It’s the most wonderful time of the year: awards season! The film studios release their award-worthy offerings around the holidays, when they’ll be fresh in the minds of the people who vote on such things. And this mama loves Oscar bait. Sure, summer superheroes are fun, but if I’m going to pay for a babysitter and schlep to the theatre then that film better be worth the three pounds I’m going to gain from eating all the Reese’s Pieces.
So I’m happy to report that when it comes to smart, layered, emotionally complex stories, Hollywood is really bringing it this year. Here are 10 totally worth-it films that will grab your full attention and stay with you long after you leave the theatre. Pick one for date night, and I guarantee you’ll have something to talk about at dinner besides your kids. And you might just ace your Oscar pool!
Films to Watch During Awards Season
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Manchester by the Sea
After his brother dies, Lee (Casey Affleck), a down-on-his-luck janitor, is summoned to Manchester to care for his teenaged nephew, Patrick. But it's not a happy homecoming, due to Lee's tragic past, which is slowly and devastatingly revealed (bring tissues). Despite the wrenching storyline, Manchester by the Sea is surprisingly funny, especially the wisecracking relationship between uncle and nephew. We root for them, hoping Lee can overcome his grief to be the surrogate father Patrick needs. It's a beautifully made film about the depths of human emotion that will make you laugh, break your heart, and remind you to hold your loved ones a little bit closer.
Photo: Awards Daily -
La La Land
From the opening scene, when a traffic jam on a Los Angeles freeway overpass turns into a full-scale song and dance number, you know you're in for something special. Struggling actress Mia (Emma Stone) and frustrated jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) meet on that overpass, though it takes a while for them to discover their red-hot romantic chemistry (of course, anyone who saw the actors together in Crazy Stupid Love knows that already!). But when they do get together, the weight of their unfulfilled Hollywood hopes and dreams threatens to drag them down. Set against a spectacular technicolor backdrop of LA's greatest sights and views, La La Land is a gorgeous film that swells with passion and yearning. Just don't be surprised if you have a sudden urge to buy a bright yellow dress.
Photo: Awards Daily -
Jackie
Many films have delved into John Kennedy's assassination, but none have captured Jacqueline Kennedy's point of view quite like this one. As the famously private Jackie sits down with a reporter days after her husband's death, we gain insight into her shock, grief, and the role she played in creating the JFK legacy. It was Jackie who planted the seed about Kennedy's love of the musical Camelot, which became a metaphor for the American royalty that is the Kennedy family. Natalie Portman, who trained with a dialect coach to master Jackie's distinct accent, is receiving rave reviews for her fierce performance.
Photo: Teaser Trailer -
Lion
Based on an incredible true story, Lion is about a 5-year-old Indian boy named Saroo who is accidentally separated from his family when he boards a train that takes him 1,000 miles away, where he knows no one and doesn't speak the language. Lost, he's eventually adopted by an Australian couple (the mother is played by Nicole Kidman) who give him a great life, but he's haunted by memories of his real mother and brother. As an adult, Saroo (Dev Patel from Slumdog Millionaire) uses the modern technology of Google Earth to attempt to retrace his path and find the family of origin he lost. Get ready for all the feels.
Photo: Impa Awards -
Hell or High Water
Sometimes people do the wrong things for the right reasons. Such is the case for Texas brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster), who go on a bank robbing spree to save their family's ranch from foreclosure. Since they're robbing branches of the bank that swindled their family in the first place, it's hard not to root for them to get away with it. Jeopardizing their plans is a grizzled lawman (Jeff Bridges) hot on their trail who is looking to solve one last case before retiring. This suspenseful heist thriller has elements of a classic western yet feels so relevant, like a perfectly reasonable reaction to the recent U.S. housing crisis, which may explain why it has resonated with both critics and audiences. Another possible reason: Chris Pine's piercing blue eyes under the brim of a cowboy hat.
Photo: BBFC -
Sing Street
To impress a beautiful girl, high school student Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) pretends he's in a rock band so he can cast her in his music video. One problem: now he has to actually start a rock band. Yet what starts as a goof becomes a true calling for Conor. Music provides more than just a way into his dream girl's heart; it's also a refuge from his restrictive high school and stressful home life. From the creator of Once, this coming of age story set in 1980s Dublin hits all the right notes. And amidst a field of heavy dramas, it is one awards season movie that is pure feel-good fun.
Photo: IMDB -
Arrival
Aliens arrive on earth in huge, oblong spaceships. Why are they here? And more importantly, are they trying to kill us? Only one woman, linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams), may be able to translate the alien's unusual language and reveal their intentions. But can she solve the riddle before other nations react to the ominous events and potentially start a world war? This original sci-fi thriller asks more questions than it answers, but take this wild ride -- which also explores love and loss -- and you'll never think the same way about space and time again.
Photo: Trailer Addict -
Edge of Seventeen
High school junior Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld from True Grit and Pitch Perfect) is angry and awkward, even more so than your average teen. Making matters worse -- her much more well-adjusted older brother starts seriously dating Nadine's BFF, which is just not cool. Life basically sucks, but Nadine finds solace in snarky repartee with her unorthodox teacher (Woody Harrelson) and growing affection for the smart, sweet boy (Hayden Szeto) who is crushing on her, hard. Hailed as a John Hughes movie for the new millennium, Edge of Seventeen is perhaps darker and more raw, but plays equally well to teens and the grownups who used to be them.
Photo: Impa Awards -
Moonlight
Based on the play "In Moonlight, Black Boys Look Blue," Moonlight is an affecting coming of age story about our need for human connection. It begins with sweet and soulful Chiron, age 10, being saved from bullies in his rough Miami neighborhood by Juan, the local drug dealer. Juan becomes an unlikely father figure, even as he continues to supply drugs to Chiron's ever-more-addicted mother. The movie jumps in time twice, to Chiron's teen years and adulthood, with three different actors depicting him, all excellent. We watch, with both hope and dread, how the influences in Chiron's life will shape his identity. Moonlight captures a part of America that is rarely seen on film, and it is eye-opening, challenging our assumptions and asking us to think twice before judging someone by his appearance or background.
Photo: Why so Blu -
Moana
Now here's an awards season movie you can actually enjoy with your kids. Moana is Disney's refreshing new heroine who's not obsessed with poufy dresses or getting married. Instead, she's the strong-willed daughter of a Polynesian tribal leader who must save her people by embarking on a dangerous sailing voyage with a little help from Maui, a shape-shifting demigod (voiced by The Rock) and Heihei, a dim-witted chicken. The hit musical is original, fun and uplifting, with catchy songs written by Hamiton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda that you will not be able to get out of your head for weeks, especially after your kids make you download the soundtrack (you were warned).
Photo: Coming Soon
