“Only Murders In The Building” And “The Lost Daughter” — Plus, Eight Other Shows And Movies That Are Must-Watches From The 2022 SAG Awards
It's SAG Awards Sunday, people! The 28th annual ceremony will air live on TNT and TBS starting at 5 p.m. PT, and you can follow along the broadcast on social media. For those without cable (yours truly), it'll be available on HBO Max the next day.
For more viewing information, click here. And head here for a full list of nominees.
One of the forerunning awards shows leading up to the Oscars (taking place next month), it honors the best of TV and film of the year prior. Below, we've rounded up what we believe to be the top 5 must-see recommendations:
SHOWS:
1. Dopesick
Based on investigative journalist Beth Macy's titular book on the opioid crisis, this critically acclaimed limited series tackles Purdue Pharma's substantial role in shaping the epidemic through the irresponsible pushing of OxyContin. Jumping between timelines in the '90s and mid-2000s, it centers on the lives of those addicted to opioids, the austere boardroom where (truly sick and twisted) decisions were made by Purdue executives, the DEA agent trying to seek justice internally, and a team of district attorneys bringing forth a case against the pharmaceutical company. It stars a truly stellar cast consisting of Michael Keaton (who also executive produced the show), Rosario Dawson, Kaitlyn Dever, Will Poulter, Peter Sarsgaard, and Michael Stuhlbarg. If there's one show you take away from this list, let it be this one.
Where to watch: Hulu
Watch a trailer below:
2. Only Murders in the Building
There's a reason this show — starring a surprisingly refreshing trio of Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez — holds a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A murder-mystery meets dramedy, the series pokes fun at the modern obsession over true crime, while also offering heartwarming character development, true mystique, and twists and turns galore. Come for a slow-burn of unraveling threads, and stick around for a spot-on Jaboukie Young-White cameo. And, rest assured, Season 2 is filming right now.
Where to watch: Hulu
Watch a trailer below:
3. Hacks
I mean, the selling point alone is the fact that Jean Smart plays the lead role. Not only that, but she portrays a character named Deborah Vance, who broke ground as the sole female stand-up comedian in a male-dominated field during her prime. The series opens with the unlikely pairing of Deborah and Hannah Einbinder's Ava, a 25-year-old entitled stand-up who's ousted from the comedy world. Full of heart and lots of laughs, the dramedy poignantly touches on ageism, sexism, and the learning we can experience with each other. Plus, Hacks features a truly A1 supporting cast, including Poppy Liu (who's quickly become my favorite rising star and character actor) and comic Megan Stalter (the genius behind this video). Season 2 is currently in the works.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Watch a trailer below:
4. Succession
Ask anyone who works in media or a media-adjacent industry, and this vulgar, biting HBO show is their favorite series on the air right now — if not of all time. It's not necessarily for everyone, but once you settle into the series' whip-smart mile-a-minute dialogue (and insults mostly composed of curse words), as well as its business-speak, Succession is truly a good time. As for what it's about: A group of horribly wealthy — and simply horrible — ultra-rich white people who are in charge of one of the largest media companies in the world (in a thinly-veiled allusion to the Murdoch family-owned Fox Corporation). A multi-Emmy-winning show, everything from its cast — the legendary Brian Cox, Twitter's No. 1 Boy Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Matthew Macfadyen (yes, of Pride and Prejudice), Nicholas Braun, and more — to its luscious, unbelievable settings, makes it a sumptuous binge-worthy watch.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Watch a trailer below:
5. Squid Game
Do I really need to explain myself here? The immensely popular series — which is currently gearing up for Season 2 — took the world by storm as it shattered Netflix records and became the streamer's biggest release thus far. It follows a group of 456 players in a dystopian kill-or-be-killed battle for a life-changing cash prize; in a twisted reality where children's games mean the difference between life and death, no one — not even the most selfless characters — can keep their hands clean. An obvious commentary on the evils of capitalism, and how it can in turn infect its participants and pit them against each other in ruthless competition, it stars a brilliant ensemble of Lee Jung-jae, HoYeon Jung, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon, and more. Plus, for Train to Busan fanatics (and those who love gazing at pretty actors), there's a lovely Gong Yoo cameo!
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch a trailer below:
MOVIES:
1. Passing
While snubbed by the Oscars (BOO!), this impeccable black-and-white film — the directorial and screenwriting debut of actor Rebecca Hall — follows the chance reunion between two high school friends (Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga) circa the 1920s. While both are Black women, one of them (Ruth) lives her life as a white woman with a white husband (Alexander Skarsg?rd). A mutual obsession soon blossoms between them, threatening to collide their separate social spheres. André Holland and Bill Camp (of The Queen's Gambit) also star.
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch a trailer below:
2. CODA
"Moving" is not an adequate enough word to describe this beautiful, heartfelt film. About a Deaf family with a hearing daughter (CODA stands for "child of deaf adult"), CODA is a remake of the 2014 French dramedy The Bélier Family. It follows Ruby (a star-making performance from Emilia Jones) as she struggles to reconcile her dreams of singing with staying put to aid the family's ailing fishing business. Her family is portrayed by renowned Deaf actors Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, and Daniel Durant.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Watch a trailer below:
3. House of Gucci
Listen, for all of the countless memes this movie has spawned and the myriad anecdotes from its stars about the method acting, the snorting of Arrabiata sauce, and the like, House of Gucci is truly the best time you'll have watching a film. It's bizarre, it's camp, it's got Lady Gaga! Every actor in it seems to be existing in a different film from the next (e.g. Jared Leto is in a parody Mario-and-Luigi opera while Jeremy Irons is in a heavy drama, Oscar-bait movie). Is the film "good" per-se — by "cinematic standards" or whatever? That is probably debatable. But it sure is a hell of a time. Don't believe me? Just ask my parents, who became bona fide Little Monsters after viewing!
Where to watch: Apple TV and Amazon (for rent)
Watch a trailer below:
4. Tick, Tick...Boom!
Theater kids rejoice! But seriously, Tick, Tick...Boom! — Lin-Manuel Miranda's adaptation of beloved composer Jonathan Larson's autobiographical play — is an emotional treat starring an effervescent Andrew Garfield. A love letter to the late playwright's passion for storytelling and music, it's also about what it means to make the most of the time you have and prioritize the important things and people in one's life. Honestly, if you're having a crisis about where you're going, wondering if you're "ambitious" or "good" enough (hello, imposter syndrome!), or just generally a 20- or 30-something trying to figure it out, make this your next watch and thank me later.
Where to watch: Netflix
Watch a trailer below
5. The Lost Daughter
Understated, intimate, and heartbreaking, The Lost Daughter is almost too precious and nuanced for words. A debut film from Maggie Gyllenhaal, it's based on Elena Ferrante's best-selling book of the same name. While the performances are sublime — from star Olivia Colman (who's coming for her second Oscar crown), Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, and more — what really struck me was the film's cinematography; its closeups stick with you long after the movie's credits roll. I won't reveal the movie's synopsis — since it's best to dive into it head first and discover it as you go — but I will say that I'm still untangling the layers upon layers of meaning in The Lost Daughter.
Where to watch: Netflix