What to watch September 15, 2023: Movie awards contenders

Matthew Jacobs
·3 min read

This week’s streaming debuts bring a comedy feast. Five hilarious movies are premiering on digital platforms, and some have serious Oscar odds. Or if that’s not what you’re in the mood for, there’s a somber drama hitting VOD, too. Something for everyone!

The contender to watch this week: “Barbie“

More from GoldDerby

It’s Kenough, and it’s available to rent (at a premium) on VOD: The year’s highest-grossing movie — $1.4 billion and counting — has come home. “Barbie” is a guaranteed Oscar contender in categories like Best Production Design and Best Original Song, but where else can it breakthrough? A fourth nomination for Greta Gerwig, perhaps, either for directing or writing? Acting nods for Margot Robbie or Ryan Gosling? Maybe other below-the-line achievements, like costume or makeup? Best Picture, even? The movie will have to maintain momentum against fall’s prestige titles, but there’s a good chance the Academy will be saying, “Hi, Barbie!” 

Other contenders:

  • “Theater Camp“: This uproarious satire is one of the year’s best comedies. Molly Gordon and Ben Platt (who wrote the script with director Nick Lieberman and co-star Noah Galvin) play self-serious counselors at a youth theater camp in upstate New York. They’re joined by a bang-up supporting cast that includes Ayo Edebiri, Jimmy Tatro, Patti Harrison, Amy Sedaris, and “Menari” breakout Alan Kim. Stream it on Hulu right away. 

  • “Rotting in the Sun”: The underrated Chilean director Sebastián Silva (“Crystal Fairy,” “Tyrel”) made a meta satire in which he and internet personality Jordan Firstman play the worst versions of themselves. It’s a comedy of errors about death, sex, egos, the creative process, and what happens when things suddenly go very wrong. Following a limited theatrical release, “Rotting in the Sun” is available on Mubi. 

  • “Elemental“: Pixar’s latest, directed by studio veteran Peter Sohn (“The Good Dinosaur”), is now streaming on Disney+.

  • “El Conde”: When he isn’t making movies about misunderstood women (see: “Jackie,” “Spencer”), Pablo Larraín often turns his attention to Chilean politics. In a clever gambit, “El Conde” presents former dictator Augusto Pinochet as a 250-year-old vampire who faked his death to avoid being prosecuted for his atrocities. Shot in slick black-and-white by two-time Oscar nominee Edward Lachman, the movie hits Netflix following a small theatrical bow. 

  • “The Unknown Country”: Lily Gladstone‘s big year belongs to October’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” but this soulful road-trip drama might catch the Indie Spirit Awards’ attention. Rent it on VOD.

PREDICT the 2024 Oscar nominees through January 23

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Don’t miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?

SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions

Best of GoldDerby

Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.