Awards Contenders
Watercooler contributors sift out the movies and series worthy of Oscar, Emmy, or Golden Globe attention.
Watercooler Picks: Film
Triangle of Sadness
With so many awards-caliber movies taking us into very dark places, Triangle of Sadness brings laughter and sunshine to its biting indictment of influencers, wealth and class divides. Stick around for the third act.
Tár
A top Oscar contender, Tar explores cancel culture and #metoo with nuance while removing gender stereotypes from the equation. But the film – and Cate Blanchett’s performance – are much more than that.
Decision to Leave
A romantic Korean noir from legendary director Park Chan-wook, Decision to Leave captivates as much for the chemistry between its detective and suspect as for the shocking psychological mystery that unfolds.
The Inspection
A psychological drama about feeling alienated that captivates the lost loner in all of us, The Inspection also examines how men are “toughened up” by society. You’ll be hearing more about star Jeremy Pope.
Causeway
After a traumatic brain injury, a US soldier (Jennifer Lawrence) confronts memory loss, PTSD, and her family as she finds an unlikely comrade on her path to recovery.
Devotion
A gripping biopic about the Navy’s first Black fighter pilot – Jesse Brown – and the inspiring friendship that transcended racism and the conflicts of the Korean War. Starring Jonathan Majors and Glenn Powell.
The Fabelmans
At its heart a story about the relationships that make us who we are, this is a must-see and top Oscar contender, Spielberg’s own version of Back to the Future, minus the DeLorean, for his own time-traveling to life in the 1950s.
Banshees of Inisherin
Riotously funny while weighted by tragicomic depth, Banshees of Inisherin is exquisitely crafted with sharp writing and stunning photography that bring a distinct time and place to life. Expect to laugh, gasp and cry before the credits roll.
Till
Capturing the wake of a critical moment in history through the eyes of a mother’s grief, Till walks a tightrope balancing the devastation of what happened with the power of what it inspired. It’s a movie you won’t want to turn away from.
Watercooler Picks: Series
Black Bird
One of the best dramas of 2022, the Golden Globe-nominated Black Bird rises above other true crime shows as a psychological drama that peels away the layers to get to the moral questions beneath.
Fleishman is in Trouble
A smartly-written, often funny marriage drama, Fleishman is in Trouble will resonate with its honest, sometimes brutal, sometimes subtle portrayal of the ways that a connection can break down.
The Patient
A sharply-written character study and tense psychological thriller from the creators behind The Americans, The Patient is propelled by a pair of Emmy-worthy performances from Steve Carell and Domhall Gleeson.
