Oscar season is upon us! With the Academy Awards coming up on March 27, now's the perfect time to catch up on some of the Oscar-nominated films currently on streaming services. Or, if you prefer, you could check a showcase of Canadian comedy, an absolutely terrible spinoff of a '00s sitcom, and the Pixar film that's full of hyper-specific Toronto references.
Turn Off: The Adam Project
(Netflix)
Ryan Reynolds stars as a time traveler who meets his wimpy 12-year-old self while trying to save the world from disaster. A strong cast nearly saves a film that feels like it's pieced today from parts of better films: the sarcastic quips of Deadpool, the needle drops of Guardians of the Galaxy, the plot of Back to the Future. It's not awful, but there's a strong sense that this film doesn't need to exist.
Turn On: The Afterparty
(Apple TV+)
Are we in a golden age of whodunnits? Following the excellent Only Murders in the Building and Knives Out (plus Kenneth Branagh's slightly less enjoyable Hercule Poirot movies) comes yet another self-aware crime comedy with a strong ensemble cast. It's funny and meta while also being a compelling a case full of mysteries. The game is afoot!
Turn Off: Charli XCX: Alone Together
(Amazon Prime)
Alone Together is a powerful story told two years two late, as Charli XCX documents the early days of lockdown and the making of her pandemic album how i'm feeling now. It's full of Instagram livestreams, Zoom chats and accounts of going stir-crazy at home, bringing nothing new to the conversation. With much of the world having opened up again, the timing for this doc couldn't be worse.
Tune In: The Dropout
(Disney+)
The rise and fall of tech criminal Elizabeth Holmes is documented in this funny, infuriating dramedy, as she becomes a billionaire off a piece of medical equipment that doesn't actually work. The progression through the years is a bit clumsy, but Holmes' hubris is fascinating, and Amanda Seyfried perfectly captures the entrepreneur's awkward energy (even though Seyfried's very Romy and Michele-esque voice doesn't quite sound like Holmes).
Turn Off: How I Met Your Father
(Disney+)
Was How I Met Your Mother always this bad? With clunky non-jokes punctuated by a relentless laugh track, unimaginative jump cuts stolen from the Family Guy playbook, and a romance-obsessed protagonist lifted from a bad '90s rom-com, How I Met Your Father feels retro in all of the worst ways. At best, it's the kind of thing to watch in the background while doing chores.
Tune In: LOL: Last One Laughing Canada
(Amazon Prime)
The Canadian version of the worldwide comedy franchise feels inherently wholesome despite the sometimes bawdy jokes, as a group of comedians (including Tom Green, Dave Foley, Mae Martin, Andrew Phung, K. Trevor Wilson and more) compete to make each other laugh. Anyone who so much as cracks a smile gets eliminated, so these famed comics resort to sheer absurdity in an attempt to make one another break. The loveable Jay Baruchel hosts, furthering his progression from actor to legacy media personality.
Tune In: Turning Red
(Disney+)
A touching coming-of-age story doubles as a fun game of spot-the-reference for Canadian viewers, as Toronto filmmaker Domee Shi packs her feature debut with local references like SkyDome, the CN Tower and TTC streetcars.
Tune In: West Side Story
(Disney+)
Sure, it probably didn't need to be remade, but Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated new version of the 1957 Broadway musical (and 1961 film) does the original proud. With incredible-looking sets and a few welcome modern touches, Spielberg did as good as job with this as anyone could have possibly done. Many filmgoers will have missed its December theatrical release due to Omicron, so it's a very welcome addition to Disney+.
Turn Off: The Adam Project
(Netflix)
Ryan Reynolds stars as a time traveler who meets his wimpy 12-year-old self while trying to save the world from disaster. A strong cast nearly saves a film that feels like it's pieced today from parts of better films: the sarcastic quips of Deadpool, the needle drops of Guardians of the Galaxy, the plot of Back to the Future. It's not awful, but there's a strong sense that this film doesn't need to exist.
Turn On: The Afterparty
(Apple TV+)
Are we in a golden age of whodunnits? Following the excellent Only Murders in the Building and Knives Out (plus Kenneth Branagh's slightly less enjoyable Hercule Poirot movies) comes yet another self-aware crime comedy with a strong ensemble cast. It's funny and meta while also being a compelling a case full of mysteries. The game is afoot!
Turn Off: Charli XCX: Alone Together
(Amazon Prime)
Alone Together is a powerful story told two years two late, as Charli XCX documents the early days of lockdown and the making of her pandemic album how i'm feeling now. It's full of Instagram livestreams, Zoom chats and accounts of going stir-crazy at home, bringing nothing new to the conversation. With much of the world having opened up again, the timing for this doc couldn't be worse.
Tune In: The Dropout
(Disney+)
The rise and fall of tech criminal Elizabeth Holmes is documented in this funny, infuriating dramedy, as she becomes a billionaire off a piece of medical equipment that doesn't actually work. The progression through the years is a bit clumsy, but Holmes' hubris is fascinating, and Amanda Seyfried perfectly captures the entrepreneur's awkward energy (even though Seyfried's very Romy and Michele-esque voice doesn't quite sound like Holmes).
Turn Off: How I Met Your Father
(Disney+)
Was How I Met Your Mother always this bad? With clunky non-jokes punctuated by a relentless laugh track, unimaginative jump cuts stolen from the Family Guy playbook, and a romance-obsessed protagonist lifted from a bad '90s rom-com, How I Met Your Father feels retro in all of the worst ways. At best, it's the kind of thing to watch in the background while doing chores.
Tune In: LOL: Last One Laughing Canada
(Amazon Prime)
The Canadian version of the worldwide comedy franchise feels inherently wholesome despite the sometimes bawdy jokes, as a group of comedians (including Tom Green, Dave Foley, Mae Martin, Andrew Phung, K. Trevor Wilson and more) compete to make each other laugh. Anyone who so much as cracks a smile gets eliminated, so these famed comics resort to sheer absurdity in an attempt to make one another break. The loveable Jay Baruchel hosts, furthering his progression from actor to legacy media personality.
Tune In: Turning Red
(Disney+)
A touching coming-of-age story doubles as a fun game of spot-the-reference for Canadian viewers, as Toronto filmmaker Domee Shi packs her feature debut with local references like SkyDome, the CN Tower and TTC streetcars.
Tune In: West Side Story
(Disney+)
Sure, it probably didn't need to be remade, but Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated new version of the 1957 Broadway musical (and 1961 film) does the original proud. With incredible-looking sets and a few welcome modern touches, Spielberg did as good as job with this as anyone could have possibly done. Many filmgoers will have missed its December theatrical release due to Omicron, so it's a very welcome addition to Disney+.
