With the Oscars just around the corner, you ought to get caught up on the latest releases – especially with Irish players in the game! Here are the epic flicks to catch in the cinema, on Apple TV and on Netflix now …
Killers of The Flower Moon
A bit of Scorsese, a dash of DiCaprio, a hint of DeNiro, with a fantastic debut from Lily Gladstone makes for the epic Killers of The Flower Moon. Also starring Brendan Fraser and Jess Plemons this talented cast will captivate you for the entirety of the lengthy film that it is. Setting Oscar records, Killers of The Flower Moon, Scorsese’s fact-based film is nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture, Directing, Actress, Actor in a Supporting Role and Cinematography. Gladstone plays Mollie Burkhart, a member of the Osage Nation who tries to save her community from a spree of murders fuelled by oil and greed. An important story and one that deserves to be told as incredibly as it has. Watch it on Apple TV now. Get snacks.
Anatomy of A Fall
Anatomy of a Fall follows the story of a woman who is suspected of her husband’s murder. Their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness. Nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Director, this courtroom thriller is a triumph for French arthouse drama. Gripping, chilling and certainly Oscar-worthy, Anatomy of a Fall is on Apple TV now to rent or buy so pop it onto your watch list for this coming weekend to be all caught up before the Academy Awards on March 10.
Past Lives
For fans of The Morning Show – here’s Greta Lee starring in an Oscar-nominated film and we are impressed. She plays the character Nora, opposite co-star Teo Yoo, who plays Hae Sung in this bilingual English and Korean film. They are two deeply connected childhood friends, and are separated after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny. A beautiful display of very real human relationships and interactions certainly earns Past Lives its Oscar nomination for Best Picture. It is on Netflix now, so lucky you.
American Fiction
Based on the book Erasure by Percival Everett in 2001, American Fiction is the highly entertaining new comedy from filmmaker Cord Jefferson. Starring Jeffrey Wright, the film has been nominated for five Oscars and we can see why. The story follows Monk, who is a frustrated novelist who is fed up with the establishment that profits from Black entertainment and relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, he writes an outlandish Black book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and madness. This film is cleverly written, directed, filmed and acted and makes you question – which every good film should do. Jeffrey Wright earns his first Oscar nomination for Best Leading Actor in this one. Sharp and punchy, it is still in cinemas now.
The Zone of Interest
The Zone of Interest collected five Oscar nominations including both Best Picture and Best International Feature Film. It is a Holocaust film, and has faced some backlash for receiving some of its nominations and awards only because of its subject matter. This film is powerful. It is important. It is very loosely based on the book of the same name by the late Martin Amis, The Zone of Interest is a study of the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig who lived in the immediate vicinity of an infamous German concentration camp in occupied Poland during World War II, and go about their days trying to build their dream life for their family, as they turn a blind eye to the mass execution, suffering and destruction that is happening right next to them. It is seriously poignant for today and is still showing in the cinema.
The Holdovers
Following Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s beautiful Bafta acceptance speech for The Holdovers for her supporting role as Mary Lamb, this film will shoot straight up in your award season ranks. The small cast for The Holdovers seem to get on amazingly well and have supported and continue supporting each other immensely throughout this process. Cast and crew relations aside, this film is nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress and has earned every one of them. Starring the wonderful Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Paul Giamatti and Dominic Sessa, this heartfelt, intimate comedy follows the unlikely friendship of a prep school instructor, his troublemaking student and the school’s head cook. It is one to watch and hold dear, available on Apple TV now.
Oppenheimer
A big player in the Oscars game this year is undoubtedly Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Nominated for 13 Oscars this film really could sweep the board. Having collected seven Baftas at the ceremony, including Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, we can see that this epic biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s development of the first atomic bomb and his personal life surrounding it is a film that will be referenced in years to come. It is still in the cinema (which is where we recommend you watch this first time round) and is available on Apple TV now for your second viewing.
All of Us Strangers
We have seen the dynamic duo Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal work the red carpet together, present at the BAFTAS, and have giggly press interviews together – so if you haven’t seen the film, get booking now. All of Us Strangers is a mystic film with themes of grief, love and the power of memory that will captivate you to no end and stay with you afterwards. Nominated for Baftas, Golden Globes, Critic’s Choice Awards and more, we are proud of these Irish guys. Also starring Claire Foy and Jamie Bell, this talented cast will have your attention throughout the entire film. Book the cinema for this weekend.
Poor Things
BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated Emma Stone is completely captivating in this mystical, fantastical film with a Frankenstein-esque storyline that evolves into so much more. Also starring Mark Ruffalo and William Dafoe, Poor Things has to be one to watch in the cinema. The peculiarities of the film need to be seen on the big screen, it is an experience you will never forget. Produced by Irish company Element Pictures, it is nominated for eleven Oscars, including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Costume Design and Cinematography. Poor Things is a work of art and a one-of-a-kind contribution to the film industry. Watch it in the cinema now.
Saltburn
Murder On The Dancefloor being the song of the year and the one performed by the fabulous Sophie Ellis Bextor at the BAFTAS is no surprise to those who have had the…pleasure? Experience? of watching Saltburn. This is an absolute must-watch-asap for the talent of Barry Keoghan, Rosamund Pike, Richard E Grant, Jacob Elordi, the incredible direction of Emerald Fennell and the style of the entire film. Even if it is not nominated for an Oscar, it will certainly be talked about. It is available on Apple TV now.
Maestro
Nominated for seven Oscars is Maestro. Bradley Cooper’s hard work and dedication is seen and felt throughout the film in every second of acting and direction. This towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein, an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love, is on Netflix. Get ready to enjoy it in the comort of your own home.
NYAD
Oscar nominated for Best Actress for her role as Diane Nyad, Annette Bening stars in this true story rendition of the world-class athlete’s incredible feat, with Jodie Foster starring opposite her as Nyad’s best friend Bonnie. The film follows the remarkable true story of a riveting chapter in the life of world-class athlete, marathon swimmer Diane Nyad as she attempts to swim for 60 hours from Cuba to Florida. Determined to become the first person to finish the swim without a shark cage, Diana goes on a thrilling, four-year journey with her best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll and a dedicated sailing team. This is a feel-good, uplifting story of friendship – and it might make you question your exercise regime. Bening’s performance really is wow-worthy in a way that makes you simaultaneously concerned and inspired. On Netflix now.
