Saturday coffee: Oscar loves ‘Emilia Perez’

Plus ‘Star Wars,’ Robert Eggers, ‘Ocean’s 14,’ and Dr. Strange.

Welcome to Saturday! This felt like the week that wouldn’t end. We spent much of it working from home as our kids had snow days due to some frigid temperatures. And, to be honest, I spent much of it trying to gauge just how much attention I should pay to the news with Trump’s post-inauguration rage blitz. Eventually, I’m sure I’ll have to write something about the state of our nation. But not this week, Satan! We’re keeping these stories entertainment related. So, grab your mug; let’s get going! Remember: In early February, this post will be available each week for paid subscribers only, so consider tossing a few bucks each month to support the site!

Oscar noms announced

The big story: Oscar nominations were announced on Thursday, with the Netflix musical-drama Emilia Perez dominating. The film earned 13 nominations, including Best Picture. Wicked and The Brutalist also put up a good showing, with 10 noms apiece. Read more.

Chrisicism: Perry and I talked at length about the nominations on a recent episode of We’re Watching Here; if you haven’t, give it a listen (it’s also available on Spotify and iTunes). For my part, I now have homework: I haven’t seen Best Picture nominees Emilia Perez, The Substance or I’m Still Here, and I guess I’m going to have to bite the bullet and see The Apprentice instead of just living through its sequel. I’m rooting for Anora or The Brutalist, but I’m also a bit bummed not to see Sing Sing score a Best Picture nom.

His job is space.

The big story: Ryan Gosling is about to head to a galaxy far, far away, as he’s in talks to star in Shawn Levy’s upcoming Star Wars adventure. Read more.

Chrisicisms: There’s not much to go on here. No one knows the plot of this movie or even when it’s set – whether it’s part of the High Republic storyline James Mangold’s telling or if it occurs before, during or after the nine other main Skywalker stories. Shawn Levy is normally a comedy guy, although his Real Steel and Stranger Things contributions have shown he’s adept with science fiction (I don't think Deadpool and Wolverine had any impact on this except that Disney likes money and would always like more). And let’s be honest: there’s a 50/50 chance this never happens, since Lucasfilm loves to announce and then scrap Star Wars movies. I like Gosling a lot, but I prefer him in silly mode. Would this be one of the looser Star Wars stories, or would we see a return of brooding Gosling? I don’t know. It’s hard to get excited.

Robert Eggers tangles with werewolves and puppets

The big story: Just a few weeks after Nosferatu was one of the Christmas season’s surprise hits, director Robert Eggers has announced that his next two films will be the werewolf picture Werwulf in 2026, followed by a sequel to Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. Read more.

Chrisicism: Sure; why not? I like Eggers. I think The Witch is one of the few horror movies of the last decade to actually get under my skin. I’m not as high on Nosferatu as others, but I still think it’s a beautiful-looking chiller. So yeah, let him do whatever he wants. I’m more interested in his period werewolf movie; he and Guillermo del Toro are doing more for the classic monsters than Universal’s official attempts have in years, and I’m sure it will be stylish and scary. As for Labyrinth, I don’t get it. Bowie and Jim Henson are both dead; I don’t quite understand why this project exists without them. But Eggers going wild with a puppet fantasy? I’ll give it a shot.

David Leitch getting the gang back together for ‘Ocean’s 14’

The story: The Fall Guy director David Lietch is in talks to helm Ocean’s 14, which is expected to see the return of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. Read more.

Chrisicism: The Fall Guy was one of the best times I had at the movies last year, and the first David Lietch film that finally connected with me. I’m curious to see what he does next. I had a great time when I revisited Soderbergh’s original trilogy a few years back, and I wouldn’t be opposed to spending more time with those guys. But Soderbergh’s playfulness is so crucial to why those movies work (Ocean’s Eight is fun, but it’s lacking his inventiveness) that it seems folly to revisit this world without him behind the camera (and we’re also getting an Ocean’s prequel that will reteam Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie; is this too much for a franchise whose time has seemingly passed?). Still, if Leitch brings the same ingenuity to his heist as he does for his stunts, this could be fun.

Dr. Strange avoiding ‘Doomsday’

The story: In an interview, Benedict Cumberbatch says Doctor Strange will not appear in the next MCU crossover, Avengers: Doomsday, but will return for Avengers: Secret Wars. Read more.

Chrisicism: I am mostly posting this so I can vent about how unenthused I am about anything Marvel lately. Yes, Deadpool and Wolverine was fun, but I just feel that the company had a great opportunity to shake things up, go smaller and probe deeper post Avengers: Endgame and, instead, it’s led to a lot of bloat and disappointment. I’m bored by the bombast. Cumberbatch won’t appear in Doomsday, but we already know we’re getting Robert Downey Jr. back. Chris Evans is said to return (again) at some point. How can we miss them if they don’t go away? This just confirms to me that Doomsday will probably be a more condensed story than we got with Infinity War, and Secret Wars will be a packed “everybody in the pool” cameo fest. I hate that I can’t get excited about Marvel anymore – those 11 years between Iron Man and Endgame were so much fun. Maybe in a few weeks Captain America: Brave New World will make me excited again. But it’s kind of hard to care.