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It feels like it’s January and he’s probably taking a nap. But is it too early to ask Santa for The Substance to win the Best Picture Oscar? (I’m asking about a friend who was a good child.)
Everyone is talking about the Academy Award nominations. There’s all the drama, who’s going to compete, who’s going to be eliminated, who’s going to be snubbed, who’s going to be surprised. But this isn’t an Oscar party (which sounds very classy), it’s a watch party. So here’s what you need to see before the big day in March. Also, a new Mark Wahlberg movie has been released – and he’s bald, so that’s new – plus “The Night Agent” is returning for another bare-bones season on Netflix.
Now let’s talk about the good points.
Check out everything you need to know about awards season before the Oscars on March 2nd
No one is happy when it comes to Academy Award nominations, but this year’s Oscars didn’t do a bad job of honoring a variety of films and plenty of newcomers. I’m not mad at them other than for removing “Sing Sing” from Best Picture. So what happens if Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie don’t get nominated for Best Actress? Those A-listers are coming back. It’s cool to see Fernanda Torres and Carla Sofia Gascón in their place. Patrick Ryan, our resident sarcastic master, has compiled a list of the most hated of Thursday’s nominations.
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Did you see everything you needed before Oscar night? If not, here are the nominees you can watch at home right now, from ‘Wicked’ and ‘Conclave’ to ‘Emilia Perez’ and ‘A Real Pain’ We have compiled a list of 10 books. We’ll be updating you in the coming weeks as theatrical releases like “The Brutalist” and “Completely Unknown” hit streaming services or become available for rent or purchase.
Watch the insane Mark Wahlberg hijack a plane in Mel Gibson’s air thriller Flight Risk.
No offense to the artist formerly known as Marky Mark, but his new film Flight Risk probably won’t be nominated for an Oscar. (The purpose of going to such a movie is to see Wahlberg chew the scenery as a mob hitman who hijacks a plane before a government witness (Topher Grace) takes the stand.) A high-profile criminal trial.
My friend Marco Della Cava spoke with Wahlberg about how Mel Gibson’s movies felt like plays and why he decided to shave his head every day instead of wearing a shaved head. “I offered Mel a haircut and he said, ‘Are you sure you want to do that?’ Of course I said no, no wig,” Wahlberg says. “You think of movies like ‘The Shining'[with an over-the-top Jack Nicholson]and that’s the type of person I was looking for.”
Stream ‘The Night Agent’ Season 2 on Netflix
Netflix has a cottage industry of pretty solid political dramas (The Diplomat, anyone?) and spy thrillers. One of the most notable of the latter is “The Story,” in which an FBI agent (Gabriel Basso) and a cybersecurity expert (Lucian Buchanan) team up to depict plot-busting shenanigans and hints of romance. The Night Agent.” The second season is currently streaming, and TV critic Kelly Lawler wrote in her ★★★ review that it’s a worthy follow-up to the satisfying first film.
“This series holds true to its most important promise: bring just the right amount of mindless action, flirtatious banter, and exciting twists to keep you cozy on a frigid winter night.” she writes. “Call it the Security Blanket TV show.”
Basso talks to my colleague Brian Alexander about his “Night Agent” fight scenes, why no one wants to hang out with hackers, and even though he doesn’t have “the temperament to talk to me.” , I talked about how I like interacting with hackers. fan. “I’m a little hesitant to approach you. But I’m friendly. I’m not a murderer. Especially when you compliment me.”
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Do you have thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments, or advice for me? Email [email protected] and follow me on social. I’m @briantruitt from Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads.