brothers channel the skills they honed directing the Marvel multiverse to something far more grounded and human. Ultimately, that’s why this is such an exciting film. While Holland is superhuman as Spider-Man, in Cherry we see him as flawed and glorious all at once. It’s riveting to watch unfold.
So, to answer our question: What happens when the actor best-known for playing Spider-Man becomes a bank robbing junkie?
He becomes human. And that makes all the difference.
We’re giving away a signed copy of the Cherry script along with three-month subscriptions to Apple TV+ here. Cherry is out now on the Apple TV app via Apple TV+.
